Remember the good times for there are so few.
Prologue: Sometime in the future…
He promised them that they would not be placed in the vaults when they left this life. He told them that they could have the sun, the elements; soft spring rains to harsh snowstorms. He bought the land and used it to set up his homage to them. His extended family will protected as each generation passed allowing him to take care of them. It was after all the least he could do for those who gave him a home once again as well as that feeling of being human.
Ianto was first to be placed there as to what seemed like a million years ago to a man that time had no meaning for. Alongside him were Alice and Steven. Steven's wife and children were near John and Mark as well as Mark's mother, Jolein was buried near a spot by Ianto upon NG's request when he had her half of her ashes placed there some years later. The rest he gave to Jack to scatter on Boeshane's ocean at some point in the future.
The Twins he placed together with their families. Leon's mouse-like wife who had brought him such happiness; their two children and families and down the line set up in an odd family 'in the ground' tree.
Jolein never had children; her husband was next to her as he was through most of his life. He died young, not even fifty-one when a stray bullet killed him that was meant for someone else. She never thought of marrying another. It was okay; she was an aunt and later great aunt. Jack remembered Ianto's smile as he watched Jolein who, much like her father John, took charge of them at family gatherings because no one would be able to stop her. She was so strong willed that they just let her and for the most part Ianto could relax in his later years with his video camera and film the events for later viewing. They would dedicate parties to re watch these family events. And they were big parties seeing how Torchwood had become such a large multi generational family. It often would lead to more filming adding to the already growing collection of films that were stored in the vaults of The Hub.
"For you later on Jack, something to remember all of us and away for all of us to go with you on your long life." Ianto confessed one quiet night lying in their bed together curling up on Jack's chest. Jack then understood that as time went on, Ianto became concerned that Jack may just for get them.
"Like I could ever forget you." He smiled at his husband playing with his hair. Right now that memory was strong. So he let his mind wander a bit as he walked past everyone with special memories that he shared out loud with each of them.
He wasn't going to cry. Not now, not after all those years without those that had been everything to him. He did the same for Gwen and Rhys, who were like sister and brother to him, Dan and Sally, Ben and Nick as well as their many offspring and their families that grew over time.
It was a good thing that he bought a big plot of land. Though now most of their descendants were in space, on colonies having started over again spreading themselves out to all parts of the Universe. It was hard as time went by to bring them back to earth to be with the others and even harder to find them. Jack knew that even for him to get home was also an issue, the Earth wasn't the same and he was feeling his age, though from what the Doctor said, he was still very young compared to eternity.
That wasn't why he was here; today was a special day in for him. "I heard from NG again. So I thought I would come and tell you about it. I think he is just on the edge of things like always. But he spent sometime with me. Some how things are getting better for him, changing again in ways I think are for the better. It has been a while since he last came to me. The last time was like the first time he reappeared; he was confused again as if it was all unstable to him, none of the confidence I got the many other of times he came home. I think this time I can bring him into the corporeal world for good." Jack let a tear fall. "I keep failing him by not being able to hold onto him. Did I fail all of you somehow as well?"
It was Leon's voice from some other place that spoke. "You could never fail us, Uncle Jack. You love us, how can you fail the ones you love and that love you so? Don't you think that NG knows you love him and that you have never failed him?"
It had been wrong to take Mark and John's youngest as a lover. He thought that it would have been Leon. But Leon outgrew the crush as Nick predicted and had married a wonderful little blonde named Polly. They were perfect for each other even if she wasn't out of the ordinary compared to their family.
Ianto died so suddenly one day. He was 56. NG was around 25 when he returned home after hearing the news. It wasn't long before they fell into each other and became lovers. Jack smiled, feeling NG dance around his mind in his thoughts.
"Leon, I understand that, but he needed my help, I just let him go. I couldn't do much else; I don't have that kind of power to control what time does. But sometimes he makes it back. Somehow I'll make it work. I've got to. " He glanced to the right of John at three other graves that were with their families. "You three would be happy to know he asks about you."
"Is that how you see it?" NG stood there before him looking towards the spot where three other graves were. His eyes sought out Jack watching this man that he loved stuck in the flow of time as he worked almost against its current. "Jack you never let me go, I just went."
Jack watched NG dry himself off. "I'm sick of being soaked in the Alien blood almost every day, Jack! This stuff still stinks."
Jack moved in closer to NG, his arms throwing another towel around NG's shoulders. "You smell fine, it is all in your nose." He tapped the tip of NG's nose with a finger.
"Well, I can still smell it!" The young man leaned into Jack, stealing a kiss. He then walked away, rolling up the towel and swatting Jack's ass while the leader of Torchwood stood dazed.
"God, you are such a tease." He turned to watch NG swinging his hips as he left the shower.
"I am not! We promised Papa we wouldn't be late. I still think my parents aren't too happy with our 'arrangement.'" He turned around letting Jack jog up to him. They walked in silence until they arrived at the room they shared when they were at the Hub. NG used his VM to open the door and activate the lights. He let the towel fall naturally to the floor exposing his firm round ass to Jack who just whistled.
"You had to do that, you had to let it all hang out." It was too much for Jack; he grabbed NG roughly and pushed him to the bed. Jack had his pants down fast. NG just laughed as Jack did to him what nature called for him to do.
They lay there for a bit not caring that they were now late. "I like it when you do that. I have this fantasy Jack, that we do that in a crowded place. You just rip my clothes off and have at it." He curled up his body as he faced him, reaching to run his hands on Jack's smooth chest. NG said what he felt he never said enough to Jack. "I love you so."
Jack ran his hands through the damp soft brown hair pulling his head tight to his chest. "I love you, too." He held the young man wondering what he was really doing with him. This just never seemed fair to either of them but at the same time it was so right.
NG woke in his Australian bed with his lover. Bo stirred slightly, mumbling something as NG shook with fear. It had been another dream, like so many he had before. With one slight difference this one would come true. He found a place to huddle next to Bo while he let the feeling that his mind was walked over vanish and he could at least sleep. But somehow he knew he would be returning home. And this time all his dreams would come true. But like he promised Ianto he would wait for the phone call. But he didn't need to pick up the phone nor did he have to let the dreams come true. He could stay in the arms of Bo. That would be enough for him.
He scooted closer to the warmth of his lover before he closed his eyes to try sleep again. Somewhere back in his mind he knew what he had here was not forever and his mind opened to his parents' home in Cardiff just as he drifted off to yet another dream.
End of Prologue
TBC