AN: My much hinted at Janto AU. As yet I can't think of a suitable title, despite having written almost 40,000 words so far. A title will be provided once one strikes me, for now here is the opening part.

I recall finding a photo of Gareth wearing a hat like he is in this story online somewhere and it was from that photo that this story spiralled.

Please remember as you read that this story is totally AU – the names of the characters are familiar to you all, but their personalities have been modified to better suit the plot. There is no Torchwood, no immortality, and no Hub.

Please review x

"But Gw-en..." Jack whined as his closest friend of almost six years bundled him into the passenger seat of her car.

"Don't drag my name out like that Jack, please." Gwen admonished as she closed the passenger door and rounded her car, climbing into the driver's seat and starting the ignition, the car whirring to life.

"But I hate ja-zz..." He whined again as she pulled out into the street, and made her way down towards the bay.

"Is this going to be the tone for the evening?" She asked smirking at Jack's childish behaviour.

"Will you take me home if it i-is?" He attempted another whine, but failed.

Gwen sniggered. "Look I have two tickets for tonight, and Rhys won't go with me, and to be honest I couldn't put up with his endless complaining. As my oldest and closest friend you are required to step in." She pointed out simply.

"What about my complaining?" Jack asked as the car swung into a parking space and they both got out.

"You have an excuse." She answered as she linked her arm though his and walked down to the Plass.

"Look I'm not really in the mood for this. Can't I just go home?" Jack asked hopefully, his playful whining finished and his tone displaying his honest desire to leave.

"You have been wallowing non-stop for six months. You need to get out there Jack - remember what life is like." Gwen replied.

"You do recall my husband dying don't you Gwen? I didn't break a nail - I lost my husband. I think my wallowing is allowed." Jack pointed out.

"I know." Gwen said with an affectionate squeeze as she took hold of his hand, and they approached the club with their fingers interlaced. "But John wouldn't want to see you hiding out night after night Jack. He would want you to live your life. I'm not suggesting you go out and find someone new, I just want to remind you that there is life outside the four walls of your apartment." She said as she flashed her tickets at the doorman and they walked inside.

"I know there is - I do go to work." He reminded.

"Where you hide out in those four walls, hoping nobody will bother you and notice that you're wallowing." Gwen reminded him.

"You bother me most days." Jack sighed.

"Because I love you and I worry about you." She pointed out. "Look all I am asking is for you to sit with me for a couple of hours, listen to a bit of music, maybe have a couple of drinks, and then go home. Please?" She battered her doe eyes at him and he couldn't help but smirk.

"Like I have a choice." He said. "Do you want a drink then?" He asked as moved towards the crowded bar.

"White wine thanks." She said smiling at the bar man.

"I'll take a water thanks." Jack ordered, ignoring Gwen's overly dramatic sigh. He paid and they moved towards a table. The large stage filled one of the four walls and dotted around in front of it were a dozen round tables, each with a dimly lit glass shaded lamp in the centre. The wall directly opposite the stage contained the bar, which was currently thronging with revellers trying to get their orders filled before the show began. The final two walls that connected the stage with the bar housed four leather-seated booths on either side, and each booth had seating for up to eight people. The club was beginning to fill, but Gwen and Jack managed to bag a round table on the second row from the stage.

"So who's playing? Not that I'm going to have heard of them, but hey." Jack asked sipping at his water as he peered over the badly lit table at his friend.

"There's usually a few acts on, each doing half hour sets with breaks in between." Gwen explained as she drank from her wineglass. "There's a couple of singers on tonight, one musician, and a small band. It's perfectly harmless jazz. Its not like I suggested you went to some weird heavy metal grunge concert. Anyway you like all that old style Glen Miller stuff, I thought this might appeal."

"Because you are my friend and I supposedly love you, I'm going to ignore you referring to Glen Miller's music as 'stuff'." Jack pouted.

Gwen smirked. "Just enjoy yourself. I promise it won't kill you." She said.

"Well if it does I'll be holding you responsible." Jack retorted as the lights of the club dimmed further and the stage lights swelled as the first artist walked on.

TW

An hour and a half in and Jack was beginning to lose the will the live. If Gwen was trying to provide him with a fun night out she was most heartily failing. Jazz was hardly cheerful music at the best of times, and Jack was beginning to feel more than a little depressed.

"How much longer?" He asked through gritted teeth as he applauded wearily whatever act had just finished on stage.

"Shush." Gwen snapped across the table at him. Jack sighed and settled back into his seat as he waited for the next act, hoping it wasn't going to be another third rate Louis Armstrong wannabe. He wasn't sure his poor ears could take anymore punishment, and he was already going to have to resort to painkillers when he made it home. The door at the back of the stage opened and a man walked through carrying a saxophone. The man was wearing black jeans and a figure hugging white tshirt that highlighted the toned body beneath. A loose fitting black waistcoat was worn over the top but not fastened, and a black pork-pie hat completed the look. The mans face was slender and he had a beard, though it was more stubble based than heavy. His brown hair looked to have been pushed back roughly with his hand before he'd put his hat on, and piercing blue eyes were set beneath the brim.

"Wow." Jack breathed before clapping his hand over his mouth in surprise at his own reaction.

Gwen smirked wide-eyed at him. "Pardon?" She whispered.

Jack shook his head and lowered his hand as his attention returned to the figure on stage.

"Good evening." A deep Welsh voice spoke into the microphone before the man brought the mouthpiece of the saxophone to his lips. Jack's breath caught in his throat as the unmistakable strains of 'Moonlight Serenade' began to echo around the now silent room. Gwen glanced over at him as she remembered the last time she'd heard that song – at his wedding to John.

Two Years Earlier…

"I can't believe I let you pick our first dance song." John moaned playfully as he slow danced with Jack. Their collective family and friends were scattered around the periphery of the dance floor, mostly armed with cameras, each capturing this classic moment for posterity.

Jack smirked down at his new husband. "Your choice would hardly have been appropriate." He pointed out gently as he tightened his hold on his husband, pulling him closer with the arm he had rested around his waist. He dipped his head so their cheeks were touching and his chin rested in the crook of John's neck. "And anyway, you know I love this song." He murmured into the other man's ear.

John's face broke into a grin. "I think the entire world knows you love this song. I sometimes wonder if you had to live without me, or without hearing this song ever again, which you'd choose." His question was intended to be rhetorical, but he knew Jack would provide some witty answer.

"I would choose you. I will always choose you." He whispered softly in a tone that he knew turned John on. John was about to respond when he felt Jack spin him out of his arms in a dramatic manner so typical of his husband, two of their hands remaining tightly held as Jack beamed across at him with his free hand thrown out behind him. Jack pulled John back into the safety of his hold and they continued their dance.

"You are such an exhibitionist." John muttered.

Jack chuckled into his ear as his head took up its previous position. "It's why you love me." He said softly.

"It certainly is." John murmured in response as he held tight to Jack and allowed himself to get lost in the strains of Glen Miller.

Present Day…

"Thank you." The saxophone player bowed his head gently in appreciation of the applause that sounded as he finished playing. Bringing the instrument back to his lips he began a second song, but Jack could no longer hear anything but the thumping of his heart, and the blood pumping in his ears.

"Are you okay?" Gwen asked as she reached her hand across the table and put it on the arm of her friend who had tears forming in his eyes.

Jack nodded hurriedly. "I'm just gonna get some air. You stay here – I'll come back." He spoke with a ragged voice as he got clumsily to his feet, making his way through the crowd and out the door of the club onto the street. He moved out of the way of the entrance where people were still filtering in, and walked down an alleyway that ran along the side of the club. When he got part way down and away from the prying eyes of the pedestrians he leant back against the wall, his head tipped up to the sky as tears began to stream down his face, and he sobbed.