Hello again, I have a few things to say before posting this. Its completely AU, it was planned ages ago, but only became inspired after talking to Rietta, who without this fic would not exist at all, she gets on my back and makes sure I write it. I have chapters written in advance, and Rietta is betaing this one So, this story I would like to dedicate to Rietta xD
Enjoy, and have fun.
Special thanks to Rietta for the beta, the phonecalls and the randomness!
Author's note- Just a few points, Jack is 24 at the start, and Ianto 23. Jack's Birthday is April and Ianto's August.
19th May 1999
Chapter 1- Worlds Apart.
Ianto Jones walked through the corridors, the sunlight beamed through the glass lined walls that connected the history rooms to the language department in the school. He smiled as one of the students hurried past him with a "Good Morning Mr Jones"; he smiled at her and nodded his head. He watched as she entered the classroom and shook his head.
"Mr Jones, sir?" Ianto jumped and smiled wider when he saw a young girl with brown hair. "How can I help you?"
"I'm, well, I'm meant to be in your history class fourth period, but I only started last week, so I haven't been able to do the homework you set."
Ianto smiled "I didn't expect you to do it you know."
She smiled. "Thank you." She hurried off, and he heard her shout to her friend "He's as gorgeous as you said."
He fought back the grin and pushed open the staff room door and smiled when he saw the English teacher sat in the corner drinking tea. "Well Mr Williams, you look comfy."
Rhys Williams had been Ianto's best friend since college, they'd got on well, and they'd done the same teacher training course and Cardiff University before both landing jobs at Sully High school.
"I am, Gwen's driving me mad."
Ianto laughed. "Hormones."
"Oh yes, oh that reminds me, I was meant to be taking Gwen to watch an old friend of mine in the west end; its his big break, got dragged of the street; but she doesn't want to go. I know you like Musical Theatre, wanna come with me?"
Ianto looked stunned "This isn't a set up is it?"
"NO! Honestly! He's a childhood friend, not seen him since he moved to America when we were little, though he's done a few things on tele over there. But his father got the tickets for us, and I really wanna see him: he could sing at nine years old, I wanna see how much he's changed."
"Does this friend have a name?"
"Jack..Jack Harkness."
"Never heard of him."
Rhys laughed. "Say you'll come?"
"Not for you I won't," Rhys looked crestfallen, before he made a disgusted face.
"Ianto Jones!" he laughed.
Ianto smiled. "Of course I'll come, what show is it?"
"Phantom of the Opera."
"I assume he's Phantom?"
"Yep, first West End show; he's been, quite literally, plucked off the street and he's the leading man."
Ianto smiled, "He better be worth it."
Rhys laughed, "Well, we'll be sat with his Dad, front row seats, we can meet him afterwards."
Ianto smiled "Sounds nice."
The bell rang, signalling the end of break. "Another day at work," Rhys laughed.
"No rest for the wicked."
****
"…Wishing you were somehow here again, Wishing you were somehow near, Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, Somehow you would be here..." Jack Harkness sang as he danced around his dressing room, he was only half dressed, his hair and make-up had been done, and he had forty minutes before the curtain call.
"Jack?" a voice called through the door.
"Come in!" he called and smiled at the person behind the door.
A head peaked round the corner. "Hello gorgeous," the girl smiled as she entered the room fully.
Jack smiled and turned to face his best friend. "Tosh!"
Toshiko Sato grinned and hurried over to Jack, throwing her arms around his neck in a massive hug, "I've missed you!" she cried.
"I've missed you too, how are things?"
"Things are great, Owen and I are still together!"
Jack grinned "Fantastic!"
Tosh laughed "Fantastic!"
"Fantastic!" another voice called from the door, Tosh and Jack spun on the spot to see a man in a suit come hurrying in, and grabbed Jack in a uncharacteristically big hug.
"Good to see you Jack."
Jack hugged back. "You too Owen."
"Do I hear wedding bells in the future?" Jack asked.
Tosh smiled and discretely ran a hand over her stomach. "Maybe, but he has to ask first."
Jacks eyes had followed her hand and he smiled happily. "Do I get to be Uncle Jack?" he asked, his eyes alight with happiness.
"YES!" Owen and Tosh laughed.
Jack smiled and reached to pull out the rest of his costume, pulling on the cloak and fastening the shirt properly.
"You look old fashioned," Tosh laughed, as she fiddled with his tie.
"Well, it is based in the early nineteen hundreds you know," Jack laughed.
"Jack!" Tosh whined.
Jack laughed and started towards the door, "Well, do you wanna watch the show or not?" he asked as he pulled on the mask and opened the door.
****
3 days later (Saturday 22nd May 1999 )
Ianto was excited, he'd seen a few small town musicals before, but never been to the west end in London to see one. Her Majesty's theatre on Haymarket Street was somewhere he'd always wanted to go, but he'd never been able to.
"Ianto! You ready?" Rhys called through the door.
Ianto pulled open the door, dressed in a causal navy blue suit, with a black shirt and dark blue tie. "Wow," Rhys gasped.
"Don't go there" Ianto laughed.
"You look good, trying to impress someone?"
"No," Ianto smiled slightly.
"Honest?"
Ianto laughed. "Rhys, we're gonna be late!"
Rhys laughed and shoved Ianto out the door. "C'mon then mate."
Ianto smiled and waited for Rhys to lock the door. They hurried to the front of the hotel and jumped into a cab, chatting about rugby and other trivial subjects as they went.
Arriving at the theatre, Ianto was surprised to note it seemed quiet. "They'll all be at the stage door at the moment, hoping for a glimpse."
Ianto laughed. Rhys grinned, "Mr Harkness is inside, he said to give our name at the door and the guide will take us to him."
"Okay" Ianto grinned, he was trying his hardest to stay calm, but inside, he felt like a nervous young child, going on an adventure.
Rhys walked up to the doorman and gave their names. The doorman smiled becomingly and beckoned them to follow him into the corridors that lead to the bar area, where Mr Harkness was waiting for them.
"Rhys Williams, you haven't changed in forever!"
A man with sparkling blue eyes and salt and pepper hair grinned as he appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. "Franklin!" Rhys grinned as the man embraced him.
Rhys pulled back from the hug and turned to Ianto. "This is Jack's father. Franklin, this is Ianto Jones, college friend, fellow co-worker and my wife's best mate!"
Ianto smiled and offered his hand to the all-smiling gentleman. Franklin smiled and pulled Ianto into a hug. "Well aren't you the looker?"
Ianto blushed and ducked his head. "It's nice to meet you sir, Rhys has told me an awful lot about you."
Franklin grinned. "I deny everything, and what's with this sir? Call me Frank, everyone else does!"
"Okay, Frank."
"Welsh boy aye?" Frank grinned. "C'mon, let's go on it, don't wanna miss the curtains!"
****
Jack Harkness was gorgeous, even with a mask, Ianto could just tell, and he had the most amazing singing voice. Listening to him sing was making Ianto's heart burst, he carried each note perfectly and sang like he was born too.
Jack's voice rang over the audience. "Now you are here with me, no second thoughts: You've decided, decided. Past the point of no return; no backward glances: our games of make-believe are at an end."
"He's always been like this," Frank whispered in his ear.
"He's amazing," Ianto whispered back, all smiles.
****
After the show, Ianto found himself following Frank and Rhys with little butterflies fluttering around his stomach. The show had been amazing, and he'd found himself drawn to tears with Jack's singing, his voice so passionate, as if it was all real.
"Ianto, c'mon, keep up!"
Ianto jogged a few steps and fell into step with Rhys but he directed his question at Franklin: "So, what's Jack like?"
Franklin grinned. "He's the most amazing son, I couldn't be prouder," he smiled softly. "He's kind and selfless to a fault, he's funny, charming, cheeky...and camper than a tent, but he's my son, and I love him; what he does in the bedroom is his business."
Ianto felt his heart stutter, and he hadn't even met the guy yet.
They stopped outside a door and Frank leaned against it, before knocking sharply and calling out through the wooden door "Hope you're dressed in there, I'm coming in, and I've brought friends."
The door opened and Franklin shoved it open in time for Ianto to see a gorgeous behind getting covered by some tight denim Jeans.
"WOAH! Jack!" Jack spun around on the spot and he grinned massively.
"RHYS WILLIAMS!" he greeted the man, before wrapping his arms around Rhys in a huge hug, worthy of a bear.
Rhys laughed and hugged Jack back. "You were fantastic mate!"
Ianto noticed a faint colouring to his cheeks and noted that it looked adorably cute.
"Thanks, how's things?"
"Things are great, I'm married, remember Gwen Cooper?"
"NO!" Jack laughed.
Rhys grinned. "Oh yes, and we've got a baby on the way."
"Congratulations!" Jack's eyes twinkled and then fell on the gorgeous young man in a suit, stood by the door. "And who might this gorgeous specimen of a man be?" he asked.
Rhys smiled at Ianto and nodded in his direction. "This Jack, is Ianto Jones, I met him in college and work at the same school now."
Jack had turned his dazzling smile to Ianto, who suddenly found it difficult to breathe in the room, "Erm..Nice, to...meet you," Ianto stuttered out.
Jack's smile widened and Ianto again felt the stuttering heart and noticed Jack hadn't moved a muscle. They starred at each other for a long time, something passing through their eyes, until Frank cleared his throat.
Ianto looked up and he felt his knees quiver as an unusual jolt passed through him, he broke out of his trance and offered his hand to Jack who shook it at once, smiling. "You okay?"
Ianto smiled. "Yeah, loved the show."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Ianto smiled.
"So, dinner?" Jack asked, smiling at the occupants of his room. Just some time alone with Mr Jones would be perfect, but I don't know if he's gay or not, Jack thought. He'd be so easy for me to fall in love with...
"Dinner sounds wonderful Jack," Ianto spoke for all of the occupants.
"Wonderful," he smiled as he pulled on his shirt and a light jacket. Shame about John really, Jack thought of his current boyfriend: he cared, but he'd never felt like he's known John all his life, like with Ianto, and they'd barely spoken two words to each other.
"Anything in particular?" Jack asked.
"I'm easy," Ianto responded without thinking.
Jack laughed out loud. "Somehow, I doubt you are Mr Jones!"
Lyrics for songs used are not mine and belong to their respective writer/singers.
Let me know what you think xD
