The hero always gets the girl.
Jack's own words rang through his head as he sat watching Gwen dance with her new husband. He remembered what it had felt like to enter that barn and see the shape-shifter threatening Gwen. He'd never been so afraid before. But he wasn't the hero of the day – Rhys was. Rhys, who had stayed calm and defended his bride-to-be the best he could. Not Jack – never Jack – who had merely swept in at the last possible moment, guns blazing. He might appear heroic, but he really wasn't, however much he might wish to be so. He didn't deserve having a girl – no, a woman – like Gwen in his life. He'd had to set an example for the team earlier, when Gwen and Rhys were sharing their first kiss as a married couple. But he hadn't wanted to. Oh, no. He'd wished he could storm the chapel and stop the wedding like before. It should be him Gwen was marrying.
Slowly, he made his way towards the newlyweds' spot on the dance floor, where they stood swaying in place. Clapping a hand on Rhys's shoulder, he asked, "Mind if I cut in?"
Graciously, Rhys consented, saying, "Why not?"
Taking Gwen in his arms, Jack basked in their closeness, if only for this one dance. Smiling gently at her, he conceded that she was no longer his, if she ever had been. "Enjoy the honeymoon," he said, instantly regretting his words as his mind began conjuring up mental images of Gwen in bed with Rhys. That should be me, he thought bitterly.
"I will," she replied serenely. "What will you do while I'm gone?"
Always the clown, Jack said cheekily, "The usual – pizza … Ianto … save the world a couple of times."
They shared a laugh – just two mates having a good time.
"Will you miss me?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Jack's response was instantaneous, "Always." After a brief pause, he continued, "Rhys is a lucky man … the perfect husband. He's loyal, brave …" Though it killed Jack to advance Rhys's cause and not his own, he had to impress upon Gwen how lucky she was to have such a man. "He's got a hell of a swing on him," he said, chuckling slightly as he recalled that punch Rhys had bestowed. "But best of all – he really loves you."
Almost as much as I do, I'm sure, he thought, willing Gwen to hear the words he couldn't say – and now would never be able to.
"I know," she said, nodding along.
Standing there, with her in his arms, it was so tempting to bend over and plant a light kiss on her plump lips. But Ianto's timing was impeccable, as always, catching Jack before he went too far and did something that both he and Gwen would regret later. Relinquishing his hold on her, Jack took Ianto in his arms instead, though he continued to shoot Gwen furtive glances from across the room.
It was only later, once he was back at the Hub, that Jack allowed himself to remember. Retrieving a box filled with memories – all his – he flipped through various photographs that had faded over time. He paused at one of him in a suit, a woman dressed in white standing next to him.
Goodbye, my friend, he thought, letting go of the past at last.