Series: A Blip in Time

Title: A Love Affair
Author: McRaider
Rating: PG-13, parts that are higher will be notated as such.
Summary: Ian Jones was a mere child in the eyes of every galactic planet in the solar system, but he longed to be something more, so when he met Captain Marc Harper he had no idea his entire life was about to change and the events he'd rapidly get entangled in.

Pairings: Jack/Ianto, Ian/Marc, Doctor/River (hints), Rose/Doctor (hints)

Spoilers: TW 1-2, Children of Earth 1-5, Doctor Who Season 1-5

Authors Notes: In the story, Letting Go, I picked up just after the events of CoE 1-5 and I was pleasantly surprised when I was welcomed back into the fic world with fairly open arms. I made some illusions in that story to a future I hadn't really planned but decided to go further with. Thus this baby was born. This doesn't pick up RIGHT after Letting go, it is however the Sequel….and possibly a series.

Disclaimer: I don't own them; I don't even really own Ian and Marc as they're based on Jack and Ianto.

Chapter One

The tall man stepped into the lecture hall and smiled warmly at everyone. "Good morning, from what I've been told, I'm here to tell you all a very special story…about a boy….well actually he's a man now…a very old man. But he was a boy. So to get you into the mind set of this young man, I've decided to read the journal he kept during two years of his life. His Twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth year."

All the students look at him appeared mildly interested, so he began, opening the leather bound book, he pulled out a pair of glasses and began to read. "It was once said that a man hasn't truly lived until he's been on his own and experienced the world in another person's shoes. Looking back at the days, weeks and months that led up to this moment…to this dark dank cell, to this man staring at me as if I'm both his savior and his executioner, it dawns on me that I've not only walked in another's shoes, but very well perhaps stolen them off his very feet and hoped it wouldn't come back to kick me in the arse.

It was a true love affair, from the beginning kiss to this very second right now, where I stand looking at blue eyes I've known all my life yet never met before him. These very eyes that I'd dreamt about since my childhood. This moment I'm destined for, thus I should be excited and elated over all this. Yet for the life of me, I can't help but think of that beautiful man I'd fallen in love with, that I was destined to lose from the very beginning.

You see…my story is one of tragedy and little else, even from my birth; the life I've lived has been tragic. I was a twin. I still am a twin, but my twin brother-he would've been named Elioc-was a still born baby. The medics could do nothing to save a baby who didn't have any life in him to begin with.

My mother, despite their best attempts, did resent me to some extent; my sisters however were always by my side in the roughest moments. The older I grew, the stronger the memories…memories I didn't even own.

They began in infancy and continued into toddlerhood, when I slept me would see images: an ancient flying creature we call dinosaurs, I would see a metallic creature yelling in anger or screaming in pain. But the one thing I saw the most…perhaps the most chilling was a pair of blue eyes.

If there could be a picture of tragic, those eyes were the very image of a painful tragedy. I will never forget the sight of the red rimmed beautiful soulful blue eyes that stare at me with such hope and desperation. And for all my life I've wondered why they were filled with such pain and tragedy.

It wasn't until now that I realized I was the reason for the pain." The man paused and he looked up, "But perhaps that's too late in the game, that is after all his very last entry, maybe I should start where it all began. "Screams filled the air, running, running as fast as he could, arms pumping. It's as if I watch from afar, he looks like me, sounds like me, even kind of dresses like me, but this isn't me.

Stepping forward I cry out as I look at the metallic body on the floor, drenched in blood like some horrifying scene from that ancient Battle at Canary Warf. My hands are covered in the red liquid. But is it mine or hers. Grabbing her under the arms, I'm impressed at my own strength as I try desperately to pull her along and out of the fire.

She wails, crying for me to leave her, to let her die. The pain, she's screaming, the pain must be so horrific I can't even begin to imagine. I drag her and drag her; my own clothes are becoming drenched with blood. At some point she collapses, unconscious and overcome by pain or blood loss-how can someone have so much blood.

I hear another scream for a moment and glance through the windows. A single man stands against a wall, a look of equal devastation covers his face. Did he lose someone too?

I had another dream last night-

"Why do you write in that?" A voice asked me from behind. I glanced around to see my friend Petrelli curiously looking over my shoulder with his red and yellow eyes. He sat down on the nearby table, his blue arms folded across his chest.

"Because the therapists say it'll help bring up memories I can't otherwise recall," I quoted verbatim as I replied to him. I had these conversations a million times, and not just with my closest friend. I couldn't keep a relationship because of the memories, this was my final attempt at coming to terms with what I called a mental disorder, because if I couldn't overcome these dreams and put them behind me, then what was I living for. It was like living a life I didn't even know about. I wanted my own life.

"And you still believe them?" He questioned. I'm sure he thinks I'm crazy, I've been seeing the therapists for fifteen years and I still have these memories, as fresh as if they happened yesterday-and yet they didn't.

I shrug, "I believe many things, for instance, despite the rumors, I really don't believe you are a man eater."

He grins playfully at me, before standing and strutting away, and then he glances over his shoulder, "Wouldn't you like to know. Come on Ian, lunch time."

I chuckle softly, close my notebook and toss it in the bag on my shoulder. A chill shudders down my spine and as I glance over my shoulder I swear I see an ancient military coat blowing in the breeze. I narrow my eyes, I search the area for someone.

"Ian seriously, if you don't hurry up all the good food'll be taken."

"What good food." I mumbled, before turning back and heading back inside.

The university space station was an interesting thing, it was as big as two of the Earth Suns stuck together, each side rotating in the opposite direction, it was long and wide, and orbited just outside my home planet Katana, a baby of old Planet Earth. The space station was built by those who studied an ancient race called the Time Lords…I believe, anyway they built the space station to mimic a real campus of a real university in the 51st century, a billion students or more attended classes in effort to achieve better things.

I was here to find myself.

My thoughts were abruptly pulled short as I ran into a professor. It was strange, I thought at times, that Professor Smith looked as young as most of the students. There were days I couldn't quite believe he was remotely older than me, and I was only twenty-five Earth years.

"Excuse me Professor," I replied softly head down.

The ginger man smiled as he squeezed my arm, pulling my eyes up to the dark brown ones. "Nothing to worry about, my boy. Are you quite all right though, you appear a little weary?"

"Fine sir, just fine."

"Very well then, off you go and I'll see you in class later."

"Yes sir," I gave the professor a faint smile and hurried after my friend who'd disappeared into the Cantina by then-no doubt after some pretty girl.

Never did I notice the smile that graced the Professors face, after all why would such an old man smile when he knows nothing about me…

I didn't find my friend, which shouldn't surprise me; he's constantly running after the girls…and guys. It doesn't matter to him or to me really. It would simply be nice to have someone look at me in that way. Of course that was Elisa, but she was a short stint that made me realize I needed to figure myself out, before I tried to be with anyone.

It does tend to complicate relationships when you're in the midst of activity and you scream another name that isn't even from your life time. Though in my defense at least I called her Lisa this time, which is far closer to her real name than Jack is. I don't even know a Jack.

Sitting alone at a table, I pulled out my tablet again and began to trace a figure. I'd seen her frequently in my dreams and wanted nothing more than to meet her. She seemed so far beyond brilliant, I wasn't quite able to fathom it. A name occasional came up surrounding her face-Toshiko, it was a Japanese name…a very old name. No longer used as far as I knew on Japan, a planet about two light years away.

As I closed my eyes I saw her face again, such a beautiful face.

"He really cares about you, you know." She offered quietly in the large space as she sat down beside me, handing me a cup of coffee.

I force a slim smile, despite my current frustrations and mood. "No one ever makes me coffee."

She leaned in closer, "That's a shame, because you do so many things for us. There's this nice little pub around the corner…we should go out sometime. Not as a couple, don't look at me like that. Just as friends. We're both so lonely it seems."

"Yeah I know."

"Will you stay?"

"Probably…if continues to let me."

"You came back after a month of leave. I think if he'd wanted to throw you out or retcon you he'd have done it by now."

A soft smile caressed my lips, "I suppose. I shouldn't feel the way I do Tosh."

She shrugged, seeming to understand me the best, "You aren't allowed to feel for a man after losing your lover. She was dead for a long time. While it seems harsh, I think you know that deep down."

I nod slowly, "Do I have the right to love him."

"No more right than he has to love you. Come on, let's go have dinner."

"Gwen will not approve of leaving early-"

"Who cares, she doesn't run Torchwood." she chuckled as she gripped my hand, removed my coffee and pulled me off the couch.

"Taken?" A voice asked.

Shaking my head, I looked up and was stunned at the sight of a beautiful specimen standing before me. "I'm sorry?" I questioned not sure what he'd just asked me.

"I asked if this seat was taken." He pointed his long chin at the seat across from me.

I smile, "No, not at all." I look at the man, he is positively beautiful. My lungs caught in my throat at the mere sight of him. I remember reading in an Earth history book that humans used to call other humans-who were attracted to the same sex-homosexuals. Well, while that term was outdated and people fell in love with pretty much anyone, I found myself mildly surprised to be attracted by this man. I'd never really been attracted to another man before.

"Marc Harper," the man offered, sticking out his hand.

Smiling without even thinking clearly I shook his hand, "Ian Jones." I took a moment to notice him as he stuffed his mouth with something that resembled food. He looked strong; he had a handsome face with a strong jaw line, he was physically fit and active while he was wearing a fairly loose fitting shirt I could see his six-pack. His shoulders were broad…if genetic developers could engineer the perfect man (which despite rumors they still couldn't) this man would've been it. He positively glowed with something between beauty and handsome-ness.

"Nice to meet you Mr. Jones. So tell me, what brings you to the Uni."

Just an able-bodied student trying to find his place in the universe. And you?"

"I'm a Captain…with the Time Agency."