A companionable silence fell between the two men as they walked side by side, a sight that would surely cause Jack to be fired if anyone were to see them. They walked for what felt like miles, through seemingly endless gardens, complete with perfectly trimmed rose bushes, various flowers and shadowed by large oak trees, the occasional fruit tree dotted along their path.

It was simply beautiful, and a part of the extravagant manor Jack had never been given the fortune of seeing.

They eventually reached what Jack took to be Ianto's destination, a heavily shaded, extremely secluded area, surrounded by a stone wall, and lined with flowers. Ianto took a seat on a wooden bench, patting the seat next to him in invitation.

"Please, join me."

"But, sir, I mustn't. It breaks so many rules."

"You know how I feel about rules. Now, please, sit."

Jack sat hesitantly next to Ianto, as far away as he could manage on the small polished bench, careful not to crease the tails of his coat as he lowered onto the seat.

He gazed around the walled section of the garden admiringly. Of course, he never voiced his opinion, still wary of the rules set out clearly and strictly to all members of staff residing in the Jones manor.

"I have something on my mind. I'm sure you have realised by now, having been in such close proximity to me since my arrival."

Jack lifted his gaze, meeting Ianto's eyes. The young man was clearly troubled, and as Jack observed the Welshman, nervously shifting in his seat, his teeth chewing on his lip as he awaited the older man's response, something inside Jack called out to touch him. He shook it off, and instead offered a short reply.

"I can't say I have noticed, sir."

Ianto fiddled with his hands as they lay resting in his lap, the sun glinting off the bright brass buttons of his coat. How could he have these feelings, and even worse, how could he voice them, when there were so many reasons that he shouldn't.

"I…I have been having sinful thoughts. Regarding…another man."

Jack didn't know how to react, he wasn't stupid, he knew what Ianto was saying, and there was no way he could ignore his own feelings for any longer, but he knew, deep down, that no matter how much he wanted it, how much they both wanted it, this couldn't happen.

"I'm sorry, sir. I have to get back to my duties. Sorry."

And with that he promptly rose from the bench and left the garden with urgency in his step.

Ianto dropped his head in his hands, the sweat lining his palms hitting his cool forehead as he choked back the sobs threatening to escape. How could he have been so stupid?

…

To say the following days were awkward would have been an understatement. Ianto continuously attempted to start conversations with Jack, to give himself an understanding of the man's feelings, but to no avail. Jack was apparently the most stubborn man he had ever come across, insisting on replying to any comment with a blunt answer, always addressing Ianto as 'sir', and never offering his opinion. Generally living by every goddamned rule ever written for footmen.

And Ianto hated every moment of this hell.

It didn't take long though for a situation to arise that would force the two men to be alone together, and whilst Jack was cursing the gods that he had to face the man that haunted his dreams on a nightly basis, Ianto could barely wait for the moment to arrive, when he would finally get to have a proper conversation with the man.

Jack walked, as usual a few paces behind Ianto as they made their journey along the corridor to Ianto's quarters. Jack had been required to assist Ianto in his preparations for a large family dinner that night, and so they found themselves stood in the centre of the young man's room, the ornate detailing the first thing to catch Jack's eye, the determined look in Ianto's eyes came next.

"We need to discuss the events of the other day. I'm sure you have a firm understanding of exactly what I was talking about, and to simply walk away from me, well I found that rude to say the least. I told you how I felt, and you simply left without barely speaking a word."

Jack didn't know where to look, and found his eyes resting on the pumps he was required to wear as part of his uniform.

"To be fair, sir, you didn't tell me exactly how you felt."

Jack could feel the blush rising in his cheeks as he spoke in an impossibly small voice, in fact Ianto was lucky to have heard.

"I thought I had made it clear. I have feelings for you, Jack. Strong feelings. Which I know is unholy, and breaks many a rule that this society lives by, but I can't help the way I feel. So, I'm very sorry if I offended you."

Jack looked up.

Ianto's face was pained to say the least, and his beautiful eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Jack took the a step closer to Ianto, shaking with every movement he made, his body seemingly hyper-sensitive as he invaded the other man's personal space, his eyes never leaving Ianto's until he closed his eyes, the men so close together that Ianto could feel the flutter of Jack's eyelashes against his cheek, as he mirrored his actions.

The stood like that for a few very brief moments, just sharing each other's breathing space, before Ianto tentatively reached out a trembling hand to place on Jack's waist, and pressed his lips ever so slightly against Jack's.

Jack responded to Ianto ministrations after only a seconds initial shock, placing his hands around the man's neck, his fingers playing with the small hairs found at the nape of his neck, where dark hair met deliciously pale skin, and opened his mouth as an invitation for Ianto's tongue.

Ianto could honestly say he was entirely out of his depth, and he fucking loved it. The feel of their tongues mingling, the taste of Jack driving him crazy, and the sensation of the older man's fingers in his hair were almost to much for him.

It was so much better than all of those times he had found himself dreaming of this moment, and he found it so much easier than he had expected, there was none of the awkwardness he had always figured would come with his and Jack's first kiss, in fact, he found it the most natural feeling in the world.

As Jack pulled back gasping for breath, a large smile lining his features, he rest their foreheads together, and talked in hushed tones.

"Wow."

Ianto chuckled, his eyes fluttering closed again as he lost himself to the feeling of Jack, the scent of Jack, the taste of Jack still lingering on the tip of his tongue, as the footman's hands ventured from Ianto's neck to his lower back.

"Yes, 'wow' indeed."

After a few moments of standing in the comfortable embrace, the silence had to be broken, and Jack smiled, kissing the tip of Ianto's nose, before announcing,

"Right, let's get you ready for this dinner."