Ianto was pulled from sleep by something shaking his shoulder. He tried to ignore it, only to have his nostrils be assaulted by the aroma of inferior coffee.

"That's instant," he muttered in disgust.

"That's exactly what you wake up to every morning when I wake you up," Jack's voice broke through his sleep haze, sounding amused.

"And that's exactly what I say every one of those mornings. I should be thankful it's not everyday." Ianto finally opened his eyes and peered at the clock set on his end table. "Jack, it's five o'clock. Please don't tell me you got bored and decided to wake me up to amuse yourself."

The mattress depressed on the end in the vicinity of his stomach. "If I woke you up because I was bored, I wouldn't be trying to entice you out of bed with a crappy cup of instant coffee."

Ianto buried his face in the pillow to hide his smirk. Memories of how he'd been awakened by a bored Jack reminded him that his partner spoke the truth. He turned his head so he could look over to Jack. He noticed that the other man was dressed only in a pair of blue drawstring sleep pants. Jack's hair was still damp, and Ianto could make out the sandalwood scent of the soap Jack used through the smell of the offending liquid the other man still held onto. "Okay, then we're off to hunt something alien," he commented.

Jack shook his head. "If that were so, would I be sitting here, trying to get you to drink a cup of crappy instant coffee?" He smirked and held out the cup. "But we should be up and going. The sooner you do, the sooner you can start making your high quality coffee."

Ianto groaned and turned onto his back. "Do we have to?" he asked.

"Yes."

Ianto sat up and finally accepted the cup. The coffee was not very bad, as Ianto made sure if there was instant coffee in the flat, it was of the highest quality he could find. He took a sip of the coffee, and looked over to Jack. "Okay, I'm up. I'm drinking your coffee. Now before I go further, what is so urgent that we have to be up at 5 am?"

Jack leaned over, reaching over Ianto to rest his hand on the bed. Grinning, he lightly kissed Ianto. "Good morning, by the way."

Ianto smiled back and kissed Jack back, allowing the kiss to linger. The kiss tasted of orange marmalade and coffee. Suddenly Ianto felt awake, the fog slipping away, and he remembered the evening before. "Should you be drinking coffee?" Ianto asked.

"A cup or two a day is okay," Jack assured him. "Remember, I did this before."

Ianto studied Jack. "And tell me that coffee is exactly the same in the 51st century, on an colony planet."

"Well… seriously. I think it evolved. So if I was allowed a couple of cups a day then, I'm thinking I could have double that now."

"Let's keep it to a minimum until we can find out more about this. Okay?" Ianto leaned over to kiss Jack again.

"How are you doing?" Jack asked as he pulled his head away after returning the kiss. "Does this mean you're still with me on this?"

Ianto studied Jack. Suddenly the older man lost the confidence he had when he'd woke Ianto, looking nervous. He nodded. "Yep. You can't get rid of me that easy." Ianto placed the coffee mug on his end table and took Jack's hand in his. "Still trying to get used to it, but I'm not running. When we exchanged vows for our ceremony, I swore that I'd love you to the end of time. I know my life is limited, but not my love for you."

Jack's nervousness started to go away. "I'm glad. I feel the same way. Except for that limited stuff, but I can't help that. Any more than I can't help but loving you forever. Even long after you're gone." He shook himself. "But enough of that. We're here now, and I intend that we have a long time before being faced with that. So, let me tell you why we're up so early."

"I am curious."

"I want to call Gwen in about an hour earlier than the others, so we can tell her what's going on."

Ianto stared at Jack in confusion.

"You said you wanted Gwen to know first. So I thought we should get to the Hub early, and call her in ahead of the others. And give her enough time to settle down before Shandi and Tabitha come in."

"Already?" Ianto blinked. "Why do we have to do this first thing today?"

"Because the sooner we tell Gwen, the sooner I can tell the others," Jack reasoned.

Ianto took a deep breath. "I really wasn't expecting everyone to know so soon. I was hoping to have some time to get used to this first."

Jack pulled away from Ianto and stood up. He picked up Ianto's coffee mug. "I was hoping to have Shandi take a look at me this morning. For one, make sure I'm right. For another, to make sure everything is going okay." He dropped his head. "I had one bad pregnancy, and I don't want it to happen again."

Ianto jumped out of the bed, realizing Jack was upset. "I'm sorry, Jack. I wasn't thinking. Of course, you're right. We need to have you checked out." He came up behind Jack and slipped his arms around Jack's trim waist, pulling him close until Jack's bare muscular back settled against Ianto's firm, broad bare chest. He kissed Jack's neck, near the shoulder. "I keep saying I need to get used to this, but it's not an excuse. I'm just being daft."

Jack shook his head, relaxing in Ianto's hold. "No. It's unfair of me to think you could be as excited about this as I am. I had time to get used to the idea of being pregnant. My entire life, in fact. You just had yesterday. I'm the one being daft, acting like a kicked puppy just because you're still getting used to this." He turned in Ianto's arms, placing his own around Ianto's neck. "Forgive me?"

Ianto smiled at Jack. "Nothing to forgive. It's me. Not you." They indulged in a leisurely kiss, just conveying the love between them and nothing more. As they broke the kiss, he found himself studying Jack in amazement. "You're excited?" he asked. "Don't take it the wrong way, but you did say you didn't want to do this again."

Jack smirked. "I told you last night. You. You changed everything. This is our baby, Ianto. Mine and yours. I can't help but be excited." His grin turned warm.

"How about I take a shower now, so we can get ready to leave?"

"Sure." Jack kissed Ianto again, hugging him, and then released him. He pulled away to go over to the wardrobe to select his clothes for the day.

Ianto watched Jack for a moment before he left the bedroom to take his shower.

~/~ ~/~ ~/~

As Gwen came through the cog door, Ianto looked over from his place at the coffee machine. Not long before, Jack had called out from his office that he'd seen Gwen approach the Information Booth the CCTV. Ianto had left his workstation to make sure there was fresh coffee when they sat down with Gwen. Jack came out of his office when he heard the alarm sound off, to find the cog door rolling back behind Gwen.

"Good morning," Jack greeted cheerfully.

"Depends," Gwen replied. "On whether it's the end of the world. Or just the end of Cardiff."

"What gave you the impression that it could be either?" Ianto asked, walking across the Hub, carrying a tray with mugs on it.

"I don't know. Maybe Jack calling me at 6:30 am, saying I needed to come in, with no further explanation."

Jack smirked. "Sorry. Yes, it's important, but not urgent. No saving the world this morning. I can't guarantee the same for this afternoon." He gave her a grin. "Let's go into the boardroom. Ianto and I need to speak to you before the others get here. Ianto suggested we go grab breakfast when we're done." He started toward the boardroom, gesturing for Gwen to follow him.

Ianto was the last to enter, putting a mug of coffee before Gwen, and another mug at his place. Jack already had his mug, having carried it out from his office. When they had arrived at the Hub, Ianto relented to Jack having another cup of coffee, but warned him there would be no more for the day. Ianto considered that Shandi might okay Jack having a limited caffeine intake, but he felt they were still uncertain about a man being pregnant in that day and time. He got Jack to agree they would look into it a little more, but he was still allowed one cup of coffee a day unless Shandi felt otherwise.

"So what's this about?" Gwen asked as they settled down around the table. Instead of taking his usual seat at the head of the table for meetings, Jack sat next to Ianto on one side, with Gwen sitting across from them.

Ianto turned his head to look at Jack. "You can start."

Jack gave Ianto a smile and reached out to take his partner's hand. "We have some news to tell you. Well, you lot will figure it out eventually, but Ianto and I decided you have the right to know first."

"What's that? I take it this is good news," Gwen said.

Jack opened his mouth to reply, and then closed it again, to look at Ianto. The younger man gave Jack a small smile. "Yes," Ianto replied. "Just it's going to take some getting used to, but yet, it's wonderful news."

"I'm good for any news that exciting. What is it?" Gwen smiled over at the two men, wondering what they were up to.

Jack glanced at Ianto, who nodded, and then his eyes met Gwen's. "Ianto and I are going to be parents."

Gwen's eyes went wide and her mouth opened a little. "You mean you decided to adopt? I sure hope you lied on job descriptions."

Ianto chuckled. "Putting it that way, I'm glad we decided not to adopt. 'Cause they wouldn't be crazy enough to hand a kid over to us."

Jack nodded, and in a dramatic, deeper voice, asked, "Job?" Then in his own voice, added, "Torchwood." Then back in the deeper voice, "Thanks, but no thanks. Next!"

Gwen giggled at Jack's antics for a moment, then stared at first Jack, then Ianto, looking confused. "No adoption?"

"No," Jack replied. "Not even alien babies." He let go of Ianto's hand and leaned forward, his arms settled on the table. "Gwen, remember all the comments I used to make about never being pregnant again?"

"Sure, but I thought you were just…." Her eyes got wider. "Oh my God!" she gasped. "You… you weren't joking? You mean? You? You're… Oh my God!"

"I wasn't joking about it. All of it," Jack emphasized. "I can and I'm pretty sure that I am." He reached across the table to rest his fingers on Gwen's arm. "We didn't plan this. I didn't think it could happen here, but it did."

Gwen's jaw was hanging. "Oh God," she uttered. "You're… you're going to have a baby?"

Jack was smiling as he nodded. "Knowing it's Ianto's, there's no other choice. I'm going to have this baby."

Gwen's eyes went to Ianto, checking him as if wondering if he felt the same. Ianto gave Gwen a small smile. "Yep. He's having this baby. I told him I can't accept any other choice."

Gwen took a deep breath, attempting to control herself. "A baby? Jack? Oh bloody hell."

"We don't have a clue how we're going to balance Torchwood and a baby," Jack said, "but now that it's happened, we're going to find a way."

Ianto nodded, resting his hand on Jack's arm. "Yep." He studied Gwen, who suddenly appeared to have gone speechless. "Gwen? Are you alright? Say something." He looked at Jack nervously, concerned for his best friend.

"Gwen?" Jack asked, snapping his fingers before her. "Don't go into shock here on us."

Gwen's mouth snapped shut, and a huge grin almost split her face in two. "Oh my God!" she squealed again, jumping up from her seat. With her arms raised up in the air, she exclaimed, "You're having a baby! There's going to be a little Jack and Ianto around here." She rushed around the table to hug Jack. "That's wonderful. Shocking, but…," she turned to Ianto and hugged him next, "terrific."

Jack and Ianto allowed her to gush, going back and forth hugging each one, kissing their cheeks, until she managed to get both men in a hug. Jack was laughing and hugged her to him, kissing her forehead.

"I'm glad you're taking this well," Jack commented amused.

"Oh, I'll be going into shock here and there, but seriously… you and Ianto. Did you look at yourselves? This is going to be one gorgeous baby!" Gwen grinned at the two men.

Jack smirked. "I have noticed that Ianto and I are of exceptional looks," he winked at Ianto.

Gwen laughed. "This is bloody amazing!" She hugged them again. "Thank you. Thank you for letting me in on this." The Welshwoman was so excited, she was near tears.

They stayed in the boardroom until Gwen settled down enough to ask, "How far along are you, Jack?"

Jack shrugged. "My best guess is I got pregnant at some point after our last rain. Long story, but the rain was providing a natural birth control for me. It suddenly dried up, but I really didn't give much thought about it. Now I know better in the future. After I have this one, of course."

Ianto started to laugh, causing Jack and Gwen to look at him. "I was just thinking that after Jack has this baby, we'll have to check the weather before we assume certain positions."

Gwen's eyes went wide again, her mouth dropping open, as Jack started to laugh with Ianto.

"You know for you, the rhythm method is going to suck," Gwen finally commented and laughed.

Jack shook his head. "It's the only method I have."

Grinning wickedly, Gwen gazed at Ianto. "I wish you'd kept that between Jack and yourself. Because after the baby is born, whenever we do weather checks, I'm going to have these images in my head that I don't think I should be going home with."

Ianto smirked. "Of course you should. You just don't tell Rhys why he's getting shagged senseless," he commented dryly.

Gwen started to laugh more, hugging him. "Sound advice. I thank you, Ianto Harkness-Jones."

"That's my Ianto, ever the sensible one," Jack replied and leaned over to kiss Ianto's cheek. "So, I take it we're all good here now?"

Gwen nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. We are."

"Indeed," Ianto said.

"How long have you known?"

Jack shrugged. "I guess I had a nagging feeling for the last couple of days, but it all added up sometime yesterday morning. I told Ianto last night. We decided to tell you this morning, because I'm hoping I could get Shandi to do some tests to confirm this, and answer some questions."

"Is it the same as with a woman?" Gwen asked. "Pregnancy tests, that is."

"More or less, yes. Some differences, but not overall. A blood test should confirm things. A scan should let me know all is going well."

"We wanted you to know first," Ianto remarked. "You're not just a survivor from our previous team, but you're our best friend. I couldn't think of anyone else we could tell to know first." Ianto shrugged. "Of course, if I was able to tell my family…." He left it hanging, and shrugged again. "As I said, who will know is going to be limited."

"I can imagine." Gwen's eyes settled on Jack. "If this got out, I hate to think what could happen. I wouldn't want Jack to become an experiment."

"I agree," Jack commented as Ianto gripped his hand. "So we wanted you to know first, and of course, Shandi needs to know so she can do the tests. And if we tell her, sooner or later, Tabitha is going to figure things out. I would hate for her to feel like we left her out. So, we'll tell them both at the same time, then get Shandi to run her tests."

Ianto took Gwen's hand in his. "You can tell Rhys, if you want. In fact, he might need to know, since he comes in to help us when we need it. He's going to notice something."

Gwen smiled at Ianto and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll tell you what, love. Why don't you and Jack come over for dinner one night soon, and you can tell Rhys?"

Jack hugged her. "Thank you, sweetheart. It means a lot to us that you thought of that."

Ianto nodded. "Yep. Thank you, Gwen. And just tell us when you want us to be there. Rift allowing, of course."

Gwen winked at him. "If that's the case, I take rainchecks."

"Okay, what do you say since we have some time, and the Rift is still being quiet, that we go over to the Quay for breakfast?" Jack asked.

"I think a celebration is in order, yes. Let's go," Gwen replied.

Ianto hugged Gwen again and stood up. "I'll get your coat, Jack," he said. Smiling he left the office.

"Finish your coffee, and let's go," Jack replied, picking up his mug and draining the remaining liquid as he stood up.

They met Ianto in the main area of the Hub, where Ianto was once again moving control of the Rift Alarm to remote, via Jack's wristband. The three left the Hub through the Invisible Lift and headed off to decide on where they would have their breakfast.