Chapter rating: T

Chapter summary: Ianto opens the watch and we see in flash back how he and Jack first met, way back when they were teenagers.

Warning: There is a paragraph that Gwen haters will not like but please don't let it concern you—it won't mean a thing in the long run.

By the way, when I get to that point in this story, I will not even address the events in series 3, I have something much more entertaining in store. I hope you'll stay with me.

With no further ado, enjoy.


The Very Attractive Boy

Ianto woke to the sound of hushed whispers.

"He's been acting weird ever since we got back from Tibet" Owen was saying "weirder than usual, I mean. He was dizzy and fainted in the airport, I thought it was the yak butter but now I'm not so sure."

"What do you meant by 'acting weird'?" Jack asked

"He's been staring at that fob watch of his like, like it can talk or something. Yesterday morning, I swear I heard him say to it 'shut up or I'll put you in the blender'."

"We have a blender? Wait, anything else?"

Ianto tried to force himself back to sleep, his internal clock told him it was still fairly early. But sunlight poured into the room, making sleep impossible. As he sat up and rubbed his eyes, Jack and Owen hushed immediately. "Good morning" he told them in a cheery voice. He got out of bed "Have you two already used the bathroom?"

They both nodded and Ianto went into it. After making use of it, he stepped out on the balcony to watch the completion of sunrise. There was just something about that orange, the burnt orange, just there closest to the sun… He brought out his fob watch.

Will you just open me? I'm very claustrophobic you know.

Ianto sighed "If I open you will you shut up?"

Yes, I promise.

"Fine" just as he was about to open it, Jack came out on the balcony.

"You feeling better, Ianto?"

No, the watch grumbled, Ianto put it back in his pocket "I'm more concerned about you, Jack."

Jack grinned "Who me? I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about. Owen said…"

"I heard" Ianto said, deciding he should tell Jack. "I think I'm going insane" he brought out his watch again "this keeps talking"

"Talking?" Jack took hold of it "Where'd you get it?"

"My mam says it came from my birth family. I was adopted when I was six—I don't remember anything before that. I'd have these dreams though, of this terribly beautiful place, much more pleasant than the one I told you about last night."

Jack handed the watch back "What does it say to you?"

"Mainly to open it and just now it said it was very claustrophobic"

"Well personally I don't fancy doing what inanimate objects tell me" Jack leaned against the railing

"Oh yeah? What about that seashell at Boe's Bay? You took off your clothes and did very provocative jumping jacks."

Jack looked at him sharply "How the hell did you know that?"

Ianto blinked "I uh—you never told me that?" this was very disconcerting; Ianto normally had better control over what came out of his mouth. He had no idea how he would know that, like he had no idea how he would know those spheres weren't really Toclafane.

"I've never told anyone that. The only other person who could possibly know that is Ianto the Time Lord, who by the way was a very good ventriloquist."

Time Lord? Ianto looked at the watch and then at Jack who wore an unreadable expression. He looked at the watch again, open the watch, find out the truth or continue thinking you're crazy? Oh what the hell? I've had enough of this. He opened the watch.

…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…

A strange and beautiful light flowed from the watch and into Ianto. It reminded Jack of what he saw in the Doctor's eyes, the Master's…eternity, all of time and space, reflected in the eyes of a Time Lord.

"Oh my God" Jack stared in amazement, unsure of what to do. Was this, was this his Ianto?

Ianto blinked and smiled "That is much more like it" he looked at Jack appreciatively "You grew up nice. What do you think of me? Part of my punishment was to regenerate." He didn't see as much of time and space in Ianto's eyes but Ianto was much younger.

Jack swallowed "Ianto?"

"Yep, that's me and you're…"

Owen opened the door and stuck his head out "So, when are we going back to the Hub? I think it's safe now."

Jack looked at him "see if Gwen and Tosh are awake, then we'll talk about it."

"Okay" Owen closed the door

Jack looked back at Ianto "I don't understand. How…I thought you were…"

Ianto stepped closer "Maybe we should go back to the Hub first, eat some breakfast. I'll make coffee, it's been awhile since you've had my coffee and then we can talk. Perhaps I should explain everything to everyone at once?"

Jack nodded "I actually wanted to make use of the spa here first. I think we can all use it" he went back inside.

"Time reversed didn't it?" Ianto followed him "the other day, that's why I was dizzy. I felt it but…"

"Let's not talk about it now" Jack used his Captain's voice though he hadn't meant to.

"Right, sorry Sir" then Ianto's brows furrowed "wait, what do you mean 'war'? What war?"

'Oh God' Jack thought, 'he doesn't know. How am I supposed to tell him?'

"Jack, I never ask you to explain anything but this, this I need to know. The Doctor was here, I know he was but I can feel he's not in this time; we have to catch up with him. But why can't I sense anyone else? Jack, tell me; what war?"

Jack opened his mouth to speak when the others came in.

"So Jack" said Gwen "what's the plan? I'd actually like to go home for a bit if you don't mind."

Jack smiled at them "Well, I was thinking of treating us all to the spa but I think that's gonna have to wait till another day" he looked around at all of them "you all go home, get some rest, take the day off. I'll see you at the Hub tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Tosh asked

Jack nodded "Yeah, I'm sure" I've got more important things to do today.

Owen volunteered to return the sports car to its owner before going home. Jack figured it was so he could drive it. Jack drove Ianto and the girls in the SUV. Gwen got in the front seat before anyone else could get to it. And was it just him or did he see Ianto glare? Ianto wouldn't glare, well, Ianto Jones wouldn't, Ianto the Time Lord on the other hand was just a bit possessive as Jack recalled.

Jack sighed; the woman he loved was getting married to someone else, which admittedly irritated Jack just a bit. Ya snooze, ya loose, Harkness. But he knew Gwen loved Rhys enough and Rhys could give her something Jack couldn't, a normal life to go home to. So Jack was happy for her and just a bit jealous, he really wouldn't mind a normal life himself.

And now the man he loved was a Time Lord and not only that but a Time Lord who just happened to be Jack's first love. Jack also had the unwanted responsibility of telling Ianto that he was one of only two Time Lords left, that his people and planet were destroyed in the Last Great Time War. To top it all off, Jack still couldn't die. Yep, he really wouldn't mind a normal life, nope wouldn't mind it one little bit. A nice normal 51st century life, a wife, a boyfriend, couple of kids and a dog. Was that so much to ask? Why again did he join the Time Agency? Oh yes, two reasons and two reasons only.

One of course was to find his brother. The other was to find Ianto, his Time Lord boyfriend and if he remembered right husband (they had gotten drunk in the Vegas Galaxies once). The other reason was that when he was with Ianto, he'd gotten a taste for travelling in time and space. Okay, so that was three reasons but still…

Jack and Ianto travelled together for months and Ianto had him home in time for dinner the day they left which was also the day they met.


Jack was only sixteen but he'd been in the military for two years and he'd been home from being a POW for a month. Those creatures (and they were creatures because they didn't deserve to be called fellow humans) had killed Jack's best friend in front of him and then they tortured Jack for weeks before letting him go. He wanted revenge, he wanted to go right back to the front lines but his commander ordered him two months leave. Of course that didn't stop him from at least fighting back whenever the creatures attacked his city. He met Ianto during such an attack.

Jack had leapt onto one of the jets as it passed under a cliff—his intention was to get at the pilot. He couldn't hold on for very long though and he fell to the beach below, fortunately it wasn't very far—they were low flying jets. He landed on someone who looked completely surprised to be landed on let alone be out in the open in the middle of an attack.

"Sorry" Jack told him, a very attractive him at that. From what Jack could see being on top of him like he was, the guy was about his age. Then all of a sudden the very attractive boy rolled them both over several times avoiding a laser blast. The very attractive boy ended up on top. Within a few moments the attack was over.

The other boy stood up and looked around, he looked frightened, like he hadn't meant to be there.

Jack stood too "Are you okay?"

The boy looked at him "You're the one who fell from the sky"

"Yeah but I landed on you"

"Nothing broken, both hearts working, I'm fine"

"Both hearts? I take it you're not human"

"Very astute of you. My name's Ianto, I'm a Time Lord and who are you? I like to know the names of people who land on me." While he spoke he fastidiously brushed sand off himself.

"Call me Jack but that's just my nickname. I'm Sergeant First Class—"


"Jack, Jack" Gwen brought him out of his memories "are you okay?"

"'Course I am"

"You missed my turn"

…...........

Jack looked over his shoulder "Crap. Sorry" he turned the SUV around. After dropping off both Gwen and Tosh, Ianto moved to the font seat.

"I'd like to go to my flat and change clothes if that's all right?"

"Of course" Jack nodded

"Are you all right?" Ianto asked "You're not the world's best driver but you never miss a turn."

"My mind was elsewhere "Jack told him "I was thinking about the day we met.'

"Oh? Which time?"

"The first time on the beach"

Ianto smiled "Oh yes, that was an interesting day"


"Nice to meet you Jack" Ianto said to the human boy, the very attractive human boy. "A bit young to be in the military aren't you?" then he looked around some more noting the damage to the area "unless that's a stupid question. Are your people attacked often?" Ianto had been here long enough to figure out who was doing the attacking and who was being attacked. Ianto had seen Jack try to get the enemy jet, a very stupid move in his opinion. The land was scarred from constant attack and buildings in the nearby city were on fire. Ianto imagined that on a good day the white city would be quite remarkable.

Jack nodded "Every week, like clock work to quote an old Earth saying. I thought the Time Lords were a myth."

"I believe you're meant to think that. This is the fifty first century isn't it?" Ianto ran a hand through his hair which at the time had been a bit ginger.

"Yeah, okay if the Time Lords aren't mythical, I thought they never left their planet."

Ianto looked at him "Whoever told you that? Why would we grow TARDISes if we never left home?"

"TARDISes?"

"Time and Relative Dimension In Space machines. Am I correct in assuming that this isn't the Golden Strand on Delta VI?"

"Right, Delta VI is light years away. This is the Boeshane Peninsula. So, if you came here is a TARDIS, where is it?" Great Rassilon, this boy was asking a lot of questions. But he was incredibly gorgeous…

Ianto pointed to his TARDIS, well his father's TARDIS actually but that was beside the point.

"That's a rock" Jack said disbelievingly

"No it only looks like a rock"

"Okay, well, I need to go make sure my mom's all right. Do you wanna come with me?"

Ianto quirked an eyebrow "We just met and already you want to take me home to meet your mother? Why Jack, I'm flattered."

Jack smirked "Oh, Ianto the not really a myth Time Lord, I like you."

Jack's mother was indeed all right and just by her bearing Ianto could tell that she could take care of herself. She insisted that Ianto call her Ava and that he stay for dinner. It was almost like Jack brought strange boys home all the time and she was used to it. Or, Ianto supposed she wanted her son to be distracted from the fighting. Human Behaviour was one of his better classes at the Academy after all.

"I would be honoured" Ianto told her "thank-you"

"Great," Jack took Ianto's arm "we'll be back for dinner then, Mom. I'm gonna show Ianto around. Love you"


…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…

Jack pulled into a random parking spot at 441, Heol-y-Gwent where Ianto lived in Cathays "My mom really liked you."

Ianto smiled wistfully "I liked her too; she was way cooler than my own mother. How was she doing the last time you saw her?"

"Good, she was good"

"Do you miss her?" he put a hand over Jack's wrist strap "because I can fix this, I'm sure I can."

"The Doctor would only undo it next time I see him"

"Then I'll just un-undo it"

Jack smiled "'ppreciate the offer but we have more important things to talk about first" he took a breath—this was not going to be pleasant "Can we talk in your flat?"

Ianto nodded "yeah, of course"

"Have a seat" Ianto gestured to the sofa once they were inside. His flat wasn't much with very little furniture and personal touches—Jack figured he probably didn't see the point since he was at the Hub most of the time. Ianto's flat was very methodical, much like his TARDIS had been "I'm just gonna take a shower, change and then we'll talk, okay?"

Jack sat on the old yet pristine beige sofa—the cushions needed re-stuffed. "Yeah absolutely" and Jack was left to think of a way to tell Ianto about the war. Of course he couldn't, how do you tell someone something like that? He let his mind flash back once more. Oh, what he wouldn't give to be sixteen again…


"It's lovely here" Ianto said as they walked down the street, watching the people clean up "and I'm sure it's lovelier on better days"

"Thanks, we like it. What's your home like?" Jack asked him "The home of the Time Lords must be something else"

"Oh it is" Ianto looked towards the sunset "Do you see the orange the sky is on the horizon?"

"Yeah" Jack nodded

"That's the colour of our sky"

"Burnt orange?" Jack hadn't heard of a burnt orange sky

"Yes, burnt orange" Ianto smiled "We have two suns"

"Two suns? Like you have two hearts?" Jack put his hands on Ianto's chest and felt two simultaneous heartbeats "That's amazing"

"And the grass is deep red, silver leaves on the trees that gleam like fire in the morning" Ianto's voice came out in a whisper and he stared into Jack's eyes. Ianto's own eyes had been green then, his hair a light ginger, freckles smattered across his nose and he sounded English.

Jack lowered his hands "What's the name of your planet?" his voice came out in a whisper too

"Gallifrey and I'm from the Citadel in the mountains of Solace and Solitude on the continent of Wild Endeavour"

"Gallifrey sounds beautiful, it's be interesting to see"

"Humans aren't allowed"

"Too bad"

"And anyway, I'll be in enough trouble as it is if I go back there. I uh, don't exactly have a TARDIS license and I may have borrowed the TARDIS I'm using."

Jack rose an eyebrow "Borrowed, huh? When you say borrowed, you mean stolen don't you?"

Ianto smiled slightly "Perhaps, but as it's my father's I don't think it's stealing per se."

"Ianto, the Time Lord, you're a wild one aren't you?"

"From what I've seen Jack, so are you"

Jack grinned "You bet I am" and he couldn't resist it anymore, he put his hands on Ianto's neck and brought their lips together. The Time Lord must have been shocked because he didn't return the kiss but his pulse pounded harder under Jack's hands. He pulled back "Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"No, it's all right" Ianto took hold of his hands "I just thought we'd get to know each other better first"

Jack nodded, understanding "We can do that, I still have a lot to show you."

"I have an idea" Ianto's eyes sparkled "Come travelling with me in my TARDIS. We can go anywhere in time and space except Gallifrey that is and we can be back in time for dinner."

The offer was tempting "Really?"

"I do have a time machine. Anywhere, anywhen Jack; Woodstock on Old Earth or Woodstock on New Earth."

"New Earth?"

"Oh yes, far into the future, after the original Earth dies. I hear the grass in New Brooklyn smells like apples."

"Apple grass? Sounds great. Can we go to both Woodstocks?"

"Not at the same time but yeah, of course. So do you want to? I'd like the company and it's absolutely mad trying to fly a TARDIS by myself."

Jack wanted to go with him so much. He really wanted to get away from it all "We'll really be back in time for dinner?"

"Oh yes, Jack we can be out there travelling for months and for your mum five minutes will have gone by. I assume it's her you're most concerned about?"

"Yeah, I don't want her to worry. She's a little over protective, it's a miracle she even let me join the military. So, five minutes, huh?"

"I promise"

Jack grinned again, the idea of months away and not missing anything was too good to pass up "What the hell? Let's go!"

"Great!"

They ran back to Ianto's TARDIS laughing the whole way. Of course Jack stopped when they reached the rock.

"Just one question, two actually: are we gonna fit and why does it look like a rock?"

Ianto pulled a key from under his shirt "Trust me, Time Lord Science, very complicated, I'll explain it to you later" he stuck the key in the rock and opened a door that was suddenly big enough to walk through. Ianto inclined his head "Go on, guests first."

Jack walked in, Ianto close behind. For some reason the first thing Jack noticed was that it looked very organised and methodical and then he saw "It's bigger on the inside" he couldn't help but state the obvious.

Ianto smiled "Yep, last chance to change your mind" he held open the door.

Jack looked him square in the eye "I never change my mind, Ianto—do you have a surname?"

Ianto closed the door "Tailorson"

"You just made that up"

"Yes" Ianto went over to what Jack assumed was the console "My father is called the Tailor"

"The Tailor?"

"Well, it is his job, along with being on the Council" he began flicking switches and pulling levers "and Ianto is just my nickname. My full name you wouldn't be able to pronounce. Have a seat, I'll teach you to help me fly later" he ran around the console, pushing and pulling various things.

Jack sat "So where are we going first?"

"How about Old Woodstock, then we can compare and contrast?"

"Sounds good to me"

"Woodstock, New York, August 15th, 1969 it is. Away we go"

…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…TORCHWOOD…


So, what'd you think? Reviews help get the next chapter up faster.

TTFN