Thanks as always to my Beta for her support and wonderful English skills.

Epilogue

Ianto looked with growing horror at the monstrosity of a cake being assembled. It stood taller than he did. Seven tiers with columns supporting layers covered with white and grey icing with some sort of dome on the top. Then there were two smaller tiers connected by icing bridges which led to two more tiered cakes on side tables. It was hideous. He felt sick as he looked again and had a worse 'oh my god' moment as he saw a wedding ornament of two men holding hands on the very top under some sort of icing arch.

The happy glint in his father's eye at hearing he and Jack were getting married was a glint of being given the opportunity to present a wedding that would outdo the worst excesses of the Vordav Royal Family.

Why had he trusted his father's assurances of 'Leave it to me'? His trust had led to this enormous massive hideous construction in cake that looked like it could crush someone to death if it fell on someone.

'I found you,' Jack said, joining him before the Everest of cakes.

Ianto stared at him unable to speak, pointing at the cake. The cake maker who was using six others to assemble the monstrosity took Ianto's silence as approval and bowed.

Ianto turned away and raced out of the doors to the main lawn where a giant marquee had been set up.

Quickly he counted the number of chairs being off-loaded.

'I said sixty, six-zero.' He turned to Jack. 'This looks like...'

'Six hundred,' Jack told him.

'Six hundred!' Ianto burst out. 'I said family and friends and it looks like Dad has invited the entire population of the Fifty Home Worlds as an opportunity to show off.' Ianto began to hyperventilate. 'I wanted a small wedding in my mother's garden by the cherry tree. Quiet, dignified, with family and friends and it's turned into three-ringed circus. What else has he not told me, should I expect dancing elephants?'

Jack stepped in front of him. 'You need to take a deep breath.'

Ianto's eyes flashed with anger. 'Don't you dare tell me to calm down. This isn't a wedding! It's a theatrical production.'

Jack put his hand on Ianto's chest. 'Listen…'

'Listen! Why did I listen to, 'Leave it all to me',' He opened his arms, 'It got me this catastrophe.' Ianto threw his arms around in a circle.

'Arthur told me about…'

'You KNEW!'

'Sort off,' Jack admitted.

'And I bet you said leave Ianto to me. You know how I hate all this sort of thing.'

''I knew you would be upset,' Jack admitted.

'Upset, upset! That does not even begin to express my, my, my…upset.' Ianto stared at Jack.

'Your dad explained as a public figure he had obligations. He had to invite the mighty and great or they might take it as an insult.'

Ianto saw Rhia in the distance. 'Rhia, stop! I need to speak to you.'

Rhia hugged him. 'Did you see the cake? Its gorgeous! Going to be the cake of the season.'

'I don't want the cake of the season! I don't even want a cake.'

'Never mind that I'm too busy. I've got the flower girls and pages to organise.'

'What!' Ianto said.

'They are so looking forward to it. All excited and so adorable carrying their little baskets.' She shoved what looked like a paper flower in front of him. 'They are going to be throwing these.'

'Is this Space Industries colours?' Ianto panicked.

'Dad's idea, you know what he's like, never let an opportunity pass for promotion.'

The family butler approached them and bowed. 'Sir has asked what time you would like the fly over.'

'Fly over? What sort of flyover?' Ianto asked almost too scared to ask.

'Space Command fly over,' the butler advised.

Ianto looked ever more startled and went pale. 'That's it, where is he?'

'He's in his study with the wedding planner,' the butler replied.

'I'll wedding planner him.' Ianto stormed off.

Ianto flung his father's study door open with a crash. He pointed at the wedding planner. 'You…out.'

'I wanted a small wedding. Ianto shouted at his Dad. 'Small!' SMALL!'

'I know but this was too good an opportunity for public demonstrations of a huge spectacular symbolic one up man-ship. It's the price we pay to be a success. There was no possible way to avoid it. Too many people see themselves as too important not to be included,' Arthur explained.

'You've invited six hundred people and have you seen the cake?' Ianto demanded.

Arthur stated to chuckle. 'Oh yes, I chose the most excessively expensive cake money could buy.'

'What about taste and decorum and it's got one of those stupid cake ornament toppers nonsense!' Ianto stuttered.

'It has become fashionable to have massive ugly cakes at society weddings, so I thought I would ensure we had the biggest, most tasteless cake possible. I understand it should cover three whole tables,' Arthur said with glee. 'As part of this family you should understand how important it is to ensure we keep up appearances to those that matter most.'

'I don't care about the wanna be's, social climbers, and arse lickers,' Ianto spluttered.

'Well you should. Now, excuse me, you need to get ready. Guests will be arriving soon and you need to meet them.' Arthur swept form the room.

'Jack! Jack, where are you? We are leaving!' Ianto shouted out.

As he stormed out of his father's study he found the way forward blocked by a crowd of people dressed in their very best.

A herald shouted an introduction as, 'Hero of the Torchwood, inventor of trans-configuration. Rescuer of slaves. I introduce you to Ianto Erasmus Jones and his partner to be Jack Harkness.'

Jack appeared by his side, his grin as wide as a crocodile.

'We are leaving.' Ianto tried to claw his way forward.

'We can't leave. All these people want to meet you,' Jack said.

A gentleman dressed in full military regalia held out his hand. 'Congratulations!'

'Who are you?' Ianto said not taking the man's hand.

'I'm General Farthington Brown. I know your father very well. I can't wait to see the new ships Space Industries have proposed.'

'I don't give a flying fig about the new bloody ships. You can take the new ships and shove them,' Ianto sputtered.

'Bloody Hell Ianto, is this what you call a small wedding?' Owen pushed forward. 'I know your family loves publicity but had I known a film crew would be here I would have dressed for the occasion.'

'We could have worn matching outfits,' Tosh added.

'You!' he heard a voice of his Uncle Charles who then proceeded to pull out John Hart by the shirt from among the line of guests.

'Don't hurt him Dad the invitation said I'm allowed to bring a friend,' Jackson explained, trying to get his Dad to release his hands off his lover.

'You are not welcome here so go before I release the hounds,' Charles thundered. It seemed at that moment a thousand flashlights went off to record the moment. 'You will not disgrace this family by his presence.'

'You're just jealous because he screwed you and now him and I are lovers!' Jackson shouted back.

'Cake, cake anyone for cake' Mickey said, staggering under a towering pile of unsteady plates. 'There you are, here's yours.' Mickey handed Ianto a plate.

'Ianto, this way. We need you and Jack for photos!' A voice rang out.

Fifty children suddenly appeared form nowhere carrying small baskets filled with cake.

'Don't the children look lovely. Here try this it's the best cake money can buy,' Rhia said as a child held out a basket.

'I don't want cake I never wanted cake. All I wanted was a quiet garden wedding,' Ianto tried to explain.

'But you can't fit six hundred guests in your mother's garden; they won't fit,' his father explained.

He looked up to see Jackson and John now kissing. Charles picked up a chair. Carrying it over his head he ran forward towards the pair.

'I now pronounce you Tarzan and Jane.'

'I am not Jane!' Ianto shouted out.

'Here, have some cake.' Jack held up a fork with a morsel on it.

Ianto sat up, startled, drenched with sweat.

'You okay?' Jack said sleepily.

'I was having a horrible dream, there was this massive cake and six hundred guests.'

'Small wedding, garden, cherry tree.' Jack yawned. 'What's the time?'

'Six,' Ianto said checking the alarm clock.

Jack got up and stretched and threw open the curtains.

'Hey look! A fly over.' Ianto joined him at the window to see parachutes which morphed into wedding cakes which then rained down onto the lawn.

'Hey, Jane, the cake is here,' Jack said.

Ianto opened his eyes to see Jack hovering, looking worried.

'You okay?' Jack asked.

'Am I awake?' Ianto checked.

Jack leaned over and kissed him. 'Seven thirty breakfast on the terrace. Don't be late.'

'I had that dream about the cake again.' Ianto pulled himself up. 'It was horrible. Massive great thing could kill people if it fell on someone. Dad had invited six hundred people, and I couldn't escape.'

'Not on my watch,' Jack told him heading for the shower.

Leaning back Ianto felt himself more in control. Breakfast, change, walk down the aisle, a few vows, small cake, family friends, no monster cake, no crowds, just cherry blossom and kisses.

Then it would be just him and Jack in some location yet to be announced as it was a surprise, and bliss.

Ianto stood and watched as final preparations in the garden were completed.

Other than in Jack's arms this was his most favourite place on earth. Today it looked spectacular. The cherry tree under which he had spent so much time in the wonderful company of his mother was flowering. It left the carpet of pink blossoms making the lawn look a perfect representation of this event.

Life did take some strange turns. Once he had known exactly how his life would play out. First skiing, then Space Command. He wanted to escape, run away call it what you like, to hide from his past.

Yet here he was getting married to the very man who had caused the direction of his life to change so dramatically. What a journey they had had and yet this was only the beginning.

The mission they had set out to enact was yet to reap its full reward. Then there was the adventure of helping the First Circle to reach their promise and potential. He envied Mickey now working to return yet he knew in time he and Jack would return in good time.

Smiling to himself he wondered if anyone had figured the start of the Acme Inc. was done to fund research into enabling the First Circle to reclaim what was rightfully theirs without having to use the travelling domes. The truth was once they were able to reproduce they needed to move to another planet. Transportation of some kind seemed the perfect solution. Failing that they would move them lock, stock, and barrel if necessary. And that took money, lots of it.

Jack came up behind him and slipped his arms around him.

'All okay?' Jack checked.

'It looks perfect,' Ianto said, smiling.

'Guests are arriving. I came to let you know they will be on their way down soon.'

'Thank you for this,' Ianto told him.

'You set it all in motion by saying yes,' Jack said.

'You did ask so nicely,' Ianto said. 'I am such a sucker for romantic gestures.'

'And red roses,' Jack added.

Jack's communicator device beeped. 'They are on their way down. We can offer them some cake later.'

'Don't mention cake,' Ianto said.

'You should see what we have planned. It's huge, hideous, monstrous, and ugly, over three tables with a nasty ornament,' Jack joked using the adjectives he had heard Ianto use repeatedly over the past few days.

'First warning.'

'Emmm Cake.'

'Second warning.'

'Delicious cake,' Jack said with a dreamy voice.

'I will deal with you later.'

'Promise?' Jack asked.

Ianto punched his arm with a glint in his eye.

Jack sat down with a glass of champagne; he was exhausted, and his feet hurt. The day was over without flaw. It was a testament to Ianto's sister who had arranged everything.

He saw Ianto, who was having an animated conversation with Mickey and Alfred.

Arthur sat down next to him. A few moments passed in comfortable silence then he turned to speak.

'I was right to give you a second chance, although I never expected to be having exactly this situation arise when I did so.'

'Thank you for seeing something in me even I couldn't see,' Jack said, touched.

'The truth is,' Arthur continued, 'we have both been given a second chance. Together we have hurt Ianto beyond measure. Yet here we are. I have come to the conclusion the reason we are here in this moment is because Ianto is a better man than you or I could ever be. He has found a way and granted us his forgiveness, something I'm not sure I could have done if the situation was reversed. Yet he has found a way to see past our glaring faults and past actions and allowed us the privilege of being part of his life. I have never seen my son so happy, or fulfilled, or smile as much and I wanted to thank you.'

'To thank me?' Jack said a little overwhelmed and humbled.

'I thank you for bringing him home. Just knowing he is less than a few days away and seeing him so happy has given me the first true peace in decades. All I ask Jack is for you keep doing what you are doing and I wanted to give you this.'

Jack took the tablet. Opening it Jack looked up astonished.

'As you are going to be part of the family I thought it was time you started to share some of its responsibilities.'

'I don't know what to say,' Jack said as the significance of Arthur's gift sank in.

'I do,' Arthur said. 'Welcome to the family.'

Owen watched with Tosh, Martha and Mickey as Ianto pulled Jack onto the dance floor for their first dance.

Tosh let out a sigh. 'You know, I would never have predicted this would end with such a happy ending.'

'Firstly, I'm stunned they stopped arguing long enough to say their vows,' Owen pointed out.

'That's an understatement. After I was invited to the work for the Trust,' Martha added, 'I once had to endure three weeks of bickering at the Vasara conference on Slavery Legislation. If they weren't arguing they were making up.'

'Thin walls?' Owen asked.

'Might as well not existed,' Martha said.

'Maybe that's it,' Tosh interjected. 'It's the making up that counts.'

'They clearly enjoy it. I've watched Jack get Ianto all riled up,' Owen said.

'They are talking about us,' Ianto glanced across at Owen, Tosh, Mickey and Martha.

'They are just jealous.' Jack held him close. 'You are dancing with the best looking man in the room.'

'You are so conceited,' Ianto said, rolling his eyes.

Jack laughed.

'If you want an early start to the honeymoon I'll take you right now,' Ianto warned with a soft growl.

'I've arranged so that our honeymoon is not as perfect as it might be,' Jack told him.

'Ah, you know me so well,' Ianto said.

'And by the way your Dad gave me a ten percent shares stake and made me a director of Space Command Industries,' Jack told him.

'I knew it,' Ianto snorted.

'Will I have to attend board meetings?' Jack asked.

'I'm afraid so,' Ianto added. 'If you are not careful you could end up as Chairman of the Board.'

Jack groaned. 'Not that I'm ungrateful but…'

'Bloody underhanded if you ask me,' Ianto snorted.

'Not sure if I would call becoming a board member and shareholder underhanded,' Jack pointed out.

'I would. They have been trying to get me involved for years and by Dad giving you ten percent of his shares, means along with mine we have to participate. We have also been active service members of Space Command which will give the company a fair amount of credence than it has so far,' Ianto added'

'You sure?'

Ianto laughed. 'I see Uncle Charles and Dad all over this. See, they have this new line of ships they want to sell and you and I being involved means the ink will be dry on contracts in weeks. And you know what this means?'

Jack shook his head. 'You mean I'm not really an asset because of my past.'

'No,' Ianto said. 'Something far worse.'

'Worse?' Jack swallowed.

'It means Arthur and Charles now consider you a member of the family. A real honour.'

'Your dad said as much and I am touched.'

'You should be. It's their way of saying you are a member of this family and as a member of the family you can now be manoeuvred in helping out in the family business,' Ianto explained.

'Seriously?'

Ianto laughed. 'The look on your face and so I get my revenge...'

'It's not too late… for cake,' Jack said warned.

'Third and final warning,' Ianto said holding Jack closer.

'Heaven,' Jack laughed.