"Are we there yet?" Ianto asked, hands reaching for the blindfold over his eyes.

"No," Jack's voice sounded from the driver's seat. In the next moment, Ianto felt a hand gently tapping his own away from the cloth, very much like a mother who stops her overeager child from reaching for a delicacy just yet. "And I think I've told you that you can't peek."

"The cloth is itchy," Ianto said in his defence.

"You weren't complaining when I used it on you before," Jack's voice sounded with a smirk.

"Is that the same one?" Ianto asked. "The one we… dabbled… with?"

"The one and only. I found it down in the room and figured it could serve a more innocent purpose."

"For something so innocent, you certainly know how to tease me about it," Ianto commented.

"I'm sure you love it just as much," Jack replied, his grin more than just a little audible.

Ianto chuckled before he could help it, and he finally decided to leave the cloth be. Comfortable silence filled the SUV and, as the darkness of the cloth gave him a sense of privacy, Ianto soon lost himself in thought. It was true that the romantic side of Jack had thrown Ianto off balance at first; the younger man had been used to the exhilarating, passionate intricacy of having sex with Captain Jack Harkness. Now, though, after their first 'real' date and the recording incident, Ianto welcomed that change; especially if it meant leading them to something deeper and far more meaningful than what they had till now.

The car slowed down to a stop, bringing Ianto back to the reality of things.

"I take it we're here now?" he asked.

"Yeah, we are. Take off the blindfold," Jack said.

Ianto complied and looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary at first. When he directed his gaze to his left to address the former time-agent, however, he caught himself staring over the man's shoulder, for a very familiar sight caught his eyes, taking him by surprise.

"I take it that my surprise worked?" Jack asked, grinning.

Ianto had to admit that it did, so he nodded in agreement.

"Okay, why the funfair?" Ianto finally decided to ask as the two of them walked about the children-bustling place. They were strolling side by side, enjoying their candy floss and the colourful lights around them.

Jack made a shrugging motion. "We haven't tried that before. Thought you might like it."

Ianto nodded. "The last time I went to one, I was still drinking milkshakes and I thought girls had the cooties," he said with an amused smile.

"Fortunately for you, I'm a boy," Jack said, winking.

"Let's keep it PG for now, Jack. There are children about, after all," Ianto retorted playfully. The last time he had been in a funfair had also been a pretty much so-so experience because of all the people and loud music. This time, however, he could really appreciate what it meant to just forget your problems and enjoy the merriment that could be found in simple things like tossing a ball or seeing the whole world from the top of a giant wheel. God knows how ugly and hopeless everything seemed when working for Torchwood.

"You okay?" Jack said in that moment, cutting into Ianto's thoughts.

Ianto looked up. "Yeah, sorry, just forgot myself."

Jack clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Today we're scott-free from everything. No Rift, no aliens, no emergencies of any kind, nothing. We'll just get in touch with our inner child."

"Sometimes I wonder if you ever have a problem getting in touch with your inner child, Jack," Ianto said.

It was meant to be a tease, yet Jack's reaction wasn't what Ianto had expected. A sad expression had settled on the former time-agent's eyes, and Ianto wondered what he had said that upset Jack so.

"I'm so-"

"What do you think of that teddy over there?" Jack asked all of a sudden, his smile back in his lips.

Ianto didn't answer at once, quite taken aback at the seemingly random question. In the end, though, he followed the man's gaze and he understood what Jack was talking about. There was a small stall to their right, and there was a bearded portly fellow standing in front of a whole shelf filled with toys, beckoning anyone to approach and test their shooting skills. And, sure enough, Ianto located the teddy bear that Jack had already spotted. It wasn't overly big, a pair of brown glassy eyes on a round face and with soft chestnut fur. What really made the particular toy stand out, however, was the bright red cape that adorned its shoulders.

"It's cute," the younger man admitted, only to smile as another thought crossed his mind. "It reminds me of you actually."

"Oh?" Jack raised an eyebrow, certainly intrigued by the verdict. "Why is that?"

"It seems pretty dashing with that cape," Ianto said, explaining his reasoning. "But I bet it's pretty warm and soft for a nice cuddle late at night."

Jack laughed at that. "Next thing you're gonna tell me that you would call it Jack too."

"I don't know. Probably," Ianto said with a teasing smile.

The former time-agent thought about it for a few moments and, as it seemed to have finally reached to a decision, he looked up at Ianto.

"Wait here."

Ianto did, even if he weren't sure what was on Jack's mind. He just watched the man walk up to the stall, exchanging some kind of talk with the bearded man before the latter handed him one of the fake toy rifles. Of course, the particular weapons were nothing like the real guns Jack – and everybody else in Torchwood for that matter – had to handle. So, mere minutes later, Jack was back with the teddy bear in his hands and a big grin on his lips.

"As you requested," he declared, handing Ianto the teddy.

"I hardly requested it, but thanks anyway," Ianto replied with a soft chuckle. "Although, just between you and me… I'd rather I cuddled the real thing tonight," he said, stepping a bit closer with a look full of meaning in his eyes.

"Tempting…" Jack commented. "But how about we go see what else I can win for you first?" Winking, he clasped Ianto's hand and they continued on.

Though Ianto followed obediently, he couldn't help but feel more than just a little disturbed. This was the second time that Ianto had suggested they spent the night together, and Jack dodged the offer. Worse, however, he had also noticed a certain look in Jack's eyes that he thought he'd never see. It was brief, a mere blink-and-you'll-miss it glance, but Ianto still saw it. It was a look of uneasiness and discomfort.

"Jack?"

Jack faced the younger man. "Yeah?"

Ianto opened his mouth to speak, but… what could he possibly say? He knew Jack, and Ianto also knew that if he tried to dig things up now he'd only get vague answers or stubborn denials. No. He'd have to let go of it for the moment and try again at another time.

With that settled in his mind, he smiled at Jack as if nothing was wrong. "How about we try the Ferris Wheel?"

Jack visibly relaxed and returned Ianto's smile to a tee. "Ferris Wheel it is."