Ianto washed the last of the coffee cups, Jack had banished him to the kitchen while he got everything ready for their dinner date. Whatever that meant. He could only guess they weren't going out for dinner and a movie after all. If Jack was being cheep and just ordered in a Chinese he was going home. He started drying the cups, if he was honest he wasn't going home, even if it was pizza and no movie he would stay. The thought pricking his awareness, yelling at him in the back of his mind was, was he being too quick to forgive Jack. He shook his head to dispel that thought, he hadn't forgiven Jack. Like any love sick sap he would give him another chance. It wasn't the same as forgiveness.
Part of him didn't trust Jack quite as implicitly as he had before. He'd been more than a little rocked by Jack's revelation that he'd run away and hadn't planned to come back. Not straight away, not until at some, as yet undefined point, he had realised what he'd run away from, what he wanted to come back for. Jack had also implied there'd been no intention of telling him as much. Not if he'd expected to be brought back to the same point where he'd left. Hardly the sort of admission designed to inspire confidence in the neglected lover. Ianto put the last cup away and brushed the petal of one of the daisies still filling his espresso cups, the petal soft to the touch like butterfly wings.
He knew Jack was watching him.
'I've got every thing ready if you are.'
Ianto nodded, he was nervous about what Jack might have done. Sometimes Jack's idea of a surprise was the sort of thing you couldn't tell your mother about. Not that he'd ever objected at the time, but this wasn't the place for chocolate body paint, whipped cream or silk scarves. Maybe it was going to be silk scarves after all when Jack blindfolded him. Ianto let Jack lead him through the Hub, he didn't even try to work out where Jack was taking him. Concentrating instead on the man next to him, holding his arm as he guided him to their destination.
Jack stopped Ianto and removed the blindfold, tucking it in his pocket in case they wanted it later. Ianto blinked a few times as he adjusted to the soft lighting. They were in the shooting range after some sort of fairy princess make over. Fairy lights hung around the ceiling looking like glow worms and candles covered several flat surfaces. In a clearing Jack had created was a large picnic blanket and piles of cushions and a picnic. There was a large screen television wheeled into the room and soft music in the background. Other than the fact that they were sharing the room with cardboard weevils, it was rather magical as Ianto looked at Jack.
'Dinner and a movie?'
Jack nodded. 'I figured we probably still have a few things to talk about and I didn't think a table in a restaurant was quite it. Here we don't have to worry about anyone hearing anything about aliens and rift fragments or gnomes.'
Ianto recognised the wisdom of that and he felt slightly petty in wishing they were out in public. On the other hand, not actually knowing where his relationship with Jack stood he also wasn't sure he was ready to be out in a public place. And he wasn't sure what else there was to say.
Jack stood closer to Ianto and lowered his voice as he spoke in the Welshman's ear. 'Next time I'm thinking we could try the Italian place on the corner. You could wear that double breasted pinstriped suit.'
'That would be nice Jack. Although that suit does seem to give you ideas.'
Jack grinned as took Ianto by the hand and led him to the pile of cushions and encouraged him to sit. He had laid out a feast of Ianto's favourite deli foods. Stuffed bell peppers, olives, smoked salmon, fresh soft cheeses and crusty bread.
Ianto took the glass of wine Jack handed him. 'You have been busy.'
'Life isn't all gnome hunting Ianto. Speaking of which, is our little guest tucked in for the night?'
Ianto nodded. 'I found some mesh to put over the holes in the cell next to our resident weevil and dumped his cages in there.'
'So that's three cages Ianto.'
'You saw that things teeth.'
'Fair point.' He picked up his own glass of wine. 'Here is to dinner without interruptions.'
Ianto groaned. 'Did you have to say that?'
'Are all Welsh this superstitious or is it just you?'
Ianto sipped his wine and let the day fade away. 'You just remember that when I'm saying I told you say.'
'Your with the Captain, nothing bad will happen while your with me.'
'You say that now Jack.' Ianto muttered darkly. 'You say that now.'
Jack lounged back on a pile of cushions looking every inch the Roman Emperor with his bunch of grapes. 'Owen and Gwen. I heard rumours of decaf.'
'Ah.' Ianto set his plate aside.
'Not a rumour then?'
Ianto shook his head. 'It was awful, they left me no choice they were constantly bickering, children are better behaved.'
'You have children Ianto?'
'I have a niece and nephew Jack.'
'What are they like?'
'Like kids.' Ianto shrugged. 'They like crisps and playstation and driving my sister up the wall.'
'Do you want kids Ianto?'
'Isn't that getting a bit ahead of things Jack? I still haven't forgiven you for leaving.'
Jack sighed softly. Everything was a minefield between them and he didn't have a map. Each time he thought he was getting somewhere he lost ground just as quickly. 'Am I always going to be two steps forward and one step back with you Ianto?'
'Probably Jack.' Ianto said bluntly. 'I'm not ready to let go the pain and I don't know when I will be.'
'That was honest.'
'I would hope we were beyond lies Jack.'
'And the rest of the gulf between us Ianto? Can we at least bridge the gap until we are past this too?'
Ianto nodded. 'I want to Jack, I want to be able to.'
Jack leaned into Ianto and kissed him. He'd take what Ianto was willing to offer right now.
Ianto sighed as Jack kissed him, sweet, hesitant, a gentle touch that grew as both men relaxed into each other. Hands tracing faces with fingertips hungry to connect, to touch, to remember. Jack found himself tugging at the knot of Ianto's tie before moving on to buttons. He needed to touch Ianto and press himself against his skin, to absorb him into his soul. Ianto was just as frantic to get Jack undressed until they both lay body to body. Buttons undone and shirts shoved aside, pants pushed down to their knees. Hands stroking each other as they both tried to lead, desperate to erase the long lonely nights spent in separate beds. To sink themselves deeper in each other's bodies. Jack wrestled control and was kissing his way down Ianto's spine as his hands stroked Ianto's arse having found the lube.
Ianto gasped. 'Cold Jack.'
Jack kissed Ianto's neck. 'Yeah, I really must write them a letter about that.' He hesitated as he looked at Ianto lying in a pile of cushions and cursed himself for being so slow to realise what he had been leaving behind. 'I am so sorry Ianto.'
'Oh shut up and fuck me.'
'Ianto!' Jack's grin was short lived as pants began vibrating at his ankles. He reached down for his phone fumbling around for the pocket. 'This better be important.' He hissed as he answered his phone.
Ianto sighed as he watched Jack's expression change.
'Okay. We'll see you both in about five then.' Jack brushed his fingers over Ianto's jaw before stepping back to pull his clothes together.
Ianto rolled onto his back and looked up at Jack. 'Gnomeus Interuptous?'
Jack shook his head before he realised what Ianto meant and nodded as he helped Ianto to his feet. He gave a regretful look at Ianto's cock and sighed. 'Owen is bringing Gwen back in, she's had a reaction to our little friend.'
Ianto pulled his clothes together. 'The swabs came up clean.'
'I know but we may have to swab the little guy's mouth just to be sure.'
Ianto frowned. 'Can't we just replace Gwen with Andy?'
'Ianto.'
'What? We worked with him a few times while you were away, he's got a good sense of humour and he's police, they must be interchangeable.' He looked at the remains of the picnic. 'I'll clean this up, I've seen enough of Gwen's bum to last me a lifetime.'
Jack reached out for Ianto. 'It's not her arse I'd rather be looking at either Ianto.' He gave Ianto the barest hint of a kiss. 'Definitely not where I'd rather be right now.'
Ianto kissed Jack back. 'Leave me this and I'll sort it out.'
Jack grinned. 'Maybe leave the blanket and pillows?'
Ianto rolled his eyes. 'Just the dishes then.' Secretly grinning as he watched start to Jack walk away. 'Oh Jack.' He called out. 'Just in case I forget latter, I told you so.'
