A/N: HOORAY! I did manage to update right on time. Although it did come pretty close. (BEAMS)
First, though… THANK YOU, so very much, for your reviews and support! They mean more than you could ever imagine to me. So thank you!
Awkay, before I get so sappy that it'd make Owen gag… Let's go! I truly hope that you'll enjoy the ride.
(A small additional note: I've been dreaming of using this chapter title from the start, LOL!)
Heart to Hart
When Ianto was thirty weeks pregnant Gwen entered the Hub to discover a very, very bizarre sight. The green room, as it had been, no longer existed. Only a couple of plants had been left to remind what it used to be. Looking towards it with wide, slightly alarmed eyes she was able to spot a shadow moving inside in busy patterns.
If Gwen had been slightly worried before it changed to a mixture of alarm and fondness at what she found upon reaching the room. Jack was in there, his trademark coat abandoned who knows where. The man was organizing what seemed to be everything necessary imaginable for a baby. A crib was in the making, a feeding chair was fully ready although it wouldn't be needed in a long while, toys, books… It took Gwen's shocked mind a few moments to properly catch on what she was seeing.
Jack Harkness was nesting.
Gwen just couldn't hold it in any longer. She broke into a grin. "This has to be one of the cutest things I've ever seen."
Jack grinned back. The man seemed so proud of himself that it would've melted even the stoniest of hearts. "Ianto dragged me shopping. He insisted that we have to be prepared early." Well, it didn't look like the Captain minded terribly. The man looked at all the items around him, appearing both amazed and a little nervous. "I… didn't remember that there'd be this much stuff involved."
Gwen smiled, looking around. The whole room… looked so very un-Torchwood-like that it was stunning. It was like a tiny fortress of peace and comfort inside the madhouse. It was terrifyingly easy to imagine that no evils could ever come inside the fresh-created nursery's four walls. "You've done a fantastic job. Ianto's going to love this", she complimented. A frown appeared to her face when she looked around. "Where is he?"
"I sent him to get some rest when I caught him reading an instruction manual upside down." Jack sounded between amused and worried. "The baby's been using his insides as a punching back for the past few nights. He thinks that I don't wake up every time he leaves the bed and starts pacing."
Gwen had to bite her tongue to keep herself from pointing out just how heartwarming that sounded. Instead she winced. "Poor thing."
"Yeah." Jack appeared childishly grumpy for a moment when the crib seemed to be too much of a challenge. "And he still works almost thirteen hours a day."
Gwen's eyes widened. She couldn't have heard correctly, right? "What? Jack…!"
The Captain lifted his hands in surrender. "I've told him to slow down. Owen's told him to slow down. You think he listens?"
Well, that did sound like Ianto. "How did you manage to make him take a break now?" Gwen couldn't help but be a little curious.
Jack focused intently on the still very much in progress item. "I did something that I'm not proud of." The Captain actually looked a little sheepish. "I threatened the coffee machine."
Gwen couldn't help it anymore. She burst into a laughter, shaking her head. "I swear, you two…!" She then shook her head again, still chuckling. "Now let me help with that thing. Ianto's going to put you on decaf if you break it."
Ianto knew full well that he was supposed to avoid strenuous physical activities. It was a fact that even Jack had taken almost terrifyingly seriously. But as his pregnancy began to show just a little more clearly, so that even his most loose coat was barely able to disguise it, and he felt the strain it put his body through he needed a distraction. Something to ease his screaming head. And so he headed for a run.
It felt amazing. The air caressing his face, the way his muscles functioned, to feel in control for at least a tiny moment. But of course he didn't make it very far.
After about twenty minutes the furious kicking in his stomach and the hellish burning in his lungs forced Ianto into sitting to a bench that opened a stunningly beautiful view to a park. Despite himself he ended up watching how a group of children ran around, laughing wildly as they went. A heavy feeling settled to the pit of his stomach and his whole body tensed up.
Half subconsciously one of his hands found its way to the still very small swell. The baby responded to his soft, caressing motions with something that felt oddly like vibrations. Funny, she never did that to anyone else. "I swear that I'll do whatever I can to hang in there, kiddo", he murmured, carefully making sure that no one would hear. He fought back the annoying stinging that threatened to fill his eyes, mentally cursing the hormones that'd taken over him. "Your pa… He's already lost too much. And I'm not planning on being your first. Or losing you."
According to Owen his body still wasn't adjusting quite fast enough. And considering Torchwood's equipment they didn't have what it took to handle a premature baby. The baby was too small and Ianto couldn't take her becoming much bigger. They were at a maddening standstill.
Just a few more weeks, that was all he asked for. Thirty six or seven wasn't full term yet but should be safe enough. If he'd manage to hang on until then…
Bloody hell, he was going to hang on until then!
Newfound determination filled Ianto and he pushed himself up with a deep breath. His eyes focused on the landscape ahead, locking on a new destination. And then he was running once more.
The idea of stopping was unacceptable.
Jack groaned when he woke up for the third time that night to Ianto sliding gently out of the bed. The Welshman did his best to leave subtly and unnoticeably, he always did, but no matter how deep in a sleep the Captain lingered he noticed the absence of his lover every single time. He yawned and crawled out of the bed, listening to the sounds of Ianto moving around in the Hub.
Following the noise Jack couldn't help but smile at what he found. With Ianto wearing a worn t-shirt and a pair of loose pants Jack was pleased to get a view of how their daughter was growing. The swell of Ianto's stomach, no matter how small, was definitely one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. Even if the commotion inside it was causing that look of near anguish on the younger man's face.
Jack frowned while he approached. "Is she giving you a hard time again?" Like that much hadn't been obvious.
Ianto looked at him with a hint of guilt. "Sorry. I wasn't supposed to wake you up."
Jack shrugged. "I'm rather awake if our daughter is keeping you from sleeping." He gestured towards the nearby couch. "Now get over here before you fall down."
Ianto obeyed gladly and Jack wasted no time before sitting right beside his lover. The younger man gave him a surprised look when he guided the Welshman to lie down so that the man's head rested on his lap. "Just trust me and relax", he instructed.
They both knew that it wasn't that simple. Trust wasn't a small step for Ianto. But still, when his fingers began to massage the Welshman's head the archivist closed his eyes and relaxed completely to his touch. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Jack's heart thudded over the discovery.
He already imagined that Ianto had fallen asleep when the man's eyes opened halfway. "Jack? The new nursery's amazing." A small yet incredibly beautiful smile appeared to the Welshman's lips. "You'll be a great dad."
Jack placed a soft kiss to the man's lips. He hoped that it spoke more than a thousand words. "So will you." He knew that much although he was sure that Ianto still doubted himself. How could he not be sure when he had his family right there, safe in his arms? He then continued the massaging. "Now sleep. As adorable as you are when you're drowsy the two of you need some proper rest."
A couple of hours later they'd both fallen into a peaceful slumber. That was how the team found them when coming to work the following morning. Tosh squealed, careful to keep it quiet enough to not disturb their much needed sleep. Gwen smiled and covered them both with a blanket. Owen snapped a picture with his smartphone, then went to work. If there was a hint of softness in his eyes no one would have to know.
It wasn't until two hours later a Rift alert forced the lovers back into the waken world.
Against all odds Ianto made it to the thirty-fifth week of his pregnancy. But he could tell that the time to make some dramatic, horrifying decisions was growing closer. Decisions that he would've never, ever wanted to face.
Perhaps Jack sensed his need for a break. Because on Friday the Captain announced that they'd go out for some fun and fresh air. Ianto had very little objections to that.
He must've been even more tired than he'd imagined. Because one moment he was sitting contently while Jack drove, admiring the star filled sky. And the next he woke up to a stunningly gentle kiss to the top of his head. "Open your eyes, Sleeping Beauty." The older man seemed more than a little apologetic. "I know that you need the rest but…"
Ianto grinned, kissing the other's lips. For a few moments their taste was enough to chase away all worries and sorrows. "I wouldn't want to sleep through our date", he murmured, licking his lips. He groaned at the kicking that started as soon as Jack's natural scent filled all of his mind. Those pheromones…! "Not like Princess would even let me."
Jack grinned. Was that excitement shining in his eyes? "Can I…?"
Ianto nodded, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Like it even needed asking… "She's your baby too, you know", he pointed out softly.
Usually someone touching his belly made Ianto stiffen and feel unbearably uncomfortable. But not Jack's touch. Of course not.
The instant Jack's hand contacted with him the baby's kicks became noticeably more forceful. As though she'd been demanding his attention. When the Captain chuckled and squeezed tighter their daughter grew more determined as well. Enough so to make Jack gasp with surprise.
For Ianto it was too much, all of it. Hard as he tried to control his reactions a couple of tears rolled down his cheeks while he watched and felt his lover and their child interact. It wast the most beautiful thing he'd ever experienced. Stunning and bittersweet.
Seeing his reaction Jack frowned, visibly worried. The man's confused eyes asked long before a single word came out. "Ianto?"
Instead of offering feeble words Ianto slammed his lips against Jack, sealing the Captain into a kiss that took both their breath away. After a moment of stun the immortal caught on, responded with at least as much passion and meaning. They allowed that single gesture to speak out all the words they'd never, ever manage to say out loud. No matter how many nights they'd shared a bed somehow that stolen moment managed to be the most intimate one they'd ever had.
When it was over they still lingered, panting with their foreheads pressed together. Looking at each other with dazed eyes. "Well", Jack gasped, pulling him closer with his free hand. Impossibly close. "We should've done that, the last time we were here."
Ianto frowned. The kiss and the baby's continued movements were making him feel a little lightheaded. "What?"
Jack nodded towards the car's door. "We'll have to step outside. Then you'll see."
Neither of them wanted to leave the comfortably warm vehicle, even less the air of closeness that'd wrapped around them like a blanket. But they couldn't just stay there all night. With a great deal of reluctance they emerged. And Ianto froze with a gasp as soon as he realized where they were.
It was the same place where they met for the very first time, what felt like a lifetime ago.
Jack's arms wrapped around him from behind, pulling him close to the man's welcomed warmth. "The moment I saw you I knew that there was something special about you." The Captain sighed. "It took us a while to get it right." All the pain, hurt and heartache… The betrayal and tears…
Ianto leaned further backwards, so that his head rested against Jack's firmly beating heart. "Well, we're here now." Wasn't 'now' all anyone ever really had? He smiled at some sweet memories. "I wouldn't change it for the world." How could he ever regret any of this? Even with all the threat and uncertainties. He'd never, ever regret this impossible, wonderful man or their daughter.
Jack was silenced by stun for a long moment. The Captain swallowed loudly and trembled just a little bit against Ianto. "Then make it official and marry me."
Instantly ice cold water flowed all the way through Ianto. The entire massive weight of the situation crashed mercilessly on him, nearly dropping him to the ground. "What…?"
Jack was serious, he could tell that much. But… How could he promise the rest of his life to the Captain when…? This time he didn't even notice the tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Ianto?" Jack's hold on him tightened a little. The man's heartbeat quickened as it without a doubt began to break.
Ianto never had to answer. Because just then a entirely too familiar voice spoke from behind them. "While this is all very entertaining we're on a bit of a schedule here." They spun around just in time to see John Hart pointing a gun. "Jack… Ianto… I'm sorry, but this isn't going to be pleasant." With that the former Time Agent pulled the trigger.
TBC
A/N: Oh crap…! But I suppose that we all knew this moment would have to come eventually. We'll see just how 'unpleasant' things are going to get…
Sooooo… Thoughts? Comments? Please, do drop those to the box below!
Until next time, folks! I really hope that you'll stop by then as well. The ride's just about to get rough…
Take care!
Guest: I know, right? (sighs) Let's just hope that our lovely little family will be okay.
Monumental thank yous for the review!
