"Your coffee" Ianto said as he handed Gavin his coffee. Regular. Two tablespoons of cream, three sugars. One every three hours.
"Cheers, mate." Gavin replied, grinning as he sipped the coffee. Ianto smiled in response before moving onto Vi, who was working on a project for Jack. Smiling, he set down the coffee by her and she smiled back up at him.
"Chelsea not in today?" Vi asked, looking back at her work. Ianto shrugged in response. "Wasn't feeling too good, I think." He replied, leaning over her shoulder. "What are you working on?"
Vi shrugged, brushing back her brown hair. "Just running a few tests for Jack, really. Nothing too exciting."
"Better than filing paperwork all day." He said, straightening up. Vi laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, but your life isn't on the line everytime you get a field assignment."
He shrugged slightly, then noticed the flowers on her desk. They were roses of various different colors, creating a rainbow of colors on her desk. Ianto glanced at her and noticed that she had seen that he had seen the flowers and was blushing.
"Gavin?" He asked and she nodded. "Good for you." He grinned and she rolled her eyes.
"He's an idiot, but he's cute."
"Oh, well as long as he's cute..."
Vi rolled her eyes.
"Oh, go file paperwork you office boy." She said, but Ianto could tell that secretly she was pleased.
Picking up her old cup, he walked over to the kitchen and began to wash the dirty dishes. As he did so, he let his walls down. And then barrages of whispers began again.
"Ianto Jones I-"
"You look fantastic in red."
"I missed yo-"
"Stay the-"
"Just hold-"
"I'm sorry, I wish I-"
"Don't go-"
"Are you eating?"
"You read my-"
"Now may not-"
And so they went on and on. But Ianto dealt with them. It was these moments when the rest of the world was quiet when he could let down the tough walls he had built, and just let go and relax. He had long accepted that he'd have to live with these memories, these whispers, probably till her died. But that was fine. He'd gotten used to them, even found it weird when he stopped. It wasn't a bad thing, not anymore. There were no more drunk nights and glass shattering. Just happiness. Pure happiness. He could even live with the fact that he was a reincarnation.
Even if Chelsea still didn't know that he knew. And he was fine with that.
Sighing to himself, he finished up the dishes and began to walk up to Jack's office. He knocked on the door, and heard Jack say "Enter". Stepping into the office, he smiled at Jack.
"Anything you need for me to do? I wanna get home and check on Chelsea." Ianto said, straightening up. Jack didn't look up from his paperwork, but simply nodded.
"Of course." Jack said, glancing up at him. "It's fine with me."
"Thank you." He replied. "I'll take care of that paperwork tomorrow, if you want." Jack shrugged.
"Only if you're up for it."
"I usually am."
Jack looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks."
Ianto shrugged. "See you then."
"Tell Chels I hope she feels better."
Ianto knocked on the door to Chelsea's flat. After a minute, exactly, she opened the door.
"Ianto?" She asked, squinting her eyes up at him.
"Hey. I brought soup." He raised a tesco bag with two cans of chicken noodle.
"You're a lifesaver." She said, opening the door wider and stepping aside to let him in.
"I do my best." He said, heading to the kitchen. "What's wrong?"
Chelsea leaned against the wall, shrugging. "Just a cold. I should be better within a few days."
"You had better." Ianto said, taking out a pot and putting both cans of soup in the pot.
She giggled, and walked over to him, wrapping both arms around his middle, and he smiled softly. "Everyone missed you today." He said, stirring the soup.
"No they didn't." She mumbled. "Gavin fawned over Vi, who blushed and continued her work and Jack was as enigmatic as ever."
"Well.."
"Knew it."
He sighed, resting his hands over hers and looking down at them. They were cut perfectly, and painted a soft red.
"I missed you."
"Mmh I bet you did."
He shook his head, and turned around to face him. She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him with affectionate eyes. He stroked her hair gently, and she closed her eyes, leaning against him.
"Chels?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I know you do." She said, and Ianto shook his head.
"I'm serious, Chelsea. I really love you. Like marry me love you." Ianto said, taking her face in his hands and looking down at her. She opened her eyes and looked back up at him.
"Then marry me." She whispered, blinking slowly. Ianto smiled, "Tell me a time and place."
"One week."
"The place?"
"I'll tell you that later."
Ianto grinned, and turned back to the soup as Chelsea made her way back to the couch.
"Oh, and Ianto?"
"Yes, Chelsea?"
"After we get married.. D'you think we could.. Leave Torchwood?"
Ianto turned sharply, and she looked at him steadily.
"What?" He asked, and she shrugged. "Let's move. To the seaside or some other places. Away from Torchwood. Where we can be happy. Have a life, kids, everything." She looked down at her hands, suddenly nervous. "It was just a thought I had. You know. If you don't want to, I understand. It's only been what/ 3? 4 months? It's okay if you don't want to.."
Ianto's lips broke out into a grin. "Oh Chelsea." He said, walking to her. She looked up at him hopefully as he knelt by her. "I would love to move to the seaside with you. And have kids and everything." He took her hands, kissing them softly and she closed her eyes, smiling.
"Good. Once I get better we can look for houses." Chelsea said, leaning back against the soft red plush couch. Ianto stood up, grinning down at her. "Better get better soon then." He said, tapping her nose with his index finger. Rolling her eyes, she batted his arm away.
"By the way, Ianto."
"Hmm?"
"I love you too."
Ianto smiled, turning back to her.
"I know."
Just remember. This is not permanent.
