Summary: I believe congratulations are in order because you see the author of this lovely story is now a college graduate. How excited are you for me. After four long hard years of work I can finally say that I accomplished something that not many people in my family have. Hooray for me. It's nice being a fresh college grad but I don't have any more nor do I have a job yet but it's still great. So great in fact that I have decided to upload the last chapter of my story. I know everyone thinks it was to short because it was but never fear their adventures of not over yet for you see I am working on a sequel. That's right, you heard me, a sequel. I don't know when I'll be done with it but I will hopefully have it up by the new year. So once again a sequel is in the works and everyone should look forward to it. Now on to the final chapter of my story.
Disclaimer: Don't own this show but my degree is all mine.
Chapter 9
The rest of Erin's time in Cardiff passed by so fast that she couldn't believe it was time to go home. Not that she wasn't happy to go home, back to Mark but she couldn't believe that she was going to leave her best friend behind as well as the rest of the team. During her vacation she'd grown attached to the team so much that currently she was at a restaurant for a going away dinner given by them.
"You guys didn't have to do this," Erin smiled as she picked up the menu.
"We wanted to love," Gwen smiled back, "It's been a pleasure having you here."
"And we're all sad that you're leaving," Tosh added.
"Speak for yourselves," Owen snipped, sipping out of his glass and avoiding the glares from his teammates.
Tosh rolled her eyes at the medic before turning her attention back to Erin. Over the course of two weeks she understood why Ianto loved Erin so much. She was kind, stern, and very compassionate who loved her friend deeply. All in all she was a great person. "Don't pay any attention to Owen, he can be quite daft."
"Hey,"
"And a complete moron as well," Ianto snickered.
"Do I have to separate you two?"
Ianto licked his lips seductively at his lover before leaning closer to whisper in his ear, "Only if I get to stay after school with the principle." he whispered, not caring the they were in a crowded restaurant along with the entire team.
"Oh baby, that can be arranged," Jack smirked, leaning closer to Ianto.
"Oi, we're trying to eat here." Owen growled at the couple.
"Oh I don't know Owen, I wouldn't mind a show," Erin purred as she looked back and forth between the two who were now engaged in a full blown kiss.
"Me neither," Tosh and Gwen replied at the same time, both blushing at their comments.
Finally the pair pulled away, completely flushed and breathless as they looked back at their friends.
"I'm sorry," Ianto blushed as he held up the menu to hide his face, "I shouldn't have done that."
"It's okay Yan, snogging your boyfriend isn't a federal crime."
"Well it makes me nauseous so stop it."
"Fine," Jack sulked, picking up his own menu, "If it makes you happy I will stop kissing my boyfriend."
"That's all I ask."
The roll of Ianto's eyes caused the girls to laugh as they placed their orders. Soon after that the food arrived and the conversation continued to flow between everyone. Everyone including Owen, even though he would never admit, were going to miss the parapsychologist. Tosh gained a new interesting person to talk to you while Gwen gained a new gossip buddy. Owen simply gained a new person to throw insults too. On a good day she was just as good as Ianto, sometimes even better. It was safe to say that Erin's visit had been a good one.
Soon the food arrived and the conversation between the entire team continued to flow freely. Erin and Ianto held most of the evening's conversation, sharing stories about the childhood the two of them endured.
"So there we were high as kites," Erin laughed, holding Ianto's hand who was laughing with her. "Singing at the top of our lungs inside this abandon building all because we thought we were at Victoria Lewis's party."
"Turns out we were nowhere close," Ianto interrupted. "In fact, we were on the other side of town. We ended up falling asleep and arrived home very very late."
"I bet someone's parents were off their rocker when the two of you arrived home," Tosh smirked, taking another bite of her dinner.
"That didn't happen because we covered for each other, told our parents that we were spending the night at each other's house. We were so close that our parents were none the wiser."
"I don't believe it. Ianto, our Tea-boy, high off ecstasy and singing his arse off in an abandon building," Owen frowned as he sat back further in his chair. The closes he'd ever seen Ianto high was from morphine he was given after a bad fight with a weevil and he was given the appropriate amount.
"I don't believe it," Gwen whispered, "You think you know someone."
"Oh come off it. We've all done things that we're not proud of."
"So Tosh, since you seem to know so much have you ever did recreational drugs."
"Maybe, once or twice," she shrugged, never taking her eyes off Owen who now looked as if he was going to fall out of his chair. "It doesn't matter, it's in the past."
"I don't believe it, Tea-boy and Techno Girl."
"And their faithful sidekicks Captain Jack and Psycho Woman," Erin snickered, trying not to laugh but failing miserable.
"Hey what about me?"
"Don't worry Gwen you can be Officer Heart since everyone says you're the heart of Torchwood," Erin stated as Gwen smiled at the name.
Ianto was now laughing at everyone's names but soon noticed that Owen was sulking in his chair and didn't have a name. "Don't worry Owen," Ianto smiled at the doctor "You can be in our superheroes club too."
"As what, Doctor Dangerous."
"I was thinking more of our mascot but that works too."
"I'm no one's bloody mascot,' Owen growled as he began stabbing the food on his plate with his fork. Everyone at the table laughed at the doctor as they too continued their meal.
The evening continued to run smoothly as the entire team talked about Erin and Ianto's past. Everyone, including Jack found out things about Ianto that they never knew. Like the fact that Ianto had an IQ of 140 or the fact that he could play the guitar and had a wonderful singing voice.
Soon the night was over. Gwen went back home to Rhys while Tosh and Owen shared a cab home leaving Jack, Ianto, and Erin alone. They stood in silence for a few moments before Erin looked down at her watch and saw how late it was.
"Well would you look at the time," she smiled, staring at the two men. "I better get back and get some sleep if I want to make the train on time."
"Wouldn't want you to miss that."
"Why Captain, are you trying to get rid of me?"
"You betcha," Jack laughed as the two of them walked towards the SUV. "But in all fairness I think I will miss you Miss Richards."
"Of course you will," Erin replied happily. "I'm one of the best people you will ever meet no to mention the fact that I come with a loveable Welshman for you to adore."
"I have to agree with her on that sir."
"And the ganging up continues."
"Don't worry Jack, Erin will be gone soon and it will be just you and me again," Ianto purred into Jack's ear causing shivers down the man's spine.
"I can't wait."
"I bet you can't," Erin smirked as they finally made it to the SUV.
"Shut up you."
"You better be careful or I'll sic Ianto on you."
"If you haven't noticed sweetheart Ianto's my boyfriend; that makes him automatically on my side."
"Ianto's been my best friend for years so that makes him on my side."
"Well see about that," Jack grinned, pulling Ianto to his side. "Ianto love, whose side are you on."
"Yes tell him Ianto, whose side will it be," Erin growled playfully. "This man you've only known for about two years or the girl who've known since the age of ten."
Ianto looked back and forth between the two people he loved more than anything in the world and knew that it didn't matter what he said. So he did the next best thing he could, "I'm sorry but who exactly is this Ianto person that you speak of."
Erin laughed at Ianto's response and punched him playfully in the shoulder. "Well played Yani, well played."
"Cheeky bastard."
Both Erin and Ianto laughed at Jack as the three of them climbed into the SUV. It wasn't long before they were parked outside of Erin's hotel and both Ianto and Erin looked at each other sadly before they got out of the car.
"Well, this is my stop," Erin smiled at Ianto. Before he could say anything she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a breath taking hug. "I'm going to miss you so much. Seriously you have no idea how much."
"I think I do," Ianto whispered back as he clung tighter to his friend. And it was true. With Erin around he felt free to be the person he used to be, before all the bad things in his life happened. When she was finally gone Ianto hoped that he could be that person more often.
"Good," she smiled, letting him go. She held out her hand to shake Jack's hand as Ianto stood beside her. "It was nice meeting you Jack and I'm really glad that Ianto has found someone like you to love him."
Jack grinned as he pulled Erin into a hug of his own and held her close. "Don't mention Erin besides, I'm the lucky one."
"That you are captain, that you are."
They finally pulled apart only for Ianto and Erin to embrace in a hug once more. Neither one wanted to let the other go but time was passing by and they both had early days in the morning. Slowly the pair pulled out of the hug but Ianto didn't let go of Erin's hand.
"Ianto what-"
"Jack I was hoping if it would be okay if I spent the night at Erin's hotel," Ianto asked in one breath. "I mean, it is her last night in town and I want to spend it with her."
Erin stood beside her friend shocked and smiled as she looked at him. If only he knew that she was thinking about asking the same thing. "Yani, you don't have to do that."
"Ianto you don't need my permission to spend the night with your friend."
"I know," Ianto shrugged, taking Jack's hand. "I just don't want you to be mad at me."
"Ianto I promise I won't be mad. In fact I want you to spend as much time with Erin as you can. She's your best and you love her, it's only natural that you want to be with her."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive," Jack smiled.
Ianto smiled happily and pulled Jack into a breathtaking kiss. Erin blushed as she watched the two go at it a pair of teenagers in a school hallway. "I'm still here remember," she stated after she cleared her throat to break them up.
Flushed, the men pulled away from each other and shyly looked at Erin who was smiling at them. "I should get going." Jack beamed as climbed back into the SUV. "How about I come back and take you to the train station."
"That would be great."
"Okay."
Erin and Ianto waved goodbye as Jack drove off before the two of them walked into the hotel. "So," Erin said as the two of them got into the elevator. "I was thinking that the two of us could use a good workout to burn off all the food we ate at the restaurant."
"Really, well what do you have in mind."
"A little Guitar Hero maybe."
Ianto frowned and pretended to ponder the question as Erin continued to smile at him. "I don't know, you have an early day tomorrow."
"I could always sleep on the flight. Besides, don't you want an opportunity to prove to me that you're the best."
"I assure you Erin that I am the best."
"Oh yeah, prove it."
"Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt," Ianto smirked as the elevator doors opened. Erin smiled as she pulled Ianto out of the elevator and to her hotel room. They had a score to settle.
"I'm going to miss you so much."
Ianto and Erin were once again embraced in a tight hug and on the verge of tears. After a night of more junk food and video games, the pair collapsed on the bed and just talked about their lives apart. Ianto promised to call more often while Erin promised to give Mark a fair chance. Neither one wanted the other to leave but Erin had a life waiting for her back in the states and Ianto had his own life here in Cardiff. Still, it didn't mean that the two wouldn't miss each other.
They woke up on time despite the late night they had and called Jack to let him know they were ready. It wasn't long before the older man was outside waiting for them. With bags packed and ready to go Erin and Ianto walked out of the hotel and to the SUV.
Now they were standing outside the train station at the front of the train station. Jack decided to stay in the SUV to allow the friends a few moments alone. Ianto greatly appreciated the gesture and promised Jack a reward later.
"I'm going to miss you more," Ianto replied back when they finally let each other go. "I really wish you didn't have to leave."
"I wish I didn't either but I have a life back home and hopefully a full time boyfriend."
"Mark would be a fool not to keep you around."
"He would be wouldn't he," she laughed as she grabbed his hand in her own. "I love you, you know that."
"I love you too.'
"And no matter what we're always going to be best friends. Marks and Jacks come and go but best friends are forever."
Ianto laughed, kissing Erin on the forehead as she let his hand go. "That's the truest thing I've ever heard."
"Of course it is and not just because I'm the one who said it." They stared at each other in silence before Erin spoke again. "I better get going, train to catch and all."
"I know it's just-"
"You didn't think it was going to be this hard and you-"
"Wonder when we're going to see each other again," Ianto finished. "Yeah."
"Don't worry Ianto because I promise you it will not take me another two years to come visit you."
"Two years, eight months, twenty days, nineteen hours and seventeen minutes before you came to see me but once again who's counting."
"Obviously not you," Erin replied sarcastically before she laughed, Ianto soon following. "But seriously, you don't need to worry."
"It's what I do best."
"Jack's going to have so much fun with you, you silly daft man."
"And Mark's in for the time of his life you insufferable hag."
"You words of love astound me."
"While your gift of gab appeases me to no end," Ianto smirked, hugging her again. "Promise you'll call me when you get on and off the plane as well as when you arrive back home."
"Okay mom."
"Erin, promise me."
"I promise to call," she smiled as she pulled away. "Take care Ianto."
"I always do."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
The friends laughed at each other again as Erin picked up her suitcase and made her way towards the station. Before she went inside she turned around and gave Ianto one final wave before she disappeared from sight.
Ianto stared into the distance for a while longer before he made his way back to the SUV. There Jack was leaning against the driver door waiting for the Welshman to return. When he did he didn't ask any questions, instead he pulled the man into his arms and let him settle there.
"She's gone."
"I know."
"I'm going to miss her," Ianto mumbled into Jack's coat while the older man rubbed his back.
"I know."
"You're going to miss her too."
"I know," Jack smiled as he held Ianto tighter. "But I have a feeling I haven't seen the last of Erin Richards."
Ianto pulled away slightly smiling at his lover's comment. He was happy that the two of them finally found some common ground before Erin left for the States. It was the one he wanted to happen more than anything. "I'm glad you said that because you haven't."
Jack chuckled as he pulled Ianto into a kiss. The kiss lasted for a seconds before Jack pulled away. "I seem to remember someone owing me a rain check for a missed dinner."
"I believe that statement is true sir," Ianto whispered back into Jack's ear. "What do you have in mind?"
"I believe you in a pair of leather pants and a Mohawk would leave us even."
"Jack we have to be at work in an hour."
"We'll just arrive late and leave early. After all, I am the boss."
Ianto just laughed as he kissed Jack again before jumping into the SUV and heading home. Now that Erin was gone he would have time to play with Jack again the way he used too and he couldn't wait.
There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the end of one fantastic story if I do say so myself. I hope it was enjoyed by all and thanks to everyone who gave reviews or puts this story on their favorite list. I appreciated them all. Like I said before don't worry about never seeing me again because you will, even if have a job where they work me 12 hours a day I will always find my way back to fanfiction, especially if there is a good slash fic waiting for me there.
Goodbye for now and happy holidays
"Lady C"
