9

Ianto thought they were heading back to the Hub so it was with surprise that he came out of his musing to find they had turned down another street.

"It's close" Jack was talking and Ianto wondered how long he had been zoned out, turning to listen as Jack contained. "The park is there, we can travel across it to work and it means Flynn has plenty of space to run about and terrorise other kiddies as the children's play area is at the back of the section and even has a gate to release the beast. I don't know what condition it's on though, I haven't been inside it since the early eighties."

They pulled up outside a large Edwardian style villa perched on prime property. Bute Park was indeed behind it and the large trees overshadowing it indicated that this house was one of the more decadent ones from the last century.

"Used it for a safe house last, was left to us when one of our agents died" Jack skipped up the steps and swung to look back at the confused archivist, "Weevil. He zigged when he should have zagged. Come on."

Jack unlocked the door and stepped back to let Ianto in and it suddenly dawned on Ianto why Jack had been talking about Flynn in the car. Ianto stood in the large marble floored entrance and stared at the sweeping staircase that belonged in Upstairs-Downstairs or something, his eyes widening as he took in not only the dust but the hidden beauty.

"Not much of a colour palette, black and white was all the rage back then. The pre-war era where everyone was so pompous, I stepped on a few toes then, I can tell you." Jack was excited and it showed as he showed Ianto around, opening a door to what was clearly a smoking room, "This would make a good office space, we can have the Hub transferred over at night, quiet times and such. A desk each would fit, I know these banisters look nice and slidy but I will talk severely to him about dangers like that."

Ianto blinked as he looked back at the room.

A desk each?

They came to the large kitchen and Ianto was in love. The middle island and the old wooden benches, the old open fireplace still there as well as the modern appliances chosen discretely so their 1950s feel still matched the house.

"This Island is big enough to eat at, some stools and stuff. There is a formal dining room but this is so cosy with the fireplace going, the toast tastes great with these tong things" Jack was nervous and Ianto sat on a dusty chair not caring about the suit trousers as he looked around and saw the hidden beauty in the long since abandoned house.

"So?"

Ianto looked up.

"What do you think?"

"I get the distinct impression that it would be the three of us living here, together" Ianto said slowly, "I am still processing that concept sir."

Jack nodded as he looked at him hopefully, "There are like ten bedrooms up there lots of room, this place is a bloody palace and really deceptive size wise ya know?"

"Bigger on the inside?" Ianto whispered as he let Jack know he knew exactly what he was looking at.

"It was a deal with some Dervorgians. A chameleon circuit for a wee job. I had intended to give it to the Doctor to fix the Tardis but then time went by and I needed space." Jack looked around, "I had to hide some people for a while."

"So when you made it a safe house you expanded it?" Ianto canted his head, "It is large. War, though. That's the thing with chamberlain circuitry, it wants its guests to be comfortable."

Jack grinned as he saw Ianto warming to more than just the house and he went for the kill, "Room for the whole team to sleep over, have a room each. When the rift is down we can be like a big family."

"You in my bed" Ianto blurted out, then looked shocked at himself.

"We can do separate bedrooms if you want and then…"

"No" Ianto barked, the surprise on his own face matching Jack's as he interrupted him again, "No."

Jack smiled softly.

"Actually Jack, um…I would like to forget Lisa ever happened and pick back up with the heavy petting, occasional banging and showers together and…er…stuff." Ianto blushed.

"Well, I quite like…stuff…too" Jack smiled softly as he pulled Ianto closer, "And I would like to explore other…things too. If you're up to that."

"Things?" Ianto's eyes widened, "Sir. 'Things' is a big leap from 'stuff'."

Jacks grin grew as Ianto played his game and then he leaned on and their lips met for the best kiss Jack had ever received from the Welshman since they had met.

It was full of promise.