Ianto lay on his bed, staring unseeingly at the ceiling. He wasn't in the hospital anymore, but back in his childhood home, the home that Rhiannon now shared with her husband Johnny. If he squinted hard enough at the wall, he could still see the greasy marks left by the blutac he'd used to hang his posters. He chuckled when he remembered how his da had approved of the pictures of rugby players most of all, believing they signified Ianto's coming of age as a hard drinking, rugby loving Welshman. He never did learn that what his son was actually doing was wiling away many an hour wanking furiously over them. Ianto had been mortified when he joined the club and was introduced to one of his most persistent teenage fantasy. Luckily the man in question had retired at the end of Ianto's first season but until then, the young full back was often to be found spluttering and mumbling to himself whenever they'd been in the same room. It was no wonder most of his teammates thought he was slightly mad. Well, that and the fact he was slightly mad, Ianto thought wryly to himself.

As he lay on his bed, reminiscing, he decided he had mixed feelings about being out of hospital. Of course he'd known he couldn't stay there forever, but it had been kind of nice not to have to face up to things. Eventually though, the time had come when he couldn't stay any longer. Real life was worming it's way back into his head, slowly but surely. The club chairman had been to see him and assured him of his place in the team as soon as he was well enough. It was the Chairman who had been the one to let slip about his missing car, and it hadn't taken Ianto long to work out that pretty much everything he owned had been in that car. But then Rhiannon had informed him that his bank account was still intact so all he'd lost was things, and things were easily replaced. He'd already been on a shopping trip with his social worker and bought clothes and other essential items. Ianto had had many social workers in the past, good and bad and on occasion downright evil, but it turned out Rory was one of the good guys. As well as helping him shop, he'd gotten that ridiculous injunction on Jack lifted which was why the young Welshman was now lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling and waiting nervously for his boyfriend to pick him up.

When the door bell rang he counted to three in an attempt to calm his nerves and stop himself from flying down the stairs and throwing himself at Jack. Play it cool, he thought. He let out a slow breath then rose to his feet and walked down the stairs. He opened the door and his resolve flew out the window when he saw Jack standing on the doorstep, hands deep in his pockets and a sheepish grin on his face. Ianto wasn't sure who moved first but somehow he found himself in Jack's arms, breathing in the scent of the older man's aftershave and holding on to him so tightly, as if he was afraid he'd disappear if he him let go.

"Hey," Jack said, kissing the top of his head, "you've cut your hair."

"Oh, yeah," Ianto replied, pulling away and doing a twirl, "what do you think?"

Jack ran his fingers over the short, stubbly hair that barely covered Ianto's scalp.

"It's..different," he said.

"I can grow it again." Ianto tried to sound casual but came across a little too eager to please.

"No don't," Jack said, "you like it and I'll get used to it."

"I don't exactly like it," Ianto shrugged, "it's more like I had an an argument with a pair of hair clippers."

Jack gave him a worried look but Ianto simply shrugged again.

"I guess I'll always be a bit impulsive now." he said.

Jack smiled a sad smile at him then kissed him briefly on the lips before asking if he was ready to go.

The Welshman grabbed a jacket from the hook in the hall and left the house, locking the door behind them.

"I hope you don't mind but I've brought someone with me." Jack told him.

"Oh, erm, okay," Ianto stammered. He thought back, trying to remember the last conversation he'd had with Jack. Was it him or the other man who had first mentioned the word date? He'd been certain it was Jack but had he misread the situation? You don't normally invite a third party along on a date. He kicked himself mentally for getting so excited about something which Jack saw as a casual enough occasion to invite a friend along.

When he reached his car, Jack opened the back door and Ianto beamed when he saw who the American had brought with him.

"Charlie," he yelled happily.

He gave Jack a huge smile as the dog bounded out the car and jumped up at his young master. Ianto bent down and tickled him behind the ear, bring their faces close enough for the dog to lick him.

"I've missed you too, boy," he chuckled.

"I hope you don't mind," Jack said, "I thought maybe we could do something casual, like go for a walk in the park and get a coffee or something to eat."

Ianto smiled, affectionately.

"That sounds perfect."

TWTWTWTW

Jack laughed as Charlie bounded across the park in pursuit of his favourite doggy toy. The dog wagged its tail excitedly as he hurried back carrying the toy in its mouth and dropping it at Ianto's feet. He started running around in little circles, looking up at his master expectantly.

"Alright," Ianto tutted sternly, "but this is definitely the last time."

He threw the toy again and Jack took hold of his hand, entwining their fingers together. He bought their joined hands to his lips and the young Welshman looked around nervously.

"No one can see us," Jack rolled his eyes.

"Sorry," Ianto said, shooting his lover an apologetic look. Jack got the feeling it wasn't his gender that was the issue but Ianto's built in aversion to any form of Public Displays of Affection. He didn't let go of the hand but let it swing loosely between them.

"How about a spot of late lunch," he said, "we could find one of those pavement cafes where we could take Charlie."

"Nah, I've got a better idea," Ianto said, "come on, I fancy a hot dog. There's a stand on the other side of the park."

TWTWTWTW

"You," Jack said, waving a chip in front of the Welshman's face, "are what's know as a cheap date."

Ianto leaned over the table and ate the chip right out of Jack's hand. He grinned as the American looked bemusedly at his now empty hand.

"If you wanted fries..." he pouted.

He was interrupted by a loud, girlish giggling from behind him. He turned around and saw there was a group of 5 or 6 teenage girls occupying the picnic table next to theirs.

"I'm sorry, can we help you?" he snarked.

A girl aged about 16 and wearing a pink hooded top, ignored him and spoke to Ianto.

"You're Ianto Jones," she giggled.

Jack rolled his eyes and Ianto blushed. You'd think by now he was used to getting recognised but he still found it embarrasing and teenage girls were worst of all. For some reason, more so since he came out. He nodded and without waiting for an invitation the girls stood up and joined them around the table. One of the girls fished out a pen and pad from her bag. Ianto asked her name and signed the paper "with love from, Ianto Jones" which set off another round of giggling.

"I hope you're feeling better," someone said.

Ianto looked startled.

"It says on the blues website you've been ill," the girl explained, "that's why you haven't been playing."

"Oh, yeah," Ianto relaxed, "much better, thank you."

"Is he you're boyfriend?" the girl in the pink hooded top asked shyly. The other girls giggled again.

"'Course he is, Cerys," one of her friends answered, "anyone can see they're in love."

Ianto blushed scarlet and Jack grinned at him. He stretched over the table and gave the younger man a kiss making the girls squeal.

"Sorry ladies," he said, standing up and taking Charlie's lead in one hand and pulling Ianto up with the other, "I think we're gonna take this somewhere more private."

As the teenagers wolf whistled and cat called after the two men, Jack lead Ianto away by the hand. They'd gone a few yards down the path before the American felt the younger man pull back. He stopped and turned around.

"What is it?"

"I just, that is, I don't think, it's not that I don't want to..."

"Shh," Jack rubbed his thumb over the back of Ianto's hand,"I didn't mean it, I only said that for their benefit. Come on, I'm gonna take you home."

TWTWTWTW

Ianto was still smiling when he walked through the door of his sister's house, his lips still tingling from the kisses that he and Jack had shared in the car before saying their goodbyes and promising to see each other again soon.

"There you are," Rhiannon scolded him.

Ianto just smiled, refusing to be drawn into conflict with her. He stepped into the living room and stopped short when he saw a red-headed man sitting on his sister's sofa and leering at him.

"There's someone here to see you," she said, "I ran in to him in the supermarket and he was asking after you. I told him he should pop round and see you and here is. You remember Adam don't you?"

Ianto kept his face impassively blank as his sister prattled on.

"'course he does, we we're inseparable once," the man rose from the chair and walked over to them. He placed a hand on the Welshman's shoulder and smiled, "remember Ianto."

Ianto didn't reply.

"Well, I'll go put the kettle on," Rhiannon smiled , "leave you to get reacquainted."

When she'd gone Ianto glared at the visitor

"What are you doing here?" he asked coldly.

"Now then, Ianto," the other man grinned maliciously, "is that anyway to treat your oldest friend."

"We we're never friends," Ianto spat.

"No we were much more than that, weren't we? Like I said, we we're inseparable once. Until you buggered off to university, that is, thinking you we're better than the rest of us. Now, imagine my surprise when I found out you we're living around here again. The great Ianto Jones, big local hero, only not so big now are you, living with your sister and her chavy husband. Not too good for the likes of me anymore are ya, Yanni. The way I hear it, you haven't been at all well lately, and you've been on the good stuff again, haven't you, you naughty boy," he waved a finger at Ianto, his grin growing when the Welshman's gaze flicked upwards. "Oh but they don't know about before do they," Adam chuckled, "your sister and your mates on the team. What about that fancy American sugar daddy of yours, does he know."

"He's not a sugar daddy, I earn more than he does," Ianto cursed himself for sounding like a petulant child.

Adam grinned.

"I don't like your hair by the way," He made a move with his hand towards Ianto's head, the action mimicking pushing back the hair that was no longer there. Ianto flinched and whimpered a little, pulling his head back before Adam cufffed his ear and tugged hard, his face darkening, "nothing to hold on to while I'm fucking your face." he sneered.

Ianto bowed his head, tucking his chin into his chest and raising his shoulders up, unconsciously making himself as small as possible.

"I'm not 17 any more," he murmured.

"No you're not," Adam agreed, hooking a finger under Ianto's chin so he could lift his face up and look into his eyes, "you were crap at giving blow jobs back then, wonder if you've improved any? Oh by the way, you'll come to me next time you want a fix."

"There won't be a next time."

Adam chuckled,

"Of course there won't. There never is," he laughed as if he'd said something incredibly funny and at that moment, Rhiannon pushed open the door carrying two mugs in one hand.

"Having fun, I see."

"Just remembering old times aren't we, Ianto." Adam replied.

Ianto said nothing.

"Thanks for the coffee, Rhi," the visitor smiled at her, standing up, "but I'm afraid I've got to go." He looked at the other man, who purposefully kept his gaze averted, "Oh but don't worry, Ianto. Now we've found each other, we're not going to lose touch again, are we? I'll see myself out. Good to see you again, Rhi."

As soon as he heard the door bang shut, Ianto felt like someone had cut his strings. He collapsed in on himself bringing his knees up and cradling his head in his arms. After a moment or two, he looked up to see that his sister was staring at him with a worried frown on her face.

"You have no idea what you have done do you?" he asked her.

Without waiting for a reply or saying another word, he stood up and left the room.