Title: Understanding

Slash: Jack/Ianto Jack/OC Gwen/Rhys

Spoilers: Set 7 (Earth) Years after COE

Summery: It's hard to carry on without your lover; yet life goes on and love is never far away.

A/N Sorry it took so long to post, keep getting ill then I have to catch up with stuff and I have loads of coursework to do, will try and post the next chapter soon. Thanks to everyone that reads, feedback is loved and it would be nice to hear what you think is going to hapen or could happen.

Thanks again for reading :)

A/N 2: The singer was chosen by a friend of mine...Thanx Leah :)

Chapter Nine

The morning grew on and the two men lie there wrapped together, a blanket of comfort, care and love. The older man showing how as time wears on he is becoming more dependant on the other; how despite all the thoughts inside he found himself falling deeper for him. Moments like this cannot last forever, yet there was nothing more either man wanted at that moment. The moment was broken by the piercing beep of the alarm clock. Reaching out Andrew turned it off as Jack released his arms from around Andrew's body. "I'm sorry about before..." Andrew silenced him.

"Shh. Don't worry it's ok, to be honest I don't know how you last a year to let it go, I no I wouldn't be able to, especially if I'd lost you."

"Good thing you're never going to have to then isn't it?" They met each other in a slow and tender kiss, loosing themselves in the moment, blocking out the rest of the world, ignoring everything, past, present and future, for that moment nothing mattered apart from the fact they had each other. Fuelling all their love, passion and comfort into the kiss, letting themselves come undone and show who they really are underneath the shield the rest of the world sees. The men parted in unison both sighing as they got ready to face the day and all it will entail. Jack would be spending the day at home with Cadi as Andrew went to work. A routine both had now become stuck in.

Andrew got home after a tiring day at work, the boring repetition of seeing couple after couple wanting to book a romantic holiday, a family needing a break, or someone going on a business trip wanting to get there before their work starts. Andrew is not a man of regret but sometimes he really regrets his career choice. Who knew how boring being a travel agent could actually be. He was surprise to find the house in darkness apart from a soft glow, emitting from the living room. He placed his keys on the side and wandered into the room, the sight before him slightly overwhelming. Candles lit around the room, rose petals scattered on the floor, the coffee table had been moved and made way for a bigger table set in the middle, ready for a two person meal. The smell of incense sticks and spaghetti filled the room.

Jack entered the room from the kitchen, hearing the front door open and close announcing the arrival of his partner, and made his way straight to Andrew, meeting him in a soft kiss; wrapping his arms around the other man Andrew deepened it electing a moan from Jack as his tongue brushed against the roof of his mouth. "Been wondering when you'd be home; go sit down dinners nearly ready." Jack pulled away from Andrew as he said this.

"Smells delicious; sorry I couldn't get away earlier, had a hell of a day." He made his way to one of the chairs and sat down, letting him self relax, glad he was home, enjoying the surprise his partner had obviously taken ages to put together.

"It's okay, at least your home now; don't worry we've got all night, Gwen's looking after Cadi, sorry it's been so long since we did this last." The adoration was clear in Andrew's eyes, he was grateful for Jack just being with him that the added surprise overwhelmed him, making his heart swell. Jack went over to the stereo and put it on; the soft voice of John Barrowman filled the room, adding to the atmosphere. Jack had never heard of him until he met Andrew; but he couldn't deny that he was talented. He pressed a kiss to Andrew's forehead then made his way back into the kitchen to finish the dinner. Andrew lent back in his chair letting himself relax, the words playing through his head.

If you're lost, you can look
And you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you
I'll be waiting
Time after time

The words seemed to fit their relationship; both were there for each other no matter what, always knowing what to do for the other. Jack made his way back into the room carrying two steaming plates. He placed them on the table before opening the bottle of wine pouring Andrew a glass before himself. "Thank you Jack, for everything, this is lovely, just what I need."

"Just what we both need, I'm just sorry we don't get the chance to do this as often as I'd like." The sincerity in his words was made clear, Jack often felt like he was taking the other man for granted.

"Jack stop that thought right now, you don't now and have never taken me for granted. Admittedly I would like to do this more often but I know with our lives it's hard, but at the end of the day all that matters is we're together." Jack was shocked, he hadn't realised how well Andrew knew him until now, he managed to read his mind, there had only been one person who has ever managed to do that before, and he was gone. Looking into his partners eyes, it was now he knew for certain, something he could never deny, he loved this Scottish man just as much as he had loved, still loves Ianto. There was a comfortable silence as both men ate, enjoying the meal, lost in their own thoughts, content on being with each other and having time to be with each other and just relax.

The song changed and Andrew could help but sing along to it, it matched the feelings in his heart perfectly, showed the way he felt for Jack. "Oh thinking about all our younger years, there was only you and me, we were young and wild and free, now nothing can take you away from me, we've been down that road before but that's over now, you keep me coming back for more. Baby you're all that I want, when you're lying here in my arms, I'm finding it hard to believe we're in heaven, and love is all that I need and I've found it there in your heart, it isn't too hard to see we're in heaven." Jacks heart swelled as he heard him sing, his Scottish accent softening to fit the song, the words floating through him, realising what he felt for Andrew was returned in everyway.

"Andrew, I…" Jack stopped, lost for words, he didn't know what to say, the words fled his mind as he saw the look on Andrews face.

"What's the matter Jack?" he began to get concerned by seeing the look of confusion on his partners face, a worrying thought crossed his mind, does he not truly love me?