Ianto was extremely quiet throughout dinner. Jack watched him with what felt like barely concealed concern as the man pushed food around his plate without really eating. In truth, he had been silent and distant since he arrived at his flat about forty five minutes after they had originally planned. Ianto had excused himself, saying that it took longer to close the shop, but Jack was suspecting there was more to the story than he was being told.

Jack reached over to cover Ianto's hand after the third attempt to say his name with no response. "Hey, you okay?"

Ianto slowly moved his eyes to meet Jack's, but they were dull, away. It was like he was hearing Jack but not comprehending what was being said.

Not for the first time, Jack wondered if Ianto was thinking of the night before and regretting their actions. Jack hated that feeling. It was like he was always on edge, and no matter how much he felt for the Welshman in his home, the oscillating of his emotions was going to drive him mad sooner rather than later.

Ianto began to silently clear the table. Seemed that no matter what funk he was in, Ianto still exercised impeccable manners. Jack watched him for a moment before standing and grasping the man by the shoulders as he returned from the kitchen. "Ianto, talk to me," he pleaded. "I'm going crazy here. What is going on with you?"

Of all the things he expected to get for a response, Ianto giving a soft cry and collapsing into his arms was not one of them. Jack stood, speechless for a moment, before gripping Ianto a little tighter, brushing his nose into the dark mass of hair on his shoulder. They stood that way for several minutes before Jack managed to pull back enough to look into Ianto's eyes. They seemed clearer, if not less distracted.

"Ianto, please," he tried again. "You're starting to worry me."

"I ran into Lisa on my way back tonight."

"Lisa? As in-?"

"Yep." Ianto's brow angled in despair. "My parents have invited her over for Christmas. She said it's because her parents are out of the country, but I know that it's my mother's attempt to play matchmaker all over again."

"They don't know about you and me then," Jack said, suddenly understanding. Ianto's lack of response was only a grim confirmation.

He had been down this road before. Others he had dated in the past had been in similar situations. They were in denial about who they were, or too afraid of how their families would take the news of their sexuality. The thing was, Jack had never had to be afraid of who he was. He couldn't comprehend the idea that anyone should hide from being who they were. And there were plenty of times he had to walk away from a relationship because that other person was too scared to admit it to themselves.

But it was too late now. He was in love with Ianto. If he could, he would shout it from the rooftops and to anyone who would listen. Jack would settle for Ianto being awake to hear it. The knowledge that Ianto didn't care enough about him to want to share that news with his family... it broke his heart.

Jack put his hands behind his head and paced the living room space. He didn't know what to say.

"Jack, it isn't that simple."

"It isn't? Explain it to me then. Explain to me how you can spend a night like we had together last night, and then the next admitting that we've been together for two months and your parents aren't even aware I exist!" He continued to pace, noting that Ianto hadn't moved from the spot near the kitchen entrance. Jack could feel the anger that he had felt before building. Why was this man so infuriating?

"Things are complicated with my parents. They..." Ianto drew up short. He took a couple of breaths, "They wouldn't understand."

"Understand what?"

Ianto crossed the distance of the living room to join him, reaching for his hands. "I told you before that this was all new to me. I decided a long time ago now that it didn't matter, and that what I feel for you is more than my anxieties. But that doesn't suddenly make everyone in my life as accepting."

Jack sighed. He knew he wasn't being fair, that it wasn't right to compare Ianto's experience to his. Jack had left home so young. He never had to really deal with the fallout from his negative relationship with his mother and brother. By the time he had decided to come out, he had already committed to leaving, and he was fairly certain the outcome would have been the same, regardless of whether or not he shared the information with his mother. He'd had to take care of himself for so long, but Ianto wasn't like that. HIs parents, good or bad, were still very much involved in his life. They lived in the same city, so barring Ianto relocating like he had, he would have to deal with the consequences of them finding out.

He squeezed the hands holding his lightly. "Are you ever planning on telling them?" he asked. Jack was hoping for a definite answer.

"Yes," Ianto said, squeezing in return. "I just need to find the best time."

"There really isn't a perfect time, you know."

"But there are better than others," Ianto pointed out. "I don't think my sister and her kids should have to be subjected to my parents throwing me out over Christmas dinner."

Jack had to concede that point. "Just, please don't wait too long. I like you a lot Ianto, but I don't want to hide," he stated. There would be no room for argument on this. Jack knew he could be patient, but not forever.

Ianto nodded in acceptance. They both remained silent, standing in the living room. The air around them was still charged, slightly awkward, and it was beginning to get uncomfortable. Jack finally huffed and rubbed his hands up and down Ianto's forearms. "Are we okay?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, we are," Ianto replied, wrapping his arms around Jack's waist.

Jack enfolded his shoulders, relaxing a bit more. "Good," he whispered. "I was worried for a minute that you were regretting last night," he confessed into Ianto's shoulder.

"No, Jack," Ianto said. Jack felt the man pull back enough to meet his eyes. "I may be a little messed up, but please don't think that." A faint blush rose up on Ianto's cheeks, "I had a lot of fun last night."

"Really?" Jack raised his eyebrow, voice dropping a bit lower.

"Absolutely."

Jack kissed him hard, leaving them both a bit breathless. "And you feel okay? Not too sore?" He began running his hands up and down Ianto's back, fingers dipping lower and lower with each pass.

"Jack, you've only asked me that about sixty times since last night."

"So...?" His fingers dipped underneath Ianto's pullover, caressing the skin above his waistline gently.

"Yes," Ianto breathed, a hint of a laugh in his response. "I feel just as fine as I did the other fifty-nine times I've answered you."

The quiet exasperation settled their nerves a bit, and Jack gripped his boyfriend in a more relaxed manner, pulling him flush against his body. "Does that mean I can count on a repeat performance?"

Ianto kissed him, brushing his tongue against his lips, before turning for the bedroom. Jack practically tripped over his own feet in order to keep up.

Later, Jack stared at the ceiling of his bedroom, watching as the soft light from the street created shadows. He was exhausted, but his mind would not quiet enough to let him sleep. Ianto's soft snores beside him only taunted him more with the unattainable.

Their conversation earlier still nagged at him, and Jack couldn't help but feel like Owen's warning was coming true in some way. There was definitely more to his Welshman than had been shared at this point. While that wouldn't necessarily be an issue (he had his own secrets, the same as anyone), he knew that what Ianto hadn't shared had the potential to hurt them.

He turned, taking in the sight of the man sleeping next to him. Jack admired so much about Ianto. Not only his looks, but also his wit and sense of caring. He shared so much of himself with so few people. Tosh was really the best example of someone who managed to break through this man's shell. He knew that they had not been together for very long, but the sense of protectiveness he felt around Ianto was another worry for him. More than anything, he wanted to keep Ianto in his arms and away from the things that threatened to hurt him, even his parents, given the reaction he received earlier in the evening.

Jack huffed and closed his eyes, desperately trying to keep his negative thoughts at bay.

Things began to pick up at work, and with the end of term, Jack didn't see much of Ianto over the week. They spoke sporadically when they had free time, and managed to meet up for a rushed dinner, but it wasn't until the following Saturday that they actually had a break in their schedules long enough to spend any time together.

Of course, Tosh would think of something for them to do. Namely, decorate the flat for Christmas.

Really, what she meant was, "Jack, I found the most perfect tree at the market, but Ianto is completely rubbish at carrying heavy objects. Please come haul it up the steps of our flat, and I'll possibly reward you with cookies!"

"You know I can't say no to you Tosh. But you better have milk too." He was nothing if not a hard bargainer after all, and her excitement at getting him to help her with so little prompting more than made up for it.

So that was how Jack found himself on the second weekend of December hauling up a rather sharp tree to Ianto and Tosh's flat. She was at the front, holding the lighter side and guiding them up and around corners. Ianto stayed ahead to make sure doors were open, the pieces of their stand assembled and ready for them the moment it was needed.

In all the time Jack had spent in the UK, he had never decorated his home for Christmas. Part of him didn't see the point, with only him in residence and very few people that came over. Part of him associated it with the life he remembered before his father died. Also, the lack of persistent, sticking snow in Wales didn't lend much to a Christmasy feel. He was a child of the midwest, and snow is part of the equation, or it just didn't feel like Christmas.

Now, he found himself missing it a bit as he helped Tosh set the tree upright. She wanted just about every conceivable decoration on the thing, from lights to popcorn strings she had painstakingly made the night before. For a couple of hours they giggled through stringing the lights and hanging decorations on. Ianto focused on making the rest of the space ready for the holiday, content to let Tosh have her fun. The only time he interjected was when he thought bulbs too similar in color were too close to each other, ever the perfectionist. He only protested a couple of times when Jack tried to lift him off of the floor to put the finishing star on the tree. Ianto was tall enough that he didn't need the boost, but Jack's enjoyment came out of hearing the slightly panicked squeals of someone, not entirely trusting to not be dropped, be raised into the air.

By the time they finished, it was nearly dark. Tosh did reward him with cookies, but only after insisting he eat a good meal first. Eventually, the three of them shut off all of the lights in the flat, except for the decorative ones, and sprawled on the floor near the tree. Jack, ever the kid, made sure his head was under the tree, both to take in the smell of fresh pine, but to see how the tree was lit up from the inside. He felt as if he could stare at their creation for hours.

"Thank you again, Jack," Tosh said, gazing at the tree, her head propped up on one hand. "I think this is the best one we've ever had. And Ianto, you're officially fired from carrying duties."

"Thank God!"

"You know what would be perfect?" Jack said, contemplative. "It needs to snow."

"Jack," Ianto said in his practical tone of voice. "This is Wales. You'll be lucky if you see flurries instead of raindrops for the next few months."

"I know," Jack said. "It's just not the same. Growing up you always knew it was nearly Christmas because the snow started coming down just before. I remember years when it snowed in October."

"Ugh, no thank you," grumbled Tosh. "I can't imagine having to slosh through that stuff for months on end."

"It's only slushy in the beginning and the end," Jack defended. "Usually, it gets cold enough in the middle that everything is white and hard, but you don't always track it everywhere. It's just beautiful."

Jack didn't say anything else for a few minutes, lost in the lights and sparkle. He glanced at his watch, noting the hour with a smile. "Tosh, isn't it time you should be getting ready?"

"Hmm?"

"It's nearly seven."

"Bollocks!" Tosh shot up and ran towards the bathroom.

Jack chuckled to himself as he heard a shuffling. Ianto's head joined his under the tree. "I was wondering when you were going to ask her about that."

"She didn't say a word to me about it all day. I figured she was trying to focus on the tree, so I didn't say anything either. Now I'm wondering if poor Owen was forgotten about."

"Not likely. She went on about it all last night. It's more likely she was using today to distract herself and just lost the time."

Owen had finally asked Tosh out on a real date. His friend had told him Friday morning when they went for coffee. It seemed that they had hit it off at the Thanksgiving party after all. They were starting with a movie, and maybe a couple of drinks after. Jack couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself for suggesting the matchup. He hoped that things went well for them both.

"I have an idea," Jack turned to Ianto. "How long are you going to be at your parent's house?" The lights were making Ianto's pale skin glow. Jack watched the gleam in the man's blue eyes as he asked the question. Gorgeous.

"At least through dinner, which will likely be early. I could maybe get away around six or so."

"Spend the rest of the day with me," Jack insisted. "We can do whatever, have dinner, see a movie."

"Are you asking me to spend Christmas with you, Jack?"

"Interested?" Jack tried to sound nonchalant, but his nerves were eating away inside. He bit his lip as he stared at the Welshman, who continued to look up into the tree.

"Yes." Ianto turned to face him, grinning, with an amused glint in his eye. "I would love to spend Christmas with you,"

Jack hadn't done anything for Christmas in a long time. But now, making out under a freshly decorated tree, with plans to spend the actual holiday with someone didn't seem so bad.

The "oy!" from an affronted Owen in the doorway had its own special charm as well.