WEDDING DRESSES

"Ianto, please. I am begging you."

"No, absolutely not."

Toshiko turned her head at the sound of the two voices of her team mates as they stepped through the cog door. She offered a smile to Ianto who was the first through closely followed by a rather plaintive looking Jack Harkness. Ianto nodded curtly at her and headed straight toward the coffee machine, Jack on his heels, who completely ignored her as he went by.

"Ianto, I could make it an order!"

Ianto turned round looking extremely unimpressed in Tosh's view.

"No Jack... I am not going to a bridal shop."

"But Gwen needs a new dress, come on you really don't want her not to have a dress that fits, do you?" Jack was trying his best pleading voice and Tosh half wished she could see his face. She hit a couple of keys to change the CCtv view on her monitor and had to stifle a giggle at the look on Jack's face. Ianto glared at him.

"That is emotional blackmail. It's your fault she went out last night and was bitten.... I offered to go in her stead..... but oh no Captain Jack knows best! You're the one in the dog house with Gwen and Rhys, you fix it!" Ianto's voice was thin with exasperation.

Jack reached out and grabbed the younger man's hands in his and brought them to his lips gently kissing them.

"But you have such good taste, a real eye for that sort of thing."

"Yes, Jack I often wear maternity Bridal Gowns for work. Even matching shoes and earrings!"

"Oi enough of the dirty talk I am trying to do an autopsy here!" Owen yelled up from the Autopsy Bay.

Jack in an uncharacteristic public display of affection pulled Ianto close to his body.

"Really?" He whispered, his breath ghosting against Ianto's ear. "I must have missed that one."

Tosh watched the monitor closely as Jack brushed his lips against the pale skin of Ianto's neck, she then darted her gaze to Ianto's face, his eyes had shuttered closed and there was a blissful look that made him look just.... adorable. She smiled.

"Jack." It was barely audible as the sound came out as a caress in itself. Ianto suddenly shook himself. "No Jack.... no way." He pulled himself free and his eyes met Jack's. He knew he'd lost and his shoulders sagged. He could never resist that particular expression of Jack's, the one that held all kinds of promise. Ianto held out his hand.

"Give me your credit card."

Jack baulked.

"It's not coming out of the Torchwood expense account Jack. Your card please." His tone of voice was not to be argued with.

Reluctantly Jack pulled out his wallet and handed over the plastic.

"You buy her something nice and pretty."

Ianto was tempted not to, just a little. "You owe me Jack, big time and I am still not going to the wedding."

Jack nodded. "Ok, Tosh and Owen I am sure will be happy to represent Torchwood; don't you like weddings?"

Ianto's shoulders sagged still further as he thought about Lisa's dress still hanging in his wardrobe unused. Shaking his head he turned away from Jack.

"I'm having coffee first, did you want one?" He asked over his shoulder.

Tosh suddenly decided it was time to turn her monitor off as she watched Jack follow Ianto to the kitchenette, she buried herself in her work not wanting to hear the inevitable dialogue that was to follow.

"Ianto?" Jack reached out grasping Ianto's arm and pulling him to a stop. "Don't walk away from me, what's wrong? What did I say?"

Ianto looked down at his shoes, at Jack's boots, anywhere but his face, he couldn't, didn't want to meet his worried gaze.

"It's nothing Jack."

Jack sighed but lowered his voice to his softest level. "Yan? Tell me please."

Before Ianto realised he'd even been crying Jack was wiping away the water from his cheeks, he sucked in a steadying breath.

"I was supposed to be marrying Lisa last month in a church in Ealing. It was her birthday, she wanted to marry me on her birthday, said I was the best gift she could ever have and I'm not Jack. I let her down."

Jack carefully eased his arms around Ianto's shoulders and kissed his temple. "She was right too you are a gift. I wish you'd told me sooner, is it why you had those few days off?"

Ianto nodded. "I went to see her parents, took her things to give to them. I kept... I kept the dress she bought for the wedding, I just couldn't part.... I'm sorry. I should be over this by now."

Jack tightened his hold. "Don't be sorry Ianto, not for loving her. Don't ever be sorry for that."

"But it's not right Jack... when I.... I... shit!" Ianto wiped his face on his sleeve and tried to edge back a pace. "I'm sorry."

Jack caressed his face with his fingertips. "Please don't be sorry Ianto. I am glad that you still love her."

"Never stopped." Ianto finally looked straight at him and Jack felt his stomach knot tightly. "I'll never stop loving you either."

Jack smiled, he had known that for a while now and wasn't sure how comfortable he was with it. "I know, and I don't deserve it."

Ianto found a small smile in there some where. "You're damn straight. Now I really need that coffee before I go out because I know I will never live down the next two hours of my life and if Owen makes one sarky comment, you'll be on Decaf for a month."

Jack returned the smile apprehensively, realising the discussion was over without enough being said.

"I'd better gaffa tape his mouth shut then."