This is the final chapter. There is an epilogue. I hope you've enjoyed it.

Chapter 11

'Bloody hell, this is amazing. How does it do that?' the Doctor waited for Ianto to use the famous words but instead he just looked around. Frustrated he said it himself. 'And it's so much bigger on the inside than it is on the outside!'

'Yeah, I knew it would be; Jack told me what it was like in here but its different seeing it for myself. And you travel around through time and space picking up strays like Jack and …' Ianto stopped knowing how that sounded.

'I'm no stray, Ianto; in fact I'm – no sorry, I nearly forgot, Doctor, spoilers!' River explained as enigmatic as ever.

'Now young man we need to get you home.' The TARDIS here can always find Jack. She's very fond of him; she always provided him with the best accommodation when he's here. So, old girl, do your stuff, find the Captain for us.'

'Uncle Jack, I can't breathe, please let me go a minute,' Steven begged as Jack hugged him yet again. Alice stood watching with Agent Johnson. Gwen and Rhys looked on as well.

'Jack, I'll just take Steven off to get something to eat. We'll catch you later.' Johnson led her away. Jack looked at Gwen and Rhys. 'I'm sorry I couldn't be here, Gwen. I'm sorry you had to face that by yourself.'

'It was terrible, Jack but Clem wanted to do it; he was so brave, a hero but he did it anyway.' She paused for a moment. 'Jack, where's Ianto? They told us that he'd been exposed to the virus and then taken away by the Doctor in the TARDIS. Is that right, Jack?'

'I don't know, Gwen. He'd breathed in the virus. They didn't give a warning so we didn't have time for the masks. I was just able to signal to you to go ahead and then the TARDIS appeared and a man emerged. The Doctor's regenerated. He was so much younger this time. I can only hope that he was able to save Ianto but I don't know. At least I told him I loved him; at least he knew so if it was too late …..' He found he couldn't finish the sentence.

Jack lifted his head up at the sound, a sound he knew so well, a sound that filled him with hope. It was the TARDIS. Gwen and Rhys looked on amazed as the TARDIS materialised. Jack stopped breathing. He hoped; he just hoped. Most of him couldn't bear to watch as the door opened and a young, good looking Welshman, immaculately dressed in a grey suit, stepped out and smiled. Ten seconds later Ianto was being pressed against the TARDIS and was being smothered in kisses which he returned eagerly. He knew damn well that if Gwen and Rhys and the others hadn't been there that they'd be on the floor by now, clothes having disappeared as if by magic. They'd be lying on Jack's coat loving each other once more. Instead they heard a cough to the side of them.

'Sorry, Doctor. You are the Doctor, aren't you and you are,' Jack asked.

'I'm River Song, Captain Harkness.' The Doctor raised an eyebrow. 'Jack!'

'What I was only asking and I'm hardly going to flirt with Ianto stood next to me am I? That name sounds familiar. I guess you're not from around here.'

Ianto chuckled; Jack would never change. He pushed an arm through his and held on staking his claim.

'No, I'm from the 51st century like you so it's possible you may have heard of me but that's another story,' River replied. Realising that he hadn't asked what had happened Jack turned to Ianto.

'So how, Ianto? I thought you might be dead. I was so scared that I'd lost you forever and that's a long time for me, Ianto.'

'They saved me, Jack. They took me to the future. There was this hospital ran by cats. And well, I'll tell you later. The 456, Jack, did it work? Are they gone?'

'Yes, Ianto. Clem died but it worked. They know we can kill them and we'll work out a way of doing it without using someone. The kids are safe.'

'I need to talk to Rhi. Doctor, River I don't know how to thank you.' Ianto hugged them both. Jack walked up to the Doctor and placed his hands either side of his face. He kissed him. The Doctor blushed.

'That's the second time I've got to kiss you,' he said.

'I owed you, Jack. Look after him and keep him safe.' The Doctor smiled.

'Oh I intend to, Doc, believe me and you take care too. I've got a lot to do and a Hub to rebuild and who knows what the Rift is doing without us there.' Jack started to babble. The Doctor and River turned and went back into the TARDIDS.

'Jack, that can wait,' Ianto said quietly. 'You and I have something far more important to do.'

A little while later, in the TARDIS on their way to who knows where, the Doctor and River sat drinking tea.

'Could you feel it, Doctor? Could you feel time shifting around them? I'm not sure that those creatures would have appeared anyway. Time seemed happy to be rewritten; it felt right. Perhaps this is what was supposed to happen after all and what did happen was wrong.'

'Only time will tell, River, only time will tell and at least Jack has agree to travel with me for a while knowing that he can't return. He's happy that Ianto is alive even if he's not with him and now finally as promised, Barcelona!'