With Albert's death and a funeral to plan, there hadn't been any time to talk about a new valet for Ianto. He didn't worry about it himself, and was doing fine with only Mrs Abbott around.
Lisa had learned the sad news, and had come over to comfort him. She didn't talk about what happened the last time they saw each other, but Ianto could feel that it was still bothering her.
She wanted to come with him to the funeral on Friday, and Ianto had no problems with that. Lisa had also known Albert, and she considered Harry a friend.
The trip went mostly in silence. Ianto didn't want to push her, but after more than an hour without a word between them, he couldn't take it any longer. "We need to talk. You have to tell me what you're thinking about all this..." He knew he sounded a bit desperate, but that was how he felt. Lisa shook her head. "Not now. Let's get through this first. We can talk tonight."
After the service, Dorothy had invited the whole staff to the big sitting room for drinks. The only two times this had happened before in Ianto's lifetime was after uncle Edward's funeral, and then that day they announced that the war was over.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
After a late supper, Ianto walked Lisa to her room. His patience was up, and he needed to know. She had promised that she'd give him her view as soon as they were alone, and now it was time.
She stood there in the middle of the room with her back turned towards him for several seconds before she drew her breath heavily and turned around. Ianto watch in horror as she pulled the engagement ring off her finger and held it up for him to take it. He could see that her eyes watered up, and eventually, tears started to run down her cheek.
Ianto just stood there. He didn't want to take the ring. He wanted to hold her and comfort her instead. When he took a step forward and reach for her, she moved away and shook her head. "I can't do this. That man is always going to stand between us." Her voice was steady, but when she drew her breath again, it was clear that she was struggling to stay composed.
"He is gone. I will never see him again." Ianto threw his hands out. "It was just...Nothing. It was nothing." It was not nothing, and it pained him to have to lie. Lisa scoffed and looked down for a second. "You came here to meet him several times, and I could see that it made you happy. I was jealous before I even knew he existed, because I knew… I know that I can't make you that happy."
She took a step towards him and forced the ring into his hand. "Maybe you will never meet Captain Harkness again, but I hope you will find someone else that can bring you that kind of happiness."
Ianto knew that there was nothing more he could say at the moment. Lisa had made up her mind, and if he wanted her to change it, he needed time. In just a week he had lost both Jack and Lisa, and it wasn't fair. Falling for that handsome American was a horrible mistake, and it was about to ruin his life.
Just as he was about to walk away, Lisa grabbed his sleeve. He hoped that she regretted her words, so he hurried to turn around. It wasn't that, far from it. "Harry needs to get away. He has nobody left here, and he told me that he doesn't want to stay. Will you promise to help him?"
Ianto promised, although he had no idea what to do about it. One day he would find time to talk to Harry about it, but it wouldn't happen this weekend.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
It was amazing how easy it was to go on with your life, even after a terrible loss. Ianto managed his work as if nothing was wrong, and occasionally he went out with a couple of friends, just as he had done before this mess. There was a sadness in him that he didn't manage to shake that first week, but he did his best not to let it show.
Christmas came around and took his mind of things, but the pain inside didn't quite go away. His mother started nagging him about getting a new valet, and Ianto was both surprised and a little disturbed by it. How could he even think about that in his current situation?
She knew that the engagement was broken, and it made her even more eager. "You can't be all alone. You need someone to take care of you."
He tried to laugh it off. "Mother please. I can take care of myself…" Suddenly Lisa's and Jack's words came to mind, and he thought about it for a moment. "You know mother, if you insist, I have a suggestion. Let Harry come and try. It will give me time to find someone. I'm just not up for interviewing right now."
Two weeks later, Harry was installed in the flat. It took a little while for him to familiarize himself with the place, but he was a fast learner.
With the small inheritance he'd got after his father, Harry wanted to take some classes, and Ianto had no objections. Two nights a week, he went to evening classes. He refused to take any more time off, and was there for Ianto whenever he needed him.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
His friends tried to set Ianto up with someone, and his mother wanted to throw him a party at the manor and invite wellbred singles women for him to meet, but Ianto turned down the offers. Even if he felt much better, he wasn't quite ready yet.
Over time, he managed to think about Jack without diving into depression. The pain from the memories was still a little raw, but he was occationally able to smile to himself when he thought about it. Lisa lived close by, so he couldn't avoid running into her from time to time, but it became easier with every meeting. When her engagement to a Doctor Mathers was announced, Ianto felt a pinch of pain because it had only been a month and a half since the break-up, but he was really happy for her.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
It was late February, and Ianto was out with some coworkers after a long day at the office. They had had a couple of drinks already, and the mood was light. Ianto was laughing at one of his friend's jokes when the laughter got stuck in his throat.
The man leaning on the bar couldn't be anyone else. Not many people could carry a coat like that. Jack hadn't seen him, and Ianto wondered if he should just try to get out of there.
That old tingle in his gut and the excitement he felt when he saw the man at the manor came back full force. He had to go over there; he had to find out if the two of them could possibly have a future together.
Jack got visibly startled when Ianto tapped his shoulder, but he composed himself quickly. With all the other people around, they just shook hands and exchanged a friendly hug. "What are you doing here?" Ianto couldn't stop smiling as he stared into Jack's eyes.
"Work. I'm here for work." He reached over to Ianto and picked an invisible hair of his sleeve. "How are you? Do you want to go somewhere?" Ianto knew instantly what he meant, and for a moment, he contemplated on taking him to the flat. "Are you thinking that this could work out after all?"
Jack got clearly a little uncomfortable and he rubbed his chin. "I can't… We can't. Nothing has changed, but we could… you know. One night of pleasure could do us both good."
Ianto gave it a serious thought. Another night with Jack. He had dreamt about it and imagined how it would be, but when he had a chance, it wasn't so interesting anymore. "One night is not enough. I was over you, almost anyway. I can not let you tear me down again."
One didn't have to be a genius to understand that Jack got utterly disappointed, but he then bent his head down and closed his eyes. It took more than a minute before he looked up again, and Ianto could see that there were tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry. You're right. It has to be over.".
They walked out of the pub together, but decided to say goodbye there on the sidewalk. "This is it." Jack lifted his hand and touched Ianto's cheek with his fingertips before he leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. It was almost impossible to stay composed, but Ianto managed. "Yes, this is it."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Harry met him at the door, and the guy immediately noticed that something wasn't right. "Mr Jones, what happened? You look like you've seen a ghost." Ianto pushed him away when he tried to take his coat. "Oh, Harry. Ianto, call me Ianto, I can't…"
Ianto threw his coat on a chair and went for the bar. "I met him. I met the Captain." He poured a drink and was about to take a sip, but hesitated. Then he grabbed another glass and filled it halfway before he gave it to Harry. "Have a drink with me, I need the company."
It was really nice having Harry there. There was never any trouble with him, and he managed the job excellently. Ever since he got hired, Ianto had spent a lot of time at work, and he had also made an effort to nourish the few friendships he had, so the two of them hadn't spent much time together. It was still nice to know that he was there, and that Ianto didn't have to come home to an empty flat.
They drank in silence. The two of them had never talked about Jack or what happened between him and Ianto, but it wasn't a secret that Harry knew. "It's over. It's definitely over." Ianto took another sip and looked at Harry. "I loved him you know. Maybe I still do, but I'm ready to move on now."
After finishing the drink, Ianto got up and headed for his room. "I think I feel better already. I needed closure."
Ianto was about to fall asleep when the door opened slowly. Harry tiptoed into the room and hurried over to the bed. It was so dark in there that he looked more like a shadow. Ianto didn't know what to think, and he should probably have said something, but he was a little taken aback.
Maybe Harry thought he was sleeping, but that shouldn't matter. His behavior was not in the manual for a valet. When he crawled under the covers, Ianto should definitely have done something, but he was unable to move.
"You can fire me tomorrow if you want, but I think I can take your mind of him for a while." Harry' lips were touching the skin on Ianto's neck, and a shiver went down his spine. Nimble fingers started to unbutton his nightshirt, and Ianto couldn't stop the soft moan that slipped out.
