Ianto woke from a dream where he had been calling out Jack's name while the man did, things, to him. He sat up panting as his cock throbbed, reminding him how long it had been since he'd had sex and finding Jack's blue eyes and jaw line popping into his head as he wondered what it would be like. He flopped back in his bed and sighed.

'I'm not gay. But I am mental if I'm talking to myself about it.' There was something about the man, actually there were several things, the way he smelt, it was divine. And the coat, he really liked the coat. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep but all he could see were images of Jack looking down at him with that quirky little smile of his. He must have been mischievous as a kid.

When sleep did claim him he felt hands on his cock stroking him and whispering in his ear, asking him if he really wanted this, was he sure. Lips on his and a tongue stroking him until he felt his balls explode. Waking up at the age of twenty four to find he'd had a wet dream was somewhere between embarrassing and exciting as he remembered the images from his dream. But now he had sheets to wash. It was going to be a long day.


Jack thought about what Undine had told him, of all the conversations he'd had with her since she pulled him into this parallel reality. He had forgotten to ask her why she hadn't pulled him into one where he really was Batman... But he wasn't sure she would see the joke in that. It just felt so overwhelming to even be here, and it made him wonder just how many realities where out there and was there a Jack for every Ianto. Or should it be a Ianto for every Jack.

He went though the motions of being domesticated, doing all manner of household chores that he'd never really paid any attention to. Who knew he could even be domesticated although he drew the line at wearing a piny. Standing in the kitchen he opened the cupboards and decided he needed more than a jar of crappy instant coffee, cereal and some tinned beans. Although he knew he wasn't going to find what he really wanted at the supermarket.

Jack found himself ambling aimlessly though shelves of food, he hadn't been the one to go shopping, Ianto always did that. On the few times he'd been dragged along he'd behaved much like the small children he saw trailing after harassed mothers. Adding one more thing to the very long list of things he wished he could go back and change in his reality. What was the point of fixing things here, with this Ianto, if his Ianto never knew how much he really cared.

He wanted to hold that Ianto in his arms every night. To wake him up every morning with an apology, a blow job and an I love you. While a carbon copy of sorts presented the opportunity to start again, it wasn't the same as making up for the arse he'd been to his Ianto. Every argument they'd had, essentially had been because they were both too proud to put a label on their relationship. Too proud to say how they really felt. Wanting to make that up to Ianto, and living a life with this Ianto, it wasn't the same as the words he needed to say.

He lost count of the number of times he wondered what would have happened if Ianto had walked out of the house of the dead with him. He'd gone looking for Ianto once before in that pub. He'd spent most of the last ten years either drunk or looking for Ianto. It made him wonder, that if Siryeth could re-create his Ianto, take him from time and memory to rebuild him. Perhaps there would have been another way to get Ianto back in his world, without disrupting this one.

But how many times would Ianto Jones have to die to save the world. How many times would he have had to watch, unable to stop it happening. How many more times would he wake screaming in the night and reach for the one person who didn't exist any more. All he wanted was the one chance to love him in life. And even faced with the chance for that life, he wasn't sure he had the strength to take it. It just wasn't quite his Ianto.

He didn't notice time passing as he purchased his groceries and took them home. He'd also brought Clive's mini, it was no SUV but it was in top condition and purred like a kitten. It was a bit like the furniture, he'd look at replacing it another day.

Today he just wanted to pour himself into a bottle and was finding the edges of the day getting twitchy as he tried to resist the craving for the temporary oblivion alcohol represented. But it was only temporary. He still craved real oblivion and even that was denied him. He decided to look through the box in the spare room, from the estate sale. Maybe there would be more tea cups to tempt Ianto through his door hidden within.


Ianto looked up as the door to the coffee shop opened and he watched as Jack walked towards him. Trademark coat flaring out around slim hips. Here was the stuff of dreams and he wasn't sure he was awake. A quick check and he was wearing his dark blue suit, not pyjamas so he was confident he wasn't dreaming. 'Morning Jack.'

'Ianto.'

He smiled at the American, he did love the inflection the man put on his name, drawing out the first syllable and following with a hard t as it softened into the o. It was an odd thing to be excited about, but he liked it. Every morning it was the same. Jack would come striding into the coffee shop at about this time. He'd say "Morning Jack." Jack would say his name in that delicious way of his and order a coffee.

He'd make two and join him at a table, and they'd talk. And in the afternoon he would pop into Jack's shop on his way past, dropping in with coffee for him and the new office girl. Jack had even pulled back on the flirting, which he found he was actually missing.

Their hands touched as Jack paid for the coffee and smiled at him, he smiled back. 'I'll bring your coffee over.'

'Thank you Ianto.' He turned towards a table in the corner and sat there just watching, trying to quell the butterflies that wanted to overwhelm him.

Ianto looked over at Cassie who stood there rolling her eyes at him. 'Oh shut up.'

'He likes you, I mean your coffee's good, don't get me wrong, but he really likes you. He's here every morning.' She gave him an exasperated sigh as she finished refilling the glasses with sugar packets to put on the last few tables. 'Whatever.' Muttered under her breath as she turned to serve the next customer.

Ianto was going to take a break now, to sit with Captain Sexy over in the corner. She was pretty sure Ianto liked the guy back, why else would he sit with him every morning over a coffee. He never did that with any of the other customers. Mind you, none of the other customers looked like that one either. He could have been a film star he was that handsome. Even if he was really old, the guy must be at least thirty five.

Ianto placed the tray on the table and handed Jack his coffee before joining him. 'Morning Jack.'

'Ianto, you said that already.'

He shook his head. 'Sorry, yeah, I did.'

Jack soaked in the time he spent with Ianto each morning. He could indulge in all the longing looks he could squeeze into the fifteen or so minutes he could steal with Ianto. He was proud of the popular coffee shop the young man was running but it did limit the amount of time he could spend sitting at a table drinking coffee with him. He'd missed Ianto's coffee as it exploded over his tongue and he wanted to reach over and kiss the Welshman. 'I see there is a gallery showing starting tonight...' He trailed off as he watched the light in Ianto's eyes.

'Post impressionist art.' Ianto smiled. 'I saw that, but it's invite only to the opening.'

Jack grinned. 'I might happen to know someone.'

'And it's black tie.' Never mind how someone who'd only been in Cardiff a matter of weeks already knew someone.

Jack shrugged. 'A man with your suit collection must have a tux he can get his hands on.' He paused. 'If you wanted to go.'

'Of course I want to go, I love that sort of thing.'

'I know. I mean, I thought you would.' Jack smiled hoping it would detract from his verbal stumble. Ianto looked lost in wonder at the possibility of going to the gallery opening and hadn't seemed to notice. He'd have to be more careful. He also had no idea how Undine had got the tickets but he wasn't questioning it. 'I can pick you up at seven if you like.'

'Um, question. Do you have a car?'

'I do. I brought it off Clive.' He watched Ianto put his coffee cup down and burst out laughing. 'What, it's a perfectly fine car, runs like a dream.'

'I sort of pictured you more in a big black something, rather than a lime green mini cooper.'

'Jesus, how well did you know the man?'

Ianto smiled mysteriously. 'I must show you my collection of Wedgwood next time your at my place.'

Jack shook his head. 'Of course, you were the customer he said I should look after, and make sure I look out for the good stuff at the estate sales.'

'Yeah, for some reason he always called me Maurice, I just never had the heart to correct him, after a while I wasn't sure it wasn't my name.'

Jack laughed softly. 'I wondered who the hell Maurice was. Well, if you aren't embarrassed to be seen in a lime green mini, I can pick you up at seven.'

'Or I could pick you up?'

'Really. And what do you drive, a forest green Audi?' He watched Ianto nod. 'Well, that was a good guess.' He should have known, his Ianto had loved that car. He pulled a card out of his pocket. 'It's got my cell phone number on it.' He envied the card as Ianto tucked it into his pocket. This whole bizarre situation was driving him insane. 'I'm sure you wont be late.'

Ianto grinned back. 'I'm never late.'

'Some how I didn't think you would be.' Jack frowned as he heard music coming from his pocket. 'Hang on.' He pulled his phone out and hit the talk button. 'Captain Jack Harkness.' He looked at Ianto. 'Have you got a pen?' He accepted the pen and note pad Ianto handed him and scribbled down an address. 'Thanks Carys, and I wont forget your coffee... Fine and a shortbread.' He tucked the phone back in his pocket along with the address he'd written down. 'Estate sale this afternoon. I'll need two coffees and two shortbreads to go.'

'Your shop girl, seems to be working out.'

Jack followed Ianto back to the counter. 'She just looks sweet and innocent.'

'She's probably exactly what you need then to keep you honest.'

'As a shop girl, definitely, as long as I keep the coffee coming.'

'I can't complain about that, so where's the estate sale?'

'Just out of town, I wont be late back.'

'Give me your piece of paper.'

Jack pulled it out of his pocket and handed it over.

Ianto wrote a number down and handed it back to Jack. 'Make sure you let me know if you are running late.'

'Oh don't you worry Ianto Jones, I wont be late.'

He took the coffees and was about to walk away when Ianto called out to him.

'Jack, how do you manage with estate sales if you drive a mini?'

'I'm Captain Jack Harkness, you'd be surprised what people will deliver for me.'

'I'm not so sure I would be you know.'

Jack grinned. 'I will see you, in your tux, at seven.'

Ianto turned to find Cassie standing there rolling her eyes at him.

'Oh shut up.'

'He's asked you out on a date then.'

'Do you work for me or my sister?'

She shook her head. 'Don't really know her, where's he taking you if you need a tux?'

'Gallery opening, since you seem to be my social secretary.'

She sighed. 'You want to look at paintings on a date?'

'It's not a date.'

She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him. 'Are you getting dressed up?'

'Well, it's black tie.'

'So that's a yes then. He's asked you to some swanky do and your getting dressed up to go with him, he's organised it, it's a date.' She turned on her heal and walked away. 'I'm going for my break.'

Ianto rolled his eyes as he cleaned his coffee machine. He'd seen a fingerprint on the stainless steal.


Jack handed Carys her coffee and shortbread. 'Some days I'm not sure who works for who.' He looked around the office. It was immaculate, he'd found someone even neater than Ianto.

'I just broke up with my boyfriend, it's a distraction, okay.'

Jack just stepped away from her and smiled. 'Okay then, enjoy your coffee.'

Carys sighed softly. 'I didn't mean to snap, it's just...' She trailed off.

'Hay, it's fine, I know it can be hard and I'm glad you've found something to distract you that's productive. And this place looks great. I can actually see my desk now.' She rewarded him with a smile and got back to her bookkeeping as she sipped her coffee.

Jack grinned to himself, he had an estate sale to get to, he'd have to leave soon so he could view the estate. And he needed to check he did actually have a tuxedo. But first he needed to google the address so he knew where he was going and print out directions. The engine of the mini might be in top condition but it didn't have any sort of sat nav. As much fun as the mini was, he did miss the SUV. 'Carys, I'm just going to check something in the flat, then I'm off to the estate sale. Call me if you need anything.'

She nodded as she waved him off.


Jack found Undine waiting for him upstairs and he grinned when he saw a tuxedo laid out on his bed. 'You are an angel, I'm naming my next child after you.'

'That could prove awkward.'

'What, why? I can have children, I've done it before.'

She shook her head. 'Are you picking him up?'

'He's collecting me.'

She laughed softly. 'It's because of the mini isn't it.'

He nodded. 'I happen to like that little car.'

'But it's not the SUV.'

'The SUV came with Torchwood, I'm out of that life.'

'When you drive home, don't take any short cuts.' She watched him turn to leave. 'And Jack.'

He turned back to look at her.

'Don't be so hard on yourself.'