Ianto couldn't even guess what he was supposed to do with himself now that Jack would not allow him to spend too much time at work, and Rhiannon was taking most of the time care of the children. He supposed it was better this way because he had agreed on Owen administering him the chemo therapy and was very tired a lot of the time, but he had some good days too yet and by god he was bored. He'd talked Jack into staying and helping with some files again when Gwen walked through the door all smiles and bubbly excitement, it was so infectious that Ianto couldn't help but grin back at her.

"What's with the happy?" Ianto asked her.

She bounded down the stairs to the beaten up sofa where he sat and gave him a kiss on the cheek, which was surprise enough to almost give him a heart attack.

" Oh, noting special John just came by last night again and stayed the night", Gwen said happily and the practically skipped to her work place. Ianto shook his head feeling a bit confused and dizzy swept in the whir-wind of the force that was the happy Gwen Cooper. He was really surprised that Captain John Hart had now came back on numerous occasions to Gwen and even stayed sometimes. He didn't even want to imagine what the two of them were getting up to but it kept Gwen away from Jack which was just fine with Ianto.

He felt tired and faint again so now knowing his limits, he put the papers down and laid on the sofa closing his eyes. He didn't notice when he had dozed off, but the next moment he opened his eyes Owen was putting his jacket on, Tosh was turning off her computer screen and Jack was talking to John Hart grinning quite suggestively. After a few more whispered words John mock saluted Jack and ran out of the Hub most likely chasing Gwen Cooper. Andy, Marta and Mickey were nowhere to be seen and Ianto realised that he had slept through the most of the work day.

"Jack I'm sorry." He jumped off the sofa and swayed a bit feeling sick and dizzy for a moment. Should remember not to do that again while dying Ianto though drily.

Jack cough him before he could fall and held him gently in his hands gazing at Ianto with concern.

"Hey careful. How are you feeling?" Jack asked.

"Better now." Inato said quietly almost in a whisper when he could catch his breath and find words after losing himself in the gorgeous blue eyes of his partner. He couldn't believe how much he still loved Jack, and Jack was gazing at him with the same adoration.

" I have reserved a table in our Italian restaurant if you are up to it." Jack said. " I have something special to tell you. But only if you are up to it."

Ianto's s stomach flutter with butterfly nerves in anticipation of what that could be, but Jack was smiling gently at him so it could not be something bad. He decided that he could manage to stay on his feet for a couple of more hours now that he had a few hours nap on the sofa, however, he was not sure that he could be able to eat anything.

"Ok, yes I'm up to it." Ianto said smiling back to Jack.

TWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTWTW

It was two hours later when they had finished their meal not that Ianto had eaten much and jack had voclised his displeasure very clearly, but in the end he gave up because he didn't want to force Ianto. He felt very nervous about what he was going to do or say and how it would be received. He waited until their dessert had arrived and then decided that he couldn't wait any longer.

Ianto was feeling very nervous himself, the whole meal had passed and Jack had not said anything more about what he was going to talk to him for. He shifted in his seat impatiently when the waiter left their desserts on the table and left. He was going to snap at Jack to spill it out already when Jack abruptly stood up and knelt beside his chair. Ianto's eyes went wide open when Jack put his hand in his coat pocket.

"Oh, my God" Ianto whispered with hands over his mouth.

" Ianto Jones," Jack began sounding ceremonious. " I know we have been though some very hard times lately, and I know I haven't always been the best partner, but I love you. And I can't imagine the world without you. You have given me the most wonderful gift of our two children."

Jack swallowed.

"Ianto Jones, will you marry me?"

Ianto just stood there for a moment unable to react with tears falling down his cheeks and opening his mouth without any sound coming out.

" Jack, I have waited for this for so long, and I love you very much so please don't hate me, but I can't." Ianto said sobbing on the last word.

"Why, Ianto? If you love me and have really wanted for it so long. Then why say no?"

"Because I'm dying Jack, I'm dying and I know you love me and want to marry me before I've died, but I don't want to make a widower of you before you could have enjoyed our marriage in full."

Jack wanted to shook Ianto and demand of him to give him a proper answer because that wasn't convincing, but he knew that it was for Ianto, it was real because he didn't know about John's cure, which wasn't even working the way Jack had wanted it to. He looked at Ianto's tearstreaken face and brushed the mosit away with his thumbs.

"I understand, I don't hate you baby. I can never hate you." Jack shushed Ianto. "I'll just have to try again when you are better."