ALRPGALW Chapter 14

Ianto slid down the shower wall and curled up into a ball. He cried, his tears hidden by the shower that was slowly soaking him through and through. He hadn't meant to say that to Jack had he?

Jack knelt beside the younger man, pulling him into his arms. "It's gonna be okay, I promise. I love you." He whispered. "I wanna marry you. Please, Yan, say that's what you want too."

"I want to get this blood off me," he whispered, looking at Jack, his eyes wide. "I want to forget."

"Then let me help you. You don't have to do this alone. I can help you to forget...if you'll let me." Jack touched Ianto's face with his fingertips.

Ianto looked at the man he loved more then anything else in this world. " Help me get out of these clothes. Please."

Turning off the water, Jack helped Ianto stand and then began to carefully undress him. He left the wet clothing in the shower. Wrapping a large bath towel around the shivering Welshman, Jack steered him towards the bedroom. Once there, he rubbed Ianto dry and sat him on the bed. He turned down the sheets and laid Ianto down. "You sleep, I'll watch over you." He hissed the top of his head.

Ianto didn't need to be told twice, he felt the blanket being put over him and he slept deeply. He slept as if he hadn't slept for a long time. When Ianto woke the next morning, he lay still wandering if he had dreamt what Jack had asked him last night. He hoped he had, because his answer or lack of one had been the wrong one. He finally opened his eyes. "Jack"? he croaked.

Jack was sitting in the armchair by the bed. At the calling of his name, his eyes opened. He smiled, seeing Ianto awake. "Hi. How ya feeling? You slept well.

Ianto sat up, leaning back on the pillows behind him. "I feel better," he smiled a little at him. "Thank you," he pulled the blanket back and looked at Jack. "What you asked me last night, the answer is yes, if it's still and option."

A smiled crept over Jack's handsome face. "No question about it being an option." He took Ianto into his arms. "I can't tell you how happy that makes me."

Ianto rested his head on his shoulder " There wasn't ever any other answer for that question, it sounds so much better me saying it out loud then in my head over and over again"

Jack smiled down at his lover. "You want a long engagement or shall we go ahead a book somewhere? Do you want a ring? I mean and engagement ring," Jack was almost giggling with delight. "Listen to me, I'm like a kid, I'm so happy."

Ianto pulled back from him and looked at him. "Would it look bad if I say Ii have some ideas?"

"Of course not. It'll be your day too. You go ahead." Jack sat back and waited.

"Hang on," he got up and went up to the bureau drawer and unlocked it, he then came down with a folder. "Okay I might have been thinking about this since, like the moment I met you," he sat on his lap.

Jack wrapped his arms around Ianto's waist and looked at the folder. "Why don't you tell me al about it." As Ianto opened the folder, Jack asked. "You loved me from that first night? In the park? Really?"

"I've loved you from the moment I saw you. The moment you spoke to me. I loved everything about you and I still do," he leaned back against Jack and opened the folder "I didn't want to scare you off."

"It'll take a lot to do that, believe me." He leaned back against the bed, with Ianto in his lap. It felt good to hi. It felt right. This was what he wanted. Ianto Jones in his arms, as his husband.

Ianto spent the next couple of hours with Jack, showing him what he had looked at. Possible locations, dates, colours, guests, food. He had looked at everything they could possibly need. He closed his eyes, his head in Jack's lap. "Sure your not scared?"

"In awe, maybe, but not scared. I loved you from that very first day, too. But, hey, I could tell you were straight. What chance did I have? I never dreamed we would ever be together, let alone propose to you." He smiled.

Ianto smiled back and kissed him softly. "You had no idea how confused I was. I was so sure of my self before I met you. Then I had all these emotions bubbling inside me and it was making me question everything I thought I knew. I'm glad I made the choice to be with you."

"So am I. I must be the luckiest guy in the Universe, having such a beautiful man in my life. I don't ever want to lose you. Not ever." They kissed.

"You wont lose me, not a chance of that happening." Ianto leaned against him his eyes closed listening to his heart beating. "I'm starving," he laughed. "Want something to eat?"

Jack smiled down at Ianto then gathered him in his arms and placed him on the bed. "Time for me to get ready for work, I'm afraid." Jack looked at Ianto. "Are you coming in, too?"

Ianto sighed watching him. "Not today," he swallowed. "I'll keep you company though," he smiled and sat up a little.

"Okay, breakfast it is then. I'll cook. Scrambled eggs ala Jack Harkness." He laughed. "Burnt in other words."

Ianto giggled " Cant wait, ala Harkness will be perfect" he lay on his front propping his head up looking at him.

Jack playfully slapped him on the butt, and Ianto laughed. "Okay, you shower and breakfast will be waiting for you. Dress casual. No suit, not until your back to work." Jack left the bedroom and headed for the kitchen. He was happier than he'd been in days. Ianto was staying at Torchwood and he was marrying him. The world was a great place for Jack.

Ianto showered and then looked in his wardrobe. He picked black suit trousers and a blue shirt. No tie. That was casual for him. He walked out into the kitchen and watched Jack plate up the food.

Jack placed the food before Ianto, and then kissed the top of his head. "The others will be pleased to see you." He turned to get the coffee. "You do want to come back, don't you? I mean, you're not doing this just because of me. If you are…."

"Did you make coffee?" He actually looked horrified. " Please tell me, you didn't touch my coffee machine did you?" Ianto stood up, picked up the coffee sniffing it. "Oh thank god, it's instant," he sat back down blanking his question.

"Didn't know you had instant. It was at the back of the cupboard." Jack eyed the younger man. "You didn't answer my question. Do you wanna come back. Or did what happen last night frighten you into it?"

"Jack, let's talk about this another time," he sat back down at the table. "Food smells lovely though."

Jack sighed aloud. "Okay, but we do need to talk about it."

They ate in silence.

Ianto ate the breakfast in silence. " It was lovely, thank you," he stood up to wash the plates.

Jack got up and stood behind Ianto as he washed the plates. He put his arms around his slim waist. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't push you. I'm a worry wart."

Ianto leaned back in to Jack and closed his eyes. "I know, but im here aren't I? That's all you need to know."

Jack closed his eyes, a single tear rolled down his face. He hoped Ianto didn't realise that he was crying. "I know."

Ianto turned in his arms and saw the tear. He kissed him gently and wiped the tear away. "I'm here because I love you."

"That's not what I asked. I know you love me. I wanna know why you're coming back to Torchwood. I want it to be for you, not for me."

"I want to be ..." he stopped. "I want you to be happy."

"And you. What do you want? I'm happy as long as you are. You're my life now, Yan."

"I don't know. I tried being away from Torchwood and look what has happened. Is it even possible for me to leave torchwood, Jack, or will I keep getting dragged back?"

"Is that what you think I'm doing, dragging you back? You tried a new line of work. It almost got you killed. At least there are people who care about you, watching your back at Torchwood." Jack let Ianto go and stepped away from him, dropping his arms to his side. "Have it your way. Find another job." He turned towards the front door. "I'll be in my office. If you decide to come into the Hub," He threw Ianto a key. "The tourist office door. You know your way from there." Then he was gone.

Ianto sighed That had come out completely wrong. He crouched down, picking up the key and followed Jack out of the front door. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"I don't wanna fight, Yan. I'm tired of fighting you over this. It's your decision. Make sure you make the right one. I can't always be there for you, as much as I'd like to be." Jack walked down the stairs and out into the street. He unlocked the SUV and got in. "You have until the end of work tonight to make up your mind. Stay or go, it's up to you." Starting the engine, Jack drove to the Hub with Ianto beside him.

Ianto got out when they stopped at traffic light's, he needed space, time to think, time to reflect on what he actually wanted with his life. He walked away from the SUV the keys for the tourist officie in his pocket. He sat down on a park bench, he didn't know which park or why he had gone there but there he was.

Parking the SUV further up the road, Jack turned off the engine and getting out, locked the door. The park looked familiar to him….it was where he'd first met Ianto 10 months ago. He walked through the gates and was Ianto sitting on a bench. Walking up to Ianto, he stood behind him. "We first met in this park. I bet you didn't recognise it." He placed a hand on Ianto's head. "Where I first fell in love with you. Before I even knew your name." He leaned forward, kissing the top of Ianto's head. "You know where I am if you need me. Know that I'll always need you." He straightened up and without another word, walked back to the SUV, started the engine and drove away.