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Epilogue (Of sorts.)
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"Katie come on!" Ianto yelled up the stairs, craning his neck to try and find his daughter.
"Will Daddy be there?" The girl in question asked as she bounded down the stairs.
"Yep, he promised to meet us at the station." Ianto replied, grabbing his coat, "Now come on!"
Katie rolled her eyes, "We're hardly going to miss the train." She muttered, jerking away as Ianto aimed a light swat at the back of her head. They were both quiet on the way to the train station, Katie was excited about the coming week and Ianto was caught up in his own thoughts. Jack was waiting at the entrance to the station and Ianto's breathe caught in his throat, it had been a few weeks since he had last seen the other man but Jack didn't look any different. "Daddy!" Katie grinned and flung herself at Jack who held her tightly.
"Oh Sweetheart." He murmured, "I've missed you. How have you been?"
"Alright, dad's been a pain though." The girl smirked.
Jack looked at Ianto properly then, "Hi." He murmured.
"Alright?" Ianto replied cooly and Jack sighed, wrapping his arm around Katie and leading her to the right platform, Ianto followed with her bags. "Now you be good for Owen, and tell him I'll see him on friday when I come to pick you up." Ianto told his daughter, "And just think, only a week after you get back and you'll be starting big school."
Katie grinned, "I know! How cool is that?"
Jack smiled and hugged his daughter, "I'll see you next week." he murmured as she picked up her luggage and prepared to board the train, "Love you."
Katie flushed, "Da-aa-d." She whined making Jack chuckle. "Bye." Katie said, giving Ianto one last hug before she climbed onto the train.
Jack and Ianto watched in silence as the train sped away, then Jack turned to the younger man, "Coffee?" He asked.
"I'm busy." Ianto replied shortly, turning to leave.
"Ianto please."Jack begged, reaching out to touch the man's arm, "We need to talk about this, for Katie's sake."
Ianto's lips pursed but he gave a small nod, "How did you get here?"
"Simon dropped me off."
"Right... I'll drive then." Ianto said, "We'll go home, to mine for coffee... Then I'll drop you off wherever you need to be." Jack nodding, knowing that being in control made this all easier for Ianto to cope with. They headed to the car park and climbed into Ianto's car, "How is Simon? And the others?" Ianto asked as he started the engine. Simon had taken over from Owen a few years ago when the medic had 'retired' after a leg injury that they hadn't been able to heal. Carly had joined the team a few years before that when Tosh had decided to leave and start a family with, now husband, Joshua. Kyle had joined them when Katie had been a few months old and Ianto had realised that he coouldn't bear to be away from her for too long, even when Ianto had returned to Torchwood full time when Katie had started school Kyle had stayed, Jack realsied how sueful having an extra team member was, especially when Gwen had got pregnant. Gwen was still a team member but only worked part time, spending a lot of time with her growing family. Jack and Ianto were both aware that they would lose her from Torchwood soon as she and Rhys were trying for their third child and Gwen had promised to take it easy after that. It upset Jack a bit but he also understood, plus he was still in regular contact with Tosh and Owen so Gwen leaving wouldn't change their close friendship. "Great, they're fine." Jack said in reply to Ianto's question, "They miss you, Gwen in particular." Ianto gave a small nod, he hadn't been to the Hub in weeks, not since... well... then. "Paperwork's suffering too" Jack tried to joke.
"I'm sure." Was all Ianto said, pulling up outside their, his, house. Jack winced slightly and silently followed Ianto into the kitchen, watching as he made coffee.
"I've missed this place." Jack murmured quietly.
"Yeah well... I needed space." Ianto sighed, sliding a mug of coffee onto the table, towards Jack.
Jack bit at his lip, "I know... I'm sorry." He whispered.
Ianto sat down, sipping at his own mug, "Well we need to talk about it, you were right. At least for Katie's sake."
Jack nodded, "She's probably used to us... arguing." He mumbled, after all he and Ianto had seperated and got back togetehr countless times since Katie had been born, however this time had been different, this time Jack had really messed up. A few of the times they had split up had been because, despite his assurances, Ianto had found it difficult to accept Jack's need to sleep with other people. This time around Jack had really hurt Ianto, not only had he slept with someone else, he had done it several times over several weeks... An affair. "Why did you do it Jack? If you needed space from me..."
"No! No I... I don't know." Jack bit at his lip and let out a huff of air, "I was feeling wierd. Katie had just had her birthday which reminded me how long I'd been, we'd been here, together... Then... Then Martha..." Jack trailed off, his voice catching in his throat. Ianto leant accross and took his hand. Martha's death had hit them all hard. "I... I'd been pretty lucky not losing any of you until then... I just... I freaked out, went out and got pissed... But the alcohol wasn't enough, I knew it would fade too quickly so i took some pills too."
"You did what?" Ianto exclaimed, staring at Jack with open mouthed horror.
"I know, I was an idiot... The Doc already gave me hell for it."
Ianto frowned slightly, "You told the Doctor?"
Jack sighed, "Yeah well... You were refusing to talk to me and... I knew he'd understand, he'd be mad but he'd undertsand, ya know?"
"Yeah..." Ianto nodded, he and the Doctor had reached a mutual understanding a few years back, they couldn't exactly be considered friends but they had both accept that Jack needed them both. Jack blinked back tears, "Anyway I met this woman... Went back to hers." Jack stopped as Ianto suddenly stood up and crossed to the window, he hated hearing about Jack with other people.
"Carry on." Ianto muttered eventually.
"It was only going to be once... I came home the next day and was going to tell you but... But I just couldn't bring myself to." Jack sighed, "Then she phoned me, I'd left my wallet so I went to pick it up. Was going to retcon her so she couldn't contact me again but things kind of escalated. It was never meant to be more than a one time thing but I kept finding excuses for what I was doing. You were going to die anyway so what did it matter if I lost you." A tear fell down Jack's cheek and he brushed it away impatiently. "I was really messed up in the head." He mumbled, "Sorry."
"How do you feel now?" Ianto asked worriedly.
"Better about everything. The Docotr made me step back and look at everything properly. I need you in my life Ianto, for as long as possible. I know I hurt you and I don't desreve you but -"
Jack was cut off as Ianto appeared next to him and kissed him hard, "I think I'll decide that." He said as he pulled back.
"But -"
"Jack I love you." Ianto said, slipping into the seat next to his lover, "However messed up in the head you may get."
"You shouldn't have to put up with -"
"I choose to, because that's what you do when you love someone. I'm not going to pretend it didn't hurt or that this is going to be easy but I want us to try Jack, and not just for Katie's sake but for us too."
Jack looked at him desperately, "You really think we can do this?"
"I know we can, but we need to start talking a bit more. When you're feeling down or... or just odd you need to tell me."
Jack looked away for a second before looking directly at Ianto and nodding, "I promise."
Ianto smiled and kissed Jack gently, "Well we have a week to ourselves before we have to go and fetch Katie." He said with a small smile, "How about we make the most of being alone?"
"Oh?" Jack asked, his eyes lighting up.
Ianto chuckled, "Dirty minded dog." He said lightly, "I meant we could go out to dinner, watch movies, chat... And then maybe later we could do that." He added with a grin and Jack smiled, letting Ianto draw him into a hug.
"I''ve really missed you." Jack sighed, "And... I'm sorry."
"I forgive you." Ianto whispered, pressing his lips to Jack's cheek, "And everything's going to be okay now."