Another long story that I've had to split - there was so much to explain and so many people to fit in! This is part one of three.

Anniversary – the day before

- October 4718, Cardiff

Ianto wandered round the empty apartment. It was so quiet with all the children down at Ogmore planning … whatever they were planning. Ridiculous notion, to have a Celebration! It wasn't even a proper anniversary: he and Jack had been together for over ninety years, if you overlooked the two and half millennia in the middle. Totally ridiculous to have a Silver Celebration.

He sat in a chair in the living area and drummed his fingers on the arm. He pulled a thread that was working loose and looked hard at the furniture. It was worn and old, sagging in places and there were plenty of stains too. It needed replacing, that was something he could do in this empty home. He pulled the portable screen onto his knee and brought up the e-shopper and its selection of furniture. He marked three he liked, Jack could look at them when he got in and they'd make a final choice. He put the screen back and thought again of the children. Why they needed Minda down there as well was beyond him, she at least could have stayed and kept him company. And she was missing a day of classes. Not that he need worry about that, he thought with a smile, she was doing well in every subject.

He closed his eyes and imagined what a mess they'd all be in at the house. Holly would be running round like a maniac, trying to oversee everything and annoying everyone. She was a perfectionist and insisted others meet her own high standards, which they rarely if ever did. Ianto supposed she had inherited that from him; Jack had always called him a control freak. At least Holly had had the sense to leave little Jonty with Stu. Ianto smiled and reached for the screen again, accessing his personal files and pulling up a picture of his first – and so far only but he lived in hope – grandchild. The boy was almost two years old and a charmer. He looked more like his father than Holly but Stu was a good looking boy, blond and rugged, and if Jonty had got his looks he was doing well.

Putting aside the screen Ianto drummed his fingers again; Jack was late. Delayed by Torchwood no doubt. Even though he delegated a lot, Jack still had a heavy workload. And he had had to cram in more this week to clear the weekend for the Celebration. Ianto frowned, at least they were not calling it a Silver Wedding Anniversary, He and Jack had never been married. They had gone through a Civil Partnership ceremony but Ianto didn't feel that was the same, although he looked back on the day with fond memories and was grateful they had made that public statement of their commitment. Marriage was possible now but despite some half-hearted discussion they'd not done anything about it. Neither of them needed it, they were secure in each other's love. Jack only ever flirted for fun these days, unlike his son. Owain was a problem. He never seemed to be out of the vid-casts either for some soccer success or, more recently, for his wild behaviour and string of girlfriends. Something would have to be done about him, they would have to talk to him and knock some sense into his thick head.

Feeling restless again, Ianto got up and went to the windows, looking down on the courtyard several floors below. It was all well established now, much better than when they had moved in; it had been like a building site then. With no sign of Jack, Ianto took himself into the kitchen and checked on supper. Glonnix still looked after them but she only came in during the morning, cleaning and looking after the laundry and preparing supper which she left in the fridge to be cooked. He and Jack didn't need any more than that, could probably do with less, but Glonnix was part of the family and they would give her a job as long as she wanted one. He pondered how old she was and thought she must be about seventy, maybe a bit more; she didn't look or act it. He found the supper in the fridge; it would only take half an hour or so to cook.

He took a piece of cheese and nibbled on this as he sat at the kitchen table, scene of so many happy family meals and quite a few unhappy ones. Luke would be preparing the food for this ridiculous Celebration he supposed. The boy was a gifted chef and enjoying his internship with Francois Colon, the most admired chef in Europe and a hard taskmaster according to Luke. At eighteen years old his youngest boy was well on his way to achieving his dream. Of course, Owain had already achieved his, playing for the Tornadoes and winning the cup final for them this year with that amazing goal. It had rather gone to the boy's head, all that success and not yet twenty one. Though he'd had his knocks too; last year had been grim as he recovered from injury.

With relief, Ianto heard the front door whoosh open and went to meet Jack. "You're late," he said, coming upon Jack as he hung up his greatcoat.

"Don't start, Ianto, just don't start. I've had a hell of a day and I don't need you laying into me." Jack strode off and threw himself on a couch. He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes.

Swallowing his exasperation, Ianto followed him and stood by him. "I didn't mean anything. I was just commenting."

"Well don't." Jack was snappy and did not open his eyes.

"Want some painkillers?"

"Please." After a beat he added, "Any chance of a coffee?" He looked up at Ianto.

"Sure. I'll put supper on too." He walked towards the kitchen.

"Ianto," Jack called, "I'm sorry."

The Welshman stopped and turned, smiling at his partner. "I know, cariad." Then he continued out of the room. He came back five minutes later with the painkillers and coffee for them both. "Supper's on," he announced, sitting on the couch again.

Jack took the painkillers and swallowed them with a mouthful of coffee and sighed. "I needed that."

"Bad day?"

"Bloody awful. How about you?" Jack smiled wanly and put a hand on Ianto's shoulder.

"Oh, not so bad. I just can't settle, keep wondering what the kids are up to and thinking about tomorrow. Why did we agree to this?"

"Because they wanted to do it for us and we're putty in their hands."

Ianto laughed and some of the tension seeped away. "It's all so unnecessary. We've been together much longer than twenty five years."

Jack yawned widely and leaned his head on Ianto's shoulder, grateful for the arm that snaked round him. "How long is it now? Must be coming up to the round hundred."

"Not quite! I was adding it up and made it ninety one years, give or take the odd millennia."

"You are such a pedant. That's near enough to the century."

"No, we have another nine years for that." He thought for a moment. "Don't tell Holly, Jack. She'll be planning something for then too!"

"How much is it worth?"

"Tell her and you'll never find out." Jack chuckled faintly, rubbing his temples and closed his eyes again.

They sat together sipping their coffee, content to be quiet and enjoy one another's company. Usually there was at least Minda in the apartment with them and she often had friends round too. She was a lively fifteen year old with all the usual joys and concerns of a girl her age despite her incredible technical skills. And she liked sports, had turned into an excellent swimmer and represented her Institute at water polo.

"I'd better check on supper," said Ianto when they had been sitting for twenty minutes. He eased Jack off him and stood, gathering up the coffee mugs.

Jack, who had been nearly asleep, stretched and yawned. "Anything you need me to do?" he asked.

"No. Thanks."

Jack watched Ianto walk away and smiled. He was still slim and young, like all clones he would retain his youthfulness for a long time to come. Deciding that if he didn't move he'd go back to sleep, Jack stood and went to the bedroom. He changed into a leisure suit and used the bathroom, splashing water on his face to wake himself up. His headache had gone which was a relief. As he re-entered the living area the door chime sounded.

"I'll get it," he called to Ianto. When the door opened, Jack was grabbed round the knees.

"Gwamps!" cried Jonty, holding on tight and looking up at Jack. "Pick up." He released Jack's legs and held up his arms, confident his order would be obeyed.

"I'm so sorry to bother you, Jack," said Stu from behind the boy, "but I really need your help, yours and Ianto's."

Jack, the boy in his arms, smiled at his son-in-low. "No problem, come on in. Ianto," he called, "Stu's here." He turned to the boy, "How are you today, soldier?"

"Good." The boy smiled and then wriggled out of Jack's arms as he saw Ianto approach. "Gwandtad!" He ran to meet him and was picked up and cuddled.

"I am so sorry to come round like this, you were probably looking forward to being on your own," said Stu, apologising again. "There's a problem with the production. I've got to go in and I don't want to take Jonty with me. Can you have him tonight?"

Stu Permink was a theatre director with a solid if not spectacular reputation. Jack thought he was too gentle to deal with the massive egos of the artists; he needed to shout at them louder than they screamed at him. But that was not Stu's way and Jack liked him too much to want him to change. He and Holly made a good couple, her determination and strength complemented his softer, artistic nature. They had met when Holly had interned with Stu's company as part of her training to be a theatre designer. Her career had been put on hold for a year when Jonty came along but she was now back at work and both she and Stu had planned the current production.

"Of course we'll have him. You want him to sleep over?" asked Ianto, loving the idea of having the boy all to himself, well, he amended, only sharing him with Jack. "You going to stay with Gramps and me?" he asked the boy.

"Yes!" The boy had stayed overnight before and knew he'd be spoiled rotten.

"Oh, thank you so much! I have no idea how long this will take so I brought some of his things." Stu passed the bag to Jack. "I'll pick him up in the morning."

"No need. We're travelling down to Ogmore together anyway. We'll have him until then." Ianto wanted Jonty as long as possible. "Come by for a late breakfast, say around ten, and we'll leave afterwards."

"I'll do that. Thanks." Stu went to his son. "Bye, kid. You be good now." He kissed him and then left the apartment, eager to get to the theatre.

"Well now, sweetheart, what shall we do with you?" asked Ianto of the boy, revelling in having a youngster about the place again.

"Play horses." Jonty had become obsessed with horses since being read Black Beauty by Holly. She had been determined to pass on her love of the book to her son and he had soaked it up like a sponge even though he was a little young for it.

"Maybe later," laughed Ianto. "First, I'm going to make your bed up. You want to sleep in Mummy's old room?" The boy shook his head firmly.

"No? Where are you going to sleep then? On the floor?" suggested Jack, standing close and rubbing the boy's back.

"No, silly! Unca Owain's woom." Jonty adored his uncle and was at his happiest running around playing ball games with him.

"Okay. We'll put you in there tonight," agreed Ianto. He put the boy down. "You stay with Gramps and then you can have some supper with us." He looked at Jack. "Could you check on the meal?"

"Sure. Come on, soldier, let's go to the kitchen." The pair went off, hand in hand, while Ianto went to sort out Owain's bed for the boy.

With the arrival of Jonty, Ianto experienced a much livlier evening than he had expected.

Jonty was a bright lad and he was happy to sit at the table and chat away while his grandparents ate their meal. He had already had supper but managed to find room for a small portion of the excellent fish and vegetable bake. The ice cream afterwards was a hit and he got it all round his mouth and down his front. While Ianto stacked the crockery into the dishwasher, Jack took the boy to the bathroom and started his bath. The two were playing with some old bath toys of Minda's when Ianto joined them and added to the fun. Washed and dressed in his sleep suit, Jonty ran around the living area showing the two men how horses galloped while they sat and watched, laughing at his antics.

When even his inexhaustible energy was starting to wane, Jonty settled on the couch between them and leant against Jack as Ianto read him a story from one of the many picture books they had kept for just such a night. He was asleep before the book was finished and Jack gently picked him up and took him to his room, Ianto coming along too, not willing to miss any part of the boy's company. Lying in the bed, with his special teddy in his arms, Jonty looked a picture of innocence and Jack and Ianto stayed watching him for some time before setting the monitor and leaving the room.

"Fancy a drink?" asked Jack as they entered the living room.

"Um, that would be nice. Some of that spiced juice, please." Ianto settled on the couch while Jack got the drinks.

"Here." Jack handed over the drink as he sat beside Ianto, putting his arm round the Welshman. "He's a wonderful boy."

"Would you expect anything less? Holly's raising him right." Ianto leant into Jack's side, sipping the juice.

"She and Stu are good parents," Jack agreed.

They had liked Stu from the start. He was a few years older than Holly and had been wary of assuming her affection for him was anything other than a crush. On his side, he had been deeply in love from the start with the vivacious and beautiful woman and amazed when, after almost a year, he had been convinced that she loved him. Jack and Ianto had watched the romance develop and been aware, long before Stu, that Holly was committed to the boy. Even at nineteen she knew her own mind and heart. While they had thought her young to settle down, Jack and Ianto had no objections to the match and Stu's parents had felt the same. The couple had married at Ogmore with the whole family and many, many friends in attendance. When Jonty arrived barely ten months later their happiness was complete and he had been a much loved son and grandson ever since.

Ianto placed the empty glass on the coffee table and sighed. "I wish we didn't have to go tomorrow. Do you think they'd miss us?"

"They might! You'll be fine. You know you'll enjoy it once you get there."

"I suppose. Do you know who's coming?" He settled back against Jack and pulled his partner's arm round him.

"No, it's all a big secret," Jack said, laughing at the absurdity. "I assume it'll be our lot as well as Carillys and Hummel and the kids. I hope Annese will be there but she is a bit fragile still." Annese was still recovering from the death of Goran. "As for the rest, that's anybody's guess." One thing he and Ianto had insisted upon was that there were not to be gifts; they needed nothing, just the chance to get together with everyone.

Ianto groaned. "I just hope there aren't too many. You know I don't like crowds of people I don't know."

"I hardly think they'd have invited people we don't know! I just hope the weather's good, otherwise the house is going to be stuffed to the gunnels."

"I wonder if they've thought of that!" exclaimed Ianto, starting up in alarm. "Maybe I should call them and remind them that –"

"You will do no such thing!" Jack pulled Ianto back down and held him in his arms. "This is their event, let them organise it. Between them, Holly and Luke will have it all under control."

"Why them?"

"Can you see Owain doing anything other than what he's told? My guess is he'll be humping furniture around and trying to slink off out of the way at the first opportunity. And Minda may be a marvel with equations but she's not the most practical of our children."

"That's a bit harsh."

"But true. No, it'll be down to Holly and Luke, the two who take after you." Jack sighed, intending to enjoy the day however it turned out. "I hope Carillys and her two stay overnight. We haven't seen them in a while." They had been caring for Annese for the past few months.

"If they do I have no idea where they're going to sleep. Maybe we should have built a bigger house."

"No way, it's quite big enough. We rattle around in it as it is most of the time. It's only when they all come together like this that we're strapped for space."

Ianto thought about this. It was true that on normal weekends, when it was just he and Jack and Minda, the house seemed too large. He hated the thought of what it would be like when she moved out, as she would eventually. After so long with children around, it was taking a while to understand how to be a couple again. Ah well, he thought, we were a couple for fifty odd years before being reunited in this time and they'd managed very well then. They just had to get used to their own company.

Jack yawned. "I'm ready for my bed. How about you?"

"Have you ever known me to refuse?" he asked, a coy smile on his face.

"Once or twice. Let's check on Jonty first."

The pair found the boy fast asleep on his back, arms and legs flung out and the covers at the foot of the bed. They tidied him up and watched him sleep before planting a kiss each on his forehead and creeping from the room.

"Come on." Jack took Ianto's hand and led him to the bedroom. "I think it's about time I ravished you again."

"Promises, promises." Jack clouted his backside and Ianto yelped. "Oow, that hurt."

"Get in that bedroom and prepare to be amazed." The two men were laughing as they disappeared into the room.

Next is the day of the Celebration ...