Ianto, dressed in a suit and looking as gorgeous as ever, was pacing his apartment, nervously. "Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ..." He was repeating like a mantra. Why the hell had he agreed to do this? The only plus to it he could think of was that Jack would have to pay him back in sexual favours. But, hell, he seemed all too willing to do that anyway.

Jack emerged from their bedroom, perfect as always, still sporting his coat. Ianto turned to look at him, then ran across the room and launched himself at his lover, crushing their mouths together.

Jack picked the younger man up, and felt Ianto's legs wrap around his waist. Jack eventually pulled away. "Steady, soldier. I know I'm gorgeous, but..."

"D'you know what? You are, you absolutely are." Ianto said, surprised how high his voice went.

Jack looked at his soon-to-be husband with concern. "Ianto, are you okay?"

Ianto put on a very forced smile. "I'm scared fucking shitless. But if I keep talking long enough then I won't have to think about that."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure I could...find some other way to distract you." He offered.

Ianto shook his head. "There's no need..."

"Ianto Jones!" Jack looked scornful. "There's always a need." He reminded his lover, who considered this.

"If you insist..." Ianto laughed, allowing Jack to pick him up again, and walk towards the bedroom.

"Wait," Jack said, glancing at the clock. "We only have fifteen minutes before your sister gets here."

"Don't flatter yourself, Jack."

Jack narrowed his eyes threateningly. "Oh, you're so going to pay for that..."

"I'm counting on that."

*

The doorbell rang twenty minutes later, and a very flustered and half-dressed Ianto yelped. "Fuck, fuck..." He cursed, dragging his trousers on. He looked up to see that Jack was already fully dressed. "Damnit! How do you do that?"

"Practise." Jack grinned.

"You go answer the door!" Ianto hissed.

"Okay," Jack said, nonchalantly.

Ianto stared after him as his lover left the bedroom. How the hell could Jack be so calm about this? Ianto supposed he must have had centuries of meeting family and friends...getting to know people...falling in love. Ianto tried very hard not to think about that last one.

Jack answered the door to a fairly smartly dressed woman. However, Jack got the impression that this wasn't her usual attire. She looked slightly awkward, shifting from foot to foot on her high heels.

Jack turned on his mega-watt smile, and got ready to charm. "Hi. You must be Rhiannon Davies. Jack Harkness." He informed her. "Pleasure to meet you."

"It's great to finally meet you, too, Jack." Rhiannon replied, eyeing him up and down and seemingly liking what she saw. "So you're the one marrying my brother, eh?"

At this point, Ianto emerged from the bedroom. Jack moaned, quietly, when he saw that Ianto was minus his suit jacket, but now wearing the waistcoat he knew drove Jack crazy.

The dirty bugger.

"Hey, Rhi." Ianto pulled her through the door and into a hug, the door swinging shut behind her. "Ooh, nice get up! Is that all for me?" Ianto teased, and Rhiannon laughed.

"Yeah, right." She replied. She looked around her, taking in Ianto's apartment. "Wow, nice place!" Rhiannon said, appreciatively.

Jack realised how similar Ianto and Rhiannon were. "Thanks." Jack replied, sliding an arm around Ianto.

Much to his surprise, Rhiannon squealed, clapping her hands together. "I see what Gwen meant! You two are too cute!"

"Er...Thanks." Ianto replied, nervously.

Rhiannon suddenly pulled Jack into a hug. "Welcome to the family." She whispered.

Jack hugged her back, tightly. "Thank you."

"Oi, hands off, Rhi! He's mine!" Ianto protested.

Jack let go of Rhiannon, who was grinning at Ianto. "Oh, alright then. I am jealous though!"

"Paws off." Ianto repeated, putting an arm around Jack, who pulled him close, whispering in his ear: "This is going to be fun."

Ianto laughed, praying his lover was right.

*

Ianto slammed the door shut, grinning, and spun around to face Jack, flinging himself into his fiancée's embrace. "Oh God, Jack Harkness, I really do love you!" He exclaimed.

"Well, you're marrying me in three weeks, so that's always a plus." Jack countered, kissing Ianto deeply.

Ianto surrendered himself to the older man, trying to convey all the love he felt for him in that solitary kiss.

Later that night, Ianto whispered to Jack: "Jack, why are you marrying me?"

Jack looked startled. "What?"

"Why are you marrying me?" Ianto asked, again.

"Because I love you." Jack replied, without missing a beat.

"But really...Because, you're just gunna hurt yourself. It's gunna be more painful for you, when I do..." Ianto didn't say the word. He knew how much pain it caused his lover. "I don't want to hurt you when I'm gone. I want to be here with you, always. But I know I can't be. And I can't face the thought of you going through all that pain without me. One year or a hundred, it's never gunna be enough. Why would you put yourself through that?"

Jack looked deep into his lovers eyes as he replied: "Because it's worth it. You're worth it."

*

When he was positive Jack was asleep, Ianto crept out of the flat. He left his fiancée; he left the place he loved so much. He left the man he loved with all his heart.

He left it all behind, and made his way to the rooftops...