It had been an hour. Jack had paced around his house trying to come to terms with what he had seen.

Jack loved Ianto, of that there was no doubt in his mind. But that was terrifying. He had thought he'd been in love before, but this was something else entirely. It was all consuming. It was like being kissed by fire, powerful and painful and intense, but at the same time comfortable and familiar. They had moved so quickly, fell so hard and so fast that they had clung to each other for dear life without realising. So much had happened in such a short space of time, they'd had more hurdles to face than was fair.

Ianto, on some level, loved him. How else could he explain his staying after what he had put him through with John. It wasn't about Lisa. Well obviously, it was about Lisa. But it wasn't about Lisa. It was about his immediate reaction to what he saw, jumping straight to "he still loves her, he's back with her" rather than "what's she doing touching my man". He had found it so easy to believe he could go back to her, because honestly wouldn't that be easier. To have someone uncomplicated, with no psycho ex boyfriends, no danger.

He had asked Ianto for time to clear his head. That was a complete no – go. Head clearing wasn't going to be achieved while he had all these questions and confusion racing through it. He had a glance out the window where it had started pouring with rain – this is like a bad movie, Jack thought, me running out in the rain to find my boyfriend. Because he had to see him, a phone call wouldn't cover it.

He grabbed a coat and swung open the front door, stepping out in the rain….

…. directly into Ianto, who hadn't left his front step. He grunted as Jack's knee hit his shoulder blade. Jack stumbled and managed to steady himself before sending them both careering down the steps. Ianto looked up at him, rain dripping out of his hair down his solemn face. Honestly, more and more like a bad movie.

"Ianto what the fuck are you doing out in the rain?! You'll catch your death!" Jack cried

Ianto shrugged, "Couldn't leave it like that, I didn't know where else to go"

Jack sighed, "Get in the house, you're soaked through"

Ianto looked up at him, reluctant to enter. Jack glared and shoved him through the door, pushing past to get him a towel. Ianto stayed stood on the mat, taking a last look around Jack's home, what could've been his home. He had no confidence that Jack would be forgiving him this quickly or would even allow him the chance to explain.

Jack returned, handing him a towel without looking him in the eye, being careful to avoid touching him at all. Seeing Ianto like this, soaking wet from what was clearly not just rain but also tears, was only adding to the confusion. He needed some clarity, some understanding of if and how they could move past this.

"I was coming to talk to you" Jack began, "Come sit down?"

Ianto followed him into the living room,

"I need a chance to explain, Jack, please" Ianto began, "Lisa came to me, told me that she had made a mistake and she wanted us to try again. I told her that I wasn't in that place, hadn't been for some time. What she did, it changed how I see her as a person, she could never mean anything positive to me after that whether you were in the picture or not. And with you in the picture, well nobody else has a chance in hell anyway" Ianto ran a hand through his still dripping hair, "I want you, I've wanted you since I first saw you, and that's only grown since getting to know you. Lisa recognised your voice coming round the corner and pounced on me knowing you would see, and as soon as I had the chance I pushed her away, at which point she laughed at the fact that she'd ruined our relationship thinking id go back to her" he sighed, "that would absolutely never happen, whether you can forgive me or if I've lost you forever, there's not a chance in hell I'll be with her"

Jack sat in contemplative silence, staring at Ianto as he spoke. His eyes showed nothing but honesty, longing and despair.

"We've been through so much Ianto" he said sadly, "I've put you through so much, in horrible situations with John…"

"That was NOT your fault" Ianto cried, "It hasn't all been easy I know that but having you in my life is worth it 100 times over"

He dropped to his knees in front of where Jack sat on the sofa, looking up into his face. He had never seen him so insecure, so vulnerable. There was no trace of the larger than life, self-assured Jack he was so used to. Because of Lisa, no because of his stupidity for letting her near in the first place, he'd reduced that sparkle of confidence, even cockiness. How could he have let this happen.

"How can I convince you? You are the only person I want to be with! The only person I love" Ianto had fresh tears falling down his face now, blending into the raindrops still trickling from his hair and clothes. "Please don't say I can't fix this, Jack"

Jack looked into his eyes, "I'm not used to this" he whispered, "I have never been so afraid of loving someone, of losing them"

"You can't lose me! If you send me away, if you can't forgive me, then I'll go" Ianto said sadly, "But if you want me, if you're willing to give me this chance, then there's nothing on Earth that will stop me being with you, from loving you with my whole heart, forever if you'll have me"

Jack shifted on the sofa, offering Ianto a hand up off the floor to join him there. He kept hold of his hand, angling his body towards him so their knees brushed together.

"I'm still taking this all in, we've had so much to process between us" said Jack, I've put you into horrible situations because of my psycho ex, and apparently yours isn't exactly great either"

Ianto gave a small bitter laugh, "Yeah you could say that"

Jack gave a tiny smile, "I just want to be sure I'm not going to lose you Ianto, that you wouldn't be happier with somebody less complicated…."

The end of his sentence was lost when Ianto learned forward and pressed his lips firmly to Jacks. Into that kiss he poured his love, his assurance that there would never be anybody else but Jack, his need, his unwillingness to live without him. Jack responded instinctively, his hands coming up around Ianto's shoulders, willing him closer. As their lips parted, Ianto rested his forehead against Jack's.

"Okay" Jack breathed, "I believe you"

Ianto sagged in relief, melting into the sofa while keeping a firm grip on Jack's hand.

"Thank you" he looked at Jack sincerely, "I don't want to live without you Jack"

Jack squeezed his hand, "Then stay"


Just getting back into this as you can see by the massive gap between chapters going out, so please be kind! Please review, will try and keep them coming regularly now