It felt warm and cosy in the flat after the chill of the night-time air, it's normal everyday sounds feeling strange somehow but also comforting after the terrible events outside. Ianto had still felt rather weak and shaky when they came in so Jack had sat him down on the sofa and offered to make him a drink, coffee perhaps, if he'd like one. The suggestion had been met with a fleeting but definite look of horror before Ianto insisted water would be fine, thank you, with strict instructions for Jack to leave his coffee machine alone for the foreseeable future. Rather than looking hurt, as he might usually have done, Jack just grinned, so very glad he was listening to what he suspected was about to become a lecture on the finer points of coffee making, something normal and everyday he had never expected to hear again and something to help them through the shock of everything that had happened.

Half an hour later Gwen and Rhys had returned after stashing Krelko's Body in the boot of their car until it could be disposed of properly. There was steaming mugs of coffee all round now, Ianto handing them out to the other occupants in the room, neatly dressed and immaculate again in a fresh dark grey three-piece suit, burgundy shirt and striped tie. After the mugs were distributed, he sat back down on the settee beside Jack, his own drink in hand and feeling much like they were back in the old boardroom in the torchwood hub. Noone spoke for a moment, not quite sure what to say, then Gwen turned to Jack, a querying look on her face.

''So, what's going on Jack?'' she asked, as usual expecting him to have the answer. ''What the hell happened out there?''

''We got lucky, big time'' Jack replied, his tone grateful as his hand went unconsciously to Ianto's shoulder.

The young Welshman turned, looking Jack straight in the eye. ''I was dead, wasn't I?'' he asked softly, a questioning look in his pale blue eyes and Jack nodded.

''Yes''.

''But I came back, like you'' he pressed on, confused, needing answers. ''How is that possible?''

Jack considered for a moment, trying to work out the easiest way to explain his idea. ''I've been thinking about that ever since we got back, believe me, and I think I've figured it out'' he began. ''When you blew up the rift, I thought you'd be sucked in, into the void, but you weren't, you were thrown outwards instead and somehow your... your ghost... must have absorbed all that rift energy. It made you real somehow, brought you back to life, but that was never meant to happen. When Siriath brought back your ghost she took you from a moment of your history and... recreated you somehow. A single moment of your past... a fixed point in time... just like me.'' Jack looked over at Ianto, a gentle smile playing across his lips as he spoke. ''I think... You and I, Ianto, we're the same.''

Ianto just stared at him in shock for a minute as the implications of everything Jack had said started to sink in. ''You mean...?'' he began uncertainly and Jack's smile widened into the biggest grin he had ever seen.

''Congratulations Ianto Jones'' he said, his loud voice cheerful and bright. ''Looks like you're gona live for ever.''

It was two weeks later that Rhiannon Davies found herself outside a nice, pleasant apparent near Cardiff Bay, looking out at the incredible view from the top floor window as she rang the doorbell, waiting patiently for an answer. It had been some time now since her brother had miraculously returned from the dead and, though he had talked to her several times on the telephone, he hadn't managed to find the time to actually come and see her. He did want to, she knew, but what with finding a flat and everything else going on in his life at the time he just hadn't had the chance. He had given her his new address though, so here she was instead. Honestly, she had been surprised he could afford it when she arrived, the apartments certainly hadn't looked cheap.

She was still thinking about this when the door swung open and to her surprise, rather than Ianto, a handsome man in his mid-thirties stood there instead, wearing an old military coat and a broad friendly smile on his face that made her feel instantly at ease.

''Hi there, and who are you?'' he grinned; his warm voice laced with a thick American accent as he gave her a curious look. He had never seen her before, he was sure, but there was something about her he couldn't quite place, something that seemed familiar somehow.

''Hi, I'm Rhiannon Davies, Ianto's sister?'' she explained, hoping she had the right place. ''He told me he was staying here.''

A look of sudden recognition shot across the American's face as she spoke. No wonder she seemed so familiar, he thought, there was certainly a family resemblance. ''Ianto's sister? Well then, it's good to meet you, really'' he told her, stretching out a hand. ''I'm Captain Jack Harkness.''

The name Jack struck a chord in her memory from months back and she suddenly realised who she must be talking to. Ianto's man, the one Susan had seen him with just before everything went nuts with the children, his name had ben Jack, hadn't it? She looked him up and down with renewed interest. Ianto had been right at least, he was very handsome if you liked that kind of thing, if a little old fashioned. ''So, you're Jack?'' She asked, curious now she had an idea who he was. ''Ianto's boss?''

''That's right...'' he said slowly with a slight frown, wondering why exactly Ianto's sister knew about him, and if she knew anything else about Torchwood besides. ''I see you've heard of me.''

First Rhys, now this? Telling the families was really not a good idea. At least it hadn't been before. Sometime he really needed to have a word with his team about security.

She nodded, her face turning more serious for a moment. ''He's a good man, my brother, even if can be a daft sod at times.'' Rhiannon told him, her tone little protective, knowing how easily he could be hurt. ''Youd better treat him right, you had, ok?''

The implications of her words were not lost on Jack. ''Of us... '' he corrected himself with a broad grin. So, Ianto had told his sister about him, that was kind'a nice to know. ''Don't worry, I will'' he promised, his smile suddenly very sincere and somehow, she knew he meant it. ''I know how lucky I am, believe me.'' Then he turned, calling loudly into the next room. ''Ianto! Your sisters here to see you.''

After a second, Ianto's head appeared round the kitchen door. '' Rhiannon? What are you doing here'' he asked, pleasantly surprised. ''you didn't tell me you were coming over.''

''I wanted to see you were all right, didn't I? And it's hardly like you're gona come round and see me, is it?''

Ianto looked guilty for a moment, not meeting her gaze as he tried to change the subject. It wasn't that he didn't want to see his family but Torchwood made it hard, and he hadn't wanted to leave Jack either, not after everything they had both been through.

''So, I see you've met Jack'' he tried, but his sister knew him well enough to see what he was doing and ignored it.

''What happened?'' she asked instead, wanting to know what the hell was going on. ''We all thought you were dead! That's what they told us. We went to your funeral and everything.''

''Glad somebody did'' Ianto muttered, shooting a glance at Jack that wasn't lost on his sister.

The older man glared back, a somewhat put-upon expression on his face. ''Hay! I said I was sorry!'' he protested loudly and Ianto held up a hand, shooting him a slight smile as he waved his defensive objections hastily away.

''Don't worry, its fine, really'' he promised.

''So?'' Rhiannon interrupted them, still demanding an answer and Ianto decided it was time to explain.

''I was... dead, I mean'' began, trying to ignore his sister's sceptical expression. ''It's a long story.''

Rhiannon Stared from him to Jack. He couldn't have been dead; it just wasn't possible …. was it? But then she wouldn't have believed in aliens last year either, and now look at her.

Sensing this discussion was going to be complicated enough without him hanging around, Jack grabbed the keys to the new SUV and headed for the door. ''Hay, look I'll get out of your hair, it looks like you could use some time alone.''

Ianto looked up sharply, frowning as Jack prepared to leave. ''Really, we're fine Jack'' he promised, not wanting to make Jack uncomfortable in his own house. Their own house he thought with a smile, living with Jack full time would definitely take some getting used to. ''You don't have to go.''

''It's no problem'' Jack assured him, shaking his head. ''I was going out anyway, told Gwen I'd drop by with the plans for the new hub.'' He grinned. ''I'll see you later Ianto Jones.''

''Youd better'' Ianto replied, returning Jack's smile with one of his own. ''I'll be waiting.''

With a last goodbye to Ianto's sister, jack was gone and as soon as he left, she pulled Ianto into a tight hug, taking him somewhat by surprise.

''It's good to see you, really'' she told him affectionately as they parted, just glad to have her brother back, whatever the reason.

''You too'' he replied, equally warmly, albeit a little more reserved.

Rhiannon shot him a conspiratorial look as she gestured to the door. ''So'' she asked, curiously, ''that's Jack, is it... Your Jack?''

''My Jack'' he confirmed, and he couldn't help but smile as he said it, despite his slight embarrassment.

''So, he's living here now? ….. with you?'' she wondered and Ianto looked even more embarrassed than before, not used to discussing his private life with Jack, not even with his sister.

''We... both needed somewhere to stay,'' he stammered, ''and good places are hard to find at the moment, so... well, it seemed a good idea at the time.''

Smiling, Rhiannon shook her head at his obvious embarrassment. ''Anyway, He seemed nice'' she told him kindly, wanting him to know she didn't disapprove and he looked just a little relieved.

''He is,'' Ianto agreed, the slight twitch of his lips as he thought of Jack catching his sisters notice. ''And he's been going through a hard time recently so just, try and be nice, ok?'' he added, knowing his sister tended to talk her mind and that the last thing he needed was her falling out with Jack.

''And I haven't?'' she objected, remembering the last few months thinking her little brother was dead, but he gave her a warning look

''Rhiannon...''

After a moment she nodded, treating him to a warm smile. She didn't know the full story between Ianto and Jack, or even who he was, but she could tell they really cared about each other and for her, that was enough. ''All right, fine, of course.''

''Thank you'' Ianto replied, before turning more serious. ''Now, as you're here I think there's some things we should talk about'' he began, walking her over to the chair for a very, very long story. ''And you might find them a little hard to believe at first, I certainly did...''