15

"Are you going to tell me why he's here then?" Ianto asked.

Jack was still glaring at his friend.

"Noah is here to solve the problem of your Christmas pageant," he said. "Remember?"

"I do," Noah said, his smile growing wider by the second.

"How is he going to help?" Ianto asked.

"You remember the friend I told you about?" Jack asked, finally looking back at him. "The one who led me to go into the ministry?"

Ianto's eyes widened as he stared at Noah. "That's you? But what are you doing here?"

"Noah's been living nearby for the past couple months, so I called him last night," Jack answered.

"That's good," Ianto said, although honestly he still didn't understand.

It was Noah's turn to laugh. "As it happens, I'm a licensed carpenter," he said. "When Jack called me with his idea, I knew I had to come."

"We're going to pretend there's no room at the inn and set you up in a stable. Right over there." Jack pointed to the large green expanse beside the church.

"A stable? In the yard?" Once more Jack had reduced him to a parrot.

Jack grinned again. "We're a little late because Noah and I were busy convincing the owner of the lumber yard that he needed to donate enough wood to build it."

The enormity of what he was doing began to sink in.

"You're building me a stable?"

"I told you, I needed to ensure you stayed out of the tower from now on," Jack said, holding out his arms.

Ianto glanced at his sister. "He's…"

Brianne grinned. "He is amazing." She turned a blinding smile toward Jack and Noah. "Thank you. Both of you."

Under Noah's direction, everyone got to work and soon a makeshift stable began to form on the lawn.

"No one has ever given me a stable before," Ianto said, his eyes trained on his apparent savior.

The day was unseasonably warm by Cardiff standards, and it wasn't long before Jack took off the long-sleeved shirt he'd arrived in and stripped down to a white t-shirt.

Ianto watched the flex of his muscles as he drove a tall, round pylon into the ground, which would form one corner of the stable.

"Do you think we should charge tickets for this?" Brianne asked as she looped an arm around Ianto's shoulders.

"Huh?" Ianto tore his eyes away from the sight of Jack hammering away on a long piece of wood. Brianne studied Ianto and then shook her head, chuckling almost to herself.

Ianto narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What's so funny?"

"You, brother," Brianne said. "You're so far gone, and you don't even know it."

"Gone where?"

The comment brought forth more laughter. "To la-la land, over the moon, l-o-v-e."

A zap of panic struck him in the solar plexus. "I am not in love."

"Yeah, honey, I think you are."

"But we—"

"Only met a couple weeks ago. I know, but sometimes that's all it takes," Brianne said, in her patented, know-it-all-sister way. "I knew Brian was the one the moment we met, and mom told me once it was the same for her and Taddy."

"How do you know?" Ianto asked, jealous that his sister would have any secret knowledge about their mother. "She never told me anything like that."

"It was my wedding day," Brianne said. "Something she said to calm my last-minute jitters. In any case, I think maybe it's a family trait—to fall instantly in love."

"Stop saying that," Ianto said, wishing he could press his hands to his ears without seeming like a total juvenile. "It's crazy. Besides, Jack isn't in love with me."

Okay, he'd kissed him last night, made some crazy statement about keeping him out of a tower, and then dragged his friend to Cardiff to build him a stable on the lawn, but that didn't mean Jack was— At that moment, Jack looked across the grass. He held his gaze and then mouthed… 'No more towers.'

Was it possible? Could forty minutes really change everything? As Ianto watched Jack work, another voice echoed in his head. A voice he'd been missing for over twenty years.

"Ianto…let go now. Be happy. Be loved."

A shuddering breath rushed through him, and tears filled his eyes. He knew the voice belonged to his mother. And he knew what he had to do.

"Brianne, can you help me?"

.

.

.

The weather the night of the Christmas pageant reminded all the citizens of Cardiff why they lived in one of the prettiest places in the world. A blanket of a billion stars became the backdrop for the production, while a balmy breeze drifted in off the ocean.

Outside the church, a stable had appeared as if by magic. The lawn was packed as the congregation watched Baby Jesus being placed in the manger. Mary and Joseph looked down with love in their eyes, even if Jesus was really a doll wrapped in strips of cloth.

On a raised dais beside the stable, Gabriel stepped forward and began to sing Away in a Manger. Cerise's voice rose, strong and clear, and Ianto saw many wiping away tears all around the lawn. Cerise hadn't missed one word or note all night, and Ianto had gloried in watching the girl gain confidence.

Cerise transitioned to Joy to the World, and the audience joined in, their voices filling the night with song. Just as the hearts of everyone began to fill. The knowledge that even though horrible things happened, light always followed.

They would rebuild, and the church would return to life.

As the last note died away, a hush fell over the lawn, as if no one wanted to break the spell by clapping. Eventually, the applause did come. A roar of approval, praise, and healing. Ianto made his way out to the "stage", and the applause grew even more fervent.

He held up a hand. "Thank you so much for coming tonight. I especially want to thank Noah Johnson for making this evening possible."

Ianto pointed to where the carpenter stood a few feet away. Noah smiled, but kept his head lowered, as if he didn't want praise at all.

"I think we all needed this night to remember that there is always a master plan," Ianto continued. "That the greatest miracle we've ever known has already happened. God bless you all and Merry Christmas."

In the chaos of the crowd's dispersal, he slipped away, ducking under the tarp at the back of the stable. His sister was waiting, with keys in hand. He took the keys and handed his sister a piece of paper.

"Give that to Jack in ten minutes," Ianto said. "Everything else ready?"

Brianne nodded. "As ordered."

"Good."

Ianto took off the bulky robe he'd worn as part of the angel's chorus, revealing the plush suit underneath.

"Whoa," Brianne said, eyes widening. "Where did that come from?"

"Tad's closet," Ianto said, hugging his sister. "Thanks Bri."

"Don't thank me. Just go get your man."

"Right. Wish me luck."

"I don't think you need luck when you're wearing that," Brianne said dryly. "Don't forget to call. I won't be able to sleep until I know what happened."

Praying he wouldn't run in to anyone and be delayed, Ianto dashed to his car. A few moments later he raced out of the parking lot and headed for the highway. Ten minutes later, he pulled off to the side of the road.

Climbing out of the car, Ianto couldn't resist looking back at the patch of grass where tragedy had struck.

Tonight, for perhaps the first time, Ianto didn't feel sad.

He felt hopeful and filled with joy. As if his mother were standing there, smiling and urging him on. Perhaps Jennifer Jones had even put in a word to the man upstairs, asking Him to stop his car here.

"Thanks mama," he whispered in the dark.

Then he turned his back and settled in to wait. It wasn't long before a powerful engine cut through the stillness of the night. Ianto smiled and straightened as the motorcycle came around the curve. High beams pierced the darkness as the bike turned and pulled off the road. A moment later, the roar was silenced.

Jack swung his leg over and lifted the helmet from his head. "Car trouble, Mister?"

"You won't believe what happened," Ianto said. "I was on my way somewhere important and the car just wanted to stop here. It must really love this spot."

Jack grinned. "That's too bad."

Ianto rushed on before he could say anything more. "A wise man once told me I needed to unlock the tower and come outside. I decided he was right."

He took a step closer. "You did?"

"I know it's crazy to think two people could meet in the middle of nowhere and fall in love in only a few minutes. I've been telling myself it's not possible for weeks. Even if I'm in love with him, it doesn't mean he loves me back. Then I thought it would be crazier to let fear keep me from trying to find out why he'd come back here three weeks before Christmas."

Jack was standing in front of him now. Close enough to touch him, but keeping his hands by his side. "What do you think now?"

"You built me a stable," Ianto said, with a touch of wonder.

"That was your clue?"

"It was better than a room full of roses. But I would like to hear the words."

"Of course I love you." Jack framed Ianto's face in his hands. "Ianto, I was yours the moment you opened your mouth and started talking about some guy with two first names. And I thank God you never made it to that date."

"Did you really know even then?" he asked. "It could have all been an illusion."

"I think that night was as real as anything either of us has ever experienced."

"And I think my car stopped in exactly the right place."

A smile played across Jack's lips. "Me too."

"There's just one problem. You see, last time, we didn't get to finish our dance." Ianto whispered.

Jack looped an arm around his waist and pulled him against his chest. "Should I hum something?"

"No need."

Music suddenly filled the night, the same Kenny Logins tune that had played the first time. Jack chuckled and tucked him even closer. Slowly, almost reverently, he started moving and their bodies swayed in time with the music.

"There was one other problem that night," Ianto said, reaching to draw his head toward him.

"What's that?" he asked.

"The tow truck showed up too soon. I never did get to find out if you could do better than five seconds."

Jack lowered his head. "How about I prove it to you for the rest of our lives?"

The End_