Jack wasn't sure what he was expecting the food to be like. But he was more than surprised at the quality, his exposure to guesthouse food had been limited but mostly he'd found it to be ok. But Aggie well there's the difference her cooking was amazing. Not as good as Iantos but then he was biased, he'd eat anything Ianto cooked for him.
After dinner Jack and Ianto decided to go for a walk round the small village. They found themselves in the small local pub. At first Ianto wasn't sure if they would be accepted as two gay men but as he crossed the pub next to Jack and stood at the bar as Jack ordered them both a drink. Jack however wasn't at all bothered about what the locals thought; he grabbed Iantos hand and pulled him towards a table to wait for their drinks.
"Jack are you sure about this?" he said as Jack sat next to him and pulled him close
"Relax Yan, nobody here cares"
"What if they do Jack," he said looking uneasily round the bar to find that no one was looking at them any different. They were getting the odd glance but mainly because they were new in town.
"Then we leave in the morning and find somewhere else, seriously Yan relax," he said and leant forward, he planted a quick kiss on his lips
"See no-ones looking at us" he said glancing round and sure enough no one was. He smiled as the bar maid carried over their drinks
"Thank you" said Jack, not moving his hand from Iantos thigh. She noticed and smiled
"Its ok you know, my brother Andrew runs this place with his partner Michael" she said still smiling
"Really" said Ianto surprised
She nodded still smiling
"I'm Cassie by the way," she said holding her hand out
Jack shook it
"I'm Jack Harkness and this is Ianto Jones"
"Welcome to Gretna, how long you staying for?"
"Don't know yet, depends on what this area has to offer. We're just looking for somewhere quiet for a change," said Jack
"You from the city then"
"We're from Cardiff," said Ianto, talking for the first time. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad; everyone they'd met seemed quite friendly.
"I've never left Scotland, Wales always looks so wet when you see it on the TV"
"It doesn't really rain that much except up in the high grounds, we live in Cardiff so we don't really get that much rain" said Ianto
Cassie smiled.
"Well I'll leave you two alone, see you around hopefully"
"Thanks Cassie" said Jack smiling at her
Cassie smiled and went back to the bar.
"See Yan, its fine, we can be ourselves here" he said and kissed him more openly; Ianto was a little hesitant but after a few seconds he relaxed and responded to Jacks kiss. After their mouths parted Ianto looked around, no one was staring at them. He picked up his drink and took a gulp
"I love you" he whispered and slid his hand under the table; he rubbed his hand gently over Jacks groin. He felt him respond immediately
"Don't start something you can't finish right now" whispered Jack hoarsely
"Later then" said Ianto and removed his hand
They sat talking about what they were going to do for the next fortnight. They decided to stay in the village and travel around the area. Jack picked up his glass and finished his drink, as he put the empty glass down he saw someone walking up to them. He looked up and noticed the pub was almost empty now. It must be later than they thought.
"Welcome to Gretna" said the man as he reached their table
"Erm thanks"
"I'm Andrew, Cassie was just telling me about you and your partner"
"Not much to tell really" said Jack
"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked
"Of course not" said Jack gesturing to the empty seats on the other side of the table
Andrew sat down and introduced himself; he ran the pub with his partner Michael.
"How long have you been together?" asked Ianto
"6 years now" said Andrew he looked at the couple sitting opposite him, he could tell they were in love but somehow a little unsure of how people here would take them being a gay couple.
"I wouldn't worry about what people round here think about gay men, I must admit when I came back here after buying the pub and moved in here with Michael a few of the older locals were a bit offish to start with but they got used to us being a couple and now well even the local vicar is totally in love with Michael" he looked at his watch
"Tell you what why don't you stay for a late drink, I'm gonna lock the doors in a minute. Michael should be back soon, he's helping the vicar with choir practice tonight"
Jack smiled and looked at Ianto
"Up to you Yan?" he said
"I don't mind although maybe we should let Mrs Boomer know we'll be late, she did say the doors are locked at 11pm"
"You staying at Aggies?" asked Andrew
"Yes, do you know her?"
"I should do Ianto she's my aunt" he called out to Cassie
"Hey Cassie, call aunt aggie and tell her to leave the back door open Jack and Ianto are staying late"
"Sure Drew" she said and walked out the back of the bar, presumably to call aunt Aggie. She returned a few minutes and came over
"Aunt Aggie says she'll leave the door open but only if you don't get Jack and Ianto drunk and they are quiet when they go in"
"As mice" said Jack with a smile
Andrew looked up as he heard the door of the pub open; a well-built man of around 36 came in
"Michael over here"
The man looked towards them and came up smiling; he immediately put his arm round Andrews shoulders and leant in to kiss him. Andrew kissed him back. As their lips parted he introduced Michael to Jack and Ianto
"Good to meet you" said Michael sitting next to Andrew, he put his hand on Andrews thigh and squeezed he released the pressure but left his hand on his thigh.
Cassie came back
"You want a drink Mike"
"Coffee would be great sweetie," he said
"Sure, Drew"
"Same Cass" She looked at Jack and Ianto
"Coffee would be good," said Jack
"Do you have any tea?" asked Ianto
"Always the difficult one" said Jack teasingly, he pulled Ianto to him
"Sure, normal tea or we have earl grey," said Cassie
"Earl Grey please" said Ianto smiling
Cassie disappeared. Andrew looked at his partner, he nodded and smiled
"Look guys I know we only just met, but would you do us the honour of attending our civil ceremony on Saturday"
"We'd been honoured," said Jack looking at Ianto, he nodded
"Thanks that would be great," he added
Cassie came back carrying the drinks; she put them on the table and then went to lock the pub doors. She came back to join them and pulled a chair from the next table to sit next to her brothers partner. Michael immediately hugged her
"You alright Cass" he said noticing how tired she looked
"Yeah just knackered, Chloe didn't turn in again tonight"
"You've been here all day again" he said his voice raised a little
She nodded, Michael looked at Andrew
"Enough is enough Andrew, that's 4 times this week Cass has had to do all day and night"
"I know I'll call her in the morning"
"No I will, you're too soft on Chloe"
"Michael, she's got a kid," said Andrew
"Yes I know but Cassie is your sister and she's also pregnant"
"I know" he said looking at his sister, she did look extremely tired
"Cass why don't you go up to bed" he said gently
"I'm alright Drew"
"Sweetie you said it yourself you're knackered, go on up and have a nice bath I'm bring you up a nice cuppa in about half an hour" said Michael
"I'm alright," she said again
"Sweetie, go and relax," he said giving her a gentle shove
She sighed, she knew she wouldn't win. She bid goodnight and went upstairs.
Jack and Ianto stayed for about an hour getting to know Andrew and Michael then made their excuses and left for the night.
As they walked back to the guesthouse, Ianto held onto Jacks hand. They reached the house and walked round the back. As Jack opened the back door quietly just as Ianto whispered
"I packed the stopwatch"
Jack looked at him in the moonlight and smiled.