Andrew arrived at the guesthouse just as Jack and Ianto finished breakfast.
"Hey guys, you ready?" he asked
"Thanks for helping us Andrew" said Ianto
"No problem, if I can help cut the stress that me and Michael went through arranging our wedding I'd be glad to help"
Aggie came up behind her nephew
"Andrew could you spare me a few minutes before you all head out"
"Of course Aunt Aggie"
"I need your help in the kitchen for a minute"
"I'll meet you out front," said Andrew
Jack nodded and left with Ianto. They headed back to their room.
"Jack, they're going to want to see a birth certificate for you" said Ianto once they were back in their room
"I have a British passport and a letter stating that my birth records were lost in a fire," he said smiling
"And I suppose you carry it everywhere" said Ianto
"Yep, learned that years ago, what about you do you have your birth certificate?"
"In my wallet with Bronwyns, its all I have left" he said
"Ssshhh" said Jack as his mouth met Iantos.
Their mouths parted and Jack looked at Ianto
"You sure this is what you want Yan"
"More than anything, and you"
"I love you Yan, I can't think of anything better than being together forever"
"But"
"Forever Yan, always remember that" he said as he planted a kiss so tender on his lips Ianto shivered
"Forever" said Ianto and slipped his arm round Jack.
They waited outside the guesthouse for Andrew then headed off to the register office.
"How can I help you gentlemen?" asked the woman in the register office
"We'd like to register intent for a civil partnership," said Jack, his hand firmly clasped in Iantos
"Certainly, I'll need to see some documents and you'll need to fill in one of these each" she said and handed them a bunch of forms
"Jack if you fill them in now and hand them back they can be stamped immediately" said Andrew
Jack nodded
"Is there somewhere we can fill these in?" asked Jack, flashing a smile
"Erm yeah sure, you can use that office there" she said and pointed to a door on her left
"Thank you" said Jack and led Ianto into the office. Andrew went with them to help fill out the forms. It took almost an hour for them both to fill out the forms. Once they were done they went back to the woman at the desk.
"Thank you gentlemen, know I just need your birth certificates"
Ianto removed his from his wallet and gave it to her, Jack pulled out his passport and the letter. The woman gave him a strange look and cast her eyes down to read the letter.
"That's fine Mr Harkness," she said finally
"I just need to copy these and I'll see if the registrar can fit you in now"
"Thank you" said Jack
She returned a couple of minutes later
"The registrar will be out in a minute, he'll go through the partnership with you and arrange for a date"
Jack pulled Ianto to him, he was nervous.
"You ok Jack?" whispered Ianto
"Yes, I wonder how quickly we can get this done, I'd prefer to marry you before we go back to Cardiff" he said
"I know"
The registrar came out of his office and called their names.
"I'll wait here," said Andrew
"Won't be long" said Jack, disappearing into the office with Ianto
The registrar looked over their documentation and then explained that the civil partnership wasn't a ceremony it was simply a written agreement entered into a legal ledger to register the fact that they both wished to be classed as a married couple and assume all the rights as a different sex couple.
"Can we say anything to each other, like vows or something?" asked Ianto
"I can arrange for a small ceremony, but no reference to God is permitted" he answered
"That's fine, we'd just like to you know exchange vows," faltered Ianto, not really knowing if this was what Jack wanted. But as he didn't object he was pretty sure it was ok.
"Alright, now I take it you are both here on holiday"
"We are" said Jack, "Is that a problem?"
"No, it just means that you must be registered as staying in the vicinity of the register office for the minimum 15 days"
"We've been here almost 7 days already" said Jack
"Good then lets have a look for a date" he opened his diary in front of him and flipped the page over.
"I can make the appointment for 15 days from today, 29th September at 11am"
"Can't you do it any sooner" said Jack
"No the law states 15 days minimum from receiving all the documents, I can count today as day 1 but that's all"
Jack nodded
"15 days time it is then"
"You will also need to bring with you 2 witnesses both over the age of 16 years"
"Can we possibly have a 3rd person?" asked Jack suddenly
"You can but you require only 2 witnesses, is this third person essential"
"Yes she is, we'd just like her to be there," said Ianto, realising that Jack was talking about Toshiko; she'd never forgive them if they didn't invite her.
"I will permit a third person but they will not need to sign as a witness"
"Thank you" said Jack
"Ok so down to the next point, payment"
Jack reached into his wallet
"Of course how much?"
"£107"
"No problem" he said and opened his wallet, as he did so he accidentally allowed his Torchwood ID to fall open on the desk. He took out £110 cash from his wallet and saw the registrar look at his ID
"Oops sorry" he said and slowly leant forward to retrieve it
"Torchwood" he said slowly
"Is that a problem?" asked Jack
"No of course not, I just wasn't aware of a Torchwood office around here," he said, a little nervously
"There isn't, can I ask how come you've heard of it"
"I was in London 2 years ago," he said simply
Ianto stiffened at Jacks side and he slipped his arm round his shoulder to comfort his lover, he knew he was thinking of Lisa
"We're from Cardiff not London, entirely different work" said Jack
"Right well I'll need you to come back in on the 20th to check all the arrangements are suitable" with that he closed the diary on his desk
Jack and Ianto joined Andrew back outside.
"How did you get on?" he asked, noticing Ianto wasn't quite himself
"Fine we got an appointment for the 29th" said Jack smiling. He was a little worried about Ianto; he was still delicate after the other night. He reached into his mind
"Calm down Cariad, you're fine nothing is going to happen to you"
He immediately felt Ianto relax both in his mind and in his body. He gripped Jacks hand tightly
"My Cariad" he said gently
"Forever" was Jacks answer
Andrew offered to drive the car back, insisting that Jack sit in the back with Ianto
"You look ill Ianto, are you sure you're alright?" asked Andrew
"I'm fine, just a little shock" he said
"Shock?" he questioned
"Yeah he can't get out of marrying me anymore" said Jack pulling him to him and kissing him
"My Cariad, I will always love you," said Ianto getting into the back of the car. Jack followed him and as Andrew pulled away Ianto dropped his head to Jacks shoulder and sighed
"Yan" said Jack
"Its too much Cariad"
"What is Yan?" he asked quietly
"Emotion, Andrew so much emotion"
"Anchor to me Yan"
Jack immediately felt what Ianto was feeling from Andrew. Such powerful emotion, he was happy and stressed. Jack felt Ianto begin to relax into him. Sharing the emotion lessened the sensation, during his life as a time agent Jack had been taught how to defuse raw emotion into harmless energy so as Ianto anchored his mind to Jack he was able to use him as a filter. As a result he stopped his mind from crashing in on itself. Andrew noticed Ianto relax into Jacks body and smiled, they really cared deeply for each other. He had a feeling that whatever they shared was much deeper than he and Michael; these two were soul mates, meant to be together. He pulled into the driveway for the guesthouse.
"If you're up to it, its karaoke night tonight, always good for a laugh" he said getting out the car
"Sounds fun" said Jack helping Ianto from the car.
"Tell me you're not going to sing Cariad" said Ianto, calling Jack by the welsh word for beloved.
"I might," he said smiling
"Can you sing then Jack?" asked Andrew
"No he can't, I've heard him in the shower. Cats and chorus come to mind" said Ianto laughing at Jacks indignant face
Andrew laughed
"See you later then," he said setting off down the drive
"We'll be there" Jack called after him