Ianto was vaguely aware of something warm either side of him. Groaning he turned over, trying to remember what had happened. It all came back, Jack, the Doctor, the TARDIS, the Damentin, returning to the Hub…
Ianto opened his eyes and found Jack staring back at him. He smiled slightly for a moment and then frowned. If Jack was in front of him, then who-? He sat up and glanced behind him, to see Owen, fast asleep.
"What… what is-"
"Shh," Jack pressed a finger to Ianto's lips. "We were all exhausted, your living room was cold and I… I just thought we could all use the company."
Ianto lay down again slowly, nodding.
"Owen is… ummm…" Jack trailed off, wondering how to explain it.
"I know," Ianto replied softly. "I've known for a while."
"I should really pay more attention to you guys," Jack smiled.
"It might help," Ianto agreed.
"Do you want some breakfast? Or something to drink?" Jack asked.
Ianto just shook his head. They lapsed into silence again, watching each other silently. Owen stirred but didn't wake.
"You know, I don't know how this is gonna work," Ianto said finally.
"How what's gonna work?" Jack frowned slightly.
"The three of us," Ianto replied. "This flat's not big enough for all of us."
"You…" Jack paused. "You want…"
"Jack, let's face it," Ianto interrupted. "You need somewhere better than the Hub to live, and chances are Owen's not going to leave us alone for the next few months, so we might as well stop putting off the inevitable and find a bigger flat."
Jack considered this.
"I don't think…" He paused. "I don't think we should encourage Owen."
"Oh?" Ianto raised an eyebrow. "Jealous are we?"
"No… I just…" Jack lay back staring at the ceiling for a moment. "I don't feel the same about him as I do about you."
"Doesn't mean we have to shut him out," Ianto replied. "You abandoned us and I… I faked my own death. Even if we don't include him in the relationship, I think it'd be a bit harsh to push him away so soon after getting us back."
"Mm," Jack sighed. "I feel kinda sorry for him."
"Don't," Ianto propped himself up on one elbow. "He… what he feels is complicated…"
"How do you know so much?" Jack asked.
"I've been in a similar situation," Ianto replied cryptically.
"What? When?" Jack watched him carefully.
"I'll tell you another time," Ianto glanced at Jack's blue eyes, staring him out. "It's one of those 'I'll-tell-you-when-I-know-some-more-of-your-secrets' things."
Jack chuckled.
"This is how we're gonna play now is it?"
"Yes."
"How we're gonna play what?" Owen sat up groggily, rubbing his face.
"Nothing," Ianto replied. "Did you sleep ok?"
"Apart from where you shoved me out of the bed, yeah," Owen replied.
"Sorry," Ianto sniggered.
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Less than a month later the three of them were moving into a bigger flat on a complex not far from Owen's old one. It was still overlooking the bay, something Owen had requested as his only stipulation. Jack frowned at this, but Ianto explained quietly later that Owen had trouble sleeping sometimes and the water on the bay was the only thing that could help him. Something to do with a childhood memory.
They hadn't exactly discussed what the arrangement was, Ianto said they'd just take each day as it came, but Jack had the feeling that it wouldn't last long. Owen seemed to be playing gooseberry no matter how hard Ianto tried to incorporate him.
Fortunately, the more Owen felt like a spare part, the more he seemed to accept that Jack and Ianto would never reciprocate his feelings, and that was ok. He'd learnt to live with it, and the way they were living together now suited him for the time being.
Of course, Ianto suspected that they'd end up killing each other eventually. As much as they loved each other to a certain degree, they weren't exactly compatible.
"Owen, for goodness sake!" Ianto growled, finding glass rings on the coffee table again. "Would it kill you to use a coaster?"
"I think it's gonna kill him not to," Jack grinned.
"Shut up," Ianto snapped flinging a coaster at Jack's head, which he deftly caught and placed back on the coffee table.
"Look, I don't know why you're so fussed!" Owen replied, coming out of the bedroom, doing up his shirt. "The coasters will all end up lost down the back of the sofa eventually!"
"Well they wouldn't if you put them away properly!" Ianto shot at him.
"Why should I put them away if I don't use them?" Owen asked, grabbing a glass of water off the side.
Ianto looked like he was about to throttle Owen, so Jack decided to step in quickly.
"Are you guys ready or what? We should really get some work done," he said carefully.
"Yeah, I get to clean up his rubbish at work as well!" Ianto reminded Jack forcibly of a bird with its feathers ruffled.
Owen put his empty glass down on the side again and wandered round towards Ianto.
"I'll use the coaster ok? Just don't burst a blood vessel," he patted Ianto on the shoulder as he passed.
"Thank you!" Ianto said exasperatedly. "And can you please remember to put the toilet seat down again?"
"Blame Harkness!" Owen called over his shoulder.
Jack looked at Ianto innocently.
"Honestly! Blaming his Boss for such things!" Jack shook his head in mock disbelief as he followed Owen down the hallway.
"You know, there are two of us Jack!" Ianto smiled slightly despite the fact that he was meant to be mad at Jack and Owen. "We could make you sleep on the sofa!"