AN: For those of you who want an extra chapter, check out DorianWilde at archive of out own!
Jack was finally in bed, a bit woozy from the painkillers. It had been a busy night. The weevils were running amok, one having decided Jack looked like a delicious snack. Again. On top of it all, a group of hobbit-like dark haired aliens had come through the rift. They'd spoken with an Italian accent, all of them wearing bright red or green clothes with matching caps on their heads. When they'd informed the team they were plumbers from the Ni'n teen-do system, Owen would probably have died laughing if he hadn't been dead already.
It was 4am, and as he hadn't slept the night before he'd been ready to drop. After haphazardly shedding his clothes, he'd sunk into his bed with a contented sigh, asleep within minutes. Now he sluggishly came back to awareness by the bed dipping.
"Mh?" he shook his head, trying to make his brain and body cooperate as his covers were pulled back.
"Go back to sleep," a soft voice ordered, cuddling up next to him. Jack blinked, suddenly wide awake. Everyone had left hours ago and except for Torchwood employees no-one could get inside the hub, except-
"Ianto?" he asked, because surely it couldn't be. He quickly turned the light on, staring at his new bedfellow. Curly brown hair surrounded unfamiliar, hispanic gorgeous features. A lean, rather muscled arm was slung over Jack's waist, skin looking naturally bronzed.
"Mmm?" The man opened his eyes, making Jack startle as the familiar blue orbs looked up at him. Ianto sounded half-asleep already, frowning at the light. "Ja-ack," he complained, burying his face in the pillow. Jack put his hand against his chest, sliding it from the left to the right side, feeling both hearts beat.
"It really is you," Jack said, something like wonder in his tone. He gently touched his face, trying to make his brain understand that Ianto was here. He'd come back. He wasn't looking at Jack like he was- like Jack's very existence disgusted him. Quite the opposite.
"Oh, right. New face," Ianto said sheepishly, dragging himself up in a sitting position, making a small 'ta da!' gesture. As if on cue he breathed out a small cloud of golden dust. He must havejust regenerated. Jack wondered if that meant the Doctor was poking around the Hub. Probably. Oh dear. "You like it?" Ianto smiled at him and Jack's heart took a funny little leap.
"Yeah. Liked your other one too, though."
Ianto smiled, then yawned, closing his eyes again. "The lights, sweetheart," he admonished, nudging him with his foot as he laid back down.
Sweetheart?
"Oh, right." Jack turned it back off again, smiling as the Time Lord contentedly snuggled into his chest, arm back around his waist. "I've missed you," Jack said quietly, carding his fingers through Ianto's longish hair. He wrapped both arms around him, tightening his grip, wanting to hold on to him, make him stay. Ianto sighed, pressing a kiss against his chest.
"'m tired," he mumbled.
"Yeah," Jack answered, for once unsure what to do, what to say. "Sorry."
"How long've been gone?" Ianto asked, voice a bit slurred.
"Three years." I've thought so much about you hoping you'd come back because not even fate can be that fucking cruel-
"Oh yeah? Huh."
Jack felt Ianto's breath against his chest, his heartbeats against his side. Stay. Please stay. A thought struck him. "How long has it been for you?"
"'bout three centuries," Ianto yawned.
"Oh." Jack was surprised. He shouldn't be, but he was. And, Ianto was older than him. Wow. He... should have seen that one coming. "How's it been?" Did you miss me? Did you ever think of me? Did you ever want to come home to me?
"Wonderful."
"I bet." Jack tried to wrap his mind around it: Ianto was centuries old now. He'd lived lifetimes without Jack, growing, changing. But he'd come back, if only for perhaps one night. Jack was happy for him. He'd always wanted to show Ianto the stars, knowing he'd love it. "What have you been up to then?" he asked, because really, he was curious.
The answer made his chest tight, his breath hitch and the silliest smile appear on his lips.
"Spoilers."
