AN: Sorry I've abandoned this fic for so long, but I was on holiday for the past 10 days. Hopefully this chapter will be worth the wait! As always, reviews make me smile manically, so keep them coming. Xx

Annie was sick of this ridiculously miserable mood Jack had slipped in to. Holding a conversation with him had turned in to a pain in the arse, everything she said seemed to remind him of Ianto, and that would just set him off again. His work was even affected, and she wouldn't be surprised that if he didn't get his act together soon, he would be gone for good. She didn't know if it would benefit him, or not.

Yes, she was sick to her back teeth with Jack's moods, so decided to take matters in to her own hands. It didn't matter that Ianto was, technically, engaged, she had to get that charming smile back on Jack's face.

…

Annie wasn't stupid, she had planned this down to the last detail, so as soon as Jack disappeared into Ianto's room, arms bundled full of firewood, the room gradually filling with an awkward silence, the tension hanging heavily in the air, she made her move.

It was a standard lock, and with the use of a handy knife she had located in the kitchens, it quickly turned into place, securing with a click.

And then it was back to another days work for Miss Annie Bell.

…

Jack was in the midst of dropping the last of the wood into the fireplace, when he heard the faint click, and the gentle, running footsteps of a female.

He immediately knew what had happened.

He rose, using his hands on his knees for extra leverage, and approached the door to either prove or, hopefully, disprove, his theory.

It was proven.

He turned to Ianto, who had, all this time, stood uneasily a few feet away from Jack, fumbling with his jacket buttons, a dejected sigh escaping his lips, as he confirmed what Ianto had thought.

"She's locked us in."

"She?"

The puzzled look only graced Ianto's face for a very short period of time, when the pieces of the jigsaw slid into place in his head, and he realised exactly who this 'she' was.

Annie.

He had come to get to know the housemaid rather well through Jack, despite never having met her, and this seemed like exactly the kind of behaviour that was typical of the young woman. Yes, it was safe to say that since Jack's little 'revelation' he had come to have a rather strong dislike for this woman he had never met.

"So, here we are…"

It was one of those things Ianto both loved and hated about Jack, his ability to point out the obvious, no matter how obvious. He had to struggle to hold back the smirk that was edging it's way along his mouth.

The silence settled again, as Jack sat on the floor, his back leaning against the foot of Ianto's bed. He began to drum his fingers in a rhythmic pattern against his thigh. It began to annoy Ianto.

"Jack! Please, just stop."

"Sorry."

Ianto's legs began to ache from standing in the same position for so long, so he joined Jack on the floor.

…

The time slowly crawled along, the sun inching along it's steady path in the sky, as Ianto gradually inched his way closer to Jack, until he dropped his head to the man's shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. I'm so sorry, beautiful."

Ianto never did understand why Jack insisted on calling him beautiful. Men were not 'beautiful', they were handsome, and in his opinion, Ianto wasn't even that. But it didn't stop the buzz that sped it's way through his body whenever he was paid such a compliment by the man.

"I missed you."

He was drawing patterns on the back of Jack's hand, which was laying palm down on the carpeted flooring. He had craved such a simple touch, any contact, with Jack since their argument, and now he had it, he felt strangely at peace.

…

Hours passed, the men sitting in a comfortable silence for the majority of the time, the odd sentimentality shared between them, and every so often they would indulge in a sweet kiss, but for the most part of their time together, they simply enjoyed each other's company.

Jack didn't even worry over the fact that he had been absent from his duties for the best part of the day. He was sure Annie would cover for him. She was one of the only two people in the world he could truly rely on.

…

The heat in the room was building, the intense summer sun shining through the large glass windows that lined the walls of the room.

Of course the fact that the windows could easily be opened never crossed either of their minds. No, removing a few layers of clothing would always be the better option.

'If only it was even hotter. That bloody shirt he's wearing has no right to get in the way.'

Obviously Jack would never voice the thought, it was entirely inappropriate at such a time when he was just regaining Ianto's trust, that he would suggest getting naked and allowing his various fantasies to come to life.

Instead he got to his feet offering a hand to Ianto, and leading them to the bed, flopping down on the mattress and pulling Ianto in next to him, their bodies moulding together, their limbs entangling, and both men laying with their eyes closed, listening to the sound of the other's breathing.

"Jack? I'm sorry about Elizabeth. I want nothing more in the world for it be me and you, alone together, forever, but it can't be that way, and…"

"Ianto. Hush. I know, gorgeous, I know."

He kissed him then. A gentle loving ghost of kiss, the ever so faint caress of his lips running over Ianto's sent shivers down the younger man's spine, as he curled further in to Jack's chest, inhaling his scent. He had finally worked out what it was. A mixture of wood, furniture polish, soap, and skin. In other words, it was Jack's scent, and none could ever compare. Especially not Elizabeth's over powering aroma of face powder and perfume. No, he liked the natural, simple smell of Jack, it encompassed everything he was, and if Ianto could bottle it, he's sure he would make a fortune.

But this is just another aspect of Jack he wants to keep to himself.

"I love you."

"I know you do. I love you too. Now, go to sleep, you need to rest."

And Ianto did, his breathing slowly steadying, as he relaxed further in Jack's hold.

…

At around 11 o'clock, Jack heard the faint click of the lock for the second time that day, and untangled himself from Ianto's persistent arms. When he stood, he leaned down over the man's sleeping form, and pressed a kiss to his forehead, the long eyelashes of his beloved Welshman brushing against his cheek.

"See you in the morning, my love."

It pained him that he couldn't stay the night, lose himself in the feel of Ianto's arms encompassing him, and wake up to see Ianto's head next to his on the pillow, but it just wasn't possible.

So he gathered his clothes and crept quietly back to his chamber, greeting Annie with a smile for the first time in over a week.

AN: Okay, so I know it's very fluffy, but you need a little happy amongst all the angst. That's the excuse I'm sticking to anyway.