Ianto was walking home from work that evening, having had no time to go home and collect his car that morning. He couldn't stop thinking about Jack. He really was acting like a teenager but he didn't care. He really wished that he'd made arrangements to see Jack that evening nstead of waiting until the next day but he hadn't and it was too late now, Jack had plans with his grandson and there was no way around that – although maybe...

He pulled out his mobile and called Rhiannon.

'Hello Ianto,' she greeted him. 'Did you talk to Jack?''

Ianto rolled his eyes. He could tell from Rhiannon's tone that she wanted gossip and that the conversation wouldn't be able to progress any further until she got it.

'Yeah, I talked to him,' Ianto replied. 'Among other things.'

'Ianto Dylan Jones you didn't. You slept with him? I can't believe you slept with him. Was he any good?'

'Rhiannon!' Ianto exclaimed feeling a blush creeping up his cheeks. 'I can't believe you just asked me that.'

'Well there's no need to be embarrassed. We're both grown ups.'

'No need to be embarrassed? You're my sister.'

'And you little brother are still ridiculously easy to wind up,' she laughed. 'I hope he's treating you nicely though; he's not just after one thing.'

'He isn't,' Ianto replied certainly. 'He took me out to dinner last night to this really nice restaurant and I'm seeing him again tomorrow night. I really like him Rhi.'

Rhiannon made an excited squealing noise down the phone, 'Oh Ianto that's fantastic; I'm really pleased for you.'

'Thanks. Actually that's sort of why I'm calling,' Ianto said tentatively.

'Oh yes?'

'Can I borrow David and Mica tonight?'

'What for?' Rhiannon asked curiously.

Ianto decided just to get this bit over with as quickly as possible to hopefully minimise the embarrassment.

'I don't want to wait until tomorrow to see Jack but he's going to the park with his grandson tonight so I thought if I take David and Mica to the park then I'll have an excuse to be there as well and I won't look like some weirdo hanging around the playground.'

Ianto closed his eyes and braced himself for the inevitable teasing. It didn't come.

'Okay,' Rhiannon replied.

'What?' Ianto asked confused. 'Aren't you going to tease me about being a teenage girl who can't wait to see my boyfriend?'

'Boyfriend?' Rhiannon asked.

'Oh,' Ianto stammered awkwardly. 'You know what I mean.'

'Mm hmm,' Rhiannon replied. 'And no, I'm not going to tease you. I'll save it for another day. Of course you can take David and Mica to the park.'

'Okay,' Ianto said, still slightly surprised to have escaped mockery. 'I'll pick them up in an hour or so.'

'That's fine. I'll get them ready.'

'Thanks Rhi,' Ianto replied. 'I owe you one.'

'You must have it bad if you volunteering to look after my kids means that you owe me a favour,' Rhiannon laughed. 'I'll see you in a bit.'

'Bye Rhi.'

'Bye.'

Ianto smiled to himself as he walked down the road towards his house. He hoped that Jack wouldn't mind him turning up unexpectedly but somehow he doubted it. Jack had sounded really keen to see him again when they'd spoken earlier that day. He hoped that he wasn't imagining it.

Reaching his house, Ianto unlocked the front door and let himself inside. He picked up the post and made his way into the kitchen, turning on the coffee machine while working out his plan of action in his head; coffee, shower and change, pick up David and Mica, go to the park. Sorted.

He flicked through his post while waiting for the coffee to brew. It was all bills and junk mail of course. He was casting an eye over the electricity bill when his mobile phone began to ring and he answered automatically without looking at the caller display first.

'Hello?'

'Ianto?' Ianto froze; his stomach dropped at the sound of the voice that was still so familiar to him, even though it had been months since he'd seen the person it belonged to face to face; Ianto cursed himself for being caught off guard. 'Ianto are you there?' the voice repeated.

'What do you want Owen?' Ianto asked finding his voice at last.

'I just...' Owen trailed off. Ianto could hear the awkwardness in his ex-lover's voice but he did nothing to try and alleviate it. Owen deserved to feel uncomfortable. 'I just wondered how you're doing?'

'Great,' Ianto replied. 'I'm doing great thank you.'

'Good,' Owen said after a pause. 'I – I'm not doing so good.'

'I'm sorry to hear that Owen but it's really not my problem anymore.'

'I'm sorry Ianto.'

'I know you are,' Ianto replied in a softer tone. 'I believe that you're sorry; but like I told you before I don't want your apologies, I wanted you to have never been unfaithful.'

There was silence on the other end of the line and Ianto heard what sounded like a muffled sob, then a heavy sigh before Owen spoke again.

'I found a few of your things that you left behind, photos of David and Mica and stuff. Do you want me to send them on to you?'

Ianto considered saying no, that he didn't care what Owen did with the stuff, but then he decided that would be childish and he did want the photos back.

'Sure,' he replied. 'Have you got a pen? I'll give you the address.'

Ianto recited his address and Owen promised to send the stuff in the next few days. When he hung up the phone, Ianto sighed. Hearing from Owen so unexpectedly had shaken him up. Ianto hated being caught off guard by anything. It made him feel like he wasn't in control and that feeling always panicked him.

He needed to calm down. He was going to see Jack and he didn't need Jack thinking that he was upset over his ex. He might misunderstand and think that Ianto still had feelings for Owen which couldn't be further from the truth. Ianto swallowed hard before pouring himself a coffee and carrying it through to the living room, determined to put all thoughts of Owen Harper out of his mind.

Jack parked his car in the small car park and he and Stephen made their way down the winding path towards the playground. For the duration of the journey Stephen hadn't stopped talking about dinosaurs; evidently he'd been learning about them in school and thought that they were the greatest thing ever. Jack smiled at his grandson's enthusiasm as he listened to him talk, making appropriate interested noises when required.

As they approached the playground, Jack could see two other children were also there playing on the slide, a boy who looked to be about Stephen's age and a girl, slightly younger; a man – their father, Jack assumed – was with them, holding the young girl's hand to steady her as she climbed the steps to go down the slide. It was only as they got closer that Jack realised that the man was Ianto.

He smiled in surprise as Ianto turned towards him, his eyes were shining and the sight made Jack's heart leap. Stephen raced off towards the swings and Jack moved closer to his lover.

'Hey,' he greeted him with a warm smile.

'Hey yourself,' Jack replied. 'Something you want to tell me?' he inclined his head slightly towards David and Mica.

'They're Rhiannon's kids,' Ianto explained. 'David and Mica this is a friend of mine Jack.'

'Hi,' Jack smiled at the children and introduced Stephen to them and to Ianto. David and Stephen eyed each other for a moment before David asked if Stephen wanted to play football and upon establishing that he did, the two boys raced over to the other side of the playground to begin a game and Mica slid down the slide to an approving cheer from her uncle.

'What are you doing here?' Jack asked.

Ianto shrugged. 'I thought they might enjoy an outing to the park.'

'Really?' Jack asked sceptically. 'And so you being here is just pure coincidence?'

Ianto smiled, slightly embarrassed. 'Alright, I suppose I might've wanted an excuse to see you again before tomorrow night.'

'Are you stalking me, Mr Jones?'

'Would you mind if I were?'

Jack shook his head. 'Nope, not in the slightest.'

The two men gazed into each others eyes for a moment before Mica's voice interrupted them.

'Uncle Ianto will you push me on the swing?'

'Of course I will,' Ianto told her spinning around and lifting Mica into one of the baby swings.

Jack watched Ianto as he pushed his niece on the swing and then turned his attention to David and Stephen who were currently passing David's football between them on the other side of the playground.

Jack smiled. The whole thing felt so very domesticated in a way that he hadn't ever really been used to, trips to the park with his partner and the kids. He and Lucia had never done this together when Alice was younger and that was something that he would always feel sad about.

Mica finished on the swings and ran off to the roundabout. Jack stood up and moved closer to Ianto, wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around his waist and hold him close, but knowing that was impossible around the children; he didn't need Stephen telling his mother that piece of information so instead he settled for saying softly under his breath so that no one but Ianto could hear, 'I'd really like to kiss you now.'

'Would you?' Ianto replied.

'Oh yeah,' Jack grinned. 'I'd like to kiss you and a whole lot more besides.'

Ianto looked delightfully flustered at Jack's words causing Jack to laugh.

'Tease,' Ianto admonished.

'Can't help it,' Jack replied. 'You shouldn't have worn those jeans.'

That did make Ianto smile. He'd deliberately worn jeans that were just a fraction too tight, knowing that Jack would appreciate the way they made his arse look.

'I knew you'd like them,' Ianto said, his voice low.

'I do. I think you should wear them tomorrow night,' Jack told him.

'Sir, yes Sir,' Ianto teased but he didn't miss the way that Jack swallowed hard at his words. He remembered that Jack had had a similar reaction when Ianto had called him Captain on their first date, realisation dawned on him. 'Do you have an officer kink Jack?'

Now it was Jack's turn to look flustered. 'Er – i don't know what you mean.'

'Oh I think you do,' Ianto replied and then he leaned in closer to Jack and whispered seductively in his ear, 'Sir.'

'God Ianto,' Jack shivered and Ianto grinned, noting that piece of information away for later. They'd be able to have some real fun with this.

An hour later Ianto reluctantly decided it was time to go. Mica had fallen asleep in her pushchair and so Jack called Stephen and they all made their way back to the car park. As they arrived back at the cars Jack leaned in towards Ianto.

'You can come round tonight if you like,' he whispered.

Ianto visibly swallowed. 'Really?'

'Yeah,' Jack nodded. 'And you can stay – if you want.'

'Yeah,' Ianto replied. 'I'll come over when I've dropped the kids off.'

'Okay,' Jack agreed. 'I'll see you in about half an hour then.'

'That's thirty minutes and counting,' Ianto replied.