This final chapter – or epilogue rather – is dedicated to all the readers of this story. It's been a real pleasure.

Chapter 23 Epilogue

Ianto stood at the window looking out at the swirling snow blowing past the frozen windowpane. He was stuck out in the middle of nowhere at a castle in north Wales. It was mid-February, Valentines Day, in fact. Not that they had ever made a big deal out of it. Jack had always frowned upon the overly commercial influence and remarked how he didn't understand the need to isolate the love to just one single day. But Ianto had still managed to easily persuade him to go on dates on Valentines Day; the man was a romantic at heart no matter how he tried to disguise it behind the sexual obsession. He smiled. Today they would have the most important date of all. One he couldn't be late for.

Rhiannon had been running around ragged; screaming at the caterer and arguing with the decorator. Everything had to be perfect, 'even if she has to kill somebody to get it that way.' He added mentally. He was glad though that she had taken charge of the whole thing. They had been too busy, what with the rift acting up, the whole Bangladeshi debacle, Orion and Warwyn, and with Gwen being pregnant.

Especially that last bit had thrown them for a loop. They had been overjoyed for her and Rhys, but it had caused some sleepless nights speculating how they were going to deal with her pulled off the field duty roster. In the end they had invited Martha Jones and Mickey Smith to join Torchwood. They were also considering a few other possible applicants, but so far the decision had yet to be made. Martha and Mickey had both accepted and were nearing the end of their training period. Already the team had benefitted from the reduced hours and the almost regular days off they now enjoyed. If a few more people were added it would be possible for them to have two teams on rotation. That was however a still a way off. Still, it was nice to dream of the vacation he and Jack might be able to go on or the nights when they could stay in bed instead of chasing weevils through dark alleys and empty parks.

There was a knock on the heavy oak door, followed by it opening. A familiar head poked in. Ianto smiled greatly upon seeing his son's bondmate.

"Warwyn! Come in! When did you get here?" he said ecstatically. Warwyn beamed at him and came over and gave him a heartfelt hug.

"Just now. I wanted to see you before… Oh, look at you! You look gorgeous." S/he said as they pulled out of the hug. S/he twirled his/her finger in a silent order for him to spin around and let him/her admire him from every angle. Ianto rolled his eyes overbearingly and spun slowly. It was true that he looked good. He was in a light grey tux with matching tie and sash, and with a red rose attached to the lapel. He had vetoed the top hat, when Rhiannon had presented him with it, though.

"Thank you," he said with a smile. "So you think Jack will like me in this?" He and Warwyn shared a look.

"Please, Jack would like you dressed in a sack or better yet, in nothing at all." They both laughed.

"So where's Orion? Isn't he with you?" he asked when they had quieted down a little.

"Oh, he got shanghaied by Owen. Apparently there was some crisis in Jack's dressing room and Owen felt out of his depth to deal with it." Ianto paled a little. Was Jack having cold feet? Had something happened?

"W.. what kind of crisis?" he asked suddenly feeling nervous. Warwyn realised his/her mistake and rushed to set his mind at ease.

"Oh, no! It's nothing bad. Just a case of nerves and some spilt coffee. Nothing Orion can't handle. He's getting really good, you know." The pride in his/her voice was clear. Ianto breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at his… ehm son/daughter-in-law.

"Yeah, I know... But what happened?" his tone of voice was dripping with tolerant longsuffering. Warwyn smiled. His/her father-in-law wasn't that easily distracted.

"Owen cracked a joke about you bailing out at the last minute and Jack took it seriously and knocked a cup of coffee over, spilling it all over himself and his tux." Warwyn smiled reminiscing lovingly. "When we arrived, Owen was running for dear life and ducking from the coffee mug being flung at him and Jack was throwing a tantrum." s/he chuckled.

"Poor Jack." Ianto whispered, even as his lips curled upwards.

"It's fine now. Orion's gotten him to calm down and is cleaning up the mess the coffee made." His/her eyes went unfocused for a brief moment, a sign of them using the bond to communicate. Then his/her gaze returned to look at Ianto and a smile appeared on his/her lovely androgynous features.

S/he was sporting a shorter hairstyle, than when Ianto had last seen Warwyn, though the style could still belong to either a male or a female. It was short and dark at the neck and longer at top, with blond, brunet and purple highlights. The eyes were still the natural purple that Orion liked so much. Amethysts he called them, Ianto remembered with a smile. Then he noticed the ears. They weren't human any longer. He turned Warwyn's face with one gentle hand to get a better look. They were pointed. He sent Warwyn a questioning look. S/he blushed a little and smiled shyly.

"Orion likes them." s/he said softly. Ianto couldn't help the understanding smile on his face. He was himself wearing a particular type of undergarment today just because it was Jack's favourite.

"Just remember to look human later." He watched as Warwyn's smile faded. "Unless you want everyone to know what you are." He amended. Since the joint rescue and return of the Bangladeshi nationals the world had know about the existence of extraterrestrials and even about Saluvians and Micurii'ans. But that only meant that the off world visitors found it rather difficult to walk about in peace. People would point and stare, some would pester them to talk, and others were fearful and would lash out.

He knew that had played a part in the young couple's decision to leave Earth and go to Hallow IV. Warwyn in particular had had a bit of trouble dealing with the need for secrecy and the inability to change gender and form in public. When ever they had gone out side, s/he had to pick a gender and a look and use that specific form each time. Orion had taken Warwyn on a date twice to the same restaurant, first with Warwyn in female form and later in male form. The restaurant owner had glared at Orion the entire time during their second visit and had made malicious comments about Orion being a two-timing disgusting fag, cheating on his girlfriend with the girlfriend's brother. After that Warwyn always picked the same male human form. But that didn't protect them from the bigotry and abuse from people who were against gays.

Xarion had been asked by the masters of the Forth House to invite Orion to join them as an acolyte. A similar offer had been made to Warwyn from the Third House, also known as the house of creation. After some deliberation on the matter they had accepted to go to Hallow IV when Warwyn was of age. They had all been sad to see them go, but as Johnny had said "All kids leave home sooner or later."

Ianto and Jack had actually visited them in their new home in a small village some 70 kilometres from the capital and their places of study. Xarion had arranged for them to rent a nice house with a small garden in the same village where he also lived with his own family. That made Ianto feel a bit better, knowing Xarion was close by to help them and keep an eye on them.

"Oh! Orion says it's almost time. Are you ready?" He drew in a deep breath and smiled as he exhaled.

"Oh yeah, I've been ready for a long time."

xxXxx

Every one in the castle fell silent as the two grooms appeared in doorways on opposite sides of the vast entrance hall. They were dressed in matching light grey tuxes and both had a red rose on the lapel. Ianto was escorted by Warwyn and Jack by Orion. They met at the bottom of the stairs in the centre of the hall. The guests consisting of family, friends and colleagues were gathered in the hall to bear witness to their wedding.

When Ianto's eyes met Jack's the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them. Jack was smiling his huge charming smile at him, his eyes full of emotion. He couldn't believe they had actually come to this, after all the doubts and the fighting they had done earlier in their relationship. Before his desperate ultimatum for Jack to choose him or not. Before Orion.

"Hello gorgeous." Jack whispered to him as he took his hand and they took the few steps up on the landing together. He smiled. The man radiated calm, love and desire, but he was the also the man who had caused nervous chaos in the dressing room less than an hour ago.

"Hello your self." He replied, making sure to put a sufficient amount of desire in his voice to make Jack crazy. Jack's smile changed a little and his eyes flashed with lust. Then they found them selves on the landing in front of the magistrate. The middle-aged woman smiled at them, her business suit crisp and not a hair out of place. With a perfect sense of timing she began:

"Dearly beloved. We are gathered today to join Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones in a civil partnership." Ianto didn't really listen as she talked on about love and the responsibilities of marriage. So absorbed by Jack's loving eyes was he that he almost missed the time when she asked him for his consent. It was only the slight flicker of panic in Jack's eyes that alerted him of his near slip up and he hurriedly replied:

"I do." And was rewarded with a huge grin and watery eyes on the man in front of him.

Then it was Jack's turn and his firm:

"You bet I do!" echoed in his ears as he felt his own eyes fill dangerously with happy tears.

Somewhere in the background he heard his sister blowing her nose. She always cried at weddings. He fumbled as he placed the ring on Jack's finger almost shaking too much to do so. He was in a happy daze as Jack gently put the ring on his finger as well. Then they were told to kiss and Jack grabbed him by his jacket and pulled him close.

"Your mine now." He whispered and kissed him passionately. Ianto responded after a brief moment and kissed him back. The crowd cheered delightedly and when their kissing continued the cheers turned to catcalls and wolfs whistles. In the end the magistrate had to subtly tap them on the shoulder to remind them of where they were and that they were not alone. Jack leered at him and Ianto was just too happy to be embarrassed, as they turned to face the guests as Mr. and Mr. Harkness-Jones.

Orion beamed at them while hugging his mate close. As soon as his newly-wedded parents stepped down from the stairs he flung himself into their arms, followed closely by Warwyn and then by the rest of the well wishers.

Ianto had never felt happier.

The end

So, this is the end. The whole saga began with Ianto finding Orion, and it ends with them as well.

At the time I'm writing this the story

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Okay, you know what you have to do now. That's right. Review people! :-)