"What's this?"
"That's an engagement ring that is."
"You're getting married?"
"Yes, Rhys asked. When you were away."
"And you said yes."
"Well no one else will have me."
He had come back for her. He had lived through the end of the world, and clawed his way back from it so he could return to her. But it wasn't enough. Not for her. He had lived so many lives, lost so many people and that was something that he knew she would never understand. There was only one other person in the universe who understood what it was like to watch everyone else live their lives, constantly moving forward and for you to be the only one stuck in one point, neither moving forward or having the chance to look back. She didn't understand he did this to protect himself. That he couldn't say what he wanted to because it would expose too much.
He'd been ready though. Ready to open himself up to her, ready to throw caution to the wind and let future take them wherever it wanted. It now seemed like a cruel joke that the very situation that had opened his eyes to what he really wanted was also the thing that had made him one step too late.
Jack had never had any reservations about sex. If the other party was up for, then so was he. The problem with this was that others would assume that his philosophies on sex were also how he felt about any sort of romantic relationship. It wasn't though, no matter how liberal his views were on whom he chose to bed his was a romantic at heart, he believed in true love and he believed that every person had someone that could complete them. Their other half. That had been why he'd never gone any farther than harmless flirting with one Rose Tyler, because though he could feel himself slowly falling in love with her, he knew it would never be able to hold a flame to what she'd had with the Doctor. It hadn't really worked out for him as he'd ended up hopelessly in love with the both of them, but at least he'd never interfered with what they had in a real way.
But now. Now he had found himself in almost the same situation, he was in love with a woman who had seemingly chosen another man. He had a respect for true love, and he didn't doubt that what Rhys felt for Gwen was true, but unlike the situation with Rose and the Doctor, he couldn't help feeling that what he had with Gwen had the potential to be something so much bigger than what she would have with Rhys. Jack didn't know how he knew it, but he was sure that he and Gwen could be the stuff of legends.
Now all Jack needed to do was to convince Gwen of that. But first he had something else to do.
This was one of the harder things that he'd had to do in his very long life, but if he wanted to prove to Gwen that she should choose him, the he also had to do things that would make him worthy of being her choice. That didn't help the sting he felt with he was faced with that look of utter despair though.
"So what was I then? What was this to you? Because I love you Jack. I'd never thought that I'd be able to love again after Lisa, but you changed that! I didn't want to be this person; I didn't want to love you. But it was you who pursued me!"
"I know Ianto. I'm so so sorry for doing this to you. You have to believe me, when we started this I thought that we'd really have a chance, I didn't plan on this. I didn't plan on falling in love with her. But I have, and it wouldn't be fair to you if I didn't tell you now because I've decided that I'm going to act on my feelings."
"But what if she doesn't love you? You know she loves Rhys, she's always only had his best interests in mind. Everyone in the team can see that she cares more about him than she does herself."
"I know, but I think if you love someone. Really love someone to the core of your being, then you should be willing for them to be happy however they choose to live. And if in the end she chooses Rhys then that's fine with me, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I'd never even put myself in the running."
Ianto looked at the man he was slowly falling in love with and knew that he wouldn't be able to change Jack's mind. The funny thing about it was that he'd known it all along, he seen the way Jack looked at her, but Ianto had somehow told himself that they were feelings that Jack wouldn't act on because Gwen already had Rhys. He could tell how wrong he was now, as he saw the grim determination on Jack's face. It was that face that made him relent, and also feel sorry for Rhys, because as transparent as Jack's feelings for Gwen were, it was the same when it came to Gwen's feelings for Jack.
"If… just if it doesn't go the way you plan. Would you come back to me?"
He knew how pitiful and desperate it had sounded, but he just couldn't stop himself. Jack was worth losing a bit of his dignity. He hadn't known how Jack would respond, but he hadn't expected to suddenly be pulled into the most passionate kiss of his life.
Jack held Ianto's face in place and stared into Ianto's eyes and said in his fiercest voice, "Ianto Jones. You deserve so much better than me. You deserve everything in the world. I know how you see yourself, I know that you think you're nothing but the coffee boy, but let me tell you this right now. You are one of the most amazing men that I have ever met. Don't ever let me or anyone else put you in a position where you feel weak and without power. I love you. I really and truly do. In any other world we would have been great, amazing even, but not this one and I can't tell you how sorry I am for that. But you deserve someone who loves you with all their heart and right now right here? I'm not the man for you. I have no doubt that the person you're looking for is out there though, so don't waste your time on me, because I'm telling you that I'm not worth it."
With that, Jack walked away with his great coat flowing behind him. He didn't seem to notice that his speech had probably done more harm than good as Ianto looked at his back with a look that was somewhere in between shock and devotion.