Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the delay of this chapter and secondly, any mistakes are my own as this has not be beta read. But enjoy.
Jack smirked at the memory replaying itself in his head. It had been a moment's piece for his brain before the dreaded scene of the 456 replaced it and resumed playing the never ending piece of film.
A polyphonic ringtone of some classical tune filled his ears and he realised the women next to him, phone was ringing. He saw Gwen hit the answer button and watched as a smile made its way quickly over her features.
"Rhys!" She laughed. "No, look listen will you?" She sighed as the man on the other end of the phone continued to talk. "Shut up, guess who I bumped into," She laughed once more at the suggested person that came to Rhys. "No, Jack…"
The conversation between the couple continued but Jack faded out as his mind wondered to yet another memory.
-007-
"What will you do whilst I'm gone?" Gwen asked as she looked up at him, her eyes wide with happiness.
"Oh the usual, pizza, Ianto," They both laughed. But some how, to Jack, Gwen's felt a little forced even a little false, but he ignored it and continued. "Save the world a couple of times," He was aware of the conversation continuing but, if he was asked later on what they had spoken about, he wouldn't have been able to give an answer. However, the words 'will you miss me?' were picked up by his wondering brain, but nothing else. All he could think about was the odd, strange and unnatural feeling of having a slim female figure in his arms. Over the years Jack had danced with many women of all shapes and sizes, but this certain human made him feel uncomfortable. There were several things wrong with the Welshwomen, one being the way she always wanted Jack's attention and most of the time she received it, to his annoyance. The second was she asked so many questions about anything and everything and it got underneath his skin. No matter what he did she would always get the answer out of him and that, yet again, annoyed him. The third thing was the puppy dog eyes which followed him around the room. Everywhere Jack went those eyes went too.
Suddenly he was pulled out of his thoughts by a small cough. He physically shook himself to rid his brain of his previous thoughts. Jack watched as Gwen held out her arms awaiting Ianto to step into them but with a quick turn on his heels Jack found his own arms fill with the Welshman instead of Gwen's. He couldn't help but smile.
A clap from Gwen sounded above the music as she tried to hide the somewhat embarrassing event that had just occurred. She was having fun dancing with Jack until Ianto came along and ruined the moment. Thoughts came to her mind that, if they had been alone, things would have progressed and her fantasise might have come true. But now she was walking over to her new husband, Rhys Williams, those words filled her with happiness but it was soon lost at the sight that filled her gaze.
Jack was holding Ianto close to him, closer than he had held her. The sides of their heads were gently resting together and their eyes were closed as they silently swayed to the music.
Out the corner of her eye, Gwen noticed Owen catch Toshiko's attention and he nodded in the direction of the two men in the middle of the dance floor. A small smile spread on the Japanese women's face which made the pain of jealousy all the more real.
As the song changed into some cheesy pop track Jack pulled his back just a little so he could see Ianto features. "Thank you," He whispered.
"No problem," Ianto replied with a small chuckle. He knew what he had done; he didn't need to hear Jack voice it. But saving Jack from the awkward moment with Gwen was nothing compared to asking the Captain to dance with him, especially in front of so many strangers. Some of the guests had smiled at the sight whereas some of the ladies were filled with disappoint that they wouldn't be able to get a chance with either of the two men. In a way their dancing proved to the team Ianto was not just a part-time shag, he was more than that. Plus, Jack felt slightly overwhelmed that he, Ianto Jones wouldn't say boo to a goose, asked him for a dance in front of everyone. Of course Owen probably wouldn't let him forget it, but for then and there it was nice. And it was all that Jack needed.
-007-
"Jack?" A hand waved in front of his face.
"What?" He looked at Gwen, confusion written in the frown of his face.
A sigh came from Gwen's mouth. "I said, would you like to get a drink or something?"
"Um yeah." He shrugged and followed Gwen into the nearest café which just happened to be a few stores down on the opposite side to the restaurant.
After finding a seat and a glass of water put into his hands he found himself starring at Gwen. He noticed she looked well for someone who was spending the night getting up every few hours to sort a crying baby. Then Jack realised his head was filled with many questions. But before he could start the women in front of him started talking.
"You know, Rhys and I finally moved into a bigger house. It is so much better than that flat we used to have." She took a sip of her coffee and Jack caught a smell of it. His stomach knotted and he had to fight not to run out of the shop and gulp in the fresh air. The smell of coffee had a tendency to destroy his defences, he didn't want to break down in front of Gwen nor did he want to do it in public.
"Gwen-"
"We got cushions, after several hours of debating." She took in a deep breath waiting to start the next sentence as soon as it came into her head.
"Gwen I-" Jack sighed.
For the next ten minutes or more were of Gwen speaking about everything that had happened within the time Jack was aware from Earth. Once she had finished, Jack spotted his chance and spoke.
"I'm sorry Gwen." She looked at him with a slightly confused and worried expression. In that moment he wondered how many times he had say sorry in the many years he had been alive but then he wondered how many times he was going to say it in the future. 'Too many times' was his conclusion 'so better start now'. "I'm sorry for everything, Gwen."