Jack explained everything to Ianto though he knew at some point explaining everything was wrong, but he was ninety-nine percent sure that what ever he said here wouldn't have any consequences in his time line. Though every time he mentioned aliens and Torchwood, the Doctor's nagging voice yelling about paradoxes was in his head.

"So, how do you get me out of this memory?" Ianto asked chewing at his lip. His head was aching, and his body was shaking from everything that had happened. Even though he believed what Jack was saying, he still couldn't help but be scared and hurt at everything he saw and heard.

"You need to overcome these fears," Jack said simply.

"Easier said than done," Ianto mumbled.

"You know a birdie once told me when I woke him up from having a really bad nightmare and I stubbornly refused to tell him what it was about, he said that the best way to overcome your fears is to talk about it." Ianto gave him a pointed look that clearly said yeah right. "I know I gave you that look when you said it to me."

"I said it?" Ianto asked and then laughed. "What was I doing in your bed?"

"Well we're sort of together." Jack smiled. "But that's not the point here, what's important is that it worked. I told you my fears and the nightmares stopped." Ianto stared at Jack in disbelief, did talking about things really work? When he was bullied at school, and he told his dad the bullying didn't stop. "I promise, it will help." Jack said.

"But I don't know what to say," Ianto mumbled, no one really had ever asked him to talk about his fears before.

"How long have you been scared of your dad?" Jack asked softly. He knew Ianto wasn't perfect at opening up to people, but he knew that if he was coaxed he would tell him anything.

"Since I was little," Ianto mumbled. "I was five and my parents were arguing and I crept down the stairs to get some milk and I saw him hit her, ever since he's been in my nightmares." Jack was shocked, he hadn't really expected that. He had expected Ianto to say it was since he had told his parents that he liked boys as well as girls. Knowing the truth scared him. "He always knew I was scared of him and used it as his advantage."

"Did he ever hurt you, Yan?" Jack asked softly.

"Once, but I deserved it." Ianto shrugged.

"Why?" Jack asked it killed him knowing that Ianto had been hurt, and most of all that the young boy thought he had deserved it.

"I got caught shoplifting trying to impress some friends. My dad has a good reputation in the area and he wasn't very pleased." Jack nodded. "This isn't helping me not be afraid Jack." Ianto sighed.

"You just need to realise that you're not at fault, Yan. Your dad doesn't rule your life." Jack said confidently.

"Feels like it now." Ianto mumbled and leaned against Jack's shoulder.

"Well with me in the future you don't even talk to your dad." Jack said hugging him around the waist. "You're your own person. And you're happy, Yan."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you're happy." Jack pressed a soft kiss to Ianto's forehead. "You make me happy, too.

Ianto turned around and pressed a gentle kiss to Jack's lips. Jack deepened the kiss, his tongue gently rubbing against Ianto's.

As the two teenagers kissed on the beach, neither noticed the sky turn dark or the shadow getting closer and closer...