Disclaimer: Don't own it, whatever it is (Torchwood, Merlin, etc.)

Ok, this chapter features something I've almost never or rarely encountered in fanfiction: monologues. I realise that flashbacks might have been a much cooler way to present the boys' confessions regarding their lives so far, but this is how they came out in the end. I'm a little concerned about whether I got them right or not, so I'd really appreciate some feedback on this one (reviews, buzzez, smoke signals... really, anything will do XD).

May you enjoy your reading...

Approximately two hours later, Jack decreed that the coffee Ianto Jones made was the best one in the whole wide world.

"And trust me, I've seen most of it and I've tasted coffee in most place I've seen." He also added with a wink, before hugging Tosh goodbye. Apparently a tremendous amount of work was waiting for her upstairs and there was also some international call she did not dare miss. "So, it's just you and me." He turned towards Ianto the moment they remained alone.

"Actually it's you, me, Bluff and a whole pile of dishes just waiting to be washed. Not to mention that I've got an appointment in fifteen minutes." He added after checking his watch.

"Let's get on with it then." Jack grabbed hold of one of the trays and took it back to the kitchen counter. When he rolled up his first sleeve, however, a firm hand stopped him.

"Don't do that. I invited you here today."

"And you also bailed me and my two moronic friends out of jail yesterday."

"You're my guest. Besides, I already received the money back and you wouldn't know how to arrange the clean dishes anyway."

"Ah, so this is part of the "no touching" policy then."

"I see you and Tosh haven't wasted any time in gossiping about me." The two men had walked out of the flat by now, Jack wearing his coat and Ianto locking the door, after making sure that Bluffy hadn't manage to escape.

"Oh, it wasn't gossip. It was research." The American wiggled his eyebrows, a naughty smile spread on his lips. "But, besides that… I believe there was something we needed to talk about you and me… confession time and all." He suddenly became quiet and watched the younger man intently, as they reached the stairs.

"You're lucky… I'm quite free these days, given how there aren't any festivities or celebrations coming up. Only the occasional baptism… or wedding… so you pick a day and we'll go from there." Ianto shrugged.

"I'm more or less free until Owen's wedding as well, but I must admit that I would very much like to find out more about you… and quite soon."

"Am I that much of challenge?" he smirked.

"More like a Christmas present. Especially when you're wearing red." Jack winked and laughed at Ianto's elaborate eye-roll. "What are you doing tomorrow? It being Saturday and all…"

"Nothing in the morning, but I've got some house calls in the evening." He made a quick mental check.

"House calls? Don't tell me you're also a paramedic in your spare time."

"No… They're some of my tad's older customers and they can't all come down here anymore. So, as a thank you for their loyalty to my business, I go to them. Many are old and stubborn as mules, but I like them and I like mending their suits while listening to crazy tales about their youth. You might think me insane, but in those moments I don't regret at all leaving London and moving back here." He stopped at the head of the staircase, while Jack had already climbed down the first stair and stood right in front of him.

"Oh, I don't think you're crazy. There are a lot of things we can learn only from our elders and I respect that… besides, had you not moved from London and opened this shop, we would have never met… and I'm incredibly grateful for that particular event." Jack finished his words in a whisper, eyes gazing into Ianto's, as the tailor slowly moved closer and closer… until only their clothes separated them.

There was no rush, no madness and it felt so easy, so natural. Sparks filled the air with electricity and butterflies flew inside warm bodies as their arms automatically reached up and wrapped themselves around the other man's body. Hearts drummed dangerously inside swollen chests and, as ridiculous and cheesy as it may sound, even time seemed to stop for a while, as two pairs of lips descended one upon the other…

It was calm, almost chaste at first… then became bold… then hungry…

Jack didn't know for how long he had been kissing (or was it ravaging? smooching?) Ianto, but when the contact broke, he did feel as if he had run to Glasgow and back. So he settled to breathlessly stare at the younger man and listen to him, while skilled hands gently caressed his cheeks.

"Tomorrow morning, eight o'clock. Use the back door, since I won't be opening the shop." He sounded just as distressed and surprised as Jack felt. "I'll show you out." He added, but made no move whatsoever to disentangle himself from Jack's arms. Instead, he kept touching and staring at the American, tracing his face features with careful, steady fingers. Then, suddenly, he took a deep breath and dropped his head again, this time taking control of the kiss. A minute later, it was Jack that broke away.

"Do that again and you will miss your appointments for the whole upcoming week." He warned and smiled widely. "Eight o'clock it is."

"Come in." The door promptly opened the moment Jack reached the building made of red brick, having followed Ianto's instructions and, thus, discovering the back door, which didn't resemble a back door at all… just a normal house entrance, missing all the trash cans and general clutter you could usually find behind a café. Still, this was no ordinary café, so Jack failed to understand his own surprise. On the other side of the doorway, stood a rather dishevelled tailor, who looked like he had just rolled out of bed after a not quite restful night's sleep. Still, he looked as delectable as when wearing what Jack now liked to call "the fetish gear".

"I come bearing gifts." He raised the bag he was holding with a grin and entered the house, taking in both his surroundings and the young man. He wore a simple pair of blue trousers and what seemed to be a very old black t-shirt that had once carried the picture of some rock band. His hair was spiky and his eyes red, movements betraying his still sleepy consciousness. However, it wasn't until Jack dropped his gaze to his feet that he let out a chuckle, disturbing the silence around them. Ianto was wearing, consciously or not, a pair of mouse slippers, featuring sharp noses, beady eyes, ears, whiskers and everything else.

"Hmm?" Ianto turned to him and then followed his gaze down. "Oh, yeah. Tosh has a bit of problem with slippers. Everywhere she goes, she looks for funny or funky slippers. If you think this is amusing, you should see what she brought Rhia and the kids last time she went to London." He explained and proceeded with climbing the stair connecting the house storeys.

"Remind me to ask her for a tour, sometimes." Jack smiled and followed him, eyes glued to his backside, rather than the ground below his feet, which led to him tripping over the last stair.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. Just day-dreaming... and seriously considering this talk..." his words trailed off as he looked up and stared into the young man's eyes.

"You can still turn around and run away."

"Not this time... So, where does Tosh live?"

"Up there." Ianto answered and pointed a finger at the next staircase, leading up to the second floor. "As you know, I'm this way."

Five minutes later, Jack was settled at Ianto's kitchen table, a plate full of pastries in front of him. A few feet away, the tailor was bustling about the cooker, filling kettles, checking temperatures and pouring all sorts of things from numerous containers into the boiling water. The American kept quiet, enjoying the show.

"I think it's like watching Merlin perform his magic during Arthurian times." He finally spoke the moment a very familiar blue-stripped mug found its way in front of him. Ianto blushed.

"With a little common sense anyone could make coffee like mine."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that. As a matter of fact, the only sensible people I know also make the worst coffee possible. You're special." The American went on as he watched the Welshman sit down on the opposite side of the small round table, his own coffee mug next to him. The pastries remained between them long forgotten, as the two men gazed at each other, both thinking the same thing: "this is it!"

"So... confession time, is it?" Ianto dropped is gaze to the wooden surface below their elbows and swallowed almost audibly. Soft pads were heard from the other side of the kitchen and Jack almost jumped up at the feeling of a furry tail against his trouser-clad leg. Glancing below the table, he saw the magnificent black cat roam around for a bit, until he managed to somehow nestle himself between Ianto's slippers and promptly settled down, dozing off. "Earlier this week... when you came with Dr. Harper and his fiancée... I have a feeling my reaction must have brought about some questions to your mind..."

"Just one or two..." Jack answered innocently and took a sip of his coffee.

"Yeah... it's a long story... so get ready to listen for a while..." Ianto took a deep breath and started speaking, at first in low, almost hushed tones, then, as memories came rushing back to him, his voice turned mocking, bitter and even angry. "I loved her, you see. It was going to be perfect. I was going to become a designer and she was going to be a researcher. Our future plans were laid out for the next twenty years. I was two days away from singing a contract with an Italian fashion house and several British ones were about to counter-offer them, just so they could keep me in the country. No matter what, we were going to stick together. Either traveling the world or staying back here... we were going to be together. I even had our dream house planned: a small cottage covered in ivy... roses in the front yard for the pictures and guests... thyme and basil in the back for the pasta sauce... everything was going to be perfect."

Ianto looked away from Jack's eyes, hands trembling just a bit. "We were supposed to get married the day before our graduation. It was going to be just us and some friends. No family, no outsiders, no strangers. But she never came. Apparently, instead of buying a wedding dress, she had acquired some travel bags... and a one-way ticket to France. She got a very well-paid job there, for some multinational company. But she never told me... she never even hinted that she wanted something else. Instead, she just waited for our wedding day and ran away. She left without looking back, without telling me anything...

I think you can imagine what a wreck I turned into. My whole, carefully planned life had become a ruin before even starting. For two weeks I didn't hear anything... I didn't see or smell... I didn't even breathe... And then, good old Tosh broke into my small student flat, through the window, no less... and told me to get a grip. So, I refused the Italian contract and any other job offers and I came back home. I knew that design was going to be something out of the question if I was to return to Cardiff... but I did it anyway. In London there was nothing left for me... here, at least I had my sister and her kids. I had no idea that family could mean so much. I'd always been a pretty cold child... no really minding mum or tad... but what I discovered when I returned surprised me... and made me a better person, I'm sure of that now.

So, instead of paying my airplane ticket and Lisa's to Italy, I came here and completely restored my tad's old tailor shop and the entire house. Rhia was unemployed, since Mica was barely one year old, so I also added the small coffee shop for her to manage. Something small and cute to keep her busy enough to stay out of my private matters, but free enough to have time for the children. Tosh was a bonus. Ever since I met her, she's become my steering wheel. She lives in a world of her own with all those computers and gadgets, but she's managed to keep a healthy conscience... so whenever I hit the bottom, she kicks in, points out the right way and gives me the strong nudge I need.

The only matter in which she hasn't been able to help is my love life... which doesn't exist because most people, male or female (although, I have to admit that you are my first serious attempt at the male gender), seem to think that being a tailor is equal to being a servant. They don't perceive my job as worthy or respectable. Therefore, people tend to try and push me around a lot... and if they flirt with me, I soon discover that they're actually patronising me, expecting special attention in all matters just because they pay me for their clothes. It's why I've become so wary of inappropriate conduct in my shop... of grinning people that settle their gazes on me... of shameless flirting... because I end up the same. Alone and torn to shreds." Ianto finished his monologue and finally raised his eyes to Jack again, half expecting to find him asleep or, worse, gone. Instead, the American was staring at him with wide blue orbs, filled with understanding and something more... something that not even Lisa's eyes had held when looking at him. A hand crossed over the table and caught onto his right one.

"I'm sorry. I am a firm believer that any honest job in the world deserves respect and I would never dare patronise you because of a bloody suit. As for the other thing... I've sort of been in your shoes, so I understand completely. And I can finally apologize for my words that day... especially now that I know what I have to apologize for..."

"It wasn't your fault... you couldn't have known. I'm sorry for the way I reacted."

"Well it wasn't your fault either, dammit!" Jack spoke a bit harsher than intended, but smiled as he heard Ianto's chuckle. Yeah, his gut instinct had been right. This one was a keeper... and the possibility of him being the one to keep was getting stronger by the minute. "Guess it's my turn, isn't it? Can we go sit on the couch? My part will take a little bit longer and I think we should get comfortable." he suggested while standing and picking up the mugs in order to leave them in the sink.

"Just leave them there." Ianto said as he bent down to retrieve the black devil from his legs and moved towards his living room. "I'll take care of them later." He supplied and led them around the flat. "So, what do you do for a living?"

"Mr. Jones, I love your frankness." Jack smiled as he sat down next to the Welshman and stole the tomcat from his arms. For once, Bluffy didn't seem to mind the attention and settled next to him comfortably, starting a mad purr the moment Jack's hands made their way into his fur. "I'm a test pilot for the Torchwood Institute. I believe you've heard of it, if you've been to London."

"Yes... something about innovations in flying machines and whatnot." Ianto supplied.

"That's us. I was in RAF for a while, until about five years ago... but then... I should probably start at the beginning. No one likes to hear a story from the middle. The ending wouldn't make much sense that way." He took a deep breath and, stealing one last glance at the patient man sitting down next to him, began the story of his life. "I was an army brat. I can't remember a time when we didn't change homes for longer than two years. My grandfather was in the army, my father... and I always knew that I'd end up in the army too. Believe it or not, I'm actually Scottish." He smiled at Ianto, who laughed out loud.

"No way."

"Yes way!"

"You don't sound Scottish!"

"Rrreally?" he inquired, bringing out the unmistakable burr in his voice and winning a bewildered stare. "We moved to America before my tenth birthday, before my brother was born. I never told you that I have a brother, did I? His name is Gray... and we sort of don't get along, but that's a different story. Anyway, back in high school, upon discovering my varied sexual preferences, I met two guys... one became my best friend whom you nowadays call Dr. Harper, while the other one was... well, my first guy. His name was John Hart and he was this lovely blond-haired boy who could charm the needle off a bee. I was instantly attracted to him and, being the newbie in town, I ended up sticking with him 24/7. Needless to say, he charmed a lot of things off me." Although his face was wearing the usual lecherous leer, his eyes were sad, turning his features into a bizarre mask. "It turned out that he was a drug addict... and a convicted felon. No one in town knew though... and, by the time I found out, it was too late. During my teenage years and up until my mid-twenties, I went and visited him in rehab and prison more times than I can count. I think I was feeling guilty for not having noticed that something was wrong, for not having helped him in time. If there's something I hate in this world, it's feeling useless.

Anyway, after high school, I went into the Academy and began training to be a pilot. From this point of view, I was going to be unique: the first airman in the family. My folks couldn't be prouder and for a while, everything went on great. Then, before my final year, I met Rose Tyler. I was at a party and, while trying to ditch a girl, of all things, I went out on the balcony and found her suspended by a rope made of sheets from the upper floor, wearing a white t-shirt with the British flag on it and jeans. Turned up she was on some kind of special mission and, next thing I knew, I was staring at this tall man with funny ears. His name was Smith, but everyone called him the "Doctor". I ended up flying around the world with them, as I already had my license by that time, for about half a year. For some reason they always seemed to be drawn to danger, so I found myself in a lot of inadvisable places... one of which almost killed me. We were caught in crossfire. One moment I saw death in front of my eyes, the other Owen screaming his brains out at me. I don't think he ever forgave me for that stunt, especially for having almost destroyed my left leg." He cast a side glance towards the said member. "There are still some chunks of flesh missing from it, but it's otherwise fine.

After that little adventure, I took advantage of Owen studying at the Medical School in London and transferred back to Britain, as far away from my meddling family as possible. Here I was in RAF for several long years, flying as high as I could. Needless to say, trouble followed me everywhere, since I always had a kink for extreme conditions. My superiors hated me for my madness. So five years ago, when I ran into the Doctor again, I decided I'd had enough, handed in my resignation and took off again. Around that time Owen was planning marry a lovely girl named Katie. She was his soulmate in every possible way and I knew there was no more room for Friday nights in town with me anymore.

This time I took everything easier and was only gone for about three months. But, when I came back, reality kicked in... Katie had died while I was flying over the Seven Seas... and I hadn't been there for my best mate. I had failed him and I had to watch him turn into a wreck. To only thing keeping us alive became Torchwood. I got a job there almost immediately. Owen was already on the R&D team, as a supervisor, just in case some test flight went badly, and I had been recommended by one of my superiors, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, the only man I ever respected from the whole lot. We're a freaky gang... antisocial... weird... And our fearless leader, for the past two years or so, is Miss Gwen Cooper... a lovely girl who, until recently, had been hoping that I'd set my sights on her, once and for all. But I managed to clear the air with her, finally… It seems that this trip to Cardiff has opened my eyes in some important ways and convinced me to put a little order in my life. Hmm." Jack frowned as he finished his side of the story. "Any questions?"

"For now, just one: are you going to leave again? I mean... with the Doctor..." Blue met blue.

"I don't know... Had you asked me this last week, I might have said yes... but now, I'm not so sure anymore." He sighed. "Hey Ianto…"

"What?"

"Will you be my date for Owen's wedding?"

I hope you liked this chapter (as it's probably the most important one in the whole story) and if you didn't, well, you're free to flame me ;)

Next time, THE WEDDING! Stay tuned!