Disclaimer: I do not own Torchwood or Doctor Who, if I did Jack and Ianto would have gotten the happy ending they deserved and Owen and Tosh would still be alive.

Chapter 10

To Ianto it seemed like a lifetime ago that he was just a simple photojournalist after his first big story. Yet was only going on four months since Jack declared he was his and Ianto had never been happier. Of course, his arse had never been so well used in his life, but he had never felt more loved by anyone.

For the first time in a long time Ianto felt like he actually belonged somewhere; Jack even allowed Ianto's family and other friends to visit. Thankfully, Sarah Jane had managed to talk her brother out of a family dinner; somehow Ianto just couldn't see a known mob boss sitting around chatting with the leader of UNIT.

Life in the Jack Harkness mansion had brightened considerably since Ianto entered Jack's life. Jack whistled as he strolled the halls, he laughed and joked with his co-workers more than he used to, and at least once a week, Jack hosted a family get-together for his team. Good food, good drink and good friends; Ianto was happy, but even more so, he was happy for Jack.

Another benefit of Jack's happiness was that his patience had skyrocketed. Since Ianto's arrival, there hadn't been a single episode of the infamous Harkness temper. It was a well-known fact amongst those in Jack's line of work that if you were to piss Jack off to the point where his anger raised its ugly head, then you were almost guaranteed to wake up on a distant moon with no idea of how you got there.

As for Jack and Ianto, they were living the fairy-tale dream. They'd wake up in the morning, wrapped in one another's arms, have a private breakfast on the balcony, weather permitting, or in their bedroom, and on Sundays, it was always coffee and croissants in bed while they read each other the Sunday vid papers. In the mornings they'd split-up; Jack would attend to his business matters while Ianto worked out in the mansion's gym, or went swimming in the Olympic-sized pool.

Jack and Ianto would share lunch, sometimes with others, sometimes alone, and then two or three times a week, they'd go off on their own. They visited museums and art galleries, went to movies and plays, or they just wandered the waterfront, sharing paper-wrapped chips of hand-dipped ice cream cones. Dinners were split between eating out at the very best restaurants, and eating at home, sometimes with their friends and sometimes alone.

As lively as their days were, it was the nights that they looked forward the most. Their private time together, when the vid phones were turned off and the do not disturb sign was on the door. Jack's staff and team had been told that the only time they could knock on the door was if the house was on fire.

The nights were devoted to absolutely hedonistic practices. They ranged from shared bubble baths, movie marathons, sensual massages and, of course, long, drawn-out sessions of highly erotic and very satisfying lovemaking. Ask either man and they'd say the nights were the best part of their days.

When Ianto did manage to leave Jack's side, he found himself growing rather fond of Jack's dangerous family. John still called him Eye-Candy, but never when Jack was around. John wasn't stupid and he did like living. The only person who didn't really warm to having Ianto and Tosh around was Grey. Ianto chalked that up to brotherly closeness and protectiveness.

Despite how very pleasant life had become, there was one thing that had everyone worried, was Gwen attitude had taken a rather bizarre one hundred and eighty degree turn. Overnight, she had become sickeningly sweet to Ianto and Tosh, something which had Suzie, Martha and John keeping a very close eye on her. They knew full well there was no way Gwen would ever be that accepting of Jack's relationship with Ianto. She was up to something, and they were determined to find out what and stop her in her tracks.

While he enjoyed his newfound friendships, Ianto found the most peace in Jack's extraordinarily well-stocked library. The room was rarely used and provided a haven for Ianto from the daily hustle and bustle of normal daily life in the Harkness mansion. Ianto appreciated the very restful atmosphere the room offered; it was in there that he could pretend he was just a regular guy, with a boring job and a normal boyfriend.

Jack's gaze followed Ianto as his lover entered his office with a cup of liquid ambrosia also known as coffee. Somehow, Jack managed to hold back from pulling his lover onto his lap until after Ianto set the coffee down. He'd learned two things the one and only time he hadn't waited. First off, having a lapful of hot coffee was a very, very unpleasant experience.

But it was the second lesson that stuck with him the most. After Ianto had cleaned up the mess Jack had made, he had given Jack 'the look'. It was a look that said Jack was foolish, sloppy, and in oh-so-much trouble and as punishment, his coffee supply line was cut off. By the end of the day, Jack had been literally begging for forgiveness.

Ianto had prepared Jack his first cup of coffee the second morning they'd been together, after nearly choking on the 'swill', as Ianto had described it, that Jack served him with breakfast. Since that day, Jack hadn't gone more than two hours at a time without a cup of hot, fresh-brewed, industrial-strength Ianto-coffee. When John had his first taste of the brew, his immediate judgement was that Ianto could take over the world with his coffee if he wanted to.

Once the coffee was safely on the desk, Ianto settled into his second favourite spot in the entire mansion, Jack's lap; the first, of course, being Jack's bed. He kissed Jack tenderly. "Missed you," he admitted softly. "I'm glad you're back safely." Jack had been away for several hours at a 'meeting.'

"Thank you." Jack returned the kiss. "What have you been up to this morning?"

Ianto shrugged. "The usual stuff, you know, browsing through your books, walking in the garden, missing you."

"That library you've been admiring was Estelle's." Jack ran his hand up and down Ianto's back as his lover rested against his chest.

Ianto shifted so he could look Jack in the eye. "I didn't know that, I'm sorry. Would you prefer if I left it alone?"

Jack shook his head. "No, Estelle would be happy to know someone other than Martha is using it. Estelle loved to read; she's responsible for collecting a lot of the volumes on mythological beings; books about fairies and the like were her favourite. She enjoyed discovering new books about old creatures." That was the most Jack had ever said about Estelle, and Ianto felt honoured.

"How did Estelle die?" Ianto brushed a tender hand along Jack's cheek. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he hastily added.

With a sad look in his eyes, Jack shook his head. "No, it's time you found out just what you're getting yourself into by being in a relationship with me. Adam Smith is my biggest rival, has been for years. He's scum, actually he might be worse than scum but that's the best way I can describe him without offending anyone or any race. He wanted to hurt me, get revenge for my getting something that he wanted, and he knew where to hit me to do the most damage." Jack paused and drew in a slightly shaky breath.

Ianto didn't say anything; he just squeezed Jack's hand in support and with a weak smile, Jack continued. "Estelle had gone shopping that morning; she said that she wanted to make us a romantic dinner. She was shot coming out of the store. She'd only been out of the house for an hour, at the most, when Adam called my private line and kindly left me a message. He warned me about the dangers of letting out my precious flower out into the cruel world. I got…"

Jack's voice broke and a single tear slipped down his face. He closed his eyes for a moment and then took a deep breath. "I got to the market just in time to see Estelle get shot… the shooter waited until we were just a few feet apart before they fired. One single perfectly-aimed blast and then… she died in my arms."

Ianto's heart broke for his lover. "I'm so sorry, Jack; she sounds like an amazing woman." He wished he could have met the woman who still held a piece of Jack's heart.

"Estelle would have loved you. I loved her, Ianto, but in the end I would have broken her heart. As much as I loved Estelle, what I feel for you, my little mouse, is so much greater. Estelle helped me become a better person, yes, but it's you who makes me want to be a better person." Jack admitted.

Ianto pressed a kiss against Jack's lips. "You are a good person. I'm proud to be your lover and the one you want to share your life with," he whispered against Jack's lips.

Ianto's words filled Jack with joy and lust, and at that moment all he cared about was making love to the gorgeous man in his lap. Their kisses grew all the hotter as Jack managed to slip his hands into Ianto's jeans to squeeze and cup that delicious arse.

"Oh, please! Jack, can't you control yourself just once?" John's snarky voice was like a cold shower and the two lovers quickly broke apart.

Jack glared at his old friend. "This better be important, Hart!" he barked; he did not like anyone interrupting his naked time with Ianto.

John had a serious look in his eyes. "This is important, Jack, it can't wait. I think someone here is working for Adam."

Ianto felt Jack go stiff in his arms; it was time for him to go. "Talk to John. I'll be in the library, come find me when you're done." Ianto knew that Jack and his third-in-command needed privacy to discuss such a serious breach of trust.

Jack's ice-cold gaze warmed as he smiled at Ianto. "I will and don't be surprised when I take that pretty arse of yours on one of the tables in there." He was delighted when Ianto blushed darkly and shot off his lap and out the door in a rush. Oh yes Jack was really going to enjoy going to find Ianto in the library.

John and Jack waited until Ianto was gone and then Jack's icy gaze found its way back to his third. "Tell me everything you know."

John sighed as he took the empty seat in front of Jack's desk. "As you know Suzie, Martha and I didn't trust Gwen's suddenly giving up on you. It was so out of character for her, so we had her followed. Let me tell you, for an ex-PC she has no bloody clue when she's got a tail." John shook his head. "She's been meeting with Adam on a regular basis. Don't know what she's been telling him though, not yet anyway." He looked up hopefully. "You want me to, you know, 'talk' to her for you?"

A dangerous growl escaped Jack's lips and his eyes flashed with rage. "No, not yet. Keep an eye on her; I want to know exactly what kind of info she's been feeding Adam."

With a grim no, John got up to leave. "Got it, boss."

Jack held up his hand. "Ianto and Tosh are never to be left alone. You can bet that Adam already knows how important they are to us, to me, and he will target them." Jack had already lost one love to Adam, and while Estelle's death had seriously hurt him, if anything happened to Ianto, he knew he would shatter beyond any hope of ever being put back together.

"Don't worry, Jack, we'll keep them safe." John vowed. "I give you my word."

TBC…