Prologue

Ianto's head was resting on Jack's shoulder. They were whispering quietly to one another, as they often did after having exhausted themselves making love. Jack was rubbing Ianto's left arm tenderly, as if he was made of porcelain; Ianto allowing him to do so, drowsy and eyes half-closed.

Ianto never spoke much, but after love-making, he would sometimes let his mind and his words wander aloud.

"Did you mean it, Jack?"

"Of course, I did. In matters of sex, and with you, I always mean it."

A slight hesitation.

"Will you teach me?"

"Ianto, my lad, I will teach you all you wanna learn!" There was a little smile in Jack's tone, but it was also a tone of respect for his young lover. "Was I really the first man in your life?" Jack had never asked this question, but when Ianto started to talk, which wasn't often, Jack felt more forthright with his lover.

Ianto was rolling away from his captain, friend, leader and lover. "Yes, Jack, yes."

Jack smiled. Ianto might have been in a first-time relationship with another male, yet he made sure to put all his endless stamina into it. He shied away from nothing and tonight had even asked about certain opportunities in a male-male relationship. "You are so desirable, my young Welshman."

Ianto smiled but said nothing. His eyes closed completely as Jack snuggled into him.

/\/\/\

As Jack required less sleep, he was up, showered, dressed and ready much earlier than his young partner. He left him a note, letting him know he was going to get them breakfast. He didn't like leaving Ianto to wake up alone in what he now considered their bed. Their first date at the zoo had not turned out the way either of them was happy with, so since the second date and now their twice a week sleeping together, they both made sure that their few hours together were spent building nice memories.

He would get those chocolate croissants Ianto was fond of, and he would pick a few fresh fruits. If Ianto slept long enough, he might have time to prepare him a nice platter of sliced fruit.

The rift had been quietly humming its non-activity lately. The team was spending time doing inventory, checking equipment and even organizing their files and helping Ianto with the archives. Jack had taken to helping Ianto be a better hand-to-hand fighter, much to the snickering comments of Owen. Ianto was also spending time improving his aim on the range, downstairs. He and Tosh were shooting together at least one hour every week, mostly on Tuesday mornings.

Jack was walking on the pier in the early dawn. The market would barely be open when he would reach it, but Simon Locke knew him and would sell the freshest and the best produce he had to offer. Grey clouds were rising slowly and the tall immortal knew it would be a heavy rainy day. He walked even faster, hoping to find Ianto still asleep, warm in their bed, on his return trip.

He was walking back from the market when the rain let loose. He opened his coat slightly so he could cover the bags of goodies. He nearly ran all the way to the entrance on the pier. As he made his way into the Hub, the alarm rang loudly. He shut it off in 2 clicks of his watch, removed his coat, tossing it onto the old couch, shook his hair and walked steadily towards the kitchenette. He took two plates from the cupboard, spread the still warm croissants on them, quickly peeled the apples and oranges; the pineapple and grapes were clean and ready to be spread on the plate.

As he gathered the plates in one hand, he started to smile; the passion of last night, Ianto's eagerness, Jack's offer to be taken by his lover in their next encounter – Ianto's radiance as he came, calling him all kinds of endearments and his energetic stamina, allowing him to rise not only once, but twice more. Oh Ianto, if you only knew the joy you bring me. But I won't tell you. Not yet anyway, Ianto.

Jack arrived in his office, leaving the plates on his desk, peeking into his hidden chamber: Ianto was still clutching the blankets around himself, burrowing like a small hare in winter. A peaceful look, a peculiarly peaceful visage, a handsome and beautiful face, that gorgeous Welsh lover of his. As he returned to his desk to gather their breakfast plates, the rift alarm sounded.