So just at little chapter and we find out more about this Ianto.

Mirror Image – Chapter 3

By 7am Monday morning Jack was pacing the floor of his hotel room. He'd treated himself to a room at St David's Hotel; a room with a view of the Bay. He'd stood on the balcony and breathed in the air for sometime, trying to control his conflicting emotions. He really was confused as to what was going on. When he'd heard the words wife and kids he thought that was it; yet again he'd have to move on. There was just no way that he'd split up a family. There were millions of worlds out there with possibly millions of Iantos and he had the ability and the time to visit them all. Then, just when his mind had decided upon leaving, Ianto had asked if he wanted to go with him today and he'd said yes.

He'd need to ask Ianto about the Big Pit, as he had no idea what it was. Despite living in Cardiff or over 100 years, Jack realised that he'd spent so much time chasing aliens, that he'd been hardly anywhere.

So what was going on with Ianto and his family and why did he invite Jack? He realised that there was only one way to find out.

It was going to be a hot day. He dressed in jeans and t-shirt. He didn't know if he needed anything else. He was in the café ordering by 8.15. He wanted to be early. He wanted to see Ianto arrive. But what if he didn't? What if he was stood up? Sally came over and took his order.

'I'll get it now Sir. Will you be eating this morning?' she asked.

'I'm waiting for someone, so I don't know yet. Is that alright?' he replied.

'Absolutely fine Sir and if I'm not mistaken he's here now.' She smiled but it was no where near as wide as the one Jack gave as Ianto pushed open the door. He sat down opposite Jack, placing his backpack on the adjacent chair.

'Sorry I'm not late am I?' he asked.

'No, I'm early; I couldn't sleep. I always have problems when the weather is good,' he explained.

'Are you staying nearby?' Ianto asked. Jack felt a bit embarrassed. It sounded like a line he might have used in the past. 'Yes I'm staying at St David's,' he replied.

'Pays well then this job of yours. I've only been there once for a wedding. I could never afford to stay there.' Jack looked at those eyes and heard himself saying, 'well we could always have dinner there tonight if you aren't busy.'

'Yeah I like the sound of that,' Ianto replied, thinking, 'God this man has the most extraordinarily blue eyes.' Both were silent for a moment, perhaps realising the enormity of that offer and acceptance and trying to work out what it meant. Jack wondered about the wife and kids. Should he ask or wait for Ianto to say something? He decided to wait.

'Right we'd better have something to eat before we set off,' Ianto said. 'Are we okay in my car? I don't know if you have one. Sorry it's just a battered old estate car, nothing special. I need it for the kids or I'd get something smaller.' Now Jack had to ask.

'How many kids do you have?'

'Two,' Ianto replied, 'Carys and Euan, they're twins. Usually it skips a generation but not this time. Lisa has twins in her family too.'

'Is that your wife then?' Jack asked.

'Yes, well, sort of, I still think of her in that way and I suppose technically we're still married. I'm still getting used to it really. We split up about six months ago.'

Jack felt the breath he'd been holding slowly emerge. So Ianto was separated. Well that was something, but there were still the kids.

Ianto took a photo from his wallet. 'These are Carys and Euan. This was their fourth birthday party. Shortly after Lisa told me that she'd met someone else, someone who could offer her more and not spend all their time worrying about other people's kids. She had a point. We met at university. I was doing history and she was studying Japanese and business. She got a job working for Nissan and then got pregnant on our honeymoon. She wasn't pleased.' Jack smiled and Ianto blushed.

'Yeah I know, I was the butt of so many jokes from my family. Anyway Lisa kept the job and we managed but it was tough financially at the beginning. Ifan's been great and helped us out a bit when we needed the deposit for the house. He says the wages are good at his firm. He has a flat overlooking the Bay, with a gorgeous view. So Jack I appear to be doing all the talking here. What about you?' During the conversation the food had arrived.

'Not really got much family to speak of and travelling means you lose touch with your friends. My parents are both dead. I have a brother but I don't know where he is now; we drifted apart.' In fact Jack knew exactly where Gray was, down to the number on the drawer.

'What about your partner?' Ianto asked, hoping that was the correct terminology. Jack wondered what to say. What could he call Ianto? This Ianto saw him hesitate. 'It's okay; you don't have to say anything.'

'No sometimes I miss talking about him,' Jack replied. 'He was simply wonderful and I took him too much for granted. I think I only realised how much I loved him and how much I'd lost, when he died.'

'He sounds like a tough act to follow. Sorry that was crass,' Ianto said. 'Did I really say that,' he wondered. 'Am I implying that I'd like to try? Shit what is in my head?'

Jack looked up and the shock registered in both their eyes at the gap that had just been leapt across. Or had it? Jack chose his next words very carefully.

'No, you're right he is a tough act to follow.' Jack tried really hard not to let tears form in his eyes.

'Can I ask how he died? He must have been quite young.' Ianto found that he wanted to put his hand over Jack's but he held back.

'He got a viral infection which caused damage to his heart. It was all very sudden and quite rare,' Jack found himself saying. 'He was only twenty six and it was too soon.' Now the tears did appear in Jack's eyes. He shook himself.

'Sorry getting maudling again. Anyway tell me where we're going today as I have no idea what the Big Pit is.'

'Okay have you finished?' Ianto asked, swallowing the last of the coffee. The Big Pit is up the valleys at Blaenavon. It's one of the old pits that Glamorgan was covered by and they've turned it into a museum. I'm planning to take some year 8 pupils at the end of term. I wanted to do a visit first; I get in free that way, as long as I can prove I'm a teacher. You get to go underground and everything. You are okay with that sort of thing aren't you – not claustrophobic or anything?' Jack thought of the nearly 2000 years he spent in his own grave, not top mention being encased in concrete.

'Don't worry,' he said. 'I'm sure I'll cope.'