They say you should talk and so they do. This was originally a long chapter. Those who read Torchwood High will know I have a tendency to get carried away. I cut it in half just to frustrate you all! And yes there really is a pub called that; I had lunch there three weeks ago and it was very nice.

Chapter 7

He got to the café early but Jack was already there sipping coffee. As he sat down opposite, Sally brought another mug. He poured some coffee. Ianto decided to speak first.

'I'm sorry Jack.'

'It's alright Ianto, I understand. I pushed things too far, too quickly. I thought I'd read the signals right. I wanted to clear the air and say goodbye.'

'What?' Ianto exclaimed, 'goodbye, but Jack I don't want you to go; we've hardly started to get to know each other. Please give me a chance; I just need sometime to get used to this. I was just scared. I've never been with a man before and I panicked about how strong my feelings were. Please Jack.' Ianto was amazed at the strentgh of his feelings. He knew he sounded desperate but he didn't care.

'Well perhaps you were right to leave Ianto. I guess you'd never even thought of being with a man. You can just put this down to experience and leave it now; you need never see me again.' Ianto reached out a hand and put it over Jack's. Across the café Sally smiled.

'Jack don't go. I did want to be with you last night, really I did. Please just give me more time. I'd like to spend more time with you, if that's possible. I have no idea whether you need to work. I have the kids tomorrow but I'm free today. Can we spend the day together? Just do something, talk, hang out for a bit? We could go down the coast and find a pub. What about going to the beach? Jack please say something; say it's not too late. Say you'll stay.'

'Ianto this isn't some one night stand thing for me. I wanted you last night and when you ran I thought I'd read things wrongly but I know you responded. You kissed me back.'

'I wish I could kiss you now,' Ianto responded, looking at Jack. 'Those eyes,' Jack thought. The last time he'd seen that look was as he held a dying Ianto in his arms. Was he right doing this, looking for a replacement for the man he'd loved and lost? Was he playing with peoples' lives and how would Ianto react when he found out who Jack really was? Still Jack was a risk taker. 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained,' he thought. Sally put some Danish pastries in front of them.

'I thought you might like these,' she said.

'Thanks Sally, that's very thoughtful,' Jack said flashing his best smile and refusing to let Ianto remove his hand; their fingers were now laced together.

'Look give me a few minutes to sort something,' Jack said. He got his phone out and walked to the entrance of the café. A few minutes later he was back.

'Right,' he said, 'they're delivering the car to the hotel in 30 minutes. We can pick up some swimming stuff and towels along the way and just set off. Let's just see where we get to. How does that sound?'

'Sounds fantastic to me,' Ianto said. Thirty minutes later Jack and Ianto were sat outside the hotel when the BMW convertible pulled up.

'Right that's us,' he said.

'Really,' Ianto replied, 'wow that's gorgeous.' He ran his fingers down the side of the car. Jack shivered imagining Ianto doing the same to him. They picked up some stuff at the retail park at Culverhouse Cross and then got on to the top road to Barry.

'Where are we going?' Jack asked.

'There's a little place with a great pub down the coast. The beach is beautiful and usually empty as it's not built up at all. We could have lunch and go swimming if you want.'

'Sounds like a plan to me,' Jack replied.

It took a while to get there. The day was glorious and they drove with the top down, stopping at points along the way to look at the views. Jack drove slowly in places to avoid the sheep, who wandered freely in some of the small villages. Ianto had to get out of the car to move on one sheep lying in the middle of the road.

'You Welsh all seem to have a special relationship with sheep,' Jack said winking. Ianto punched his arm and Jack feigned serious injury and hurt until Ianto kissed him better. They found the pub and settled into a corner. Ianto looked at the specials board while Jack got them both a drink.

'Odd name for a pub,' Jack said, 'The Pelican in its Piety! I assume there's a story behind it.'

Ianto talked more about his family as they ate. He talked about his job and his kids and why he'd split with his wife. Jack watched him in between eating the wonderful food. He could tell that Ianto was nervous but Jack just loved listening to him speak. He loved the inflections in his voice and those wonderful Welsh vowels. He studied Ianto as he talked; he watched the way his eyes sparkled when he was talking about his kids; the way he moved his hands, those beautiful hands that he wanted to feel touching him again. Ianto was telling stories about the things he and Ifan had got up to when they were children, to fool people who couldn't tell them apart.

'So did you ever do that with the girls?' Jack asked.

'No, not really, to be honest neither of us was that bothered until I met Lisa. Ifan thought I was mad to get married so young; he was probably right. I stayed with him last night by the way.'

'Did you talk to him about what happened? Are you that close?'

'Yeah we're close.' Then he wondered how true that really was after what Ifan had told him last night. 'And yes I did tell him. He just said I should find out more about you. I can't tell you how relieved I was when you texted Jack. LookI know we were planning to go to the beach but can we just go back to your hotel now please.' He wante to add before I change my mind and bottle out again. 'That car is pretty fast isn't it?' Ianto fixed Jack with a knowing stare. They both knew what was being discussed here.

'We can do whatever you want Ianto.' Jack got up and paid the bill.

The journey back took just 45 minutes as Jack put his foot down on the motorway back home. He knew he had his Torchwood ID if the police stopped him. And, so less than 24 hours later, Ianto found himself sat on the same sofa as the night before. This time he was determined to stay, determined to find out if his feelings and desires were real, if he really wanted this but he knew he'd never been so terrified in the whole of his life.

So back at the hotel and ... I bet some people are glad I cut this in half!