A/N: Sorry for not updating for such a long time. I bet you thought I'd abandoned this story. You know, how it is. Stuff happens, stuff gets dealt with, we move on. I'm writing again so hopefully I'll be able to update Rose Garden soon too.

Ianto was tired which was only to be expected, after all he had spent the last 18 hours chasing aliens around the streets of Cardiff. Protecting the city's residents from the bizarre and unusual wasn't always the kind of job you got to clock off from at the end of your shift, and sometimes the only thing keeping you from losing consciousness was copious amounts of artificial stimulants and the adrenalin high. He yawned, dragging his feet as he shuffled wearily along the pavement. Deciding to leave his car in the Torchwood car park had been the right decision given that he could barely keep his eyes open, but it was easy to feel unappreciated. No-one would ever know how close the human race had come to total annihilation that day; or just how much he and his colleagues had sacrificed to keep the unthinkable from happening. He loved his job, he really did, but some days it was all too much. Still, at least under the new regime long shifts were usually rewarded with reasonable periods of R and R, and now the threat had been neutralised Ianto was looking forward to some serious down time with John. He wondered if Jack would be back yet from wherever it was he went to when he wasn't here with them, but finding himself too tired to care that much, he came to a halt outside the property he shared with his two 51st Century lovers and searched for his keys. He groaned inwardly as he struggled to find them. Too many pockets, he thought. It was one of the major disadvantages of swapping the suits and ties Jack loved so much for the cargo pants and casual jackets John favoured. He was just about to give up and ring the bell when the door was flung open and he jumped in surprise as he found himself enveloped in a bear hug. It took a moment or two for his fuddled mind to register that he was being groped by a completely naked man in full view of his entire neighbourhood.

"For god's sake, John," he groaned, "get inside before one of the neighbours sees."

He stepped over the threshold, pushing John away so he could turn around to shut the door. When he turned back his mouth fell open slightly as he gaped at his partner who it turned out wasn't completely naked at all but was wearing a tiny, frilly pink apron and for some reason, which Ianto could only guess at, was brandishing a feather duster. The Welshman suspected John had no prior knowledge of what the item's actual function was and probably thought it was some kind of exotic sex toy. Ianto had long since ceased to be surprised by John's antics in the bedroom department and he couldn't help the smirk which formed on his lips.

"Oh hello," he chuckled.

John pouted,"Why didn't you phone?" he stamped his foot.

"I did phone, remember."

"That was six hours ago," he snapped. He folded his arms in front of his chest and humphed.

"I'm sorry, John. It's been a tough day and I've been up 20 hours straight. How about you stop nagging, get up those stairs and show me what a good wife you can be."

John narrowed his eyes briefly but then relented, running up the stairs and sniggering as Ianto ran after him. Their laughter rang through the house as the two men toppled on to the bed.

TWTWTWTW

"20 hours?" John pondered aloud later as they lay among the tangled sheets.

"Huh?"

"You said you'd been up 20 hours."

"Yes, so."

"You performed pretty well for someone who hasn't slept in nearly 24 hours."

"So, I'm young. What are you trying to say, Jamal."

"Nothing," John looked seriously at him for a moment before shaking his head and grinning at him, "I love it when you call me that," he said.

"I know you do," Ianto smirked.

"And I know you only call me that to distract me."

Ianto sighed.

"Go to sleep John."

By the time Ianto woke up hours later John was fast asleep. Checking his bed side clock, he was shocked to discover it was almost lunch time. His tummy rumbled noisily and he got up, fishing a pair of pyjama bottoms from out of his draw and slipping them on. He yawned and scratched his head, then went downstairs. He grimaced when he saw a familiar grey coat slung over the banister rail at the foot of the stair case. He picked it up and pressed it close to his chest for a minute, bringing it up to his nose to breath in the scent. Finally he sighed and hung the coat up next to his own on the coat rack in the hall, smoothing out imaginary creases as he did so. He walked into the lounge and sent the person sitting there a hard stare.

"So you're back then," he said.

"That I am," Jack agreed, "and how are you Ianto."

Ianto rolled his eyes.

"I'll go put the kettle on," he said.

Jack gave the other man's retreating back a longing look for a moment before turning away to stare into space. A minute later, he looked up again as John appeared in the doorway.

"For fuck's sake, put some clothes on," he groaned.

"Since when did you get so modest, Jotham." John said.

"Yes well, living through the entire 20th Century will do that to you. You do know you can get arrested for walking around like that in public."

John shook his head and laughed.

"What a strange, backward people they are," he said.

"Believe me, it's 1000 times better than the 1950's."

John gave his former partner a tight smile. He couldn't imagine what it had been like. Stuck in a time when you could find yourself thrown into jail or worse just for falling in love with the wrong person.

"Anyway," Jack asked, "how is he, I did ask him but he seems angry with me."

"And what possible reason could he have to be angry with you," John glared, "Actually, I am worried about him. There is something, I'm just not sure I'm ready to believe it yet."

"What is it? He seems fine to me."

"He would seem fine to you, the only time you ever notice him is when he's gone."

Jack gave him a look but didn't respond.

"I hope you two aren't fighting again?" Ianto interrupted, pushing open the door, "and for fuck's sake, go put some clothes on, John."

"Fine, I'll go," John huffed, "Geesh, what is it with you and clothes."

"So," Jack said after the former time agent had left the room, "How are you really, Ianto?"

Ianto shrugged, "Fine...Why do you keep asking me that?"

"Nothing. It's just..." Jack paused, "Ianto how long have I been away?"

"I dunno, a day or two, why?"

"Right," Jack sighed gloomily and looked away, "actually I've been gone a week." he went on.

"Well I'm sorry, it's been a busy week, I've had a lot on my mind, forgive me for losing track of time."

Jack gave Ianto a sad half smile, his eyes watering up a little.

"There was a time when I couldn't be gone more than a few hours without you getting panicky."

"Didn't stop you though did it?"

Jack rubbed his hands over his face and sighed.

"I know and believe me I'm sorry for that," he said, "you know the old saying you never know what you had until you've lost it." He took Ianto's hand in one of his own and stroked the back of it, "I looked for you, you know. All the time at first. Even long after you had disappeared I kept checking people out in the street or in the store, scanning their faces to see if any of them looked like you. There was this one time I walked into the hub and someone had put up a picture of you on the coffee machine, like they were starting a damn memorial wall or something. I threw a hissy fit. I kept telling them memorials were for dead people and you weren't dead so why the hell were they all acting as if you were. I'm not sure I even believed it myself at that point but when John turned up and told me you really were alive, just as I always said you were, I was so happy. I thought I was going to ride in on my white charger and rescue you, sweep you off your feet and have you back, only this time it would be different because I'd know exactly what I had, I'd treat you properly, like you deserve to be treated. I just never considered the possibility that you wouldn't want me anymore."

"I did want you...I mean, I do want you. I'm here, aren't I. You're the one who keeps going away."

Jack shook his head.

"Only because if I stay here I have to watch you slipping away from me bit by bit. I can see it your eyes every time I look at you. Don't deny it, Ianto. We both know it's true. Every day you fall a little bit more in love with him and a little bit less with me."

Ianto stared at Jack for a long moment, finding himself unable to speak over the lump in his throat. He gulped.

"You're leaving aren't you?" he whispered, "Just like I always said you would. You're leaving with your doctor and this time you won't be back."