Ianto greeted Jack and his brother at the door with a big smile. "Gray!" he exclaimed, picking up the boy and putting him on his hip. "How've you been? What are you doing in school? Any new girlfriend? Boyfriend?"

"Hi Ianto!" Gray enthused, wrapping his arms around the older boy. "I've been good! Girls are icky, Ianto! And I don't like boys like that. Not like you and Jack." He giggled. "What else did you ask me?"

Ianto shook his head. "It's not important." They headed into the lounge and Ianto took a seat, still holding Gray. "So what are we doing today, hmm?"

"I told Gray maybe we could play a game," Jack said, smiling. "What do you think, Ianto?"

"That sounds like fun," he agreed, ruffling Gray's hair. "What game do you want to play, Gray?"

The little boy's face scrunched up in concentration. "Hide and seek!"

Ianto and Jack looked at each other, shrugging. "Alright," Ianto told him, glancing around at all the boxes and containers littering the room. Plenty of places to hide. "Jack and I will go to my room for a minute, and you find a place to hide in here."

"Okay!"

Ianto took Jack's hand and led him out of the lounge, heading down the hall to his room. Tugging his boyfriend out of the hall he stuck his head out, calling to Gray, "Alright Gray, I'm going to start counting! You have sixty seconds!"

The sound of the little boy's giggles could be heard where they stood and Jack grinned, watching as Ianto pulled out a stop watch his grandfather had given him before he'd passed on. Clicking the button on top, Ianto grinned back.

"I've missed you," he told Jack, pressing a kiss to his mouth.

Jack closed his eyes, winding his arms around his boyfriend. "Missed you too," he murmured against Ianto's lips.

"Is it sixty seconds yet?" came a small voice from the lounge.

Ianto and Jack chuckled. "Not yet," the Welshman called, nuzzling Jack's neck. "Mmm. You smell good, Jack. What cologne are you wearing today?"

"I'm not," Jack told him, enjoying the feel of Ianto pressed up against him. A little too much, considering his brother was in the next room. He groaned, clutching at Ianto's back when Ianto sucked on his neck.

"You smell like that naturally?" Ianto asked him, pulling back to look at him. "I'd never noticed that before. Good thing, probably. I'd have likely mauled you."

Jack shivered at the thought, giving Ianto his most evil smirk. "Sounds amazing, Ianto Jones."

They stared at each other, twin sets of blue eyes blazing with something that could only be described as raw desire, until Jack cleared his throat and reached for the hand that held the stop watch. "It's time," he told him, voice a bit more gravelly than he'd intended.

Ianto blinked, looking at the stop watch. "Yup. Hold that thought." He straightened his shoulders and walked out of the room. He called to Gray, "Ready or not, here I come!"

Jack shook his head. He took several deep breaths, trying to will away the erection that was beginning to tent his jeans. The things Ianto could do to him without even trying were incredible, but he needed to behave. He was there to spend time with his boyfriend, yes, but he also wanted to help out with Ianto's mother and he'd brought along his brother, for crying out loud. This was no time to be contemplating another step in his and Ianto's relationship.

"Agh! Stop! Okay! Agh!"

Jack grinned, walking out of the room and down the hallway to the lounge. "Found him, did you?" he asked, seeing Gray currently being tickled by a laughing Ianto.

"Yes I did," Ianto answered, not losing a beat in his attack on the little boy. "But he's pretty good at this game."

"He's a natural," Jack admitted, folding his arms.

"Your turn, Jack!" Gray told him, struggling to escape Ianto's hands. "You hide and Ianto and I will find you!"

Jack raised an eyebrow, then looked around the room. "Alright. You guys go count."

Ianto led the little boy away, disappearing into the hallway as Jack looked around for a good spot to hide. He spotted a tall grouping of plastic storage containers in the corner and smirked. As good a hiding place as any, he figured.

Crawling into the tiny space behind the high tower he scooted far into the corner, scrunching down until he was resting on his haunches. There was barely enough room with his long legs, so he turned toward the opening, drew his knees up as close to his chin as he could and kept his breathing shallow.

The seconds ticked away agonizingly slowly, until he heard Grey say, "Here we come, Jack!"

Jack breathed through his nose, biting his lip to stop from laughing. It was a nervous habit, and he wanted to win this game. Childish, maybe, but he still wanted it.

"Where could he be?" Ianto asked his little helper, shuffling around as he looked over and behind boxes.

"Somewhere tall," Gray told him. "'Cause Jack's really tall."

Smart as a whip, that kid, Jack thought to himself. He could hear them getting closer and he prepared himself for when he was found.

"Hey Gray, why don't you check that corner of the room over there," Ianto said, and Jack wasn't sure which corner he meant.

"Okay!"

Jack winced, figuring his brother would come bounding around the boxes and containers at any moment. Instead, it was Ianto's smirk he saw as his boyfriend crawled on his hands and knees towards him. Jack swallowed, seeing the predatory look in his eyes.

"You find him yet?" Ianto called to Gray, his eyes not leaving Jack's.

"No, not yet, Ianto! I'm still looking!"

"Make sure you check that whole side of the room," he said, only centimeters from Jack's feet.

"Okay, Ianto!"

Jack grinned, watching as Ianto carefully placed a hand on either side of his hips, leaning in until their mouths were a breath apart. His heart raced at the proximity.

"Found you, Jack Harkness," he whispered, not moving any closer.

"What're you going to do with me?" Jack whispered back, eyes dropping to Ianto's mouth.

"What do you think I should do?"

"Kiss me, Ianto," he growled softly. "Before I go insane."

Their lips met then, hard and unforgiving. Jack bit back a moan, not wanting to alert his brother to their position if at all possible.

"I can't find him, Ianto!" Gray called, a pout in his voice. "He's too good!"

Ianto smiled into the kiss and Jack couldn't help but do the same. "Keep trying, Gray."

There was a loud sigh. "Okay."

Cupping his hand around Ianto's neck Jack deepened the kiss, delving into Ianto's mouth with his tongue and tasting as much of him as possible. Ianto's tongue battled his for dominance before conceding defeat, allowing Jack control. When he pulled back Jack sucked on his lower lip, eyes darkening with want.

Ianto winked, moving backward until he was a good meter away from Jack. "I found him, Gray! Come help me catch him!"

Jack growled, loudly this time, and Ianto just smirked at him. Gray came scampering around the boxes pointing and giggling. "He got you, Jack! He got you!"

"Yes he did, Gray," Jack replied, staring into Ianto's stormy blue eyes. "He truly and completely has me."

Gray was still giggling when Jack scooted out of his hiding place, tugging down his shirt to try to cover the evidence of his tryst with his boyfriend. Jack moved a couple boxes out of the way so that there was room for all three of them to sit comfortably, though he settled back against Ianto's chest, letting his boyfriend wrap his arms around him, one leg up on the couch.

Gray crawled onto the opposite end, all smiles. "That was fun. Can we play again? This time you can hide, Ianto!"

"Oh, maybe in a little while," Ianto said, smiling back. "How about we rest a moment and then I bring you in to see my Mam? She's been asking about you."

"Really?" Jack asked over his shoulder.

"Yup. The last time Gray was here he made her a picture with shells, remember that?"

"Ah, yes. It was great."

"I like making things," Gray said, sitting cross-legged. "She liked it. I'm very clever."

"Yes you are," Ianto told him. "She loved it, actually. It's still hanging in her room."

"Really?" Gray asked this time, eyes wide.

"Sure is. Come look," he suggested, moving a little until Jack begrudgingly shifted over and allowed him to get to his feet. He leaned down to whisper to Jack, "She's having a good day."

Jack nodded, understanding that there'd be no problems with Gray visiting with his mother today. It was always questionable, if she wasn't completely lucid. But if she wasn't suffering from any symptoms that day, it would be a lovely time for Gray to sit with her.

Gray took Ianto's hand and they wandered out into the hall. Jack watched them go, heart swelling seeing the two of them together. Ianto really had a way with children. He'd make an excellent father one day.

Frowning, Jack shook his head. It was really far too soon to be following that train of thought too far down the track. Sure, they'd known each other for years, but they'd been together for less than a day. He was moving things too fast, he just knew it. He didn't want Ianto to get scared and back off.

A few minutes later Ianto returned, no Gray in tow. Jack gave him a questioning look, to which Ianto smiled. "They're reading."

"Romance novels?" Jack asked with a concerned frown.

Ianto laughed, sitting down beside him. "No, of course not. I brought in a few of my favorite childhood books." He pressed a kiss to Jack's temple. "That should keep them busy for a couple of hours."

Jack smirked. "Oh really? And what do you intend to do with me for a couple of hours?"

Ianto rolled his eyes. "Well first, I was thinking we could make lunch for the four of us."

Jack pouted. "I thought they were reading."

"Doesn't mean they can't eat at the same time," Ianto replied. "You and I can whip up some sandwiches and sliced fruit."

"Very healthy, Ianto."

"I thought so."

Jack grinned, hugging his boyfriend close. God, he was crazy about him. He wanted to tell him that so badly, but he knew it was far too soon. Instead he just snuggled with him, breathing in the scent that was distinctly Ianto.

"Food," Ianto told him several minutes later, disentangling himself and getting to his feet. He held out a hand to Jack, who gladly took it.

Jack followed him into the kitchen, where they began to prepare a nice lunch. They brought Gray and Ianto's mother their food in her bedroom, where the two of them were seated at a small table. Gray was reading enthusiastically from "The Wonderful World of Oz" and Bethan, Ianto's mother, was listening intently.

Jack had to admit she looked healthy and happy today, hair brushed and up in a band at the back of her head, and she was wearing a bright red dress that flowed to her sandaled feet. Her cheeks were rosy and she was smiling, watching Gray read to her.

"Enjoy lunch, Mam," Ianto told her, kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you, dear, I will," she replied, smile deepening. "Hello Jack," she greeted him, reaching out an arm.

Jack hugged her, accepting the kiss on his cheek. "Hello Mrs. Jones," he replied, winking. "You look just beautiful today. Is that a new dress?"

She blushed, reminding him of Ianto instantly. "What, this old thing? Surely you jest. Now go on, you two," she scolded, shooing them toward the door. "Gray is reading to me and I'm sure you'd rather be alone."

Now Ianto did blush. "Mam…"

"What? I'm not blind, you know."

Ianto just shook his head, grabbing Jack's hand and drawing him out of the room. "Come on, Jack," he said. "Better leave now before she says something really embarrassing."

"You're such a handsome couple!" she called after them, and then she and Gray began giggling.

"Like that?" Jack asked him, smirking.

Ianto mumbled something under his breath and dragged Jack back to the lounge, where they sat to eat their lunch.

tw tw tw tw tw

After lunch Jack and Ianto cleaned up all of their plates and cups, washing and drying them quickly and putting them away. Jack wound his arms around Ianto's waist from behind as he finished putting the last of the dishes on the shelf. He pressed a kiss to Ianto's neck.

"Trying to distract me?" Ianto asked him, stretching his neck and giving Jack more access.

"Is it working?" he murmured, biting at his neck and then kissing the wound better.

Ianto groaned softly. "Perhaps."

"Good."

Ianto turned in Jack's arms, placing his hands on his shoulders. "I don't know what to think, Jack," he said, eyes sincere.

"About what?" Jack asked, eyebrow rising.

"Us," Ianto admitted. Jack was nervous for a moment but Ianto smiled, kissing him softly. "It's nothing bad, I promise."

"Tell me."

"It's just that…we've only been together a day…less than, actually…but I…I feel…"

Jack watched Ianto's eyes as they darted over his face, then toward the floor, then back up to meet Jack's. "Go ahead," he encouraged.

"I feel like it's right," Ianto said at last, shrugging. He picked at an invisible piece of lint on Jack's shoulder. "Us being together, I mean. Does that make sense?"

Jack smiled, resting their foreheads together. "It makes perfect sense."

"I just never thought I'd be attracted to guys the way I am girls," Ianto continued. "Though I'm not, really. It's not guys. It's…it's just you. It's only you."

Jack felt his heart clench and he drew Ianto closer, burying his face in his neck and hugging him close. He closed his eyes, pressing kisses to Ianto's skin. He felt Ianto's nails dig into the base of his skull as his arms wrapped around Jack's neck, and he sighed.

"I'm exactly where I want to be," Jack whispered, feeling Ianto's heartbeat against his own.

"Me too, Jack," Ianto said back, tightening his hold. "Me too."

~tbc~