It was a couple of weeks before Jack was able to afford another evening alone with Ianto. His boyfriend had protested, of course, but Jack couldn't help it. He knew that Ianto needed the time away and he wanted nothing more than to spend time with him. This time, however, he only hired care for four hours. Enough time, he figured, for a nice meal at a decent restaurant. He knew Ianto wasn't fooled, however. He knew they were both aware the difference in money was going directly to the meal.

"You're still spending too much on me, Jack," Ianto scolded, exiting the car and joining Jack as they walked through the car park and over to the front door.

"Ah, come on, Ianto," Jack pleaded, coming to a stop outside the restaurant and wrapping his boyfriend in a hug. "It's just once in a while. Twice a month isn't bad. Surely you can't begrudge me wanting to be alone with my boyfriend?"

"Jack, twice a month means your entire allowance is going to pay for my Mam's care just for an evening. There's no money left for you."

"This is for me, too," he argued, pressing a kiss to Ianto's nose. "For us."

Ianto sighed, smiling at him. "Alright, Jack. But no more than twice a month, okay? I don't want to be the reason you've no money."

Jack grinned, kissing his lips gently before turning them back toward the door to the restaurant. It was an Italian restaurant, though not on the expensive side, since funds were, indeed, low. They were shown to a booth in the corner, and the waitress handed them both menus.

"Can I interest you gentlemen in something to drink? Tea, perhaps? Or coffee?"

"A coffee for me, please," Ianto told her.

"And you, sir?"

"For me as well, thank you," Jack confirmed, looking back at Ianto as the woman walked away. "Have you been here before, Ianto?"

"No, can't say that I have," he answered, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

Jack felt bad. He hadn't meant to embarrass him. He reached across the table, taking Ianto's hand. "I've only been a couple times, myself," he said, rubbing his thumb over Ianto's knuckles. "It's good, though. You'll like it."

Ianto nodded, looking through the menu. "Mmm, pasta does sound delicious."

"Yes it does," Jack agreed, noticing with a smile that Ianto hadn't removed his hand. He perused his own menu, settling on the Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo.

When the waitress returned with their coffees she was smiling down at them. "All decided, gentlemen?"

"Go ahead, Ianto," Jack told the Welshman.

"Ah yes, um, I will have the Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo," he told her, returning her smile. "Thank you."

"Same for me, actually," Jack stated, squeezing Ianto's hand.

"I'll put your order in right away. Would you care for any appetizers?"

Ianto and Jack shared a look but both shook their heads. "No, but thank you," Ianto said, handing her the menus.

She left the table and Jack beamed at his boyfriend. "Ordering the same meals. Some might think we've been together longer than we have."

"Am I rubbing off on you?" Ianto asked.

Jack chuckled, adding some sugar to his coffee and taking a sip before answering, "Not yet."

Ianto blushed. "I meant that in the non-sexual sense, Jack."

"Of course you did, Ianto."

Ianto pursed his lips, glaring playfully before he fixed his own coffee and took a drink. "Not as good as mine," he said, setting the cup down on the table.

"Definitely not," Jack agreed, winking.

"Oh my God!" a voice screeched from a few feet away.

Jack's head shot up and he cringed, seeing Gwen, Tosh and Lisa coming their way with the same waitress. It wasn't so much seeing them there that was the issue, but he knew immediately that there was no way he'd get his alone time with Ianto at this rate.

"Hello girls," Ianto greeted them, smiling. Jack could tell the smile was forced. He'd also pulled his hand back from Jack's and Jack shot him a frown.

"What a surprise running into you," Gwen told them, turning to the waitress. "We'll sit here with them, she said, indicating Jack and Ianto's table."

Before Jack could protest Ianto was scooting over closer to him to make room for the other three, and their thighs were brushing together. That wasn't so bad, he thought, placing a hand on Ianto's knee and squeezing.

The waitress took their drink orders and left them menus, disappearing just as quickly as she had earlier.

"Girls night out?" Jack asked his friends, looking at each girl in turn.

"We've been shopping," Tosh answered first, holding aloft a plastic bag.

"It was lovely," Lisa said, smiling brightly. "We finished up as the shops were closing."

"And I picked up a pretty little number for Rhys," Gwen announced, reaching into her own shopping bag and pulling out a black, lacey bit of nothing. "Isn't it amazing?"

Ianto turned bright red and Jack cleared his throat. "Wow," Ianto murmured, lowering his eyes.

Gwen held the negligee against herself. "Rhys is going to go mad when he sees this, yeah? What do you think, Jack?"

"It's lovely, Gwen," he told her, feeling Ianto tense under his hand.

Several awkward moments later the waitress returned with the girls' drinks. "Ready to order, ladies?"

They placed their orders in turn, the waitress retrieving the menus. Jack caught her eye and he could swear she shot him a sympathetic look before leaving in the direction of the kitchen.

"I've decided to sleep with Rhys, Jack," Gwen announced, causing Ianto to nearly snort his coffee.

"Kind of…figured that out," Jack replied. "Don't you think Rhys should be the first one to know that, and not me?"

"Well, I already told the girls," Gwen said, looking at them for support. Tosh and Lisa nodded, though Jack noticed they both seemed rather embarrassed by the conversation.

"Ah," Jack said, sipping his coffee, slowly.

"If you'll excuse me," Ianto said, placing his cup down on the table. "I need to use the bathroom."

"Of course," Jack replied, scooting out of the booth to let Ianto out. He didn't notice Gwen move into Ianto's spot until the Welshman disappeared into the back of the restaurant and Jack reluctantly tore his eyes away from him.

"So Lisa," he started, catching the girl's attention. "You and Adam…is it serious?"

"Adam? Oh, no," she said, smiling. "We're just friends. But he's a nice boy."

"I think he has a crush on me," Tosh piped up, blushing. "He knows I'm with Tommy, but he keeps trying to get me to go out with him."

"I think it's adorable," Gwen said, sipping her coffee. "Now Jack, don't you think Lisa is a lovely girl?"

Jack's eyebrows shot up, intrigued by the sudden change of topic. "Of course," he replied, watching as Lisa shook her head. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to set her up with someone, but even though I think they'll make a wonderful couple she's hesitant and doesn't think he likes her."

"Any boy would be a fool not to like her," Jack said, winking at the girl across from him.

"That's what I said," Gwen stated, smirking.

"Who is it?" Jack asked, somewhat curious now.

"Ianto," Gwen said, smiling brightly. "Don't you think they'd be wonderful together?"

Jack's eyes widened and he looked at Gwen as though she'd sprouted a second head. "Absolutely," he said, shaking his head. "If Ianto weren't already in a relationship."

"With who?" Gwen asked, eyes widening like his own.

"With me, Gwen," he said, holding his hands palm up. "We're together. We have been since the dance."

"Oh don't be silly, Jack," Gwen laughed, waving her hand at him. He could see Tosh looking down at the table, and Lisa, frowning and biting her lip. "That's just a silly little fling. Everyone knows you're just toying with him."

"What?"

"You'll never last," Gwen continued, rolling her eyes. "And when you stop playing Ianto he'll be free to date Lisa."

"I am not playing him, Gwen!"

"Just shag him and get it out of your system, Jack," Gwen said, taking another sip of her coffee. "We all know who you'd rather be with."

"And who's that?"

"Me, of course."

"Oh, yeah," Jack said, rolling his own eyes. "I want to dump Ianto for you."

"I'm glad you finally admit it," Gwen purred, leaning closer to him and grabbing his face in both hands. She kissed him hard, Jack's hands coming up to grip her wrists and push her away.

Tosh gasped, covering her mouth, and Gwen pulled back, looking over Jack's shoulder. "Oh hello, Ianto," she said sweetly. "Everyone move over and let Ianto back in."

Jack turned to face his boyfriend, seeing the stricken look on his face. He swallowed hard, reaching a hand out to him. "Ianto…I…"

"Just save it, Jack!" he said, face red and tears threatening to spill onto his cheeks.

The waitress appeared with their meals, hovering a few feet from the table. "Two Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo's," she said softly, looking between Jack and Ianto carefully.

"No thank you," Ianto said, voice cracking. "I've lost my appetite."

He turned and hurried toward the door, and Jack reached for his wallet. "I'm sorry," Jack told her, handing her the money. "Keep the change." He then hopped out of the booth and took off after Ianto.

"Oh dear," Gwen said, looking at her friends with doe eyes. "Something I said?"

~tbc~