AN: And this one's for those of us that got seats in the 700 level of Vet's Stadium to watch Genesis and the 3 Big Screens in the rain (The lamb Lies Down On Broadway – The BEST lightshow ever without chemical assistance! Bar none!): Torchwood – don't own it, ain't making green off it. Summary: Ianto tells Jack his decision. Eva makes Jack an offer he can't refuse and Ianto contemplates his final hours as a human.

Torchwood: Archangel

Chapter Seven: Angels In Transition

Ianto

He held her close, crushing her small frame into his body. She asked…and he said yes. Eternity…he could finally contemplate something other than dying young. He felt so many times like a character from a black-and-white movie from the 40's he saw as a child.

"We ain't got no future. We's got today, tomorrow and maybe the next day if we're lucky."

He felt light…he pulled Eva even closer. If he could, he would burrow himself into her soul. Before he knew it, silent tears coursed down his cheeks. Eva pulled back and gently wiped them from his face with her thumbs.

'Why?' she whispered. 'Are you having second thoughts?'

Ianto chuckled softly as Eva laid him tenderly into the cushions of the settee. 'I honestly can't say why I'm crying…I just. I feel…hope! For so long…after Tosh and Owen, I put myself on an internal countdown clock as to how long before I died…because I knew I would die before I'd let anything happen to Gwen. When that Dalek broke into the Hub when they moved the Earth to the Medusa Cascade I thought, Okay – this is it. Go save the universe, Jack. I love you. Good bye. Then Gwen gave me an automatic weapon and we fired on the Dalek, even though we both knew it would be useless. Then Tosh's time bubble activated, sealing the Dalek out and us in. If it wasn't for that bubble…,' Ianto's voice trailed off as he took Eva's hand in his again. He studied the swirls and patterns in her hand as she had his before.

'I wondered how would Jack deal with my death. I am only one of so many. When he came back after being buried and frozen and God knows what else by Gray and his twisted machinations, he was so broken. He…he had forgotten about me for a time. I mean, he knew who I was…but it took time for us to get back to what we had had before...everything. Then one night he held onto me so tight, my God! That night he was so passionate, so loving. He kept whispering to me to hang on for him as long as I could and he would make life good for both of us for as long as I lived. I guess I was depressed for a time after that. I would find myself thinking, after I die, he'll find another lover soon enough, but I knew a part of him would be broken. Lost…and I always feared how long it would take before he was well again.

'So we've lived like every day was our last while we ignored the chartreuse elephant occupying the center of our lives. I love him – but it has always been tinged with a desperation…a sadness. Now…now it will be different. And…I am content.' He took her hand in his and pulled her into his arms again. 'And you will be with me…and so will Jack. I think…I know…I feel it. This feels right,' he squeezed her hand tightly. 'Why have you chosen me? And what does it mean to be your 'mate'? Why not someone else; Gwen, perhaps? I've seen how you look at her sometimes.'

Eva smiled a soft smile as she caressed Ianto's face with her other hand.

'I love Gwen as I love Jack and you; perhaps more so. She represents all that my Captain fights for. All that is flawed and petty and wonderful and great about this form of Kai…you Earthlings. I…if you could only see as I do. You will soon enough. You, Ianto…are…breathtaking. Beautiful beyond measure. You…shine. Jack…My Captain Jack…he shines so; almost to the point that he burns. But yours…yours is quiet, calm, tender…and as bright as any nova. And then, there is your mind, your wit, your caring for me and Gwen – and even your passed friends. Do not think that I have not seen you go to the morgue and speak with Tosh from time to time. Or when I hear you muttering to yourself and you say 'Cockney Nutter' that I do not know who you mean.

'With all that is required of you, you still make sure that you have time to ask me how I am…you and Jack look in on me at night. I see the passion Jack has for you…his love for you is all consuming. You…you are THE ONE for him. In the future he would have forgotten your name, but never your face…or what he felt for you. But now…he will be complete. Some loves ARE meant to last forever…like that The Great One has for all of his flawed, wonderful and terrible creations.' She looked up to the pixel generated night sky, then across the oasis to the dunes of a planet landscape that in this time was dead and barren.

'Love – it has so many shades; so many forms. There is the physical, the metaphysical, the sexual, the sensual, the written, the spoken…and most of all,' she whispered putting her hand over Ianto's heart. 'The felt.' She sighed suddenly and looked into Ianto's eyes, asking for silent permission. He nodded and Eva then leaned in and kissed Ianto tenderly on his lips as he wrapped his arms around her and hungrily returned her kiss.

Eva

She could See as the Nexainians of old; as the TimeLords. She could See Time stretched out before them. She saw herself and Jack now; static and unmoving throughout time…and it would be a long time. Then she looked to Ianto; he was the One her Kings of old had promised her. He would be the Love of the Captain, they said. His light was dimmer then Jack's, but brighter than any Kai she had ever seen; even Gwen's wasn't as bright...as brilliant. As she looked forward, she could see Ianto become solid and static as she and Jack; his form no longer wavered and his inner light was no longer dim, but as bright as hers or Jack's…and yet still so tender…so loving as she looked through the years as one flips pages in a book. She could see that she would leave one day, Ianto would follow her and they would spend millennia amongst the stars without their Jack. He, Jack, would flit to other stars, change his name thousands of times, learn ways of changing his form, of traveling without transport, of controlling the temporal vortex within himself, as both she and Ianto would learn with time. And his outer form would match his inner light…like a starburst…

'What did you mean when you said 'mate'?' Ianto asked again, licking the taste of Eva's lips from his own.

'What does it mean to you?' she asked, pulling away from him and settling herself in the settee.

'I don't know…partner, lover, friend-,' his voice trailed off. 'But I have all of that with Jack.'

'And I would never stand in the way of that. To the Nexainians it meant the same things, but it also meant something much simpler. It means to have someone alike – similar. You will never be alone again, Ianto. Neither Jack nor I will abandon you. Ever again.' She smiled then, a soft chuckle escaping her. 'To me, it would be the honor or honors to share my gifts with you, to make you an Eternal. To have you walk by my side. I would be…am…so blessed. All because of you, Ianto Jones.' She took his hand in hers. 'There will be times where I will have to make hard choices. Determinations that could mean the destruction of whole civilizations…of entire worlds. On my own, my faith would wane…and I probably would have walked away from it with time. But with you - you, Ianto Jones, to ground me, to save me from grief and its overwhelming and inherit madness…I will endure. You are the one I choose. You will save both Jack and myself. And we, in turn, will always save you. We shall be The Triumvirate. The Captain and his Archangels.'

Ianto stood from the settee and turning, pulled Eva up by their still entwined hands. Smiling, she rose with him. 'We'll tell Jack in the morning,' he said smiling softly. 'Or whenever it's morning here,' he added with a chuckle.

'As you wish,' she answered as they walked over to the bed. On it lay Jack, stripped of all his clothes save his boxers, burrowed between silk sheets, a fluffy duvet and several pillows. The both of them smiled at the display of absolute contentment he made.

'Sleep with us,' Ianto said softly, pulling Eva close.

Eva chuckled softly. 'This bed was made for me by the command of my King. You are going to have a hard time keeping me out of it.' She then crawled onto the bed and finding her way under the covers, accommodated herself on the far side. She then looked up to Ianto. 'In you go,' she said, patting the space between her and Jack. 'I told you I would not get in the way. I meant that literally as well as figuratively.' She snuggled down under the covers as she felt Ianto slip in between them and cuddle close to her.

'Good night,' he whispered, tucking himself closer to Jack and pulling Eva closer still to him.

Jack

'What?!' Jack practically screeched. He had been surprised to find Ianto wrapped around Eva, while Eva had loosely taken hold of his hand that was draped over Ianto in the bed earlier. But this…well, it just took the cake!

Ianto walked up to him and taking his hand, held it firmly within his own.

'I can stay with you. I won't get sick or grow old or die,' Ianto answered softly. 'You won't have to worry about me as we go about saving Cardiff…The Earth…The Universe.'

Jack sat down hard on the sectional sofa in front of the grand fireplace. Eva had set the internal controls to bring daylight up six hours later and a bot had entered the room to awaken them and serve a brunch of scramble, toast, bacon, coffee and orange juice in the lounge. It was while they were finishing their repast that Ianto decided it was time to let Jack in on the news.

'Don't think I don't know what goes through your head sometimes. You wonder if I'm coming back. You know as well as I that I would do anything to protect Gwen. As you do. I really WANT this, Jack. Not for power or glory. But…to see…beyond all this. To KNOW firsthand the beauty and wonder that is out there.' Ianto then began chuckling softly, still holding Jack's hand. 'Eva always speaks of faith…of her Great One. This is the first time…in so long…that I believe.'

Jack looked into the blue eyes of his lover. He cupped his face in between his hands and simply stared. Forever, he thought, taking in his upturned nose, his dark curly hair…and those beautiful eyes. More than a thousand plus years of being buried, of coming alive and dying again and again had robbed him of many intimate moments with this beautiful man. But he never forgot the stillness that was held within those two crystal blue pools. To see it, to feel it…and now to know he would never lose it again. Things would change around them; governments would come and go, stars would go nova and new planets would be born while old ones would die….but they three would be constant. The concept thrilled and terrified him. He leaned in and kissed Ianto's lips tenderly, tasting him softly. Almost heartbreakingly so. He then turned to Eva, who was sitting quietly at his other side.

'What do you get out of this?' he asked.

She smiled a typical Harkness grin. 'Two for the price of one,' she said softly, leaning in and taking Jack's lips in a tender kiss. 'I would never leave your side, my Lord. The tomes within the Library here can teach you how to harness the vortex energy within yourself. I would have taught you as best I could on my own…but now… Eternity is not the long abysmal road stretching out as far as your eyes can see.' She took his hand in both of hers and squeezed it excitedly, yet tenderly. 'You, my Lord, will live a very long time. Take on many forms; watch this world change, age and ultimately die. And every step of the way, I would be by your side. Now…so will Ianto. His soul…sings the song of eternity. If anything he handles the concept better than you. Yours was thrust upon you and you continually see it as a bad thing. But now, it will be a gift. Before this, yes, I contend it would have been a terrible burden. Now…,' she took Jack's face in her hands and kissed him deeply. He opened his mouth, granting her tongue access to his. When he gasped for air, she pulled away from him. 'It will be so much more, my dear Lord,' she whispered huskily.

Jack's eyes slowly focused on Eva, then Ianto. The both of them simply smiled at him.

'Forever,' Jack whispered; a small smile ghosting across his face even as tears welled up in his eyes and tumbled over. Ianto moved closer, kissing his tears away as Eva leaned her head on his shoulder, encircling him in her embrace.

'Forever,' Ianto whispered, taking his lips again.

'Forever,' Eva whispered into his ear, her lips ghosting along the side of his face and neck, her warm breath making goose bumps stand out on his flesh. Jack closed his eyes and groaned, throwing his head back and pulling them both closer.

His body shook with emotion as he held them. They would keep him sane through the long years; he would love them both and be loved by both separately and jointly throughout the millennia. They would leave him from time to time, but they would always come back to him. They would not leave him like The Doctor. And to them…he wasn't wrong.

Eva gasped, hugging him tighter. 'Never to me, my Lord,' she whispered aloud. 'May that Gallifreyan and his high brow ideals be damned,' she continued vehemently. Jack chuckled softly.

I REALLY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO SHUT DOWN THE PDT. He then pulled away from the pair. 'So…how. How do we do this?' he asked.

Eva's hands grasped both Ianto's and Jack's. 'It is called Transition. Ianto and I will sleep for three days; 72 hours. On the 2nd day, twenty-four hours after Transition begins, you must join us. Forty-eight hours later we three will awaken…and Transition will be complete.'

'Why do I need to sleep with you?' Jack asked. Eva and Ianto both smirked. 'Okay, both of you! Minds out of the gutter for a second, please,' Jack admonished.

'Oh, how the worm turns,' Ianto muttered.

'It will strengthen our bonds to each other,' Eva answered simply. 'You will call and we will answer. At the blink of an eye, we will be where you need us – whenever and wherever.'

'What about Gwen?' Jack asked.

'She can not join us. She walks another path,' Eva answered, lowering her head.

'You can See, can't you?' Ianto asked suddenly. 'Like…like Jack said The Doctor told him. You see…the past, the present and the future,' his voice trailed off as Eva nodded. 'Will I see things like that?'

'Yes,' she whispered, looking up to his face. 'Does that frighten you?'

'No,' Ianto answered quickly. 'And yes. But…I've not changed my mind.' Ianto turned to Jack. 'I really will know everything,' he said, smiling.

'What do you see of Gwen?' Jack asked, squeezing Eva's hand tenderly. Eva closed her eyes – and when she opened them, they glowed slightly, giving an iridescence to the brown and green within.

'She now has many names: Police Constable, Torchwood Officer, Special Ops Operative, Wife, Friend, Fighter, Lover. In the future she will have more: Mum, Grandmum, Council Board Member, Lord Mayor…and one day…Madame Prime Minister. Many names…but Archangel will not be one of them.' She closed her eyes and turned to Jack, opening them again. The iridescence was gone, but the swirling colors of toffee and emerald were still present. 'I am so sorry,' she whispered.

Jack leaned towards her and kissed her lips tenderly, then turned to Ianto and kissed his lips just as tenderly. 'I'm not,' he answered, encircling them both within his arms and pulling them both to his chest again. After minutes of contented peace where hands touched, lips kissed, tongues dueled and fingers stroked, Jack finally spoke.

'We have to tell Gwen – and then get Martha and the Mouse back here.'

'Of course,' Eva answered, sighing happily.

'When do you want to start…Transition?' Jack asked.

'It is Ianto's choice,' Eva began.

'Tomorrow morning,' Ianto answered quickly. 'The sooner, the better.'

'Tomorrow morning it is,' Eva answered, disentangled herself from the pair and kissed both soundly and deeply on their lips. 'I must begin preparations,' she said in way of explanation. 'Shall we go out for dinner tonight?'

Jack and Ianto looked to each other, then nodded in agreement.

'Our favorite Mediterranean place?' she asked. Ianto nodded again. 'Then I will make reservations.'

'Provided the Rift doesn't throw a wobbly at us,' Jack added.

Eva then bowed her head and left the two men alone in front of the fireplace. Jack turned to Ianto and kissed him tenderly, softly. Ianto returned the kissed heatedly. Jack pulled away when oxygen became an issue and looked at him hungrily; asking without saying a word.

'Yes,' Ianto whispered. 'Please.' That word 'please' said so sexily from kissed bruised lips, Jack couldn't have refused if he tried. Both men began kissing again, pawing at each others' clothing, desperate for skin on skin contact.

~~TWTWTWTW~~

As they both lay nude basking in the afterglow, Jack straddled Ianto on the sofa and, looking down at him, asked a simple question. 'If you had the opportunity, would you have sex with Eva?'

Ianto smirked up at him. 'No,' he answered truthfully. 'It wouldn't be sex, it would be making love. Just like it is with you. This,' he said gesturing between their nude bodies. 'It is not a casual shag, or sex. When I have you, when I let you have me, it is making love. Got it?'

Jack simply nodded. 'And to answer your question, yes. I would make love to Eva; make love with Eva. Wouldn't you?'

Jack nodded in agreement and he took Ianto's lips possessively. 'If you are the one to make love with her first, be gentle,' he said when he ended the kiss.

'Why?'

'Do you honestly think she was sleeping around before us?'

'You mean…she is…no way,' Ianto breathed. But then he remembered her child-like actions when she first arrived. The reaction she produced in Jack did not phase her…she truly had no idea what she was doing to Jack physically. He felt it later that night…Jack was an intense sexual madman. And the Prince – he never would have allowed someone; anyone to touch her in that manner and live. He then looked up to Jack and smiled. 'I'll be as gentle with her as you were with me our first time,' he answered softly. 'We'll both make it right for her…I. I love her, Jack. If she had been taken from us…it really would have hurt.'

Jack smiled softly, gathering the young Welshman into his arms. 'I love her to,' he whispered into Ianto's hair. 'And it really would have hurt me as well. But now…now she'll never leave us.'

Both Ianto and Jack looked into each others' eyes…and smiled.

Gwen

'What?!' Gwen screeched. She and Rhys had awoken to a bot serving them brunch in bed after their wonderful rest. After their equally wonderful soak in the enormous tub, they sauntered into Eva's room to find Jack and Ianto on the balcony overlooking the holographic facsimile of Eva's homeworld.

As they were enjoying the view, Jack and Ianto decided to break the news. Gwen's reaction made them both smile.

'But…how? Are you sure…will you be okay? I mean…Eva has never done this before! What…what if something goes wrong?!'

'That's why I've called Martha and asked her to come in for a few days. She and Mickey will be here tomorrow morning. They will monitor the entire event; UNIT will be your backup should the Rift act up. I will join Eva and Ianto twenty-four hours after the process begins. Forty-eight hours later, we'll all be here, safe and sound, with you, Rhys, Martha, and the Mouse. We'll go out to celebrate,' Jack explained, taking hold of Gwen's hand and patting it gently. Both he and Ianto smiled.

Gwen snatched her hand back, seething with sudden anger. Didn't they understand?! What if something went wrong? Then where would that leave her? She would be alone – left behind to rebuild Torchwood Cardiff – ALONE!!!

She would have to lead a new team…she had led the others when Jack went away on his failed quest to become mortal with The Doctor. But this time…there would be no one! She looked to the two men talking and laughing with Rhys, explaining as much as they could of what Eva had told them. Rhys…her husband…but he wasn't Jack.

She knew that Jack was with Ianto, just like she was with Rhys…but. Ianto…if he had gone to Turnmill instead of Owen... If he hadn't stayed with her…if he had stayed with Tosh, then Gray would have killed both Ianto and Tosh. But now…Eva was taking them BOTH away from her!!

What…what about me?

'You walk another path, dearest Gwen Williams,' Eva said quietly, suddenly appearing at her side. Gwen started slightly, so wrapped up in her thoughts that hadn't heard Eva approach. She turned and started again. Eva was dressed in robes of copper, burnt orange and burgundy red silks. On her feet were leather boots in a deep brown color. Jack and Ianto both looked from Rhys and simply stared. They then looked to each other and smiled again. Eva gave them a small Iantonian smirk in acknowledgement. 'I am going to steal Gwen away for a bit, if I may?' The three men nodded. 'The time is now 5pm and our reservations are for 6:30. I have located some clothing for all of you and have had them set aside. I do hope that Rhys and you will join us for dinner this evening?'

Gwen turned to Rhys. 'Sure,' he said, shrugging his shoulders. 'Where at?'

'The Mediterranean place near the waterfront,' Jack answered. 'Work for you guys?'

'Perfect,' Gwen answered, smiling at Rhys. He in turn smiled back.

'I'm off to make myself a bit posh,' Rhys answered, walking towards the exit. 'Meet everyone in a bit then?'

'An hour,' Eva answered. 'Right here.' Rhys waved to the men, kissing Gwen as he walked out of the room. Jack and Ianto walked towards the bathroom area of Eva's suite while Eva stayed with Gwen out on the terrace. Eva walked to the settee and, sitting down, looked to Gwen.

'You think I'm taking them away from you,' Eva said evenly. Gwen rounded on her, jealousy, anger and fear burning in her eyes.

'Well, aren't you?' Gwen countered. 'When you first arrived, I thought Great – an alien that can help us for a change. Someone that could keep Jack and Ianto safe. Then we find out you are like Jack…you would always come back – like him. Someone else The Doctor could not fix. But then you were living with them – with Jack AND Ianto – and I could see them pulling away from me. I didn't say anything before. Ianto…Ianto was smiling again. He was happy after being quiet and morose for so long….' She then threw herself into the settee next to Eva. 'Why Ianto? Why…not me?'

Eva smiled her little sad smile as she took Gwen's hand in hers. 'Because…you have a life outside of Torchwood, but Jack, Ianto and I do not. You will walk another path; your life will be so different from what it is now. And it begins…soon enough.'

Gwen looked at Eva wide eyed. 'What do you mean? Am I going to die?! Oh God! Is Rhys?!'

Eva's hand went to Gwen's belly. 'You have been a bit more hormonal lately. I noticed a change in your Light. All you Kai have a glow about you, but yours…it was brighter…until I noticed it wasn't that your Light got brighter…it is another Light within you.'

Gwen froze, shaking her head while Eva began nodding hers. 'It is true,' Eva continued softly. 'Rhys will be very happy. Your tests may not show it now…but it will be a son. One of many. I am…so happy for you.'

Gwen sat stunned for a few moments as Eva stood and admired the view. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to bask in the glow and heat of the computer generated sun. She then turned and joined Gwen on the settee again.

'Are you still with me, Mrs. Williams?' she asked softly.

'How will Ianto and Jack cope without me?' she asked in a small voice. 'I can't have a child in the Hub. Myfanwy might mistake it…the baby…for a treat….'

Eva laughed at the small joke. 'We will be with you always, Gwen. For you, Rhys, your children…you will go beyond Torchwood, but you will never forget us. You are our beacon; the reason that Jack, Ianto and I fight to keep this world relatively safe and sane. We are not leaving you behind, Gwen. It is you that will grow beyond us.' Eva rose from the settee again, pulling Gwen up with her. 'And that is the way of all things. Even we that will be constants in the universe until the end of all things…we must change…adapt to survive…but we must never forget why we accept these mantles thrust upon us. Because without them…we would not have purpose.' She then took Gwen's hand in hers and kissed the inside of her wrist, tenderly, lovingly. Gwen looked at her rather surprised. 'You are my purpose,' she whispered, kissing her cheek.

Gwen finally found her voice, breaking the silence Eva's declaration left behind. 'I…you will watch over them? Ianto and Jack? My…my children?' Eva smiled again, nodding.

'Always. I will watch over them…and you,' she answered.

'Well,' Gwen said after a bit. 'I think it's time I joined my husband and made myself presentable for dinner tonight.'

Eva smiled again, nodding. 'Remember, 6 o'clock back here. Reservations at 6:30.'

~~TWTWTWTW~~

Ianto

He watched both Eva and Jack sleeping close to each other as he lay on the other side of the bed, content to simply observe. Gwen was a bit subdued during dinner; it was during pudding that she broke the news to the group that she was expecting. Jack turned to Eva, who simply nodded in return. Rhys was beside himself. He was elated that they had a child on the way. He was terrified that Gwen was pregnant while working Torchwood. Eva allayed his fears while he then turned to Gwen and kissed her senseless for all and sundry to see.

Jack gripped Ianto's hand under the table, while he in turn gripped Eva's.

It was cooler now, the desert breezes wafting through the entire suite. He put himself in between Eva and Jack as he climbed back into the bed. Eva immediately rolled over, making the space for Ianto wider. Ianto then took her into his arms. Tomorrow…tomorrow would be the beginning of a new life for him. For all of them…he snuggled against Jack as he held Eva close.

As sleep claimed him, he thought of many things: Owen, Tosh, Lisa…his life before. His parents, dead and gone…would he remember them in a thousand years? Or in ten thousand? He sighed, a mixture of hope and fear coming out in the physical form of compressed air. Oh…how different life was going to be!

~~TWTWTWTW~~

Jack, Martha, Gwen and Mickey stood by the great bed in Eva's suite and they watched Eva and Ianto settle into The Sleep of Transition. Martha wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she trusted Eva wholeheartedly and knew she wouldn't do anything to harm a hair on Ianto's head. As she gave them both clean bills of health, Eva took Martha's hand in hers.

'Thank you for having such faith in me,' she said simply.

'Don't thank me, thank Jack,' Martha answered. She squeezed Eva's hand in return. 'Just…come back to us.'

Eva smiled softly at that. 'I will,' she answered as she kissed Martha tenderly on her cheek. She then kissed everyone else in turn. With Jack, her kiss lingered, a promise of the delights to come. Jack smiled at that. She then accommodated herself on the bed. Ianto then kissed everyone as well. With Jack, his kiss lingered as well; after all, he was saying goodbye to his lover with a kiss if this failed. He then joined Eva, accommodating himself within the cushions and comforters. Eva then looked to Jack.

'Remember, twenty-four hours, come Hell or high water, you must join us. You place is in the middle, between us. Ianto and I will curl around you, embracing you between us. And then we will sleep forty-eight hours more. Then Transition will be complete.'

'Twenty-four hours,' Jack answered, smiling his trademark Harkness grin. 'I'll be here with bells on.'

Eva nodded, then taking Ianto's hand in hers, raised her right hand above her head, then touched the center of her forehead. She fell back on the cushions, a slight huff of air escaping her. Both she and Ianto were fast asleep. The lighting within the capsule then changed, everything taking on hues of blue, purple and green.

'TRANSITION BEGINS,' a female computerized voice announced throughout the capsule. 'TRANSITION BEGINS. STAGE ONE COMMENSING NOW. STAGE TWO IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. COUNTDOWN BEGINS.

Martha turned to Jack. 'Now…we wait,' he said looking on at the two most important people in his universe.

AN: Yeah, kind of fluffy…couldn't really escape it. I figure I've got two more chapters and an epilogue - and this one is wrapped! I am SO STOKED! And for you Janto shippers, sorry if this busts it all up for you…but I really like the idea of Three. Hey, I can't help it, Closet Catholic here. Thanks for all you jumping and reading when I post; you have NO IDEA what an ego boost it is when a chapter goes up and you have almost 150 hits its first day…now if only you guys could post reviews….Muse Bunnies must be fed after all…

Next up: Jack muses over his life and contemplates his future…one that is decidedly not as bleak as first thought.