"I thought you said you don't have any," Jack said quietly. Ianto smiled at him and reached up to cup his hand against Jack's neck.

"I thought I didn't. But I realized tonight that I was wrong. I do have hope. I have hope and faith in you, Jack. When I dream at night, I think about us together." Ianto let his fingers drift down the back of Jack's collar and tickle the hair at the nape of his neck. "When I wake up, my first thought is about you, continuing whatever it was my unconscious was dreaming about. And I'm not just talking about sex, though that is fantastic." Ianto smiled and Jack grinned at him. He reached up with his other hand and cupped Jack's cheek. "What you said earlier, back in the archives…" Ianto sighed, trying to put into words what he felt. "It meant the world to me."

Jack pulled Ianto close and hugged him tightly. "I mean every word of it, Ianto. You've had enough hurting that I shouldn't be adding to that."

"I know," Ianto said, so softly that the sound of the approaching tide lapping against the sand nearly drowned him out. "Jack, I don't know what the future will hold for us, but as long as we can be together, that's enough for me." They clung together for a long moment before Jack opened his eyes again.

"Ianto," he said softly, holding the young man close to him. "I don't mean to spoil the moment, but if we don't move soon, we're going to get wet."

"What?" Ianto said, pulling back and looking over his shoulder. The tide was coming in and if they didn't move, it would shortly reach where they were currently standing. "Oh."

Laughing, the two men moved out of the way and scrambled up the steep incline which led up to a housing development. They collapsed on the rough grass as they watched the water pour into the area where they had just been standing.

"That was close," Jack said as he leaned on his hands. Ianto nodded as he sat back with a grin. "Where the heck are we, anyhow?"

Ianto looked behind them. "Somewhere along Penarth Head, I believe." He turned back to Jack. "Other side of the bay, in other words. We'll have a long walk back." He checked his watch and noted the time. "We've been walking all night."

"I do have to think that this is one of the more bizarre things we've ever done together," Jack said with a grin. "Who would believe that all we did was talk?" Ianto shook his head.

"Jack, you're reputation will be in tatters if this ever gets out," he said.

"I thought my reputation was beyond repair a long time ago," Jack quipped. "We'll worry about how to get back later. C'mere a moment, I want to show you something." He motioned for Ianto to scoot over next to him, spreading his coattails for Ianto to sit on. Ianto carefully got up so as to not get grass stains on his outfit and sat back down next to Jack. Jack wrapped his arm around Ianto's shoulders and hugged him close.

"What do you want to show me?" Ianto asked, looking at Jack's profile. He nodded his chin in the direction of the water and Ianto dutifully turned his head to look. The sun was just coming up. It was a fiery orange ball on the horizon. They watched in silence as it cleared the water, the rays making shafts of light dance on the water. From their higher position they could see the fishing boats leaving for a day of work, the small boats leaving the bay to head out in the early morning light. Seagulls followed the ships, hoping for a free meal.

"This is worth walking all night," Jack said with a smile. Ianto rested his head on Jack's shoulder as they watched the sun move up in the sky. "I can never get enough of this. Another day dawns, Ian, and we're still here to see it. Look at those people out there. They're amazing. They're living their lives, completely oblivious to the rift percolating below them."

"And it's our job to keep them safe," Ianto said softly, mesmerized by the sight. No wonder Jack climbed roofs. With a view like this, it was worth the effort. He felt Jack nod at his comment before he felt Jack's lips brush against his forehead. He sighed with contentment.

"So, have you figured out how we're going to get back to the Hub?" Jack asked and felt Ianto chuckle with amusement.

"Well, it's not like we can whistle for the SUV and have it come pick us up," Ianto said. "We have two choices."

"Oh?" Jack said. "And what are those?"

"One, we walk back, though not the way we've come since that would be a bit difficult now that the tide has come in," Ianto said. "Two, we walk out to the road and see if we can find a bus." He could tell that neither idea was of interest. "There's always the third option."

"Which is?" Jack asked, curious.

"We call Gwen and ask her to pick us up," Ianto said with a grin. "Though it's a wee bit early for her, and I'm sure Rhys wouldn't appreciate it." Jack sighed and Ianto knew that was the option he wanted to go with before Ianto had finished his comment. He pulled away from Jack and scrambled to his feet. Looking down, he offered Jack a hand. "So which is it?"

Jack took his proffered hand and let Ianto pull him to his feet. "You decide," he said. Ianto turned to look the way they had come. The water was already in high enough that it was close to where they were standing.

"We walk," Ianto said decisively and pointed the way. "It's good for us."

"Ianto, as you suggesting a constitutional?" Jack asked with a grin. Ianto looked startled for a moment before smiling back at Jack.

"I do believe I am," he said. "Imagine that." He turned, unconsciously resting his hands on his hips in the pose that Jack loved so well. "This way, I think. Come on now, don't dawdle. There's coffee at the end of it when we get there."

"Lead on, Mr. Jones, I do believe you've given me an incentive," Jack said. They started walking along, heading back to the Hub, and home…

~*~