AN: Right I know this was meant to be a one-shot alternate ending to COE… but I was truly blown away by the number of people who added it to their favourites… added it to their alerts… and left me some brilliant reviews… so I decided to carry it on. I don't really know where its going to take me… or how long I'll go for… so if you have any ideas or requests send me a message. That goes for fanfics generally… if you want me to write a specific fanfic send me a message and I'll see what I can do Please keep reviewing – and thanks for the support.

"What a mess." Jack sighed as he looked down at what remained of the Hub, the hole in the ground caused by the bomb in his stomach still present. The police had put a cordon around it and a vague tarpaulin covering across it, but the magnitude of the destruction was still clear for all to see.

"Will anything have survived?" Ianto asked, glancing up at Jack who was leant on the railings beside him.

Jack shook his head. "The Hub went into lockdown the instant that bomb went off and you made it out. It was designed to contain the explosion, which on the best part it did. When they come to repair the hole in the ground that's all it'll be. A hole in the ground." He said sombrely.

"I'm sorry Jack." Ianto said. "You're entire life… all your things… gone. Do you want to get closer… to make sure?" He asked.

"There wouldn't be any point. It's all gone." Jack said softly. "Come on Ianto… we need to go and see Gwen. Figure out where we all go from here." He said setting off down the road. Ianto sighed, glancing down at the hole one last time before jogging after Jack, catching him up and taking hold of his hand, before the two men carried on down the street together.

After a short walk they arrived at Gwen and Rhys' flat. Ringing the bell they waited patiently for Rhys to buzz them in, before climbing the flights of stairs to the top floor flat the Williams' shared.

"Good to see you." Gwen said hugging Ianto tightly as he walked inside.

"You too." He said softly before walking past her and shaking hands with Rhys as Gwen greeted Jack.

"Jack." She said smiling softly before hugging him.

"How are you?" Jack asked as he held her.

"Glad to be home… glad its over." She said as they walked into the lounge and settled on the sofa whilst Rhys made drinks and Ianto sat on the nearby chair.

"Have you been down to the Hub?" She asked looking at Jack.

He nodded. "It's gone. It's all gone. There'll be nothing left. A hundred years of work and of research… gone." He said sadly.

"Oh Jack I'm sorry." Gwen said softly.

"That's not strictly true." Ianto said, causing Jack to look over at him.

"Everything physical will have gone… but I backed up the archives a long time ago Jack… everything that was in that archives… all the paperwork… all the documentation… all the discoveries… right up to date… its all backed up." Ianto explained.

"Where?" Jack asked grinning at the Welshman.

Ianto smiled. "I hid it all online. It's encrypted… nobody but me can access it."

"That's brilliant." Gwen said smiling.

"I kept trying to tell you I was more than just a tea-boy." Ianto said.

"I think we can all agree on that one." Jack said winking. "So you can access this information from any computer?"

Ianto nodded. "Yep. We can set up a new Hub… I could never understand why you guys hadn't thought to do this sooner when I joined. All that paper and dust. Its wasn't very you." He said taking a cup of coffee from Rhys.

"So we're back?" Jack said confidently.

Ianto nodded.

"I hate to break up the party – but Gwen is pregnant. I'm not having her chasing aliens and weevils in her condition." Rhys said sitting on the arm of the sofa closest to his wife.

"Oh don't be daft Rhys." Gwen said rolling her eyes.

"As unusual as it is for me to say this – I have to agree with Rhys." Jack said. "Things could have gone a lot differently this past week … any one of us could have been hurt… or worse."

"So what? You're sacking me?" Gwen asked, her voice becoming high pitched.

"No… I just need to make sure that you are both safe. You and the baby. And running through Cardiff being attacked by weevils… or getting shot by aliens… isn't safe. I'm not sacking you Gwen… I'm demoting you." Jack explained.

"To what? There's only three of us as it is." Gwen barked.

"I want you and Ianto to switch roles." Jack said simply.

"What?" Gwen spat. "You want me to make the coffees and tidy up?"

"There's more to it than that and you know it." Jack said.

"Oh yeah I forgot the sexual favours." She added bitterly.

"Hey!" Rhys shouted.

"Right I don't need to be here for this." Ianto said getting up and making for the door.

"Ianto stop." Jack said getting to his feet to, causing Ianto to stop and look over his shoulder.

"It's okay Jack – really. I have errands to run." Ianto said sincerely.

"You're sure?" Jack asked.

He nodded. "I'll see you at home." Ianto said walking over to Jack, kissing him gently and heading out.

"At home?" Gwen asked.

"Ianto asked me to move in with him." Jack said sitting back down.

"Must be serious." She mumbled.

"It is. Now you either accept what I'm offering… or I'll retcon you." Jack said.

"You wouldn't." She said shocked.

"Try me." Jack snapped.

"Fine." Gwen conceded.

"Right… I'm going to go and sort out new premises… we'll be in touch." He said getting up once more.

"I'm sorry for what I said about Ianto." Gwen said quietly.

Jack nodded. "Things change Gwen… things have changed in the past week… professionally and personally… and we need to support each other. I'm not saying its going to be easy… but we all need to stop making it any harder than it will be."

"You love him don't you?" She asked.

Jack nodded as he smiled. "I really do."