A week isn't that long to the average person and it seems to go by even faster when they have something to look forward to. That's exactly how it was for Jack and Ianto. They had their family get together that was happening in about half hour's time and Jack was freaking out. He'd picked out seven different outfits for the occasion, none of which he'd settled on, and so had thrown all of them back into the closet – Ianto would be PISSED at him, but that was a different story all together – and went rummaging around in the dresser drawers.
Freak out aside, though, he was happy. Their bid had gone through and now the paper work was being finalized on their new house and Ianto's flat had quite a few interested viewers, he'd already been called out of work three times to show his flat around to the people interested, so there was that going for them as well.
All good things aside, it hadn't been the easiest week they'd had to deal with. Gwen was furious at the two of them, but hadn't done anything against the rules and so their hands were tied in what they could and could not do to her. Yes, they could make her disappear – it was Torchwood after all – but was that really the solution to their problems? Neither of them liked to kill unless it was mandatory and regardless of how annoying and rude Gwen was being, her continued existence hadn't physically harmed anyone, so they just had to live with her, but Ianto was reaching the end of his rope with her and it was only a matter of time before he showed her her place, by force if needed.
"Ready?" Ianto asked, poking his head into the room.
"No!" Jack said, defeated.
"What's the matter?"
"Aside from all the usual questions going through my head, my stomach won't let me fit into anything besides my work pants, and only because I always have them be a little on the looser side so I can run in them better...our kid is fat." Jack rambled, looking at the snug fitting slacks he was wearing.
"That's good, it means he's healthy." Ianto assured and had Jack stand from the bed. "You look fine to me Jack, no need to fuss."
"I hope so." Jack mumbled before grabbing a sweatshirt and putting it on.
"Now you look comfortable, which is also good. Go sit on the couch and I'll bring you tea. Mam and Rhiannon will be here soon and Alice declined to come, I'm afraid." Ianto explained.
"I knew she would. She's never been too fond of me."
"Her loss."
Jack smiled at his Welshman. Ianto knew just what to say and just how to say it to make him feel that much better. He wondered daily how exactly he had gotten lucky enough to get everything he'd ever wanted in one man, but he was glad for it as he made his way to the couch to take a seat. Ianto's flat might not have been huge, but it was big enough for a six seat dining room set and a comfortable sized living room set, minus a television – thanks to the Doctor – and a comfortable set of decorations, nothing fancy, Ianto wasn't posh, just enjoyed certain fine things...such as his suits.
"Here you are Cariad." Ianto said, handing Jack a cup of tea, for which Jack smiled and blew Ianto a kiss.
Ianto smiled and walked into the kitchen to finish up dinner for his family. Ianto had always enjoyed cooking and so when the opportunity arose, he was all the happier for it.
A knock caught Jacks attention and the captain visibly tensed as he stood to answer the door. He had no idea what he was going to say to Ianto's mam, since he'd never met her before, and as for Rhiannon...she might not remember him...and if she did, it wouldn't be of the here and now, it would be of a time when two random men burst into her home and beat up her tad.
With a hesitant sigh, Jack opened the door and smiled.
"Hello." Jack said, trying so hard to keep it together.
"Hello there darling. Is this where Ianto Jones lives?" The older woman, who Jack assumed was Ianto's mam, asked.
"Yes mam, I'm in the kitchen." Ianto called adding the finishing touches to the roast he was preparing before popping it back into the oven for the last half hour.
"Oh good, I thought I'd had the wrong flat, since they all look the same and all, who are you?" She asked and Jack had to smile at her straight forward attitude.
"My name is Jack ma'am." Jack said, a little more confident.
"Ianto's boss Jack?" Rhiannon asked and Jack had to smile. Obviously she remembered him.
"Yes, it's nice to see you again."
"On better terms no doubt." Rhiannon said. Jack nodded and stepped aside to allow them entrance.
Ianto's family made their way into the house and sat on the couch, waiting for Ianto to come out of the kitchen with whatever refreshment he had on hand.
"I never got your name Mrs. Jones." Jack said.
"No, you didn't." Ianto's mam said, frowning at Jack.
"Mam, behave." Ianto shouted from the kitchen, hoping to convey his dislike of the situation.
"I'm Efa."
"Good to meet you." Jack said, smile still in place.
"You're a hard man to read Jack." Efa said, looking at Jack as though he were the most fascinating creature on the planet.
"I'm not meant to be read." Jack answered, smile faltering but still there.
"Who are you to my Ianto?" Efa asked, anger clearly obvious in her icy stare.
"Mam, we'll get to that, right now let me finish dinner." Ianto called again from the kitchen.
"And why aren't you helping him? He was gracious enough to invite you to his home, get up and help." Efa would be the one to test Jack's patience, he was sure of it.
"Unless you want us to be needing the fire department, I suggest keeping me out of the kitchen." Jack said with eyes full of mirth.
"Rhiannon, go help your brother."
"Mam, it's fine. Just sit and I'll be out with coffee and tea soon."
"Tea for me. I'm not allowed too much caffeine." Efa said, looking pointedly at Jack. What had he done to get on her bad side already.
"Alright Mam, two cups of each then." Ianto said, finishing up the drinks, turning down the oven and placing the tray on the coffee table before taking a seat.
"Thank's Ianto." Jack said with a smile before grabbing for his cup.
Efa continued looking at Jack with purpose as she too grabbed her cup of tea. Rhiannon, embarrassed as she was of her mother, kept to herself as she drank from the cup of coffee she had been brought.
"So, Rhiannon, how are the kids?" Jack asked and Rhiannon immediately perked up.
"They're well, with Johnny, my husband, right now but their grades are good and they seem to be calming down a bit now."
"Good to know. I remember you telling me how hyper they are." Jack said and immediately regretted bringing it up as Efa's eyes darkened.
"She feeds them too much junk and they're not particularly well behaved. They have no discipline."
"Mam, I won't ask you to behave again." Ianto threatened and Efa sighed.
"This tea is wonderful Ianto." Efa said, sounding downright chipper, in complete contract to her earlier behavior.
"Thank you Mam."
Small talk continued for a while yet until the kitchen timer alerted Ianto that food had finished and it was time to dish up. With a smile to his family, Ianto made his way to the kitchen while Jack guided Rhiannon and Efa to their seats before pouring them each a glass of wine.
Dinner was a quiet affair and the time was fast approaching when Ianto and Jack would tell Rhiannon and Efa everything they were and Jack was terrified. Efa didn't seem to be the understanding type and he worried for Ianto. Obviously the relationship between the two wasn't that strong and this would push it over the edge bad enough that it might break beyond repair.
Jack was deep in thought when there was a knock on the door and Ianto looked up to Jack with a hopeful smile. Maybe Alice had changed her mind after all and Jack would be able to reunite with his family.
"I'll get it." Ianto said, standing and walking to the door. With a hopeful glance towards Jack he opened the door and frowned at who he saw. Holding a finger up towards the others Ianto exited the house and closed the door behind him. Jack frowned at this but didn't question him. Ianto knew what he was doing.
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"Gwen, I'm having a family dinner. Can this wait?" Ianto asked and Gwen shook her head.
"No. I'm done being second best. I love Jack more than you possibly could." Gwen said, delusional.
"You're an adult Gwen. Start acting like one."
"Why do you get him? Why do you get to have everything you want thrown at you?"
"It's not that simple Gwen." Ianto said, pinching the bridge of his nose. His patience was wearing thin.
"Oh, right, because everyone gets what they want all the damn time."
"What about Rhys? What about your life outside Torchwood?" Ianto asked and Gwen looked furious.
"He left me, said he couldn't be with someone like me. He called me a selfish bitch, can you believe that? ME? A selfish bitch? Right."
"And what do you call this? Coming here at night, on my only day off, ruining my family dinner just to tell me you love my boyfriend...what exactly does that make you?" Ianto asked, anger flaring.
"Your boyfriend?" Gwen guffawed. How DARE HE?
"Gwen, go fuck yourself and leave me the hell alone. I'm done with this. If I see you here again I won't be held responsible for what I do." Ianto threatened, eyes cold as ice.
Gwen shook with the intensity of her anger as she reached behind her and pulled out a gun, aiming it at Ianto.
"You're a moron, I've already told you I can't die."
"That's yet to be proven." Gwen said, aiming the gun at Ianto. "If I can't have him, no one can." And she pulled the trigger.
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Jack was taking another bite of his food, dwelling in the awkward silence that followed Ianto's departure and trying hard to ignore the ever increasing volume of the conversation Ianto was having with Gwen when he heard a gunshot just outside their flat.
Jack's eyes widened as he grabbed for his gun and made a bee line to the door, hoping Ianto was alright.
Throwing open the door Jack's heart stopped at what he saw. There was Ianto, lying on the ground, dead, and Gwen standing above him with a triumphant smile on her face.
"I knew he could die." Gwen said.
Jack was furious at what he saw and he must have focused in on the events on the front steps because he didn't notice Rhiannon and Efa until their screams filled his ear. Raising his gun he aimed it at Gwen and with a well timed shot – since she was now running away – took her down. This deserved more than retcon could do.
"I need the two of you to calm down." Jack said, leaning down and holding Ianto close to him, tears falling from his eyes. Jack knew Ianto wouldn't stay dead but that didn't mean it didn't still hurt to see him lifeless and bleeding
"Get away from him. We have to call the cops...Ianto?" Rhiannon was wrecked as tears fell down her face in streams. Thankfully Jack was blocking the whole of the door so neither Rhiannon nor Efa could get through.
"I said calm down. I promise you, he'll be fine. Just give him some air."
"He didn't just scrape his fucking knee, he's been shot." Efa yelled, trying to get passed Jack and toward her son, but when that failed she fell to her knees and knelt her head on Jack's back, sobbing.
A gasp and a shout of pain caused Efa and Rhiannon to look at Jack and notice Ianto flailing and gripping Jack's shirt with everything in him.
"It's okay Yan, I've got you."