AN: Last update before SFX Weekender, and yes I do leave you a bit of a cliffhanger – how nice am I? I think I may also be setting myself up for another smut chapter at the end of this one – any thoughts? I'll be able to access my email all weekend so please keep reviewing and sending me requests and ideas and theories for where you think this is going. I had a particularly good request this morning from a reviewer that will be appearing in one of the next couple of chapters.

I look forward to seeing my fellow fanfiction writers at SFX if you're there – I'll be the idiot chasing Gareth David Lloyd around and wearing a tshirt with JonesIantoJones written on at some stage. If you are there and you see me PLEASE come over and say hello. I am also taking my laptop with me in case inspiration strikes, so I would expect a new chapter on Sunday, maybe Monday at the latest.

In other news I have a Janto AU story that I'm currently writing – anyone interested in reading the start of that? I might be persuaded to upload that on Sunday too if you ask me nicely.

Have a great weekend – mine is going to EPIC – and please review x

"I… I don't understand." Ianto murmured. "Why does Gwen think you want children?"

"Because I do Ianto. I do want children of my own. But I know I can't have them, and whilst that devastates me, I wouldn't change it for the world, because if I did it would mean giving you up, and I couldn't do that." Owen explained, his voice ragged.

"I don't understand why you're talking to her about it though?" Ianto asked softly.

Owen sighed. "She saw us at the park today, playing with the kids. She said she saw us playing happy families, and that we looked like we were having a whale of a time. She said it was a shame I was suddenly gay because I would make a great father. I didn't realise what she was doing at the time. She just kept picking at the idea, dripping on about me being a Dad, and about how I could still have that, that things change. But I don't want them to change. I don't want to be a father at the expense of losing you. If I have to make a choice between children and you I will always choose you. Always." He explained as tears began to form in his eyes and his tone turned angry.

"So what, she's offering herself to you as what, a means to an end? She's going to provide this child you want so badly? Is that her plan?" Ianto asked.

Owen shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know if she's offering that, or if she's just trying to come between us. I don't know what's going on in that messed up head of hers, but its not going to work Ianto. I promise you it won't work, and I need to know you believe me." He said emphatically as tears slipped down his cheeks.

"I believe you." Ianto said softly as he pulled Owen into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around the older man as Owen sobbed into his chest. "Look I'm sorry okay? I didn't realise children were so important to you, and I wish there was something I could do, but I can't." He apologised as he felt Owen cling tighter to him.

"I need you more. So much more." Owen murmured. "And don't you dare apologise. Don't apologise for what you give me, because it is so much more than any child ever could, more than anyone else ever could." He said as he looked up into Ianto's eyes.

The Welshman nodded. "I love you too." He said simply.

Owen smiled. "I'm sorry I let her make me doubt this. And I am sorry for letting her kiss me." He said.

"It's okay. Trust me, I've been on the end of her manipulation myself before now." He said taking Owen's hand and guiding him over to the sofa, settling himself on one end and pulling the Londoner into his arms. "We just need to stick together on this, and not let her come between us." He continued. Ianto sighed. "Why does everything have to be so hard?" He asked angrily as he stretched out, nestling down so his head was settled on the arm of the sofa. One arm looped around Owen's shoulders as the older man allowed himself to be cradled in Ianto's hold, his head resting on the Welshman's chest. "It take it Jack wasn't about?" He asked.

Owen shook his head. "No he was out. He'll probably be spitting feathers when he comes back and finds I've left her on her own."

"She's more than capable of looking after herself." Ianto pointed out.

Suddenly there was a knock on the front door.

"I'll go." Ianto said as he extracted himself from beneath Owen.

"If its Gwen please resist the urge to throw her down the stairs." The Londoner muttered.

"I'll try my best." Ianto replied with a smirk before crossing the room and heading out into the hall, walking down to the front door and pulling it open.

"Hey." Jack said softly.

"Alright?" Ianto asked.

Jack nodded. "Can we talk?" He asked.

"If this is about what happened tonight in the Hub now is not the time. He's pretty angry, and to be honest so am I." Ianto said.

"What happened in the Hub?" Jack echoed.

"Gwen threw herself at Owen. Isn't that why you're here?" Ianto asked.

"No I'm here to talk to you." Jack explained.

Ianto sighed. "And you decided to get Owen to work a late shift so I'd be here alone? Are you and Gwen on some kind of perverted divide and conquer mission?" He asked angrily.

"Ianto I have no idea what Gwen's up to. I asked him and Gwen to work tonight because I needed to talk to you alone, but that's all. I'm not here to for anything other than to talk." Jack said sincerely.

Ianto nodded. "Okay. Sorry. It's been a rather mad half hour." He apologised. "Look Owen's here and like I said he's pretty angry. Can we do this tomorrow at the Hub?" He asked.

Jack nodded. "Sure." He said with a small smile. "I'll go send her home and we'll talk in the morning okay?"

"That's fine. I'm going to want to talk to the team tomorrow anyway, but I'll come in early and we can chat." Ianto replied.

"Okay. Goodnight Ianto." Jack said before turning and walking away. Ianto closed the door and went back into the lounge.

"What did he want?" Owen asked.

"He wants to talk to me alone." Ianto replied.

"I bet he does." Owen muttered.

"He assures me that's all he wants. I'm going to head in early tomorrow and talk, and then when the rest of the team arrive I'm going to talk to them too." Ianto explained.

Owen nodded. "Let battle commence." He said softly.

"It'll be alright." Ianto said gently. "Now, seeing as though you're home early, how's about demonstrating that much bragged about bedside manner of yours?" He asked with a smirk.

Owen smiled up at Ianto from his seat on the sofa. "That I can do." He said rising to his feet. "How are feeling anyway?" He asked as he allowed the Welshman to take his hand and guide him into the bedroom.

"I'm okay. Nothing a bit of Tender Loving Owen can't cure." Ianto replied before kissing him.