A/N: Greetings to you all! This chapter is essentially full of a lot of fun and silliness, I pretty much just let my mind wander and created my idea of the perfect Torchwood Christmas. I hope it isn't too 'fluffy' for you to bear reading! As ever, hope you enjoy! Hannah xxx

So I finally got the chance to go Christmas shopping. My sister and her children were easy; Rhiannon likes to be pampered, so I bought her a gift basket of soaps and bath bombs and moisturisers from Lush and a voucher for a local spa. And my niece and nephew are always content with an assortment of computer games and DVDs.

I eventually settled on an ornate photograph frame for Gwen, from what I've seen of her desk, her and Rhys certainly enjoy taking pictures together.

Tosh was probably the easiest of my co-workers to buy for; I've grown particularly close to Tosh. I purchased her a 3D Sudoku, it was sort of like a rubix cube, that I knew she'd finish in about a 30s seconds but enjoy none the less. Knowing that she was a secret musical lover, I also bought her the Rocky Horror Picture Show on DVD, I don't know if she's seen it or not, but it's one of my favourites.

Next was Owen, I actually had a bit of a challenge deciding what to get for him, I was so tempted to buy him something sarcastic and cruel- perhaps something with Tintin on it? But no, in the end I decided that no matter how much Owen may tease, I really do like him a lot deep down, and that he deserved something he'd really enjoy. So I bought him one of those novelty mugs with a woman scantily clad in a nurse's uniform, who lost what little clothing she was wearing with the addition of hot water. I felt ever so embarrassed buying it, but at least Owen will appreciate my efforts.

I had thought that Jack would probably like something like that to, but what would I get on it? Man, woman, extra-terrestrial? I wanted to get him something special and private, but I didn't think that it was necessarily an appropriate thing to do, especially not in front of the others. I am still very ambiguous about where I stand with Jack, perhaps something jokey and fun would be better? I settled for two gifts in the end. Pterodactyl socks and a pack of vintage 1940s playing cards (which are somewhat risqué shall we say) to be opened in front of the others. And silver, stun gun shaped cufflinks to be opened in private, if I actually got up the courage to give them to him that is…

It's almost 8.30 am and it feels so strange not to be in work yet. Jack had insisted to us all yesterday that Torchwood was doing Christmas properly, that he didn't expect to see any of us until 7.00 pm for the party.

Hmm I wonder if I'll be able to last until then, it seems so strange not being at work, it's only an hour or so after I would have normally arrived at work and I'm already missing my desk. Surely he wouldn't mind if I just popped in to finish off the report on the Ood with red-eye we found a few days ago? I'll leave it until eleven, and wrap up all of my presents and ice the Christmas cake I was commissioned to make for our soirée this evening. I think the team are going to love the cake, I'm really rather proud of the idea myself, I just hope that it doesn't all go to pot when I try and piece all of the finishing touches together!

The cake went fine; I can't wait to see the looks on their faces when I show it to them! I'm about to head in to work, it's 10.40 and I can't wait any longer, I can't remember what I used to do during days off before I had a job here, everything 'normal' just seems to dull when compared with Torchwood life.

When I arrived, Jack was there waiting at my desk and burst out laughing when I arrived.

"I knew you would crack! Although I had thought you might hold out until a bit later, clearly there was something enticing you in" He said through laughter.

"And you even wore a suit!" He commented. I wasn't sure whether I should feel self-conscious that I was being laughed at or join in laughing, I went with laughing in the end.

"Well Sir, of course I'm wearing a suit, I know how much you like it when I do – so why wouldn't I wear one? And yes there was something enticing me in, a nice stack of paperwork" I replied, grinning at the look of mock disappointment on his face.

My grin turned back into a laugh when he started making 'puppy dog' eyes at me. "Ok so I suppose that the prospect of seeing you here Sir, may have contributed to why I couldn't stay at home all day" I admitted.

"Ah I knew it, It's the jaw line: once seen, always yearned for" He replied back.

I sensed that it was favourite line of his. I got stuck in with my paperwork, and he got stuck in with watching me do it, whilst begging to have a peek and my cake. I refused to let him of course. I noticed that more mistletoe had been hung up around the hub; Tosh had a very good chance with Owen now. I wish that I could kiss Jack without it seeming weird.

The Christmas party turned out to be a right laugh, I was right with my second guess, everyone just pretended like they weren't feeling down after yesterday and somehow we all managed to have a good time. The team were most definitely amused with my cake; I'd kept it traditional to an extent: rich fruit cake surrounded by marzipan and thick white Royal icing, decorated with a red and green checked ribbon around the edge of the cake. It was the main decoration in the centre on top of the cake that struck everyone's attention. I'd fashioned Father and Mother Christmas Weevils from icing, and 3 Ood elves to finish off 'the look', it just wouldn't be a Torchwood Christmas without acknowledging our alien chums.

We decided that we should do presents first, and all congregated around our little tree to exchange. I think everybody liked what I had chosen for them, Owen even insisted that I make him a cappuccino straight away so that he could test out his mug. I was particularly watching for the Captain's reaction, as I handed over his gift, I tried to convey a look of 'there's more to come' but even if I wasn't successful, he seemed to like his presents. He put the socks on straight away and said asked us if he had ever taught us how to play 51st century style poker, he hasn't, but I'm pretty sure it will just be the same as 21st century strip poker…

I was really touched by the presents I received back from everyone, I always think of myself as sort of the outsider of the group, but maybe I was over analysing. Gwen bought me a silk tie with Welsh dragons on it and Tosh bought me this book on computer forensics that I have wanted for a while. Even Owen surprised me with a nice, if a little sarcastic, gift – a jar of my favourite blend of coffee and a rhyming dictionary, which was to help with the naming of our artefacts I assume. Jack gave me his gift last, on the tag he had written 'Merry Christmas Ianto, part one' that sounded…. Ominous? Perhaps he had done the same thing as me? I opened the present to find a toy pterodactyl and a bar of organic dark chocolate; I think Jack had the same memory in mind when buying my gift as when I bought his.

We all gathered around the coffee table by the sofa, to eat the cake and snacks that the others had brought with them. Jack ate the majority of the cake, I honestly don't know where he puts it all, he can be such a pig sometimes!

We all had rather a bit too much mulled wine (aside from Jack of course) which left us all rather giggly and singing carols at the tops of our lungs. And in the end I didn't need to worry, because Jack kissed everyone, even Owen. But I'd like to think he kissed me for the longest, not that I would know as my stopwatch broke a few weeks ago during a rather … exciting… activity.

Owen and Tosh also had a little moment in the end, and it was him who instigated it! Perhaps since Diane left he's feeling a bit more sensitive towards Tosh, now that he knows what real love is like. We ended up watching the DVD I had got Tosh, and the evening culminated with all five of us dancing to the time warp. I'd forgotten how disturbing that film is, but it's so brilliant and cheesy and fun all at the same time.

By this now it was almost 2.00 am, it was Christmas day. The others had gone home and I was clearing up our mess, I didn't want everyone to return to the hub in this state on the 27th! Jack had gone up to his office as the others were leaving, but came back down now surprised to find me still here.

"Don't you need to be up early for your sister's tomorrow? Her children are bound to be up early to open their presents, and you don't want to miss out on the best bit!" He said, and started to help me.

"Ah well, Sir, there's no need for you to help, I'm not going to Rhiannon's for Christmas anymore, she's spending it with her in laws instead" I replied, and couldn't help letting a little of my disappointment show through then.

"I see" Jack mused, grinning. "So, I never had any plans for tomorrow, and now you have no plans… are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think I might be Sir" I replied, grinning back, we'd be able to exchange our gifts properly in the morning.

"But for now" Jack continued with a devilish grin, as he pulled out his new playing cards.

I was genuinely surprised when Jack woke me up at 6.30, jumping on the bed and begging for me to open my present 'part two'. He really is just like a child some times. He had my gift in one hand, and an envelope in the other, I took the envelope first. Inside was a very inappropriate picture on a greetings card involving Jack, a Santa's hat and not much else... I am blushing even now as I remember it. I was nervous when I started to open the present, if the card was anything to go by… and what if it was another jokey present like before, and I would look silly handing over the cufflinks?

I had no reason to be nervous in the end, as he turned out to have bought me a new stopwatch, almost exactly like my old antique one from the 60s that had broken the other week. It was so thoughtful of him.

"So, do you like it?" He said with an expectant grin.

"It's perfect, thank you Sir"

"You're most welcome Ianto Jones, now hurry up and give me mine!" He replied, miming begging actions towards the end.

"I'm sorry; I didn't get you a card…" I said as collected his present form my suit jacket on the floor by the bed, and handed it to him.

"Don't worry we can sort that out later" He said and winked. I was starting to wonder if I would remain in a permanent state of blushing all day.

At least he loved the cufflinks, so I could relax and breathe a sigh of relief for a minute. We carried out the rest of the day in an oddly traditional manner. Jack had somehow secured the necessities for me to cook a proper Christmas lunch, we had a box of Quality Street on the go and we even managed to tune into the Queen's speech on TV. Jack said that this was the first time he had had a proper Christmas, one not spent by himself here at Torchwood, since 1941. I think I must have misheard, perhaps it was 91… We were just starting to reach the Miracle on 34th Street stage when the rift alert went off. Typical. Then again it wouldn't be Christmas at Torchwood if we didn't remember to include our other worldly friends.

It was a Weevil this time, Jack and I found it running plain as day through Cardiff city centre. Thank goodness it's Christmas or we may have been administering retcon to half the city.

She (?) was fairly easy to catch; we didn't even need a stun gun in the end, just a quick jump from behind to put a bag over her head and small dosage of sedative. Fieldwork really was beginning to grow on me, perhaps I'll be ready to join the team full time on missions soon, I think that Jack is certainly keen for me to do so. He says I spend too much time at my desk buried in paperwork.

He also said: "Speaking of paperwork, if you dare turn up for work on Boxing Day then I promise I'll think of some completely cunning and twisted way to punish you for it." Whilst flashing that familiar, wide grin of his.

When the Captain makes a promise like that, you know that he's going to keep it. So I didn't need telling twice, a threat like that from Jack was enough to make me keep away from my beloved desk for a day. I think I'll sneak some of my unfinished paperwork home after we get the Weevil back to the hub though. As I found from yesterday morning, I need it to keep me occupied, I've grown very much attached to my paperwork. Maybe I really have been spending too much time 'stuck at my desk' …?