(Author's note: Well, here we are. We've reached the last chapter. I have to admit, I'm kind of sad to see this story come to an end. It's been a great experience bringing together beloved characters from two of my favorite shows.

I hope you are pleased with this final chapter. I tried to give everything a sense of closure, and also make sure that everyone got a happy ending.

Thank you for coming along with us on this journey, and seeing it through to the end.)

This is being written in collaboration with my talented friend nightchild78. We are having fun bouncing ideas off each other, and sharing in the excitement of watching this story unfold!

Special thanks to Rose Malmaison for making the image to go along with this fic!

Categories: NCIS/Torchwood

Rating: M

Characters: Tony DiNozzo, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Abby Sciuto, Tim McGee, Ziva David, Dr Donald Mallard, Jimmy Palmer / Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Toshiko Sato, Owen Harper.

Pairings: Tony/Gibbs, Jack/Ianto, Tosh/Owen.

Warnings: Swearing, slash, Mpreg, explicit sexual situations.

Spoilers: Set during the 6th season of NCIS and after Children of Earth for Torchwood. Mentions of the episodes SWAK, Boxed In, Hiatus Part 2, Escaped, Singled Out, Chimera and Requiem for NCIS and for the episodes Cyberwoman, To the Last Man, Dead Man Walking, A Day In the Death, Exit Wounds as well as the whole of season 3 of Torchwood. Miracle Day never happened.

Disclaimer: We don't own these characters. We just like to play with them.

RENASCENCE RENASCENCE RENASCENCE

The breeze, soft and gentle, brushed gently across Jack and Ianto as they lay in the cool of the shade. Sunlight danced with shadows, shimmering across their faces. Ianto's head rested upon Jack's bare chest, and he took comfort in the warm arms holding him close.

Jack stared down at his long time love, smiling affectionately. It was amazing how, even as an old man, Ianto could look so boyish and innocent while sleeping. Jack's smile grew even wider as Ianto made the cute little moaning whimpers he always did when waking.

"Hey, Ianto," Jack couldn't help but coo, running his fingers through Ianto's silvery grey hair. "Have a nice nap?"

"Mmm..." Ianto moaned adorably, nuzzling into Jack's chest.

Jack chuckled softly, squeezing Ianto tightly and kissing the top of his head.

Ianto sat up slowly, and Jack soon did the same, both men feeling quite content with life at the moment.

"Fancy a walk?" Jack asked, standing up and offering his hand to Ianto.

With an amused smile, Ianto nodded, accepting Jack's hand and rising to his feet.

Their hands remained intertwined as they started down the garden path, breathing in the sweet scents. The air was pleasant; not too hot and not too cool, with a breeze just ever so gently brushing them. The flowers were in fragrant full bloom.

A lone butterfly fluttered insistently round their heads, as if trying to get their attention. And they couldn't help but notice. It was beautiful; almost otherworldly. Graceful wings that fluttered and danced, colored emerald green, with red and gold accents.

The beautiful creature finally settled on a sunflower, fluttering in front of Jack and Ianto.

"Well, hello!" Ianto waved cheerily. "Aren't you lovely!"

A sad smile haunted Jack's features. "Maybe it's because we're in the garden, but the green in this butterfly's wings reminds me of -"

"Tony's eyes," Ianto completed Jack's thought, and the two men nodded in fond remembrance.

At those words, the butterfly suddenly flapped its wings at lightning speed, disappearing into a dizzying blur, its colors enveloping Jack and Ianto in radiant warmth, somehow filling their hearts with a loving comfort.

Then, standing before them where the butterfly had just moments ago been, was Tony.

He'd changed from the time they had last seen him. Tony was no longer the sickly old man they had cared for in the end. Nor was he the weak, slow man he had been for decades before that. The Tony they were now looking at appeared younger, looking much as he had when they first met, only thinner, stronger and filled with an energy they had never seen in him. But they were sure he must have possessed this energy at some point, before the difficult pregnancy took a permanent toll on his body.

His tall, lean form - they had never known him as a lean man - was dressed in casual elegance. A gold tie accented a green silk dress shirt, tucked into dark red pants. Dressed as he was, Tony truly was the human embodiment of his butterfly form.

Jack and Ianto stood stunned, not quite believing what they'd seen. Sure, they had witnessed many amazing things in their lives, and Ianto was living proof that people could come back from the dead. But this was something different altogether. Something for which they were not prepared.

"Tony?" Jack whispered, his hand clenching Ianto's. "Is that really you?"

"In the flesh," Tony answered, grinning. "Well, not literally..."

"This has to be a dream," Ianto said, staring wide eyed at his best friend. "You can't be real."

"Oh, it is a dream," Tony confirmed. "But I am real."

"That was quite an entrance. You have a flair for the dramatic," Jack quipped with a wavering smile.

"You're one to talk," Tony shot back, a playful gleam in his eyes.

"He has a point," Ianto smirked.

"Hey! No ganging up on me!" Jack laughed, finally overcoming the emotions which were threatening to overwhelm him. "Okay, you've got our attention, Tony. What do you want to tell us?"

Tony gave them a bittersweet smile, and the look in his eyes told them he held a far greater acceptance and understanding of what he was about to say than they would at the moment.

"Ianto, you'll be joining us here soon," Tony informed his best friend as tactfully as possible.

"How soon?" Ianto asked, a hint of fear straining his voice.

"About a year, more or less," Tony answered casually. "But there's nothing to be afraid of. As you can see, it's not so bad here."

"But Jack -" Ianto began, and Jack himself stood with a look of haunted resignation; the look of a man who had sadly come to accept loss as a part of his very long life.

"Relax," Tony said, holding out his hands in a placating gesture. "There are some things I've come to understand since I got here. Things about the people I love. And one of those things is, the two of you need each other! You're soul mates. Being separated by death would leave you both empty and miserable inside, and that emptiness can never be filled until you reunite."

"Well, then we're screwed!" Jack snapped.

Ianto placed a calming hand on Jack's shoulder. "Jack, I'm sure that Tony didn't bring us here to give us bad news."

"Of course I didn't," Tony said, unfazed by Jack's little outburst. "You, more than anyone, should be aware of the reality of miracles." Tony motioned around himself. "Look at where you are! This might be a dream, but I'm as real as anything! Do you understand what I'm saying? Jack, death can't keep you apart from Ianto. Any time you want to see him, all you need to do is fall asleep and join him here."

Jack's face brightened as tears welled up in his eyes. "Is that right?"

Tony nodded. "Yes. So, now that you have this knowledge, I hope that you'll remain faithful to each other. Your love is stronger than death."

Jack and Ianto stared at one another with a new found hope. For years, they had been living for the moment, trying not to think of the day when death would tear them apart. But now, they could look to the future, knowing their union would remain unbroken.

Jack wrapped an arm around Ianto's waist, pulling him close and kissing him on the cheek. Then, he and Ianto both turn thankful gazes towards Tony.

"Thank you, Tony," Ianto whispered, smiling affectionately.

Tony nodded once again. "Take care of each other. See you soon, Ianto." With those words, Tony's form disappeared in a burst of golden light, as he transformed back into the green butterfly and flew away.

RENASCENCE RENASCENCE RENASCENCE

Jack and Ianto's eyes popped open simultaneously. Almost on instinct, Jack cradled Ianto's head as the Welshman nestled into the warmth of his chest. They were back were they started, lying under their favorite tree in the garden, and it took a moment for them to realize they were awake.

"Cariad," Ianto murmured sleepily, looking up at his lover's smiling features. "Tony was here. He flew right up to us."

Jack nodded, his mouth turning up into an amused smile. He was sure his aging lover was unaware of how innocent he sounded when recalling dreams. Especially while still drowsy. Leave it to Ianto Jones. Even a touch of senility looked good on him.

"I saw," Jack laughed, smiling down at Ianto. "My grandson, the beautiful butterfly."

"So...you saw it, too?" Ianto asked, sitting up, and Jack soon followed. "Tony really talked to us, then?"

"It would seem so," Jack said, pulling Ianto close, so that they were both leaning against the tree. "I think that he wanted to reassure us. To let us know that we don't have to lose each other. "

Ianto pulled back, staring intently at Jack. Slowly and shakily, he raised his wrinkled, arthritic hand and cupped it to the immortal's cheek. "After I die, you...you don't want to move on? Look for a new mate?"

"Why would I do that?" Jack asked, gently removing Ianto's hand from his cheek and kissing it. "You heard what Tony said. We need each other."

Ianto's features softened in relief at Jack's words, and he once again leaned back, allowing his head to rest upon his lover's shoulder.

"Ianto," Jack continued. "There won't be a day that goes by that I don't come and find you. This love we have - it's eternal. Someday you'll leave this existence. But now I know, any time I want to be near you, all I have to do is close my eyes. Thanks to you, I'll never feel alone and abandoned again."

Sighing contentedly, Ianto smiled up at Jack, melting into his arms.

"Meet me in the garden."