Ianto and Jack sat in the car, neither one knowing what to say. They were finally going on a date. Finally moving into the stage in their relationship were it could actually be called a relationship, and neither of them want to spoil the moment. Yet the tension grew nearly unbearable, and Jack had questions.

"So Ianto." The immortal started, feigning nonchalance. The Welshman turned from gazing out the window to gazing at the immortal.

"Yes sir?" Jack groaned inwardly, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips.

"What have I said about calling me sir?" Ianto grinned evilly.

"Sorry, sir. Won't happen again, sir." Jack cracked a soft smile, that quickly pulled into a frown.

"Ianto, why did you choose me?" The Welshman's countenance collapsed. He fidgeted, straightening out the flawless seams of his trousers.

"What do you mean, Jack?" The captain shrugged.

"Why did you choose me over John? I mean, aside from looks, we are on a pretty level playing field." The Archivist mimicked the Captain's earlier gesture.

"Numerous reasons. Some of them I would be embarrassed to share." Jack quirked an eyebrow.

"Like?" Ianto blushed, but decided to answer the question anyway.

"Like, well, he didn't smell right." Jack looked quizzically at his lover.

"Didn't smell right." Ianto rushed to explain.

"Remember when we were trying to catch Myfanwy, and I commented on your aftershave? And you said something about 51 century pheromones?" Jack grinned, he remembered that evening fondly.

"Well, at first I thought you were joking. I mean, I knew you were impossibly old, and frankly I didn't rule out that you from the future, I just thought that it wasn't possible for any human to smell that good naturally."

The immortal chuckled softly.

"And I'm assuming John is from the 51st century as well?" Jack nodded.

"Yea, but he's older." The Welshman rolled his eyes.

"But, you see, he, umm how do I put this?" Ianto took a deep breath.

"You smell like citrus and cocoa and nutmeg and spice. Sharp and sweet, yet warm and bold. And something so exotic so uniquely you that I can't place it."

Jack's smile softened, did he really smell that good to Ianto?

"And it's completely intoxicating." The Welshman took another deep breath, steadying himself to finish his thought. "When I'm close to you I fog over. I can't think, I can't breathe, and I'm lost. And then you touch me, and for a while everything is alright. I don't have to think, I can feel."

Ianto had turned to look back out the window, with Jack glancing over nervously. His lover rarely let this much go, and this was quite a lot.

"With Hart, though, he smelled ok, sure, like anyone else. But it wasn't as powerful as you. It just wasn't right."

The Captain swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew that John had similar irresistible pheromones than him. He had fallen victim to them on more than one occasion. By all accounts Ianto shouldn't be immune to their effects at all. Yet here he is.

"Well, Jones Ianto Jones, I seem to have a similar problem."

Ianto turned to him, eyebrow raised in confusion. Jack flashed him his patented mischievous grin before staring back out at the road.

"You are impossibly attractive for a 21st century human. Everything about you pulls me in. Your rugged beauty, your wit, your charm, it's a list that never ends. And aside from all of that, you tolerate me. Knowing everything that you do about me, you still love me" A deep breath. " I don't have to hide from you."

Jack Whispered this last part, unsure if Ianto would understand the gravity of such a statement. The captain had been running for most of his life. Running, hiding, waiting. It was all he had known. Even with the doctor he had run. Yet with Ianto all of that went away. Here was someone who understood. Here was someone who didn't care what he had done in the past. And Jack knew that, in his heart of hearts, if he asked his Welshman to run, Ianto would be by his side.

"Jack, you will never have to hide anything from me." Ianto placed a reassuring hand on the Immortal's thigh.

"I know." They drove in companionable silence for a moment. Then Jack pulled off the road, the tense silence replaced by a comforting warmth.