OK, one more and that's it!

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30

Jack was sitting in their bed with his hands slipping one of Ianto's ties through his fingers when Ianto entered and he immediately froze, looking at Ianto with raw relief.

"I thought you might have stayed in Storm's room tonight" Jack admitted when he saw Ianto's questioning look.

"Jack, when have I slept without you since our bond?" Ianto asked as he sat on the bed to toe off his shoes, "no matter how angry I am, I will always seek your warmth when weary. You know that."

"I'm sorry" Jack blurted, leaning across to touch Ianto but he was already moving from the bed leaving Jack's hand clutching at thin air, "Ianto?"

"I am tired" Ianto didn't turn to look at him as he undid his tie and then snorted, "I wondered where the green one went, thought one of the bugs had borrowed it. They like to take our things to teach their young our scent ya know."

"No, I didn't know" Jack was surprised at this conversation and then he had clarity. Ianto was formulating still, needed more time to form his words so Jack sat back, "That explains that green shirt I like so much."

"No" Ianto said softly, "I burnt it, hate that colour on you. Makes you in yellow."

"It does?"

"Yeah" Ianto moved to the bathroom and Jack heard the tell-tale signs of bed prep, then he groaned as he reassessed, nest prep? He then watched his mate exit the bathroom in his PJ bottoms and slide into his side of the bed, the scar still forming on his shoulder nothing to the small pot belly that immediately screamed at Jack for attention. The zap earlier had woken it. Hadn't it.

"Can I touch you?"

Ianto looked at him again and then frowned, "Did she do that? Withheld? Why you thought I would stay away, not let you touch me? Is that one of Gwen's punishment methods?"

Jack nodded mutely, not wanting to talk about her, wanting better things in his life, things Ianto brought so freely and he had now been reminded were gifts not rights. Ianto realised this too, turning to face him.

"I had this image in my mind about this moment. Us in the bed, entwined and so in love, our bodies suctioned together with lust and longing or maybe we had made love because we couldn't wait to talk and now we lay so in love as I breathlessly tell you what has happened. Your joy and my satisfaction in pleasing you. Our celebration would be a kiss of longing, completion and affirmation. Instead we lay here with this void between us that may as well be the size of the room." Ianto sighed sadly, his hand reaching out to stroke Jack's cheek, "Cariad, I am glad he is home. I missed him too. I would never expect you to choose between me and your family, I would never demand your attention from him when you were so happy but you didn't even see me. His impulse control still needs tempering around the babies, here I am about to add another to the mix. I do love Grey but I belong to you. You belong to me. Everyone else is secondary to our bond, even the babies. You. Me. This. Without it all the rest falls away, flies apart like sparks on the wind. Do you understand? Please."

Jack had let Ianto talk and he felt the sorrow of the words as well as the plea so he leaned in to kiss and finally touch the small almost not there bump.

"This is not about her. Not about our babies, not even about the one you grow for me in such a wonderful way" Jack whispered, "I am your mate. I was disrespectful and an Arsehat as Owen would have put it. I was blinkered as usual and I am sorry."

"Fine" Ianto nodded, "Line. I do not want to talk of it again. Love me. I love you. End of."

"Deal"

Ianto crushed their mouths together, revelling in the taste of his love as their raw need to reconnect thrummed and Ianto moaned onto Jack's' mouth as he canted his head for more depth as if that were possible.

As Jack's hands slid below the band of the PJs and cupped those lovely arse cheeks that were so taught and full he again thanked the gods for their love, especially the one called Pete who some believe was a crotchety old bugger.

The bug collective relaxed as they felt the house settle and the love of their benefactors once again flowed through brick and mortar …. And that unperceivable thing that held it all together.

Fate.