The next few weeks passed very quickly for Jack, what with training his team and dates with Ianto, which were getting more frequent and, if it were possible, even more enjoyable. Jack was counting down the days until the Christmas party, which sounded like a lot of fun and would be the first time he met any of Ianto's family. Coincidentally, the party fell on December 23rd, which, as Jack pointed out, was his and Ianto's one month anniversary. Neither he nor Ianto put much stock by such things ("One month isn't really important-after all, a month is just an arbitrary time construct made up by humans, but if you think about it, so is a year, because nothing is special about January 1st, there's no reason why a year is supposed to start on that day," Ianto rambled as Jack listened intently) and they agreed that they wouldn't do anything special besides go to the party together.

When the day arrived, Jack showed up at Ianto's flat and they went together to Rhiannon and Johnny's house in a cab. "And your sister and her husband are totally okay with us?" Jack made sure on the way.

"Johnny doesn't quite understand the concept of bisexuality," Ianto told him. "It's always, 'Oh, finally gone gay completely, Ianto?' or 'Finally decided you're straight, Ianto?' But they haven't got a problem with it. I've been out to my sister since I was in high school, and I told her I'm bringing a date, so…"

Jack squeezed Ianto's hand. "Well, I'm glad. Though if he makes those comments this time, I might have to do something about it."

Ianto laughed nervously. "You really don't have to do that."

"Oh, yes, I do." Jack rolled his thumb over the back of Ianto's hand carefully, and didn't say anything else.

When they got to Rhi's house, a lovely, brightly lit suburban home on a quiet street, though it certainly wasn't in the nicest part of town, Jack and Ianto went up to the door hand in hand. Almost as soon as Ianto knocked, the door opened to reveal a grinning, larger man in a Christmas jumper. "Ianto!" he greeted loudly. "And you've brought a man! Thought you had finally settled as straight, eh?"

Jack was about to snap back with a witty retort, but Ianto squeezed his hand tightly, telling him not to. "Nope, still bi, as always, Johnny," Ianto told him dryly.

"Ah, well, come on in! It's cold out there." Johnny ushered them in. "What's your name, then?"

"Jack Harkness," Jack told him. "It's nice to meet you." He shook Johnny's hand cordially.

The house was warm and bright and homey, with a lot of people mulling about and drinking and laughing. Several kids were playing on the living room floor, and as Jack watched, two of them came rushing up to Ianto.

"Uncle Ianto!"

"Hey, Mica!" Ianto greeted, hugging the little girl. "Jack, this is Mica, and David, my niece and nephew. Dave, Mica, this is Jack."

"Hi, Jack!" they chorused, but then one of their friends called them back over to the living room and they left.

Cheerful Christmas music was playing loudly over some speakers, and Jack and Ianto talked to the people around them for a while, eating the snacks placed around the rooms and drinking eggnog and wine respectively. After a while, Jack began to gather that Ianto was getting a bit uncomfortable with so many people talking to him at once. He was always fine when taking a dozen orders from customers at his coffeeshop at once, but put in a social situation where there were more than one or two other people, and he started to get very tired very quickly, a true introvert. Ianto excused himself to go to the toilet, and Jack followed him after a minute.

As he had expected, Ianto was not in the toilet but was sitting at the foot of the stairs, his head leaning against the wall. He was yawning. Jack sat down next to him. "Hey."

"Is it over yet?" Ianto said sleepily.

Jack put his arm out, and Ianto fell against him. Jack held him tightly. "No, we've only been here for an hour and a half," he reminded. "The party isn't supposed to end for another three. I could say I wasn't feeling well if you wanted to make a quick getaway," he offered.

"Nah." Ianto yawned again and snuggled closer to Jack. "Might just sit here for a few more minutes, though."

"That's fine," Jack told him. "Take as long as you want. Honestly, the only thing anyone in there wants to talk to me about is my accent, so I'm in no rush."

"And they only want me to talk about you," Ianto said. "We're the only 'gays' at the party. Well, no, that's not true. Mica's got a friend who's here with two mums. But they're old news."

"Guess we're just interesting, then?" Jack joked.

"A topic of conversation," Ianto agreed. "Not the most enjoyable part of the party to be."

Jack shrugged slightly. "Well, I don't know. I don't really mind. It's kinda funny, actually. Everyone saying how cute we are together, and all I can think is 'you don't know the half of it!'" They laughed softly. Ianto closed his eyes, and Jack fell silent.

Once Ianto had gathered his strength to return to the party after actually falling asleep for a few minutes, it was time for exchanging gifts, whoever had brought anyone anything. Mostly, it was just the kids giving each other little trinkets and trying to stick the bows on each other's heads, shrieking and giggling the whole time, but some of the adults gave each other such thoughtful gifts as candles and picture frames. Seriously, there was an outrageous amount of candles and picture frames. Even Ianto got a picture frame, from Rhi, of their family and Ianto, probably taken on some holiday somewhere, as there was ocean in the background that wasn't in Wales.

"Greenscreen and a very long day at a photo studio," Ianto murmured to Jack a little later. Jack laughed softly as Ianto continued, loudly enough for the rest of the people sitting around to hear, "Rhi insisted on taking them to send to distant family members to assure them that I was still alive and not lonely. Apparently, I needed reminding, as well."

Jack pressed a kiss to his temple. "Definitely still alive."

"And not lonely." Ianto smiled at him, and kissed him. A collective "Awwww" rose up from the rest of the guests and they broke apart, Ianto flushing bright red and Jack grinning.

When the time came for all of the guests to go home, Ianto and Jack stayed until everyone else had gone, since Ianto was Rhi's brother. David and Mica had gone to bed an hour ago, and Jack had made Ianto laugh by singing, "So long, farewell, auch wiedersehen, goodnight," quietly into his ear. Finally, it was just Rhi, Johnny, Ianto, and Jack left sitting on the couches in the living room, the lights on the Christmas tree in the corner winking merrily.

Rhi let out a sigh. "Well, that was lovely, wasn't it?"

"It was a wonderful party," Jack agreed with her. "Thank you so much for having us."

"Well, we couldn't very well not invite Ianto, could we?" Johnny laughed. "He's family."

Rhi gave him a look. "And so are you, if you want to be," she told Jack.

Jack was touched. "Thank you." He glanced over at Ianto, sitting quietly next to him. The young man had fallen asleep, his mouth open slightly, endearingly. "Well, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, it'll have to be another time," Jack said regretfully. "I'd better get him home. Ianto." He nudged Ianto gently, who woke with a start.

"Hmm?"

"Time to go." They said goodbye to Rhi and Johnny and headed out. Their cab stopped at Ianto's flat first, because it was closer. Jack asked the driver to wait for a minute so he could walk Ianto to his door. "Goodnight," he said softly, putting his arms around Ianto's waist and pulling him in for a quick kiss.

Ianto hesitated before going inside, despite the freezing night. As Jack was about to turn away back to the cab, he called out to him. "Actually," he said, voice trembling a little. "W-would you like to...to stay the night?"

Jack turned back towards him. "Jones, Ianto Jones, I would love to stay the night." It was the first time Ianto had asked him, and Jack had been waiting for his lead. He waved to the cabbie to say nevermind, and she drove off, probably annoyed that she had waited there for a minute for nothing. They went inside, away from the cold, and soon they were very warm indeed.

Heehee, I enjoyed writing that ending. So sorry to those who wanted the next scene, but...Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please tell me what you thought, that means the world to me. Many thanks and much love! ~Clare