Ianto opened his eyes to find Jenny sat up in bed next to him, eyebrows raised,

"what were you dreaming about?" she asked, "you were rambling on about pterodactyls!"

"Oh" Ianto tried to hide his guilty face in the pillow, "can't really remember, obviously something ridiculous"

Jenny laughed, "no more late-night films is it"

"something like that"

She kissed him on the cheek before getting out of bed, her long dark hair flicking off her shoulders. Ianto watched her go fondly. She really was adorable, walking bouncily out of the room in her striped short PJs, glancing back at him with her big chocolate brown eyes,

"coffee?" she enquired, "I'll get the machine on"

"I'll be out in a minute" he confirmed.

He sat up in bed taking a breath. He'd arrived at Jenny's flat last night. She didn't ask any questions, was just happy to see him. Ianto had fixed a smile to his face, suggested a film to avoid having conversations, then announced he was tired at the end and headed straight to bed. She'd kissed him goodnight chastely, wrapped herself into his side and drifted off to sleep. So that left him alone with his thoughts.

It was 3am before he'd eventually drifted off, despite how exhausting the pervious day had been he couldn't shut off his overanalytical mind. He had gone over every encounter with Jack in his head, ending with the look on the other mans face when the realisation had it him what Ianto was saying. There had been surprise, which Ianto could understand, but a flicker of something else, somewhere between disappointment and resignation.

Trying to work out Jack's thinking was almost as challenging as trying to separate his own. There was anger there without a doubt, anger at him leaving and at him coming back. But there was relief too, that he was here, alive and well. There was a longing to see him equally matched by a desire to never say another word to the man.

"Hey sleepyhead hurry up" a call from the kitchen pulled him back to reality.

Jenny. She was beautiful, inside and out. She was safe. Obviously, she had no concept of what he did for a living, she believed his story of working in the tourist office. She never thought to question that, they were early enough in the relationship that he hadn't really had to explain any late nights or injuries. It had been dates in cosy restaurants, drinks down the local, the beginnings of a normal healthy relationship. They were getting comfortable in each other's flats, learning about those little quirks and personality traits as they went. They had sex that ended in cuddling and when she kissed him it was simple, comforting.

"Coming" he called, running his hand through his hair and rising from the bed. He was so grateful that they had to avoid themselves today. He couldn't face Jack, not yet. He needed time to get to the logical state of mind that his life was none of Jack's business any more than as an employee. He didn't have to explain himself, justify his new relationship or really give him any details at all. He had nothing to feel guilty for, he had as much right as Gwen or the others to have a life outside Torchwood.

He padded out to the kitchen and was presented with a steaming cup of coffee. He took a sip gratefully. She wasn't quite to his level of coffee perfection, but she was pretty damn close.

"Thankyou" he smiled, "just what I needed, delicious"

"High praise from a connoisseur" she winked, "I have to get ready for work"

She was a trainee solicitor for a firm in the city centre, trying her best to be taking seriously as a petite, pretty 24-year-old from the countryside. She'd moved over from the midlands for Uni and never really looked back.

"I'll walk you in" Ianto moved to dress too, knowing he'd be safely avoiding his past self in town. This time yesterday he was in the hub trying to make sense of the whole thing. He still was no closer.

X-X

Walking through Cardiff hand in hand, they looked like any young couple heading into work. They chatted comfortably, about nothing of importance. He kissed her goodbye as she headed into the office, then wandered aimlessly around the centre. He had the team's movements from yesterday burned into his memory so knew where to avoid. He ended up sat in the park surrounding Cardiff castle, watching the world go by.

"Penny for them?"

Owens voice startled him out of his daydream, "how'd you find me?"

Owen rolled his eyes, "tracked your phone, wanted to make sure you didn't wander off somewhere stupid like the hub and blow the cover"

"give me some credit"

Owen sat down on the bench next to him.

"So back to normal tomorrow" Owen said bitterly, "boss man returns to save the day and all that"

Ianto didn't fall for the obvious attempt to get him to talk about it.

"Yep, just another normal day hunting aliens, making coffee, the usual"

"Ianto"

"Owen" he sighed, "Look, I know what you're getting at. There won't be any drama, at least from my side. Jack will go back to being the boss, we'll all get on with our jobs, and our personal lives stay outside the hub. That's how it should be"

"Jack at least owes you some kind of explanation"

"I won't be getting one. You know Jack, he runs on his own rules" Ianto laughed grimly, "worlds in trouble, he's your guy, any less than that isn't on his radar. It doesn't matter anyway, I have a life and its going fine and he's my boss, no more than that. Neither of us owe the other anything"

Owen scoffed, "Right ok"

"Honestly, if Jack even gives a shit that I'm with someone else, which I doubt, its not like its any of his business" said, "work is work, Jenny is separate, that's how its staying"

Owen nodded doubtfully. He had surprisingly come to care for the teaboy over the past few months, realised he was actually fun to be around once you got through all that angst. They'd shared more pints and conversations these past few months than in the previous years of working together combined. He had gotten to know him pretty well. Which was why he knew Ianto's answers screamed denial. He could only wait and see what tomorrow would bring.