AN: Warning… smut in the second part of the chapter.

Torchwood: Divergence
Book Two: Adferiad

Chapter 35

Rhys had been impressed with the custom ornaments from their friends, and amazed by the generous gifts that went with them. They'd put the laminates on the tree, gone over the other presents Gwen had received from her co-workers, then settled down to a quiet dinner of lasagne and garlic bread. Cooper had given Ebrill her bath and put her to bed after, while her husband had done the washing up. Now the couple was cosied on the settee with a Holiday patterned throw and a cup of hot cocoa apiece, watching the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree as she'd told him about Ianto singing the carol.

"Did your parents call for the Holiday?" the one-time PC queried after a few minutes of comfortable silence, squinting her eyes so the tiny lights turned into starbursts among the pine boughs.

"No," Williams snorted, sounding less than surprised. "I had to call them, and got the expected list of complaints about us going to Swansea tomorrow instead of up to spend the day with them. I was a bad son and told Mam that it was easier for them to visit us when they want to see their granddaughter, because neither of them was recovering from their sixth serious heart attack in a year. So, I'm sure to get coal from them this Christmas and likely many more to come."

"I try so hard to like your mother," Gwen breathed, taking a hold of her spouse's free hand. "But sometimes…"

"I know," Rhys half-smiled, squeezing her fingers lovingly. "She raised me and I know."

"Thank you for backing me wanting to see my parents for the Holiday," the raven-haired woman beside him murmured, leaning close to kiss him on the cheek. "It really means a lot."

"I'm well aware that Geraint's health is going down hill at a scary rate," Rhys sighed. "This could be the last Christmas any of us have with him, and he should be able to enjoy having Ebrill there. I like your parents, Gwen, oft times more than I like my own. You bet I'd put my foot down on this."

"You are so going to get snogged silly when we go upstairs," his wife smiled.

Rhys carefully took her mug, sat it on the table beside the settee with his own and put his arms around her.

"Why wait?" he chuckled with raised brows.

Gwen giggled and obliged the Welshman she'd married, silently thinking "Happy Christmas to me" as she did.

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The Hub was dark and as quiet as it ever got. The pair in residence had enjoyed their meal, as had the Pteranodon up in her perch. After pudding the two men had spent a little time relaxing, where in they'd opened a single gift from one another. Jack had been surprised by the incredibly well preserved, leather bound first edition copy of H. G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds", and delighted by the very X-rated ornament he'd jokingly suggested that morning. Ianto had adored the smooth knit cashmere turtleneck in his box, fascinated by the tiny flecks of sapphire and deep teal scattered throughout the dark charcoal grey of the garment. They'd taken the gifts to their room for safe keeping, the younger immortal having stopped by the nearest work station on the way.

Once in their quarters, he'd quietly asked the Captain if he wanted to try out the "bribe" he'd received earlier, and offered to let the older man unwrap his main present for the evening. Harkness had gladly removed his partner's clothing piece by piece, had encouraged the twenty-six-year-old to follow suit. And as soon as Ianto had mentioned that the CCTV was safely shut down base-wide, the planned "stamina test" had begun.

It was now around 1:30 am, the two men having retired to their room about an hour before so the CCTV could kick back in. Jack had urged the young Welshman to take command and "drive" during a number of their encounters over the course of the evening, pleasantly surprised by some of the interesting and daring things they'd done as a result. He'd definitely never be able to look at the old leather strap equipped Interrogation Chair again without smiling, and they'd both decided that "minty fresh and tingly" was pretty fun. The American couldn't remember the last time he'd full out screamed in pure pleasure, but it had happened more than once during their evening activities. Even more amazing had been the three occasions he'd managed to get his notoriously quiet during sex partner to actually growl and half-shout his name when they'd climaxed. Utter bliss.

The only hitch in the "dabbling" had been after a round of naked hide-and-seek, when they'd ended up down in one of the oldest, deepest cells in the Vaults. It was all chiselled rock down there; no brick work, concrete, tile, or metal other than the antiquated wrought iron grill across the front with the gate-like door. Being flat on his back against the rough-hewn stone had unexpectedly given Ianto incredibly unpleasant flashbacks of his long sessions chained to the carved altar in Hell and he'd almost panicked completely, having desperately begged Jack to back off and let him out of the cell. A bad case of the shakes, countless breathless apologies, and a near seizure had been what had brought them back up to the bedroom. By then, the rattled Changeling had managed to calm down and been more than game for picking up where they'd left off below.

That coupling and the change about of roles shortly after had pretty much proven the higher stamina theory. Harkness had been the one to laughingly admit he was worn out and suggest the shower they were now enjoying. But the water, warm enough to wash up but cool enough to invigorate, was making him change his mind and he abandoned the soap to simply run is hands over the young Welshman sharing the spray. His partner responded without protest, obviously willing to go along with whatever his Captain wanted to do.

Jack backed Ianto against the wall opposite the shower fixtures in the tiled cubicle, claimed his mouth in a long, deeply involved kiss as he ran one hand down his chest and stomach to slide into intimate areas. The twenty-six-year-old Archivist didn't hesitate to do the same, very familiar with the game of rub and stroke, and well aware of where thing were headed. When the older immortal finally let the Welshman gasp for air, he also turned him around to face the back corner of the shower. Ianto automatically leaned slightly forward and assumed a braced stance, one hand on either tiled wall to keep from being wedged in the corner, feet spread a little more than shoulder width for balance. The Changeling knew Harkness preferred his sex face-to-face, but that just wasn't a safe option in the shower so other positions were necessary. His breathing was fast, the familiar tingle of excitement sparking in his groin and spreading along every nerve, as his partner pressed close behind him to lock one arm around his chest and ease the other hand down to trace the line of skin between his right thigh and genitals. Jack blinked water from his lashes as he kissed and nibbled his way from the nape of his Archivist's neck, up the side of his throat to his right ear.

"Sure you're not too tired?" he asked tauntingly, purposefully moving his wandering hand to the left and smiling when the twenty-six-year-old gasped and twitched in response to what his fingers began doing. "I can stop any time."

Ianto shifted his stance slightly, pressing back tighter against the body behind him, able to feel the warm water of the shower making tiny rivers between them on their skin, as well as the hard length of the older man's erection pressing into his left buttock. He was starting to tremble as his adrenalin levels climbed in anticipation of what the American intended, his patience wearing thin when his lover simply continued to tease.

"For Christ's sake, Jack," Ianto finally grated breathlessly. "Bloody shut up and drive."

Harkness laughed but didn't argue, and like many places and things this evening, their little private shower took on a whole new level of meaning for them both. Good thing the next day was a Holiday… they were going to need it to recover from tonight.

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AN: Yes, you finally get some lovely Janto smut. Merry Christmas to you all as well.

Back to single chapters next time, but I will post both Saturday and Sunday for the New Year before going back to just Saturdays.

Thank you to those reading the story. And thank you to those who have followed, favourited, and reviewed. NM