Time flew and it felt like the blink of an eye until Saturday evening when they made the final preparations for the party. The caterers Guileerana had hired from the restaurant had already arrived and were preparing drinks and finger food. Her DJ was setting up his equipment.

Pippa had set up a table. She was determined to offer personalised horoscopes to anyone who was interested. Or just read their minds, if wild rumours were to be believed.

Ianto and Lisa stood with Guileerana and Glenda, supervising the staff as they prepared the room.

"It looks... very nice," G admitted reluctantly. "Maybe the sci-fi theme wasn't so childish after all." She examined a fearsome-looking robot standing next to the door. "Are you sure they're all deactivated?"

"Yes, don't worry," Lisa assured her.

Glenda only had eyes for the DJ. "You weren't exaggerating, he's lush. Can you give him my number?

The receptionist stared at her in dismay, "Absolutely not. I saw him first!"

Glenda made a face and stomped off.

Ianto checked his watch anxiously. "We've got two hours, everyone. Hurry up!"

Fortunately, his worries had been unfounded, and the evening went well. Shortly after 7 pm, the party was in full swing, and the large room was packed with people chatting and eating. Some were even dancing. Ianto could see party hats bobbing up and down near the DJ further in the back. There was even a queue at Pippa's astrology table. Anything was possible at parties.

Suddenly the music stopped, and the crowd fell silent. Yvonne had finally returned from Glasgow and was taking the stage to give the official opening speech for the party. Everyone turned their attention to the podium.

She tapped the microphone, and then her voice filled the room.

"Hello everyone. I'm so glad you could all make it to our office party on such short notice," Yvonne said in a cheerful voice.

A few laughs rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew that these parties were mandatory. But it was also fun, so there was little reason to resent the rules.

Yvonne scanned the crowd until she spotted Ianto and Lisa to her right. Her eyes lit up as she saw how close they stood.

She turned her attention back to the people in front of the podium and resumed her speech.

"We haven't celebrated in a while, and I'm happy to say we have a good reason to change that tonight. You've all done a marvellous job over the past few months. Britain is a safer place for its citizens because of each and every one of you. While I am always proud of the work we do here, I am pleased to announce that we have made progress on the free energy project led by our dear Rajesh and his team.

With new equipment, we can now scan the area around the sphere more thoroughly in correlation with the radar black spot. That's why I've decided to expand Raj's team and shift our resources to this as our primary focus. I believe the next twelve months will be critical to achieving a breakthrough!"

The audience applauded dutifully. Everyone knew about the project, but few understood what it was about.

Yvonne looked at Adeola, standing next to the podium, nervously clutching her notes to her chest.

"But I should stop rambling; there's someone who can explain our latest discoveries far better than I can. Come up here, Adeola! Applause, please, for our expert on the free energy project!"

The crowd erupted in more applause and cheers.

Adeola climbed the stage and placed her notes on the lectern desk.

"Thank you, everyone," she began shyly. "And thanks for the introduction, Yvonne. It's a real pleasure to talk about our project. As you all know, we are researching a disturbance above the Torchwood Tower and hope to discover new energy sources to reduce our dependence on the Middle East. After years of fruitless research, we are finally beginning to see results. Let me explain..."

Over the next fifteen minutes, she used a PowerPoint presentation to detail their latest discoveries and captivated the audience.

After she had finished, and another wave of applause subsided, Yvonne returned to the stage.

"Thank you, Adeola. What a well-thought-out presentation. Another round of applause for her, everyone!" The crowd clapped and cheered again.

Yvonne raised her glass of champagne, and everyone followed suit.

"Thank you all for your excellent work! Cheers!"

"Cheers," the crowd replied.

"And last but not least, let's all thank the party committee for organising this wonderful party. A big applause for Ianto, Lisa, Guleraana, Pippa and Gina!"

There were whistles and shouts of appreciation all around.

Yvonne didn't take her eyes off Ianto and Lisa. She watched as they blushed and moved closer together, intimidated by the sudden attention.

"I hate it when she does that," Ianto muttered.

"What?"

"Pulling me into the spotlight. Yvonne knows I don't like it."

Lisa smiled at him.

"I don't know, I think it's nice."

She rarely received much attention during her research. She wasn't part of the free energy team, so her efforts usually went unnoticed by those above her. You only get noticed when you discover something groundbreaking. Something useful to Queen and Country. That's why she had such high hopes for the unicorn dragon. It was cute, but its usefulness seemed promising.

"Life is much more peaceful when you pass unnoticed," he said.

Lisa responded with a laugh.

Adeola, who was still near the stage, caught her attention. She waved enthusiastically.

"Give me a minute," Lisa said and hurried to her friend.

Ianto watched as she dashed over. He watched them chatting and smiled as he noticed Lisa's sudden excitement. He could hear her squeal from across the room. She hugged her friend tightly before grabbing her hands and continued talking animatedly. Her glances at him did not go unnoticed by his keen eyes. Then she hurried back to him.

"Guess what happened!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it!"

"What?" Ianto laughed. Her unbridled joy was contagious.

"I've been promoted to the free energy team! I'm going to work on the sphere with Adi! Isn't that great?" she said, looking very happy.

"Congratulations! You deserve it," he said.

She hugged him excitedly, and before he knew what hit him, she leaned forward and kissed him.

For a brief moment, Ianto felt as if time had stood still. There was nothing but her dark eyes and soft lips pressing against his.

Then she pulled away and the noise of the party returned to his consciousness. They both looked at each other and it was clear that the world had stopped for both of them.

Her slightly parted lips glistened in the dim light of the room. Her dark red lipstick invited him to go further.

Ianto blinked.

Would he be bold enough?

Yes, he would.

This time he drew her closer, capturing her lips for another kiss. But not just a chaste kiss like before. As he flicked his tongue across her closed lips, begging for entry, she opened her lips to let him in. Their kiss was deep and passionate. New feelings and sensations flowed through them, gentle and cautious, exploring new territory.

Ianto closed his eyes, taking in the sweet scent of her perfume and the softness of her lips. To his dismay, the moment ended all too soon when Lisa broke the kiss. Ianto looked at her and realized, she hadn't pulled away but had pressed her forehead against his. Her eyes seemed even darker than before.

"I was going to wait until Sunday to see how it goes, but I don't think I want to wait any longer," she said loudly, trying to speak over the loud music. Then her voice lowered, but he understood every word. "I want you, Ianto Jones. Now."

His eyes widened. What was Lisa talking about?

"Here?" He croaked.

"The storeroom. Behind you," Lisa said, taking his hand and pulling him along. When he hesitated, she looked at him again with soulful eyes and his resistance dissolved. A few seconds later, they pushed past partygoers and disappeared into one of the adjoining rooms.

They both stumbled into the cramped storeroom, Lisa giggling as she unbuttoned her ruby-red blouse. Ianto pushed the door shut with his back and leaned against it, his hands still on the knob. The rhythm of the DJ's bass caused the metal to vibrate slightly.

He watched her undo the buttons and considered his next move. He hadn't had a girlfriend in a long time, and certainly not one who wanted a quickie at work. Only a thin wall separated them from everyone else.

Ianto swallowed, his throat feeling as dry as sandpaper.

Lisa looked at him with an excited grin as she finished unbuttoning. She pulled her panties down under her skirt. Then she hoisted herself onto the open space of a low filing cabinet next to the spare printer paper on the wall opposite the door.

"Come on, I'm all yours," she said, spreading her legs, but hesitated a moment later. "Oh, wait."

She rummaged through her handbag and pulled out a condom.

Ianto hesitated. He could feel the blood rushing to his ears and his cock pressing against his trousers.

He licked his lips.

Then he grabbed the condom she offered and began frantically unbuckling his belt and unzipping his trousers. He put the condom on with clumsy hands and pushed himself between her legs.

With his hands on her thighs, he leaned in for another kiss, ignoring the pressing need down below for a moment longer.

Her kisses tasted so good. Ianto reached out and slipped his hand under her blouse, his fingertips brushing over her bra and firm breasts. He pulled her closer and felt her hands tangle in his hair as she melted into his kiss.

She moaned and he felt her mouth quiver on his as she broke the kiss and purred, "Don't keep me waiting."

Then she kissed him again, pressing her breasts against his chest. He wondered if she could feel his heart hammering against his ribcage.

When their bodies finally joined and he slipped inside her, Ianto cried out in surprise. Only Lisa's lips kept his voice from echoing off the walls. The rush of desire that washed over him was so intense it almost overwhelmed him.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding them close. As their passion grew, their kisses became more frenzied. Ianto thrust into her, pushing her back against the wall. He almost lost his balance.

Lisa giggled as she lowered her head and nuzzled his neck with her mouth.

With one hand on the wall and the other around her back, Ianto pushed deeper, relishing the sensation of her hot embrace. She clung to him, her limbs still wrapped around his body, one hand gripping his hair tightly, pulling it out almost by the roots. Ianto barely felt the pain, too busy concentrating on keeping a steady pace and the orgasm that was rapidly building inside him.

"Faster, Ianto, faster!" she moaned as she let her head fall back, struggling to keep her voice down.

It wasn't long before Lisa cried out, pushing Ianto over the edge with a guttural growl of his own. As he rode the wave of his release, he felt his legs weaken and threaten to give way.

Exhausted, he clutched the edge of the table and tried to catch his breath. Lisa sat next to him, buttoning her shirt with trembling fingers.

"Wow," she sighed with a dreamy look on her face. "That was nice." She placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

Ianto broke away from her embrace and mumbled something in agreement as he tried to remove the condom from his shrinking cock. What was he going to do with it now? He looked around, disorientated, searching for a rubbish bin. Maybe a toilet would be a better option.

"Hey, Ianto," Lisa said, putting her finger under his chin and turning his face towards her. "I said it was nice. Right?"

"Yeah...," Ianto said, looking at her as if she were the queen of his world. She had to laugh at the look on his face, his dishevelled appearance and the full condom he was holding. He seemed completely overwhelmed by the situation.

"Let's do it again, and this time properly. Take me back to your place," Lisa said.

"Wha...?" Ianto asked in disbelief.

"Or is your flatmate there?"

"No!" Ianto assured her, "I sent him away for the whole weekend!"

"All right then," she grinned and jumped from the table. "Take me home."

Ianto just nodded at first. Then, a smile crept across his face. This was happening.

"Adeola, that was an excellent presentation; I wasn't kidding up there, congratulations!" Yvonne smiled as she approached the young woman.

"Thank you, Yvonne," Adi replied happily.

"And I want to congratulate Ianto on the great party," she said. "Do you know where he is?"

Adeola turned to look for Ianto and Lisa, but she couldn't see them.

She frowned.

"I don't know. They were just here. I was telling Lisa about the promotion."

They had stood close to her, and it had been hard not to stare as they kissed passionately.

Her face turned red as she realised what was going on, and she added. "I guess they went celebrating?"

Yvonne smiled contentedly. "Of course, I am sure that is what they are doing. But that's all right; I'll thank Ianto on Monday. Would you mind joining me for a moment? I want to go over your PowerPoint with Raj while it's still fresh in our minds. I have some suggestions on how to improve your results."

"Of course, Yvonne. We always appreciate your input."

Ianto stared at his monitor, oblivious to the influx of emails that had arrived since he had shut down his workstation on Friday. It was now early Monday morning, and the memories of the past few days still dominated his mind.

Not just the party, but Lisa had stayed the night and they had spent all day on Sunday watching Star Wars, as she had suggested. They'd cuddled in bed, eaten crisps and he'd laughed at Lisa's outburst about the stupidity of stormtroopers. While Ianto admired Luke's heroic ambitions, Lisa appreciated Leia's intelligence and bravery. She didn't agree with her choice of men, but after some persuasion from Ianto, she had to admit that Han was quite hot. They talked long after the credits rolled.

Of course, they hadn't just watched Star Wars. Ianto couldn't help but grin foolishly. He couldn't believe that someone as beautiful as Lisa was interested in him.

Her soft kisses, his hands on her hot skin. The slow lovemaking. It had been intoxicating, almost like a fever dream. But it had been real.

He ran his fingers over his lips, lost in the memory of hers pressed against his.

"...are you daydreaming? Hey, Ianto?"

He lifted his eyes in confusion.

Yvonne Hartman was standing in front of his desk, a frown on her face. How had he not heard her enter?

"Good morning, Ianto," she said. Probably, not for the first time.

Ianto sat up straight.

"Morning, Yvonne," he murmured, embarrassed at his lack of attention.

She smiled at him. "A marvellous party, Ianto. Your management skills have far exceeded my expectations. Well done!"

"Thank you." Ianto blushed.

"Oh, by the way, I just remembered you wanted to ask me something last Thursday. Didn't you?"

Ianto stared at her for a moment. Did he? Then he remembered and his eyes darted to his desk drawer where he had put the folder with his transfer request and completely forgotten about it.

"Um..."

"We can do it right away; I'm free all morning," she offered complacently.

So much had changed in just a few days.

"I don't know," he paused. "I don't think... could I take next Friday off? I mean, for a long weekend? he burst out instead.

Yvonne raised her eyebrows and smiled, waiting for him to explain.

"The thing is... Lisa, I told her I used to go camping when I was a kid, and now she wants to go camping with me. To see what it's like, you know?" he said with an embarrassed laugh. "Well, I told her we have to check with you first."

Yvonne's smile turned radiant. "But, of course, Ianto. I think it's a fantastic idea! You two can take Friday and Monday off and have a great time. Sometimes, a bit of R&R is all we need to clear our heads!"

Ianto smiled gratefully at her. Thank you, Yvonne. Much appreciated. And thank you for inviting her to join the committee. That wasn't a coincidence, was it?"

Yvonne laughed in delight. "My pleasure. I had a feeling you would like each other. And it makes me very happy when you are happy, Ianto. Is there anything else you'd like to talk to me about?"

"No, absolutely not," Ianto said, shaking his head. "Can we go over your weekly schedule? A few things need to be done before your afternoon tea with the Queen."

"Ah, yes, of course. Liz will want to hear about our latest discoveries regarding the Sagarian ship that Tommy dismantled last week."

"And the progress on the free energy project, I suspect."

Yvonne's expression became pensive, and she shook her head. "No, not yet. It's too early to tell her about it. I need to see some real progress first. Let's continue our research for a while, shall we?"

Ianto nodded. "Yes, of course, Yvonne. Can I get you a fresh cup of coffee?"

"Oh, you're a sweetheart, Ianto," she exclaimed cheerfully. "Much appreciated. Please bring it to my office when it's ready."

Yvonne's eyes lingered on him for a moment. Then she left for her own office.

Ianto stared after her.

This wasn't the time to ask for a transfer. For the first time in months, Ianto Jones felt like he'd finally arrived in London.

end