Amser A Ddengys: Croeso Nôl (2/5)
Please see part one for details and disclaimers
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True to its promise, the day developed into a bright and sunny Saturday. This meant swarms of people exploring the St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life, with its exhibitions of homes and businesses through the centuries.
Jack wandered aimlessly along the outskirts of the little village square, the 1950s pre-fabricated house up ahead. He'd asked at the main desk if Ianto Jones was at work today. The receptionist had been a little wary at first, but Jack's charm won her over in the end and she confessed that Ianto was in this general area.
Jack felt a certain nostalgia as he followed the crowd into the pre-fab, which was roomier than most of those overpriced flats that were springing up all over Cardiff Bay these days. He'd lived right the way through the twentieth century, after his escape from the Gamestation, and this brought back some memories.
There was a member of staff sitting at the period-authentic dining table in the kitchen, listening to his walkie-talkie and looking rather bored. Jack wasn't sure if it was a museum rule, but all transmissions over the radio were in Welsh.
Well, nothing ventured...
"Excuse me?" The young man looked up at Jack as he approached, "I'm looking for a friend of mine - Ianto Jones? I'm told he's working around here today."
The man removed the walkie-talkie from his belt, lifting it up to speak into it "Hei, Ianto?"
"Ianto yma," came a very familiar voice. Jack couldn't help smiling at the way his heart rate increased just at the sound.
"Rhodri 'ma. Ble wyt ti?"
There was a flurry of Welsh conversation for a couple of minutes while Rhodri established Ianto's location and told him a friend was looking for him. Jack grinned when Rhodri looked him over speculatively, evidently describing him, and he was strangely grateful that he hadn't worn his greatcoat today due to the weather. At least this way, Ianto wouldn't have the chance to hide from him if his arrival was unwelcome.
"He's over at the chapel," Rhodri told him finally, "Follow the hedge along, past the stable, and you'll find it."
Jack nodded, knowing where he meant, "Appreciate the help."
A few minutes later, he stepped into the old church building, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling. In one of the pews sat Ianto, monitoring the visitors who were exploring and taking photographs. Ianto's eyes widened in shock when he spotted Jack.
"Jack!" He exclaimed, "But how...when-"
"Good to see you too Ianto." Jack grinned, "Got a break coming up any time soon?"
Ianto checked his watch, "Yes, actually. Catrin's due to come replace me five minutes ago. I thought Rhodri was calling me about that, at first."
Just then, a young girl of not more than nineteen came bursting through the chapel door. "Mae'n fflin da fi, Ianto!" She apologised
"Dim problem, Catrin." He smiled at her, "Dyma fy ffrind, Jack. Dyw e ddim yn siarad Cymraeg."
Catrin turned to Jack, who graced her with a warm smile, "Good afternoon, Jack. It's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too." Normally Jack would turn on the charm and flirt with her, but his attention was focused on Ianto. Thankfully, Ianto picked up on this and bade their farewells. He pointed in the direction of a nearby field, and they made their way towards it.
"So lovely to hear those beautiful vowels again." Jack grinned, leaning against the wooden fence in the hedgerow. "They're even prettier when you're actually speaking Welsh."
Ianto looked like he wanted to blush, but he settled for frowning instead, "What are you doing here, Jack? How long have you been back?"
"I got dropped off this morning, down the Bay. Went inside the Hub to say hello, but only Tosh was there. She told me you left."
Ianto looked around him, gazing at the trees and all the people milling around enjoying the sunshine, not meeting Jack's gaze. "It's certainly a change from being stuck underground. I had to be mindful of sunburn at first; my skin was so unaccustomed to the sunlight." He certainly did look a lot healthier now, and there was some actual colour to his skin.
"It suits you."
Why are you here? Why did you stay away this long?"
Jack ran a hand through his hair, slightly anxious. "I came back because I realised my life is here. I missed everyone - especially you." Ianto looked away at that, but Jack pressed on, "I didn't mean to be away as long as I was. From my perspective, I've only been gone a month at the most - I thought the Doctor was dropping me off two weeks after I left. He never could get these things right." He deliberately chose not to mention the 'year that never was', figuring Ianto wasn't ready for that yet.
"But you did leave." Ianto glared at him, pulling away from his embrace, "All the wishes in the world won't change that. I saw you on the news, Jack, during that business with Harold Saxon. You chose to abandon us to go God knows where, doing God knows what, and I expect you had the time of your life. Barely thought of us at all."
"Now that's where you're wrong!" Jack held onto both Ianto's arms to stop him walking away, "I thought of you - you specifically, Ianto - wondering if you were okay. I can't count how many times I thought 'I wonder what Ianto would think about this?'. And I was very lonely without you. That's why I came back."
"For me?" Ianto looked supremely unconvinced.
He nodded. "For you."
"You'd give up travelling through Time and Space with your precious Doctor, for me? Forgive me if I find that unlikely."
"I should never have just gone like that. I was too caught up in nostalgia, and forgot that the reality is rarely as wonderful as our memories. He'd changed - in every possible way - and it just wasn't the same anymore."
"So now you're back, settling for sloppy seconds?"
Jack scowled, "Man, I hate that phrase. Listen to me, you are not sloppy seconds to me. I was too focused on the past to give you the attention you deserved; I needed to go if only to close that chapter of my life. So I could move on.”
Ianto stared at him silently, but Jack could see his words were getting through. He could only trust the younger man to see his sincerity. The ball was completely in Ianto's court now.
Jack held his tongue until Ianto finally nodded, a decision apparently made.
"I'm happy you're back with us, Jack," He said, smiling slightly, "But you have to understand that things have changed here too. I'm not the person I was eight months ago, and I can't go back to Torchwood. I don't want to."
"I know. I wouldn't expect you to. But that doesn't mean I'm staying away from you, Ianto Jones." Jack grinned at the flush rising up Ianto's neck, weirdly relieved by the effect he could still have on the young Welshman. "Toshiko misses you too."
Ianto ducked his head, his smile growing into one of simple pleasure, "I miss her as well. We haven't had much chance to meet up since I left. Not without risking Owen finding out I hadn't actually been retconned after all." His eyes widened as a thought occurred to him "Jack, what are we going to do about that? Owen's bound to find out you've come looking for me - he'd expect nothing less of you."
Jack chuckled at the truth in that observation, "We can say I used my charms on you, befriended you all over again."
"Seems awfully simplistic." Ianto frowned. Jack couldn't resist smoothing the worry lines with his thumb, and grinned as Ianto leaned into his touch.
"Sometimes simplicity is the best option. Weren't you always telling us that?"
Ianto chuckled, conceding his point. He checked his watch, and sighed.
"Listen, I have to get back to work now. But I had the early shift today and I finish in about two hours. Think you can amuse yourself around the museum till then? There's plenty to see out here, plus a more traditional set of exhibits in the main building."
"I'm sure I can." Jack replied, pleased at the request to stick around, "Where are you going to be?"
"The rota has me at the exhibit of all the old household tools." Ianto pulled at Jack's arm gently, "Walk with me as far as the Red House, then go see the rest of the buildings while there's still enough daylight. You can find me inside later, so long as you promise to behave."
Jack pretended to look affronted, but one raised eyebrow from his companion put an end to that. He held his hands up, submissively, "I'll be good!"
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Continued in Part Three
A/N: If you want more info on the Museum, please follow this link - it's a cool place.