Three Holiday Ficlets
Three fics, all unbetaed.
***
Title: Home, Take One
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Alice, Steven
Rating: G
Summary: It's their first Christmas back amongst the living.
A/N: Follow-up to Rescues
***
"You're sure about this?"
"It's fine. I asked Alice specifically."
"Yeah." Jack doesn't look convinced. "It's just that she's only stopped hating me. The last thing I need is for her to blame me."
"She won't. We talked about it for an hour."
"I still can't believe you convinced her."
"I told her I promised him." Ianto has researched this thoroughly. He certainly wasn't going to let a detail like Alice's approval slip by unaddressed. He's got a bit of leeway with her, forged by the care he provided her son for all those months, and solidified by the various accounts, even from her own disbelieving eyes, that he'd put Steven's welfare first. Alice likes Ianto, so much so that she even can bear to forgive Jack. She'll allow this.
Ianto loads the last of the packages into Jack's car. His own car was sold whilst he was dead and he hasn't found the right replacement. Living arrangements at least have not been a concern. What was undeniably Jack's flat, an eclectically-decorated space filled with the few trinkets he'd brought back from America, now has distinct touches of Ianto's taste. He has lived here since being discharged from hospital, and neither of them has any intention of changing the arrangement.
Jack comes out last with the big present. He still seems unsure, worry lines on his normally carefree features. "It will be fine," Ianto insists.
Alice never sold the house. She thought about it, she says, but couldn't bring herself to leave behind Steven's room, the few toys she couldn't bear parting with, and now Steven is home again, older, cracked around the edges, but home. Ianto's chest fills with a set of emotions he can't separate out as Jack parks the car in the street. Ianto had not considered children of his own, not with more than a passing regret, but for a year, he'd acted as Steven's dad and now that's over.
This is like visitation, and Alice understands.
"Let's get this over with," Jack says, and Ianto gives his hand a squeeze. Jack does his own visitation at the same time.
"You go first. I'll bring the last gift in."
From the car, he can see Jack walk up to the door, arms laden with expensive presents. Alice answers the door wearing a red and green sweater. She's faking the smile as she greets him. Steven's blond head pokes through under her arm, clearly much happier at the sight of all the presents.
And then there's a change, as he drops the smile, looking around and behind Jack. Ianto suddenly finds it hard to swallow.
He picks up the last present. "Easy now," he says in a calming voice. He hurries to follow Jack, and as Steven spies him, his small face lights up again, and doubly so as he sees Ianto's squirming burden.
"Happy Christmas," Ianto says, though the words are meant for Steven, who darts out in his bare feet to start petting his new puppy.
***
Title: Home, Take Two
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Rhiannon, Johnny, David, Mica
Rating: PG
Summary: It's their first Christmas as a family.
A/N: Follow-up to A Lantern in the Dark Autumn
***
"Oh, let me hold her!" Rhiannon reached out, a bit demanding, but Jack was getting better about this and handed the baby over for her auntie to cuddle.
"And happy Christmas to you, too," Ianto said, pushing gently past her and Jack on the front step. "If you let us bring her inside, you can fuss over her as much as you want."
"Pull 'er in," Johnny suggested, taking the packages from Ianto's arms before shaking his hand. "She'll stay right there if you let her. She's been yammering about the baby non-stop for days."
Jack took this as the cue to push both Rhiannon and baby through the door so he could close it. The pair of them took off their coats and boots whilst Rhiannon fussed with removing the over-sized snow sleeper and extra blanket. She also, Ianto noticed, kept scrutinising the child's face.
He sighed.
Coats doffed and presents set under the tree, Johnny fetched Ianto a beer while Jack begged off, saying he needed to drive later. David and Mica barely looked up from the new video game Father Christmas had brought Mica, and that was just fine. One child was more than enough for Ianto.
Rhiannon had other ideas. "Come see your cousin." She looked at Ianto. "Speaking of cousins, Etta is coming by later with that man she married."
Jack's eyebrows went up in question. Ianto explained, "His name is Kasper, at the wedding he said something about Wales National, now he's 'that man' and Etta isn't invited to dinner with most of the family anymore."
"Right. What?"
"Don't worry about it."
"So whose is she, then?" Johnny asked, less circuitous than Rhiannon. He gestured at the baby.
Ianto really wanted to say, "Ours. Both. It turns out Jack forgot to mention he can get pregnant, and we've been hiding him until her birth. Our friend Martha is despondent because she says she could get three papers at least out of his prenatal care alone. He's just glad he's not lactating."
Jack said, "As of last week, she's ours. The adoption papers went through from the surrogate."
"What was she like? Spend a lot of time with her?"
"A bit," Ianto said. "She had kids of her own, this was really a big favour she did for us."
Jack said, a little testily, "But since you asked, the answer is, we don't know. The process meant she could have been from either of us, which is how we wanted it." The baby started to fuss and Jack took her from Rhiannon to walk around with her.
Ianto watched him. Jack had daughters. Jack always had daughters. This afternoon, they'd go visit Jack's older daughter, who wasn't pleased at having a new little sister, but was adjusting to the idea.
The phone rang. Rhiannon answered, and told the rest of them Etta was on her way over. They'd be here in about twenty minutes, and fighting within an hour.
From the TV, Ianto heard David and Mica arguing over the game. Johnny made a pre-emptive crack about Kasper. Jack kissed their daughter on her soft head as he paced.
Family was never dull.
***
Title: Home, Take Three
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tosh, Owen, Gwen
Rating: Adults Only
Summary: It's their first Christmas together.
A/N: Not a follow-up to anything. Could be a prequel to most of it, though.
***
Ianto cracked his eyes open. Two things became readily apparent. First, he was in his own bed despite the sun already being up, when typically he awoke before dawn and lately quite often not here. Second, he wasn't alone. Peculiarly, Jack was still asleep, making this situation unique. When Ianto stayed over at the Hub, at best he woke to Jack already awake and watching him, but more typically he was alone in Jack's cramped little bed.
Odd.
A quick look around the room allowed his gaze to land on the dirty pile of Jack's clothes in the corner, and events rearranged themselves. Jack had called him in the wee hours for help. John Ellis had killed himself in Ianto's car. Jack stank of exhaust. Ianto wasn't sure if he ought to be worried for Jack's mental state or berate him for risking his own life to assist in another man's suicide. He settled for helping Jack clean up the mess.
When they'd finished, he'd practically ordered Jack to come home with him for a shower and a rest, and atypically, Jack had agreed without protest. More typically, once he'd cleaned off and recovered, Jack had talked Ianto into making good use of the bed. Sex wasn't the healthiest coping mechanism, but Ianto was starting to think it was Jack's only one.
Which led them to this morning. "Hi," said Jack, waking with a stiff smile.
"Happy Christmas," Ianto replied, and on impulse, kissed him. Jack's surprised reciprocation turned warm. Instinctively, like plants turning towards sunlight, Jack's arms wrapped around him. Lips met, hands moved, and they soon set up their easy rhythm, the one they'd built over the last month. They'd come together for simple warmth and mutual loneliness, and as Jack's hand delved between his thighs, Ianto wasn't sure this was much different. But his own fingers were steady, and despite the cold darkness he'd seen on Jack's face last night, now he was open and smiling, mouth whispering delight as they stroked each other.
Ianto was close, so close, right there. The buzzer rang.
"Fuck," he said into Jack's neck, and Jack obliged by twisting his wrist just so. The orgasm rushed through him, and he panted. The buzzer rang again.
"I'll just go answer that," he said in a shaky voice. Jack made a disappointed face. Ianto kissed him quickly, then moved Jack's hand onto his own erection with an evil smile.
"Don't finish until I get back. I want to watch."
He tugged on sweatpants, closed the bedroom door, and went to the door of his flat. Toshiko waited on his doorstep. "Hi, Ianto," she said nervously. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"No, it's all right. Did you need something?"
"Can I come in?"
"Of course," he said automatically, and mentally kicked himself as she smiled gratefully and stepped inside. Jack wasn't psychic but Ianto sent him a mental 'Shutupshutupshutup' anyway.
"You've decorated a bit." She didn't add, "Since the last time I was here, tossing your place for other illicit alien technology, which is why it was probably fair you were tasked with scanning my flat later." The grimace passing over her face was enough.
"A little. I haven't been home much. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Tea if you've got some, thanks."
She followed him to the kitchen, away from the bedroom. "I thought you were spending Christmas with your family."
"I was. I am. I'm driving to London in a few hours."
Mystified, he readied the electric kettle. "Is there something wrong at the Hub?"
"No, no. It's just ... " She sat heavily in one of his kitchen chairs, squeaking the legs on the linoleum. "It's Owen."
"Oh."
Ianto hadn't missed how much time Owen was spending with Diane these days, or had been. Yesterday she'd flown off into the Rift rather than stay with him. Ianto privately considered that he'd do the same had he thought those his only choices.
"I don't begrudge him falling for Diane. She's interesting and exciting." The words were leaden. "But he's also got Gwen on the side. I don't understand."
What she didn't understand was plain, even to him. She could accept a string of nameless shags. She could even accept his falling into one heady affair with someone. But Owen was sleeping with one woman and had fallen in love with another, and Tosh wasn't even on his radar for either. After Lisa, after the cannibals, and then after Mary, the two of them had become quiet confidantes about this, if not about everything.
The kettle sang. Ianto took out three mugs, and hurriedly put one back. He made two cups of tea, on the one hand wanting to offer a sympathetic ear, on the other rather hoping she got it off her chest and went off to her own family.
"Thanks." She drank her tea.
"Let me get a shirt on," he said, patting her shoulder. Jack had the covers off and a terrifically dirty smile as his hand went to work the moment the door closed.
"Stop it," Ianto mouthed, or tried to, but he stuttered to a stop as Jack's eyes locked onto his. Ianto could only break the gaze to look down, to see Jack writhing and thrusting his hips silently as he pumped into his own hand.
"You said you wanted to watch. So watch."
Ianto hissed, "Tosh is in the next room!"
This announcement did not appear to have the desired effect on Jack, whose body twisted and convulsed. He came all over himself, sticky and messy, and were Tosh not a thin wall away from them, Ianto would have immediately climbed onto Jack's body and licked him clean.
In fact ...
He bent just his head, taking a taste of the ejaculate at the joining of Jack's hand and the retreating head of his cock. Jack convulsed again, and the bed shook.
Ianto raised his finger to his lips. Jack mouthed, "Spoilsport."
"Stay quiet. I'll be back." He ducked into an old hoodie, just as the buzzer went again.
Jack tilted his head curiously. Ianto shrugged, just as confused.
He emerged from the room just as Tosh opened the door. Owen stood outside, cross expression on his face, a bottle of something inexpensive in one hand.
"Owen!" said Tosh, delight open on her face.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he said.
Ianto said, "The usual phrase is 'Merry Christmas' or 'Hello.'" Owen pushed inside past him without asking for an invitation.
"Won't you come in?" The sarcasm fell off Owen's rock-hard annoyance without leaving a mark.
"Christmas is the worst fucking holiday ever invented, and if I stayed at mine, I was going to shoot myself. So I thought, who do I know who's a bigger sad sack than I am today? Tosh, you were next on the list."
Ianto mouthed to her, "Sorry I was home." She shrugged back.
From the bedroom, there came a loud crash. Ianto's eyes widened.
Owen said, "What the hell's that?" He got his gun out. Ianto waved him down fast. If Owen ran mad into the bedroom and found their boss naked there, this would officially be the second-worst Christmas of Ianto's life.
"It's probably the cat," he lied without a pause.
Tosh asked, "When did you get a cat?"
Owen's face spoke eloquently how sad he thought Ianto's life must be for him to have added a cat. Still better than finding out about Jack.
"Oh, a few weeks ago. I thought it'd give me something. To come home to," he finished, fading off as Tosh beamed her approval and Owen rolled his eyes.
"What's her name?"
"Um." His imagination was good at constructing stories when he had time. "He doesn't really have one yet. I haven't come up with the right name. You know, cats. They don't come to their names anyway. I call him Shithead."
That earned a snort from Owen and a small, encouraging smile from Toshiko, who seemed happy to stay where she was as long as Owen was there.
"I'll see what he knocked over," Ianto said, giving her a few minutes with Owen to herself. He let himself back into the bedroom. The empty bedroom. The window hadn't closed properly behind Jack as he'd climbed out, and he'd knocked over the lamp. Ianto sighed. He hadn't really planned anything with Jack. Surely the man had other obligations of his own today. They weren't really anything to each other except a warm body for a reliable after-hours fuck. Spending Christmas together implied significantly more. That wasn't them.
Ergo, he was not in the least disappointed Jack had left without a goodbye. He told himself so and nearly believed it.
Back in the kitchen, Owen had made more tea, and Tosh sat watching him. Ianto gave in. "I haven't eaten yet. Would either of you like something?"
Owen immediately opened the refrigerator as Tosh said, "It's almost eleven. We could fix some lunch."
Eleven? That made some sense. They'd finished the cleanup of John Ellis's sad life not long before dawn.
Ianto pulled out pots and pans, inspecting whatever Owen handed him, wondering what he could knock together as edible. He was unsurprised when the buzzer rang again, and was even less surprised when Gwen waited at his doorstep.
"Hi, Gwen," he said, ushering her inside.
"Hi, Ianto. I was dropping Emma off at the station. She's going off to London today. I didn't want to go home yet." She played nervously with the hem of her jumper as she saw the others. "Was there a party I forgot?"
"We're making lunch," said Tosh from her chair at the table.
Owen offered Gwen a grim smile. "We're trying. Unfortunately Jones here only has eggs and the hairiest cheese I've ever met. Also some milk going walking."
"For the cat?" asked Tosh.
"Sure."
Owen found a large bowl and began cracking the last of the eggs without asking. Gwen set her handbag on the floor and took a seat with Toshiko at the table.
Ianto considered briefly shooting them all, but dismissed this as impractical.
As the eggs sizzled in the pan, the buzzer rang again.
Ianto opened the door and was greeted with Jack. Also a pizza. Before anyone could say a word, Jack said, "My date cancelled on me. Can you believe it? This face? So I figured, you'd said you were staying in today, and I thought I'd surprise you by bringing you lunch for once."
Jack then did a passable expression of surprise as he took in the other three. "Unless I'm intruding? If this is going to turn into an orgy, I'd be happy to film the proceedings."
This led to a groan around the room, and the girls taking the pizza from him. Jack gave Ianto a quiet, knowing smile as they retrieved plates. Only Owen took a look at the front hallway, where Jack's coat still hung from late last night / early this morning.
Oops.
Owen rolled his eyes again, and didn't say anything.
"Merry Christmas," said Jack, passing Ianto some pizza.
"You, too."
***
Title: Home, Take One
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Alice, Steven
Rating: G
Summary: It's their first Christmas back amongst the living.
A/N: Follow-up to Rescues
***
"You're sure about this?"
"It's fine. I asked Alice specifically."
"Yeah." Jack doesn't look convinced. "It's just that she's only stopped hating me. The last thing I need is for her to blame me."
"She won't. We talked about it for an hour."
"I still can't believe you convinced her."
"I told her I promised him." Ianto has researched this thoroughly. He certainly wasn't going to let a detail like Alice's approval slip by unaddressed. He's got a bit of leeway with her, forged by the care he provided her son for all those months, and solidified by the various accounts, even from her own disbelieving eyes, that he'd put Steven's welfare first. Alice likes Ianto, so much so that she even can bear to forgive Jack. She'll allow this.
Ianto loads the last of the packages into Jack's car. His own car was sold whilst he was dead and he hasn't found the right replacement. Living arrangements at least have not been a concern. What was undeniably Jack's flat, an eclectically-decorated space filled with the few trinkets he'd brought back from America, now has distinct touches of Ianto's taste. He has lived here since being discharged from hospital, and neither of them has any intention of changing the arrangement.
Jack comes out last with the big present. He still seems unsure, worry lines on his normally carefree features. "It will be fine," Ianto insists.
Alice never sold the house. She thought about it, she says, but couldn't bring herself to leave behind Steven's room, the few toys she couldn't bear parting with, and now Steven is home again, older, cracked around the edges, but home. Ianto's chest fills with a set of emotions he can't separate out as Jack parks the car in the street. Ianto had not considered children of his own, not with more than a passing regret, but for a year, he'd acted as Steven's dad and now that's over.
This is like visitation, and Alice understands.
"Let's get this over with," Jack says, and Ianto gives his hand a squeeze. Jack does his own visitation at the same time.
"You go first. I'll bring the last gift in."
From the car, he can see Jack walk up to the door, arms laden with expensive presents. Alice answers the door wearing a red and green sweater. She's faking the smile as she greets him. Steven's blond head pokes through under her arm, clearly much happier at the sight of all the presents.
And then there's a change, as he drops the smile, looking around and behind Jack. Ianto suddenly finds it hard to swallow.
He picks up the last present. "Easy now," he says in a calming voice. He hurries to follow Jack, and as Steven spies him, his small face lights up again, and doubly so as he sees Ianto's squirming burden.
"Happy Christmas," Ianto says, though the words are meant for Steven, who darts out in his bare feet to start petting his new puppy.
***
Title: Home, Take Two
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Rhiannon, Johnny, David, Mica
Rating: PG
Summary: It's their first Christmas as a family.
A/N: Follow-up to A Lantern in the Dark Autumn
***
"Oh, let me hold her!" Rhiannon reached out, a bit demanding, but Jack was getting better about this and handed the baby over for her auntie to cuddle.
"And happy Christmas to you, too," Ianto said, pushing gently past her and Jack on the front step. "If you let us bring her inside, you can fuss over her as much as you want."
"Pull 'er in," Johnny suggested, taking the packages from Ianto's arms before shaking his hand. "She'll stay right there if you let her. She's been yammering about the baby non-stop for days."
Jack took this as the cue to push both Rhiannon and baby through the door so he could close it. The pair of them took off their coats and boots whilst Rhiannon fussed with removing the over-sized snow sleeper and extra blanket. She also, Ianto noticed, kept scrutinising the child's face.
He sighed.
Coats doffed and presents set under the tree, Johnny fetched Ianto a beer while Jack begged off, saying he needed to drive later. David and Mica barely looked up from the new video game Father Christmas had brought Mica, and that was just fine. One child was more than enough for Ianto.
Rhiannon had other ideas. "Come see your cousin." She looked at Ianto. "Speaking of cousins, Etta is coming by later with that man she married."
Jack's eyebrows went up in question. Ianto explained, "His name is Kasper, at the wedding he said something about Wales National, now he's 'that man' and Etta isn't invited to dinner with most of the family anymore."
"Right. What?"
"Don't worry about it."
"So whose is she, then?" Johnny asked, less circuitous than Rhiannon. He gestured at the baby.
Ianto really wanted to say, "Ours. Both. It turns out Jack forgot to mention he can get pregnant, and we've been hiding him until her birth. Our friend Martha is despondent because she says she could get three papers at least out of his prenatal care alone. He's just glad he's not lactating."
Jack said, "As of last week, she's ours. The adoption papers went through from the surrogate."
"What was she like? Spend a lot of time with her?"
"A bit," Ianto said. "She had kids of her own, this was really a big favour she did for us."
Jack said, a little testily, "But since you asked, the answer is, we don't know. The process meant she could have been from either of us, which is how we wanted it." The baby started to fuss and Jack took her from Rhiannon to walk around with her.
Ianto watched him. Jack had daughters. Jack always had daughters. This afternoon, they'd go visit Jack's older daughter, who wasn't pleased at having a new little sister, but was adjusting to the idea.
The phone rang. Rhiannon answered, and told the rest of them Etta was on her way over. They'd be here in about twenty minutes, and fighting within an hour.
From the TV, Ianto heard David and Mica arguing over the game. Johnny made a pre-emptive crack about Kasper. Jack kissed their daughter on her soft head as he paced.
Family was never dull.
***
Title: Home, Take Three
Characters: Jack/Ianto, Tosh, Owen, Gwen
Rating: Adults Only
Summary: It's their first Christmas together.
A/N: Not a follow-up to anything. Could be a prequel to most of it, though.
***
Ianto cracked his eyes open. Two things became readily apparent. First, he was in his own bed despite the sun already being up, when typically he awoke before dawn and lately quite often not here. Second, he wasn't alone. Peculiarly, Jack was still asleep, making this situation unique. When Ianto stayed over at the Hub, at best he woke to Jack already awake and watching him, but more typically he was alone in Jack's cramped little bed.
Odd.
A quick look around the room allowed his gaze to land on the dirty pile of Jack's clothes in the corner, and events rearranged themselves. Jack had called him in the wee hours for help. John Ellis had killed himself in Ianto's car. Jack stank of exhaust. Ianto wasn't sure if he ought to be worried for Jack's mental state or berate him for risking his own life to assist in another man's suicide. He settled for helping Jack clean up the mess.
When they'd finished, he'd practically ordered Jack to come home with him for a shower and a rest, and atypically, Jack had agreed without protest. More typically, once he'd cleaned off and recovered, Jack had talked Ianto into making good use of the bed. Sex wasn't the healthiest coping mechanism, but Ianto was starting to think it was Jack's only one.
Which led them to this morning. "Hi," said Jack, waking with a stiff smile.
"Happy Christmas," Ianto replied, and on impulse, kissed him. Jack's surprised reciprocation turned warm. Instinctively, like plants turning towards sunlight, Jack's arms wrapped around him. Lips met, hands moved, and they soon set up their easy rhythm, the one they'd built over the last month. They'd come together for simple warmth and mutual loneliness, and as Jack's hand delved between his thighs, Ianto wasn't sure this was much different. But his own fingers were steady, and despite the cold darkness he'd seen on Jack's face last night, now he was open and smiling, mouth whispering delight as they stroked each other.
Ianto was close, so close, right there. The buzzer rang.
"Fuck," he said into Jack's neck, and Jack obliged by twisting his wrist just so. The orgasm rushed through him, and he panted. The buzzer rang again.
"I'll just go answer that," he said in a shaky voice. Jack made a disappointed face. Ianto kissed him quickly, then moved Jack's hand onto his own erection with an evil smile.
"Don't finish until I get back. I want to watch."
He tugged on sweatpants, closed the bedroom door, and went to the door of his flat. Toshiko waited on his doorstep. "Hi, Ianto," she said nervously. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"No, it's all right. Did you need something?"
"Can I come in?"
"Of course," he said automatically, and mentally kicked himself as she smiled gratefully and stepped inside. Jack wasn't psychic but Ianto sent him a mental 'Shutupshutupshutup' anyway.
"You've decorated a bit." She didn't add, "Since the last time I was here, tossing your place for other illicit alien technology, which is why it was probably fair you were tasked with scanning my flat later." The grimace passing over her face was enough.
"A little. I haven't been home much. Would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Tea if you've got some, thanks."
She followed him to the kitchen, away from the bedroom. "I thought you were spending Christmas with your family."
"I was. I am. I'm driving to London in a few hours."
Mystified, he readied the electric kettle. "Is there something wrong at the Hub?"
"No, no. It's just ... " She sat heavily in one of his kitchen chairs, squeaking the legs on the linoleum. "It's Owen."
"Oh."
Ianto hadn't missed how much time Owen was spending with Diane these days, or had been. Yesterday she'd flown off into the Rift rather than stay with him. Ianto privately considered that he'd do the same had he thought those his only choices.
"I don't begrudge him falling for Diane. She's interesting and exciting." The words were leaden. "But he's also got Gwen on the side. I don't understand."
What she didn't understand was plain, even to him. She could accept a string of nameless shags. She could even accept his falling into one heady affair with someone. But Owen was sleeping with one woman and had fallen in love with another, and Tosh wasn't even on his radar for either. After Lisa, after the cannibals, and then after Mary, the two of them had become quiet confidantes about this, if not about everything.
The kettle sang. Ianto took out three mugs, and hurriedly put one back. He made two cups of tea, on the one hand wanting to offer a sympathetic ear, on the other rather hoping she got it off her chest and went off to her own family.
"Thanks." She drank her tea.
"Let me get a shirt on," he said, patting her shoulder. Jack had the covers off and a terrifically dirty smile as his hand went to work the moment the door closed.
"Stop it," Ianto mouthed, or tried to, but he stuttered to a stop as Jack's eyes locked onto his. Ianto could only break the gaze to look down, to see Jack writhing and thrusting his hips silently as he pumped into his own hand.
"You said you wanted to watch. So watch."
Ianto hissed, "Tosh is in the next room!"
This announcement did not appear to have the desired effect on Jack, whose body twisted and convulsed. He came all over himself, sticky and messy, and were Tosh not a thin wall away from them, Ianto would have immediately climbed onto Jack's body and licked him clean.
In fact ...
He bent just his head, taking a taste of the ejaculate at the joining of Jack's hand and the retreating head of his cock. Jack convulsed again, and the bed shook.
Ianto raised his finger to his lips. Jack mouthed, "Spoilsport."
"Stay quiet. I'll be back." He ducked into an old hoodie, just as the buzzer went again.
Jack tilted his head curiously. Ianto shrugged, just as confused.
He emerged from the room just as Tosh opened the door. Owen stood outside, cross expression on his face, a bottle of something inexpensive in one hand.
"Owen!" said Tosh, delight open on her face.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" he said.
Ianto said, "The usual phrase is 'Merry Christmas' or 'Hello.'" Owen pushed inside past him without asking for an invitation.
"Won't you come in?" The sarcasm fell off Owen's rock-hard annoyance without leaving a mark.
"Christmas is the worst fucking holiday ever invented, and if I stayed at mine, I was going to shoot myself. So I thought, who do I know who's a bigger sad sack than I am today? Tosh, you were next on the list."
Ianto mouthed to her, "Sorry I was home." She shrugged back.
From the bedroom, there came a loud crash. Ianto's eyes widened.
Owen said, "What the hell's that?" He got his gun out. Ianto waved him down fast. If Owen ran mad into the bedroom and found their boss naked there, this would officially be the second-worst Christmas of Ianto's life.
"It's probably the cat," he lied without a pause.
Tosh asked, "When did you get a cat?"
Owen's face spoke eloquently how sad he thought Ianto's life must be for him to have added a cat. Still better than finding out about Jack.
"Oh, a few weeks ago. I thought it'd give me something. To come home to," he finished, fading off as Tosh beamed her approval and Owen rolled his eyes.
"What's her name?"
"Um." His imagination was good at constructing stories when he had time. "He doesn't really have one yet. I haven't come up with the right name. You know, cats. They don't come to their names anyway. I call him Shithead."
That earned a snort from Owen and a small, encouraging smile from Toshiko, who seemed happy to stay where she was as long as Owen was there.
"I'll see what he knocked over," Ianto said, giving her a few minutes with Owen to herself. He let himself back into the bedroom. The empty bedroom. The window hadn't closed properly behind Jack as he'd climbed out, and he'd knocked over the lamp. Ianto sighed. He hadn't really planned anything with Jack. Surely the man had other obligations of his own today. They weren't really anything to each other except a warm body for a reliable after-hours fuck. Spending Christmas together implied significantly more. That wasn't them.
Ergo, he was not in the least disappointed Jack had left without a goodbye. He told himself so and nearly believed it.
Back in the kitchen, Owen had made more tea, and Tosh sat watching him. Ianto gave in. "I haven't eaten yet. Would either of you like something?"
Owen immediately opened the refrigerator as Tosh said, "It's almost eleven. We could fix some lunch."
Eleven? That made some sense. They'd finished the cleanup of John Ellis's sad life not long before dawn.
Ianto pulled out pots and pans, inspecting whatever Owen handed him, wondering what he could knock together as edible. He was unsurprised when the buzzer rang again, and was even less surprised when Gwen waited at his doorstep.
"Hi, Gwen," he said, ushering her inside.
"Hi, Ianto. I was dropping Emma off at the station. She's going off to London today. I didn't want to go home yet." She played nervously with the hem of her jumper as she saw the others. "Was there a party I forgot?"
"We're making lunch," said Tosh from her chair at the table.
Owen offered Gwen a grim smile. "We're trying. Unfortunately Jones here only has eggs and the hairiest cheese I've ever met. Also some milk going walking."
"For the cat?" asked Tosh.
"Sure."
Owen found a large bowl and began cracking the last of the eggs without asking. Gwen set her handbag on the floor and took a seat with Toshiko at the table.
Ianto considered briefly shooting them all, but dismissed this as impractical.
As the eggs sizzled in the pan, the buzzer rang again.
Ianto opened the door and was greeted with Jack. Also a pizza. Before anyone could say a word, Jack said, "My date cancelled on me. Can you believe it? This face? So I figured, you'd said you were staying in today, and I thought I'd surprise you by bringing you lunch for once."
Jack then did a passable expression of surprise as he took in the other three. "Unless I'm intruding? If this is going to turn into an orgy, I'd be happy to film the proceedings."
This led to a groan around the room, and the girls taking the pizza from him. Jack gave Ianto a quiet, knowing smile as they retrieved plates. Only Owen took a look at the front hallway, where Jack's coat still hung from late last night / early this morning.
Oops.
Owen rolled his eyes again, and didn't say anything.
"Merry Christmas," said Jack, passing Ianto some pizza.
"You, too."