One-shot: Once
Title: Once
Author: lookninjas
Characters: Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Rhys
Rating: G
Spoilers: "Something Borrowed"
Warnings: Fluff. Lots and lots of fluff.

Summary: Jack is on the dance floor with Ianto in his arms, but he can't relax.



Everything's over; the monster is dead, the happy couple have been married, and Jack is on the dance floor with Ianto in his arms. He should be completely relaxed. But he's not.

Rhys almost died today, and if he had, if they'd lost him... Gwen would never recover from it. None of them would. She's too important to the team, and Rhys is too important to her, and both of them could have died today, and Jack can't relax. He needs to keep checking up on them. He needs to know they're all right.

So he looks back over his shoulder just one more time, just to see them smiling at each other and safe, and Ianto laughs softly. "They're all right now, Jack," he murmurs. "Everyone's fine, wedding went off without a hitch... no reason to keep fussing."

"I'm not fussing," Jack protests, but there's no real strength behind it.

"You are." Ianto's voice is warm, affectionate, teasing. Jack finds himself leaning in just a bit more, holding on a bit tighter. "And there's no need. Everyone's all right now."

Jack breathes in, smelling Ianto's shampoo, his soap, his aftershave. Ianto always smells so good; Jack wonders how he manages it. "You know what scared me the most?" he asks, trying to lighten the mood. "When Owen brought out that little toy of his. I still don't trust that thing."

He can feel Ianto's smile against his ear. "It worked, though."

"It worked for Rhys," Jack points out. "Actually, maybe I should fire Owen and bring Rhys in instead."

"Don't you even think it." And still, Ianto sounds more amused than annoyed. "Gwen would murder you if you put Rhys in any more danger. And you're not firing Owen. Not again."

Jack sighs in mock exasperation. "There you go, taking his side. I'm really starting to think you like him more than me."

"Jealous, Captain?"

"Not in the slightest." He can feel Ianto's shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter when he adds, "Just maybe you should be dancing with him instead of me."

"Maybe I will, then," Ianto says, and starts to pull away.

Chuckling, Jack pulls him back in. "Oh no. I've got you now, and I'm keeping you."

Ianto's steps falter slightly. "Is that so?" he asks, and Jack can tell that he's trying to sound nonchalant. But he's not quite getting there.

"Yep." Jack closes his eyes, rests his cheek against Ianto's hair, and waits. Gradually, Ianto relaxes, his body warm against Jack's, his breathing only a little unsteady.

It occurs to Jack, then, that they are locked in each other's arms in front of all these people, and that this was Ianto's idea. Ianto, who has thus far refused to admit that they are doing anything more than "dabbling," who pulls away whenever another person is near. But right now, Ianto has an arm around Jack's waist, and their hands are linked; he's breathing into Jack's skin and swaying with Jack's movements, and Jack resolves not to let go of this moment for anything.

Gwen and Rhys are safe for now, and Ianto is in his arms on the dance floor, and he needs to enjoy this, because it's not going to last. Some things only happen once.

"Jack," Ianto says, after a little while. Jack doesn't reply, and Ianto repeats himself, louder. "Jack. The song's ended."

But he's not trying to pull away.

"There'll be another," Jack tells him. And that must be enough to satisfy Ianto, because he stays in Jack's arms, and they sway together in the silence.