Chapter Text
There was snow on the balcony. Jack grinned as he looked through the glass doors, then stepped outside so he could look over the snow-covered city. After a few minutes, he started shivering and went back inside to make breakfast.
“Ianto!” he greeted his flatmate, beaming, “It snowed last night!”
“So I see,” Ianto replied, smiling at him with soft amusement, “and I see that you went outside barefoot.”
Jack glanced down. “Huh,” he said.
Ianto snorted and shook his head. “I’ll put some coffee on, shall I?”
“Sounds great. I’ll make breakfast after I’ve put on socks. Would you prefer pancakes or waffles?”
“Pancakes, please, with the blueberry sauce,” Ianto replied immediately.
“Alright, then, as long as you wash the blueberries,” he called back cheerfully.
Ianto raised an eyebrow as Jack sprayed whipped cream onto his pancakes.
He shrugged and remarked “It leaves more syrup for you, you know.”
Ianto shook his head. “Just make sure there’s enough left for the hot chocolate.”
“You’re making hot chocolate?” he asked eagerly, setting the can down.
“Yeah, for when Gwen comes over,” Ianto replied.
“Oh, that’s right! I’d forgotten she was coming over today!” he said. “Do you remember what time she’s going to get here? I can make lunch.”
“About 1:30, she said., since Rhys is going out to have lunch with some of his work mates before the holiday, and Tosh, Tommy, Owen, and Diane are going on a double date, and she didn’t want to spend the afternoon ‘alone at my flat watching Hallmark movies’ .”
“So she’s going to spend the afternoon watching Hallmark movies here with us?” Jack chuckled.
“You two can,” Ianto replied, “ I’ll be wrapping presents.”
Jack snorted. “Oh, come on, Ianto, I know you secretly love them,” he said, then winked. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Owen. Your secret is safe with me.”
Ianto scoffed half-heartedly at him. Jack winked again, then beamed as Ianto huffed amusedly. He ignored the way the sound made his heart beat faster; he was well used to the sensation by now.
*********
“Happy early Christmas, Jack!” Gwen exclaimed, grinning as she pulled Jack into a hug. “Have you seen all the snow?”
“Merry early Christmas to you too, Gwen, and yes, I did!” he said.
“Stop saying that!” Ianto shouted from inside the flat. “Hello, Gwen. I’m making hot chocolate.”
“Ooh, thank you, Ianto. You’re an angel,” she said, pulling him in for a hug of his own. “And I know - it’s terrible, isn’t it? I don’t know how you’ve put up with him this long.” She shook her head in mock sorrow. “Three years in Britain and he still says ‘merry’ Christmas instead of ‘happy’.”
“To-mate-o, to-mah-to,” Jack replied, smirking.
“To-mah-to, Jack” Gwen and Ianto groaned in unison, rolling their eyes.
“So, do either of you have any plans for the holidays?” she asked, settling between Jack and Ianto on the couch.
“I think I’ll be spending Christmas at Rhi’s again,” Ianto said. “I’m just waiting for her to call me and ask.”
“Well, tell her hi from me, please,” she told him, “and that I’ll be sure to call her soon. It’s been too long since we had a chance to talk, and I have something important to discuss with her.”
Ianto nodded. “I will.”
“And you, Jack?” she asked, turning towards him. “Is Gray coming down to visit?”
“No, not this year,” Jack sighed. “He says he’s going to spend Christmas with some of his uni friends.”
“Let’s hope the building doesn’t burn down,” Ianto muttered under his breath.
“He’s probably staying in London to hide from Rhys,” Gwen added, laughing a bit.
“Oh, come on, you two, he’s not that bad,” Jack protested.
“No, he isn’t bad at all, Jack. We like him, really,” Gwen said, “I feel a bit sorry for him, actually. Rhys absolutely terrified the wits out of him last year.”
“Of course we like him,” Ianto chimed in, then added “I just like him better with the Severn between us.”
Gwen elbowed him.
“He locked us in a cellar, Gwen,” Ianto grumbled.
“It was an accident,” Gwen pointed out.
“With John Hart!”
“A very unfortunate accident,” Gwen stressed. “Anyway, I thought you and him talked sometimes.”
“He called about a month ago, actually,” Ianto said drily. “He offered to send Mica a Christmas present.”
“Oh, well, see, that’s ni-”
“A sword , Gwen. She’s nine!”
Jack chuckled until Ianto shot him a glare. “Sorry. You’re right, it’s not funny,” he muttered, trying to stifle a laugh.
“Anyway, Jack, if you don’t have any plans, I’m always happy to drag someone else to the Cooper-Williams Christmas party. I’m sure Brenda would love to see you again.”
Jack snorted. All of their friends had, at some point or another, attended Gwen and Rhys’ annual Christmas party, which doubled as a family reunion, since they both invited their extended family every year. They were always entertaining, especially once Rhys’ mum showed up, as she and Gwen didn’t really get along.
“I’ll think about it,” he told her, “but I’m not sure it’s a good idea after last year.”
Jack had brought Gray along to the party last year, as it had seemed like the perfect opportunity to introduce him to his friends, since Gwen had managed to convince everyone to come - even Martha had come down from London. The general consensus was that the night had ended very badly - Tommy punched one of Rhys’ friends who had been hitting on Tosh; Gray had tried to, but misjudged his aim and accidentally punched Brenda instead, which neither she nor Rhys had ever really forgiven either of the Harkness brothers for. Jack, however, thought that it was the single best party he’d ever attended and a rousing success, because he’d gotten to dance with Ianto.
“Great!” Gwen said, breaking him out of his memories. “Don’t worry; Rhys doesn’t blame you for Brenda anymore, I promise. Anyway, Owen and Diane are coming again this year, but Tosh and Tommy are going to London to spend Christmas with her family.” She turned the TV on, and flipped to the Hallmark channel.
Jack grinned as Ianto stood up to grab his presents and wrapping paper, then padded back into the living room and sat on the floor, watching the movie out of the corner of his eye.