1

Dylan had come home in a weird mood. Sullen and reflective and although Ianto had tried to delicately ask what the problem was, the only reply was the child retrieving his blanket off the bed and pulling it over himself, humping through the house to the sunny patch to sleep.

Ianto wondered if he was coming down with something, maybe he should call the school to see if there was anything going around. Flu or something, ya know?

"Hungry hun?"

Grunt. Shuffle.

"OK, I will sit and read, OK?"

Grunt.

"You sound just like your father" Ianto scolded, "You know I don't speak Harkness."

The lump went still and Ianto knew he was not going to get anything from the child so he sat and opened a book, overtly watching the child who could probably see him through the fabric.

"Honey, I'm home" Jack yelled lustily as he entered the house, toeing off his boots and slipping on the house shoes Ianto had left for him so attentively. He walked through to the main room and looked down at the lump on the floor.

He looked at Ianto.

"Dylan is not home right now" Ianto said calmly, "If you would care to leave your name and a short message he will get back to you when he gives a toss."

Jack knelt and examined the lump, "Shame. I have piece of cheesecake that…."

The lump exploded, engulfing Jack's hand and shivering as the child retreated, sounds of glee under the blanket as he opened the container to eat.

Jack sat back on his heels and frowned then looked at Ianto for guidance, his desire to scold immense. Food was always at a table. Ianto shook his head and patted the seat for Jack to join him and they settled. Ianto placed a hand on Jack's arm and once again Jack felt a command in the motion but his hackles didn't rise this time. He was starting to see this was a comfort touch, not a demanding one.

"Dylan?"

Grunt.

"You know … lumps don't eat right?" Ianto tried reason.

"I'm an amoeba" came the muffled reply and Ianto blinked, then started to giggle.

"Wow. I've never met one before, osmosis is a wonderful thing" Ianto sniggered, "Tell me Mister Amoeba. Do you really not have a bum?"

A snort. Then a grunt.

"Come on love, what's wrong?" Ianto asked and Dylan finally pulled the blanket back to look at him, chocolate cheesecake on his face.

"Easter."

"Yes" Ianto nodded, "It is."

"Eddie Meuson is having an Easter party" Dylan said with a sulky look, "I wasn't invited."

"No?" Ianto said softly, "Maybe others weren't too."

"Only Baz the Spaz" Dylan got up from the sofa and stomped over the stare out the window, "He sez Baz can't come because his mum and dad are living in sin. Then he looked at me and made a face."

Jack took a sharp intake of breath and Ianto caught his hand, squeezing to warn him a blow out might not help.

"What do you want to do love?" Ianto asked gently, "Do you have an idea?"

"No" Dylan slumped morosely, "We could nuke them from orbit, right?"

Jack snorted as he saw himself in his child.

"Well … you could have your own party I suppose" Ianto said slowly, "If ya like. Barry, Clive and maybe one or two more? If Daddy and I push the furniture to the walls the big pop up tent would fit this end, a green mat for grass and the open fire can become your campfire? Still be safe and warm indoors but have a camp? Like a camp out but a camp in. Better for the loo and foodage requests right?"

Dylan spun to stare at him like he was offering the key to Pandora's Box.

"An egg hunt? Daddy?"

"Yeah, maybe at dusk with torches? Like … a treasure hunt?" Jack said, "We can have some scary masks hidden so everyone can pretend there are monsters?"

"Oh Daddy" Dylan clasped his hands together with glee, "Can we?"

"I don't see why not. I could even sneak about and grab one of them, make them scream and we pretend he's dead for a while. Leave some fake blood. A real who-done-it game" Jack started getting excited, "Taddy can be scared and need you to protect him. Then with cap guns you can hunt me down."

"Oh Dadda!" Dylan threw himself into his arms, "That is awesome!"

"Well then, sounds sorted. A Halloween style murder scene Easter camp-in" Ianto said with fake grumpiness, "Oh gods. The giggling and farting in my pristine house."

Dylan giggled and wriggled in his father's lap, looking at Ianto with glee, "Well, it's a done deal now."

"Damn, sounds like it" Ianto smiled and Dylan giggled some more, his day of sorrow long gone as things looked better by the second.

Jack glanced over at his love and mouthed his thanks.

Ianto saves the day again … and lets Jack take some credit.

Jack knew how lucky he was.