1
Dylan was so excited as he checked the kitchen again. Despite Jack offering to get catering in Ianto and Andy had done it all with the help of this nice bloke called Idris that laughed a lot with lovely white teeth. Owen had arrived but was not really helping as much as taste testing while Tosh whipped cream.
Ianto was currently up a ladder pinning the birthday sign up, Jack holding the ladder begging Ianto to be careful and Dylan stood hoping he would be OK too.
Doorbell.
"Can you get that Dyls?" Ianto called, not turning around and Dylan again wondered if he was magical.
Ianto watched the reflection in the glass windows as the boy left the room, the puppy bounding after him then he looked down at the man looking up lovingly at him.
"You know, I'm glad I'm not wearing a skirt the way you are leering at me!"
Jack grinned, "Well … how am I gonna get that thought out of me head ya tease!"
Ianto laughed and then his smile slid as he saw who had arrived early, Dylan talking animatedly to his grandmother as he led her to her chair and the other one slid along the wall towards the birthday table with a box in her hand.
Yeah.
You know who.
She who must not be named lest it give her more evil powers.
Ianto sighed and Jack caught it, swinging to see why he was annoyed and looking at the woman he had last seen striking his love.
"What the fuck are you doing here!" he roared, letting go of the ladder, then seizing it again with a yelp as Ianto calmly climbed down and turned to face her.
"Gwen. You have never been invited into MY home and as you were so rude last time we spoke I was hoping you would remember my words and the clarity with which I said them." Ianto said and Dylan turned to look at her.
"What? Gwen? You said you were invited too, that's why you said you would drive me!" Deidra said with confusion.
"Aunty Gwen slapped Taddy and called him names" Dylan said with a frown, "She was nasty and Taddy said she had to leave. Daddy came home and made her too."
Deidra stared at the little boy who was now turning to address his aunt, "I'm sorry but Taddy is right. You hit him and was rude. I did not invite you. This is My day, not yours. Taddy was sick and he doesn't want to be upset, I do not want my Taddy upset!"
"I won't do anything bad" she promised "I just….I'm your mummy's sister. I just want to be here because she can't be."
"Dirty pool" Owen said from the kitchen doorway where he had been helping and glared at her, "using his Mum."
"Well… what's this Taddy shit anyway!" she demanded, "You have a mother Dylan, remember her? Is there even a photo of her in this place? Did you buy this castle with her money? For your …queen!"
Ianto took a sharp intake of breath but Dylan was moving, "This is Taddy's house. He's rich, richer than Daddy is. We live here, it's my home and he's my Taddy now. He loves Mamma too, he says goodnight to her and kisses her photo with me after story time every night. He's a Taddy not a mummy!"
"Well I just think…" her voice died away as Ianto reached for Dylan in order to comfort and the ring glinted, "What the hell is that?"
"My engagement ring" Ianto said calmly, "Jack and I am getting wed"
"Oh!" Deidra said with glee, "How wonderful!"
"Oh mother, don't be so stupid!"
"Don't talk to her like that!" Ianto exploded, "How dare you be so disrespectful to your mother, get out of our home. Deidra is welcome here anytime, you are not. Blood is blood but sometimes it seems tainted. I do not know what is wrong with you but I do not want it around my son."
"Your son" she mocked, "Why are you trying to take him away from us, can't get your own with being gay? Now you've made Jack gay too!"
"Excuse me?"
"And Dylan? I don't know if he is safe here with a couple of queers, I mean what are you showing him?" she spluttered and Ianto made a noise as Deidra rose from her hair.
"Get out!" she screamed at her daughter, "You horrible thing, get out… how dare you ruin this little boy's day, how dare you!"
"But… Taddy did have a son. Walter died!" Dylan said to his grandma, "I sleep in his room now because he would have been my best friend."
"Yes love, I know" she soothed as Andy exploded from the kitchen and seized Gwen's arm.
"I wonder if witches really do fly" he said as he propelled her out of the room and Owen followed.
"Might find out" Owen muttered and Ianto sat with a huff, his hand moving to rub the healing bite.
His heart was pounding.