1

Early morning, the rest of the world seemed asleep as Ianto stood in the surf, his feet sinking into the sand as the water lapped around his feet. He was steadier on these feet lately, a month since the cruise and they were all settled into their holiday house.

Villa.

Old decrepit abandoned mansion thing.

That's what Mica said anyway, huge eyes as she had clung to her Uncle with fear until Ianto whispered that maybe a princess had lived here and when she left no one else was good enough to live there until now. As always, he had fixed things.

For everyone else.

Owen and Tosh had been amazing taking time off, I mean … putting their lives on hold for his recovery. It means something he couldn't quite put into words that they cared that much. With Rhiannon gone he had thought himself alone for a moment or two. No he felt stifled.

I know.

Selfish, right? They all just want to help but going from an outgoing, self assured single man to a Tad with body issues was a hell of a shock ya know. He didn't doubt his worth though, don't get me wrong. Jack reminding him constantly that he was wanted. Needed. Loved. Loved. That last one … yeah.

They had made love the night before, Jack so tender and caring as he had done that hand stroking thing like soothing a spooked horse. Ianto didn't know why he liked it so much but it felt so nice, maybe he was some sort of spooked thing. A temperamental thing. No. Not going there, we agreed brain box. Only positives in the mornings. So much to live for. Fight for. No negatives today. That was it, your one allowable slip.

"Are you talking to yourself in your head?"

Ianto turned to watch Lucia step into the water, then leap back from the cold with a squeal, his laugher starting as she frowned at him. He answered "Yes. I am internally arguing about positive thinking."

"Only you can do that"

"Speaking of negatives and positives … when are you going to talk about it?" Ianto asked as he glanced over at her "you don't say his name … you don't mention anything about …"

"Lance. Don't you think I …" she sighed, looking out over the water as Ianto moved closer, then she added "I feel stupid."

"He was a sleeper. He was there to take part in the hijacking, the entire thing with you was a dance and you were simply … a beard? Is that what they call it? Distracting everyone with your wedding plans?" Ianto canted his head "Poor you. Fell in love with a loser. I have no nipples ya know."

Lucia found herself laughing as Ianto mimed rubbing the nonexistent nipples, his face full of forgiveness "Lucia, we all get a do-over remember? You too. Come on, he will panic if he can't find me and he will be waking up around about now."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked as she offered her hand and after a moment's consideration he accepted it, letting her steady him as they slowly trudged up the path to the back yard of the old house.

"I can smell the bacon. Tosh is cooking again, he will already be searching for … hey Cariad" Ianto waved as best he could, his arm now able to life above his waist and Jack smiled, relaxing as he went back inside as he knew Ianto hated being waited on.

"To be truthful, I do not know if I will ever be able to talk about Lance, about my pain, fears and stupidity" Lucia said as they reached the bottom steps and she turned to him with sorrow "I am still trying to move forward. You are helping with your friendship and forgiven ss there. I … I am grateful."

"Don't be a divvy" Ianto scolded "We are family now. I took him off your hands, you owe me."

She sniggered as she leaned in to kiss his cheek, the raw affection there and then she looked into the house, "Time to go be brave."

"You still think about him a lot" Ianto whispered "He haunts you now."

"They never found his body, I fear he is out there and might come again. Try again, like some…wraith" she shuddered "I have trouble sleeping, think I can hear him calling my name sometimes. They say it is just the PTSD but …. How will I ever know we are safe now?"

"You are" Ianto sighed, glancing into the house as well, making sure they were alone "Luce. I will only say this once and I will never mention it again but … I know he is gone. I know for sure."

"How?" she asked with raw need.

"Because I shot him" Ianto admitted "I remember clearly, I saw him with the gun and I … he fell into the water and the sharks …. Why they never got a body back. It was him, those bloody tan pants with the stain barely visible. It was him. I saw and knew what he had done to you. I took good aim on that one."

She blinked as she stared at him and Ianto added "Jack does not know. We don't talk about that day. Let's not, yes?"

"Thank you" she croaked out, tears threatening as she pulled him into a hug. The relief saw heavy in the air.

"Hey, he's mine. Fought for him and everything!" Jack wailed from the doorway "Unhand my man!"

"Share!" Lucia said in a parody of their daughter and Jack smiled, reaching out to pull Ianto up the steps into his arms where he kissed him vigorously. They had taken too long, he was worried. Ianto leaned into him to show it was all good.

"Hey Tiger, did she molest you in the broad daylight? Awwww … come on. I want smell you for a while"

Ianto rolled his eyes back at her as she smiled and let the emotions wash away with the waves they could hear behind them.

They would never talk of it again.