1
Ianto was asleep, Max on top of him cuddled in as they both breathed in unison.
They had bathed and were waiting for Jack to get home, the man in question placing the parcel of fish and chips on the coffee table next to the condiments then settling to reach out and pat Ianto's ankle.
Jack noticed something he had never seen before. Ianto's little toe on his left foot had a strange nail, it was slightly raised like a crescent at the end, square instead of curved. Not a big thing, just a little trait that made him smile especially when he looked to Max's little foot, his little toe sporting the exact same nail.
Awwwww.
Jack then looked up to find Ianto looking at him with a soft smile.
"Hey, I got fish and chips, is he any better?" Jack whispered.
"He's a lot happier since the bath. I don't think the other children will be though, it was one hell of a mess" Ianto sighed, referring to the flooding at the school that had closed it down and led to muddy children that were returned early to their parentals wet and cold. "thank the stars we live so close and I got him home before he got a chill."
"Chips?"
Both men grinned as Max sat up and looked around wildly, "I smell fish and chips?"
"Hey partner, yeah. How about you sit up and we will have a nosh, yeah?" Jack offered as he pulled a blanket from the back of the sofa and draped it over the PJ clad child, amused to see Ianto and Max wore matching PJs again. So cute.
"Ooooo, you got spring rolls too" Ianto said happily as he unfolded the parcel, Jack pleased he had remembered Ianto's liking for them. He passed a plate of chips to the little boy with a piece of fish, then pointed to the sauces.
"Vinegar please" Max asked politely and Ianto poured some on, kissing the little boy as he then added some buttered bread. They ate in peaceful silence as Ianto preferred. Jack had been weirded out the first time they had a Group Meal and the children all went silent while eating, the parents all watching as the children sniffed their food, examined it and then chewed thoughtfully like Ianto who sat among them.
Now he was used to it, not breaking the silence as he would have at the Hub where everyone else talked without realising the silent actions of their youngest team member.
Finally Ianto rose, signalling that he was finished and Jack asked, "This weekend set?"
"Yes, they can't wait. She is checking her temperature so much Fred says she needs a turkey thermometer up her butt for ease of checking like a roast, especially with the turkey baster coming after" Ianto giggled and Jack laughed as well knowing Ella probably slapped him hard.
"What's happening at the weekend?" Mac asked and Ianto settled back to look at him, doing that 'just you and me in the enitre world' thing Max loved.
"We are going to the seaside for a holiday, was gonna leave tomorrow afternoon and meet Fred and Ella there with Tommy. We are all going to share a little beach house and have the entire weekend there then Sunday afternoon leave to come home. Two whole nights" Ianto said softly, "Of course, now the school is toast maybe I can talk Daddy here into letting us leave early. Maybe tomorrow morning instead? Uncle Owen will love having control of the Hub."
"What about Ralf?" Max became worried.
"He will be fine, still getting used to the house and might like some quiet time for any adjustment that we might find annoying while he's doing it." Jack said with inspiration, "He might like that, some quiet too."
"Me and Tommy can play on the beach?" Max started to get excited, "And…and … sand castles. Daddy, we can do some real construction!"
"We can take those special buckets you wanted for it, those ones that don't do the dirt properly. Wet sand is entirely different" Jack agreed as Max jiggled with glee. Another Ianto trait that was so endearing.
Ianto smiled as Jack got out his phone and called Owen, soon settling the Hub and Ianto rose to start pacing as Max considered things, "Daddy, we might need a story about the beach. Do we have one?"
"Let's go see. Isn't there the one about the starfish that got lost on the beach?" Jack said as he let the child lead him to the bedroom where they soon had three books picked out. Max then raced for his evening cleaning regime that included his ears. Of course, so what if he had already had a bath, it was routine.
Ianto walked into the bedroom and placed the suitcase by the bed and went to leave, Jack asking "you not packing for him?"
"He will already have a list in his head Cariad" Ianto smiled, "You know he is me all over again. He will enjoy this part too."
Jack laughed as he agreed
Ianto was right.
Max was damned perfect too.