2
"Doctor Smith, these children need suits, matching as they are brothers" Idris instructed and Jack noticed how still and silent his love was, glancing over to see Ianto's face so pale he seems almost like a ghost sitting there as he watched the old man move to Lorenzo and reach out to pat his head.
"And what be your name boy?"
"Lorenzo, Enzo to me mates Old Father" Lorenzo said proudly and Ianto finally spoke.
"Grandy, Lorenzo" he said softly, "This is my mother's Da. You would call him Grandy in the tongue of the Hoodlum."
"Really? I never had a Grandy before" Lorenzo said with interest as the old man stared at Ianto with open shock.
"Yani?"
"Hello Grandy" Ianto said softly.
The man straightened up and looked along the table and then frowned, "Where is she? The girl?"
"Lisa died. She and Walter died, remember?" Ianto grimaced at saying his son's name out loud and Idris cleared his throat.
"John, you know your grandson lost his family. He comes with another. These two boys are his now, the handsome man seated beside him his mate. And as for this little queen, this is his little girl Carley."
Doctor John Smith looked down his long nose at the child on Idris' knee and she grinned as she looked back up at him, then she pointed, "Doctor man. You came in the blue car!"
"Yes, I did" he sighed, "I wondered where you kids wound up. Poor little ones. Your poor mother. Look at this."
He sat and reached for her, cuddling her as he stroked her soft hair, "Little Carley Bean. Sweet little girl. I cannot believe it is really you, so pretty. Just like your mama."
Ianto canted his head as he drummed his fingers then he sighed, "Of course she was family. Cousin Hendry's daughter?"
"Yes. You know he was always a prick, no wonder she chose one too. Wait…did the king just say you have them?" the man stared at Ianto, "My grandson has adopted the grandchildren of a sworn enemy?"
"Come on Grandy, the man ran over your dog. He was plastered and didn't know what day it was. You and your grudges" Ianto said, then snorted, "Well… we know all about those. After all, you never held it against her did you? These ones recognise you, you visisted her with food parcels."
"That was a mistake. I should have sought her out sooner, been a better Elder to her. Not her fault her father was a...well" the old man looked ancient for a moment, whatever their subject of conversation was it clearly weighed heavily on him "If I had known he was controlling her with violence I would have killed him myself."
"You didn't. He killed her" Ianto said flatly, then he sighed and looked at the little one clambering back into Idris' lap, "Still… water under the bridge and this is not the place for looking into the depth of such things."
"Still. You blame me?"
"No Grandy I do not. That is the hardship of it. I blame myself" Ianto rose, "Idris, we have other appointments."
"No you don't. You just want to do the patented Jones-Hit-and-run" he laughed, "Sit back down. Forgive an old man, forgive yourself. Come."
Jack finally got it. Ianto's mother was the subject of conversation. Jack tried to remember the rare snippets of conversation about her and realised this man sitting here had disowned her when she had married Ianto's father. Why he was not there for the children when she died, why Ianto was so…strained around him.
"Captain Jack Harkness" he said calmly, "I am the one who loves him now, body and soul. These babies are our greatest prizes and we are very happy, safe and comfortable in our world. I would never strike him, or allow another to harm him, or our chicks. I had no idea who he was when I fell in love with him, all I knew was that he made my heart sing and my blood boil in a way I had never known before. Ianto is a good man, a worthy man and a righteous man. He makes me a better man too. He makes our children better, every day. I am sorry you are not a part of that world we have created together. It is idyllic."
The old man looked at Jack, "You knew not of his wealth?"
"Had I known, would I have been the one to hire him to work for me?" Jack laughed "I now know he chose to out of interest and affection for my son, my money must have amused him but I thought I was putting on a good show. Gods, but I tried to impress him."
"And you did Cariad" Ianto smiled softly, lighting the room again, "I found your fumbling sweet."
"Fumbling was it?" Jack asked with open playfulness.
Idris relaxed as the storm passed overhead without a lightning strike.
Ianto had forgiven his grandfather.
