Lily
Strolling around the lake in the park nearest his flat Ianto walked with Spud. Spud loved the park, especially around the lake because ducks were her passion. Her tiny frame was no hindrance and she would take off at the sniff of a feather. He had her on a flexi lead, having learnt this the hard way. Ponds, ducks and Spud equalled a wet, shivering dog covered in pond weed. He saw something had caught her attention and she was eager to set off on her shameless pursuit of the local duck population and he began to retract in the lead as she started to bark her head off. Reeling her in he picked her up to see a tall man wearing a brown suit in dark framed glasses standing by the lake and thought he recognised him.
"Ianto Jones?" I'm the Doctor," he said, holding out his hand in greeting. "We met at Martha's wedding," he added in way of explanation. He saw Ianto's face turn from confusion to recognition.
Taking the offered hand and shaking it Ianto was not sure of what to say. This man was a Time Lord and he couldn't fathom what he could possibly be doing here.
"A mutual acquaintance sent me to give you this," he said as he opened his jacket and handed him a letter.
Seeing Ianto struggling with Spud who had ducks on her mind having spied one a few feet away, the Doctor offered to take her as Ianto opened the letter. He raised his eyebrows as he read it, then looked at the doctor and re-read the letter thinking he had somehow misread it.
"What can I say… it's not that I don't appreciate the offer…" He stumbled over words trying to find a way to refuse, his heart racing as he struggled to find a way to accept.
"Everything has been arranged all you have to do is come with me," the Doctor informed him.
"But I can't. I've got Spud and I'm hardly dressed for the occasion." Ianto pointed to Spud whose muddy paws were making marks on the Doctor's shirt, and his own attire of a sweats and a coat with running shoes which were hardly appropriate for any kind of formal event.
"When I say everything I mean everything, and despite rumours I am quite capable of looking after a small animal for a few hours," the Doctor told him.
"But…" Ianto struggled to speak. "I don't know how to say this, but Jack and me...well, we're over and this will make me kinda obligated to him and I don't think either of us would be comfortable…not that … I mean it's a wonderful offer…incredible even…"
"Jack said you might say this. Let me assure this is a no strings attached offer. Jack is offering to make amends for something that caused you a great deal of pain." The Doctor watched on as he saw Ianto struggle with what looked like several conflicting emotion.
"I'm not sure if I can handle this seeing her, knowing…" he said quietly as he looked at the Doctor with misty eyes.
"Don't live with regret…" the Doctor suggested.
"Okay," Ianto agreed after several moments of deliberation.
"The TARDIS is just over here," the Doctor pointed as he handed Spud back to Ianto.
Entering, Ianto bit his tongue to prevent himself from saying the first thing that came into head which was note it was bigger on the inside than the outside. "Nice," he commented after looking around, much to the Doctor's amusement at Jack's prediction of what Ianto's reaction would be.
"Come with me," the Doctor said as he led the way to a small room just off the main corridor. As he entered he saw he was in a dressing room but one with a shower complete with what looked like a range of expensive toiletries and several large oversized fluffy towels. Hanging up was a brand new dark, pin-striped Saville row suit, tailored shirt, waistcoat and dark blue silk tie. On a stand was a tasteful pair of cuff links. "I'll leave you to get ready," the Doctor told him as he took Spud who went off unprotesting with the Doctor and left Ianto to get ready. He stood and pulled his hand through his hair.
A respectable time later Ianto emerged ready and as he did the Doctor handed him a large bunch of flowers, "I'm told these are her particular favourites," he told him handing them over.
"Now how is this going to work? Do I just turn up?" Ianto asked.
The Doctor nodded. "All you have to do is knock on the door," he said as the TARDIS door opened. Ianto stepped out and found himself ten steps away from what had been his Aunt's house.
Walking up he knocked loudly on the door. He stood as he heard footsteps approaching, and the door was opened by a greying woman wearing a stunning deep blue evening gown and made up for an evening out.
"Ianto!" she called out with joy at seeing him. She wrapped her arms around him in a huge hug and kissed him on the cheek, then drew back to look at him.
"You look so handsome," she told him as she saw the flowers and realised she must had squashed them a bit.
"Oh my favourites," she told him as she took them admiring the arrangement. "I'll go and stand these in the sink and find a vase later," she said stepping down the hall and returned with what looked like a night bag.
"I was told to give you this," she handed the bag over to Ianto and found it filled with several changes of clothing, shaving gear, soap and a letter. Pulling out the letter he scanned it as she began to talk.
"What a day I've had. I was so upset when you called to say we couldn't go out tonight, I had been so looking forward to it. I had just put the phone down when this handsome American arrived and told me it was all a terrible mistake, and you had something very special planned. He was had just finished explaining when a car arrived and whisked me off and I've had my hair done, my nails, they even gave me a glass of champagne, very classy, while I had my perm. The gentleman who did my hair was so friendly and his staff treated me like royalty. When I got home there was this lovely evening dress and matching shawl and shoes all ready for me." She did a turn for him and he noted the seahorse brooch he had sent for her today, (well the other Ianto had sent), had arrived and she was wearing it.
"And your gift Ianto, what can I say, you know me so well," she said giving him another kiss.
"It's not the Faberge one you loved in that magazine, so I had this one made up for you. I'm sorry it's such a poor copy," he admitted and her smile filled him with such happiness he took her hand and kissed the back of it.
"It's incredible, perfect and nothing you ever do is a poor copy of anything," she said as Ianto put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.
"It's your birthday you deserve to be treated. You don't reach seventy-five every day," Ianto told her as he just enjoyed looking at her. A few moments later a horn sounded and a white Rolls Royce pulled up in front of the small house, taking her arm he led her out of the door closing it behind her.
As the approached a chauffeur got out and opened the door. "I feel all posh, like a millionaire," she told him as she got in the back seat. Moving quickly he sat next to her and took her hand.
Ianto sat back as the car took off down the streets of Cardiff. He had no idea where they were going; he had planned a dinner at The Dragon Hotel. They did a nice meal and she had been a couple of times and often spoke of returning. He had cancelled the reservation so he was no idea where they were heading. The car turned into the street but continued on to another hotel. They pulled up outside and the door was opened by the driver who directed them to the door and handed Ianto a envelope. "You will need these Sir," he said as Ianto looked at him curiously. Holding out his arm which his Aunt took he looked around and he realised there was a lot of other very elegantly dressed individuals, all heading for the main doors. Nearing the entrance Ianto opened then envelope to find two silver embossed tickets for a dinner with a number on them. The door attendant checked the tickets and indicated they go straight ahead.
Walking in they now found themselves in a very elegant dining room for about three hundred people, who were now sitting down to various tables which were laid out for four to six places and made themselves comfortable. Finding their table Ianto was surprised to see it was for just the two of them. One whole wall was a curtain and Ianto supposed it hid a stage of some kind, and he found his attention was brought back to the table as Lily grabbed a menu and leaned over.
"What are you up to?" she said with a twinkle in her eye as the waiter approached with a champagne bucket and two glasses and proceeded to pour them both a glass.
"It's a surprise," Ianto told her trying to think what an earth was going to happen next as another waiter approached and took their order.
Several courses later, Ianto sat and listened to his Aunt tell him all her gossip, as much as he loved her normally he just nodded as she spoke but this time he sat back and enjoyed her tales of battles with the supermarket and the neighbour's cat and her W.I. friends. The meal had been delicious with lashings of champagne. Dessert and coffee had just been delivered when the room began to dim. A spotlight appeared on the stage and a man came out and started to speak.
"Thank you everyone for the wonderful support you have given us tonight, let me tell you this dinner has raised over seventy five thousand pounds towards for the Stroke Foundation, the money raised will go towards research and finding ways of treating stroke victims. But enough from me, here is the man you have all been waiting to see: Mr Tom Jones!" The music started up and Ianto's mouth fell open. He looked at his Aunt who was gasping in utter wonderment as Tom Jones came on stage and started singing, 'It's Not Unusual'. His Aunt reached out and took Ianto's hand and gave it a massive squeeze.
Not a Tom Jones fan Ianto had always been bemused at women's - especially older women's - reaction to him. To say that his Aunt was a fan of Tom Jones would have been an understatement; she had a huge collection of his recordings but for one reason or another had never managed to see him live. Seeing him live was a fulfilment of a lifelong dream so he sat back and watched her enjoyment as he went through his set of popular songs. He was lost in thought when he found that Tom had stopped singing and was starting to speak.
"There's a very special lady here tonight who is celebrating her 75th birthday. Lily Jones, please stand up." The spotlight now fell on Lily, and Ianto sat back stunned as she was invited on stage and Tom proceeded to tell them what a huge fan she was. He asked if she would choose a particular song just for her, and she thought for a moment then spoke softly and he led her back to her seat and sang, 'The Green, Green, Grass of Home.'
When he finished he kissed the back of her hand. She quickly pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes as he returned to the stage and thanked them all for their support and how much the money was going to the Stroke Foundation. Then he went to do a few more songs then he bowed to thunderous applause and a standing ovation.
"This has been the best birthday of my life," she told Ianto as she clapped furiously. She then slumped down to put her shoes back on and find her bag as the curtain pulled across. As they prepared to leave a man approached with an envelope. "Mr Jones asked me to hand this to you," he said handing the envelope to Lily who opened it and pulled out a large photograph of herself with the man himself with his arm around her signed 'To Lily - Love Tom' scrawled across it.
"Thank you my darling," she said to Ianto as they stood up ready to go. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
"I can't tell you what an incredible night and day this has been for me Ianto. Tom Jones kissed my hand, and sang to me, gave me a signed photo. I feel like a teenager," she said as he handed her a cup of tea as she rested, winding down in her tiny front room. "All my life I have wanted to go somewhere dressed to the nines, driven around in fancy car, wonderful meal with loads of posh people. Tom Jones live in person and actually singing to me my favourite song. It's like all my dreams have come true on one day. And on top of all this I have you, I am so proud of you and so handsome, I felt the envy of every woman there tonight," she took a deep breath as she looked him pride filling her heart.
"I can't wait to see everyone at the W.I. to tell them about tonight I know at least one of them will be green with envy," she continued as Ianto picked up her feet and sat down on the large red poof and started to give her a foot massage. "Tom Jones, singing to me, Ianto how did you do it?" she told him, smiling and taking a sip of tea.
"Well got any more dreams then see what I can do for Christmas," he teased her then took a sharp breath as he realised she would be gone by then and he fought back tears not wanting to spoil this night for her.
"Okay as this is the night for dreams, I'll tell you. The one thing I have always wanted, well recently anyway is one of those Tea Cup Yorkies. I had a look on the internet down at the library, and they're twelve hundred pounds, well that put paid to that little fancy. But dreams are free and it would be nice having something to fuss over now that you've got too big and as you know I can't stand cats," she said as there was a knock on the front door.
Looking at his watch Ianto couldn't imagine who it could be this late, it was almost twelve midnight he knew it couldn't be the Doctor, the letter had been from Jack advising him they would pick him up in one weeks' time and a promise to look after Spud. So he was at a loss who could it could be.
Opening the door he saw a young woman holding a cat cage. "I was asked to deliver this to Lily Jones," she said. "Sorry about the time but the request was very specific and asked for this to be delivered, well now," she explained.
"Who is it?" Lily asked as she joined Ianto at the door.
"Lily Jones? " The woman asked checking this was the right person.
"That's me," Lily declared as the woman handed her the cage.
"She's been fed, and here's all her things." She handed over a large box of blankets and a basket complete with sheepskin liner, food bowls, toys and leads to Ianto. "Good night," she said as Ianto closed the door in complete bewilderment. As he followed behind Lily he heard a scream of delight as his aunt pulled out a tiny puppy.
"Oh Ianto, you naughty, naughty boy how did you know?" she said her eyes filling with tears.
Ianto sat down with a thump on the sofa, speechless as he now picked up the envelope pulling out two sheets of paper.
One was her pedigree certificate; the other was a note to say all her vets bills have been paid to cover every possible eventuality. He watched the small animal proceed to lick the makeup off Lily's face.
"She's 'Spudelicious," she told him as he watched her fuss over the puppy. The small dog warmed to her immediately and having explored with a sniff around curled up on his aunt's chest and went to sleep.
This small animal he knew had given his aunt more joy in the last six months of her life than she had known for a long time. She loved having someone to look after and had given her a new lease of life. Spud he knew was easy to look after and was affectionate and great company.
The week that followed he spent the time just being with Lily. They didn't venture out much and most of it was just spent at her home watching her enjoying having something to care for and allowing her to fuss over him for once. He took over the cooking and produced a wonderful roast, something she never cooked for herself being on her own. Jack didn't realise but in the months after her death Ianto had regretted that he had not been able to give her the time she truly deserved. As wonderful as the birthday night was for Lily this time was a gift beyond measure for him.