4

The hover turned slowly as Ianto descended and Lorenzo looked out the window with surprise as he recognised where they were.

Home.

The engines powered down as Ianto moved to the door, opening it to let the air in and Lorenzo smelt that familiar scent of 'poor' as his old house stood waiting.

"Come on son, time to get some things" Ianto said as he lifted the crates and disappeared out the door. Lorenzo followed and found their neighbours coming out to see what the noise had been.

"Lorenzo!" a woman called with delight, running to scoop him up and look at him, "My goodness, you've put on weight."

"Let us look Zelda!"

Soon people were taking turns to examine him and remark on how healthy he looked, how handsome in the clothing he had on as he stood in the simple jeans and t-shirt with a warm jacket his Taddy had reminded him to grab.

"Where's Carley?" one asked as hands felt his nicely washed hair.

"At home brother. I didn't know if she would get upset seeing the home without their Mama inside. Lorenzo is grown enough to understand there will be sad times ahead. He is having a low day and I thought maybe coming back to where there are strong friends he might feel a bit stronger too" Ianto smiled, "Come on Enzo, we will gather some bits and bobs then maybe we can all have a picnic here at the Hover. I packed some food for everyone."

Ianto led Lorenzo into the house and watched him touch things, remember things and pick up a tea towel to hug as he walked around. Ianto had visited several times to clean and make sure there were no surprises waiting, also to impart food and money to those in the neighbourhood who had meekly approached him. He now knew this house would be protected from looters or squatters.

"We can take whatever you want for your room, next time we can take more. This house will always be here unless you want to sell it when you grow up. No one will touch anything, everyone out there will make sure the place stays safe." Ianto explained, "Come on, let's ….wow. Pretty."

Ianto picked up a little fruit bowl of coloured glass and Lorenzo gasped as he ran to grab it "Mama loved this one. She hid it when Da was mad. It was his Mama's so he never broke it."

"Well, I think it would look lovely on your window sill for your special pebbles and stuff. Imagine the light catching it, your Mama can see it from heaven there" Ianto nodded, placing it in a crate. Soon Lorenzo had gathered some things, not forgetting his sister and they headed out to find a blanket on the ground and some waiting for the picnic with their meagre offerings.

"Wonderful, did you make that pie?" Ianto asked one who smiled as she nodded, "lovely lattice work."

Ianto went into the hover and returned with a large crate that he opened to reveal it was full of food. Three picnics worth and he knew the leftovers would be eaten with delight in these little houses too.

"Brother, you care for us enough" a roughish voice scolded and Lorenzo recognised the man who had stood with a bat that night, defending them next to his now Taddy.

"Don't be silly. The care packages are earned, you look after the house for us" Ianto snorted as he settled and passed Lorenzo a plate, "Bedsides. Hoodlum for life. Share and share alike. Who am I to have wealth and not ensure my clan get remembered."

"The children are still overjoyed with the playground you had built and the food that comes regularly is welcome" the man nodded, "We could not accept this from anyone else but we know you are one of us. This is not charity, you share."

Ianto smiled as he leaned forward to accept a cookie from the man's wife's offered plate, "Hoodlum give some."

"And those that don't duck get some" came the laughing reply.

Ianto watched Lorenzo as he looked around at his old neighbourhood and then started to speak, telling them of the girl who was making him feel small.

"She's not Hoodlum, child" an old woman said softly, "You are. Remember that you have the blood of warriors in you … she thinks you are small, it doesn't make you so. Only your thinking makes you so."

"Well said old mother" Ianto nodded, "I came from here, that building over there…see? The tall one over there? I lived there with me Mam after me Da threw us out. He wanted a new family and we were thrown away like puppies not cute anymore. More fool him, look at me now. Not only have I earned the Jones name and now hold higher rank within both the military and the Jones Empire than he even did, you know the real thing?"

Lorenzo canted his head.

"I can look at him and not feel small. Now, if I were to see him I would make him the small one, I would make him see that I am a better man than he was. Maybe because I am Hoodlum, not a gentle boy raised with lots of money and no hard work. You are hoodlum; this is where you come from. Where I come from and don't forget it" Ianto kissed his head and then patted his back, "We survive because we must."

Lorenzo nodded as he leaned against the warmth of his Taddy.

He was right.

He needed to stop being a baby and be his own person with or without Dylan's help.