7

Everyone lined up along the railing to wave, watching those on the dock wave back and Owen said softly "Do we have anyone down there we know?"

"Maybe our cabbie is still there" Ianto said with a wistful sigh and Owen snorted with mirth, yelling goodbye lovely cabbie. Jack was laughing, holding Mica as she stood up on the railing's lower rail and let her yell as well, everyone drowned out by the large horn of the boat. He felt excited for the first time in a long time, getting caught up in the fun.

"Hey!" Owen said excitedly "Know what this reminds me of?"

Ianto knew and raised an eyebrow to let Owen have his moment.

"TITANIC!"

Ianto laughed gently, letting Owen preen at his little joke and Jack saw it, saw the little boy beneath the fake bravado as Ianto scolded him for scaring the children and telling him he had to be on iceberg watch for that one. Owen laughed happily, bouncing on the balls of his feet, then took off with Tosh to watch the welcoming video that would play in their quarters.

"Can we do that too?" David asked "Can we go and watch the introduction vid?"

"Sure kiddo" Jack answered before Ianto could, lifting the boy up and swinging him away from the rail as the he squealed with delight then the children were running off, Ianto calling after them that he had the key.

They returned to quarters and settled to watch the huge wall sized screen, the lady on there telling them what a wonderful time they were going to have and the phone went, Ianto rising to answer as Jack nursed Mica and whispered that her hair was nicer than the lady's on the screen, making the child's day so easily.

"Hello?"

It was Lance asking if they were settled in OK and Ianto was touched, thanking him and telling him they were pleased with their quarters, then Jack sat with his mouth open as Ianto calmly invited them over for a little 'pushing off drink' before dropping the phone into its cradle with a flick of his wrist.

"Come on kids" he called as he turned to face them all on the sofa "Alice and the kids are coming to say hi, I want to see some ideas here!"

Jack felt Mica go stiff, then she took off with a look of determination as he blinked at Ianto.

"It's a competition" Ianto said with a shrug "Life can be boring with me so I issue a challenge now and then to see who can come up with the most interesting game. They love it, it gives me a little peace while they think on it and they both always win."

"You are so good with them" Jack rose and brushed his pants down then watched Mica running back to sit at the sofa with a box in her hands, opening it to reveal craft supplies that she began to spread on the table.

"I might want that table for refreshments love… how about the one over in the corner, then I will not have to ask you to pack it all away?" Ianto pointed and she looked over at the table on the corner with shells and things on it, nodding with glee as Ianto walked over and began clearing it. "Maybe some cushions to sit on, you can really spread out here, its bigger see?"

Ianto had derailed the potential mess, had reset it and the little one looked even happier than before. Jack was impressed.

"Uncle?" David had a box too and Ianto made a noise. David sighed "I know. You said to leave it home but … we left now. Can't take it back!"

"You …" Ianto struggled "Bad child. OK. But it goes back in the bloody box when finished, do not leave it lying around where I can step on it, do you hear me?"

"Yes sir" David agreed as he sat on the floor and opened the box to reveal a little figurine that he picked out and began to play with, the box fill of things for the tiny bot that came to life, moving in his hands.

"Wow, I've not seen one up close before" Jack said with wonder as he knelt by the child "Saw the ads of course but … so tiny."

David offered the toy to Jack who marveled at the workmanship as Ianto settled on the sofa, his face showing his dislike for the thing. David whispered to Jack "Uncle hates it. IT gives him the heebie-jeebies. I am only allowed it coz I got it last Christmas from Da. I call him Monty."

"A good name that" Jack assured him, rising to sit next to Ianto who was stating took through brochures left on the coffee table for them. "You OK?"

"Yeah. Just … had a bad experience with a Bot where I worked. Went haywire and a few deaths were incurred before security could shut it down. I know that little thing can't hurt anyone but it's the idea that we are becoming more desensitized to them, letting them have more power, more control… silly but I fear one day they will snap on us." Ianto shrugged.

"Like Terminator?" jack teased, then leaned against Ianto and whispered "I will save you."

For some reason Ianto found that endearing and leaned into him too, reveling in the contact as they not looked into one another's eyes. Then Ianto rose, suddenly shocked to realize what was happening, Jack left blinking as he also saw what they were doing.

Flirting.

Really?