8
Ianto was pleased to find Brian cleanly washed and clothed in mostly regulation clothing apart from bright red converse shoes. This new allowable item was being snapped up by most of the crew.
They waked into the next berth where Brian froze and looked at the bright room with shock.
"Hello brats" Ianto said as he sat and the children rushed to show him their pictures they had done with the bright coloured pencils he had given them. Brian sat and tried to keep out of the way as Rhiannon bustled about heating the food and soon they were all seated, hands out as he glanced at Ianto in question.
"They want to give thanks" Ianto said as he reached out to take Mica's hand as well as Rhiannon's. Brian took each child's hand and watched them bow their heads as Rhiannon nodded to Ianto.
"Goddess of all things, thank you for lenience and compassion in a time of confusion. God of war, thank you for being quiet today and God of chaos…Loki, you need to take a break man, seriously" the children giggled as Rhiannon growled softly, Ianto continuing "And last but not least God of love, thank you for such blessings we do not deserve. Amen."
"Amen"
Brian watched them dig in, feeling lighter as the same blessing given at meals as a small child endured, "Tad?"
"Yes love?"
"Are we OK?" David asked with wide eyes, "Really? The cool cloaks? We can really wear them to school?"
"Yes, all children have one so there is no favouritism or segregation. We talked it over with the lawmakers and they agree that if we are all including a colour it cannot be construed as subversive if there is global agreement. As we are now out own little metal planet, if we all introduce a colour to our uniforms, it is acceptable. We will slowly do this, Red and Green are now openly acceptable. Other colours may be used in Inner Sanctums. Every now and then we might let another colour out, only if we can see a way for everyone to wear it." Ianto nodded.
"But… what man will wear this pink" Rhiannon sighed as she stroked her scarf she was wearing with pride.
"Actually, I think it would quite suit me" Ianto said haughtily and they all giggled as he took the scarf and put it on his head like an old woman, pulling a fishy face, "Well? Is it me?"
"Oh Ianto, how dare you show everyone our private plumage" Jack said in an equally silly voice from the doorway, his face open and full of affection as he entered leaned down to kiss Ianto openly. Then from behind his back he pulled around two little glass birds in the palm of his hand. A green one and a red one.
"I think David should choose first, Mimi gets all the pretties" he said as he knelt and David went still with wide eyes, then reached for the red and Mimi squealed with glee.
"I wanted the green one!" She said as she cuddled it and Jack looked at David.
"Good man, you knew that didn't you" he smiled, "Well done. That is how a man behaves for a woman. Especially a sibling. For that, tomorrow you can stand by me for the morning trooping."
David lit up as he looked at his mother, "Can I?"
"If Uncle Jack says so" she smiled.
"I can't wait until the official bonding" David as Ianto took a sip of his drink "Then I shall call him Daddy!"
"Oh shall you now. What if I want to be called Mamooska? Or Shamooo?"
The children giggled at his playing as he poked at them, Ianto's face softening as he reached out to straighten Jack's hair, "My Cariad, you are a Twypsn."
"Arg, again with letting them see our private things, you know I like to be called that in the bedroom" Jack used the silly voice again as everyone laughed, even Brian as he felt himself relax, seeing that this was not what he had thought it was.
Later after Ianto and Jack and kissed goodbye Brian sat on his bed watching Ianto fold his tunic carefully for the laundry bag.
"I … I missed you Taddy" he said softly.
"And I you" Ianto didn't turn around, "But you chose. It hurt but I understood, my militarial life was not for you and when your Mama Lisa and I agreed to apart you chose. It hurt that you didn't chose shared parentage but … her world is so much better than mine, after all it half-killed me to leave her."
"Now I see why" Brian said as he leaned back amd frowned, "You've put years into this. For them. You will always choose for them before yourself."
"Our Mother died. I had to care for Rhiannon, our father had left us before Mama's death for another and there was no way he would take us in now. I was there when they announced what would happen, I saw the only chance for the children. What else could I do Bri? I asked Lisa to come, for both of you to be part of it and she told me you and her could never be with me." Ianto stopped fussing and sighed as he looked down at his hands, "Why I know you hate me and this now. I will be gone from this berth soon, you can pretend you don't know me in public and I will never refer to you as my son. Continue to call me uncle as my sister's babies in there now choose to call me Taddy. For all the truths … these are lies that suit you all."
Brian felt the sting as Ianto moved to the bathroom and leaned back to consider things.
He had not been told there was a choice, his adopted mother telling him Ianto had abandoned them.
The cow had lied.
