10

Ianto was adjusting his daughter's sweet little dress which was black and chic with her sunglasses making her look like a movie star.

He was sliding the antique pin into her dress bodice as Jack came into the room with Caden on his hip, the little boy looking like he might explode with annoyance.

"But she's her aunty" Caden said sullenly.

"She's your Godmother too and you know you love her just as much" Ianto scolded, "And you promised to be nice. She has done this special treat for your sister and included you, she didn't have to. You will sit there, not make up your own song words and not laugh at the death scene. You will not loudly tell everyone that 'he dies' when pointing at the main actor and you will not…I repeat not yell out to Juliet that it's all a trick. Understand?"

"But if it was a Robot War I would understand" he sighed, "But Romeo and Juliet? Boring. I wanna stay with Gammy."

"Stop it!" Ianto scolded again as he grimaced at the mention of his mother who he avoided in the large house, her quarters in the lower levels where she kept to herself except to creep up at bedtime to see the children once Ianto and Jack had retired for the night, "If you can't be nice then you don't need the sleep over later."

He was still a wee boy, far too small to hide his dismay and Ianto knew Jack was going to fold any second to he changed the subject, "Do you know what food you want? Try to think of everything so she doesn't have to send one of her men back for more. They might like to sit and watch too. It is the Terfiggal translation after all they always add colour."

He nodded, turning to the soft touch "daddy?"

"Yes darling" Jack crooned, "My little storm boy."

"Can I sit with you?" Caden used the biggest eyes as he could and he knew he had won as Jack glanced at Ianto with those same wide eyes employed.

"Oh Jack!" Ianto sighed, "You know she wants the kids by her."

Jack pouted more and Ianto felt a stab of anger "Fine. You and Daddy can sit in the seats behind then, I will sit with your sister and aunty. Gods help me, I did want to sit with daddy but it's OK. You two can sit together instead."

Now Jack's face changed as he realised Ianto was angry and he frowned, "It's just a play love, you know he will fidget and carry on when he gets bored. I can slip him out if I have to. Come on, don't be snotty."

"Snotty" Ianto said softly, his eyes flaring now as he looked at his husband, "Is that right. I'm snotty? Jack, can I speak to you in my room for a moment please?"

"Oh come on Ianto, don't ruin her evening, she's so excited" Jack said as he lifted the boy back to his hip, "come on loves, Daddy will get you squared away on the transporter, Taddy can follow once he remembers who's evening this is."

Jack left the room as Ianto stood simmering, then he took a deep breath knowing Jack would pay for that later when they were alone. He was unbelievably angry that Jack had let himself be played like that, also that he had openly argued in front of the children and he was about to go after them when he looked up, into Henry's eyes.

"Henry, you should not be there" Ianto said softly, "Run along and get the tent sorted, yeah? We will be back in a couple of hours and he's all yours."

The bug dropped silently from the ceiling to settle in front of him and a claw came out to touch his face with such softness, such a gentle affection that Ianto smiled.

"I am fine sweetling, just annoyed" Ianto assured him, "Don't worry. We are all fine."

Ianto walked out to the large sleek Transporter Yvonne had sent to collect them and settled into his seat across from Jack who frowned as the seat next to him remained vacant. Alice reached out and hooked Ianto's hand happily, not noticing the frosty look the two men shared. But Caden did and it suddenly occurred to him that he had caused a problem with his naughtiness.

"I'm sorry Taddy" he said softly, "I just really don't want to sit with the girls."

"It's fine Caden" Ianto replied with a smile he hoped looked happier than he felt, "You and Daddy will have more fun together than I would have been. I can sit on my own with the girls."

Jack was looking out the window and he turned to look at Ianto, seeing his face drop for a moment as he looked from their son to the late afternoon outside.

"Ianto?"

"Let's just let Alice enjoy her special treat for making her stats, Ok?" Ianto said without looking at Jack, "This is her evening after all. Maybe I should have just let him stay home."

Now Caden knew he had done something wrong, his Taddy sounding so sad as he clutched his hands together and Caden glanced at his Daddy or reassurance.

"I'm not in trouble am I?" he asked in a small voice, "I will still get my sleep over if I sit back?"

"Of course you will" Ianto answered before Jack could, "You are a good boy. It's all fine. Come on, you can still enjoy the food, you like the food yeah? Maybe even some to bring home for the boys?"

Caden brightened as he realised he could ask for a couple of extra packets of sweets, they liked sweets.

Ianto's hands squeezed tighter as Jack watched the knuckles go white.

Shit.

He just didn't understand why Ianto was so nervy.