A/N Ok, YOu all would not BELIEVE what it took to get this chapter up. I have been trying since last night and it just wouldn't load. OK, Rant over, now on to other business. Thanks to all the comments and those who have stayed with the story in spite of it taking me so long with the wrist, which is healing slowly. Please read and review, and special thanks to Orion Lyonesse and HPattskyn for beta reading and helping keep lure my muse out of her hole. I owe you both.
John hurried out of the room, obviously anxious for dinner or something. Ianto hurried along behind him, realizing for the first time how completely normal he looked. Ok, the boots were a bit different but with the tight tee shirt and skin tight jeans, the only way anyone could tell he wasn't just a regular 21st century guy was the wrist strap, so like Jacks. Even that could be passed off as some kind of leather strap watch.
"John, where did you get this? I haven't seen a bottle like this since…" Jack stopped, either thinking about it, or trying to decide if he could safely say something.
"Oh, you know, around. Thought you would appreciate it though," the other man said, leaning against the table. Ianto looked at the bottle closely as Jack was pouring out small amounts in to some wine glasses from the cabinet wondering if there would be enough to go around, and if it was safe.
"It doesn't take much," Jack said, recognizing the look. "It's kind of strong." Ianto examined the bottle more closely. The writing was in a language that certainly wasn't native to this planet, though he was fairly sure he had seen something like it in the archives. "Don't worry, it's perfectly safe," the immortal assured Ianto, handing the younger man a glass before offering them around.
Behind them in the kitchen, Gwen was putting together a plate, while John looked around the room, first at those he recognized, Rhys, Gwen, Jack, and then at the others. He seemed particularly nervous about the children, glancing at them only to turn back to Jack when one of them looked his way. Finally he settled, casting flirty looks at Alice, Lois, even Rhia and Andy, causing his sister to blush and the PC to turn away, swearing. John took the glass that was offered and wandered over to where Alice was sitting next to Lois on the couch. "Hey there, beautiful, just where has he been hiding you," he said, looking down at her with one of his trademark leers. "Or you, for that matter."
"Oi, Vera, get yourself to the table. I gave you a bit of everything and there's more than enough if you need more." John dragged himself away from the ladies and settled into a chair as close to everyone else as he was able.
"Ok, a toast," Jack announced, holding the glass aloft. "To the holidays, good food, family and friends, and of course, the presents." They all seconded, and for a moment the room was full of the sound of glasses clinking and kisses and hugs being exchanged. Gwen even gave John a peck on the cheek, backing quickly as he tried to turn for more. She didn't need that particular lesson twice, even though he was probably safe, for now.
John tried to split his attention between Jack passing out wrapped packages, and the plate of excellent food in front of him, so he was surprised when someone tugged at his sleeve. John started, unaccustomed as he was to anyone getting that close to him but he managed not to react violently. "Why did Miss Gwen call you Vera?" the little girl asked, looking up at him. John wasn't used to dealing with children, he never had been.
"Just a bit of a joke," he said, looking down at her. She had Jack's dark hair, and his smile, though not the blue eyes, and he wondered who she was. She certainly wasn't Jack's niece, his former lover had only had the one sibling and the less thought about him the better.
"It's silly, Vera's a girl's name. You're not a girl, are you?"
"No, I've been a lot of things, but not a girl. Wha's your name, Princess?"
"I'm not a princess, I'm Lucy."
"Well, you're Princess Lucy, then. I'll tell you a secret," he leaned down and whispered to her. "All little girls are princesses, regardless of what else they are."
"Lucy, I have one here for you," Alice called to the little girl, and she smiled at John and ran back to the tree, while he watched, and wondered if this was what normal was.
"Get enough, did you?" the dark haired Welsh woman that Jack had identified as Ianto's sister said to him. "There's more if you like, I could get you some." John turned on the smile, there was definitely a similarity in the trilling accent, though less stiff than Jack's lover. Still, she was sweet looking, in a plush sort of way.
"Never enough for me," he said, winking at her. "I'll be glad to take whatever's on offer." Rhia tittered and blushed. Not surprising, he though, her husband or partner or whatever didn't look the sort to know how to treat a woman. Of course there was a bit of rough charm there, very rough. I wonder what Eyecandy would do if I managed to cut the two of them out of this party. Not for keeps, mind, but it could be fun, a bit of native.
"I'll just…go and," she blushed and took his plate into the kitchen, still blushing and giggling like a school girl. Looking the other way, he saw that the children were busy with piles of toys, while the adults were opening things at a more sedate pace. Jack was ripping into a package with his usual abandon, while his Welshman was carefully pealing back the corner of a box that was obviously professionally wrapped, probably from Jack. His ex-lover had always been the generous sort, at least he had been.
"There, now you tuck into that," Rhia said, putting another loaded plate in front of him. "That Jack, he can't half cook, and you look like you could do with a proper meal. No one at home to feed you up properly then?"
"Are you volunteering?" he said, winking at her again. "I bet you know what a man likes."
"Oi mate, tha's my wife you're chatting up to." Johnny Evans had finally noticed and was now standing a bit red faced next to her. "Stay away from that flash bloke," he said to her. "You should know better, married woman you are, giggling like a school girl."
"At least he noticed, not at all like you. Too busy with your schemes, and your rugby, not to mention all the time you spend down the pub when you could be home with me," Rhia said sharply, eyes flashing at her husband.
"Now you two, don't fight over me. I don't mind, I'll be glad to share you both," he said, smiling at the blond standing over them. Johnny opened his mouth but nothing came out. He stood there, beet red, his thoughts stumbling slowly across his face while he tried to work out if he had been insulted, complimented or propositioned.