11

Ianto knew Jack would follow him so he went to the one place he knew Jack and Idris would never dare come.

They turned up the drive and Gene leaned forward as the house come into view, smiling as his childhood home appeared in the trees.

Then he swore softly as he saw the side they had turned down.

"Pretty isn't it" Gene said softly as he nodded at the glassed conservatory that took most of the back length of the house.

"God, look at the colours" Gene breathed.

"Athenian glass" Ianto said softly, "Was a bitch to get imported."

Gene shifted in his seat to look at his brother.

"Ianto designed it … what seven? Eight years ago?" Eugene asked.

"Designed it eight, construction finished seven" Ianto confirmed as they disembarked.

"You? God, you designed this?" Gene now stood as he looked at the glass walls with pretty stained glass edgings that gave the impression of ivy growing over it.

"Wow, amazing Toto" Gene said softly.

"It's Ianto." He was reminded, "Toto has no place here."

Gene nodded as he followed them into the house and was immediately assaulted with memories of his childhood.

"That you pumpkin?" a voice called and Eugene answered his husband, then he looked at Gene and made a small noise.

"Dad? You in the kitchen?" Ianto called.

"Teddy!" James was around the doorway before Eugene could warn him and came face to face with Gene.

"Oh my god, sweetie. You look so tired and haggard, you look like you've aged five years!" he crooned reaching for him, then he looked over his shoulder and paled as Ianto meekly waved.

"Hello Dad" Gene said softly and James looked between the two men with wonder.

"See? Not so mad after all" Ianto quipped then swore as his father slumped, sliding down the wall.

Eugene cried out as he caught his husband and thy carried him through to the bedroom.

As he was tended to, Ianto rubbed his head and headed for the kitchen where he checked the pots and turned them down.

Gene followed.

"You took care of them"

"Yep, be about another hour" Ianto answered as he turned around to face him.

"No. You took care of the parentals" Gene amended.

"Someone had to" Ianto shrugged, reaching for the peeler. Gonna need more spuds.

"You said ... after I died …."

"Yeah. That was hard. Losing them was worse than losing the clan" Ianto sighed as he sat in his father's vacated chair.

"I'm so sorry"

"Gonna have to get you the t-shirt!" Ianto quipped, "I am alive and I'm sorry."

Gene smiled as he sat in what was always his chair, letting his hand slide underneath the table to feel his initials carved there.

He was home.