11
"Sweetheart?" Jack knew something had happened, just not what and Ianto was remaining tight lipped about it as he stomped about the kitchen slamming things about.
"Can you get Ton to set the table please?" Ianto asked without turning around and Jack complied, their evening meal mostly in silence as Imp looked at his parentals while chewing, then he had to ask.
"Tadda? Why mama chrysie smack you?"
Ianto froze as Jack's glass slammed down and he calmly answered "Mama Chrys had some bad news and needs time to get over it."
"With smacks?"
Ianto sighed. This was not his place to say but his son needed an explanation and right now he felt it the right thing to do, "OK, you know how we found out Mama had two bubbas in there, not just one?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, it's just one again. The second one didn't really happen so well so it was taken back" Ianto said softly and Jack groaned as Ton hummed through his sandwich. "We are not to talk abut it, it's a secret for now as she wants time to be sad."
"Who knows?" Jack asked.
"Them. Us." Ianto shrugged, "I've not told the other kids, I don't know if I should or if it's up to Chrys to announce when she's ready or what. I don't know if there is a protocol for this."
"And the smack?"
"She was in shock, upset and I tried to comfort her" Ianto shrugged, "She took it as me trying to somehow take the pain as mine. She resented my regret."
Jack forced himself to remain calm and seated as he raged internally, Ianto's slumped shoulders and soft voice giving away the hurt he was in but he knew Ianto would resent interference here so he took a deep breath, "If she ever touches you again I will smack her back."
"It's OK, I wasn't hurt."
"Yes you were."
Ianto smiled as he leaned over and kissed his lovely Cariad, so touched at the pout and blazing eyes that showed his desire to smack her now but was resisting. So handsome.
"How about you and I snuggle and you can kiss it better" Ianto whispered, Jack grinning as Ton slid from the table and placed his dishes in the dishwasher before coming back for a goodnight kiss. Ton wandered off to watch a move in bed so Jack rose and took Imp through for a book while Ianto cleared things away. No, that is not sexist and Jack did not make Ianto the mother. Ianto is the mother hen. Do you have any idea the shit storm if Jack broke a cup or put the salt and pepper in the wrong spot? Really?
Nope, he learnt long ago that Ianto's kitchen was like hot lava.
Don't touch.
