Hey gang. Sorry for the delay but you know stuff happens. This chapter isn't the long one I promised last time but the next one is. How do I know? Because it's already written and will be up in a couple of days.

Warning: This chapter contains sadness.

"Dark Day in October"

Remy

After that revelation Tad tried to get a hold of his brother, Geraint. He taught marine biology at universities in both the Cardiff and London areas—at different times obviously. Uncle Geraint however, was not at his house in Newport. Nor was he at his place in London which he apparently shared with a doctor and his medical student son, some cranky Cockney called Owen.

Tad spoke on speaker phone with him "Do you know where Dr Jones is?"

"Sabbatical somewhere" Owen answered with an irritated yawn "you've any idea what time it is over here?"

Tad sighed "Yes and I apologise but it's very important that I speak with my brother. Do you know where he's on sabbatical?"

"Nope, wasn't paying attention."

"Is your father home?"

"Nope, he's on a double shift."

Then Tad asked something that both Ianto and I had been wondering "What exactly is the nature of the relationship between your father and my brother?"

Owen chuckled "I have absolutely no bloody idea. Never see them here at the same time. Is that all?"

"I suppose, if you hear from Geraint, will you let him know I called?"

"Yeah, I can do that."

"Thank you."

"Whatever," he hung up.

"He was a bit rude" Ianto said "I like Cockney girls but Cockney blokes get on my nerves."

Tad sighed again "To be fair, it is after midnight over there and it was rude on my part to call so late."

"Still, I didn't like the sound of him; I hope I never have to meet him."

I stretched my arms "If Geraint and his dad are in some kind of romantic relationship, you might have to meet him someday, he'd be kind of like a cousin."

Tad shook his head "They're probably just house mates. I'm fairly certain my brother is not interested in anything but his work."

We didn't hear anything from Uncle Geraint and we didn't hear anything about Aunt Kara either. With that damn helmet Cerebro couldn't trace her. Even once we were back in New Orleans we hadn't heard anything.

Remy and Ianto

It was not long after Ianto started his senior year when life stopped being so good to us. The day was like any other October day in New Orleans, warm and muggy, normal. But Ianto had a bad feeling all day, accompanied by an upset stomach. Being slightly empathic himself, Remy picked up on it and felt ill as well. Neither one of us was happy, we were both cranky and snappy at anyone who crossed our paths. Remi-Anne, though not empathic sensed something was wrong.

"You two shouldn't be so gloomy" she said as the four of us gathered for lunch "it's Saturday. Maybe we can go catch some crawfish."

"Or we can go to the dollar movies" Tad said "I haven't seen The Mummy yet."

"I'd rather stay here" Ianto said tersely "something's not right."

"You shouldn't let a bad feeling prevent you from having fun Ianto."

"The last time I felt like this" Ianto tried to keep his voice calm "you disappeared on me."

Tad sighed "Well, I'm not planning on doing that again any time soon. Don't worry. Remy, why are you in such a snit?"

Remy leaned back, trying to relax "I'm picking it up from him" he jerked a thumb at Ianto.

Tad sighed and shook his head. He looked at Remi-Anne "How do you feel about going to the movies, sweetie?"

"Yeah, I definitely wanna go" she smiled at him.

"Then that's what we'll do" he looked back at us "if you want to stay that's fine. I'm taking my granddaughter to the cinema."

Five minutes after they left we were still sitting at the kitchen table.

"You honestly think he's gonna disappear again?" Remy asked.

Ianto shrugged "I can tell he doesn't want to but there's every chance UNIT might make him." He sighed "Did he look all right to you?"

"He looked a little pale. Why?"

"I get the feeling he's hiding something. I haven't looked into his thoughts, don't think he'd appreciate it."

The phone rang an hour later.

"It's not good" Ianto said, wishing the phone wasn't really ringing.

Remy answered "'Allo. Oui…" he paled "we'll be right there" he hung up.

"It's Tad, isn't it" Ianto stood up.

Remy took a breath, "Heart attack."

"I told you UNIT would take him again."

"We don't know that. He's at the hospital, come on."

"Where's Remi-Anne?"

"A police woman is waiting with her."

…

When we got to the waiting room, Remi-Anne immediately ran to Remy.

"Daddy!" her cheeks were wet with tears.

He crouched down to be level with her "What happened Cherie?"

"We were getting a snack and Grandpa started breathing really hard and he fell."

A police woman approached us "Mr Lebeau?"

"Yes, thank you for looking after her. Do you know what's going on with my father?"

"No sir, but the doctor should be out soon."

Not long after the cop left, Tad's attending physician came out to talk to us. Tad's heart attack had been severe but he was stable for now but it didn't look good. Apparently, Tad had been having heart problems and he'd been hiding it from us.

The first thing he said when we were allowed to see him was "UNIT has nothing to do with this Ianto."

The next few days went by in a dreamlike haze for us. Tad had another attack when he tried to check himself out and he was promptly returned to his room. We were informed that surgery was his only chance, even though chances of surviving the surgery were about as good as surviving the next week. Tad agreed to the surgery.

On the day of said surgery we had Jean-Luc stay with Remi-Anne. We would wait at the hospital. Before the surgery Tad had confession with Father Michael and then he asked to see us.

…..

Ianto

I didn't want to believe that Tad was really sick. I'd already lost him once and I didn't want to go through that again. I prayed that he'd be all right but somehow I knew he wouldn't be. I wondered if perhaps that vision I had back in '98 had been about this heart attack and not the induced one UNIT forced on him.

"In case this goes wrong" Tad told me and Remy before the surgery that rainy October day "I just want you boys to know that I love you."

"You're going to be fine Tad" Remy swallowed, he didn't believe it either.

"Maybe" Tad's voice was weak and sounded far away "but just in case…do you see that envelope on the nightstand?"

As I was closest I picked it up "It's addressed to Mama."

"Yes, if you ever see her, give her that please. If I don't make it…"

Remy nodded "Sure but don't be talking like that."

Tad smiled weakly "Take care of each other and take care of that granddaughter of mine."

"We promise" I said "but Tad please…"

Nurses came into the room, it was time.

I kissed Tad's forehead, knowing but not wanting to believe that this was the last time "I love you Tad." I said in Welsh.

He squeezed my hand "I love you too."

Remy swallowed and kissed Tad too "I love you" he spoke in French. His voice shook and I knew that that was the first time he'd said it to Tad.

Tad squeezed his hand as well "I love you too."

Two hours into the surgery, the surgeon came into the waiting room to speak to us. He didn't need to say anything.

IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!

I know, I know. Some of you are upset with me for actually killing Ioan but I felt it needed to happen for other things to happen later on. For instance, do you really think, being in UNIT Ioan would let Ianto join Torchwood? I don't.

Yes, it was Owen they were talking to on the phone at the start of the chapter.

I'm not sure if we'll ever find out more about Remy and Ianto's aunt, maybe, maybe not. It might be one of those questions that remain open so there's a possibility of a sequel someday. A small possibility.

Okay the next chapter we start skipping ahead. It'll be 2003 at the start of the next chapter. The years between this chapter and that one may be referenced in dialogue or flashbacks sometime.

In the next chapter Ianto makes it to Torchwood. Are you excited?

Like I said it'll be up in a couple of days. I'd like some reviews for this one first, please? With sugar on top? No one's going to die in the next chapter, well someone will disappear but they won't be really dead even though they'll be presumed so. It's all part of the plan. Yes, I have one of those. The world must be ending.

Anyway, as I'm trying to work on this story, updates for my other stories might take a little longer than usual but who knows what the muses will throw at me.

Please review.

TTFN