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Lady Emma Wentworth - I'm thrilled for Rhys and Drew, and they'll make wonderful parents for Phelan. But I'm still so concerned about Ianto. He was such a vibrant, power-behind-the-scene man to be now a weak, confused shadow of his former self. Please don't let him become a pathetic victim of his circumstances.
Dee - A good, strong choice of name for the baby. Ianto's focus should be on his recovery and Jack should focus on helping him. Jack has given far more of his life to Torchwood than it needs; if he really loves Ianto, he'll cut back and take care of Ianto, letting Drew and Rhys sort their domestic situation out. It would be interesting to see the domestic situation develop between Jack and Ianto and where Orin will fit in their lives too.
Kathy C - Love the idea of Jack pulling back from the hub to focus on Ianto. And Rhys and Drew raising little Phelan together, perfect. Then we have The Doctor telling Jack that he loves him, Priceless! This story is getting better and better.
scoutbokmal - Phelan means wolf? And the one to suggest it didn't know? Oh great Zarquon, some things makes me believe the Bad Wolf is real.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Ianto was aware of the bed dipping as Jack knelt on it and he grunted softly as he reluctantly gave away those last vestiges of sleep. Ianto blearily looked up at the harness descending and sighed, hating the bloody thing.
"I know, but you have to get used to it" Jack said softly, "What if I am not here and someone else had to toilet you?"
Ianto panicked.
Deep down he knew it was silly, Jack would never leave him but that statement came at a moment of only half awareness and Ianto knew he was about to 'have one' as Owen had started calling them and this pissed him off even more as he clenched his hands into fists in an effort to control the temper.
Jack felt it coming and glanced up in time to see the deep blush, something that was once so erotic and now just a sorry warning system that Ianto was going to cry. Jack sat on the side of the bed and took one of those fists into his hands, "What is it? Use your words love."
"No" Ianto said softly, as calmly and gently as he could but it still had a flatness to it that showed the anger underlying the single word. With Orin working through his own recovery there was no inner monologue to help him either, the words were stuck.
"You don't want the toilet? But I ran a bath too" Jack said with surprise, "I thought you wanted one."
"No" Ianto repeated, struggling to say the rest of the words and Jack realised this, not responding as he waited. "Not leaving me!"
Jack frowned as he tried to understand and then he replayed what he had said from Ianto's view and sighed "Baby. No. I'm not leaving you, I'm sorry. That was a rude choice of words. I mean, if I am stuck and can't get to you quick enough. No. I am not leaving you. I will never leave you."
Ianto took a shuddering breath and then nodded, his hand relaxing in Jack's and Jack smiled, "So. No harness lift? Come on, the old fashioned way is it?"
"Best kind" Ianto said as he held up his arms and Jack laughed as he forgave the tantrum that had almost erupted and he gently lifted Ianto in his arms to carry him through to the bathroom and the high bench to lay him on while undressing him.
"Did he Have One?" Owen asked as they entered, "Only I didn't hear anything smashing"
Ianto showed his dexterity with a single finger behind Jack's back as Jack passed Owen and Owen stuck out his tongue to hide the smile.
"That hyrdo lift cost a lot for a piece of modern art " Owen snarked, "Christ on a stick. Is he ever going to get in it?"
"He is here fuckwad" Ianto barked as he glared over at Owen and Owen smiled sweetly.
"Oh I am sowwwy" Owen said sarcastically, "I tawt da wee bubba was sweeping and Daddy had to cawwy him. Awwwww"
Jack turned to scold Owen but Ianto was faster as he struggled to sit up and swing his legs over the bed, "Fucktard wankface!"
Owen folded his arms and looked smugly down at the two feet that had hit the floor as Ianto rose and stood, shook with the effort and then lowered himself to the bench with a look of pure shock.
"Like I said when you placed the order" Owen said as he turned to stop the tap running "He wouldn't need that."
"Ianto, you stood!" Jacks lifted Ianto in his arms and danced around the room, whooping with glee as Ianto laughed and hung on.
"Finished?" Owen asked, "Only this water is getting cold and we put enough bubble bath in to last a lifetime."
"Smells wonderland" Ianto said happily and Owen went to correct him then closed his mouth as he glanced at the bath and saw it was like a wonderland so Ianto technically was correct. Besides. His slips were getting less and he had rallied him enough.
"Right, need the loo first?" Jack asked and Ianto shook his head, his eyes fixed on the large bath as Jack lifted him easily, walking over to lower him into the hot water.
"Ahhhhhhh" Ianto sighed happily, "Harsh."
"Harsh?" Owen asked.
"Hot" Ianto corrected himself, and snorted "But is Harsh on the ballsies."
They all laughed as Ianto settled against Jack who was kneeling by the bath to help hold him up even though they all knew Ianto could sit up without the support. Ianto tried not to splash him too much…well…OK. Of course he splashed, revelling in the bubbles.
"There you are" Rhys said happily as he entered with the little one in his arms, "Look Phel, Uncle Ianto splashes too."
Ianto's face lit up as he looked up at them and Rhys saw what a lovely child he must have been once, kneeling to let his son get a handfull of bubbles from the loving uncle's outstretched hand.
"Grape" Rhys said to the wee one, "That smell is called grape. Yummy isn't it? Better than the strawberry one I got the other day."
"Tesco's" Ianto said gleefully, "Brills!"
"You are a lovely bloke" Rhys crooned at him, then reared back, "Shit sorry Ianto. That was…sorry. I didn't' mean to infantile you there."
"No bothers" Ianto laughed, "You are a lovely bloke too."
"Hear that Phelan?" Rhys crooned, "We are all lovely blokes here, yeah. And Uncle Owen."
"OI!"
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So...house shopping next? Recommendations? I always seem to go for old villas would you like something different? a penthouse appartment like Owen's? Something else? What style, how many rooms? Will it be what Ianto likes or will Jack choose? No children here so it doesn't need a big yard...unless we are going to get Ianto a puppy to smother instead? Something to give him focus? Gotta walk again to walk the dog or something?
