26
Jack sat watching Ton and River as they filled the pencil holders for the craft area, the old record player waiting as he flicked through records.
"So, you're worried that he is becoming withdrawn?" she asked as she handed the little boy another box to rip up.
"He's back to suits all the time and PJs. He used to sleep naked and dress for his moods. It's like he's drawn a cloak around himself and is acting like it's all fine." Jack sighed, "I know it's my fault. It never occurred to me that he would want a romantic evening and I ruined it. I got home too drunk to know I was stepping in it further and by the morning it was too late to fix it."
"Jack, it's never too late to fix it" she scolded, "This is Ianto we are talking about. Wine and dine him, take him out somewhere. It doesn't have to be fancy. A hay ride or a picnic. Something that's just the two of you. This little imp is quite the cock-block I bet."
Jack looked up at her as reality set in and he slapped himself with a groan.
"What!" she demanded.
"We've not…you know…since Bets and Herb died. We've only had a few moments since the attack actually" Jack rubbed at his face, "Shit. We were always touching, kissing. Wanted to just smell each other and shit. God. We have become stale. And he tried to fix it so I stuffed it up."
River sighed as she reached out and took Jack's face in her hands, leaning in to kiss his forehead, "Stop beating yourself up. Fix it."
Ton had stopped placing pencils in the holders as he watched her kiss his Daddy, his frown deepening as he watched his Daddy smile back up at River.
As they walked back up to the chalets Ton pondered things and let go of his Daddy's hand to go sit on his rock.
Ianto found him there and he sat next to him watching the little hands twirl a daisy.
"Sweetheart?" Ianto said softly, "What's wrong?"
"Taddy and Daddy do kisses" Ton said as he considered, "You love and love. You kiss."
"Yes darling, you kiss the one you love" Ianto said as he tried to understand what was wrong, "Daddy and Taddy kiss because they love."
Ton frowned, "Daddy belongs to you and you belong to him. You said so in your speeches."
"Vows, yes" Ianto smiled, "We promised to love each other forever and do lots of kisses."
Ton sighed and studied the flower, "So…you kiss the one you love."
"Yes" Ianto said as he knelt to tie Ton's shoe.
"Why did Daddy and River kiss?"
Ianto blinked, "What? Er…maybe it was just silly. Or you misunderstood."
"No. She put her hands on his face and her mouth on him. I know a kiss when I see it." Ton was angry now as he dropped the flower, "Does Daddy love River now?"
"Ah…" Ianto was stunned and couldn't speak.
"Will she live here too?" Ton huffed, "I want my room. I like my room. I will share, you can live with me. OK? You came sleep with me. Don't go."
"OK" Ianto whispered as he struggled to remain calm, his heart pushing up his throat and threatening to vomit out his mouth onto the ground as he thought of Jack with someone else.
Ton decided that they had made an agreement and he slid off the rock, going inside and walking past Jack who was reading a report in the lazy-boy.
Ianto walked past as well and Jack looked up in time to see the back of him, then back down at the report.
Ianto watched his little boy as he started moving his toys around.
"What are you doing love?" Ianto croaked out, still in shock.
"Making room" Ton replied, "You can have your toys here too."
Ianto retreated to his Throne Room where he sat on the closed toilet lid and finally wept.
Why hadn't he seen it, why hadn't he realised?
The one thing he had always feared had happened.
Jack didn't want him anymore because he had found someone better.