26
Jack was super early and overly nervous as he seated his son near the end of the table where he knew the little Kat would go, his little kittyself liking to sit on the end of a table so his tail could curl around the chair without another chair bumping it.
Others soon stopped eating to watch their captain as he rearranged the table and removed the centrepiece, replacing it with a smaller one from another table, then he fiddled with the cutlery until he found matching sets. By the time Ianto entered with the two children the Captain's Table looked fantastic. Jack was sitting serenely sipping water like he hadn't been aware that the breakfast hour was about to begin.
"Hi Daddy" Alice chirped as she skipped over and kissed his cheek, turning as Ianto pulled out a chair for her and she smiled politely as she slid into it "Thank you Ianto."
"You are very welcome Alice" Ianto replied serenely as he watched his son side into the end chair, his paw hovering before it landed on Stephen's arm and he stared into the black eyes he had created with interest.
"Wow, you look like a panda" he finally said and both boys giggled.
Ianto sat next to Jack in the customary partner's chair and the entire room fell silent as Jack rose to pour juice for Ianto.
"Thank you Jack, could I please have eggs with my toast?" Ianto asked as he reached out to flick a napkin at his son with a frown, another napkin waved at Stephen. Jack rushed to get breakfast, tending to his family and then he finally sat with a soft sigh of happiness, looking around to see they were all happy as Harrison chewed happily on his mouthful of sausage.
"The flowers are pretty today" Ianto said after his mouthful of egg had gone down and he leaned forward, spying the large display on another table, "Glad we got the red gladioli, those pink fersillians look so dreadful with the purple dragons' breath."
"Yeah, I know you like red" Jack replied happily, "A nice red isn't it? Almost burgundy."
"Rich, the gardeners are doing a great job. So glad they have worked out the hydroponics" Ianto nodded, then rose, "excuse me, I see some grapes."
He returned with a platter of fresh fruit and placed it down, the children all excitedly grabbing handfuls as Jack finished his food and pushed his plate away, "That was good. Hergie and Rhys are really picking up their game."
"He is a good cook" Ianto replied happily, "But I think you will find Andy back there before his shift starts with us."
"Really?" Jack asked with surprise, "Well, well, well. You did pick that one, didn't you."
"Hmmmmm" Ianto's smile was gentle as he reached out to refill Jack's glass with orange juice and Jack found himself smelling Ianto's hair briefly before pulling back with a grin of apology for such a public act.
Ianto pretended he hadn't noticed and sat back to eat some grapes, the Mess now humming softly as people remarked to one another that there had clearly been a joining. Jack listened intently for any negative remarks or signs or discord but found only nodding and approval.
It seems they had been the topic of conversations longer than he had realised and this public display of unity was not only accepted, but expected. He looked down the table as the two boys who were blowing bubbles in their milkshakes, giggling as their anger had been let go and he smiled as he watched a paw rub his son's arm affectionately then he startled as Ianto rose from the table.
"If you are OK to finish the children off I ….that sounded wrong" Ianto frowned and Jack roared with mirth as he brandished a butter knife, "Stop it! Please behave!"
Jack laughed even more as Ianto smiled softly and rolled his eyes.
"I will head to the bridge and start the daily checks, can you see to these heathens?" Ianto waved his hands at the table.
"Yes Ianto" Jack nodded softly, "I will get them finished, cleared away and to school before I come up to take over."
"As you wish" Ianto bowed to touch his nose to Jack's in a surprising Kat-kiss and glided across the room and out the door, then the Mess erupted with people coming over to congratulate Jack like it was some sort of declaration and he realised that it had been.
Ianto was Gorgan. A proud and private race that never bend, never allow another strength over then like that.
Not only had he just openly given Jack the role of a parental to his child and allowed him to tend to him in public he had just openly kissed him, albeit a Kat-kiss.
Ianto had declared.
Wow.
Jack knew he was starting to blush as he sorted the children, cleared their things away and thanked Rhys as he told him Ianto had enjoyed the meal. He then took the kids to school and kissed them all goodbye, Harrison surprised when Jack politely Kat-kissed him.
Then he headed to the bridge with a new feeling.
He finally felt like he was in charge here.
He had this.
Ianto was waiting.
.
.
.
.
.
Anyone thinking they are moving too fast needs to remember that spark they felt when they met. They knew even then there was something there and both wee alarmed by it. Seems they were being set up by a certain Brigadier? The crafty old bugger is more clever than he lets on... I've not told you his sirname have I... Kirk? You really think I've not got more story yet? Snigger.