26
Ianto was feeling morose, standing there rubbing the small bump as he looked out over the fields and then his eyes strayed to the gardens below, his frown deepening as he turned and signalled for security.
Malcolm came immediately with look of interest, polite as always. "Sire?"
"Malcolm, it's going to rain. They are setting something up down there in the rose gardens, is it the Rose Society today?" Ianto asked, pointing down with concern. "Can they not smell it in the air?"
"Shit, you're right" Malcolm forgot the politeness as he leaned around his childhood friend to look down at the garden below "It's their monthly society meeting in the roses. Shit."
"They can't … arg. End of their financial year, it's not a normal one. It's their prize giving. They can't postpone" Ianto pondered, rubbing the bump as Malcolm turned to him, canting his head.
"What would you like to do then Ianto?"
Ianto smiled as Malcolm again forwent the pomp. He then decided "Well we have to open the ball room. Place rugs down for the flooring, put out tables and chairs … let them come in out of the cold."
Malcolm smiled softly as he nodded his agreement "Maybe some blooms on the tables so they can still enjoy them? You know me Mam will be so pleased. She's on the committee. Hasn't been in here in years."
"Well, that's not good enough" Ianto huffed "Why can't they always come in? A national institution. They've come every month for about ten years or more. No. Let's go get things done. Lovely idea about the roses, we can … oh."
Mary was walking around the corner and almost collided with them, smiling as she saw Ianto's hands on the bump. "Sorry darling."
"Oh Granny, can you help us?" Ianto blurted out, forgetting that he was not going to call her that "I need roses."
"OK love" she smiled happily, the title one that gave her heart delight.
Other staff joined them eagerly, pleased to help the young king who usually never asked for help. Soon they were in the garden snipping blooms and other greenery as Ianto sang softly to the children who had come from the kitchen as well. Seems the chef's two little ones love their 'uncle kingy' and their little voices joined in.
"OK, it's getting to big drops now" Ianto called out, "I would hate for someone to catch a chill, especially the babans, come on, we can all go inside now!"
They traipsed back up, talking and laughing as Ianto told them about one time when he and Jack inadvertently killed one of the roses from a Russian diplomat, running it over when they stole a food cart then Malcolm had hung on the side and it had tipped. The old queen again watched the way the staff looked to him, moved around him and even tried more than once to openly argue with him over carrying the basket he had filled.
They poured into the ballroom and called out to one another, those working to cover the hardwood floors with large rugs and the tables and chairs were being set up.
"Don't arrange the flowers, put them in big buckets with the vases empty beside them. Jugs of water. They are the rose society, let them do some arrangements and I shall judge the best ones" Ianto decided with increasing delight "You are all doing a stellar job, well done everyone."
Cheering and back slapping as they looked around happily, the place looking like a pretty little café, then Ianto turned to find Malcolm entering with the woman in charge of the society event.
"Helen!"
"Ianto love!" she said with delight, and then she paled and curtsied "Oh my god, I mean … your majesty!"
Ianto laughed and waved a hand "Stop it. It's OK, there are no cameras to catch me being human. Come on. See what they have done."
Mary watched Ianto place the praise on everyone else, not accepting it for himself as he looked around happily. "We've left the flowers and foliage so they can do some arrangements, I shall judge and the winner can have high tea with me one afternoon, what do you think?"
"Oh sweetie, that's a lively gesture. The girls will be beside themselves, all wanting high tea." She laughed.
"Well, they are getting it today. I shall call my love and see if he's around to waft though with that devilish grin as well, drop some drawers!" he waggled his eyebrows cheekily as she giggled and without thinking reached out so hug him then look at the bump.
"Is it true? A real little one in there?" she asked.
"Yes. We are so blessed, Jack spends time each night telling blob … oh dear. I mean the baby … he hates he calling him the blob" Ianto giggled "So … he tells BABY the ABCs and things, not that I think blobby cares."
She laughed as she hugged him again and Mary watched the woman's son slide over to stand close, a loving eye over things as Malcolm let a hand rest on his mother's lower back.
Yes.
The lovely boy knew, had known all along who he was, here he came from and was definitely happy to be home.
With family.