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The water was lapping against the side of the boat as Ianto snoozed in the seat, his head lolling as seagulls cried overhead.
"He's been down a while" Owen was craning his head as Gwen turned the boat in a slow circle.
"Probably mating with a dolphin or something" Tosh giggled and they all laughed softly.
Owen was watching Ianto and he reached across to touch the back of his hand, "Hey."
Ianto grunted and raised his head to smile at him.
"You like the water, don't you" Owen smiled back.
"I was born by the water, me Da was a fisherman when not doing battle" Ianto snorted softly, "The smell of water always soothes."
"Did you go out with him as a wee kid?" Owen asked and Ianto was reminded that Owen didn't have a father.
"Yeah, we would go help feed out the net and pull it back in, man the oars and generally act the goat until our Da threatened to knock our heads off" he laughed softly, "Three boys and two girls. Us boys loved going with Da, especially checking the cray basket. The girls were afraid of the crayfish and we would roar and chase them around the house as Mam tried to clip our ears."
"You know, I can imagine you as a cheeky child" Gwen laughed gently as she pointed to an ascending shadow. "And him."
"Don't lean over" Ianto warned but Owen frowned at him and did anyway, only to squeal as Jack exploded from the water with a yodel that send Owen back onto the deck.
"What's wrong Owen?" Jack laughed as he climbed the ladder.
"Gonna need a bigger boat" Owen huffed with good humor and Ianto laughed happily.
"Well, it's been flooded and is now settled into the silt" Jack sighed as he sat next to Ianto and let a wet hand drop onto Ianto's lap. Ianto vacantly picked it up and rubbed it between his warm ones.
"Picnic?" Jack begged and Ianto smiled as Tosh carried out the basket and then went back for the food she had already laid on plates.
"Yum" Jack hummed happily as he picked up a sandwich and Ianto looked at him with open love.
"Turkey and cranberry jelly" he said softly to his love, "Your favorite Cariad."
"Wonderful" Jack mumbled around another mouthful and Ianto accepted a glass of orange juice from Tosh.
"Do you think it was wise to leave those two loose in the hub?" Owen asked as he accepted his own glass, letting his fingers brush Tosh's and leaving them both blushing.
Ianto pretended not to see, "Well, I'm sure Myfanwy is keeping a mean eye on them."
Owen snorted and accepted a plate from Tosh with a soft smile, her own smile open and pleased.
"You two have the night off don't you?" Jack suddenly pointed out.
"Yeah, we're going to the movies to see the new Star Wars movie" Owen said with glee and Ianto watched the small child in Owen appear.
"Who's you favorite character?" Ianto asked
"Luke for me, then Chewy" Owen answered.
"Has to be Han Solo for me." Ianto nodded.
"Really?" Jack asked as he picked up a pastry.
"Seriously Cariad" Ianto snorted, "I always love a bad boy."
Then he leaned in close and whispered, "You should know."
Jack choked on the food and then slapped at Ianto with obvious pleasure.
"I go for the captain, every time" Ianto sighed wistfully and they all laughed some more.
"Storm brewing" Ianto finally sighed, "If those Gerfilts are happy where you placed their little ship and are settled into their new home perhaps we should go Cariad"
The small spaceship was the size of an orange and held over 200 wee souls that only required deep water and space.
Jack had placed them in a habitat that was sure to be pleasing, the mesh cage over them was the size of a small car and ensured no fish would eat them while they had a large space to explore.
Jack had loved Ianto's attention to detail, the small toys and things nestled amongst natural choral that would make excellent places to explore and perhaps settle as wee homes had been well researched by his lovely Highlander and Jack was again reminded of the gentle heart inside the suited armour.
Jack seemed to be excited about something, hiding it well but Ianto felt the tickle of it and he tried to work out what it might be.
"So. You chased your sisters about the house did you, ya little beasts" Jack said.
"Yep, they sure could squeal."
"Were you the oldest?" Owen asked as Jack moved to stow his dive gear that had been left in favor of the food.
"No the middle child" Ianto smiled.
"The forgotten one" Owen said softly and Ianto snorted.
"So, you think the girls squealed" Jack said as he approached, his hands behind his back and Ianto's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.
"Owen" Jack said with glee, "Look!"
He thrust the crayfish at Owen's face and Owen screamed as he flew back, his arms wind milling as he struggled from his seat and away from the crustacean.
"Like that?" Jack canted his head and wriggled the crayfish at the man in the corner of the deck, gaining another scream.
Blood curdling.
"Yes" Ianto smiled as he smiled lovingly up at his Captain. "All little girls sound like that."
"OI!"
