AN: I hope you all had a nice weekend. I spent a very entertaining three hours in Starbucks on Sunday talking Torchwood with "rosieposy" – an event that needs to be repeated often. This chapter begins the lead up to a scene that "rosieposy" requested from me a few weeks ago, which will appear in either the following chapter, or the one after that.
If any of you are attending SFX Weekender this weekend, I am there too, and I will be wearing at some point a tshirt with my pen-name on, so if you spot me PLEASE do come over and say Hello!
Please review x
"What do you mean you've moved out?" Rhiannon asked as she glanced around the room and noticed that the place did look more bare than usual.
"I mean I've moved out. I moved in with Owen a few days ago, I just forgot to mention it." Ianto replied.
Rhiannon's eyes widened. "You moved in together?" She asked in surprise.
"I'll be… somewhere else." Owen said before moving out into the hall and out of hearing range.
Ianto sighed. "Thanks for that." He said angrily.
"Look I'm sorry okay? I just didn't expect things to move this quickly. You normally take things much slower than this. You and Lisa didn't move in together for almost a year." Rhiannon pointed out.
"Yeah and we lived together for a month before she died, and I will always regret not moving her in sooner. Look here's my new address – its down by the bay. You can pick Mica and David up at six as usual." He said passing her a slip of paper with the details written on.
"Fine." Rhiannon stuffed the paper into her pocket before planting a kiss on the head of each of her children. "Be good for Uncle Ianto and Owen." She said before turning on her heel and walking out.
"Are we going to the park?" David asked looking up at Ianto.
Ianto smiled. "I'll go get my football and we'll set off okay?" He said. "Wait here – I'll be back in a minute." He said as he moved passed his niece and nephew and went out into the hall, going towards his bedroom where the ball was, and where he hoped Owen was hiding. Pushing the door open he indeed found the Londoner stood gazing out the window, the football tucked under one arm.
"You okay?" Ianto asked gently.
Owen nodded as he turned around. "Getting used to it." He replied.
"Used to what?" Ianto asked closing the gap.
"People being against us." Owen replied sadly. "Come on – let's get down to the park before it starts raining." He said putting on a more cheerful voice and walking past Ianto.
"Owen." Ianto said simply.
Owen shook his head. "I'm okay I promise. Come on – let's see how bad I am at the real thing." He said going off into the hall where Mica and David were stood patiently waiting. "Ready?" He asked throwing the ball gently at David.
David nodded. "Hurry up Uncle Ianto!" He called.
Ianto emerged from his bedroom. "I'm coming." He said as he moved towards the coat hook and pulled on his jacket, tossing Owen's at him.
"Will you push me on the swing?" Mica asked, tugging at Owen's sleeve.
Owen looked down at the little girl who was looking up hopefully at him, and nodded. "Absolutely." Mica grinned and slipped her hand into Owen's.
Ianto smiled over at Owen and winked at him before the four of them left his flat and made their way down the street to the nearby park, Mica's hand inside Owen's the entire way. As they entered the gates of the park David ran off towards the swings with Mica following close after him. They each climbed onto a seat and sat waiting for Ianto and Owen to reach them. The two men stood behind the children and began to push them till they'd each built up sufficient momentum that they were swinging back and forth at a safe height, David laughing with every swoop and Mica screaming each time she soared up into the air.
"We'll be over on that bench when you're done." Ianto called before taking Owen's hand and guiding him across to a nearby bench and settling onto it. "Are you sure you're okay?" He asked looking at the older man, but keeping one eye on his niece and nephew.
Owen nodded. "I'm fine, I just thought it would be best if I gave you two some space." He replied.
"Rhi just thinks we're moving too fast, but she's just being my over-protective big sister – she can't help it." Ianto explained.
"I know." Owen smiled as Mica and David ran over.
"Uncle Ianto go down the slide! Uncle Ianto go down the slide!" The children chanted as they jumped up and down enthusiastically.
"Uncle Ianto is too old and too big to fit down the slide." Ianto replied gently.
The children didn't seem convinced. "Uncle Ianto go down the slide! Uncle Ianto go down the slide!" They continued to jump up and down.
"I won't fit." Ianto laughed softly looking at Owen for support. The medic got to his feet and stood beside Mica and David.
"Uncle Ianto go down the slide!" Owen joined in the chanting and jumping up and down, much to the hilarity of Mica and David, causing Ianto to roll his eyes.
"Thanks for that." He said pushing himself up off the bench and moving towards the slide, a cheer sounding as he did.
"Come on kids – lets watch Uncle Ianto fly off the end." Owen said taking hold of Mica and David's hands and leading them over as Ianto climbed the ladder and squeezed himself into the seat at the top of the slope.
"If I get stuck I am holding you responsible." Ianto called down to Owen.
"If you get stuck I'm taking photos." Owen called back.
Ianto stuck his tongue out before taking a deep breath and pushing himself off down the slide. Mica and David whooped with excitement as he hurtled down the slide and bounced off the end. The whoops stopped abruptly as Ianto landed on the crash mat at the bottom with a bump and his head collided with the end of the slide with a thud. He didn't move.
"David stay here with your sister – I need you to look after her. I'm going to check Uncle Ianto is all right. Can you do that for me?" Owen asked crouching in front of the frightened young boy.
David nodded as he wrapped a protective arm around his sister. "Will Uncle Ianto be okay?" He asked.
Owen nodded. "I promise." He said before getting to his feet and dashing over to where the Welshman was lying. Kneeling beside him he took went straight into Doctor mode and tapped the side of the younger man's face gently in an attempt to rouse him.
"Ianto can you hear me? Ianto?" He said as calmly as he could muster.
The Welshman groaned as he opened his eyes slowly. "I take it I didn't get stuck?" He said as he tried to sit up.
"No you didn't get stuck." Owen smirked. "How's your head?" He asked as he helped Ianto into an upright position.
"Painful." Ianto said rubbing it gently with one hand. "Are Mica and David okay?" He asked.
Owen nodded. "I asked David to do the big brother thing and look after Mica. They're worried about you." He explained.
Ianto looked around Owen and saw his nephew hugging his niece and beckoned them over. The two children ran across and hugged their Uncle.
"Are you okay Uncle Ianto?" Mica asked nervously.
"I'm fine." Ianto reassured as he held them close.
"Did Owen save your life?" David asked.
Ianto smiled at his boyfriend. "Yeah he did." He replied softly.