Chap 53
The clock ticked, the night rolled on and Sunday bloomed across the sky.
Ianto had risen early to run off the remaining fumes from the night before and had left Jack asleep, still angry at his accusations the night before.
The children were asleep so Ianto flopped on the couch and was surprised to find his two fathers coming in with Idris.
"Hello baby" Gene crooned, snuggling up to him on the sofa.
"We called around to the house to drop off your present and you weren't there" James said softly, placing a gift bag on the table and a large round box he'd carried under one arm, under the table.
"Didn't you get my message?" Ianto asked as he reached for the bag.
"Lost my phone again" Gene sighed, laying his head back against the sofa.
"Sorry. We decided to stay here after the naming ceremony last night" Ianto said as he shook the bag.
"Shit! You guys were coming to ours for a cuppa this morning!" Jack swore softly from the doorway.
"We called Idris and he said where you were" Gene smiled.
"So, breakfast?" Idris changed the subject as Victoria shuffled in with the Babbit who made a little noise and waved his arms when he saw Gene.
"Ah, the mighty Bean!" Gene crooned holding out his arms with glee.
Victoria placed the baby in his arms and he cuddled the wee babe who babbled as he patted Gene's face.
"Ah, they get along so well, same attention spans!" James deadpanned in true Jones style and Jack snorted.
"Oh. Oh, wow!" Ianto was holding a small jewellers box and looking at it with awe.
"What is it hon?" Jack asked softly.
"Cufflinks. Oh wow, coffee beans" Ianto enthused holding them out to Jack.
"Wow indeed" Jack smiled at the man he loved more than life. Nice to see that smile.
As Ianto reached for the box under the table he remembered that it was Monday tomorrow.
Tomorrow was The Day. Ianto wondered when they had given it the title. Tomorrow they would get the results of the re-test. It had been typical of Jack to blow off the six monthly check, the last one having come back clear so Ianto had tried to forgive the fact he hadn't been there this time for the kick in the gut.
He wasn't looking forward to tomorrow. Think positive.
He frowned as he looked at the old box shaped like a large hatbox. One corner was scorched and the whole thing looked ancient.
He opened the lid and the air left the room.
Mam.
The smell that was his mother lingered in the box, Lily of the Valley was her favourite scent.
He looked at the trinkets that had sat on her duchess, things he had played with as a baby while she brushed her hair. Those long locks glistening as the brush ran through to make the curls bounce. He remembered dropping this and chipping it right …. There.
"Hon?" Jack saw Ianto's face changing and leaned forward, looking at James.
"When she died, we were so heartbroken. He was throwing all her things away and … well. I don't know why but we picked the box out of the bonfire and secreted it away in the car." James said softly, watching Ianto.
"It was the last time we were allowed to see you, it …" James stopped speaking and looked away.
"I found it when I was looking for your baby book we made, was going to make one for the boys" Gene said, "thought you might like it."
Ianto didn't respond for a while then looked up, tears rolling down his face.
His fingers grasped at the diary hidden in the bottom.
