52

"What now?" Luka asked as they drove home, "You just opened a can of worms there."

"I just turned on the light is all" Ianto shrugged. His hands were not shaking as he removed the gun from his holster and removed the clip, pulled back the slide and released the bullet into the palm of his hand. He was making it clear that he was done now, in his mind this was over.

"Turned on the light?" Luka laughed, "So that was the noise I couldn't put my finger on, it was the cockroaches fleeing."

"Luka, don't be mean I am sure those nonbelievers were just late for something" Ianto scolded, even as his eyes danced with merriment.

"Really, and pretty cupcakes are muffins who believed in themselves are they?" Luka snorted, Ianto blinking before roaring with mirth, Jack revelling in the sound of his love as his head fell back to expose his throat to his brother without a second thought.

Beautiful.

Free.

Powerful.

"Yours" Ianto whispered softly and Jack realised he was looking at him, really looking at him and the warmth filled him to the brim.

"How did you get so strong" Jack asked as he hooked Ianto's hand, "huh? Where did this fire come from?"

"I rose by lifting others" Ianto said softly, "I remember now, I remember who we once were. The Mara bowed to us. We bowed to one another, respectful and righteous."

"Beautiful" Jack added, "Don't forget you are beautiful too."

"If I ever doubt myself I need only look to you, your love" Ianto nodded, "come on, let's go home. Wick will want his bath time with us."

"Are we OK?" Jack asked after a few more blocks, "Is this it?"

"Yes" Luka answered for his brother, "Yes it is. They will not doubt us now, they will not question. They are all starting to feel the awakening. Ianto has given them more than enough to worry about in their own houses."

Jack agreed that was true, his own house was all he cared about. His family.

They roared up the drive and entered the house to find chaos, noise and bluster. Ianto's face lit up as he rushed through to find Wick in dog form playing with David who was on his hands and knees pretending he was one too, the toy they were fighting over was tearing as they snarled around their mouthfuls.

Ianto settled into a chair and watched Rhiannon trying to control them as Micha danced past with the tea cosy on her head.

Yep.

Pretty damned perfect.