26

"Good thing that office is soundproofed" Jack said as he watched Ianto scrub the knife before placing it in the dishwasher like it had not just done a bad thing.

"Good thing he decided to stop at one. He waivered there for a bit" Ianto snorted.

"Yeah. He was never a greedy kid" Jack sighed "Do you think he's OK? I mean … I did offer him counselling but …"

"At his own pace Cariad" Ianto turned to him and sighed "Still another matter you've been skirting and Franklin is getting pushy."

"Huh?"

"Your mother."

Jack pulled a look of disgust that resembled a man stepping in warn dog shit with bare feet.

"Jack, I know things between the two of you are sour but … Gray does not have memories of her like that. He thinks of her, wonders. He has you, he is happy but … he does want to see his mother but is afraid to say so in case she is gone. You've not talked, he does not even know she is alive still" Ianto scolded gently "You have to fix that. Alice has never even met her."

"I do not want her in my life" Jack said firmly.

"Fair enough, but that should be his own decision as well" Ianto bristled, Franklin standing behind him with a hand to his shoulder, egging him on "You are as stubborn as she. That's the problem, neither of you willing to step down even as you both ache. Stupid."

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"Yes" Ianto nodded then he stormed from the kitchen, leaving Jack there to sigh as he rubbed at his face.

His father standing close to try to comfort even as he knew Jack could not see or feel him. He wanted things resolved.

It was Christmas for fucksake.

.

.

.

.

.

Ianto put his seatbelt on and started the SUV, his anger making his hands shake and he was about to engage the clutch when the passenger door opened and Jack climbed in, settling next to him. Ianto slowly swivelled his head to stare at him.

"Where are we going?" Jack asked.

"I have personal errands to run" Ianto replied with annoyance "I need to drop some things off to my sister."

"Sister. Rhiannon, right? Good. Time I met her" Jack said as he pulled his seatbelt on and settled in the seat more, looking straight ahead as Ianto stared daggers at him. "Well? Let's go."

Ianto considered then shrugged as he drove up into the sunlight and headed to the less friendly part of town, Jack's face changing from a fake look of interest to genuine as he peered out at the broken down vehicles on the side of the road, the snotty nosed children playing and the hooded looks of the adults.

Ianto pulled up at a small brick house, the gardens pretty even if it was clear that money was an issue here. Ianto slid from the seat and Jack realised with horror that this was where Ianto came from. His home. Likely where his mother died. Jesus.

Jack followed him to the back of the SUV and Ianto pointed "You carry that box. I will get these."

Jack gathered up a large brown box, all tapped down as Ianto pulled out a smaller box with brightly coloured gifts viable in it, turning to go to the house as screaming grew closer, two small children launching themselves at him as he laughed and lowered to his knees "One. Only one now. The rest are for Christmas morning ya beasts!"

"YAY" hands grabbed and the two children raced into the house screaming for their mother "UNCLE IS HERE!"

Rhiannon appeared in the doorway, a slightly plump woman who would have been pretty had she not been so tired, her head swept back and her small mouth pursed together "I was starting to think you'd forgotten about us."

"Sorry Sissy, work is insane" Ianto answered, moving inside as she stepped aside, then she looked at the most handsome man in the world, his debonair wink making her gape as he followed Ianto into the living room.

"Right, I will pop these here, Rhia can you show Jack where you want that other box?" Ianto said as he knelt and started arranging the gifts under the tree that had been sparse and sad looking. He rose and revealed some decorations under the gifts to add to the tree as she smiled a Jack, the resemblance finally there.

"Well then. Jack is it?" she asked, moving from the room and motioning him to follow. He found her leading him to the stairs, the cupboard opening and the Hoover being yanked out "Right in there, at the back so they can't' see it."

Jack knelt and did so, her and on his shoulder brief and gentle before she drew it back and grunted to herself. He rose and turned to her "Alt?"

"Mild. Not like him. Enough to know if someone is happy or sad through touch. Makes me a good councillor. Ianto never lets me touch him. Never. Today … the first time in years he has touched me himself. I felt happiness." She smiled softly "Thank you."

"Are you kidding?" Jack answered with genuine delight "He's the love of my life!"

Rhiannon watched her bother duck his head in the doorway for the living room as he listened, the blush forming as he shot back into the room.

"A man. All this time … I kept wondering when he would meet the right girl. No wonder he always rolled his eyes at me. A man." She shook her head.

"Hey, but not any old man. Look at me. What a gossip piece I shall be" Jack struck a hero pose and she laughed without being able to stop herself.

Yes.

Definitely not what she thought Ianto would choose for a mate.

He was so much more.

Good.

Finally.