28
Jack shifted from foot to foot, glancing over at Gray who was watching the fish in the tank of the huge aquarium. Ianto had been right to choose this restaurant, it was quiet and the lighting low. Gray couldn't wait, preferring to look at the fish while Jack sipped his coffee.
His mother entered the doors and let the waiter take her coat as he pointed towards Jack, her face showing nothing as she pushed some blonde hair back from her face and she started towards him, her eyes drinking in the three settings at the table and her eyes started to roam.
Shit. She was thinking it was Alice with him. Jack glanced at Gray who still hadn't noticed their mother. She came to the table and Jack rose without thinking to do her chair, then settle again.
"Hello Jackson" she said as she looked disappointed now "not the little one? Someone else?"
"yes" Jack glanced again at Gray who was now crouching to peer at the bottom of the tank.
"you've met someone!' she bred out "you have … you have a look to you. You've met someone. The one?"
"Yes. I have met someone. I think … I … I know… I found my True Soul Mate. But it's not him with me today" Jack said softly.
"Him" she frowned "A him."
"Mama?"
Jack and his mother both turned to look at Gray who stood there with his hands dripping on the front got his shirt as he looked at her "Mama … is that you?"
"Yes Gray. This is Mama" Jack sighed, leaning back as she exploded form the chair, seizing the boy she knew in her heart was her son, her wailing bringing the staff running.
"It's OK" Jack called out "A family reunion. It's all good. She's our mother!"
After a while they all managed to sit and Gray told her how Jack had come and found him. He also told her about Ianto, the man they had snatched but was kind and was Jack's. Jack said nothing, spent the time watching his mother drink Gray in. She held his hand, looking at those stubs where fingers should be, weeping for the pain he must have felt.
Finally she turned to Jack "You promised. You promised me you would find him and you did. You did."
"Yes" Jack nodded "And now he's safe."
"Well, when I get you home I can see you need a good feed" she rose and started to gather her things as Gray looked at Jack, his alarm obvious.
"Mama. Gray is with me and Ianto, my partner. He needs time, space. We have a doctor on staff that can help him, Ianto also helps. He has a way about him that is calmly. Gray doesn't want to be steamrolled … he wants to acclimatise to the outside world." Jack stopped talking as he watched his mother's face change to the one he knew, her anger evident.
"He is MY son."
"He is his own self" Jack said, remembering Ianto's coaching here should this happen "He will decide. Sometimes he might want to spend time with you, maybe even the two of you going to the summer house when summer comes. He loved it there. You kept it for him, remember? Right now … he wants to think."
"but…but…"
"Mother. Let's get through Christmas. A time or you to meet Ianto, see my daughter and let Gray settle into his life. Ianto wishes to extend the invitation to you, to come Christmas day for the meal. He gave me this itinerary so you know what time we are opening the gifs, doing the meal … our address is on the bottom."
"Your … you live with him?" she looked at Jack with shock. "How sudden was this?"
"Yes. Ianto has a warehouse he has converted into a home. I live there with Alice … she calls herself that now. Gray is there too, it's up to him if he wants to stay or move out when he feels ready. Ianto has told me that he is happy for Gray to remain there. Ianto is my Soul-mate. Why waste more time apart… we are destined. We feel as if we were always together now."
"Really? He said I can stay?" Gray lit up "I like him. He's funny."
"Well … he does have a way bout him" Jack sighed softly, his smile softening to one of affection "I never thought it would happen. My True Soul Mate. And then … there he is. Like everything slammed home and … I am whole."
"A man" his mother repeated, this time with a look of disgust, "I don't know … this might … how will it look to the church group?"
"MOTHER!" Jack sniped "Enough! We came, you saw him. You are fine, he is fine and as always, I don't matter in the equation. You are invited to Christmas, there are the damned times. Gray, come or stay. Up to you but I am done with this for now."
Jack stormed from the restaurant, yelling at them to put it in his tab as he headed to the SUV climbing in and sitting there with a face of thunder, Gray clambering in and closing the door.
"Wow. She was mad that you spoke to her like that. Funny the things you forget. I forgot she could yell in that high pitched voice" Gray said as he clicked his seatbelt "Can we go home now?"
"Yes." Jack said as he found a calm place inside himself that was where he knew Ianto resided "Home."
Sounds like a plan.
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So I survived a LONG day of work but warn you the madness leading up to Kirihimete (xmas) will be extreme and there may be more days when I cannot post of will have to post late/early to get around the long hours. I guess its all money honey.