51
Walter woke in the chair, snorting loudly and wondered if he had been snoring. Curt hated that, poking him in the back and scolding him for drinking too much and … shit. Walter sat up and rubbed his face as last night swam into focus, groaning as he now remembered why he was in the dog box of his own creation.
"Good morning" Pen said calmly in the doorway of the living room as he chewed a piece of toast "You slept in your clothes Dad. Grandy sez that's slothenly!"
Walter snorted, yeah. Tad would say that. He insisted in PJs. Tad. Oh gods. Walter rose and arched his back only to freeze as the outside door opened and his father entered, Jack's face one of doom. And now to take your medicine?
"Lucky Penny, want to go ask Taddy if I can have a cup of Joe?" Jack asked gently "Grandy is sleeping still and I didn't want to wake him with the grinder."
"Sure Grampy" Pen rushed off as Walter watched his Dad settling in a chair. The bloody coffee grinder would not wake his Tad who had build that house with perfect soundproofing and was no more asleep than he was. Taddy was probably in the laundry room sorting clothes for the machine.
"When I first saw your Tad with Connor it was at the dog park. I turned up unannounced after him asking repeatedly for me to join him only to fob him off and I finally made it to find a man with his arm around him, cosy like. I was a tool. I thought for a moment Ianto was having an affair. With Connor. How we met. I got over it, realised he is a tactile kinda guy and that's how Babs met Bethy." Jack surprised Walter by not scolding, this topic unexpected.
"OK" he said slowly.
"I was spending too much time working, not enough with my family and they were suffering. Ianto felt alone, abandoned and taken for granted and I was doing nothing to fix that. My Harkness foot-in-mouth was in full force too."Jack sighed "Seems you have a bit of that. Your Tad and I have always pursued a good work ethic, been proud of you for your stamina but … times change. You promised less time at work, more time here. I did too … I almost lost Ianto. I almost lost everything … me …then he walked over broken glass and forgave me as I sat bereft in the middle of the painful mess I had caused. Bleeding for me when I was the cause of the pain. He picked me up and kissed it better when I ws the one who fucked up. Walter … you are a Grup now. A husband. Father. A lover. A fighter. Get your head out of your arse boy … you are slipping. I know … I was there once too. Do not take your eye off the ball. Your family. Look around yourself … focus."
Walter nodded as he hoped he could fix this.
"Oh … also you apologise to your Tad. He is ready to go 'whatever' at you!"
"Walter sighed "He did. I mean ... last night. He did say it. I did push too far."
Jack's jaw tightened and then relaxed, Walter feeling alarm in the moment as he saw the raw anger from his father. Then Jack nodded and rose smiling as Curtis appeared with a travel mug full of coffee almost as good as Ianto's "Dad. Off the mow the green belt?"
"Me and Ton. Yep" Jack pated Curtis' shoulder affectionately then leaded off, leaving the two men alone. Walter was not surprised when Curtis turned and left Walter sitting there without speaking to him.
He deserved that really.
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I know some of you are not liking this right now but I write realistic people, I do not believe in fairytales as my own life had been filled with moments of pure fuckery. Walter is a lovely man, a good boy but human and they will get through this … so shall we xxxx