24
Delia had hold of Max, carrying him behind Ianto who was talking animatedly with Scott. Scott was carrying the attaché case that she knew carried national secrets and some treats for Max. Ianto never carried a bag, scared it would look too much like a handbag as the 'queenie' moniker annoyed him no end.
They settled in the front section, the press following later to settle in the main belly of the plane with the cargo packed in the tail. It was a large transport plane that included Jack's precious car he had purchased Ianto for his travel sickness, also bomb proof as the reinforced chassis was military grade. They were taking no chances and Ianto waited until they were in the air before he unclipped their seatbelts and nodded to his son that it was OK to play.
Max walked quietly along the plane to find the press, walking up to lean against one he recognised and peering at the magazine he was reading, the man absently tipping the magazine for the small child before turning to recognise the future king.
"Your Royal Highness?" he asked with shock.
"Hewo Eric. Is dat a bike?" Max asked with interest, pointing at the article and the place went ever so quietly and carefully insane as the press pulled out their cameras to take photos of the little man. Ianto slid out and settled to watch Max entertain them until he got hungry and looked around, finding him "Tadda? Samage? Pwease?"
"Can I have a sentence perhaps Chickie?" Ianto asked as more jaws fell.
"May I pw… please have a samage Taddy Dear?"
"Yes, go ask Delia for some juice as well, remember your manners please young man" Ianto smiled softly, reaching out to stroke his son's cheek.
"Your majesty, we didn't know you were here!" Stephanie said happily, "You travelled separately to your good husband?"
"Yes, her majesty the Queen was concerned with the family travelling together, for obvious reasons. We agreed to split between the two planes and of course Mac will not want noise and bluster, where as our little man is of an age where he would be bored mental on a quiet flight" Ianto laughed "If we can tire him out he will be quieter for all the photo sessions to come when we get there."
"Awww… he is so lovely" another woman said and the man beside her rose to walk over and kneel before the little boy who had returned with sandwiches in his hands, staff following with trays of more for their guests.
"Would you like to see my camera your highness? Hmmm?" he offered a small hand held digital camera and Max lit up as he placed his food on a seat, accepting it to turn it around in his little hands as the man explained how it worked. Soon Max was taking photos with glee.
Ianto settled back and let his son play, entertain and generally give the press a photo shoot of a lifetime.
.
.
.
.
They touched down at night, the pace lit up with so many lights you would have seen it from space, the crowds swelling and a sleepy Max in Ianto's arms. Ianto stood at the top of the steps letting the cameras whirr, then looked down to find Jack waiting at the bottom with a little baby girl who was kicking her legs and waving her arms excitedly, loving all the noise and bluster. A born entertainer to be sure, like her Daddy.
Into smiled and whispered to Max, who then turned his head to see his father and lit up, yelling with his arms stretching for him as Jack laughed, rising to meet Ianto on the steps halfway, exchanging children as the cameras caught every kiss, every moment of closeness and adoration. Jack hugged his children as he leaned in and kissed Ianto. Ianto's hands on the backs of his babies as he rubbed noses with his love.
It was a beautiful moment and the crack of the gun shot was like a thunderclap as Ianto instinctively threw himself over his family, Jack letting his knees buckle to fall back on the steps, cushioning the fall for his babies.
Yelling and chaos as people rushed about, Malcolm there with his hands on Ianto as he spoke gently, coaxing Ianto up to check if he was hit.
"It's OK Mal… I am not hit. It struck by the door, look … look up, it was high … over my head by a hair. I felt it go by" Ianto whispered softly, picking up the crying baby who had not liked the fall at all, sobbing her little heart out with fear as he now sat cuddling her, his heart pounding through his chest wall.
"OK love?" Jack asked, the wall of security surrounding them gave them a few moments to focus as the car was unloaded and brought around, nothing else acceptable now.
"Shaken, yes" Ianto said softly "OK. You? You hit those steps hard."
"Jarred my back a bit but I didn't want to catch Max's little hand under me… god" Jack stopped talking, staring into Ianto's calm gaze until he felt strong, then rising to his feet with Max still in his arms, holding out his hand for his love. Ianto rising beside him with a now snuffling bsby.
"Slowly, step in time with us so you are still hidden in our bodies" Malcolm said as they painstaking went down the rest of the steps, boxed in by black suits, getting to the car and inside before Ianto gave a shuddery sob, then buried his face in his baby.
He was allowed one.
One moment before his face regained control and he looked out the window as they took off.
Jack knew Ianto would not break down until they were alone.
Safe.