10
Stephanie was laughing as the little one bobbed in the water, Ianto holding her under her pudgy little arms. She was three month sold and a lovely little thing, loving life and her dotting uncles who came to see her at least once a week. Henry was with Jack right now, arguing as Jack struggled the water wings onto his little arms and finally Jack released him to let his favourite little stinker into the water.
"Lunch will be ready in fifteen minutes madam" the servant called out, his hands clinging to the door as he leaned out and waved to the baby girl. Her pale tan skin was so cute as were her strikingly green eyes like her mama.
"Ianto, did you buy that new vehicle?" Stephanie called out to the man she now thought of like a brother.
"Jack got it. He researched the safety rating, the mileage… you name it. Who knew he could be anal about something" Ianto replied and Jack ignored their laughter as he reached out to splash water at their son who squeaked with glee, splashing back.
"So… what a year" Jack said as they finally settled around the table, the two little ones in their respective chairs as well. Little Athena in a highchair and Henry in a normal one. Since his life had normalised so had he. He would never be 'normal' but what the hell does that mean anyway?
He was happy.
They were all eating when the doorbell rang and the servant slid into the room looking nervous.
"Sorry madam, it's the mister."
She grunted and her ex-husband entered the room only to slow then freeze as he saw his grandson sitting next to his baby daughter.
"What do you want!" Stephanie said flatly "It is not a visitation day. Are you trying to breach the order?"
"I … I just… I … you have visitors"
"I see. Someone rang you and said I had some men here? Is that it? Are you having me watched still? You know you have been warned about that!" she snarled rising from the chair "In front of her. God, you are really going to do this in front of everyone? You? Mister Projection!"
"You know who I am, who we both are" Ianto said as he rose from his chair to look at his ex-father-in-law.
"And you are in clear breath if someone is watching this place for you, or her in particular" Jack said as he leaned back in his seat then said softly "Don't poke that in your leg son."
Ianto watched the old man's eyes widen as Jack calmly told Henry to put the fork down and the child complied with a cheeky grin, then begin to drink for a cup unaided.
"You were all in this together?"
Ianto blinked, then laughed as he saw the mistake "Oh no. No. Jack is not with Stephanie. He is with me! Me. Mine. Me and him … you know... a couple. No. Jack helped as any person would when seeing an injustice but Stephanie is still not in a relationship with anyone right now. Unless you count the one with her daughter."
"Thank you Ianto" she said happily folding her arms as she glared at him.
The man left the house he had thought he would live out his final days in… nursed by the woman he knew now he should have treated better, those inside the ones who had ever been treated like family and now…
Were righteous.
.
.
.
So this one ends.
Thanks for reading.