11

Ianto let Jack lead him to the guest house, surprised to see it made up for two. He turned to find Jack carrying his own bags in, placing them in the other bedroom "Hope you don't mind. So many family coming that my old room is being used by my little sister. Since this has two bedrooms, I thought I would just stay with you. OK?"

Ianto was not sure what to say as this was a pleasant surprise but nodded as Jack's mother bustled into the house "There you are. The kids are messing about. They are not happy sharing with their cousins!"

"I don't blame them. Cousin Jamie's kids are monsters. Why do they have to share?" Jack mumbled.

"You know that it's two girls and a boy in their family. I must keep the kids in the same end of the house!" she argues. "They make too much noise!"

Ianto looked around the large living room "Well… can't we put Mimi and Davie in here with us if they don't want to share with strangers?"

"They are not strangers. They see them every Christmas!" she bristled immediately "Michelle is just…. I mean… Mica…"

Ianto walked from the room without comment, not wanting to start the Christmas thing with an argument and he heard Jack's voice rise before the door closed and Jack came into Ianto's room "Sorry about that. She is stressed and wanting to lash out at someone. She forgot … I was there too."

It's OK. If that's the worst she can do" Ianto quipped, determined to brush it off.

Jack just nodded, making Ianto wonder what else there was.

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Later that day others were still arriving and the kids were relieved to find two sofa beds made up in the guest house for them, then Ianto showed them his bed and the arguments began that they could just sleep with him.

"Are you mad? With your toe nails Mica? You'll hit a main artery in the night and I will bleed out in me sleep" Ianto said with that glare they all knew was a game. Jack was laughing along with the kids when his mother entered with a pretty little blonde thing that made Jack light up and rush to her.

Rose? Ianto hoped so as he felt a spike of jealousy.

Oh… defiantly not expected.

Dainty, almost elfin with such pretty fine features and naturally blonde hair like her mother, she was a peach. Jack left with his monster … er mother to help carry bags and Ianto was putting away some toys for the kids when he turned to find Rose still there, just watching him from a sofa with that same look of interest of a predator.

"Can I help you?" Ianto asked deciding on the direct approach.

"No … no. Just wondering what he saw in you. I mean... you must have something special about you for him to want to be here with you instead of in the main house where Mom can fuss like a mad chicken over her favourite chick" she smiled. "You are not what I expected at all."

Ianto felt weirded out and said softly "I thought that ws you. The favourite. The way Jack talks about you, you are the pick of the crop."

"No… that' just Jack. He always thought that. No. He is Mom's little darling" she rose to walk over and pick up one of the books Ianto had placed by the chair he had decided would be his.

"Anyway… Jack's room is taken by you. Why he is out here with me" Ianto answered, shrugging as he took the book from her, pointedly putting it back down. She looked openly amused by his annoyance.

"No. I have my own room. Jack had his… Mom would NEVER defile it with someone else. Not her darling. When he was married to Lucia she was not allowed to sleep in there with him ya know… separate bedrooms even when they had a baby. Our here was her spot. Mom did not like the idea of her darling little boy being … not all hers." Rose smiled at him while making lewd faces and Ianto realised she was … goading him? Was he supposed to be jealous? Angry? Embarrassed? Actually he was really was amused that Jack was so under the thumb. Mom's little boy.

"Your mother is… direct and I now see Jack might want to be out here to hide from her a little?" he tried instead of saying he was told mother was a loud snorer to see what she would do, and she stared at him long and hard.

"No." she finally said as she turned to leave "clearly… it's you."

Ianto was not sure how to react to that so he kept unpacking and tired to put out of his head the fact that girl might be just fishing for her mother. Jack was not THAT interested in him. flirting… a little kiss here and there when accepting his lunch box and stuff that left both of them shocked each time and flustered… no. Ianto expected him to fly out the door to meet someone from his other life for a quick shag or something at any moment.

And it was clearly within his right to do so.

Not like they were a couple or anything.

Just flat mates.

Right?

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"Are you OK?" Jack asked as he fiddled with his tie. Ianto seemed distracted and stood behind him staring at his reflection like it might speak instead.

"No. I hate people looking at me." Ianto huffed.

"Stand next to me then... they will all look at me instead. Look at this chin. This chin alone will outshine anyone else's there. Masterful.. manly chin" Jack poked his chin at Ianto and watched Ianto's reflection smile softy.

"Yes. And that cute dimple… looks a little like a bum actually."

"What?" Jack pretended to be outraged, turning to grab Ianto who shrieked and slapped at him as they laughed then Ianto reached out to do Jack's tie like it was no big deal. Jack stood and enjoyed those fingers pulling at his collar, fixing him up then resting his hands on Jack's shoulders as they stared at one another.

The kiss so natural.

Damn.

FUCK! WOW!

Ianto broke first; rushing from the room as Mica called for him and Jack looked at himself in the mirror and winked.

"Bum face indeed" he said to himself, chuckling still.