13

"Hey, there you are" Jack's mother turned to face Ianto with a look of distain at the familiar greeting like they were friends or something, then she took in the impeccable suit and perfectly done hair, not a single out of place whisker or collar as she blinked.

"Yes, apparently it is the day to make the Christmas puddings? You leave them overnight too? You know… I vaguely remember that at one of the homes I stayed at one Christmas. I remember, we put coins in it. I was sure someone would choke."

She laughed softly before she could stop herself, this man so sweet and then she felt the surprise of it as he moved past her to peer at the ingredients "Right then. Apron?"

She pointed to a drawer.

Ianto pulled out a floral number with ruffles, placing his jacket over a chair and doing up his sleeves, then placing the apron on. He transformed into a sweet homemaker as he started to move things about, saying over his shoulder "do you have a radio? I like music."

"No" she said softly "I like music too… never thought about a radio in here."

"Ah" he nodded and started to sing softly, a Christmas song that she knew and with delight she joined in, soon both of them side by side as they created the pudding to be set aside for the meal tomorrow.

"Mica is so excited I may have to drug her tonight" he said after a while "I do hope you do not have a pony hidden in that pool shed or something. I don't think the spare room is large enough."

She giggled as they stared to enjoy the task talking about flowers, favourite food and Ianto even told her some of the work he used to do, some of his students and one time when he locked his keys in his car and a prison bus passing stopped to let the inmates show their skills while at the university for a Scared Straight thing.

Millicent felt it coming on slowly but as he turned to smile at her she found herself really liking him.

Then he stepped back from the sink and started to sing for real.

Her jaw dropped as his pipes started to clear and her own voice found power. Jack's father entered the kitchen to stand with open shock as he watched his wife dance in the arms of this man as he serenaded her, ending with her laughing gaily as she hugged him.

"Oh Ianto, you sing so beautifully" she sighed.

"Ah… give me a piano and I am gone" he agreed "one of the things that saved me in some homes… my ability to entertain."

"You really spent a lot of your time in homes?" she asked "Rhiannon said so little of herself."

"Rhiannon is a move forward….sorry. Was. Was a move forward kinda girl, glass half full. I am a pessimist at heart waiting for the perfect family to turn and dump me off like a puppy after Christmas." Ianto shrugged "I do admit though…. I was a weird child."

"Well… all children are weird sometimes" she assured him, her hands patting his shoulders as he smiled softly and nodded.

"I was looking for my munchkin" Franklin finally said.

"Rose has the kids in the main room wanting that Grinch movie" Jack said from behind his father, watching Ianto make his mark.

"Oh my god!" Ianto swung, removing the apron and flinging it over the chair in a fluid motion as he pulled his jacket from it at the same time "Without me? How bloody rude! My favourite one!"

"Really?" Jack asked with a grin.

"Well… I do like the Polar Express too… trains are cool" Ian winked then slid past leaving Jack to laugh as he followed him.

Franklin looked over at his wife and asked "Well?"

"Well… he is not what I thought he was at all. Totally different to her but at the same time… he seems… delicate." She frowned as she looked after the young men.

"In the time I have spent with him I have found him very frail but he had a steel spine inside, scared and also… incredibly witty. I did not know he could sing like that though" Franklin said as he waited for her to finish up so they could go watch the movie with the others.

"Well… the songs around the piano tonight will be interesting" she agreed as she fussed about.

Franklin nodded, also intrigued to hear the man play.

They walked into the movie room… yeah… rich. Don't judge… to find the kids all on the sofa with Ianto and Jack, laughing at the movie as Jack's arm was slung over the back of the sofa. And Ianto.

The message clear.

Jack was where he wanted to be.

His mother was pleased.