11
The cottage was quaint in an adventurist way. The bed was thankfully large, a smaller one that must have been little Jack's. Ianto stood looking around with wonder.
A large fireplace, a cooking area so you could use the fireplace as your cooker and Ianto was interested to find the concrete base for the fire pit had two little handprints in it, accompanied with large ones.
"Yours?"
"Yeah. I helped pour that hearth, we laid the stones and the concrete bowl… they are mine, that big one GG's of course." Jack smiled, placing his hands down and they fit into the large prints showing the Harkness genes.
"Well now. I shall see about this fire and some food" Ianto said as he looked around "Once I have unpacked."
"I will fetch some wood and start the fire, you sort the food" Jack agreed, heading out as Ianto settled back to look around the one room cottage once more then a thought occurred.
Ianto walked to the door and called out "Jack? Where is the loo?"
Jack's laughter echoing back over the long grass did not bode well for Ianto.
.
.
.
.
They ate with gusto, the clean air bringing an appetite Ianto didn't know he could possess. Not since the workhouse had he been so ravenous and Jack enjoyed seeing the man consume the food. They had explained in the lessons that a good eater is needed to ensure strength. A child.
Then Ianto cleared things away and he turned to Jack with a soft flush "I have to… prepare."
"Sure" Jack said as he settled on the bed. Ianto took off out the door into the darkness and Jack sat up with shock then realized what Ianto had meant. God. How inconsiderate of him. Ianto was toileting in the dark. Shit. That needs to be remedied. Tomorrow. Yes.
Ianto returned just as Jack had started to worry about the length of time he had been gone, and slid into the bed, his skin cool to the touch.
"Did you… bathe?"
"I didn't want to stink" Ianto replied "Besides. I like a cold bath. Good for the skin. Felt good to swim… I've not done that since I was a child with our water reservoir."
Jack held him close and kissed his neck then whispered "new night in a strange place. No need to please me right? I am tired after all that rowing. We can just snuggle if ya like."
"Oh I do like" Ianto was touched, knowing full well Jack was being considerate of his nervousness and soon both men were asleep.
In a patch of paradise.
.
.
.
.
"I GOT ONE!" Ianto screamed leaping about in the afternoon sunlight as he yanked the fish up the bank, running for Jack while making squeals of horror once he saw how big it was and Jack laughed as he ran to catch the flopping fish, then bash it on the head to kill it.
"Wow. Big. Well done!" Jack laughed lifting it up by the gills "You know… that is enough to feed us tonight if you add the mushrooms and onions as a side dish."
Jack didn't even know there were mushrooms or inions here but Ianto had foraged while Jack built a little shack off the side of the cottage. Yes. An outhouse. Apparently Ianto was a dab hand at knowing the different types of mushrooms, telling Jack that this one is meaty and full of flavor. A light salad would suit it fine, as would the little wild onions he held out in his other hand.
He had lived off the land as a child and never forgotten. Jack could not wait to get him on a horse when they got home.
They ate that night and Jack watched Ianto's' face full of joy in the firelight, his voice so sweet as he sang softly, stoking the fire without a second thought. So pretty. Jack knew he was falling for this enigma, knew giving him back at the completion of the contract was going to hurt.
Then Jack settled back to consider things more.
Did he HAVE TO give him back?
They had a shelf life… or stable life right? By law after so many babies they have to be put to pasture. Ianto has provided eight viable… one that did not make it but that counted as a contract, right? Ten? The number was ten? So… this one would make ten?
What happened to them then. What did 'pasture' mean exactly?
He was almost too scared to ask, but knew he had to.
If Ianto did provide the Harkness Heir he was worth something even after his baby maker was deemed overused. Right? Jack knew watching him in the firelight that he could not in all good faith let him go back to the workhouse or worse… the Night Houses where those no longer useful became whore for their masters.
The thought of anyone else touching him… hurting him… made Jack's stomach roll.
Oh god.
He was falling in love with him.