15
The meal was fabulous. Ianto happy to help sort the dishing and pouring of drinks… the eggnog perfect. He said so to the delight of Franklin who admitted it was his signature thing.
"Only thing she lets me do" he winked.
"Ah but truly… the most important part of creating the Yuletide" Ianto assured him "and this Christmas has been the best I have ever had."
"Really?" Jack asked, "We've not had the arguments or thrown anything yet. One year an entire turkey went in the pool"
"Jackson! It was a chicken, you know Delores hated turkey and we had to cook a bloody chicken for her each year." His mother scolded.
Ianto laughed along with them, feeling part of the family for a moment or two.
Then came the gifts, the REAL gifts and David stalled out as he stared at his drone. Jack leaned in and told him of his own drone so they could learn together and David rose, going over to hug him around the neck and thank him.
"Thank you Daddy Jack!" he said, then he pulled back "I mean…"
"It's OK David" Ianto said quickly "If it makes you comfortable… we all don't mind you calling him that. Honestly love… Jack and Me will be your prarentals now I guess. Although… I will NOT wear heels to the parent teacher interviews ya know!"
Giggling as the kids looked at each other.
Jack was touched that the Owner's Manual for his old crop duster Ianto had somehow found was not only the correct vintage but the picture on the cover was HIS one, the tail numbers matching. He had no idea how he did it. Perfect. Jack knew the photos inside the cover of all the spare parts that came with the manual would help him prolong the poor old girl's life.
A thoughtful gift. Wow.
Mica said the chemistry set was the EXACT one she wanted bursting into tears as she showed it to her grandfather, then settling to hug it.
"Well I never. Not a Barbie?" Millicent asked.
"Well… I wanted one" Ianto said with a pout "Rhiannon got all the good stuff."
Giggling as the kids enjoyed his silliness and Jack found himself grinning as he poked Ianto with his foot "Which one?"
"The horse riding one… preferably with the horse" Ianto said after considering and more giggling started now as he looked around "What! I like jodhpurs. Sue me!"
Jack leaned in and whispered "want your gift?"
"Oh? Got a Barbie in your pocket?"
Jack ginned and held out his hand "Come on. You'll like it."
Jack led him out to across the lawn to a large garage full of cars. Ianto walked around with wide eyes as Jack led him along then they come to an Austin Martin.
"OH MY GOD! A JAMES BOND CAR!" Ianto shrieked, his hands flapping as he gushed over it.
"Right hand drive" Jack laughed "It took me a while to source one the right colour. Green right? The one he drove this model?"
"Oh Jack!" Ianto cried turning to seize his face and kiss him.
Jack grabbed him around the waist and kissed him again reveling in finally allowing a meeting of their passions and it was easy to lean Ianto over the bonnet of that car as the two men found that they REALLY had enough eggnog to make this a warm experience. They christened the bonnet ... the front passenger seat...the bonnet some more... damn. HAWT.
By the time they got back to the house the party was winding down, the kids tired and the alcohol flowing. Millicent saw them enter "Here they are… in each other's shirts no less!"
Ianto looked down with horror as he found that she was right, and then he could only laugh.
Seems a miracle had happened on Christmas Day.
Ianto Jones had found a life.
And it was a good one.
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Thanks for reading.