14
It was the morning of the big day.
WEDDING DAY!
The invitation was on the fridge, even if he had been disinvited and Ianto looked at it now and then as he sought resolve for what he had to do in order to save his mate. Even if it hurt, he had to do this. What could he lose? Rhys had already made his choice and Ianto had to respect that… not.
Jack entered the kitchen and knew what Ianto was looking at, reaching out to hook his hips and pull him in from behind, kissing the back of his neck as Ianto sighed and leaned back into the embrace.
"Good morning good looking" Jack whispered "you OK?"
"Nervous and a little ashamed of myself for even doing this but… I did make a New Year's Resolution to always run into the fray. It worked with that family, it worked with the store law suit and look at us?"
Ianto turned to face Jack with a grin. The payout from the settlement had come though and it was twice as much as Ianto had hoped for. More than enough for the upgrades this house needed and enough left over for a lovely little nest egg.
Now that Ianto had decided where he wanted to be, who he wanted to be and who with… things were falling into place. This little Lemon Sherbet house was popping!
..
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Owen was in the DJ booth grinding away like a lad drug crazed spider money as the music pumped, the wedding almost underway as guests arrived to be seated. Toshiko was nearby with a look of glee as her little boy clung to her with wide eyes taking in all the people in one place.
The entire town had turned up…well… bar the homosexual remembers that is. Ianto and Jack were conspicuous in their absence and more than one person had quietly remarked that it was a shame Rhys' childhood friend was not here today to support the union. Gwen was fast putting around that Ianto was jealous of the wedding had had made several passes at her now.
Ianto found almost every store cold and uninviting with his hours at the library reduced to the evening shift when no one came in. He knew what was happening as the town slowly tried to freeze him out and as much as it hurt he knew he had to remain calm and look at the goal. Idiots… he is gay right? With a man living in sin… yet you believe Gappy?
IT was almost time.
Toshiko moved to look down the back row of the town hall where the wedding was taking place. Too big for the church as it seemed like the entire town had turned out to celebrate this…well… bar four people. Jack and Ianto were obvious but the surprise had been Harry and Dominic who ran the local bistro. Seems that couple were excluded as well and as people settled they started to notice their local gay couple that not only embraced their sexuality but flaunted it with over the top clothing and camp acting were also not there.
For the first time people started to see that there was something not quite right about this. After all… who was catering this event? The staff from the bistro moving around quietly as more than one person asked in hushed tones where their bosses were only to learn that they were not invited.
By the time Gwen exited the back room to look out with satisfaction the gentle murmuring had spread through the crowd that both sets of Gay couples were being excluded from the town's brightest day. Gwen did not notice. Gwen was almost ready, the music about to start as she took her father's arm and it swelled as she walked toward Rhys. His face a mixture of joy and pure terror. As she reached him the music died and the priest was about to speak when the speaker scratched and the first phone recording played.
Gwen looked around wildly as Rhys stood stock still with shock.
Then the next one, then the last one in the store the other day with her laugher echoing in the hall.
Then silence.
Andy stood with a look of glee "Gwendolyn Amelia Cooper I am arresting you under the Drugs Act of 1985 and you have the right to remain silent…."
As Andy read her her rights the place erupted, some turning to their neighbor to gossip freely as some moved to leave, their disgust clear.
Rhys stood there in pure shock as his mother powered up the aisle to snarl into Gwen's face "MY HOUSE BITCH!"
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..
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Ianto listened as Owen and Toshiko replayed everything with Andy adding a piece here and there around his mouthful of food, Jack watching as Ianto reveled in the game. Then Toshiko managed to hack into the videographer's cloud account as he was editing the footage from the day, and they watched that with a nice bottle of wine, Ianto choking softly as Rhys' mother screamed in Gwen's face… the close up showing her spittle.
"That was dirty pool" Jack said after they had left and Ianto shrugged, turning from waving to face him.
"Like I warned her, come at me… I come at you!" Ianto stepped in close to Jack and smiled as he added "Love me… I love you."
Jack blinked then frowned as he replied "And I love you to, ya mad bastard."
"Good. Seems you are stuck with me Captain Harkness."