44

Jack was hammering in a tent peg as Daniel stood pointedly hounding out another peg for him. Ianto had been approaching and found himself transfixed as Daniel leaned over and looked at what Jack was doing, so much alike that they were like some sort of painting ready to be put to canvas. God, that kid was going to be a heartbreaker.

Finally Jack sat back on his heels and looked over "Hey Tiger."

"I found some old bedding and the blow up mattresses." Ianto said as he pointed to the wheel barrow beside him "also … bug spray. This young man apparently has sweet blood."

"Can't help it. We are such a catch even the bugs wanna bite" Jack said and the little boy giggled as he went inside the almost erected tent. "Danny love, pegs?"

A hand came out of the tent's flap with the remaining pegs and Ianto helped now as Jack finished the task of making it secure then rose "Right. Fire pit."

"There are a few large boulders around that tree over there. I have had them for ages, going to build a ring garden around the tree but they would be perfect for a fire pit ring." Ianto pointed "Also, plenty of wood and such in the shed, unless you and Daniel want to do the manly foraging for some… just little each so he gets the idea then the rest can be from the shed."

"Sounds good, you get a load from the shed and I will take him hunting for sticks. Might find some mushrooms and such too ... can't hurt for him to learn about that. Foraging is good" Jack smiled, stepping over to kiss Ianto gently, then pull away "come on Dan the Man."

"Coming Daddy" the little one shot out of the tent then looked over at Ianto "Taddy? Are you OK in the house without me?"

"Well … you are close if I need you I guess" Ianto said, touched by the little boy's concern "and I know you and Daddy will come running if a spider makes me squeal or something, right?"

"Sure. Don't worry Taddy" Daniel patted his arm "We will always come save you."

"Good, good" Ianto winked at Jack and watched as the two of them headed into the little woods to collect fallen branches and pinecones for the fire, then he set about getting a load of wood and some charcoal left over from the BBQ for a base. By the time they would return he would have a nice little fire pit ready for them to chuck on their little arm loads and light.

That done, he went inside and left them to it.

Rhiannon was watching out the window and as he entered she asked "everything OK?"

"Yeah, they are having a great time" he assured her, washing his hands in the sink and then sitting at the table to reach for the paper "Wild men."

"you were never in to the outdoors" she said, then frowned "Were you?"

"Actually I loved hiking with Lisa. I loved it. Could spend days outdoors, camping and enjoying nature. No … I just… I guess it is something that went by-the-by like so many things I used to do. Also it was the hiding thing. Couldn't go on walks least a CCTV camera picked me up or a random drone. No, had Daniel asked I would have but this was his idea and he wanted Jack. I don't mind. I think it's nice that he wants time alone with him."

"Wow. Lisa... she really loved life" Rhiannon said as she settled "I forgot about her. So long ago. I guess longer for you."

"Another lifetime" Ianto agreed "some things are like that. People. Toshiko and Owen are still so present whereas Lisa seems like a faint memory, like a read it in book somewhere. I thought I loved her more than life. Seems I lived the idea of her. A mate. A companion. Now I understand what love really is I know he and I were never going to make it. Not really. We were too young, too new and I don't think we loved one another at all. Just the idea of it."

"Young love" she huffed with sorrow.

"Yeah. Jack may not have been my first love… but he is my forever one. Until the last beat of my heart, I know that now. I know he feels the same. It took us so long to get here and now… it feels like we were always here. Together." Ianto shrugged rising to wash the potatoes for the tin foil.

"I have never heard you speak like this. Even as kids you were so withheld. It's… nice. Oh, Gwen called" Rhiannon changed the subject as she could see Ianto wss getting irritable "Apparently when you called in to see her and the baby before coming home you told her about the crew John was putting together?"

"Oh god, she doesn't want to be on in one does she?" he asked with dread.

"No. something about Andy wanting to be tough? She was a bit miffed"

Ianto could only snort with amusement as he knew John would only want Andy to do dirty work. However, he would say that to Gwen to get a rise. And John would love to slip one past the woman to come around and make sure he would an audience with Ianto and Jack… and another certain woman … and possibly get another slap.

Ianto shook his head.

Rhiannon really had to be firm here, this dog was hunting.