Piece by piece
Ianto stood to attention as the vessel docked, careful to keep his eyes forward as the two ships connected and the bang of an airlock resonated though the hull. Rare, for a coupling to make a sound, showing the sheer majesty of the vessel now releasing its cargo.
The delegates poured from the vessel onto the Space Freighter and looked around with open interest as Jack stepped forward to greet them, his uniform immaculate and the brass shinning under the lights. Ianto had made sure of it, also… each and every fucking medal's ribbon shone too.
Ianto glanced over at the delegates who were taken with this virile man, this strong commanding man who welcomed them with ease to his vessel like inviting them for high tea, his arm sweeping wide as he said "And here is my family. My First Man and also my Partner. Our children… we are long-term committed to the flight of this bird and the head family for her crew. Family is very strong here, we are all together."
"wonderful" one of the women immediately drank in the small children standing with their faces shining, their little uniforms a parody of their parentals and then her eyes travelled up to the man who stood with his hand on the shoulder of each child passively. The dam? Yes, those piercing eyes on the little boy, that nose on the girl. Sweet.
Ianto bowed silently to her, his own medals more than his husband's. She saw this as well, turning to Jack to ask "And are all your crew decorated?"
"Yes. They are. They all serve under me and my First. After all… we have bled together." Jack shrugged looking long and hard at the Brigadier who was shuffling over to look at the children with equal interest.
"Lovely children" he croaked out "Look at those clean faces."
Ianto smiled at him as the old man then asked "And look at that. You have a Medal for the Andromeda Battle. That was a very bloody day indeed, you couldn't have been more than… fifteen?"
"Eighteen actually sir" Ianto purred with that swooning voice of his "I look younger than my true age."
"Ah. You were under… Briggs?"
"No sir. I was under Ferriday for a while, at the beginning at least." Ianto replied and the old man stared for a while then made a noise in his throat as he finally saw why Ianto had that medal.
"Jones!"
"Yes Sir?" the General swung to snap to attention, waiting for his superior's orders as the old man stared at Ianto.
"No you fool…THIS is a Jones. Right? You took over the bridge when he was killed, you flew your crew into the battle as the acting Captain and won the battle for us all!" he smiled as he poked a finger at Ianto.
"I did my duty for King and Kin!" Ianto said with a nod of his head.
"Amazing… you were so young that there was an outcry that you had even been in battle"
"A child can kill a man if given the right training. I was able to take a man down by the age of ten sir." Ianto smiled again, leaning in close as he whispered "And if my father takes one more step towards my babies I will let him know that he missed too much of my upbringing."
The old man stared at him and then roared with mirth, swinging to the General "You know… you did tell me you left a family behind for the cause. Seems you really should have taken a moment to think through what you threw out with the bath water there Ifan!"
"I was raised by a good man. Brigadier Harris was a good, kind man who took me under his wing. Still has a part in my life, and the children all love their G'Pa." Ianto purred as he continued to ignore the man gaping at him from the side.
Jack then clapped his hands "Now, if my delicious husband has finished monopolising you I shall show you the bridge. General Jones… I suggest to move away from the Harkness-Jones family as we DO value our children."
Ifan Jones stood and stared at his son, the handsome man standing there in more medals and of a higher rank then he could ever achieve and knew this man was one that could take him down in a heartbeat.
"Hello Son."
"I am not your son. I am an orphan" Ianto said calmly "Do not forget yourself sir. You told me that day, when you left me behind, that I am dead to you now. For you sir, are also dead to me."
Ianto led his children away with a weird feeling of loss, even as he felt such a lightening of himself and the man he had begged to love him, begged to stay with him all those year away stood watching the child he had placed into the care of the military school with his own world feeling suddenly heavier.
For the Brigadier was right.
As Ianto felt Jack's hand slip to his lower back in silent guidance he did not walk away from his past this day, but towards his future. With a good Father.
.
.
.
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Piece By Piece"
And all I remember is your back
Walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past
I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
Begged you to want me, but you didn't want to
But piece by piece he collected me
Up off the ground where you abandoned things, yeah
Piece by piece he filled the holes
That you burned in me at six years old
And you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
He loves me
Piece by piece he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could... stay
And all of your words fall flat
I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned
Back then I didn't have anything you needed so I was worthless
But piece by piece he collected me
Up off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah
Piece by piece he filled the holes
That you burned in me at six years old
And you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
'Cause he loves me
Piece by piece he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could stay
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece I fell far from the tree
I will never leave her like you left me
And she will never have to wonder her worth
Because unlike you I'm going to put her first
And you know
He'll never walk away
He'll never break her heart
He'll take care of things
He'll love her
And piece by piece he'll restore my faith
That a man can be kind and a father should be great
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece
By Kelly Clarkson
