26

Ianto strode down the Hover's ramp and into his father's arms. His father had never felt frail before and as Ianto held him he felt the dl man's sorrow. Pip had confessed then. Sorry Da. Ianto held him tightly and ignored the woman standing nearby as she waited for her own acknowledgement.

Finally, Ianto stepped back and looked at his mother, then bowed politely to the Queen of All.

"Hello Poppet" she said softy, holding out her arms in the hopes of a hug as well and although he knew she saw the hesitation in his eyes, he complied and as she held him she sighed softly "So much tension in you. Like hugging a statue."

Ianto stepped back, his face showing his annoyance that their first words be a scolding… as per usual and she caught it. She went to speak again and saw the crown in his hair, entwined in the hanks of hair like it lived there.

It was like it was carved form a single huge diamond. The biggest, prettiest piece of bling she had ever seen and as he turned his head to check Jack was behind him she saw it move gently in the breeze along with his hair. The Crown of Truth was loving him.

"Pretty crown there darling, where did that come from?" the king asked, unaware of the power on display and Ianto smiled softly as he responded to him with affection.

"This is my crown Daddy… the one Pip wants and shall never have."

"May I?" the king held out his hand and Ianto automatically removed the crown, everyone watching the hair move and slide though the prongs like it would never catch in the intricate designs, then he handed it to his father. The moment it touched his father's hand it changed to a gold crown, the pretty glassy diamond now was gone like it had never been.

"Well now… would you look at that? I thought that was merely legend" he chortled as he turned it over in his hands "So pretty and so light. Almost like it is made of whipped cream or something… so be so powerful. The Crown of Truth. The Crown of the Truthful Man. That is the full title isn't it my dear? Worn by the Great Kings of Old?"

"Yes" she replied faintly, shocked to find her son in the possession of the crown she thought had been lost centuries ago. She had allowed him this one as it was tarnished and… well… sad. All this time… all this time she thought it just a pretty little crown the children used to wear and fight over, Ianto never one to snatch or demand. She had let him have it because the others had all chosen prettier ones larger more expensive items with jewels in them. Ianto was the only one drawn to the plain little crown that was more like that of a maiden of the court and she had mocked him for it, even as she had flung it at him. She remembered now. Pip had scoffed too, egging her mother on. The queen felt shame in her actions as she now saw how Pip had controlled things with her head games. Supposed to be the Queen of All and she had let this child… this spoilt child make her a fool.

Ianto accepted it back from his father and slid it back over his own head, the transformation back to the True Crown almost instantaneous and by the time his hands dropped it was once again a thing of rare beauty.

Jack had no idea of course, the stir his husband was causing right now as the king turned slowly to stare at his wife, also confused "Pumpkin? Something amiss?"

"No" she croaked out, blinking furiously as she berated herself for her failings. The Gods had tested her, hadn't they… and look what she had done about that. Look how she had met her task. She failed. She flailed the next True King so horribly. She had to make amends while she could, he was worth more than what she had shown him.

"And where is she now?" Ianto asked, as if hearing his mother's thoughts and wanting to change the subject before it gets air.

"Don't' you worry son. She will not bother you again" the king said with a finality in his voice that turned Ianto's heart cold, his Da's sorrow raw in the bond.

"Oh Daddy. I am so sorry this all happened." Ianto sighed.

"Me too sweetie… lest said, soonest mended, right?" the king replied then he clapped his hands together "and now… let me see."

Ianto stepped closer and pulled apart his robes to reveal the under shirt that was snug against the bump.

As the king sank to his knee and placed his hands over his grandchild to croon softly, the queen stepped forward to stand behind her husband and look her son in the eye "It is done."

"Yes mama" Ianto said softly, accepting that the subject was closed.

Pip was gone.

His Da had trimmed the fat too.