13
"Right... the adoption is not real"
"What?"
"The little one... she is not legally theirs. They are just foster parents and they did not get her from a third world country, saving her from poverty and certain doom. Nah. She's from a kid's home over in Guernsey."
Ianto stared at Owen, "What?"
"Those Christmas cards and shit? Taken at the kid's home. They visit her there and give a little token amount to the place in return for spending an afternoon with her. They finally got up enough points to be allowed to take her for a month or two as foster parents only… get this… they are not allowed to adopt due to your mother's history with you and your sister. HAH!"
Ianto stared at him "So… that poor little kid is not really even in a loving family at all... she lives in a home?"
Owen's grin faded as he saw his misstep, now watching Ianto worry over the little one. "Ianto, kids are born without love or want, all the time. They either find homes or they don't. Me? I was born to a couple who did not even like me but hated one another more so they kept me to batter each other with. I may have been better off in a kid's home. I was never loved, never got a chance."
"But… they have her and could do anything to try and prove some weird point in her head" Ianto was genuinely worried for the little girl "and she must be so confused."
Jack had been listening and agreed "Do they know? The home. Do they know the history? To give a kid to them for a few months… that's crazy."
"Well.. Toshi is sending a copy of the court papers from the mess with Ianto and the judge's ruling that they are not allowed dot dictate Rhiannon's care in the end too. Might not make a difference but… shit a brick."
Everyone turned to see what Owen was gaping at and they watched Ianto's parents enter the bookstore with the little kid in tow, her cute little face marred with tears as they yanked her along "Come on dear. Let's find your brother."
Ianto did not want to even look at them, let alone acknowledge them so he did the most logical thing he could think of. He ducked down behind the counter and everyone behind it with him looked down at him with shock at the childish response.
Jack recovered first "Hi, can I help you?"
"I am looking for your boss."
"OH? I don't work here."
She stared at Jack "Then why are you behind the counter? You are not the fucking boss!"
"I am fucking the boss though."
Toshiko could not control the giggles, more like hiccups as she slapped a hand over her mouth and Jack smiled serenely at the couple "I can give Ianto a message before our next shagging session if ya like but I will likely forget. He is so… energetic. Ya know? Like rabbits… we are gonna break that bed… I am sure of it."
Ianto was clutching the shelf of the counter, his head inside the shelf buried in the box of carrier bags, his own hysterical laugher mostly muted by the fabric bags as Owen solely leaned over the counter to look down at the child "Cute kid. Do you pay extra for the silence?"
Excuse me?" Ianto's mother spluttered.
"Stella, right?" Jack asked "Right. Stella… that kid has never spoken a word, in every instance that I see her she is terrified. What the hell did you tell her? I mean… sweetie… you do know you can ask for help right? You can always ask an adult for help if you need it."
"Don't talk to my child!" Stella yanked the little kid back, "You... you... fornicator!"
Jack leaned back, shocked by the weird choice of word and Ianto was now shaking with mirth as Jack asked "What does that make you? Popped out some kids from your own fun box there Stella. You know how to… so why not go fornicate yourself."
Owen grinned "good idea, you might want to go fornicate yourself right now as we are busy."
The Parentals started to head for the doors and Stella yanked the child's arm viciously taking her off her feet, the little girl crying out with pain and fear. Stella swung her arm back, the slap of her hand on the little one's legs a shock to all watching as she snarled "cut that out you little bitch or there will be no dinner for you!"
Owen moved faster than anyone else, slamming into the woman and breaking the hold, scooping up the child and turning to walk away "Come on darling. Uncle Owen can find you a soda pop … yeah?"
"Give us back our child or I will call the authorities!" Stella demanded.
"Already on it" Toshiko snapped back, her face fill of anger "And believe you me… when the authorities look at the footage and the Care Home see how you treat this little girl they will not let you have her for your sick games again!"
"You cannot prove anything!"
"Really? This is Ianto's place… can you NOT see the cameras everywhere? They catch everything in there and you just slapped her for the last time lady!" Jack roared, Ianto now clutching Jack's legs like a little boy, listening as he fought the urge to peek over the counter.
Wow.
Jack was so furious.
Ianto felt almost safe enough to do so.