16

"Grandy, what have you done!" Ianto was amazed as he stared at the gift. Jack was giggling as he watched Ianto walk slowly towards the suit hanging on the closet door of the old man's room. "It is so… so… red."

"And shiny" Jack blurted "You could be like a chocolate drop all wrapped in that shiny material"

Ianto slowly turned on his heel to look at Jack who added "Milk chocolate of course."

"Really"

"Oh… and black shoes… maybe… maybe you can have a red tie too?" Jack pondered.

"I happen to have a deep ruby red one… might work" Ianto said softly, glancing at Jack who he knew damned well had seen him wear such a tie before. He knew dammed well Ianto had such a tie, he had commented on it after all. Yanked on it and made a sexy noise.

Jack grinned.

"Grandy… who chose this suit?"

"Me!" the old man said indignantly, glancing at Jack with a cheeky smirk "I had some pictures to choose from."

"Really" Ianto could not hold the grin anymore, snorting as he looked at Jack "His choice eh?"

"Well… I do have a blue one the same but that is neither here nor there" Jack sniffed "Grandy here got a black one!"

Ianto was surprised to hear Jack call him Grandy, pleased as well as he watched the old man's face light up. Ianto asked "And when are these to be worn?"

"Tonight! A special dinner … jus the three of us" Jack said with glee and Ianto again felt a surge of affection for this man who was making sure this last birthday with Grandy was a good one.

.

.

.

"Wow"

Ianto knew he deserved Jack's exclamation but it still felt weird as he blushed and slowly turned on the post like Jack's finger was asking. He did NOT twirl!

"Wow" Jack repeated, "Shiny."

"If not for his happiness… I would…" Ianto leaned in and then a cough cut him off.

"You would what boy?"

Ianto stepped in the dining room to find his Grandy sitting there in a comfortable lay-z-boy that had somehow been pulled up to the table… no… the table was pushed into. Ianto felt a lump in his throat as he settled to eat his last Birthday Meal with the man he loved more than life. The only person in the entire world who had ever believed in him. Ianto looked at his plate as he composed himself.

"Right. First… the entrée is …" Jack flourished the cover from the small tray and exposed the three little plates with caviar on them that was smeared across cracker biscuits.

Ianto hated caviar but the Old Man loved it so they settled to eat it. Ianto knew he would never willingly eat it again and for the first time he found the taste not quite so gross. Even if it was a bit gravelly.

Then came the main course.

A stew that was so well cooked it melted in your mouth and more than once Jack rose to wipe the Old Man's mouth for him with genuine affection. It was so good and once again Ianto knew it would never taste the same again. Also… he sort of felt like no birthday would be right from now on without the stew his Grandy ate after not eating solids for weeks.

"Dessert?" Jack asked after they had sat for a while "you wanna try some?"

"Is it chocolate?" the Old Man asked.

"Don't be stupid, would I get anything else?" Jack asked with horror, his hand flapping against his throat like Ifan had threatened to shoot his dog or something.

It was perfect.

Once finished Ianto rose to clear but the Old Man waved a hand "Leave it. I want to sit and look at you some more."

"Weirdo" Ianto said as he sat back down and Jack reached out to catch his hand, calming him to stillness as Ianto smiled back. Ifan sat back and felt content as he saw his boy smile in a way he never thought he would. Ianto showed his teeth, his gums and the corners of his eyes crinkled. This was not a polite smile, it was a real one. Jack REALLY made him happy and it was clear that Jack felt the same way.

What had started as a prod to try and make a friendship for his boy, he had instead inadvertently found him a lover. Sure, a male one but it was OK, this Old Man is not a prude ya know. Having his boy in love was one of his deepest wishes and now he could mark off the last thing on his bucket list.

He just wished he had more time to see this relationship bloom and grow but he was content to know they were clearly cemented as a couple.

And he had reached his destination.

"Happy Birthday Ianto love, I am so happy you and Jack can share it with me"

"Don't be silly Grandy… there is nowhere else I would rather be" Ianto said with that smile back again, then a blush as Jack leaned over to kiss his cheek in front of the Old Man.

Ah. There it is.

Jack looked coy now as he rubbed Ianto's knuckles with his thumb and the two men forgot Ifan was even there.

Ifan had nothing left to do.

He just had to make sure he did not die today, not on the boy's special day. Maybe another few days before he could finally rest.

And he really regretted the fact he would not be there to watch the next stages of Ianto's life, this relationship and really… he would have given anything to be in the room when that will gets read.

This Old Man was not done yet.