40

Solomon had come as instructed expecting a tongue lashing but instead Ianto had embraced him and whispered that he had a lot to learn about life and feelings. That he understood Solomon's' confusion right now, he had loved wrong once too. It got easier, a right one would come and he would know … he would feel the right feelings and know this had been wrong.

A mistake.

Solomon had felt mollified and after the ear-bashing Owen had given him, felt a lot better. The plaster over his nose felt stupid and was a reminder to everyone that their Weevil needed more respect and less needling.

He was getting big and did not deserve to be treated less than a brother.

Solomon had then done the walk of shame. In front of the entire room he had walked over to Frank and said sorry. Frank had shrugged and slapped his shoulder hard, it had hurt as Solomon was badly bruised from exploding out of the barn wall like some stuntman but knew Frank was holding back a harder touch so accepted it as Frank's final word.

Dean had kept out of it with Bella standing by holding his hand. Solomon had a lot to think about. Ianto had always said the right things and if he said there would be someone for him one day … he knew he had to accept that. Cannot be a man until you act like one .. right? Maybe this lesson was a hard one but in light of recent mistakes … Solomon now saw that he needed more training in many areas of his life.

Solomon was now licking his wounds down the end of the table as Frank sat next to Dean with a righteous air to him. Bella was stealing glances at him and Ianto wondered if that was the real problem here.

Kitty was oblivious to the problems of others as she cut Freddy's food and quietly told him the placement using the clock face method he preferred.

Ianto finally saw it.

Kitty had shown interest in Dean. Solomon had noticed and thought Bella might be available now? Kitty saw her mistake early, adjusted herself and moved back to Freddy while Solomon was still locked into Bella. It was Dean he was challenging, not Frank but he thought beating Frank would make Dean back down.

Seriously.

This young man had been so off base with stupidity it was not even funny. He pondered more and wondered if maybe he was jealous because he had wanted Kitty. For sure these kids needed a stern talking to about honour and commitment. The age difference between him and Bella was too extreme for Ianto to find it acceptable. If it was Kitty then he was still off base as he should have declared to her, not challenged someone else.

Ianto sighed, glancing over at Alice who was watching him with raised eyebrows. He made a note to himself to talk to her, tell her of his thoughts and maybe while he was away with Kitty and Dean she could pull the Bigs aside with Owen for some sex-ed. They know the birds and the bees, the Farm took care of that but maybe they needed to talk more about feelings and hormones?

"Thinking too much Tiger" Jack whispered and Ianto grunted, nodding as he looked away from the kids to where Martha was sitting with Mickey and Andy, the three of them huddled together as they talked. Little things, nothings like a leaky tap to be fixed or Bella needing new shoes. Baby names.

All around the room people were connecting, quietly loving and remembering things. Times. Ianto was unsure how to feel about it, the clarity that some might not make it back. When had things become so deep? So dark? They had come back fully stocked before, did he really think he was going to lose someone just like a….

"Thinking too hard Holdfast"

Ianto snorted, letting himself relax into his chair, closing his eyes and listening to the Twins laughing, Pip demanding, Rosie softly scolding and Hope… he opened his eyes to stare straight into hers, her grin wide as he caught her doing the exact same thing as him. A born leader feeling the room.

"Me first born" he whispered "Sweetling."

She leaned across the table "While you are gone I am gonna make some changes."

"Not sure how to respond to that" he chortled "Gonna go all Lord of the Flies or something?"

"Good book. No, I think some of the Bigs need time outs. They are getting to big for their britches" she frowned, also agreeing with him there "Manners never cost anything."

"Exactly." He smiled.

"Solomon will be OK. He just needs to know when he needs to take a knee" she canted her head and he saw it.

"Solomon?"

"Maybe" she said softly "Of all of them, he is the strongest. Just needs to learn some control. When you get back I think Kev should take him as an apprentice. Teach him some breathing techniques and tai-chi. Help him centre himself. A hot head is dangerous, even one as pretty as him."

"Oh! Pretty now" Ianto sniggered.

Hope is almost 12. Solomon 15. Yes, a better match age wise and she is right … he will make a good warrior one day, if he can just stop wanting to prove himself and just BE himself.

Jack nodded as he listened and agreed.

Sol was one of his favourites after all.

Hot heads stick together.