1

Ianto did not want to be here. In fact, this is the last place on earth he would choose to be and yet here we are. Jack Harkness, fuckhead, stood opposite in the elevator staring at Ianto like he was bright purple or something while Ianto tried not to pull a face or poke out his tongue at him. Funny really, it's been six years since they last clapped eyes on one another and still, the heat was there. Wafting off them like a furnace so hot that the other one in the elevator stepped back to look at the two handsome men squaring off.

Finally the doors opened and with a sigh of relief the lone watcher shot out to stand in the lobby to the legal offices like he had escaped a flaming boat going down at great knots… not far off really I guess if you consider how those two still in the elevator whom were once so in love came to such a fiery end.

"Right, come on. This way" Owen called out as he led the two men towards the office that had Toshiko standing in the doorway looking apprehensively in their direction and they entered to take seats, Ianto close to the door so he could bolt once he was done listening to whatever bullshit was in the old man's will.

"Right." The lawyer looked suitably uncomfortable as he glanced at the woman already seated in her black clothes of mourning, then over to the young woman who was moving to sit by Ianto.

"Hi" she whispered as she grabbed his arm.

"Hello Rose" Ianto answered Jack's little sister politely, then looked to the lawyer who was ready to begin.

"OK. Ah… right. Do you want me to read it out word for word or…"

"Just give us the fucking bones of it" Widow Harkness snarled as Jack grimaced at his mother "What did he do!"

"Right" the man looked down again "OK. So, Franklin left parcels for each of his children and grandchildren, of course he left the house and main estate to you Anna. To his children he left trust funds, the amounts to be told privately to each one as it is part of the deal to accept this will, that you all accept there is an air of respect and secrets to be kept. Right?"

Everyone nodded with soft frowns of confusion, not least of all Anna who turned in her seat to stare at Ianto. Then she looked forward "Frankie did say that I would not like it but if I contest it, I get nothing. Anyone that contests it gets nothing."

"Yeah, he has this so nailed down it is ironclad. Anyone kicks off, you all have to forfeit so consider that… not just yourself but everyone here, a secondary will come s out and it is not as pretty" the man nodded, he then cleared his throat "So… to his children he lefts parcels containing properties and bank accounts."

"Doctor Harper, for his services and care… ah… Ms Sato for her skills…." He slid envelopes towards them all "Consider the contract fulfilled."

The lawyer then slid more onto the table. Jack and Rose reached for the envelopes being presented with their names hand written on them in their father's distinctive scrawl and then he added "And there are also trust funds and provisions for any grandchildren."

Jack reached out his hand and accepted the envelope then they all gaped as Ianto silently rose and accepted his own before asking "That it for me?"

"No. sorry boy, there is a second one for you. A little something from him by way of apology and a thank you for what you did… for him and the family." The lawyer grimed as the second much larger file was handed over. Ianto stared at it and sighed. The lawyer added "If one of you contests, everyone loses and it is given to charity. You cannot refuse to accept his gifts… not if you want everyone else to get theirs."

"Old bugger" Ianto sighed, then looked up and met the man's gaze "And now? I can book?"

"Yes, you may run like the wild thing he always thought you to be boy" the lawyer smiled softly and watched Ianto take off out the door leaving the room silent with confusion and shock.

"Grandchildren… there is another grandchild" Anna said softly as she looked over at the lawyer. "And him? Why him? I know h visited him at least four times a year since he left Jackson. Why? What did my husband have to do with that man for the last six years that took him away for over a week at a time? Well? Did he just pay off his bit on the side?"

"Not my monkey, not my circus Anna" the man said firmly to her "and what is done, is done."

"Archie…"

"No!" he rose and slammed the file shut "Do not forfeit for everyone else. No. You know Frankie. He was like a fucking boa constructor with this. You squeeze, his ghost will squeeze harder. And leave that boy alone, you have no idea… no idea what hold there was for Frankie. But I will tell you here and now, only once. He considered Ianto a son, always another one of his children. If you repeat the scurrilous crap again I will consider it a foeti!"

They left he office with more than mild confusion, Jack looking the envelopes in their hands with a feeling of weirdness and dread. Rose turned to him "Can I give you a lift home?"

"No… I brought my car. I have to pick up Alice's birthday present" Jack croaked out with sorrow, looking down at the envelope that held his daughter's future.

Even as his own had been the cost of everything that conspires to this point here…. If you really want to know.

I guess I can tell you the tale.

But you will NOT like it.

.

.

"Come on you two, someone has to breathe sooner or later" Owen laughed as he shoved the two men locked in a kissing embrace, Jack the one to break the hold to shove him back as Ianto laughed and settled on the bench of the university cafeteria. Ianto and Jack were like chalk and cheese, one loud and full of vim and vigour as the other was dour, silent and broody. But they had been together since they had first met on a beach at the Harkness Holiday House as children. Every summer their families shared the same pier, same cookouts and the boys began to share the same interest in one another. Now, all these years later they were more peas and carrots really, they just hid it well. Not everyone was happy with the arrangement, Jack's mother beside herself that her boy had 'shacked up' with the snotty nosed boy from the talky holiday rentals. She told people it was a phase and soon he wound find a nice girl and settle down to give her those grandbabies. Ianto? She did not even acknowledge, even if her husband treated him as another of the crew of misfits. Jack's younger brother Gray and little sister Rose were as much family to Ianto as his own sister Rhiannon.

"Hey Tosh, Whatcha working on?" Ianto asked as he ignored the two now wrestling on the ground like they were still in high school, not supposed to be bloody adults starting their formal training. Of course, Jack was winning, even if Owen could not yield… ever.

"HARKNESS AND HARPER!" a voce roared out "CUT THAT OUT!"

Both me lay there panting and then got up to wave to the dean without an ounce of regret, then took seats too, Jack choosing to lay his mar across Ianto's shoulders possessively.

"So… drinks Friday night?" Owen asked as he looked up from the scribbles he had started on the edge of Toshiko's working paper, whether she liked it or not.

"No, little bro is coming for the weekend. Wants some time away from the Olds and I am showing him the sights" Jack said as he leaned back.

"Wow. Other than Ianto's arse, I didn't know you saw anything around here worth looking at twice" Owen laughed, then looked behind him with a sigh of annoyance "Cooper at your six. Dive… dive… dive…"

Owen went under the table as Jack turned to greet Gwen who had locked onto their group as she pointed out she and Ianto were the only Welsh ones at the university, best they stick together. Whether Ianto liked it or not. Apparently her Welsh boyfriend Rhys Williams did not count, being a jock on a football scholarship. Owen being the only Londoner there made him a wild card, one he liked to play like it was the Joker card most days.

"Did I hear you say Gray will be coming for the weekend? Lovely, I would love to see him again" she enthused happily and Jack looked up at her with annoyance.

"He is bringing his girlfriend, Lucy." Owen said pointedly, "So… might not have time to socialize."

Her grin faded slightly, and then she regained herself and waved out across the tables "RHYS! See that? At least this one is unattached."

She took off after the hapless jock that was still in his field uniform talking to someone.

"She still thinks she has a look in with you" Owen grinned as he poked at Jack, "Like anyone can break you two apart. Do you really think she will make a play at Gray? Pointless. You Harkness men are smitten."

"That's right" Jack said happily "Death itself cannot keep me and Ianto apart."

Ianto reached out to rap his knuckles on the wooden table with a droll reply "But it would be necrophilia then"

"I knew someone was breaking into the morgue when I was working there late" Owen said deadpan then squealed as Jack chased him around the tables.

Ianto chose to watch Gwen talking to the handsome young jock, her eyes following Jack hungrily.

She seemed determined to be the next Mrs Harkness, didn't she?