13

Ianto slid from the bed, his husband debouched and sleep still, starfished on his back as he snored happily. Ianto pulled on his clothing, not caring that his hair was wild and his mood matched it.

Ianto crept over to the lump on the floor, crouching to carefully open the fabric. He stared for a long time at the pendant, and then he scooped up the fabric by its edges so he did not touch the pendant itself. He moved quietly from the room and walked along the corridor to the dining room where they had already started to eat. Rude but whatever… they were maybe… ten minutes late to the usual start time… Ianto didn't mind as he knew Gray loved food like his brother.

"There you are!" Gray said happily "Sorry, I said to start. I thought you were both not coming for the meal!"

"Jack is exhausted after travelling and I am being clingy. We have decided to eat in our chambers tonight, we will see you both at breakfast. I came to say so myself, it feels so rude on your first night here but of course... this is your home too. I should have thought about it and known you would take charge Gray. Thank you." Ianto smiled, looking over at Gwen who was pouring some wine.

Something felt… off.

He knew it was not her doing, she was not trying to push anything here. He trusted her, knew he could. He stood and considered things, knowing there had to be something here that let the old bitch still linger.

His gaze fell on Gray's bit of fluff.

"Grace. Ave you settled in OK?" Ianto asked, moving towards her with a soft smile, leaning over to let his hand drop. She ignored him like he was the hired help, but he did not mind that either. The pendant slid into her kerchief pocket of her gown without any trouble at all as he added "Do try the chocolate pudding…it is Jack's favourite you know."

"Always was" Gray agreed happily.

Ianto smiled as he turned to leave and Gwen rose from her chair, following him into the corridor "Ianto? Is Jack OK? He has seemed… so distant the last few days."

"He was missing us, missing home. A good sleep and a good feed… he will be his old bouncy self" Ianto smiled, reaching out to take her hand, then leaning forward he said softy "Beware of that girl. She might be here for Gray but she is a Mama Harkness clone. I sense a lot of … wrong… in her."

Gwen turned to look through the open doorway and nodded "I agree. She has been looking at me like I am about to sweep him out from under her or something. No offence but… he is nothing on my Rhys!"

"Exactly… sooner or later she might think so too… especially if she finds that we intend giving Rhys title and land when the two of you wed" Ianto winked. He enjoyed Gwen's face as she lit up and she threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek.

"You are such a wonderful brotherling!" she gushed, then laughed as she returned to the table, flushed and happy.

"What was that all about?" Rhys asked her.

"Just Ianto… being Ianto" she shrugged. "he is lovely."

Rhys nodded as he knew that Ianto was one of a kind.

Grace watched the interaction and frowned, her gaze then going to Gray and as she reached out to seize his hand for a little simper and eyelash blatt … he pulled away.

Huh?

.

.

Ianto slid back into the bed and kissed Jack's cheek before nestling against him, Jack humming as he moved to let the bedding be pulled over them both.

It was a short time later they both woke to the smell of food, the servants bowing politely as they placed a little two person table in the room along with chairs… table service... a vase of flowers… oh. Ianto was touched as loyal servants showed their affection for their masters being joined once more.

The Nanny bowed low, her hair brushing the floor as her tail slid over her shoulder and Ianto was also comforted knowing she would have watched the food prep like a wolf, checking for any and all fiddling.

He also noted the footman he had brought back from the capitol was standing got one side politely, his own Bladesinger Hair twirled on top of his head like a dark blue turban. A dark one. Ianto loved the tint of midnight blue their hair was and made a mental note to ensure some silver ribbons came in the next shipment from the family for his hair care. Clearly he made the time to create some amazing 'hats' from it.

"I am so hungry I could eat my horse" Jack said as he plonked in a chair then frowned "No… I would never eat my horse, I love my horse. I might eat yours!"

"Oh you awful fiend!" Ianto fake gasped, his hand fluttering against his chest as Jack laughed.

Ianto sat and reached across the table to touch the bare chest of his husband, letting his fingers trace the line between his chest muscles, up the breast plate and rib cage, then across the left breast to land over his heart. A tap three times in time to the shared heartbeat of their retuning bond, then Ianto drew his finger to his own lips, then back to the spot in a fingertip kiss.

Jack paused the toast he was about to bite and leaned forward for a kiss instead.

"It's like … I have not slept in years. That was the best sleep of my life, I feel so awake. So alive." Jack said happily "Juice darling?"

"Yes please Cariad" Ianto sat back and smiled softly "Aware. The word. You are aware of the world around you. The colours, smells… sounds. Amazing isn't it? Like being in a silent room too long."

"Exactly" Jack said and then frowned "Why?"

"Grief affects us all in different way my love. Your mother was… unique and you will always feel the loss. You needed time for your heart to adjust to the pain and it internalized for a while maybe? No you are home. It is time to restart our life… our children will be our focus now and your mother… will always be in our thoughts."

Jack ate heartily as Ianto sat back and tried not to visibly preen.

Always in our thoughts… every time he saw a big fat cow in the field.