3

Ianto was standing in the elevator, the large warm cape around him to stave off the waiting cold outside was a dark bluish grey, almost the same colour as the Great Coated one who entered the elevator with his child.

Myfanwy chuffed a polite greeting and Alice threw her arms around the dog's neck to say hello back.

Jack glance at Ianto and said "I guess you are wondering why we were a couple of floors lower today?"

"No. I assume it was a play date with Melody in Apartment 12A" Ianto said calmly with a slow blink, "I remember young Alice telling me they are friends."

Jack stared at him.

"You look like a big wizard in that cloak" Alice said as she rose and Ianto looked down at her with open amusement.

"Ah… no pointy hat my love."

"Oh. Don't you wear one when you are on your broomstick?" she asked and Jack now felt his mouth falling open as Ianto roared with mirth at the child.

"Oh you are a lovely child. No darling… not all Wiccan are walking around in witchy attire with a broomstick, pointy hat and black… oh. I do have a black cat. Oh, good call!" he tapped his nose and she giggled as she reached out to snag his hand and lean against him. Such a natural thing, such an affectionate thing that Jack was transfixed.

Alice was NEVER friendly with people. She openly avoided contact.

"I come from a place where some do wear traditional sorts of things, I do have this little tattoo here… see?" he held out his hand, turning it so she could see his inner wrist and the little symbol there. Three oblong rings all attached at one single point like a triangle. "That is the Romanticism Rune. Marriage, soul mates, balance, protection, harmony and family."

"So…it's like a wish or a spell?"

Ianto crouched now to face her "It is whatever it means to the one who wears it. It is just a pretty thing to some."

"And do you connect to the sun? The moon?"

"The Earth" Ianto smiled as he rose "I connect to mother earth the most and she centers me, balances me and gives me comfort."

"Me too. I like to stand in my bare feet in the long grass and feel the power coming up my legs" her hands fluttered and Ianto looked over at the man who was barely breathing as he stared wild-eyed at his daughter.

"Me too. I have a place in the country. I have to be here for work during the week at the moment but when I have sorted things I can go back there and work remotely again. I love my little patch of quiet." Ianto told her conversationally.

"Does it have grass?"

"Yes Alice my darling… lots. Wilds flowers in the grass even. And one rancid old goat who will not eat them, only my favorite rose bushes if he can" Ianto replied and she giggled as he continued to clutch his hand.

"Will you take me home?"

Ianto looked at Jack again before answering with more calm than he felt "Well, school holidays soon, and time for me to go home so... maybe you and Daddy can come home with me. You know what?"

"What?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Maybe we can. My superiors have allowed same sex relationships in my department" Jack said softly as he watched the interaction. Ianto smiled at him and leaned in close, sniffing at him as Jack's eyes widened, then Ianto lowered himself again and reached out to cup her face lovingly.

"If you follow me home… I may have to keep you." He whispered. She giggled as he rose again, this time openly sniffing at Jack who was stepping closer to them as the door opened for the third floor and someone entered.

"What a lovely family" the old lady said as she looked at them "Two handsome boys and their little girl. Lovely, and you all match, look at that. I do miss my Alfie. We wore matching clothes too."

Ianto looked down at the little girl with the bluish grey cardigan on, Jack's Great Coat and then his own cloak and grinned widely at the old lady.

"Blessings to you Old Mother. Did you and your man have children?"

"No, we were not blessed but we did raise four foster children" she nodded happily "The gods provide. Positivity in all things sweetie."

"Yes Old Mother. Positive blessings and energy will flow" Ianto bowed slightly as she got out first and chortled softly while she walked away with her little dog on a leash looking back at them with interest.

Myfanwy chuffed softly and it sped up after it's mistress like a Hell Hound had roared at it.

"That was mean" Alice said to the dog "He was only admiring your colour."

She licked Alice's face and Ianto sighed "Gross creature. Stop that, you know what she tastes like already. Must you keep reminding yourself?"

Myfanwy chuffed softly and Alice giggled "She sez yes I think."

"Beasts. All of you. Horrible beasts" Ianto laughed softly as he looked over at Jack and added "So… would you like to come to me country estate sir?"

"Yes… ah… yeah I …yes" Jack blustered about with such a weird fleeing of… giddiness. God. This felt so weird. He was giggling… for fucksake.. he was blushing as Ianto smiled at him and blushed too.

"I dare say Mister Jones… you have put a spell on me" Jack said softly.

"Don't' be a divvy Daddy" Alice huffed as she rolled her eyes "He does not have your hair or something special that you own to do that."

Ianto laughed openly as he looked down at her and added "I don't do sells young lady."

"Yes you do" she said as she skipped out the door with a big red dog following her "you wished for Daddy… I saw the picture of Grandy you keep in the drawer. Same as the one in the album. Janet showed me."

Janet… wait. Grandy… what" Ianto spluttered then it all made sense.

The picture of the WWII soldier he kept from his great Aunt's things… "Jack.. did you know Estelle Cole?"

"Estelle? Yes, my grandfather was a friend of hers… sweethearts I think" Jack nodded "Where I get the coat from."

"Ah." Ianto nodded.

Old bag… old crotchety witchy poo needed a good telling off and a hug next lifetime he sees her for giving him that 'picture' before she died and telling him she thought to might be nice for his alter since he is wanting a male soul mate. She knew damned well one look and he would be smitten with those eyes… that smile… oh god… soul mates. She knew. She knew all along and here we are… the gods provide.

Now Ianto knew for certain that they were destined.

If only they can find the same music to dance to in the moonlight.

Stranger things have happened.