7
Jack entered the little cottage to stop and stare.
It was huge inside. Like… bigger.
"I know… it's bigger on the inside, you can say it" Ianto said as he passed him with a bag in his hands, "The kitchen is this way. Over there is the Master Bedroom, that one there is the spare room where munchkin can sleep, that one over there is for Big Red. She needs her own space sometimes as she can be a cow. Janet sleeps wherever she chooses. Ah… bathroom over there."
Jack looked around with awe, then up at the huge ceiling with rafters exposed and "Is that bats up there?"
Ianto looked up, following Jack's gaze "Nah. Owls. Don't worry, they go outside to poo and stuff. Quite housetrained ya know."
Jack let his gaze fall to his daughter who was on the floor with books getting removed excitedly from a small bookcase "Alice, honey don't make a mess."
"She's alright. My niece loves that corner too. They are about the same age actually. Come on, let's unpack."
Jack followed him into the bedroom and froze again, the huge four poster bed like something out of a medieval movie complete with tassels on the cords holding the curtains at the sides back against the posts. The room was deep rich burgundy and gold, so lush and decadent that Jack wanted to… ok… this is Jack. He DID throw himself onto the bed to land with a plop sending clothing Ianto had jilt placed on the edge flying.
Ianto looked at him with amusement, and then bent to pick up the clothes "feel better now?"
"This is so comfy. Wow, what is it stuffed with" Jack groaned as he writhed a little.
"Goose feathers, goose down. It is soft, warm to sleep under too. Comforting. Alice will have the same in her room and the mad red cow has NOT got one in her room because when exited she rips them up. After the third one I stopped giving them to her so be warned, she will try to cuddle under the pretence of love and affection only to try and grab it and do a runner." Ianto warned "She finds the feathers wafting about the room funny or something. It's like it snowed inside."
Jack laughed as he splattered back and starsfished on the bed "I could get used to this."
"Good, I was hoping you would. I might like to keep you" Ianto purred as he leaned over the bed and placed his hand on Jack's chest, then stole a soft and warm kiss. Then he was gone again and Jack huffed as he wanted more.
Jack remembered Ianto saying others would come to visit so he rose and had a wash, then changed into some clean clothes. He exited the room to find Ianto was right, there was a couple standing in the living room watching Alice with undisguised interest.
"Jack. This is Aunt Mildred and her husband Uncle Hamish" Ianto said as he watched Jack enter.
"On your mother's side?"
"Oh no not related" the lady giggled "That's just our names."
Jack looked at Ianto who seemed unfazed by the weirdness in the air so he smiled back "Cool."
"Full moon tonight" the man spoke in a heavy Scottish brogue and Jack wondered if that is why they called him Hamish. Likely not his real name at all. So Scottish it's a wonder he didn't highland dance his way about the place.
As if hearing him, the man turned to eyeball him and Jack smiled "Just wondering why you don't have a kilt."
"Because the little fuzzy Junipers can get me nuts" the man replied.
"Hamish, child present. Don't speak of your genitals around her" his wife scolded. "And the Junipers are just cold, seeking heat!"
"Quite right. Swear Jar mother."
Jack looked over at Ianto who was still calm even as the weird couple looked at him and he replied "Yes I shall come worship tonight. We are here for a few days and Alice is touched. I think it's a good time for her to decide if she wants to explore or not."
"Aye, I felt it in her when we walked in boy. She is strong." Hamish agreed.
"But it's up to her. Not all chose to walk our path" Ianto warned, waggling a finger "It is entirely her choice. We cannot sway her. As you know, it has to be a free will thing."
"What has to be?" Jack asked.
If I wanna be a witch like Ianto" Alice replied with an eye roll "And I think I do."
"Then, tonight we attend a moon dance" Ianto smiled.
"Wait a sec… I don't' want my daughter naked around a whole group of… what. Stop laughing. Oh, not naked?" Jack blustered.
"Oh Cariad. There is a dusk calling for those who are not totally immersed or shy. Then the midnight one when all the children are abed, then if we choose we can be naked in the moonlight. Goodness, you make us out to be uncivilized heathens." Ianto laughed.
"Yes, we only dance naked in the full moon too" Hamish added helpfully "Other times it's only when we want to so be warned, I am mostly naked here."
Jack stared at the man.
Then Hamish roared with glee and pointed at him "Easy, isn't he."
You wait until you meet his friend Owen… now he's a hoot." Ianto assured them as he ushered them out, begging for rest after the journey.
Once the door ws closed Alice rose to glare at him "I wanna go naked too."
"There is an age limit. We have rules young lay and besides, if you are out there at midnight prancing about who is here minding Myfanwy and Janet for me, hmmm?" Ianto asked.
"Oh. Fair point" the child sank back to the floor to pour over the old magical books as Ianto went back to unpacking like they had not had the most bizarre conversion and Jack looked at the black cat sitting calmly on the back of the sofa watching them all.
"So, no naked moonlight dancing for you either then, eh?" he asked.
The cat blinked slowly at him and then said in the driest tone "I am a fucking cat. I am always naked fuckwit."
Jack blinked back.
"Oh. right."