1

Ianto didn't really want this to become a thing. Daphne was now picking the boys up from day-care each afternoon and bringing them home, hence his annoyance as this also gained her entry to the house on the pretext of carrying their backpacks for them. He preferred it when Jack and his mother rarely spoke, this newly reformed bond was grating.

Jack was neck deep in the movie script of the latest upcoming blockbuster and made it clear he did not want to be involved so Ianto was currently trying not to throttle him. As of yet, Jack had not noticed the lack of boom-boom and for some reason this was upsetting Ianto more than anything else. Jack did not notice Ianto withholding sex as he was not seeking it.

Today she was late and for the first time Jack noticed Ianto's pacing and hand wringing while checking the cameras constantly for her car. "What is it?"

"Half an hour. She's half an hour over" Ianto turned to face him "She's bloody feeding them junk food again, I know she is."

Jack checked the clock absently "Oh. Is she?"

The cameras finally showed the car swinging into the driveway and Ianto let out a sigh of relief. Jack rose to let her in and let the boys raced past, his hands held out for high fives he did not get. Jack gaped as he watched the boys disappear into the bedroom without a backward glance. "What the hell was that?"

Ianto did not answer, focusing on the woman was had that devious look to her he knew too well. "Daphne? What did you do? You didn't take them for fast food again did you? You know JD has skin issues and diet is imperative."

"What? Nothing" she snorted like he was being silly "The boys wanted to look at the pet shop for a toy for the… Monger thing."

"Mongo Mama. He's Mongo Doggie" Jack corrected like she had genuinely made a mistake, the mongrel she was about to say barely caught in time. Ianto knew this and she knew he knew this. When she cannot say something rude about the perfect boys she still tried to act like were hers, she would attack the dog.

"So where is it?" Ianto asked with a sugary sweet smile.

"Where is what?" she frowned with confusion.

"The toy" Jack looked her up and down, "I don't see one."

"They could not decide" she huffed then brightened "But they were really taken with the kittens. Oh how they cooed and cuddled the little kittens. Ragdolls, so cute."

"No, we are not having kittens, the dog is still settling in" Ianto said as he went to take the backpacks from her.

"Oh don't be silly. It's the best time so they all acclimatize at the same…"

"Mom, Ianto's right. Besides, Hamish is allergic." Jack said, his new assistant seeming to have so many bloody problems it is a wonder the poor dear can breathe at all. Ianto resisted the eye roll knowing he was being a bit of a prickly bitch lately.

"Oh, well it's just something they like and it's not like I can buy them things, can I" she said, looking directly at Ianto.

"Mom. That's enough. We BOTH agreed that the toys you kept getting them were too much. They were running out of room on there!" Jack argued finally coming to Ianto's defence.

"Well, if they had a room each, this would not be a problem" she scoffed "I ask you, two little boys sharing a room when you have spares. They need their own rooms."

"When they ask, they will get!" Ianto was firm now, totally fed up with her and he was about to warn her about what happened last time she pushed him when she seemed to anticipate him by changing gear.

She faced Ianto squarely and said with obvious glee "you missed their swimming period today."

"Swimming?" Ianto frowned back "They do not have swimming."

"Oh yes they do! And it was today!" she folded her arms.

Ianto looked at Jack "Swimming?"

Jack shrugged.

Ianto reached for his phone and she changed gears again "Oh and the flowers on the side of the path are dying. You need to plant for the season."

Ianto stared at her as he spoke to the teacher and he closed the call then swung to glare at her.

"Well?" Jack asked.

"There was optional swimming and she forgot to send out alerts to all the parents, just posted it on the message board at the school. Had you mother seen fit to tell me, I might have been prepared for one of the boys wanting to swim. J.D. would definitely have wanted to and our little man would have hung back without me and you there for safety reasons."

"Luckily I had some with me for DJ! You are turning Nate into a…" Daphne went to scoff at Ianto and caught herself before she made a big mistake.

"A what?" Ianto asked calmly. "finish it, with two of us here."

"A Nan…. Scaredy cat" she said quickly. The Nan part already having passed her lips but the full Nancy being avoided.

"Nate is delicate, always has been" Jack defended his son and Ianto felt a swell of pride for him.

God he was sick of this bitching.

He was due to explose.