12

Ianto now had a focus and boy oh boy… he was on a roll.

"So… for the children/teen bedroom I want to put fairy lights in the wall here" Ianto was saying to the builder, his fingers flicking randomly "Like little fireflies."

"Sounds nice" the man replied "Not the ceiling?"

"No… people might think it's stars or something. God, can you imagine… stars for a little girl's room. Sounds better for a teen boy or something" Ianto laughed heartily then headed off as Jack stood back watching, and then followed him outside.

"Fireflies?"

"I have some ideas" Ianto said with a soft smile "A little girl's room… all cute and fluffy. Might mean some painting late on the last night while the rest of them sleep though… if ya dare." Ianto kissed him gently.

"For you my love… anything." Jack smiled then added "you up to something?"

"Just stretching me paws love" Ianto said, miming clawed hands as Jack smiled and patted his arse then moved off. Happy to see his builder heading to the main office to get a coffee… and a chat.

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"Really?" Ianto asked then frowned as Helen explained her husband's vision for the teenage boy's room. "Like… constellations?"

"Yes!" she enthused "The night sky. Going to make it like a real astronomer's dream. Maybe a telescope in one corner… the whole shebang."

"Oh dear" Ianto said softly "I hope you are not using fairy lights."

She blinked as she stared at him, them he added "But he will use something different to my wall."

She stared at him, then muttered in a small voice "Wall? Well, we are doing a ceiling."

"Yes. Totally different thing" Ianto nodded taking another sip of his coffee to hide the predatory grin.

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The week was almost done, everyone happy with their rooms and as they all had a late meal together, everyone excitedly buzzed about what the judges might say.

"Well, I hear that Carl has gone starry eyed on his one this week" Ianto teased "I am so excited to get a peek at it for meself. Sounds amazing."

"Thanks… yeah. Listen… I didn't copy you right? I hear you did little fairy lights in the wall… mine is lights in the ceiling and different fittings to you." Carl said pompously.

"Of course… Helen explained it to me and it all makes sense. Why we will not be lodging a complaint. Anyway… if it was too similar the judges would simply disqualify ya" Ianto laughed heartily, then settled back in his chair again.

Jack glanced at him with interest as he caught the little twitch of a tiger's tail there.

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Ianto watched the place slow down and lights turn off then he turned on the music and clambered up the scaffold to start at the top of the wall, carefully outlining his mural.

Jack arrived about half an hour later, his yawn from the cat nap he had taken to prepare for a night of painting making him sleepy eyed and so damned cute in his fluffy robe. He looked up and froze as he saw what the cameras could see as well.

Ianto Harkness-Jones was in his tight tiger print boxers dancing on the scaffold as he sang along to the song. He looked edible. Jack blinked, and then he took in the wall. "Wow."

"Cariad… hey… good snooze my love?"

"Yeah… no clothes love?"

"Hot"

"You certainly are darling" Jack said as he shrugged off his robe and let it fall, then he climbed up in his PJ bottoms to help. Why not. Damn.. it was hot up here… the warmth of the house rising to sit high. And the hot tiger did not help.

Soon Jack was grinding along with Ianto as they harmonized and snag their hearts out, forgetting the cameras were still there.

Ianto's plan came into fruition as the mural took shape and Jack was allowed to colour inside the outlines. The fairies… the flowers… vines… the moonlit garden and the fireflies… a cat's silhouette on the far fence with two lights as well… green bulbs… oh yes… it was not a starlit sky… but was an enchanted garden at night.

It was wonderful.

They sang, danced and painted. The kissed and forgot themselves as they sang a duet and more than once laughed at themselves. Once finished and the scaffold was being taken down by Jack… Ianto was bringing in the secret weapons. The table and chairs were toadstools… the cups and saucers flowers… Ianto created a wonderland that had Jack gaping as he stood watching.

"Ianto… this is… wow"

"Don't worry… I got a set of these for the back garden at home... the boys will love them" Ianto agreed as he stepped back "Right… just… ah … can you hang that love? Over the bed?"

Ianto handed Jack a little wind chime of butterflies and Jack eagerly got the ladder to hang it over the four poster bed that Ianto was placing white tulle around like curtains pulled back at the posts. A princess bed.

"You wish one was a girl?"

"Don't be a dick… one might like to be girly love… let's not masculinize them too much." Ianto said distractedly, as he threw the white fluffy rug then stepped back "God. Three thirty… come on… beddy byes."

"I love you" Jack said softly as he followed him from the room.

"I know my love… you show me in so many ways. I love you too."

In TV land sighs were loud.

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The judges were confused by the ceiling in Carl's house. One of them an armature astronomer and he confirmed that none of the 'constellations' actually exist. It was like they just randomly shoved them in groups. Oh dear. Weird. Why?

Then of course… in the end… came the little secret garden and they stood amazed as the lights actually twinkled. Yeah… why have solid ones when they can blink independent to one another… right?

"Oh wow… I feel like I am a little girl again" the female judge sighed happily.

"Me too" one of the men quipped, and then laughed as he turned slowly "Wow."

Ianto grinned.