15

The judges were clear on the winner so Carl thought he had to speak up "It's against the rules!"

Everyone fell silent as the judges turned to stare at him and Jack leaned forward remembering his role "Carl. Tell us what you are thinking."

"That bath… it was already painted like that. I remember that... it was in one of HIS mother's photo shoots… it's iconic. It was pre-painted. Working forward, it's not allowed." He folded his arms.

"Fair enough" Jack nodded like Carl made perfect sense "And the vanity? You made that yourself did you? Must have been a bugger to get the hole for the hand basin right."

They all stared at him, then carl scoffed "Don't be stupid."

"And the door… Helen told us you got that off a second hand site… already painted so .. working forward right?" George joined the banter "And I hope no one works out that the little bamboo waste paper basket was not hand woven on site last night… shit. We might all be in the poo. Good thing it's bathroom week."

Everyone laughed as Carl seethed and Ianto finally said "Fuck off Carl."

"Hey… Tiger… rude… come on…keep it PG" Jack scolded gently.

"Yeah… yeah you are right. Go fornicate yourself Carl" Ianto said sweetly.

"A piece of art is a piece of art" the judges all agreed "Not working forward but a piece within itself."

Ianto won.

.

.

"Master bedroom next" Jack said as he watched Ianto pace the bathroom "at least we will have a bed to sleep in here."

"And now we will HAVE TO sleep here" Ianto corrected as he turned to glare at Jack. Ah. The problem.

"Hon… I mean…. Tiger… what can we…"

"Lounge room next" Ianto demanded turning to look at Douglas who was still enthralled with the bathtub "Right? Lounge… dining … then kitchen. Then we do… then we do other spare room… master and ensuite together as a hell week before the halls to tie it all together and finish the inside of the house. Then just a week for outside. I can last without them for a week."

"Traditionally…."

"Douglas. You give me a 'rational' take on this brand new show and I will gut you like a fucking fish with this soap banana" Ianto warned.

Douglas laughed "OK… OK… god. Lounge week next… then kitchen. You really like sneaking off to those babies, don't blame you. I do too" Douglas sighed softly. "Both so damned cute."

.

.

"Living Room Week!" Jack read out and everyone groaned softly so he added "Could be worse. Could be kitchen week too."

"Don't. Just fucking … don't" George scolded with a finger waggle.

Jack glanced at Ianto who clearly had NO idea what to do for this one and was really flummoxed, not just acting it. Of all the rooms… he had not thought much about the one he personally used the least.

.

.

"So, it's a box" Ianto said blandly.

"For now… think inside the box" Jack said cheekily, then snorted at himself "Look… gotta have a big TV… sound system… comfy sofa and lounge chairs… coffee table… come on Tiger."

"Tell ya what… I want this far corner over here… this part that is recessed back behind the staircase. You can have all the rest to make a man cave any way you want. Just… I will tweak where I see horror happening" Ianto relented and Jack lit up at the prospect of really having a chance to do the room himself… bar that corner for Ianto.

Ianto likes dark little corners to hide in… like a monster.

A cute one mind.

.

.

Ianto was flicking the fabric samples over as he glanced at Jack, then the next one "Really?"

"Yeah… I think it will look… clean… warm" Jack said as his hand slid over the midnight blue swatch against the almost black charcoal and beneath that was a soft burgundy.

"So… Blue curtains… charcoal furnishings… burgundy will be the carpeting… I like it" Ianto finally said and Jack lit up with glee.

"Really love?"

"Yeah. Walls?"

"That's where I fell over. I don't want white ones. Beige is so… beige and wallpaper might detract from the fact I want the TV wall to be the hero in the TV room." Jack said as he flapped his hands.

"Well… go old style. Wood paneling half way up and a neutral …oooooo. Hang on Cariad. What if… what if you get panels of that pressed brass like we saw at the restaurant down town.. remember? Pretty patterns on the fine metal? Panels sunk in dark sainted wood walls… half way up then the top half can be the same burgundy as the carpet. The ceiling either pressed metal too... or simply a dark charcoal to match the sofas? Coffined?"

"Dark."

"Broody and vampirish" Ianto waggled his eyebrows then added "Add some potted plants and maybe some glassware… a decanter of whiskey and glassed of fine crystal on a pretty wooden tray… or an old style drinks cart…"

"OH GOD!" Jack squealed "An ice bucket… one with a lid .. oh god…"

Jack was off and Ianto settled back to imagine the corner he had chosen and smiled.

Dark stain, teddy bear brown with a hint of burgundy here and there in the light… yeah. Rich and warm. All that shelving.

.

.

"What will go on all those shelves?" Mildred asked as she held the measuring tape for Jack. She had come over seeking advice and stood staring at the corner of the room that was floor to ceiling shelves, sunk into the wall itself so it was flush with the wall but inside the cavity the back walls of it were being painted burgundy to match the walls. The alcove was now more of a arch around than a harsh little box and the chairs being placed either side of it's entrance told the story of a reading nook to die for.

"Tat" Jack said distractedly as he mate a note on a piece of paper and dropped the tape "One of Ianto's glass cat collections maybe. Or he might get in one of those Lego sets and make up… I think he is making it a games corner for the kids."

"Ok… grand idea" she smiled, turning to Helen in the doorway "An area for kids… brilliant idea."

"Yes, she gushed as she took off and almost collided with Ianto.

Busy one.

.

.

"Wow" Ianto said softly as he stood in the living room of George and Mildred.

"You see my problem" she said sadly "I purchased them on line for quick delivery. I don't have to send them back and wait for replacements… one two days to go... I am stuffed."

"Well… they just need taking up a bit" Ianto grimaced as he lifted the huge drapes off the floor "Just skimming the floor so sort of… grand."

"I don't know…it's all gone pear shaped" she said, then burst into tears "I really wanted this one. God… why me! I wanted it like a theatre. They roll back to reveal the huge TV screen, ya know? Cinema drapes? I need this win... we are so low on money. You got your cash reward each win… Carl got that win… we are on the bones of our arse!"

"Steady on there missus" Ianto laughed softly as he removed a small wallet from his pocket, opening it to reveal pins. A tailor's kit. She gaped as he knelt and started to place the pins here and there "We raise her hemline here… maybe pleat it to bring in the volume of material so when opening and closing they seem to swish… might make it the hero piece of the room."

George entered to look down at Ianto on the floor "Hey there buddy."

"Hey bud, you need a boxing." Ianto said as he rose and pointed to the top of the curtains "We need a shelf up there … to hide the top of them. For the cinema experience to be real you need to totally create the illusion of these sinking into the sides. Seeing the railing is crap. Sort that and I will sort these drapes into something… better."

"Oh Ianto, thank you love" she sobbed softly "He's right George. They have to appear to move like magic."

Ianto smiled as he pointed for George to help him lower the rail to get the curtains down for a quick run in his sewing machine he always took with him in the back of the car for just this reason.

He didn't need to win every room and he knew Jack had things well in hand. They didn't want the win… they wanted their vision to come true. They had agreed not to win all of them or the fans might get pissy anyway.

Ianto knew how to be a good competitor… and when to be a good friend.

Time to get busy.