18

Donna's father Harry headed straight for the two men sitting on a pile to timber eating their breakfast.

"Hi, I am Harry Winters. Just finished the induction course and would like one of you gentlemen to tell me what the story is here?" he asked.

"Hello Harry. I am Ianto and this is my husband Jack who is struggling not to speak to you with his mouth full lest I smack him" Ianto smiled back. Then he rose "come on Harry… I will show you where they are and we can get ready for the new allocated room for the week."

Donna clung to her father with relief as Miles thanked them again and tried not to look in too much pain but it was clear that he was.

"Come on… let's go get into formation for Carls' whinge of the day" Ianto said as he clapped his hands "I am sure Harry wants to see a grown man tantrum up close."

Soft laugher as Miles clutched his side and told Ianto off.

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"Right… are we ready?" Jack asked before opening the envelope with a flourish "ooooo… seems they WERE impressed with us doing two rooms."

"Oh no" Mildred said softly.

"Oh yes Milly love… we are doing… the other guest bedroom and a powder room" Jack frowned as he stared at it "Hon?"

"A powder room is a small room with just the toilet, basin and such… no bath or shower. So someone visiting can use the facilities before they leave or something" Ianto is said softly "Not a bathroom… just a … well… drop off station?" Ianto said with his face screwing up "Not a bad idea. Master Ensuite is private, it will keep the other bathroom just for those living in the house and someone just there for a cuppa is not getting back into that part of the house. It is it's own thing, usually near the laundry or 'common' part of the house."

"Well I am not having on" Carl said indignantly "I want a full one… like… a shower as well …ah…"

"You mean a wet room" Ianto corrected calmly "Yes, not a bad idea old bean. If you mow the lawn or come from the pool covered in chlorine it can be a good idea to shower before entering the house. A Wet Room is a good idea and most people put that separate but… if you do the Wet Room as your visitor's loo as well… it makes no real difference. Not working forward is it?"

Ianto turned to Jack who considered and saw that Ianto was getting at something so he said "I don't think so. Wanna vote folks? I think Carl has every right to use that room as he sees fit… if it has a loo in it there it fits the brief right? Whether or not it has other things?"

Ianto's face told him that he had done the right thing as everyone agreed that Carl was free to make his powder room a wet room. Afterwards Jack pulled Ianto aside and whispered softly "What?"

"I want to repurpose a room too" Ianto said quietly as he looked around "Now he can't stop me."

"Cheeky"

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"Ianto?"

"Yerrrrrrrshhhhhh" Ianto called back with a paintbrush in his mouth as he struggled to reach the spot that had splotched in a way he did not like, with a rag.

Jack entered the bedroom to look up and blink slowly "Tiger? A door?"

"Hmmm… taped" Ianto waved a hand distractedly and they all looked at the rectangle of tape on the wall that signified a door being put in.

"Why you never wanted tiles in that part of the bathroom behind the door" their builder muttered "Well fuck me… it's an ensuite now."

"Hmmm" Ianto leaned back "So… yeah I guess. This room can slip into that one and lock the outer door… yeah. You see... the other room is actually the guest one that can have use of the bathroom. This one is the real kid's room"

"That will stir things" the apprentice looked around "Wow… I love the colours in here. Burnt orange and teddy bear brown."

"Yes, our James Dean loves orange" Ianto said as he looked back and the mural on the wall was now obvious. It was an orange grove at dusk, the butterflies still out as they flittered around the fruit and the rabbits playing around the nearest large tree were cute too.

The other wall was still blank and Jack knew without asking it would be something with greens as their quiet little Nate loved green. Then Jack guessed "Apples this side love?"

"Yes, more of a wild apple grove that side… long grass and a meadow with just the one large tree over the bed… will go over the ceiling too that one." Ianto said without turning from his task "The bed will slide in under it… but in the corner itself is going to be the little seat in the trunk like a little one can snuggle in there like a squirrel or something."

"Awwwwww" Jack gushed with glee "I get it. The orange tree side is more refined, clean and the room for all the toy chest and stuff… oh man… the toy chest?"

"Will be painted to resemble a wooden orange box" Ianto said as he finally turned to smile at him "We will set up the corner like a fruit stall."

"God. Our boys would have loved this. So nice that we are doing this like they would like it… makes it more personal" Jack nodded.

"I know." Ianto sighed as he leaned back "They would. I can't wait for them to see when we can show them around, even if they are too little to get it, they will love this room. I can't wait to see J.D. wanting to touch the oranges to make sure they are not real."

Jack laughed as he knew Ianto was right. Of the two twins, that one would be the one reaching out.

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The powder room was classy, simple and efficient. The judges nodding their delight and one of them picked up the soap shaped like a strawberry to laugh as he said that these men were fun.

Then they found the bedroom, standing in mute shock at the beauty of the little copse in the trees. Like a cubby house… a tree house… a little boy's hidden place to play. Then one saw the door and opened it to the bathroom, laughing now as they saw the reason for the wall to have been left wet wall behind the main door.

"You know… these two are a real threat here" the female judge said as she looked around "They are … well… bloody brilliant."