25
Ianto had opted for a pale blue suit and a dark shirt, his appearance that of someone on a tropical holiday while Jack was in his trademark Great Coat he was known for. He felt the need for comfort. They stood with the other contestants to watch the madness and first up was Carl and Helen's house.
The bidding went well and at the end of it they had almost half a million over the reserve price. Of course he was not happy with that reserve price but he did go over budget. Still… half a million for six weeks? Come on. Well, they would need it. Apparently it WAS moonlighting and Carl was proudly boasting that he didn't need the job now as they could buy a house bus and see the world.
Helen's face told everyone that she was not so damned sure about that. Ianto had talked quietly to her which is why he never went off on one at Carl despite his prodding and knew Carl was in for a surprise as the bank account provided to the show was a personal one.. not a joint one. Looks like Helen had her own agenda here and for once.. Ianto was staying out of it. What they had in their joint account would be his… she was keeping hers and the amount she had been skimming off their joint account for the last twelve months or so prior to the show. Oh yes, she had a plan. Carl was shown to be a violent abusive prick on TV… her claims of domestic violence would not be overlooked by the police again.
Ianto was impressed with her moxie actually.
Next was Donna and Miles, theirs going for almost a million more than reserve and Ianto watched Carl's face pale as the cope rejoiced. They would now be able to afford the little cottage for Miles's father-in-law who was shocked to learn that this was the reason for them being on the show. Harry was touched.
Then came the punks Julia and Stone who had not interacted with anyone much but had played obnoxious music almost constantly… their house a little.. out there. They fared slightly better than Carl and were pleased all the same. A niche market and they were dead on the money as an eccentric local DJ purchased the Hollywood themed house. Their dream of opening a medical marijuana shop was a step closer.
Then came George and Mildred, the older couple that mostly kept to themselves but had accepted some advice here and there in the stores. The ones that were scoffed at by the judges each week for being too vanilla. Two hundred over Carl. Wow. Their IVF with a young surrogate could begin.
So… a pretty tough crowd.
Finally it was Jack and Ianto's wonderland and they settled nervously to listen as the bidding started. Ii went over Carl's… then over Donna and Miles… and… and.. two millions… what? Two and a half million… what? Ianto looked at Jack who was gobsmacked as three million was called out… two over reserve. Fuck me.
"Hang on… can we have a sec?" Ianto asked "ah… I feel ill."
Ianto shot to the toilet and stood there trying to work out what was going on. Finally he got out his phone and called his mother "Mama? Are you bidding on my house?"
"Oh darling, yes. How did you guess?"
"Oh mama. Hang on a sec" Ianto put her on hold and called Jacks mother "Mother? Sweetie are you bidding on our house?"
"Of course I am, don't be stupid." She scoffed "I am buying it for my boy… for my babies. How can I let strangers live there!"
"Well… best of luck" Ianto blurted then hung up with horror, returning to his mother "Mama… listen I need you to be the bigger person and let it go."
"No I can't!" she roared "It's that bitch isn't it. Trying to one up me!"
"Yes and how far will it go? Four million? Five? Mama I really want money for the charity but not… not a shit show. Listen… this is what you do…"
.
.
"OK… the bid is at three million point four to you sir." The auctioneer pointed to the man who was holding the phone nervously as the other one made a throat cutting motion. "You sure? Not even five thousand increase?"
"Yeah… she's out" he yelled and the auctioneer slammed down the gavel.
"Babe? Was it our mums?"
"Yeah."
"Fuck me"
.
.
The two women stood side by side laughing at the cameras as they gushed happily outside the house "It was silly really, we both wanted it."
"I was dead set on it for my boy" Mrs Harkness nodded "I always want the best and this house is clearly the best."
"No argument there, why I wanted it for my boy too" Jennifer said and then did her fake laugh before adding "Why I suddenly realized who I was bidding against and knew it was silly. Of course it is all about the boy getting this house and to gift it to them is the end goal. It does not need to be about point scoring when we are all one family now. Daphne… you do your thing."
Jack' smother grandly held up the keys and placed them in Jack's hand "Here darling. Mama loves you."
Jack kissed her cheek knowing this had to have cut into her trust fund a bit but so damned pleased with her for doing this. What a grand gesture on her part and he knew a few million would find it's way back to the trust in a year or so when she wasn't looking.
"And as this IS all about charity… I am donating dollar for dollar what my son's mother-in-law did" Jennifer said with glee "So the charity will get a cheque from both of us!"
Everyone cheered and both women preened. Each sure they had done better than the other. The game was still on.
"That was god thinking sweetie" Jack let his head fall against Ianto's as he held him close.
"I didn't like the new place. The pool still wasn't right" Ianto said as he turned to face Jack "Now this place… we know the bones of it."
"And love the bones of it"
As I love you Cariad."
And that is how the Harkness-Jones Hollywood family moved to a sweet suburban cul-de-sac.
.
.
"You know what we need?"
Ianto was almost asleep in the new house, the babies asleep in the next room and one room over Mica who had begged to stay the night in the 'princess room'. David didn't care, glad to have a night with his mother to himself. Seems Douglas is an absent partner sometimes.
Ianto was chewing on that as he tried to focus on Jack who was talking rubbish as per after some mind-blowing sex "Huh?"
"A name. We need to name the house."
"We did give it one" Ianto yawned as he snuggled against Jack "Sweetington."
"I was being a prick that day… come on.. we said that to get a rise out of Carl."
"But I like it. Sweets for my sweet."
"Honey for my honey" Jack started to sing the sing as they lay entwined and knew this was the most prefect night of their lives in this house.
So far.
Thanks to their mothers… there would be many more to come.
.
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And this is where I will end this one, thanks for reading. So many of you guessed my outcome here, glad we all think alike when it comes to the happiness of our boys. LOL
