49
"Hey Toto" Idris said as Ianto entered the house, Gene looking up from the morning paper to raise his mug of coffee in greeting and then go back to reading as their sweet daughter Neve hummed happily to herself.
"Amy is about to be a sweet sixteen eh?" Ianto asked as he passed the table "I bet that party list is growing by the day. Now you've had yours I bet you are a great help."
"you betcha Uncle Ianto" she smiled, her pretty face a little like an Egyptian goddess but more refined with full lips. She was a beauty and already had her fathers threatening the young men of the village with gusto. She was following in Ton's footsteps as a Party Monster, her styling and his cakes a firm must-have in the village now for most events.
Ianto headed up the stairs to find his father who he knew would be up and fussing over which tie to wear, entering to find James was actually still in bed, the curtains closed. Ianto stood there for a moment in surprise, then felt the gut punch of horror.
There had been no warning. Sure he had felt under the weather but… Ianto's sixth sense had let him down for some reason and he had not seen this coming. The shock of it making Ianto's breath leave his body as his hands clawed for the doorframe.
After he had gained control, he walked to the bed and looked down at his father, reaching out to turn on the light. His father seemed asleep, if not for the absence or movement might have been mistaken for a slumbering man. Ianto reached out to touch his face, the solidness of it and the cold of it telling him his father had been dead for a while.
A photo of the two men stood by the bed on the bedside table, Eugene laughing as James lifted him in a bridge and groom pose at one of Ianto and Jack's weddings.
Ianto reached to and picked it up, placing it on the bed in his father's arms and then he bowed his head to pray, asking the gods to ensure the two find one another as he and Jack would one day beyond this mortal world. That they be happy, safe and hold no remorse for their time this side of the veil, that they have pride in their accomplishments and that, most of all, James finds his beloved Eugene in good health and with full mind again.
Then Ianto lowered himself to the ground, his hands clutching the side of the bed as he let himself weep.
His Father was gone. Daddy was gone, chasing Taddy as was always the way with those two. Eugene fluffing and prancing like a nutta filling the place with sound and light as James calmly cleaned up behind him and followed after.
Ianto found comfort in that thought.
They were together again.
He rose to go downstairs and break the news to his brother.
Orphans now, both of them.
