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"Tad?" Ianto called as he entered the family home he had known since birth. He and his three siblings had grown up in this lovely big house that his Grandparents had built. A huge acreage with the large family house in the middle and down by the lake was a small guest house that the young married couple had lived in until Ianto's oldest sister was born, when they moved into the main house with his father's parents. As GrandTad got older he had moved with Grandma to the guesthouse and let the growing family have the rest of the house. Now Grandma was gone GrandTad spent his time in the guest house, no longer even bothering to use the main house as his anymore.
So … Ianto was the second youngest. His oldest sister Rhiannon now off and married at 34 years old, two little beasts of her own. Then Sean, 30 years old, engaged but not looking like a child was about to pop at any stage in the near future. Then Ianto, 25. Last but not least, the youngest sister Mia who was 20. Young, sweet and everyone's sweetheart. The Pipsqueak.
"In the Den" came the terse bellow and Ianto sighed as he walked into the Den to greet his father. Hew Jones was a gruff man. He was also affectionate at times to the others but Ianto had always found him too busy for much more than a few words. The older siblings told Ianto he was imagining it, their own lives had been filled with affection, hugs still there when greeted as was the sweet Mia but Ianto did not begrudge her that, he loved her a little too much too.
Ianto always felt it stemmed from the fact he did not look like him. Rhiannon was Mama to a T with blue eyes, dark hair and a rounded figure, Sean and Mia pure Tad with blonde hair and soft blue eyes. Ianto's hair was mousy and his eyes grey. He was the only one of the children that was so pale but of course, he was the only one that did not love the sun. Rhiannon walked daily, had a lovely tan that she enhanced in the winter with a sun bed. Sean and Mia were outdoorsy types with him rock climbing and her horses. Ianto was the only nerd. Geek. Weirdo.
"Well then. What brings you here on a week day?" Hew asked with interest, Ianto only coming on a Sunday for the family meal where he would eat quietly and politely answer questions, then help with the dishes.
"Well… I know this is silly but… I got a bill from the university. I mean… I thought my trust fund kicked in when I turned 25. I guess it's one that was missed, can you add it to the account for payment?" Ianto explained with confusion, the older two kids already having used their trust finds and he knew that even though Mia was still too young to access her quarter freely she had been allowed a lump sum to pay for her car.
His father stared at him for a time, and then said "What trust fund?"
Ianto blinked "Ah… mine. Grandmother left money in a trust fund for all of her grandchildren for their schooling, I mean… both Rhia and Sean got their quarters. Their left over amounts given for the down payments for their homes. I know there is plenty left in it … I don't understand the question."
"Well, you answered the question. That trust fund is for HER grandchildren. MY children since she wss MY mother" he seemed smug, leaning back to swing in the chair as Ianto tried to follow the weirdness of the conversation.
"What… Tad. What are you trying to say?" Ianto frowned. He noticed the open bottle of whiskey, the glass almost empty and was shocked. Tad was drinking in the middle of the day? What the actual.
"Ianto, let me lay this out for you shall I? You are not my son. I do not know where you came from but I can assure you that you are not of my blood. Therefore, I do not have to give you a fucking thing. In fact, the money I spent raising you should really be calculated since your mother never had a job to help with your expenses. Sorry, you are not mine and now that you are 25 you can either get a job and cover your own arse or your mother can start giving you money from HER funds."
Ianto felt the blood roaring in his ears as he stood staring at the man he had called Taddy for his entire life, this man so cruelly sneering at him like a stranger asking for money for food or something.
Ianto backed out of the room, still shaking as he gasped for air and he looked around wildly for some sort of explanation. Some sort of hint or clue to what to do.
"Ianto? You Ok there love?" Anna asked, her hand reaching for him as she put down her duster. Ianto blinked as he stared at the housekeeper that had worked for the family his entire life as well. She must know. All this time… they probably all knew he was a fake. A cuckoo.
Ianto staggered out of the house and stood in the backyard as he tried to understand what planet he was on.
He didn't recognize this one anymore.
