16
Ianto was looking tired again, Jack worried that he was overdoing it again but he knew Ianto would take offence if he even suggested it so instead he tried to anticipate his actions. Of course Ianto got overly tired with that in no time flat.
The third thump of bodies as Jack crashed into him was the three times too much so Ianto sat down. Right there in the middle of Christmas Dinner while everyone was watching Ianto sat on the floor of the kitchen with the mashed potato in his hands. Everyone gaped.
"Babe?"
Eyes rolled menacingly and Jack cringed, "Sorry, I mean…husband?"
Ianto held out the bowl and Jack gingerly took it, looking into it with confusion.
"Well?" Ianto asked with a dangerous glint in his eye, "You know what to do, obviously since you want to do it all. Go for it. I will just stay here."
Jack realised there were two extra places set and felt his stomach drop as he stared at the plate Bets always ate from placed neatly by her water glass with the roses painted on it. Herb and Bets were still here, their ghosts filling the entire house with their love.
"come on" Jack sighed as he lifted Ianto and levered him into his chair, "I wanna carve this year, I was never allowed to wield these ….shit. How do you do this?"
Ianto smiled as he watched Jack kill the turkey all over again, finding comfort in the fact Jack hadn't commented on the extra settings he had done without thinking and was now unable to put away.
Maybe next year he would be able to look at their photos on the remembrance tree without wanting to cry, adding those pictures to all the others already there almost back breaking.
How was he going to do this without her?