2
It felt strange to use his real name. Looking at the Drivers License with mild amusement as this was not something usually found in his wallet. Jack was brought out of his revere as the girl behind the counter repeated the price.
"Sorry… wool gathering" Jack smiled as he pulled out the debit card and swiped it, winking as she smiled softly with that forgiving grace of most people when they experience the Harkness Charm. Jack swung to see where Joseph was, glad to see him interested in some model kits.
"You want one of those soldier?" he called out but the child shook his head, content to window shop. Browse. Touch, fiddle and examine. Jack smiled as he saw a little of the boy's mother in those actions then he nodded to the girl and accepted his bagged goods, about to leave when an unexpected voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Hello there, Joseph isn't it? Joseph Harkness? My, you are a well dressed man"
Jack stepped around shelving to find a man in a three piece suit, immaculately dressed admiring Joseph's own little ensemble of trousers, white shirt and blazer that was reminiscent of his private school he had left behind in the move to this new place. Joseph looked at the man with interest and asked the question forming on Jack's own lips "How do you know my name?"
"Ah. Magic" the name tapped his nose, the melodic voice till drawing Jack in as he tried to place it. Jack's mother had been Scottish so it was close but… Welsh. It was Welsh. "My name is Mister Jones and I shall be your teacher, Joseph. Got your school records yesterday in fact so you are so fresh in my mind that I recognized you instantly. Also.. I know EVERYONE and you are the only handsome young man I have not met already."
Joseph beamed with glee "I was gonna meet you tomorrow!"
"Yes that's right. Let's pretend to be surprised then shall we? Let people wonder" Ianto winked and the child giggled as he nodded enthusiastically. A game. Joseph liked those.
"Hi, Joseph's father. Jack" Jack held out his hand and the one that gripped it was surprisingly strong and confident as Ianto smiled back.
"Jones, Ianto Jones. Hello there" the man's eyes seem to slide up and down Jack in a way that he found most pleasing. Sill got it eh? Also the moment of hand holding went a little long as the two men smiled and finally Joseph rolled his eyes.
"Dad. Put him down, he's my teacher!" Joseph sighed.
"Taddy?"
Jack swung to find a little boy peering out from behind a stack of books that made Ianto immediately spring into action, swinging his basket that he had in the other hand over as the books toppled from the little man's arms and he caught them deftly.
"Well done!" the boy said with glee, his little horn rimmed glasses so sweet, especially when a single digit pushed them up his nose as he took another look at Jack.
"Well now. Mister… sorry. Captain isn't it? Captain Harkness here and his son Joseph have moved into the Smithers house down the end of Daffodil lane. Joseph is the same age as you, just a month between you so you will be in the same class." Ianto said as he crouched to be eye level with the boy. "Mehaps a friend?"
"Does he have a mama?"
Jack cringed as he watched Ianto's face shift for a second before he replied "No darling. Same as us, I do believe. Mad Men on a mission to fart and burp everywhere."
Joseph grinned, moving from his father to inspect a possible new friend who was also motherless. For some reason this made him all the more interesting "I'm Joseph. My Mama is deaded. But you can call me Joey."
"I am Shamus. My mama is gone too. Taddy sez I am allowed to be just Shae. I like Shae." The boy grinned back and suddenly they were off around the screen to the back of the store as Jack gaped.
"don't mind them. Gordon has a soft spot for little ones and a new clowder of kittens to show off. They will be well entertained back there" Ianto explained, then canted his head "don't' worry. I came here almost four years ago and was terrified of small town life, the weird dynamics of parking in someone's preferred unmarked spot much like sitting in the wrong booth at the diner."
"Wrong booth?"
"Yes. Here, let's get the boys and maybe I will tell you the secrets to survival here in the wilds when we have time" Ianto winked and Jack found himself laughing as he agreed to take him up on that lesson some time, following Ianto back to the little storeroom with three… no… four children peering at a basket full of cats.
"Oh no. Winkle has popped too?" Ianto groaned.
"Went on Saturday. Yep … two mamas. Seems to work. Looks like they are tag teaming the little devils" the old man grinned with pride as Joshua squealed. "You like kittens little man?"
"Yes. Mama was allergic so I was not allowed one. Now she's dead…" the boy's face changed as he heard his own words and his hands flew to his moth, the pain raw as he turned to his father who was equally shocked to silence.
"Cool , maybe we can work them to get one each? We can be like bothers then" Shae said with excitement "Like… kitty brothers!"
The moment of panic had passed, Shae changing it again as Joseph laughed and clutched the hand of his new friend.
Jack felt such a relief.