9. Day five 8.00pm

"You weren't at tea"

Ianto looked over at Jack and rose from beside the garden he had been poking in "I was not hungry."

"Still mad at me?"'

"Jack … I was never mad at you. I was annoyed, sure. But not mad. I asked for comfort and silence. My head was splitting and the continued noise and movement irritated me to a point where I could have set you on fire" Ianto explained "Migraine times a hundred. The pain is… hard to describe. I gave too much, I … and now Shamus thinks he can wander back home and lord it over everyone. Now he knows he has a captive audience he will be insufferable."

"So tell him to fuck off" Jack frowned.

"Sure. Works like a charm. You don't know him. He is a master manipulator. When my adoptive parents died and I finally made my way back …. as kids, he made it his life's work to cause me harm. If it was not physical attacks it was lies. Each time it led to him everyone would carry on then forgive him because he would put on the water works and turn it around to being my fault somehow. Gods, one day he shoved me out of nowhere, I fell hard and broke my leg. I was in agony and he left me there. Finally, I dragged myself to where someone found me and I was in a bad way. You know what he said? He said I did it to myself and it was just a bruise, I was lying just so I could frame him for it." Ianto gave a weird snorting laugh "And the loyalists believed him. Called me a liar and tried to make me walk on it. Scolded me for lying and carrying on."

Jack gaped, unable to comprehend someone being so cruel to their own blood.

"He is not coming to save the day, to comfort the tired and sorrowful … no. He knows I am here and he is coming to see what he can do to me. The jealously is so strong in him it oozes from him. Of course, my only comeback I ever had as a pup was to ask if he was jealous, he looked a little green."

"OK. I can see you are getting annoyed with this conversation. How about we let it go for now, change the subject. Yes?"

"Please" Ianto sighed.

"Why am I telling people intimate things? I spewed all about my wife and kids that died … things I never told anyone. I spilled like a lovelorn teenager gushing about some teen idol crush. It was… I mean… I was almost in tears thinking of my children that I hadn't even thought of in decades. What is happening?"

Ianto looked at him for a moment then shrugged "It's the water. She … cleanses you. In so doing, she does not just take away your sins… she also takes away the lies. The fakery. You are left with the truth. Sometimes if you are swallowing it down for a long time, it bobs up to the surface. Like a body. You were venting."

"So… Gwen…."

"Yeah. Rhys is being very patient with her but I know he is resisting the urge cleave her skull if she talks about their lack of children one more time. Of course… he does not know she has fallen yet. Just. Two days if that." Ianto snorted.

"No!"

"Yeah" Ianto smiled, then looked sad for a moment, looking away. Jack then had a strange thought and frowned.

"Ianto? Orin said you mate for life. So … if Rhiannon is your daughter…."

"No. not …." Sigh. Ianto rubbed his neck and stared into space for a moment then whispered softly "It was not like that. Rhiannon is not bio. She was an orphan and I fed her the jelly."

"Jelly."

"Royal jelly. It can turn a man to a Chimeron. All my children were waifs and strays. Adopted. I have none that were of me. I really do mate for life." Ianto grimaced "If ever that can happen. Like anyone would want me"

Jack frowned as he watched Ianto's hand move along his jacket lapel.

"you now … I can have kids" Jack suddenly had a thought as to why Ianto didn't want to talk about it "If you want one. I can … get pregnant ya know."

Ianto stared at him. "What?"

"Boeshanninan men are able to have children. We are both. Like …hermaphrodite. I have a womb. I can have children. If my mate is able to seed me" Jack shrugged and watched Ianto stall out with wide eyes.

"Wait. If?"

"Well. He would have to love me. Bond with me and be mine forever. Then I would ovulate."

"Is there a chance of that?" Ianto whispered.

"That you could spend eternity with me? Such a sullen madman as I am?"

"What is another mad man, I've been with one before and believe me Cariad … I prefer your coat to his any day."

"Oh wow. Really?" Jack laughed softly, reaching for Ianto "I do love you Ianto. I do."

"Oh Cariad. It might be the biggest mistake of your life accepting me. I am not at all conventional. I may disappoint you."

"Ianto. Gods" Jack stroked Ianto's face "My lovely man. That thought? That fear? Is the ONLY mistake here right now."

Ianto sighed and let his head fall against Jack's as he hoped like hell that Jack was speaking the truth. But he was, right? She had done her job and taken his ability to lie. Right?

Jack might really love him?