5

The evening meal had been in silence, the kids exchanging glances with one another as Gray tried for some small talk but Ianto was done.

He was still grieving too and had put so much on hold to now feel so undervalued. He simply nodded and pushed his food around in his plate then when everyone was done he rose to clear away the dishes with a frown.

"We should get a pig" Gray said as he watched Ianto scrape the food into the bin "Shame to let good food go to waste if you leave that much on your plate and we would have our own bacon then."

Ianto froze, the knife stopping half way along the plate as he looked over his shoulder at Gray and said in a menacingly low tone "One more crack about my eating habits and you can sleep in the fucking field"

Everyone froze.

Ianto placed the plate and knife down, took a deep shuddering breath and walked from the room without excusing himself like he normally did. Walking to his bedroom and closing the door, he sat on the edge of the bed and suddenly felt like he was exploding as he burst into tears.

Here was a knock at the door "Ianto?"

"Fuck off."

Footsteps faded and Ianto flopped back on the bed to stare at the ceiling as he cried softly, rolling onto his side to stroke the blanket with the palm of his hand in a repetitive motion. Sometimes it helped, something like that.

The phone went and he considered ignoring it but then his manners would not allow that so he sat up, reaching for it. "Bore Da"

"Ianto? Did you speak Welsh without me there to leer?" Jack's voice was full of amusement and Ianto felt a loosening of his heart, allowing a soft smile as he heard that man he loves so much.

"Jack."

"What are ya wearing?"

Ianto sighed, flopping back on the bed "Sacks and ashes."

"Huh?"

"Just had an argument with Gray in front of the kids. Feel about two inches high. God, was a bit juvenile and I do not want to apologise because I feel it …."

"He said he sort of made plans without talking to you first. You know … he's a grown arsed man love. Sometimes he wants to do other stuff" Jack said in that condescending tone he had when one hand is on his hip and he had that look you wanna smack off his face.

"Oh. He rang you did he? Is that the only reason I am hearing from you? Not because you miss me or anything? Because Gray told you he promised the kids things without me knowing about it. RIIIIIIIIGHT"

"Wait. What?"

"You know what? How about you and he do ALLLL the parenting since I am so shit at it. I don't really need to do anything but cook and clean around here … I can just let you two raise the kids. A lovely matching pair, right? I am sure the kids will be so much happier not having to remind me I am not their parental. Gray is so much more fun anyway with the money he throws at them." Ianto was on a roll, his sorrow turned to anger "I hope you come home soon. I must be entitled to union endorsed time off or something, if this is just another fucking job!"

"Ianto…"

"Look. I miss you. I miss you so much I am laying here smelling your pillow and was so happy to hear your voice but you clearly didn't miss me … only ringing for Gray. So … I am going to have a bath and a whiskey. Apparently Gray has the kids, I don't have to interfere with HIS parenting of them right?" Ianto snarled "Enjoy the shoot. Hope you get some epic shots hanging out of the chopper or whatever the fuck your next stunt is you insist on doing yourself despite the fact you have kids now … oh right… you don't. Gray has that all under control. Good, as you would rather be doing that than here at home with grumpy old butler me! Goodbye sir."

Ianto slammed the phone down and simmered as he glared at it knowing he was being unfair, knowing he sounded like a fishwife but he was so tied. Fed up and frankly … he did feel underappreciated here ta very much.

That whiskey and soak sounded better by the minute as he went to his ensuite and started the water, sitting on the edge of the bath and rubbing his face as knocking started again.

"Fuck off Gray!"

"Uncle?"

Ianto sighed, rising and going to the door to open it. Mica was standing there with a piece of paper in her hand, "Uncle Ianto. I am sorry I made you sad. I don't have to go. I will stay here and help you look after Myf and the horse. Here. I made a sorry card."

"It[s OK Mimi. Uncle Gray said you can go. Of course you can. I am just sad and miss Jack" Ianto sighed as he accepted the picture she drew "Nice."

"There is me and David and Uncle Gray and Uncle Jack and you."

"I am the one on the outside of the group with the tie on?"

"Yeah. Because you are always leaving the table to do stuff while we all sit and eat. You are always so busy. Uncle Jack and Uncle Gray stay with us" she nodded as he explained why the kids were flanking the Harkness brothers and not him "You are there so you can run away."

"Run away" Ianto repeated softly, half-pie wishing he could.

"Sorry uncle Ianto. I will ask her mama to ring you to talk about it?"

"Yes love. That would be nice. I will worry otherwise" Ianto knelt and kissed her as he gave her a hug "Now go tell Uncle Gray you will need to pack a few things if you are going for the weekend."

"YES!" she crowed as she ran away and Ianto could hear Gray coming up the stairs so he closed the door again, feeling childish.

He went to check the bathwater.

Fuck him!