6

Next morning he was suited and booted, in the kitchen making waffles as the kids appeared and he silently placed their food down then turned back to finish the ones for Gray.

"Good morning" Gray said as he entered the room "Ianto … I need to …"

"Blueberry" Ianto cut him off "Like you like. There you go."

Ianto slammed the plate on the table and gave Gray a yard long stare "I got the phone call telling me to let you do what you want to … fine. But if you run to him next time I will remind you that rent is due."

Gray blinked at the angry man who clearly had not simmered down overnight. Ianto then turned back to the sink and started to wash the cooking implements.

"Uncle? What sort did you have?" Mica asked as she poured a liberal amount of syrup over her food.

"Do you know what dress you want for the party? I will make sure it is clean and ironed before Uncle Gray takes you to the sleepover tomorrow morning" Ianto said as he continued to clean and Gray noted no plate. Ianto had not eaten.

"The one with the red roses please" she said happily as she tucked in "I will have plats in my hair and we can put red ribbons in to match the roses then."

"If you like" Ianto said as he turned and removed his gloves. Yes, a fresh dry pair. The others inside out on the clothesline.

"Uncle Ianto?"

"David"

"Can I go with Uncle Gray? Did you think it over?"

"Yes. Of course you can. I only want you to be happy. Go. Be happy. I am sure you will have fun" Ianto sighed, rubbing his neck in a way Gray was starting to realise was annoyance. "Just know you need a bag too."

"Yes sir" David wriggled in his chair with glee and Ianto walked from the house to the back yard. Gray rose and followed him out, finding him at the fence with a bucket of chaff for the horse.

"You know, he doesn't need it every morning, every second or third will do, He will get fat if she doesn't exercise him every day.."

Ianto dropped the bucket in the ground and swung to glare at him "Oh. Fucking this up too am I? Thanks."

Gray closed his mouth as he tried to think of a way to smooth this new mistake over "I didn't mean to sound controlling. I just didn't think you knew."

"Fine. Whatever. You take that over. You feed it, then it will not explode from my over feeding eh?" Ianto snarled, "you know … Jack has been gone almost two months with this movie, came back for the weekend then off again for the reshoot of that lost film. I miss him, I still need him. I am happy you and Bonnie are moving so fast. She clearly loves you and you are a nice fit but … do you have to be so blatant around the kids? Jack and I do not fondle one another in front of them. Mica asking me why you keep checking her boobs … she is worried you might be checking for cancer. You know … breast cancer like the kind that killed her mother. That's how I found out you cup her breasts in front of Mica. For fucksake … can you please act like the parental if you are going to take that over?"

"What? Ah… I … shit. We were kidding around and … she really thought …"

"Those kids are fucked up. Their father was abusive... their mother is dead and I am clearly a poor substitute. I get that you are stepping in … fine. But fucking act the part. This isn't easy on any of us!"

Gray frowned as he looked at Ianto and noted how tired he looked, so … wrung out "Maybe it would help if I move out? I could…"

"Oh great. Make me Uncle of the Year. Good one. The will really hate me then, they will be convinced I threw you out and never speak to me." Ianto huffed "They clearly prefer you … how about I move out instead. You can have them all to yourself without … oh wait. You would have to hire a cleaner…cook … receptionist … not to mention a bloody dog wrangler. Your choice Gray. I am fed up with the entire thing. I am clearly naff at this. Maybe you are right. I should bow out now and leave you to it! You make such a handsome family"

Ianto stormed inside and Gray groaned as he remembered Jack warning him that Ianto can go Diva Mode in five seconds flat and a mouthful of ugly followed by a fast exit is called the Jones-Hit-N-Run and you do not want that because it can take days for him to cool down.

"Shit" he sighed, fumbling with his phone.

Ianto found the kids listening inside the door, huddled together and he huffed at them "Really? A bit old for that? I am tired annoyed and miss Uncle Jack. OK? I still love you, want you and need your love. Just like you need mine. I am angry and sad … not insane. It's just a tantrum. Grups do have them too ya know!"

"So… we can still go?"

"Davy!" Mica said with annoyance "Are you leaving us?"

"No. I am just being a diva. Sorry kids. I am just so fed up with not feeling loved. It's OK. I know you are trying your best, I know that. So am I. It just takes time for us to all work things out. Right?" he drew them against him and hugged them as Gray entered the kitchen , the phone in his hand.

"That's Jack on the line. He's coming home next week" Gray said excitedly, "They are cutting the filming short."

Ianto looked at him with horror knowing this was his fault.

Great.

Jack would be a bear with a sore head at having to sacrifice some extra shots just for this.

Shit.