"Everyone has scars, scars are OK."
Ianto was unaware of the conversation as he stood on the edge of the swimming pool, then gracefully dove in.
"But … Why?" Penny asked with wide eyes.
"Because he got hurt and when you get hurt you heal but there is always something left behind like a reminder. Like … take the snow over there. You stand in it and leave a footprint. You can use your hands to smooth it over again but it will not look like the rest. Its changed. Scarred." Ton explained gently "Some scars are behind the skin like … heart hurts and things. Or a broken bone that heals … still have the marks in the bone but you can't see them right?"
"So … Grandy has even more scars than that?" little eyes widened at the thought.
"Yah. He has lots. Sometimes he must really ache with all the hurts of life, but you see … that's the thing with scars. You can accept them and move on, forget they are there. Other people see them, think about them but you don't. You forgave the hurt"
"Grandy is so pretty. Can a guy be pretty?"
"Yes. Taddy is pretty. So is Walty. Your Dad is pretty too, right?" Ton pointed out, "Sexiest man alive according to his fans. Still ... he has scars too."
"Scars do not make you but they show that you are made?" Penny frowned now, "Like … seams."
"You know Crispin, you are a clever wiener sometimes" Ton crooned, "Yes. The healing scars are like stitches holding you together. Yes."
"I'm glad Grandy is all together. He is wonderful" Penny said, lighting up as said Gandy came up out of the water and reached for his towel, winking at them.
"What are you two men up to?" Ianto asked gently.
"Just saying, scars are OK. Everyone has them" Ton said calmly.
"If you've not hurt yourself a few times, you've not really lived" Ianto smiled happily, "Scars show you are strong, show you survived something."
Penny looked down at his hand and the little mark on the back of it that had been from a cigarette. He remembered that day, remembered the pain and also remembers now that his lovely Poppy kisses it sometimes. Makes it better.
He nodded as he agreed.
Scars are OK.