23
Ianto had a quick shower and he paused in the bathroom to look at himself in the mirror.
His belly was still flat to the naked eye but when he pushed with his hand an orange sized lump filled his palm in a way that was … satisfying.
The scar was fading.
No longer puckered or an angry red colour, it was now a faint pink line.
Brilliant stuff, this Predator DNA.
Ianto came out to find the meal ready and was touched that Jack had waited for him. He sat next to his love and felt the arm snaking around the small of his back as Jack leaned in to smell his still wet hair.
"OK?"
Ianto nodded mutely and smiled as a blush formed, smelling Jack's arousal.
Naughty.
"Tomorrow we go back for the rest of the tat we want" Mickey said, flicking his fork, "I saw some 'boogly googly' stuff I know I saw on the Tardis once, I don't like the idea of it left behind. I suggest we do the many vehicles and try to see what we can do about this tail."
"I want to know which one of us its following" Martha agreed as they both ignored the two men making goo-goo eyes at the end of the table. "I'm thinking we let the dust settle afterwards, at least a week or two before we show ourselves again."
"Yeah." Mickey frowned, "I don't like it. They're too close."
"Rest of the secure archives, all of the Mainframe stuff listed and Jack and I had personal stuff down there we couldn't fit today. Then we let it all sit for a few weeks" Ianto agreed, "This tail is giving me the heebie-jeebies."
"How far along are you?" Mickey asked as he watched Ianto reach for a bread roll and Ianto hesitated with surprise.
"Ah, Fifteen weeks? No. God. Sixteen weeks now." Ianto said softly and Mickey hummed.
Jack blinked, "So .. you were about four weeks when you died?"
"I've been back about ten weeks so … I was six weeks gone." Ianto answered with a shift in his seat to show his annoyance at the topic of discussion.
"Shit" Jack sighed, "I killed our child as well."
"Stop it!" Ianto slammed his hand down and the fork flew into the air, hitting the bowl of potato salad in the middle.
Mickey was the first to snort, then slap his hand over his mouth as Martha kicked at him under the table.
Ianto followed with a hic-up and giggle of his own.
They all laughed softly as the tension dispersed and Ianto sighed.
"You didn't kill either of us, here we are. Right here ya Muppet!" Ianto finally said, "I wasn't dead. Just in a deep sleep, apparently the gas caused a paralysis and putting me in a chryo-chamber saved me. And our child. She found me, recognized something in me and saved me. Ta-da!"
He flung his arms wide and another piece of potato flew off the cloth where it had handed from the fork assault.
"God, I think I hate potato salad" Ianto sighed as everyone giggled.
"You are right" Jack smiled, "I need to stop looking at the past, my future is my one and only concern now. I agree about the tail, let's get that done."
Everyone nodded.
"Since we managed to make the funeral another drama, sorry about that, let's have a do over there" Jack sighed.
"We need a do over stick" Mickey said suddenly though a mouth full of food.
"What?"
"Like a stirring spoon. A talking stick. A do-over one!" he repeated slower, this time with an empty mouth, "A token. When one of us acts like a dickhead we get a chance to hold it high and apologize. Then we all move on and accept it was just a dickhead moment. Let it go!"
Ianto laughed softly as Jack leaned back and clapped, pleased that Mickey Mouse was on form. Just when he needed him to smooth Ianto's mood, Mickey was there.
Good man.
Ianto excused himself for a moment and then came back with something in his hand that he dropped on the table and Jack started as he looked at what he thought was a dildo, but then he snorted as he realized he was looking at a Derotian Apology Stone.
"Do you know what this is?" he pointed and Ianto nodded.
"My archives Sir" he said softly, "I know everything. I know the holder must be truly contrite or it will change colour. No lies here. Not at this table. Agreed?"
Everyone agreed and Mickey snatched it up, "I hereby declare this is not to be used with lube … anywhere!"
Ianto screamed with horror as everyone laughed and agreed.
They took turns holding it and promising to use it only for chaste reason, only with Jack did it change colour until Ianto slapped at him.
No lies here.
Ianto's heart sang.
It felt the joy of companionship as Ianto looked at his family.
His team.
His crew.
And his Captain at his side.