The house was lovely, something Ianto would have picked and he liked the décor immediately heading for the sofa and trying it out.

Jack headed for the kitchen. Not noticing the children's toy Ianto pulled out of the sofa cushions to stare at for a while, then another from underneath his foot.

"Ah, that's where they got to" Jack said quickly as he entered with a coffee cup each, "Little buggers. They're Micha's. Your niece and nephew were here at the weekend and scattered stuff everywhere. They were good kids, picked up their toys but I knew they had missed those. The lid doesn't usually shut on their wee crate in the closet for when they call."

Gods, that had been quick thinking and talking, Ianto's face not teling him if it was swallowed or not but Ianto calmly placed them on the coffee table and went back to staring at the fireplace with annoyance.

"Something wrong?" Jack asked.

"No photos" Ianto answered, "Why is it so bare? You know, you need to feather your nest a bit more Sir, it seems so…generic."

Jack tried not to show any response to the words that echoed those the first time Ianto had entered this house, looking around and bemoaning the lack of personalisation. Of course, within a week it was a home. Bursting with love.

Jack cleared his throat and Ianto sighed, "Might hit the hay, er…where is that?"

Jack rose and led him to the spare room, relieved to see Gwen had put in some work and Ianto walked to the bed without comment, kicking off his shoes and laying back, then looking at Jack who was still in the doorway with confusion.

Right.

Jack closed the door and leaned against it, then headed across the hall to their room…his room. Shit. He found the bed also freshly made and the empty side seemed so bereft he pulled out some stuff from the drawers to fill it, somehow feeling better afterwards.

He knew he probably wouldn't' sleep but he lay there trying to think of ways to help Ianto remember without pushing him, their son being the time limit. One night away, maybe two but Josh had never been apart from them for long and he knew when Ianto returned to his full capacity he would be horrified at the thought of Josh being apart from them even this long.

Morning found Ianto suited and booted sipping coffee and Jack walked up behind him without thinking, reaching for him and then pausing as he saw the cufflinks he hated, ones Ianto always used to wear before the wedding. Two little coffee beans.

"Nice links" Jack said as he stepped around him.

"Lisa got them for me" Ianto replied, not knowing Jack knew exactly where the bloody things came from.

"So, do you feel like going into work? How's your head" Jack asked.

"Pulsating, thank you sir" Ianto quipped, turning to place a full English down. God, Jack missed this too, the health kick since Josh and that baby weight had been a bone of contention and even though he knew 'Now Ianto' would be pissed to know he was doing it, Jack thanked 'Then Ianto' and dug in.

"Actually, me head is killing me still, I think a quiet day watching shit TV and maybe that ironing would suit best sir" Ianto said softly, "If that's OK."

"Not at all, I can get me work transferred to lap top and we can…"

"No!" Ianto said firmly, "I will be fine sir. No need for you to spend the day here babysitting."

Jack was forced to agree and nervously leave, once again swallowing down the desire to hold him as he forwent his usual kiss goodbye and as he stomped off to the SUV Ianto watched him with open confusion.

He could have sworn Jack had been about to hug him in the kitchen and then again at the door.

He went back in and decided the house needed a good clean, after all this seem to be the payment for his staying, right?

Dusting, vacuuming where more toys turned up and then came the beds. Ianto didn't know if it was bed changing day but he might as well, after all the ones in his room had smelt …musty… and Jack's smelt….Ianto leaned in and took a deep breath, smelling Jack's unique cedar and peppermint scent, the underlying rose water a surprise.

Huh.

He started pulling off the pillows and saw the lipstick.

Huh.

Then came the sheets and the little pair of purple lace knickers flew through the air mere centimetres from his nose and he watched with fascination as they landed on the floor.

What.

The.

Fuck.

Ianto picked them up with finger and thumb only, disgustedly flicking them into the waste paper basket by the bed. Disgusting. Trust the Captain to have some…some…floozy in his bed who couldn't even remember her jocks.

For some reason this rankled and he made the bed with angry, jerking movements. When finished he retreated to his room and sat on the bed seething and grinding his teeth and the image of those fucking panties kept replaying in his head.

He didn't know why he was so angry, putting it down to his love life being nonexistent so it seemed, Lisa's photo by the bed seemed ….wrong.

He rubbed his face as he wondered what the hell he was missing here.