Chapter Two: Getting to the Bottom of It

If he'd been expecting this reality to get any better…or normal at least, when they arrived at the hub he was sorely mistaken. He was pleased to know that at least they still worked at Torchwood Three, in the same location. The entire morning routine was something Ianto would have to get used to.

Once they'd fed Rose, Gareth and Johnny breakfast, Jack had promptly announced that because Daddy wasn't feeling well he'd be getting the kids dressed. He then turned to Ianto and told him to pack their lunches. It wasn't like this was a complicated action, but as Ianto opened up the door to the fridge and looked at all the food he felt way out of his element.

Jack came down the stairs fifteen minutes later, dressed in one of his normal button down shirts and a pair of slacks, braces in place. In each arm he held one of the boys, in front of him Rose was carefully clutching the banister as she took one step at a time. Jack watched her diligently so she didn't slip. "Did you make lunch?"

"Uh—I think so." Ianto replied pointing to the bags.

"Good enough, go get changed we've got to drop them off at your sisters—"

"What?"

Jack sighed. "Look I realize you may still be upset, and that's fine but if we want to get to Rose to school and then work on time and avoid Owen's usual needling, then I need you to work with me here. Your sister, Carys, we've got to drop the twins off at her place. Then we've got to run Rose over to school."

"Oh—you go to school do you?" Ianto asked the little girl.

The child giggled as she looked up at her daddy. "Daddy's acting goofy!"

Jack smirked. "Yes he is, now why don't we let Daddy get ready while we get you three into the car, come on."

Ianto took that as a signal before disappearing back upstairs. He'd returned five minutes later dressed in one of his suits, did his hair properly and brushed his teeth. He headed outside where a black SUV was parked—though it wasn't the Torchwood SUV, it was definitely a copy. Jack was leaning into the back seat where he had three giggling children strapped into their booster seats. "Ready?" Jack turned and looked at his lover. "You haven't worn a suit to work in years, are you sure you're okay?"

"Uh—positive, I can go change."

"We don't have time, come on, I'll drive."

They'd dropped the twins off at his sister's house which was apparently only fifteen minutes from the Hub and two minutes from the school Rose was attending. They dropped off their other little ray of sunshine as she got out of the car she looked up at her fathers. "Keep an eye out Papa!" she declared before running off towards the school.

"I'll keep both open, kiddo," Jack replied quietly. He waited until she was safely in the building with one of her teachers before he drove off towards the Hub.

The biggest difference upon arriving at Torchwood was the young woman sitting behind the desk. She couldn't possibly have been more than twenty-two with light blonde hair and gray eyes. She glanced up and smiled as Jack and Ianto stepped through the door. "Morning sirs. Coffee?"

Jack smiled. "Thanks Sally, but I'm really trying to cut back. Come on Yan."

Ianto looked at her for a moment, before he hurried to catch up with Jack down the hallway. "Jack—I thought I was the receptionist."

Jack looked at him, as they stepped into the lift, as if Ianto had grown two heads. "Don't be ridiculous, you haven't been a receptionist in seven years."

"Why?"

"Ianto—"

"Sir—"

"I swear to all that is holy Ianto, if you call me sir one more time I will hurt you! We're partners! Stop acting like I'm a stranger!"

"Par—partners, sir?"

Jack nodded. "Civil Partnership Ianto—seven years ago, remember? The honeymoon was in Paris. A year and a half later I found myself pregnant. Surely you've got to remember that, I distinctly recall every moment of your yelling as if it were my fault."

"I think I'm going to be sick." Ianto closed his eyes against the overwhelming feeling of fear and confusion. How could this be happening to him—what the hell was happening to him?

They entered the hub seconds later and Ianto felt his confusion only grow, the place looked the same, only it seemed bright, more pleasant to be in. Gwen was there, sitting at her desk, doing something of importance no doubt. She appeared to have gained some weight in her face, but other than that she looked the same. Ianto's eyes strayed to her left finger, there sat her silver wedding band. Next to her was Tosh, also doing something at her computer, the two girls were chatting idly. The third desk—normally Owen's—had none other than Martha Jones seated there. She looked intent on whatever was on the screen. "I thought you said Owen—"

"He's probably in the med bay—Martha is our medical field agent. Owen remains in the hub most of the time now for safety purposes.

"We've been over run by women." Ianto whispered playfully as he followed Jack into his office.

Jack chuckled. "Yes, that's partly you're doing though. After—well after Owen was taken off active duty we needed someone else in the field with experience. Owen didn't want to just be the tea boy so you asked to hire Sally upstairs. Then when—" Jack sighed as he closed his eyes. "After you were shot and killed we—we decided someone needed to be in the field with us."

"Wait died? Oh God, I thought we destroyed the risen mitten."

"We did—you were rushed to the hospital, you spent the next two weeks on life support. You nearly died, after that—after that we hired Martha to be the medical support in the field.

The younger man took a seat and looked at Jack, taking in everything he'd just heard. "Jack, I'm Ianto Jones from the year 2008 and I promise you, I went to sleep last night—the night after Gwen and Rhys wedding—alone in my flat swearing that I'd break up with you today."

Jack shook his head. "That happened, but you never broke up with me. In fact you came in first thing the next morning and told me you loved me too. Ianto, you're serious?"

"Completely sir, I have no recollection of those children—though they are beautiful. I don't have a memory of anything you've told me about the past ten years."

Jack sighed. "For starters please call me Jack—you're my husband now, the least you can do is that."

"That's another thing! I'm your husband, how did you propose? When? Jack what's going on?"

"I don't know Ianto—but it seems strange that you don't remember any of this. You were there; you've been there through everything. I swear to you. You love those babies, though secretly, I think Johnny is your favorite."

"Tell me about them."

Jack smiled softly this time as he leaned across his desk and handed Ianto a picture from the corner of the desk. Ianto took the wooden framed picture into his hands and smiled sadly. There they were, Jack sat on the floor Indian style, in his lap he held one of the twins securely—obviously it was candid as everyone appeared to be laughing. Ianto was lying on his side, head resting against Jack's thigh; one arm wrapped around their other son, a top Ianto's side was Rosie. They looked so happy in the picture, grinning as if it was the most natural thing in the world for all of them. Ianto couldn't recall ever seeing his Jack so…relaxed.

"Rosie is our oldest, Rose Elizabeth Gwyneth Jones-Harkness—"

"That was mean." Ianto replied at the poor girl's long name.

He chuckled and nodded. "Yes, but well deserved. Rose was after an old friend of mine, you wanted Elizabeth after your mum and since Tosh was the God-mother we gave Rose, Gwen's name. Oh she's a pistol, easily just like both of us I'd say. She's got your cheekiness, my looks—that girl will be the talk of Cardiff. And she can sing; wants to be an actress when she grows up. And most likely it'll happen. She's amazing already and she's only five. She was our first—a bit of a shock to everyone myself included especially since I was told in the 51st century I'd never have babies again."

"How is that possible?"

Jack shrugged. "In the 51st century, where I was born, most men can't have them, it's a selection process. You choose if you want it. In my case I said I did because I thought it would be fun. Did it on a dare—so I had the ability. I was pregnant only once ever—I had a miscarriage so I was positive I wasn't meant to have children even with the implants and all that. But Rose proved me wrong when she was born ten months to the day after her conception. C-section, naturally. She's brilliant Ianto, positively brilliant. She has the moments where I swear she's reading my mind."

"The twins?"

Jack smiled fondly. "Almost lost them twice; my pregnancy with them was very hard. Four months in, I almost had another miscarriage—nearly lost both of them. Then I was able to carry them to about eight months before things went to hell and quickly. Martha and Owen delivered them here—I died. Bled to death."

"God, Jack—"

"You were terrified for me and the babies, plus you were having a horrible time dealing with a terrified two year old. It was probably the worst days of the relationship. But I came back, and we ended up with the infant from hell."

"The twins?"

"Just Johnny, he cried like there was no tomorrow, or at least he did until he was about two years old. All the time, we got so frustrated." Jack chuckled softly. "Your sister used to call here in the middle of the day begging one of us to care for him. Nothing was wrong either, he'd just cry. He was only really quiet when you used to sing to him. That's part of why you two were so close. I could sometimes get him to sleep when I sang, but you were the one."

Ianto took it all in, no wonder he'd felt such a connection to Johnny from the moment he'd held the baby. "And they're three now?"

"Yeah, just turned it a few weeks ago actually…March 11th. We've been discussing getting them big boy beds—which they aren't thrilled about."

"Are we happy Jack?"

Jack smiled a warm smile he only reserved for his lover. "I would like to think so, yes."

o0o

The day went in a blur for Ianto; Torchwood was now a well oiled machine, it seemed. In those nine hours of their day Ianto learned that Tosh had married just three years ago to a man named Henry. Wonderful man it sounded like, they had a son, two years old named, Scott. Ianto also found out at the same time that he and Jack were the godparents of said two year old.

Gwen and Rhys had been married for going on eleven years they had three children as well, Bryn was the eldest at nine, Rhin was six and their youngest was baby Sean at eighteen months. Gwen was still happy with her husband, which had just proved to Ianto that she'd married the right man.

Ianto was exhausted, though a little more comfortable, as Jack drove them home that evening. He learned that once school ended Carys picked up Rose and she stayed with her brothers the rest of the night. They stopped at the house and Ianto followed Jack to the front door.

"Daddy!" cried an adorable little voice. Ianto grinned as he watched Johnny race out the front door, arms opened wide. As the small arms were thrown around his legs, Ianto felt his heart melt further. He reached down and lifted his son from under his arms. Bringing the child up to his hip, Ianto took a moment to gaze into the soulful azure eyes. "Hi Daddy!" the toddler threw his little arms around Ianto's neck.

Ianto smiled softly as he gripped his son tighter. "Hi baby." He whispered as he stepped into his sister's house, offering her a peck on the cheek.

"Hi Carys." Jack pressed a kiss to her cheek as well as he swept their daughter up into his arms, tossing her gently in the air. "Where's our other little munchkin?"

As if on cue another voice came from the kitchen, the chocolate covered toddler came flying towards his daddies. "PAPA PAPA!"

Carys laughed out loud as she reached out and managed to stop the chocolaty goodness from covering his parents with the mess. Ianto laughed at the sight of his son—his son—struggling to get away from his aunt. "Someone had fun today!" Ianto placed John on the floor and walked over to his other little boy. "Well you look good enough to eat!" A minute later he grabbed his son up and was playfully biting him as the toddler squealed and giggled.

Jack smiled as he stood, holding his daughter, he felt a pair of thin arms wrap around his neck. Rose was leaning on his shoulder smiling as she too watched her daddy and brother. "He's back." She whispered.

That surprised Jack as he looked at his daughter. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged.

Jack looked over to see Ianto now holding the two toddlers, one under each arm. "I think they need baths."

"You're probably right, okay gang lets get home! Who wants PIZZA!"

"Oh, please tell me that isn't the only thing we ever eat," groaned Ianto.

Dinner was an experience to be had. It indeed was pizza, but not what Ianto was used to. Jack smiled at him as he entered the kitchen an hour later with two squeaky clean half clothed toddlers in tow. "It's Monday, which means that it's Rose and my turn to cook. You and the twins cook on Tuesday, I cook one Wednesday, you're Thursday, and then Friday is pizza with the whole Torchwood gang. Saturday we join your sister and her family for dinner and Sunday is family time between just us where we all cook. Sunday morning we go out and have breakfast. You're a man of organization Ianto." Jack opened the oven door, mindful of the children and let Ianto peak inside. The pizza was obviously made old fashioned; it had all types of toppings, which Ianto found encouraging seeing vegetables on the pizza as well.

The evening was full of talk about work, and naturally Rosie was telling them all about her school and homework. Ianto was sure that this was an aspect of his life he could easily get used to. The twins were supposed to go to bed by eight, but it was seven-thirty when Ianto found himself sitting on the couch, watching telly with Jack and two toddlers curled up in his lap fast asleep.

Gazing down at the two sleeping babies Ianto smiled, Gareth looked just like him, he had the cheekbones, the eyes, even the hair. He looked just like Ianto when he'd been three. Johnny, on the other hand, looked to be an exact replica of what Ianto imagined was Jack when he was a baby. Dimples, cleft chin, beautiful eyes, silky hair, the cheek, nose and ears. They were positively two of the most beautiful children Ianto had ever laid eyes on.

He smiled at how they seemed so aware of each other as well. In the few hours he'd been able to watch them he took note that they always appeared to be attached or touching. Never far apart from one another; even now curled up in his lap they were practically balled around one another. John was curled with his head against Ianto's stomach, one hand gripping Ianto's shirt, another was firmly planted in his mouth. Beside him, sleeping on Ianto's other leg, lay Gareth whose head was lying in the little spot between Ianto's belly and John's body. It didn't look like the most comfortable position, but they both appeared to be comfortable.

Then there were their personalities. While Johnny looked just like his da', he had Ianto's personality, quiet and shy compared to his brother Gareth. Though he could be equally loud if he wanted to be, and did enjoy being the center of attention now and then; he was nothing compared to his brother. Gareth, looking just like his daddy, however was just like Jack, loud and demanded attention from everything. He was a scene stealer. If Ianto had to guess, he'd easily say that would be a trait that would define Gareth later on down the road.

Ianto wondered what they'd be, what would they become as teenagers. What would they study as adults, would they fall in love, who would they fall in love with. Would they be happy, would they have children? What would they look like when they got older, would they be funny? He gently brushed the hair from their eyes. He realized he could spend the rest of his life like this. Glancing up from the toddlers he looked at Jack.

Currently seated in an overstuffed chair, Jack held Rose in his arms. They had a book open—something larger, not a picture book, but Ianto couldn't tell what it was from here. She was reading slowly as Jack pointed to words, periodically he would pronounce something clearly for her. She too was beautiful, Ianto could see the resemblances from both men, she definitely had Jack's smile. Ianto met Jack's eyes for a moment and smiled softly at him.

Ianto could see it, that look he would see periodically in the immortal's eyes. Electricity; a love that was so overwhelming that Ianto couldn't believe anything like that would be directed at him. Ianto realized as he looked into those stunning eyes, that words weren't needed. He could see an entire world in Jack's eyes, a world that revolved around Ianto and their three babies. Ianto could feel his eyes growing distinctly moist at that wonderful look.

Jack smiled as he gently tapped his daughter's leg. "Okay beautiful, why don't you go get ready for bed while daddy and I get the twins to sleep."

Rose nodded as she reached up and pressed a kiss to her da's chin. "Night Papa, night Daddy." With that she wriggled off her father's lap and headed upstairs.

Jack waited until he heard the door to her room close upstairs. Then he looked at his partner again. "Let's put these three to bed then you and I can spend an evening alone." Jack moved over to him and looked down at their twins. "I do it too."

"What?" Ianto questioned.

Jack smiled as he lifted Johnny into his arms. The toddler whimpered slightly, before his eyes fluttered open. Seeing it was his father, Johnny closed his eyes again and curled up in his father's arms. "I wonder what they'll be when they grow up sometimes too. I think all parents do. I never thought I'd get so lucky."

Ianto smiled as he stood up, still cradling their other son in his arms. The two fathers made their way up the stairs. They stepped into the bedroom, and Ianto watched Jack quietly as the Captain easily slipped Johnny out of his clothes and into his pajamas. Moments later he laid the toddler into his crib. Instantly Johnny whined at the loss of heat. Jack leaned into the crib and pressed his lips to the toddler's forehead. "You're okay." He murmured ever so softly.

Ianto took Jack's lead and gently slipped Gareth into his pajamas a few moments later he laid the toddler into his own crib. Ianto glanced over at Jack, waiting to see what the older man would do.

Christopher Robin and I walked along

under branches lit up by the moon

Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore

as our days disappeared all too soon

But I've wandered much further today than I should

and I cant seem to find my way back to the woods

Chorus:

So help me if you can,

I've got to get back to the house at Pooh Corner by one

You'd be surprised there's so much to be done

Count all the bees in the hive,

chase all the clouds from the sky

Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh

Smirking Ianto cut in, equally as soft as Jack had been singing and joined the man. Never had he imagined singing to his children, especially not two little boys so they would fall asleep in their cribs.

Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do,

got a honey jar stuck on his nose

He came to me asking help and advice

and from here no one knows where he goes

So I sent him to ask of the Owl if he's there,

how to loosen a jar from the nose of a bear

(chorus)

Its hard to explain how a few precious things

seem to follow throughout all our lives

After all said and done I was watching my son,

sleeping there with my bear by his side

So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going,

I swear that old bear whispered "boy welcome home"

They ended the song and both pressed a kiss to the boys' heads again before slipping out the bedroom, leaving the door open just enough so the hallway light could filter in. Ianto didn't even wait for Jack as he stepped into his daughter's bedroom. She was lying in her bed, on her side under the pink and yellow heart patterned sheets. Ianto smiled softly at his daughter, she returned it with fervor. "Hi Daddy."

"Hello love."

"I missed you." She scooted over to him and curled into his lap.

Ianto looked down at her, gently running a hand through her hair. "Where was I sweetheart?" He asked, confused—could she really know what he was thinking and feeling? Could she really sense that he wasn't who Jack thought he was?

"Dunno Daddy, but you weren't you."

"Who was I?"

She giggled as she played with one of his buttons. "A stranger."

"Tell me about your daddy."

Leaning her head against his shoulder she let go of his buttons and started toying with the silver ring on his left hand. "Fun—he loves me."

"I love you."

"I know, but Daddy loves me every minute. You weren't sure. Daddy hugs me."

"He hugs you huh," Ianto grinned as he squeezed her close and dropped a kiss to her head. "What else did daddy do?"

"Sometimes he dances wif me. An' sometimes on Saturday he takes me to lunch."

Ianto smiled. "I bet he likes that. So Daddy just spends time with you sometimes. Does Papa?"

"Uh huh!" She smiled again.

"What does he do with you?"

"Papa takes me shoppin' an' walks wif me."

Ianto rocked his daughter gently. "You love your daddies?"

"I love you Daddy an' Papa!" She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He grinned fully as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well we love you too. Go to sleep beautiful. We'll be here in the morning."

She giggled and crawled off her daddy's lap. "Night Papa." She called over to her father who was standing in the doorway. Ianto pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Sleep well Rosie." Pulling the sheets and comforter back up around her shoulders.

Jack stepped into the room and also dropped a kiss to the girl's forehead. "Sleep tight angel."