6

In the end everyone wanted to be on the ground floor which pleased Ianto as it meant they could close off the other floors and just warm the ground level, the old boiler not having to work so hard. Using the stairs for roof access only meant a more secure facility as well. This also meant they needed fuel for said boiler, Ianto checking and seeing that coal would be needed. Again a truck would be needed, preferably a tip one they could load up from a local source and he went to Rhys for a conversation, this man a Truckee who knew what Ianto was talking about. He was surprised to learn that Ianto could drive a truck as well. Of course he could, many a scene to be set needing heavy machinery ya know.

Then Ianto went into the library and found Jack there with Mica rearranging books so she had all the books she liked on low shelves in the little annex that was to be her room. Jack glanced up and smiled as he watched Ianto add some books to the 'burn' pile with obvious reluctance.

"Come on love, we can't keep them all. Some are on other languages" Jack argued, "The same books repeated."

Ianto hesitated and then sighed, "OK then. We get rid of the German ones, only me and Mica read that language."

"You know German."

Ianto stared at him blankly and Jack sniggered, "Of course you do. I bet you know every bloody language."

"I am fluent where as you and Owen would likely only remember the cuss words" Ianto replied and Jack sniggered some more as he nodded and proceeded to say bad words in several languages, Galactic Standard having Ianto's eyes widening, then Boeshanninan had him seizing him.

"What was that?"

"Boeshanninan" Jack said softly, "My home language."

"Teach me" Ianto demanded, "Gods, one I've not heard before. Lovely, I had given up hope."

Jack thought he couldn't be any cuter but the little childlike expression was so cute that he had to kiss that pert nose. Ianto wrinkled it and then rubbed it on his shirt as Jack laughed and cuddled him, "Tell you what, I will set that fire for tonight, yeah? You sort that bed and I will….what?"

"Did you just make me the wife?"

Jack roared as he lifted Ianto off his feet and threw him over his shoulder, slapping his arse as he leapt around the library, Ianto yelling and kicking. Mica stormed out of her 'room' "Hey! Stop rude wording! Besides, no louding in the library!"

Jack slammed his mouth shut as he looked at her angry face, then she added "And Taddy has to pee!"

Jack snorted and put Ianto down who had turned beetroot red as he raced for the loo and Jack crouched to pull her close, "Sorry pumpkin. I was just annoying him."

"I know, he likes you doing that. He didn't do much child things ya know. Why he wants me to do lots" she said sadly, "I don't know … what can we do now? This place still doesn't feel right."

"Well … it's still a school. We need to make it less... schooly… more homely" Jack shrugged.

"Schooly. That's not a word!"

Must be or how could I say it madam?"

She frowned then stated to giggle as she shoved at him and leaned in "How?"

"For a start, the colour is gross. Let's go see if there is paint in the caretaker's shed. Something other than boring beige and yellow. Blerg" Jack said, "Then we paint the hell out of this place. Bright, messy and maybe some stupid. Why not? If it's ours."

"Yes!" she crowed.

"Yes what" Ianto said as he returned.

"We are gonna get paint and mess this place up. Can I write my name?" she said in a rush and Ianto laughed, looking at Jack.

"Tell ya what, you can write all three names and an arrow to show this is our space. Yeah?" he said with amusement and she frowned.

"What about Crypto?"

Ianto looked at Jack and then said softly "I think he wants to spend time with Andy, they are becoming friends. Maybe sometimes with us but…sometimes he wants to cuddle with Andy. Grup cuddles."

"EW" she wrinkled her nose, "Really? Doesn't that get sweaty?"

"Yes" Jack said as he scooped her up and swung her about as she squealed, "Come on. Paint missy!"

Ianto sat back in his heels and watched them go as he pondered this place and time, the man who was calmly claiming his daughter.

The voice in the back of his mind that whispered such negative things, such sour things. The one Crypto hated so much was now hissing like a snake that it wouldn't last. Jack would see him for the weak fool he was and take her. Leave him.

He would lose everything. Fuck up somehow.

Ianto rose and swallowed it down, hating that part of himself he had always had, since birth this inner 'twin' had punished and wheedled. He knew it was himself, he knew it was like a sort of self harm but there was no way to shake it off.

All he could do was believe it was there to make sure it didn't happen like a worst case scenario kinda thing.

Gods, he hated being a pessimist.