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The article was tastefully done. The photo of the two men on some official duty that most media outlets would have used was not the one used here, instead two men dressed the same on an ornate sofa, arms around each other's shoulders just like normal brothers, just the one half page colour shot that surprised people over their breakfast cereal.

No pomp or ceremony, simply an admission that they were brothers.

Of course the photos on the inside of the paper of the kids hanging off them both seemed to soften the blow that the age old infidelity clause of royalty was still alive and kicking. Ianto also allowed a rare photo of Milly, all three kids smiling for the camera as the two men with them on the sofa were unable to be distinguished between.

No photo of Ianto.

No, his new life with less media and sharing seems to still be in force and more than one person commented sadly that they would have liked a family photo. But Ianto was camera shy now. Yeah, it would be a cold day in hell before he was as free and easy with his privacy again.

Douglas was suddenly the Royal Press Secretary before he even realized there was a role to be had. He found his life changed in a way he could not have ever imagined. They were offered a glorious house in the estate that had staff, Douglas could look at his editor and tell him to his face what a shitty boss he was before telling him that he would not give him any scoops in the future and flouncing off like a diva. Damn, felt good.

Mac was starting to learn from her Granny and dresses started to be worn, sometimes even clean or most of the day. Max did as he pleased, his daddy's little boy. Not that Ianto really minded, he was a lovely child.

Finally Ianto allowed the pres to see him in a bookstore with the children, the baby in his arms dressed to match her siblings and he knelt to allow a few photos of them, Jack behind him with a menacing look while Malcolm stood beside him. Family unit.

Jack was happy, Malcolm was happy and Ianto was... well… comfortable.

Not happy though.

Jack felt that and when Malcolm commented on it to him, Jack agreed that they had dropped the ball somewhere. Ianto was still hurt by the allegations made, by Jack's brain farts and the hormonal dump after birth.

Jack suggested a picnic.

Deep in the palace ground where the press could not reach, where it would be just them. The family.

Max proudly rode his horse beside his parents, high in the saddle with a lovely straight back. Mac preferred to ride off like a demon to turn and race back. Like her horse had the zoomies. The fact the horse seemed to enjoy the madness was the only thing that stopped Ianto from scolding for it.

Jack rode his horse while Ianto drove a two horse team that pulled a little trap with him sitting in the seat comfortably, the food and toys in the back of the tray behind him. No need for security, they were safe in their own massive backyard.

Jack spread a cloth and they settled to eat in peace.

"So" Ianto said after a while, the kids off playing "Whoever made the attempt on your life, inadvertently on mine instead. Still no ideas?""

"John has his fingers in as many pies as he can find but so far it's a bust" Jack shrugged "Whoever it was, they have gone to ground now."

"But it does not mean they will not be back. Family connections?"

"Well that seemed the first thought. Who would benefit, but we know Gray is a good boy and with his own little spot to enjoy, we are pretty dammed safe from that side. No. I think he would sacrifice himself before giving away our family to madmen." Jack assured Ianto.

"Yeah, I think so too." Ianto admitted.

"Royalists? They are still angry about our same sex marriage. Could it be that?" Jack asked with his face screwing up.

"Mehaps."

"Stop it, you sound so funny when you pretend to be less than yourself. Ianto, your intelligence is something I adore; do not think you have to hide it." Jack scolded gently "I know you are still finding your way again, but in time the public perception about same sex marriage will improve, it will be harder for those dissidents."

"It's a lovely day, can we just enjoy it and not think of royal duties, chaos or bull dust?" Ianto asked lying back on the blanket. Their baby boy was asleep in his little basket, snoring away as Jack looked around to see where the kids were.

He rose and placed hinges in the little trap's back compartment behind the driver's seat. He then returned to find Ianto asleep like their little one, his arm thrown back and his sweet face devoid of the frown he had worn a lot lately.

Ianto needed a break, a change or a holiday.

Ianto would not leave the compound, would not trust anyone or anywhere right now and Jack did not blame him.

So a change of another sort was in order.

Jack wondered if the little summer house by the lake was still there, the place his father used to retreat to when his mother was too had to put up with. Hunting and fishing, a normal family place like a log cabin in the woods.

Jack had not thought of it in years. He knew the groundskeepers kept it good, the stories of hunting missions told to him by some of the staff and the glee as they showed him rabbits, pheasants and even a turkey or pig.

Yeah.

Like a normal, every day family.

Royalty be damned.

As Jack watched his kids and let his beloved sleep, he came to the decision that it would be a great idea while the late summer sun was still warm.

An adventure.

.

.

.

And this is where I end this section. The next one to come will be a summer holiday where Ianto finds himself in charge of the house, Jack finds himself less in charge of the kids than he thought he was and in the midst of it all, they rediscover their harmony.

Thanks for reading.

...

EDIT: Thanks to those of you who picked up that i was referring to baby Milwr as She not He. seems Ianto's fears were right LOL ... also the lids did nothing... it was kids hahahaha