"Here, have a seat, Ianto," Rhiannon said, settling herself on the sofa next to her husband and patting the seat beside her.

Ianto threw a glance at Jack but Jack merely nodded, taking the only other available spot on a chair a couple feet away. He could see Ianto's irritation at them being separated but it was only a seat. Nothing to lose your temper over.

"My wife tells me you're a queer now," Johnny stated, a grin on his face. "A regular poofter."

Ianto's face went red. "I beg your pardon?"

"Johnny!" Rhiannon scolded, smacking his knee. "I'm sorry, Ianto. This is just new for us."

"All of this is new to me," Ianto replied, frowning.

"Yes, of course it is." She sat for a moment, worrying her lip. "I made a roast for dinner. You always loved my roast."

Ianto's frown lessened. "That sounds nice."

"So how long?" Johnny asked.

"Sorry?"

"How long will your memory be gone? Surely it should have returned by now."

Jack cleared his throat. "Actually, the doctor assured us that there's no set limit on time for these things. It could return tomorrow, next week, or..."

"Never," Ianto supplied, frown returning. "I'm sorry, do you think I could have a glass of water?"

"Oh, yes, sure! I'll be just a minute."

Jack watched as Rhiannon jump up, heading for the kitchen. An awkward silence followed as it seemed Johnny wasn't prepared to handle a conversation on his own. Ianto was staring at the floor and Jack was staring at him. Johnny was staring anywhere and everywhere else.

"Here you are, Ianto," his sister said, handing him a glass. "I've just checked on the roast. It should be done shortly."

"Thank you."

"So Johnny, I hear you're a big rugby fan," said Jack, wanting to lighten the mood. "Ianto insists it's a Welsh requirement."

"Aye, that it is," Johnny replied, straightening a little on the couch and sliding his arm around his wife's shoulders. "Hardly can call yourself a Welshman if you aren't a follower. Isn't that right, Ianto?"

"Yes," Ianto murmured, taking a sip of his water. "National pride and all."

"Little David's started to play in school," Rhiannon told them, beaming. "He's a wonderful addition to the team."

"Best there is," added Johnny, proudly.

"You should come see him play sometime, Ianto." Rhiannon patted his knee.

"That would be nice," Ianto replied, a hint of a smile forming. "Though my boss is a bit of a slave driver. Not sure he'd let me have the time off."

"Hey!"

"Oh, he's a right arse, is he?" Johnny asked, eyebrow raised in Jack's direction. The gleam in his eyes told Jack that he was teasing.

"I am nowhere near that bad," Jack said, pouting a bit. "Family is very important. You can't let it drift."

"I like him, Ianto," Rhiannon whispered, just loud enough for Jack to hear. "He's a smart one."

"That's quite a turn around," Ianto muttered, drinking more water.

"I'm sure Jack understands why I was so upset," she stated, looking in his direction. "Right Jack?"

"I think it's in the past," he replied, smiling. "You only wanted what was in Ianto's best interest. As did I."

"Well, now that that's settled," Johnny said, getting to his feet, "how about we have some supper?"

"You call the kids back down and I'll get the dinner ready," Rhiannon told him, getting up and heading into the kitchen. "Oh and Ianto, we're having Welsh cakes for dessert. With cream."

Ianto's eyes lit up. "Sounds good."

When both Johnny and Rhiannon had left the room Jack scooted over to the sofa, dropping down beside Ianto. "You okay?"

"Yes, I think so."

"It started out a little rocky but I think it's going alright."

"Her attitude seems to have improved," Ianto said, shrugging. "Though I'm still a bit upset about what Mica said at the door."

"She's just a child, Ianto. I don't think she meant that."

"No, of course not. But she heard it from somewhere."

"Well I can't say I blame them," Jack said, smiling gently. "I am a lot older than you."

Ianto returned the smile. "True. Old man."

Jack's eyes darkened. "Just wait until we're alone, Ianto. I'll show you old."

"I look forward to it."

"Dinner's on!" called Rhiannon, breaking up their suddenly intimate conversation.

tw tw tw tw tw

To Jack's relief the meal went off without a hitch. The children were animated after some initial silence, engaging all four adults in talk about their school, their friends, rugby, and a collection of Lego that Mica insisted that Ianto come and see. Once dinner was over Jack offered to help Rhiannon clean up, and Johnny retreated to watch a game on the television with David while Ianto was dragged off by his niece.

"They really love their uncle," Rhiannon told him, reaching for the clean glass that Jack handed to her. "They rarely get to see him."

"He loves them too," Jack replied. "He did before the accident and I'm sure a part of him does now as well. He just needs to rediscover who he was."

"I'd like him to come up here more often. Spend more time with them before they're grown up with families of their own."

"A very good idea."

"That means you need to let him go, Jack."

He froze, turning to face her. "Let him go?"

"He'd dependent on you right now. He won't change his situation until forced to do so."

Jack put the bowl he was washing down. "Ianto can't be forced to do anything, Rhiannon. He's his own man."

"Maybe he was before the accident, but Jack, now he's having to learn everything over again. He has to get to know us all over again. His own family. We should be taking care of him."

"Have you asked him what he wants?"

"How would I have had that opportunity? He's always with you!"

"Rhiannon...look..."

"No," she said, dropping the towel onto the counter and putting her hands on her hips, "you look. He's my brother, and that means that we have a relationship stronger than most. We may not always see eye to eye, but I know what he needs, and he needs us."

"I don't disagree. You heard me before. I think that family is extremely important. But Ianto is calling all of the shots here. I've not forced him to do anything since his accident and I don't plan on starting now."

"He won't stop working for you unless you make him leave." Jack opened his mouth to argue but she held up a hand. "I know, you think he wants to be there, that you're not forcing him into staying, but Ianto is a man who devotes himself to a job. This civil service gig is something he feels obligated to do. If he's ever going to have enough time for his family he's going to have to do something else."

"And what do you think I should be doing?" Ianto said from behind them, hands akimbo in a male version of his sister's pose. The family resemblance was really uncanny. "A part time job somewhere where I'm miserable? I happen to like what I do. It's important work."

"Ianto..." she started.

"No, Rhiannon. No. Just stop. Jack, I'd like to leave now."

Jack nodded and glanced at Rhiannon before heading for the door to the lounge. Ianto spun to follow him, walking straight to the coat rack and removing Jack's coat. He held it out and Jack slid into it, sighing as Ianto smoothed it down over his shoulders. Ianto then pulled on his own coat and turned to face his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew.

"Ianto, please don't go. Let's talk about this."

"I think you've done enough talking for the both of us," Ianto replied, face stoic and showing absolutely no emotion.

"Are you leaving, Uncle Ianto?" came a small voice from the doorway. Jack looked up and saw Mica with a Lego creation in her hands. "I made this for you."

Ianto's face softened and he met her halfway into the room, taking the Lego coffee cup from her. "It's lovely, Mica." He bent to kiss her on the top of the head. "I have to go now, but I'll see you soon. We'll have that tea party." He then turned and ruffled David's hair, making the boy smile and squirm away. "And I promised I'd come to one of your games soon and I will."

"Cool, Uncle Ianto."

"Don't be a stranger, mate," Johnny said, holding out his hand. Ianto hesitated only a moment before he shook it.

"Ready, Jack?"

"Yup."

They turned and headed for the door, Ianto moving out into the crisp evening before him. Jack paused only to close the door, hearing a choked sob from Rhiannon behind him.

TBC...