5
Ianto sat on the bed with CJ and held his hand.
"This is a bit more than just friends" he said softly and CJ nodded.
"Have the two of you …um…" Ianto cleared his throat and CJ felt his own blush forming.
"No! I mean … we've kissed, but nothing more" CJ looked at the floor, horrified at what was being discussed.
"It's OK to take it slow." Ianto said as he watched the blush, "With your first love you need to be sure and you need to remember that you will never forget him. Whatever memories you make will last a lifetime, so make them sweet."
"Really?" CJ looked up, "Yours are sweet with Dad?"
Ianto snorted, "Your Dad wasn't my first love. Her name was Lisa and I thought we would be together forever."
"A girl? Your first love was a girl?" CJ gaped.
"A woman! I was in my late teens when I met her. Nineteen to be exact!" Ianto smiled back as he watched CJ's face, "She was beautiful. Gorgeous and so warm and soft. We were going to get married, have kids … the whole deal. I had even proposed and she wore my ring."
"What happened?" CJ gasped, on the edge of the bed.
"She died." Ianto said simply, shrugging as he looked away. "She left me behind."
CJ felt a wave of pain from his Tad and he reached out to catch a hand. "Taddy?"
"Your father is the reason I went on." Ianto finally looked back, "He was my friend and he wouldn't let me crawl under a rock and die. I realised quite a bit later that he wasn't hanging around for my cooking, although he never complained"
"Wow!" CJ was gobsmacked and leaned back.
"I never wanted a man before, never have wanted another since" Ianto smiled softly and he missed Jack's shadow move in the hallway as he stopped and listened outside the door, "You can't control your heart darling. If Tarn makes your palms clammy, your heat race and your mouth dry … he's the one."
"Oh God, when I see him I just want to hold him and it feels so weird" CJ sighed. "I don't know if he feels the same. What if he likes girls? What if I'm some kind of test?"
"Honey, I saw the note you left in your pocket." Ianto huffed, "I think Tarn is hoping for the same thing."
"Yeah?" CJ's face lit up, "You aren't mad that I want a boy? I mean, if Dad is the only one …"
"Hey!" Ianto laughed, "I don't care if it's a transvestite from Transylvania as long as you're happy and loved in return!"
"Oh boy" CJ sighed as he let his head drop to his Td's shoulder, "I bet he would look fantastic in heels."
Ianto laughed and prodded his son, "I have photos of your Daddy in drag for a dress up party."
"When!" CJ gasped.
"When you were a baby and we still went on dates" Ianto laughed, missing the way the shadow shifted in the hall, "He was gorgeous. Like a movie star, he was."
"You and Dad," CJ struggled to find the right words, "You still love each other, right?"
"Of course we do buggy bum" Ianto said with open surprise.
"It's just, well you don't cuddle anymore." CJ shrugged, "No kisses and touches like you used to. I guess I just wonder why you don't show it."
Ianto struggled now, the answer lost to him as he grimaced, "Your Dad has a very demanding job and things are a bit trying for him lately. He still loves me, I know he does. It's just … well, I am a bit boring. It was different when we worked together, flirted and had moments to steal a few kisses and such but now we have separate lives it just doesn't happen."
"You aren't scared he sees you as just a bit pf the furniture?" CJ demanded.
"CJ. I know where this is going and I know your Dad is a flirt but I trust him." Ianto frowned, "He will always come home to me, that's all that counts."
"So you know he still flirts and stuff" CJ had now noticed the shadow and felt a spike of anger. "You know for sure that Dad isn't just using you as a built in housekeeper while he has a bit on the side?"
Ianto laughed, throwing his head back and CJ looked at him with surprise.
"I have faith in your Dad. He would never do anything that could risk his family" Ianto assured his son, "Your Dad wound die a thousand deaths if he ever lost you kids!"
"Us? Now Tad, what about you!" CJ demanded, "What if he lost you!"
"Never gonna happen" Ianto sniffed, "I'm a keeper, apparently. He even put a ring on it!"
The shadow outside the door considered the conversation and felt uneasy. Were they drifting apart?