28
Ianto drove home sedately and parked, watching Rose unclip and exit the vehicle as she raced to find the little boy she wanted to give some of the lollies to that she had snatched from Owen's bowl.
With a weary sigh Ianto walked to the dining room where Jack was already trying to set the table for their evening meal, laughing as the bug on duty scolded an rearranged the cutlery as he put it down.
"Hey babe, see this?" Jack snorted, "Apparently I am a cretin. What is a cretin?"
"Jack, can we have a moment?"
"Really, before we eat?" Jack swung to leer at him, "Why Mister Harkness-Jones you dog you! Hey, guess what!"
"Jack?"
Jack's leer faded, "What's wrong love?"
"Jack, Rose is not with child" Ianto said softly, and Jack nodded as he already knew that "Jack, the machine was working fine, it was just not working for her."
"OK, now I'm confused" Jack said as he pulled out a chair, "What are you trying to say?"
"Jack…"
"UNCLE GRAY!" Caden screamed with glee as the sound of a transporter echoed around the castle and Jack lit up.
"I forgot to tell you, Gray is home!" Jack leapt up with delight, racing from the room and Ianto sighed.
"Jack" he said to the room his husband had just left him behind in, "I'm pregnant."
The bug standing behind him almost dropped the rest of the cutlery with shock.
Ianto left the room and found Gray laughing as he scooped Caden into the air, the little one screaming with glee as he experienced flight, loving every moment like all chicks do. Then Alice ran over for her cuddle and Ianto stepped forward politely for a hug, Gray stepping back to regard him, "You putting on weight there skinny one?"
"Yes, Jack's force feeding has borne fruit." Ianto said with a frown as Gray stepped away from him to seize Jack in yet another manly hug, Caden looking at his Tad with silent interest.
Something was wrong?
They were soon back in the dining room and seated as they started getting served the evening meal and Ianto was quietly seething now. Twice he had tried to talk to Jack only to find himself let behind in an empty room, Jack's excitement at his brother's return making him flighty. Him. The one without birdie DNA. Go figure.
Ianto decided not to linger on it, this was not Jack's fault and he clearly couldn't focus right now. He would wait until later when they were in bed and could talk softly, hold one another and revel in their unique joy. Ianto could imagine Jack's face, the excitement would eclipse this moment that had him squealing as Gray presented him with a gift.
"Can't believe I missed your birthday brother" Gray said grandly, "Hope you like it. You like this vintage right?"
"Ah, perfect" Jack sighed as he checked the label, "We must have a toast right now."
Glasses came out and Jack pointed, "Ah, one more. There are four adults here thanks Bev."
The bug looked at Ianto and then reluctantly placed another glass, Ianto watching and realising they knew. Somehow the bugs knew. Ianto stared at the amber liquid that was so potent that some died from drinking too much.
"Here is to the return of my brother" Jack said grandly as he lifted the glass and Ianto reached for his to feign a sip.
"No, you have to slam it back" Gray laughed, "Like this!"
Gray whipped his head back, draining the glass and then choked, slapping at his chest as his eyes watered. Jack laughed and did the same, then they both turned to help Rose as she coughed and spluttered at the half glass she had tried, "Oh shit. Gross, you kids do not ever need to try this!"
Ianto grimaced and placed his glass down, "sorry Gray, I can't drink that much, my shoulder is still…"
"What?" Jack snorted, "come on, you are not on medications any more, slam it back love."
Ianto was suddenly irritated, "I am your mate. Your equal, not your little lady! Please stop with all the pet names, you know it irritates me when you act like the alpha!"
Jack blinked with surprise but Gray took offence, "Really? You do not want to drink to my return? Why? It was not your birthday I missed or maybe I did. You are so secretive I don't even know when it is, why do you feel the need to keep secrets from us? Your family?"
Ianto pushed his chair back to rise from the table, "Come on kids, if you are finished lets do your teeth and see about bed."
"Answer me!" Gray demanded, "What is wrong with you, you've acted off ever since I first hugged you. What is it."
"Rose is still not preggers" Jack said to Gray with a pout, "He is craving a little one and has the cluckiness of an old mother hen."
Ianto felt himself start to blush, the deep angry kind and Jack's smile faded as he watched Ianto come to the boil, his hand screwing his napkin into a ball as he leaned across the table.
"You are not my boss, you do not own me and if you do not stop acting like you are in charge of me and my destiny I will bloody well thump you!" Ianto snarled, "I am supposed to be your partner!"
Jack looked at Ianto with silent confusion and Ianto made a noise in his throat then picked up their son and stormed from the room, Alice following with her father's confusion mirrored on her own face.
Taddy never spoke like that.