Chap 14
Ianto's parents arrived soon after the phone call with a Cars activity bag for Walter and a wonderful container of soup from Ianto's favourite restaurant.
Ianto and Walter both hummed as they smelt the soup and Jack took it to reheat for them as the men settled onto one of the sofas.
"So, Teddy Bear. This thing with Rhia." Gene started and James cleared his throat.
"Something we agreed to stay out of Hon" James warned and Gene frowned.
"Ianto, you and your sister shouldn't quarrel over something so silly. She knows the accident wasn't your fault and feels terrible about your spat." James began and Jack stepped in.
"My brother accused him of driving dangerously, causing the accident and then he hit him." Jack growled and the two men turned to stare at him.
"Hit him? Ianto, did he hit you?" Gene leaned forward and eyeballed Ianto who looked away.
"He did! She never told us that!" Gene hissed at his husband.
"I don't want a war. I know how this family can implode over a misunderstanding," Ianto held his hand up as his Tad leaned forward to argue, "Eugene's death was crushing and I have already forgiven that hurt but that is a prime example of how I ended up outside looking in."
Gene sat back and looked at his husband who also leaned back and was nodding his head.
"I love you both, so much. I never want to be without you in my life. I never want to be separate from Rhia or the kids but I have my own worries right now!" Ianto frowned as Walter covertly scratched his leg. "I'll deal with Gray in my own way."
Jack paused as he heard that and shivered as he heard the threat.
Ianto reached out and pulled up Walter's pants to find a spot. "You can't scratch them bug. I know they itch but if you tell us we'll put special medicine on them to help."
Walter whined and scratched again.
"Walt!" Jack warned as he reached for the errant hand.
"Daddy, it scratchy scratches!" Walter moaned and Jack cuddled him close.
"Bath?" Ianto suggested and Walter's face lit up.
"Baking soda. Put some in the bath water, it'll help" Jamie suggested and Ianto nodded as Jack swung Walter up over the back of the sofa.
As soon as Jack left the room Eugene began again, "But what about little Aurora?"
"Taddy, Dad, I don't want to talk about it, or her. Rhia stood by her man as Jack is standing by me. I have no desire to go into something I have put a line under!" Ianto informed them and they turned to each other with matching frowns.
"Well, I did say she takes after your side!"
"Well, you would say that! We all know Ifan there is your spawn!"
"Boys?" Jack interrupted from the doorway with Walter on his hip, "Do I need to get the jelly and paddling pool out because Walter is too young to witness that yet."
"Sorry." They both sighed and then laughed.
"Look, my only concerns are Walter, Jack and Noah." Ianto told them and Gene pounced.
"When can we see him? He's off the machine thing now and I want to meet my new grandchild and …"
"God! Take a breath munchkin, you'll pass out at this rate" his husband admonished and Ianto smiled fondly at his mad parents.
"Well, if you want to go with Jack you can see him tonight." Ianto informed them, "I'm quarantined!"
"Oh look at the pout, so much like you" James smiled at Eugene who was running his fingers through his brown hair.
"Do you at least have a picture of him?" Eugene asked and James crossed his long legs.
Ianto found his phone on the table and handed it over. Eugene fiddled with it for a while, then handed it to James who effortlessly turned it on, displaying Ianto's quick mind. The two men cooed over the few pictures then James flicked it once more to find a picture of Aurora-Lee asleep as Ianto adored her in his arms. Both men sighed and handed the phone back, watching Ianto's face fall as he viewed the photo.
Ianto closed the photo gallery on his phone and threw it back in the table in uncharacteristic temper then he let his head fall back with his eyes closed.
"I have to think of Noah, just as she thought of Rory when she decided I was an unfit caregiver." Ianto finally said quietly before he rose to go join his husband in the bathroom.
Walter was laying in the bath with a blissed out look on his wee face as Jack swished the water around, keeping it warm with the hot tap.
"OK Hon?" Jack frowned as he spoke, noting Ianto's slumped shoulders.
"There was a picture of Aurora-Lee I didn't delete" Ianto mumbled as he collapsed onto the toilet seat with a full blown pout.
"Do you miss Rory too?" Walter had been listening and sat up to look sat his Tad.
"Yeah Bug. God, I'm sorry baby." Ianto sighed, "I've been a bit mean dragging you into it. How about we see if Daddy wants to go visit his brother tomorrow, or maybe Granddaddy or Grandybum?"
Walter giggled at his pet name for Eugene and Ianto smiled softly at his son.
"Are you sure?" Jack asked softly, reaching to place his hand on Ianto's knee.
"Yeah. This is my mess, not Walt's or Rory's." Ianto took the hand and squeezed, "They miss each other. It's up to you if you want to see Gray, if not I know Taddy will do it."
"I think I want to take him. That way I can monitor anything said" Jack smiled, pleased that Ianto was thinking of Walter above himself … as usual.