Chap 15
Walter stomped into the house and over to Ianto who was asleep in front of the TV. He pulled back the blanket and climbed in, his cold feet waking Ianto was they were thrust between his warm thighs.
"Jesus wept!" Ianto exclaimed as he looked over at Jack.
"Well, someone did. Rory broke her little heart when it was time to go" Jack replied as he slopped in his slippers, he had left his boots behind in the foyer as they were wet.
"Still yucky out there?" Ianto kissed Walter as he snuffled and snuggled into his Taddy's chest.
"Yeah. Sounds like Rhia's wedding might be a bust" Jack answered carefully, watching the TV.
"What do you mean?" Ianto frowned as he tried to remember what her alternative venue had been.
"The park is a bog. A real quagmire and they're not sure if it'll dry out within a fortnight. The hall was water damaged and Rhia is beside herself. Walter's visit was the only highlight of her day, poor mare!" Jack shook his head and changed the channel.
"Oh God. I heard on the radio that the council hall was damaged, I didn't realise she had chosen that for the reception. Such a cold place for a baby …" Ianto's voice tapered off and Jack watched as Ianto fought with himself.
Finally Ianto swore and reached for the phone. Jack leaned back with a soft smile as Ianto rang his sister. Because Walter was snuggled in, Ianto put it on speaker and lay back to let Walter have his cuddle.
"What do you want!" Gray's voice came on and Jack jumped with surprise.
"To speak to my sister please" Ianto said back.
"I've told you before, she's too busy for the likes of you!"
"Excuse me?" Jack said calmly, "Do you realise you're on speaker? You said Ianto hadn't been calling, I bloody knew he was!"
"Jack? Ah, look …"
"Put her in the fucking phone!" Jack snarled and a scuffle could be heard.
"Ianto? Is that you? You bastard" Rhia was shouting, "You fucking have been keeping his calls from me!"
The unmistakable sound of flesh striking flesh was heard as Rhia slapped Gray.
"Ianto? Sweetie, is that you?" Rhia shouted down the phone, "Oh God, it is isn't it?"
"Hey sweets" Ianto said quietly, "Jack says your venue is rained out."
"Oh god" Rhia began to cry, "Oh Teddy, it's horrible. All horrible and I don't wanna do it anymore! It's too hard."
"Oh Sweets, come round tomorrow and we'll sort it out. Bring the box and I'll work something out, yeah?" Ianto crooned and she cried some more.
"He's a prick that has been blocking your calls and I miss you and I'm too fat and …" Rhia cried for nearly half an hour while Ianto made the appropriate noises and when she finally ran out of steam Ianto chuckled.
"Better?"
"Oh Ifan. I'm so lost here" she hiccupped.
"When you're lost, what do you do?" Ianto said softly.
"Look for the light" she moaned.
"And where is your light?" Ianto prompted.
"Oh! Aurora" Rhia laughed, her tears forgotten and Jack wandered how often Ianto had redirected her like that when they were kids. He seemed to know the right thing to cheer her up, every time.
After the phone call was finished Ianto frowned into space and Jack wondered what was wrong.
"Do you think he'll come too?" Ianto asked in a small voice and Jack saw Ianto blush.
"Babe, he may be my brother but I know what an arsehole he can be," Jack said, "Don't think I feel conflicted here. I love you, if he worries you or you feel uncomfortable then he can take a running jump."
"No, I need to get past this. It's silly really." Ianto said with more confidence than he felt.