Chap 34
The whole house was awake.
Noah was suckling from his bottle as he looked up with a soft frown at Victoria and Walter was eagerly licking the froth in his hot chocolate.
Jack stood with his arms folded as he watched Ianto fussing over the spilt chocolate sauce on the counter, while avoiding eye contact.
"Ianto Jack said softly.
"It was just a dream Jack!" Ianto answered just as softly and he washed out the cloth before wiping down the immaculate counter once more.
"More than a dream judging by the ungodly noise you were making" Victoria chimed in and Jack looked over at her.
"Mum. Please."
"Well. Gray did say their mother was unstable. Killed herself or something! I still say he needs to get assessed for whatever drove her mad" she scoffed, turning back to smile at Noah.
"You won't have to worry about that hereditary nonsense. One member of this family will be as sane as his Daddy Jack" she crooned.
Ianto bristled and looked to Jack for support but he was busy helping Walter bring his chair closer to the table.
Ianto growled softly and stalked from the kitchen, returning to the spot inside the doors.
He tried to recall his mother's smile. Her laugh. All he could see was her death mask.
Jack wandered through and sat on the arm of the sofa, the reflection that now regarded Ianto silently.
"Mum means well." Jack said quietly and Ianto huffed.
"Jack, I know she doesn't mean to be overbearing or insulting, it just comes out that way and …."
"Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean, insulting." Jack bristled, "My mother has been nothing but kind and forgiving towards you!"
"Forgiving?" Ianto tilted his head, "For what?"
"Well, you keep calling her Victoria instead of Mum," Jack started to count on his fingers and Ianto felt his fires stoking in his gut.
"You keep taking Noah off her when she raised me and Gray perfectly well and is more than capable of caring for one more baby" Jack missed the tic, "Then you overrule her with Walter all the time when I think she might be right about the mollycoddling."
Victoria had walked out of the kitchen with a sleepy baby and stopped to watch as Ianto's face blazed.
"Maybe Mum's right" Jack finished, finally looking up, "You need to get a psychological assessment."
"You know what?" Ianto slowly turned and glared at his husband, "I do need my head read."
"At last!" she sighed.
"I let your mother change the configuration of this room so the kids can't run into the glass doors and die from my thoughtless decision to have French doors."
"I let your mother shut Walter's door so the cats and Myf can't sleep with him and he hates to be alone, yes" Ianto held up his hand, "My fault as well."
"Your mother hates my colour scheme, my cooking skills leave a bit to be desired if the adjustments to my cooking are anything to go by and let's not mention your night out with her last night while I stayed home with the kids. You go shopping with her, you confide in her and you spend more time with her than me!"
"Jealous, much!" Jack snorted with mirth, "Babe, my Mum needs me right no. Don't be so selfish"
"Selfish." Ianto whispered, his eyes growing wide.
"Walter, go get you blankie!" Ianto ordered and Jack pounced.
"No! It's the middle of the bloody night and my sons aren't going anywhere just because you want to do your famous "Hit and Run" act." Jack growled and Ianto's eyes narrowed.
"Is that what your mother calls it?" Ianto was trying to remain calm but he caught the nod from her and decided that he had been polite long enough.
"Walter might have your name as well and you might be able to keep him from me," Ianto stalked over leaned into Jack's face, "but Noah is mine. You haven't adopted him yet. You can't stop me taking him."
"Stop it" Jack whispered, his eyes wide with confusion.
"No Jack" Ianto said as he pulled Noah from Victoria's reluctant arms, "You've just got me started!"