Chap 39
Ianto returned to the main room with a grin that split his face and Jack wondered when he'd last seen him happy like that. Not since the wedding.
"Jack, we need to talk" Ianto declared, "Tonight, after everyone's in bed. I'll come back to ours but …"
Ianto cleared his throat as he looked at Walter and Jack knew he was losing his lover.
"Ianto, please don't leave me" he whispered.
"I'm not … I just … I need time." Ianto huffed, "Let's take it slow. Maybe in time I'll feel the way I did before but can we just take a step back from things and just focus on the kids for now?"
Ianto tried to keep it in place but he looked at Walter and faltered. "What's wrong Baggy Bum?"
I wanna go home" Walter said quietly, looking at his feet.
"So why are you sad?" Jack asked gently.
"Cos Grandma will be there and she'll take my new toys away from me because they're baby ones" Walter sighed, opening his hands to show Jack the toy cars.
"Oh." Ianto said simply. He turned and looked out across the garden to the wilding wood beyond.
"Grandma isn't mean" Jack frowned and Walter huffed.
"I'm not allowed Myfanwy, I'm not allowed Lady Emma, I'm not allowed my telly on, and I'm not allowed to go ask Taddy for hugs, I'm not allowed…"
"Wait. What do you mean, you're not allowed hugs?" Ianto glared at Jack.
"Grandma says that only babies get cuddles and if I don't act like a big boy I'll grow up to be a Nancy boy" Walter said with a little lip wobbling starting, "She says I need to be big and strong like Daddy and stop being a sook like Taddy."
Ianto was bristling as he looked over at his husband and he was surprised when he saw his anger mirrored in his husband's face. Nancy boy huh? Forgotten that her son would be one too then did she?
"Walter. Your Taddy is brave, loyal and wonderful. If you grow up to be just like him I wouldn't be able to be more proud that I am right now for you being a good boy!" Jack knelt and drew his son into his arms. "I think my little monkey man is the most perfect boy in the whole world!"
"Then grandma ..."
"Grandma comes from a different time, where there were different rules." Ianto said quickly "She doesn't know that the rules have changes baby."
"She doesn't?" Walter looked up to see if Ianto was telling the truth.
"Daddy needs to help her see that I know the new rules and I will help her learn them, OK?" Ianto promised.
"How?" Jack frowned.
"Meet the Fockers! They had a code word … Muskrat!" Ianto had a burst of inspiration, "If she says or does something that I find offensive or hurtful I'll say Muskrat. You can then deal with it. Yeah?"
"Muskrat. I don't like that one. Can it be dildo?" Jack whispered as Walter rushed to get his poor old blankie.
"Jack!" Ianto admonished with a snort. "What happened to stepping back?"
"Worth a try" Idris laughed as he overheard the conversation.
They got outside and Jack gaped at the large vehicle that sat next to his Black Beauty.
"Wow, gorgeous Idris!" Jack enthused.
"Yeah. It's called Blue Bustard!" he returned with mischief in his eyes.
"What?" Jack spluttered.
"Well. Your pretty girl is called Black Beauty so it's only right that my boy's wheels are called Blue Bustard!" Idris explained as Ianto lifted Walter into the car seat in the back of the beast.
"Shit! Ianto, is this yours?" Jack gasped.
"Yep" Idris popped the P and Jack swung with confusion.
"At least someone remembered his birthday was Thursday just gone, yeah?"