51
It wasn't until the party was underway that Victoria decided to walk the grounds and admire the garden.
What she hadn't counted in was the fact she was being watched and as she smelt the jasmine in the night air, she became aware of another person in the dark. She took a step back and stumbled, a hand shot out to steady her and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hello Vicky" Eugene said quietly and she smiled.
"Oh, Ianto's Dad" she said with a giggle, "You startled me."
"I'm his Tad actually," he took delight in seeing her miss a step, "James is Dad."
"Sorry "she pandered, "I've not worked out this …" she flapped her arms. "Thing."
"Thing" he repeated and his grin was feral in the moonlight.
"I've been getting brought up to speed with the last few weeks." He sniffed at the Jasmine and smiled affectionately at the flowers, "Interesting gossip."
"Well, I don't abide by it!" she sniffed.
"Well you should" he looked up at the moon and winked up at the goddess, "you might have heard that my son was not the first Hoodlum."
"Really?" she asked with surprise "Oh, you mean your oldest boy."
"No. Me actually" his smile was definitely gone now.
"They called me the Timelord because I have a real knack for beating times," he smiled softly at the memory, "Those that really knew me called me Doc."
"Doc" she said faintly.
'Yeah. You know, "what's up doc" and all that." He fingered a bloom.
"I don't understand. Doctor who?" she whispered as she stepped back.
"Because I was an enforcer when I wasn't cracking safes." He stepped forward, closing the distance again. "I understand pain."
"You are Jack's mother and you have suffered a terrible loss" he informed her, "A bloody terrible loss! For that reason you get a pass. One! Un! I'm retired but still capable of doing my job!"
She squawked softly to show she understood and he turned to leave, releasing her from his hypnotic glare. "Just remember anger begets anger!"
"I beg your pardon?" she hissed.
Eugene started to leave the garden and her face went red as she realised he was dismissing her.
"Excuse me!" she growled.
"No Madam." Eugene snarled in full flight into her face, "I will not excuse you!"
She stepped back with horror at the full transformation from pleasant gentleman to thug. Eugene had pulled himself up to his full height and she now saw Ianto in both his stance and demeanour.
"My boy is my world" he said slowly, "He has suffered terrible things."
"Terrible things" he repeated quietly with sorrow.
"I made a promise to him while I tried to save him as a child, make him whole, that I would never let anyone hurt him again" Eugene wilted and looked despairingly as the garden, "I have failed to protect him. So many times, I've learned of his life's disappointments and wanted a time machine so I could go back and save him from the heartache of other people."
"My shame at how things fell apart when our first boy died still haunts me" he paused and considered her like she was an interesting bug.
She looked over his shoulder and saw Jack laughing as he took Ianto into his arms and Ianto seemed to melt into him in the half light.
He sighed and looked at her with open sadness on his face, "Don't you see? He's just a sad, beaten little boy who needs love and compassion. Not bitterness or judgement."
"Ifan judged him harshly enough for several lives" Eugen turned and walked away in a classic Jones "Hit and Run" move and she was left to ponder the words as well as the revelation that this family was more aware of her than she thought.
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NB: Un is Welsh for one.