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Ianto stood with open shock as Jack continued the phone call, totally oblivious to the man holding his cup of coffee in the doorway.
"That sounds great. No, no nothing to sort, I'll be there by morning if I leave now" Jack oozed down the phone.
"No, look … Alice. It's not been too long, I would love to help you with the move." He smiled softly, "Be nice to see Stephen again, must be growing."
Ianto set the cup down and took a good hard look at the papers on the desk.
Photos of a young Jack with his arms around a dark haired woman. Ianto frowned as he plucked one up that showed Jack asleep in a chair with a baby in his chest. Melissa?
"No. Look, I'm glad you called. You know I said I'd always help any way I can" Jack was looking out at the garden as Walter danced about while chasing butterflies.
"Yes. Really good. God, I wish Stephen could … I know. For the best. We say I'm his uncle or something yeah?"
Ianto let the photo fall as he reached blindly for a chair.
"Nah, Ianto won't mind, I'll say it's a work thing."
Ianto lowered his head and took deep breaths as he tried to un-muddle his brain.
"Yeah. Ta, I understand why you didn't come to the funeral. God, mum would have gone nuts."
Ianto straightened up and chose another photo, this time of the couple kissing while Jack cradled the baby bump between them.
"I still wonder, if it hadn't been for her meddling, would you have?"
Ianto turned it over searching for a date or inscription.
"Married me!" Jack was laughing. "Made an honest man if me!"
Ianto placed the photo down and rose, intending to leave.
"I would have loved for my son to have my name"
Now Ianto had nowhere to go and stood stock still.
"I know. I understand, I do."
Ianto could hear his own heartbeat. So fast.
"It's just, well. I have no Heir, no-one to carry on the Harkness blood-line and name n …"
Ianto's fist had stopped the conversation as Jack flew back and the chair toppled.
Ianto followed through and landed on top of him as he howled and slapped at his husband.
Jack feebly tried to get up but Ianto was quicker, his roundhouse knocking him out cold.
Ianto rose and adjusted his clothing then reached for the phone.
"Hello whoever you are, this is Ianto Jones. Formally Ianto Harkness-Jones but that's soon fixed."
He waited but a quiet gasp was all he heard.
"If you want him, come get him. You'll find him bleeding on the fucking floor."
Ianto stepped around the desk and let the phone fall as he strode from the room.
By the time Jack came around, the SUV and his family were long gone.
.
.
.
.
So ends Walter 3
Walter 4 is currently under construction and you need to be patient, but it will begin with separate lives. Ianto has a lot of soul searching to do and Jack has a lot of broken glass to crawl over.
Look for it to start soon, promise.
Jojo