12
Ianto placed more napkins down as the team dug in, cheering as the parcel of fish and chips was opened and the cans of soda were passed around. They had worked through the day to rearrange and sort, build kitset shelving in the basement and bookshelves in the room he wanted to turn into a library. The boxes of books in his London lock up would soon have a home. Of all the things he sacrificed and sold for Lisa's care, those first editions of his grandfather's were still safe. His son's inheritance.
Ianto had marvelled at the hidden gems he had found, the wonderful little secrets revealed as dust cloths were carefully rolled back and then taken outside to shake the murk off. Flynn's room had been sorted first as Ianto insisted his son be seen to, then the other rooms that they were going to use at first were cleaned and arranged, or cleared as the case may be.
Ianto had chosen a room for Rhia and another for the kids for when they came to sleep over, his large heart wanting his sister and her kids to know they had a safe haven if that bastard tried anything. Ianto had lived there, he had heard through the paper thin walls and knew she had married their father.
It had been his only worry with moving out as he was sure the only reason there had been no violence was the fact Johnny knew he would come through the wall after him but he had politely taken Johnny aside in the kitchen and explained his fears and worries for his sister and he was sure Johnny was going to try harder as a father and husband. Ianto knew he would beat the living shit out of him if she ever turned up with a black eye and he had talked to Jack about it on the way over to collect the last of their things, Jack telling him she was a strong woman and always welcome at theirs. Ianto had liked that.
Theirs.
Of course, Jack had cornered Johnny out in the garage as they collected the box of Christmas decorations that had been Lisa's and Flynn kept close. Jack hadn't had the long discussion full of thoughts and hopes. The flick blade had pierced the thin fabric of Johnny's shorts and undies, scratching at his balls as Jack calmly told him that if he ever hurt her he would cut his balls off and feed them to the dog he was getting the wee man.
The most unnerving thing for Johnny was not the knife, although you might think it was. NO. The most unnerving thing about the entire takedown was Jack's smile. He never wavered, never faltered. For the entire brief encounter (Pardon the pun) Jack never stopped smiling that soft friendly one even as the tip scratched hard enough for Johnny to find a speck of blood on his ruined jocks later.
Jack watched his love as he flapped and fussed, full of life and delight. No. Nothing was going to upset him. He would do his damnedest to see to that.
"Look you heathens, use bloody coasters" Ianto scolded and they all smiled as Ianto asserted himself without fear of a comeback, showing that he was happy.
"I love this table" Tosh said as she ran her fingers around the edges and Ianto smiled.
"Some pieces will have to do as they give me the heebies but I love this table too" Ianto agreed, "I see this room painted white, the red wood stain popping and maybe a red velvet sofa over there, this table and some throw pillows. Another sofa here, or a lounger, I love those big long ones with the wings back and side. Break the room into a sunny day end and the warm evening end with the fireplace."
"Oh Ianto, it sounds lovely" Tosh smiled.
"Oh it is" Ianto sighed happily, "It's all lovely really."
"Flynn seen the new school yet?" Tosh asked and Ianto shook his head as he bit into a piece of fish.
"We are going to take him there tomorrow to see if he likes it" Jack answered for him "If the little fella doesn't like it we will have to commute back and forth to his old school. I promised he doesn't have to change if he is sacred or doesn't like it."
""Wow, that's almost an hour's drive each day if he decides he doesn't want to change schools" Tosh blinked.
"He's worth the time" Jack said calmly as he looked lovingly at the little boy who was laying in the floor colouring in, oblivious to the conversation.
"Flynn? Another Sammie?" Ianto asked and the curls wobbled back and forth as Flynn nodded, looking up and smiling.
"Thanks Taddy" he accepted the chip sandwich and hummed as he bit into it, then went back to his colouring books.
"I think he will love it" Jack said happily, "I think it's the right time. We can all adjust together."
"Well, I can't wait to paint that hallway for a start" Ianto said happily, "I see a lot of work but a lot we can do ourselves. Make this more our home if we put our heart into it."
Jack smiled softly knowing full well the house already had a heart in it now.
It never felt so warm in his arms.