4

"So Owen said your family has a good name?" Jack asked as they sat on the park bench watching the pigeons and Wharwomps eating.

"Jones. Yes, in this sector it is as revered as Johnston."

"Really?" Jack asked with surprise as a large blue Wharwomp landed on a pigeon making it shriek as the tentacles grabbed for it. Bloody things.

"I was the second born, the spare if you will. You know the old adage, an Heir and a spare? My older sister is going to inherit everything, especially since she married as soon as she was of age and birthed her own two. No, I never have to worry about the family business. Made me relax and I met Lisa. The family hated her on sight. Cybertronian."

"Really" Jack breathed "They have beautiful women."

"Yeah" Ianto sighed softly, pulling out his wallet to show the photo of her and their head touched as they looked into his lap, "She was my goddess. To watch her wither and die was…well. I try to keep her like this in my mind but it's hard. The last images of her were far from easy."

"And you family did nothing to help?" Jack asked, already liking the man enough to feel annoyed on his behalf.

"They told me that if I marry an offworlder of her kind I am dead to them" he shrugged, "I've not seen or spoken to any of them since. I don't even know if they are aware of my life. Rhiannon tried for a while but our father found out and forbade her. Like I said, she is the one who will sit in the seat of power so she cut me off, cold."

"So you've had no support" Jack was now quietly furious.

"I had Tosh, and Owen was a star. He helped nurse her in the final days when she was back home. It meant a lot to have her die in her favourite place. As much as I hate it, all the white and chrome. Where is the stained wood and leather you find me a happy man, an old man at heart me." Ianto smiled to show he was not upset with the topic.

"I was sort of hoping … there is a house with the old world feel to it I was shown the other day. Big long hallway, big rooms and a lovely glassed conservatory for storms and the kitchen is old country style with the hanging pots and things the middle. I looked at it and thought, country ya know? Like a homestead." Jack was suddenly galvanised, "It has a large yard for Ali and maybe I can let her have a pet. So many rooms and it's all the old style reds and golds with dark stains and a moodiness to it most people don't get these days."

"I never asked, what do you do for a living?" Ianto asked.

"Retired military, I do some training work and stuff but mostly I'm a stay at home Dad" he smiled as he watched Ianto nod and consider. "I would not foister her onto you ya know."

"No, no" Ianto laughed "I didn't mean it like that. I just worried you might not find something here you liked. If retired you can choose better I guess."

Jack relaxed, "And you?"

"Archivist" Ianto shrugged, "I like order to chaos. You've seen my cupboards, a real freak."

Jack laughed softly, "Was easy to find things. I also watched you going behind me moving things I had touched. Sorry for that."

"No, don't be, it's a habit I picked up. Towards the end Lisa was delirious. Any change set her off, so same clothes, same wording, same food. Every day. I hate those four suits hanging in my wardrobe of exact cut. Hate bloody beans for dinner, hate chicken and noodle soup for tea followed by mashed potatoes covered in gravy. Even when she couldn't eat she expected me to. Gave me a wee complex."

"Why you are thin?" Jack asked and Ianto started, then nodded.

"I have a problem with food, I had to eat every night, it became a chore. The texture, the taste. I hated it." Ianto sighed, "Yeah. Food is a problem now. I study everything and if it is the least bit like her beans and mash I get all icky about it."

"Well I love spicy food" Jack said as he threw some bread crumbs, "Big bites of explosive madness in your mouth. Shame it has to come out as explosive some times."

Ianto choked on the drink he had just sipped into his mouth and Jack was alarmed until he saw the mirth.

"Sorry"

"No, it's OK" Ianto giggled, "I have to watch it because of that too. That ring of fire is a killer."

Sniggering, they leaned against each other and Jack knew they were going to make a great pair, good friends.

Then as Ianto turned his head away to lift his face to the sun and his eyes fluttered shut Jack felt something else stir.

Damn.

Inconvenient, that.