6
"Thank you for that" Jack said softly as he watched Ianto pull Alice's door closed and then leave it slightly ajar. Ianto had read her the bedtime story and Jack had been pleased to see a natural grace.
"Stranger in the house, she might wake and feel weird especially with the storm, want to go to you" Ianto explained softly, "She is lovely."
"You are a qualified teacher? Really?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, went through uni and everything but then Torchwood Inc got wind of my skills in researching and pinched me. Where I met Lisa" Ianto smiled, "I love kids. We intended having lots."
"Well, I thought I would be a playboy my while life, then she came along and I realised I wanted that. Her. I wish I could clone her" Jack said happily.
"You've done a stellar job Jack, she is so clever" Ianto smiled, "I see her being a real spitfire."
"Ah, another old term I love" Jack grinned, "Some say I spoil her and that she needs a firm hand."
"Jack, everyone had different ideas on child rearing and they all have merit but each child is an individual and I see how happy she is. All that matters really, a happy child is a learning child" Ianto assured him, "I think she's wonderful."
"Good" Jack relaxed with relief as he walked Ianto to the door of his room, then hesitated, "Well, good night Yan."
Ianto looked at him with surprise and Jack thought he might get a scolding for the name but then Ianto smiled.
The sun shone at midnight in the Harkness Household and it was so warm.
.
.
.
.
.
Ianto woke to the sound of the door clicking open and he sat up, looking around with confusion as the sound of the storm roared outside.
It had arrived after all.
"Sweetling?"
"Daddy is asleep and won't wake" she whispered as she clambered in, her little pink slippers clicking on the floor as she kicked them off, "I's scawded."
"Of course you are love" Ianto crooned, "It's so loud isn't it?"
He pulled her close and settled once more, the little one clinging to him as each thump of the outer shielding resonated. He wondered how bad it was if the sound was so loud even in the secondary shielding around this house.
.
.
..
Jack stared at the empty bed and then headed down the hall to check the rumpus room.
Nope.
He was walking back up the hall when he noticed Ianto's door ajar and he pushed it with a soft knock then froze as he saw his little one visible only by a single ringlet wrapped up under Ianto's chin.
"Yan?"
Ianto blinked up at him showing that lack of morning energy Jack had seen back in Earth and as Jack watched Ianto slowly stretch, Alice's head appeared as the covers slid down and she growled as she burrowed into Ianto.
Ianto stared at her with confusion and then snorted as he pulled the covers over her again and motioned for Jack to get in, "Poor wee thing was scared and couldn't wake you."
"Shit, I sleep like the dead. I should have thought and just taken her in with me" Jack sighed as he climbed in and he was soon grinning happily as he looked over his daughter's head at the gentle faced man who was looking back at him.
"See?" Ianto whispered, "We can share a bed."
Jack snorted as he smelt the bedding and found a wonderful spicy smell that was so Ianto, he knew because he had smelt it at the penthouse. Although he had slept in the spare room that night he had smelt Ianto everywhere and found it not only pleasant but slightly arousing.
"It might take a while to find a house" Jack whispered, "A few weeks or so and then there will be the problem of carriers to move everything off world…you still OK with us living in your wee place?"
"Feels fine" Ianto muttered, "Shut up."
Jack grinned as Ianto snuffled into the pillow, and his daughter's hair as he went back to sleep.
SOOOOOO not a morning person this one.
Just like Alice.
Jack intended spending the next hour or so waiting on them to consider the houses he had been looking at and it wasn't until a hand was gently stroking his face that he knew he had fallen asleep.
"Cariad?"
Jack looked up at Ianto who looked openly concerned as he stroked his face then showed relief as Jack smiled up at him "For the love of Pete. You said you sleep like the dead but damn, that was scary. Or 'I's scawded' as the proper term seems to be."
Jack never knew you could fall hard and fast like this but as he listened to Ianto channelling his daughter with open delight he wanted to kiss him so damned much.
"We're gonna get married right?"
"Hope so, I look lovely in white" Ianto said cheekily, his morning grumpiness gone as he rose from the bed and looked over at the little one who was racing from the bathroom with a soap in her hand to show him.
"Oh goodness, a froggy one?" Ianto crooned as she giggled.
"Look Dadda, a froggy one!"
"Oh wow, you brought some more soaps for her?" Jack asked with glee as his daughter ran away to hide the soap like a proper thief.
"Little thief. Stole me soap" Ianto giggled, "I might have to put out the unicorn one next."
"Ah, spoiler."
Ianto hummed as he started to do his hair and Jack lay there listening to his daughter crowing in the hallway.
Ianto seemed a perfect fit.
Now all Jack could do was worry that Ianto might change his mind.