9
"Jack?" Ianto said softly as he got out of the cycling down vehicle.
"What the hell were you thinking taking her out like that!" Jack growled, "What if you got lost with her, she's only a baby."
"The onboard computer took us to her store for her books and home again" Ianto replied, "I am more than capable of keying in a bloody destination. How dare you speak to me like one of your bloody employees. If you think paying me money makes me a lackey you have another think coming Sir!"
Ianto was furious now, the little girl disappearing quickly up the stairs and Ianto scooped up the books she had dropped, calling after her, "Wait poppet, it's OK. You are not in trouble, sweetie!"
Jack swore softly as he replayed the exchange and he raced after them both. He found them in the rumpus room, Alice sitting morosely as Ianto tried to cajole her into taking the books.
"You are not bad, this is not something you did wrong love. You wanted your books and I wanted to get them for you. Daddy is just tired and cranky. He needs a feed and a sleep, right? Remember when you are tired and hungry and your brain bits hurt? That's all. Daddy is not mad at us, just grumpy and needs a time out." Ianto was crooning and she looked up, Jack's heart twisting to see tears as Ianto stage whispered to her, "Come on love. You promised me a picnic, remember? We should ask Daddy to join in, maybe he will feel better with a teddy to cuddle. They look so lovely and squishy."
"They are squishy" she agreed with growing glee once more, "And you will sit here too? We can all have a picnic?"
"Only if I get a cupcake. I love cupcakes me" Ianto gushed and she lit up racing to tell the kitchen staff as Ianto turned and finally looked at Jack.
"Ianto I…"
"I will not stand for any abuse, do you understand me?" Ianto demanded, standing to face Jack, "I vowed to never marry my father, never be with someone who looks down at me as chattels or a servant and by the stars I would rather go to the border planets and take my chances with the settlers than ever let someone raise their hand to me. Do you understand me?"
"Ianto" Jack said softly, not just contrite as he saw honest upset in Ianto's face, it was clear he had hurt him somehow. "I panicked, I have been alone for almost three years and used to being in control. Please, I would never hurt you, never raise my hand to you, I swear. I will always respect you."
Ianto stood string at him for a while and then a little whirlwind re-entered the room with squeals of glee as two servants followed with trays of food and drink.
"Stop your staring contest; you are here to play with me!" Alice demanded and Ianto broke contact first, retaking his seat and Jack followed suit. Soon they were drinking from little cups as she proudly gave them each a cupcake, "If you behave!"
Ianto sniggered softly, looking down at his plate and Jack sighed softly, "I am sorry I had a brain fart. I would die if anything happened to my wee princess. Of course you are capable of caring for her, I just…went off on one."
Ianto looked at him and nodded, "I usually run. If I am afraid or hurt I will run and I can assure you, you will never catch me."
Jack nodded as he reached to to hook Ianto's hand, "I want this to work. Us to work together on this and for everything to work out. Please. Do over?"
"I do not often give a second chance but we both need this" Ianto sighed as a teddy hit him in the head and he turned to face it, "Now Mister Ted, you must wait your turn to speak. You have dreadful manners."
A little giggle as the teddy hit him again, "Ted, this is your second warning, once more and you are in the naughty chair."
Whack.
Ianto rose and snatched the teddy as Alice gaped with shock and he grabbed a chair slamming it into the corner then placed the teddy in it facing the wall, "Now I want you to sit there and think about why I put you here. You did something that was naughty, you were asked to stop. You did it again and had the warning of the chair. You did it again, knowing you had the chair to come if you did so, now you must sit and think about how you might have got my attention!"
Ianto then walked back and sat, addressing Alice, "Sorry darling. Ted was being naughty and needed to learn that we have rules and consequences. Right?"
She blinked and then nodded looking over at the Teddy and frowning as she considered what had happened.
Ianto had just taught her something, he just hoped she would remember it.
If this was going to work, he really needed to talk to Jack about her education when they were both more relaxed.
Manners included.