1
Ianto nervously pulled on the little hand, trapped in his with a steel grip. Ahead of him he could see his sister with her other child firmly grasped as the boy twisted to look back, making sure he was following them closely with the little girl.
They were preparing to board, the three month cruise to the new lands was terrifying the crap out of him but since her husband was already there, having gone ahead, Ianto fund himself unable to let his dear family travel alone all that way with little ones.
Besides, what did he have to stay for, not when the amazing adverts for this new land looked so inviting. Everyone promised a house, a great big yard, a job and plenty of food for all. The squalor she lived in now with the kids, refusing his help because Johnny Fuckface was too proud… what chance was there here for little Mica? She would have to marry young and provide more kids to walk in the fucking mud of this dying planet.
No.
Into had nothing to stay for, his own job already secured according to Johnny's letters. His own house near to his sister's. Things sounded so great, so amazing that he could not help bit be afraid for the drop on the other side of the hill. A cliff always coming somewhere.
Their bags were moving past on the conveyor hover, Ianto tracking his boxes of things he could not live without, and then suddenly they were at the gangplank, walking up the ramp to the ship. He was scared, he was not afraid to admit he was scared. He hated flying of any sort, let along space travel. He had heard all the horror stories. This is Ianto Jones, king of information. He scoured all the news articles and all the whispers came back to him, he knew what to expect and he knew how to respond. He had been over several scenarios so when the worst happens, he will not be afraid, he would know how to react and hopefully, they would be OK.
Of course his Rhiannon scoffed at him, knowing his natural response to any new thing was to act like this, her giggles as he showed her his bag of trick, the things for an emergency that he would always have with him so they would be safe. She had told this to Johnny and his communication back to her had been full of laughter as he assured her that she as not going to believe what it was like there.
She was confident, her son was not so sure but Mica was beside herself at having to leave her friends, her school that she had just started and her pet Doggett as they were not allowed pets on the journey. The only thing that comforted her was the fact Ianto was coming as well, something she knew Mama had worked hard on him to achieve and she also knew her only hope of surviving the horrible experience ahead was to stick to him like glue.
They were soon on the vessel, the steward talking at them while handing out information packs that were silly as everyone in the family knew Ianto already had one with notations along the edges of the pages. Still, he politely accepted one with a thin smile. Their name tags were slapped on and they were moving in the throng of people towards their quarters.
"But why can't we be together" David was whining.
"Stop it, Gee had to pay his own ticket. They gave him a berth of his own" she scolded.
"That way you can each have sleepovers with me" he said softly, each child lighting up as they forgot to be scared. Ianto entering Rhiannon's cabin to stand and stare with surprise at the small room with the two bunk beds in it.
"I thought it would be bigger" she sighed as she looked around, then turned to face him "But it is just for the trip right?"
Ianto felt a foreboding in his very waters as he stepped next door to his own box and felt the horror of the small room that was more like a bloody closet. Shit.
.
.
"Gee? Why is there windows when it's nothing out there?" Mica asked.
"They are screens, you wait and see. Any ship-wide announcements and such will play on them like huge televisions." Ianto explained softly "some nights movies will play, through the entire ship so you can walk along and not miss it."
"That's a good idea" David chimed in.
Ianto hummed his agreement as he cut the meat or the little girl who was jigging in her seat, "Mica, do you have ants in your pants. You might have to go into quarantine if you have."
She giggled as she leaned against him, hugging his arm lovingly.
Ianto looked at Rhiannon as she flicked her hair back and smiled, seeing the hopeful way she was trying to be positive with the kids. She wanted this fresh start, she was hopeful that Johnny had everything sorted and the home they were going to was a brave new beginning for them all.
Secretly… he knew Johnny had lost his job due to brawling and drunkenness, all of her money had gone into this move. Ianto's part slid under the table to her also more than she had hoped for and enough to make sure the kids had the things they needed, despite Johnny taking so much money with him in the first place.
She needed Ianto.
Not just his money, but his support as well.
They both knew Johnny was capable of burning a pot of boiling water.
Secretly…
They both feared what was really waiting for them on this new planet.