18
Things did go well for a while, the men not only finding Date Night can move into Messy Yawning Mornings. Yeah, sleepovers became a thing. A real, wonderful thing as the two men started to explore the relationship. Three months later and there seemed to e a routine, a life. A comfort.
Then Jack had to do what Jack always does. Any Verse, any happy time… yeah. The Harkness Curse.
Fuck it all up.
But really, it was not all his fault. I mean… John Hart was involved… but.. yeah.
Ianto had agreed to meet Jack at the local bar after work, Rhiannon having a good day (which was becoming a rarity) and Ianto agreed to close the office early, sending both women home to the kids and himself off to meet his lover. Oh, it felt good to call him that.
After over forty years alone... he was again loved.
He saw Jack sitting in a booth opposite John and started to walk over with a drink in his hand only to slow as he caught the conversation. About him. Oh.
"So, I've never slept with a Dam, tell me Jack… what can you do with two holes under a large joy stick? It is a nice big one right? Or are they all big… He's birthed kids so… is it a case of pick a hole and jump in?" John started to laugh and to Ianto's horror Jack did too, slapping at John.
"Stop it, technically I could be one too, I just never did the whole… preggers thing. My slot is closed, no. I take the meds religiously to make sure that doesn't happen" Jack replied, then shuddered "ew. I guess he is not as regimented with his routine."
John then looked up to see Ianto standing there behind Jack, his face pale. John did what John Hart does in a situation like that. He grinned widely like the cat that got the cream.
Ianto took a deep breath and went to speak but Jack was quicker as he still looked down at the napkin he was fiddling with "but he is nice. Seems… sort of… moody sometimes though. A lot of work to make him smile. I am not used to working so hard when I get smiles so easily from the girls at the office."
John continued to stare straight at Ianto as he replied "So… you're not exclusive. Why not go play if he is a stick in the mud doldrum."
Jack snorted, did not reply.
"Come on, at least you made him wet… right?"
Jack laughed and threw his hands out. Like… goosh.
Ianto made a noise in his throat. Jack looked up.
Directly at the pint of beer about to be poured over his head before Ianto snarled "Yeah Jack. Go play with those eager girls. This funhouse is closed for now… seems there have been too many fucking clowns. Now whose wet fucker!"
Ianto spun on his heel and stormed off as John roared with mirth slapping the table and Jack rose, trying to get out to run after Into, but John grabbed at him while laughing and made sure it took too long.
By the time Jack got out, Ianto was gone.
.
.
"Tad?"
Ianto slammed through the house and Rhiannon jumped, turning to see him heading up the stairs for his room. Living all together was nice, her and the kids moved into his large house so the kids would be settled before… things change… you know "Taddy?"
"Jack Harkness if a fucking arsehole and I am over him!"
"Oh no" she sighed.
This was bad.
.
.
"Ianto?"
"Get the fuck off my property."
"Come on… I didn't know you were standing there, John is a prick for needling us, come on. You take things way to seriously" Jack was begging now.
"There are only two other people who have ever…. EVER… known me that way. The first was the woman I gave my heart to only to realize I was not marriage material and we were left to share a child. Then seventy odd years later… I met the man who fathered my child, Rhiannon the last one left now… and… stupidly… I thought you might be the third… Christ. All those years but… I was foolish to think maybe you were number three. Lucky number three" Ianto laughed hollowly "Look who's the dope here."
"Ianto…."
"No. I don't have time for this. Rhiannon needs me, these kids need me and right now… clearly you don't. Go on, play with your little friend and have a god laugh at me" Ianto snarled.
"Come on Tiger…"
"I mean it. Get out"
Jack left Ianto's house with a morose air about him, much like a rain cloud over his head. He wanted to kill John, bash his own head against a wall and above all, he wanted to erase what he had just done.
Three lovers.
So long a life for only three intimate…. Fuck.
Jack entered his house to chaos, pausing as David and Steven raced past making silly noises and he made his second mistake of the day "Cut that bloody noise out. What is wrong with you two. Get a fucking room!"
Both boys froze, their eyes wide as Jack stomped past and Steven's face clouded over, his fists at his sides as he shouted after him "So what if Davie IS MY BOYFRIEND YA SHITTY OLD MAN"
Jack stopped at the top of the stairs to gape at his grandson as Steven added "I would so get buggered but clearly Davie's Grandy is better than you and isn't letting anything get stuffed right now!"
Jack looked back at his grandson with shock as he stormed out the door with his friend, making Alice race after him "Steven Harkness, get your arse back inside here right now!"
"NO!"
Rhiannon was inside unaware of the brewing drama until her son entered with Steven and she went to ask if they wanted a snack when Alice stormed into her home and tried to seize Steven by the arm.
"OI!" Rhiannon roared with open anger, "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING! DO NOT MANHANDLE A CHILD IN MY HOUSE!"
Ianto came down the stairs in time so see his daughter shoving Alice out the door and slamming it in her face, the two boys standing there with matching looks of both shock and awe.
"What the hell is going on now!" Ianto groaned as he watched her slump against the wall, the effort too much.
He somehow knew by Steven and David's' hands clasped together it was something that was gonna make him even madder than he already was and his blood pressure was to brain exploding levels now.
Somehow he knew… it was Jack.