19
Rhiannon was on the sofa, having a quiet day at home and she knew her father was watching her intently, his concern almost cloying. Also, the thing with Jack was not sorted, his anger still simmering away beneath the façade of calm.
"Tad? Come sit down with me and stop pacing" she said softly, patting the arm of the chair next to her and he settled with a soft sigh of annoyance. Oh. Something was clearly wrong. "Tad?"
Ianto let himself settle for a while, and then what he said was not what she thought the conversation was going to be about.
"When I was pregnant with you, I was watching my sweet Stella live her last years. I always knew that you were the reason I went on. You were still so little when she died but you gave her joy too, I know you remember her" he started and she blinked with surprise as she had expected a talk about Jack Fucking Harkness. He reached for her hand and sighed "I never thought I would survive the loss of her, but you… my little Jelly Bean… you were my saving grace. I lived for you."
"Oh Taddy" she sighed softly, her heart melting as he ran his fingers over her knuckles softly.
"I have loved you as no other, my sweetling, my first true born. I felt terrible for ever thinking of you that way, my love for Stella not less because she was birthed by her mother but… you moved in me. You grew and became in me. Like a gift." He smiled and looked up, his eyes heavy with emotion "and how can I let you go."
"Oh Taddy… if I could live forever in the palm of your hand, I would. I have always felt so loved, so loved by you" she sobbed, letting him embrace her and hold her tight "It's not fair. I am sorry, I have to leave you. I am sorry.
"Your father would love to visit, if that's OK" Ianto said after a while, drawing back to sit in the chair with obvious discomfort.
"Oh… will it be alright?" she asked, her grip on his hand tightening.
"Of course. I can be a grownup sweetie" he said, then grinned.
"Oh, a real grownup?" she sniggered "or a pretend one? What is it you said to me once, if you have to say you are, you're not quite there yet?"
"Well, fake it until ya make it" he winked.
.
.
Archie brought flowers. An amazing bouquet and Rhiannon watched with delight as they were presented, not to her, but to Ianto. Ianto looked shocked and a little delighted, spluttering that he would keep them down here in the main room, as he was here so much right now.
"But you have a house of your own next door" Archie asked for confirmation.
"Yes. I will probably rent it out or something, stay here with my babies. In time they can decide if they want to live here as adults without me, maybe a house each. I might move on... my own little place nearby. These houses are way too big for a little family. A two bedroom bungalow would do me." Ianto replied and Archie made a noise in the back of his throat, looking intently at Ianto who was now fussing over food and drink.
When Ianto finally sat Archie was conversing with their daughter, reveling in her lovely smile as he showed her photos of his own mother, proving that she looked like his side of the family.
"I fell in love with your father during basic training" he explained to her "he seemed quiet and withheld but when it came to the hand to hand combat training… wow. He was a demon. I saw men flying all over the place, he was a little more gentle with the women, but not much... he respected them enough to throw them too. His tunic ripped and I saw that chest hair… wow. Not many have hair now ya know, especially a Super Soldier. That was a throwback that was… sexy as hell."
"I don't think our little girl needs to hear that" Ianto spluttered with shock and Archie roared with laughter as Rhiannon reminded him that she was a grown arsed woman with her own babies ta muchly.
"But you will always be my baby girl Jelly Bean. And if ya have to say it..." Ianto assured her, leaning over to kiss her forehead.
The kids arrived home and went nuts, not even aware of the fact there was a Granddad in the picture. Ianto giving up on the entire thing, letting them look at Archie and happily tell him of their day in rushed voices that made him glow with delight. His hands on Mica's face as he looked adoringly at her made Ianto feel like he was right to let down the barricades… a little.
Rhiannon watched as well, then shooed the kids outside so they could sit in some relative silence.
"So" Archie said after a while "that man you chose… not your best moment sweet pea"
"I know. But he did give me those kids so, I can't hate him entirely" she replied.
Ianto made a soft noise and Archie could not help but ask "why you don't hate me entirely Sweetie?"
"I don't hate you Arch." Ianto replied with a shrug.
"But you will not forgive me."
Ianto did not answer, rising to gather the empty cups "anyone for another?"
"And there he goes. Deflecting in the nicest possible way. Well… there was another way he diverted my attention back in the day…"
"Again... that is our little girl! She doesn't need to hear that" Ianto said, lightening the mood once more.
Archie rose and carried the plate of food out to the kitchen knowing Ianto would want to place more of the biscuits Rhiannon was enjoying. He watched Ianto move around the space and then asked softly "Are you OK?"
Ianto shrugged, not glancing at him.
Archie sighed "What do you need? Sweetheart? Please? What do you need?"
Ianto turned to him, finally accepting a gentle hug before pulling away.
"I just need to get through this next part" he admitted "and… I will survive."
"Crunching bones along the way" Archie smiled, reaching out to place an old hand on the youthful face of his once lover "my handsome man."
Ianto leaned in and the kiss was gentle and fleeting but Archie knew he would remember it.
He hadn't been touched by this man in almost thirty years, after all.
He had been forgiven.
Now, he had to see what he could do about the idiot living next-door that his precious sweetie was now in love with, find a way to sort out his head and help him realize that he was about to lose everything.
Like he had.
Ianto should not have to be a single father again.