20

Jack was surprised when the Brigadier entered his house and settled at the kitchen table, Alice rushing to offer refreshments with her heart pounding. This was one of the big wigs, one of the top layer. A Boss.

"No, thank you dear. Ianto has just seen to my needs and as always, I will not need to eat for the rest of the week" he replied softly and she blushed as she agreed that he knew how to feed.

"I am here to talk to you about Ianto actually" Archie leaned back and watched Jack's face, the fleeting feelings of annoyance and regret exposed before he feigned indifference. "I am Rhiannon's father."

Jack froze, his face still devoid of expression but Archie was pleased to see his fist clench under the table.

Jealousy. Good.

"When Rhiannon was little, I was besotted with her. Seriously, Ianto was loving and sweet and… his daughter Stella was dying and… he was splitting so much time between both of his children, even with there being over seven decades between them, they were still his babies. I strayed. It was stupid and if I could take anything back in my life, it would be that moment. I failed. I failed him. It was only the once and afterwards I didn't know what to do. He knew the moment he saw me, that fucking inner eye thing of his… he knew. God, the pain in his face, if I could have carved my heart out and offered it to him… god. I was not invited to Stella's funeral. I tried to keep in touch with Rhiannon but she knew, she has that ability to glean the truth and like her Dam, she hurts hard too. I lost everything."

"How long…' Alice asked softly "How long before he forgave you?"

"I think he just did… about half an hour ago" Archie smiled softly, rubbing at his face "I also know you didn't do anywhere as bad as me but right now, when he is in flux again… he feels the hurt and betrayal. Maybe you are being punished for my transgression and he doesn't even know it. Like muscle memory, his poor heart is in pain again. All I know is that you are failing him now."

"But what can I do? You know Ianto, he does that line in the sand and… you're fucked" Jack leaned back "I don't know if I have the energy for the fight I need to put up here."

Archie huffed softly and then said with a firm hand slapped on the table "Then maybe you don't deserve him. Maybe you are a fucking idiot and you should admit defeat and move away, change your name and forget you ever knew him. Because I am telling you right now, living next door to him, seeing the world you could have been a part of, see the pain and heartache you could have helped him through… you will suffer. You will suffer in the seventh level of hell my fried. I know this hell, I live there still. When my daughter dies he will too, inside a part of him will die and only the baby will keep his heart beating. You will throw away everything because… you can't be arsed?"

"The kids will be grown before she dies" Jack said as he rose, trying to signal the end of this uncomfortable conversation, "Ianto will have someone else, he will have his life as organized and perfect as always."

"You are a bloody fool" Archie rose as well, his anger making him shake "And I am glad you know now, I wish he had known before he gave you his heart and took a part of you into his soul. You fucking fool"

Long after Archie had left Jack sat and thought about that meeting, about Ianto and about that throbbing pain he had been hiding so well from everyone. Of course he missed him, of course he wanted to fix things. But he was stubborn and proud. If Ianto apologized for overreacting and they could talk like adults… then things will be OK.

Alice considered it as well, only… she heard something Jack didn't.

And she knew she had to visit.

.

.

"Gee is not here" David said flatly, his eyes narrow as he looked her up and down as Alice tried for a soft smile.

"I am here to see your mama"

David stared at her a little more, then nodded and stepped aside "She's in the living room. Me and Stevie are doing sandwiches. Would you like one?"

So polite.

"Thank you, that would be nice"

She entered to find Rhiannon on the sofa, her feet up and a rug over her legs. Her eyes were closed like she was asleep but her hands were moving restlessly.

"Hi Rhiannon" Alice said as she settled in a chair like it was an everyday meet "I thought you might like to know that Ebony tried the new washing machine in the communal laundry and broke it already."

"Oh god" Rhiannon sighed "Really? That woman."

"Soap suds for miles. I swear to god, her fella Dylan came running, yelling at her that she used too much, went skidding on his arse into the machine boots first. The dent in the side is epic" Alice laughed "He was pissed."

Rhiannon laughed and then she saw it, a grimace.

"Archie… your father? He seems nice. Came over to slap Dad upside the head." Alice softly admitted.

"Good. We need to sort them out, Tad is beside himself and too damned proud to admit it" Rhiannon shifted on the sofa and focused on her.

"You're sick." Alice blurted.

"I am dying."

"I was afraid of that" Alice said, her voice breaking as she saw how precarious things were, how close her father was to the biggest mistake of his life and also… how much she had fucked up as well.

"We all have to go sometime" Rhiannon shrugged, "But my Taddy… I am so scared for him."

"We will look after him… and the kids… we will. If we have to drug the two of them and handcuff them together for a month… we will sort this out" Alice assured her, reaching out to take her hand.

These two strong women united… those two didn't stand a chance.