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Ianto was wandering along the pathway to the grove. That is what they were calling the area of fruit and nut trees. The Grove. Someone had planted these. Tended these. They were well established so.. if they were lucky this island was owned by a family who had it for generations and every now and then one of the descendants would come here hunting.
He hoped to find some proof of visitation still happening, some hope or the others. Strangely, he was sort of hoping for some sort of salvation for him too. Seems he was starting to like this living thing again.
He paused to look at tracks, kneeling to look closer. Pigs. Yeah… pigs.
He frowned as he looked at them some more and detected more creatures. This island was lush, exotic and giving. All they needed to do was survive until help came. He had no doubt sooner or later it would.
He rose, looking up the small incline and pondered the goat path, then turned to walk back down to the beach, starting once more to walk around the island to check all shores.
They were not the only raft out there.
Ianto walked past Ken's grave, nodding to it amicably and as he wandered, he found the terrain changing form sand to stones… to rock. Like…volcanic maybe? Ianto could see a cave and as he walked down an incline into it, he was interested to find it had an exit almost as large. But it was low tide, looking up at the ceiling it was clear that the mussels and such meant the water filled this space daily.
He told himself to be mindful of that fact, no one wants to swim again so soon. As he rounded the bluffs, he saw something that made his heart jump, calling out as he waved his arms.
"IANTO!" Rhys began to run towards him, his face full of equal enthusiasm but the others seemed… tense.
The two men hugged and he turned to speak to Gwen only to find the child being thrust into his arms "Here. He won't top making fucking noises."
Ianto took the child in his arms and gaped at her as she continued to spout "Look… this is our beach. Our spot and we don't have anything to share!"
"We found bananas" Rhys cut in and Ianto could see her anger brewing at the idiot for giving that information away. Like he might fight them for some fucking bananas. Clearly she was in survival mode and it was not pretty.
"We did on our side too" Ianto assured him "We can both have our own groves… no need to pinch from each other. And we also have…."
"The fishing eddy is ours!" Mark spoke now, the spear he was carrying like it was some sort of trident or something. His shirt was open like he was trying to look like Jason Momoa but the pot belly and pasty skin sort of…. Nah….. "We don't need anything from you, we don't share anything. Fuck off back to your side and leave us alone. Oh… take the little fucker with you."
Ianto was gaping openly, the little toddler in his arms now quiet as he was finally held, and he clung to Ianto like he knew this might be his only salvation. He looked at Suzie who was approaching as well. He had more clarity as he looked between her and Gwen, then to the men.
"Are you all OK? That's fine. You want us to stay away… we will stay away" Ianto said firmly "Look… if we get saved, we tell them you are here too. You do the same, right?"
"Yeah, other than that… fuck off" Gwen sneered.
Rhys had reappeared, the first time Ianto noticed he had bene gone and he carried Dylan's little bag as well as another backpack. His face was stone as he looked at Gwen and said calmly "If we get out of this, I want a divorce."
"What?" she squeaked, then she looked at the bag "Wait. You… you can't leave me. We need your muscle!"
"The only muscle you seem to need, you are taking from him or do you think I didn't hear you two last night talking in that rock pool over there!" Rhys sneered back "Fuck off missus."
Ianto knew this was a strange day indeed, a strange moment so he said calmly "Right-O. See ya."
Ianto started to walk back in the direction he had come, Rhys following as Gwen continued to scream with rage, stomping her feet as she threw her rings, then screamed again as she fell to the rocky shore trying to find those same said rings.
"Sorry about that mate. She said she was preggers, we got wed. Then she sez she lost it. Then wanted this little honeymoon to make another one… me mam did try to warn me" Rhys kept up a steady stream of conversation as Ianto silently hugged the baby and noted the water was now to their knees.
He was right.
High tide and they would be cut off… not really a bad thing, I guess.
Rhys finally stopped talking as they emerged onto the sand and was now looking around with interest "Hey, it's warmer this side."
Ianto found Jack waiting with concern by Ken's grave and he soon heard the story, Rhys chipping in like a demented parrot, repeating what Ianto was quietly saying like it needed emphasis.
Jack liked the man.
I mean… he made Ianto smile, ya know?
And he was Welsh. Jack found himself partial to Welshmen these days.
Oh yeah… and little cockney bastards.
