6

Jack was leading Ianto down the gangplank to the dock, his own surprise obvious as he saw his daughter Alice running towards him with her flushed cheeks "DADDY!"

Ianto slowed, the little on in his arms no doubt already clocking another child claiming rights to Jack and then he had a bigger problem as Mica and David reached him, clinging to him as they both talked all at once about their plane ride… their first… the hotel room they had… room service… who is the baby…. all the while Dylan was digging his fingers into Ianto's shirt tighter like he was scared he might be snatched away.

Then Jack had his arm in a strong grip, pulling him towards a bus and they clambered on board, everyone else as well and they sat in stunned silence as they were driven off from the pack of jackals baying at the windows.

Finally Ianto looked at the children and smiled softly "Hey. This is Dylan. His mama and Daddy died on the plane, but he was like Superman, he flew into my arms."

Both kids looked at him and cooed, loving his large brown eyes that seemed to blow out his entire face.

"So, this is the baby that you wound up with. Heard about that" Rhiannon said from behind him, leaning around the seat to look at the child.

"Seems the old grandmother didn't pass muster for childcare. We've agreed to keep him for now since he is bonded to us and the child specialists who came aboard to try and assess him got bitten and screamed at" Jack said like he was proud of the little tyke for tantruming at them.

"Well, he does seem smitten," she smiled as she saw the little one's eyes slide to her, as if assessing her "Clever isn't he."

"Yes" Ianto tightened his grip and she looked at him more clearly "You've become attached too?"

"Yeah. I think we might look into the prosect of fostering him, with a view to adoption if there is no brilliant strategy from the powers that be and if we do it right, use the press to our advantage and tug at heart strings they will let us keep him rather than face a backlash."

"You sound like you have things all sorted out" she said with a sniff.

"Yep" he nodded.

"So. What is this bullshit about a storage locker the press have been going on about?"

Shit.

.

.

They were settled into the penthouse suite, the upgrade once the hotel realized why Rhiannon was there not as surprizing as you might think. Jack had known they would suddenly be all helpful, the press drinking up their gushing and the head of the hotel telling the press that they would do all they could to make this 'family' comfortable.

Another suite for Licia and Alice across the hall also opened up.

Jack was a little nervous about this part, the fact the divorce had been so… not cool… and now here was his ex, right across the hall while the new person in his life was… watching. Jack was not comfortable with this at all. Horrible to say, but at least Lisa was dead. No way to compete there. Jack also knew Ianto was watching him, his discomfort, his worries and fear with Lucia here. Not just what she might say to him, but what she might say to the media. That might not go down well.

While Jack was in the shower and Dylan was asleep in the port-a-cot Ianto decided to sort that out walking past the kids engrossed with the TV and Rhiannon ordering room service with glee. He calmy stepped across the hallway and knocked.

The door opened and Lucia stared at him with surprise, maybe expecting Jack.

"Hi. I am the man your ex is with now. I am here to clear any air that needs clearing before he is involved, farting his ineptness about the place just gassing us both" Ianto said with a slow blink and after a beat, she nodded stepping aside to let him in.

Alice was in front of the TV, watching the same show as was in the other room.

The two adults settled at the table an Ianto knew he had to continue the pro-active route.

"Right. Jack told me he was a douche with you, he told me how childish and … remote he was. He told me that you like the lifestyle but not the … well… separation part. You felt left behind. I pointed that out and he was confused. I explained to him that money does not make up for companionship. His response was to hand in his resignation and decide to retire and follow me wherever I go. I know… his knee-jerk reactions are so hard to deal with" Ianto rolled his eyes and she smiled, finally seeing him. "After his head pops out of his arse, the deep breath of air goes right to his head, doesn't it."

"Look, Lucy love… sorry. That's what he calls you sometimes in the dark when he talks about you…. He laments his childish tantrums. The fighting… the not listening. He was not the man he is now. He has grown. I will not say he is an adult now… that little boy is still there pouting in the background but… he does know he owes you an apology for bulldozing your relationship. We talked about that a lot. He tries it with me, but I am not someone who likes to let another lead in a waltz. He is an Alpha Male and is still coming to terms with the fact that this quiet slow burning man beside him is actually an Alpha too."

She laughed softly, nodding as she leaned back "So what now?"

"Maybe, it's time to be fiends. Try a friendship, for her. She needs family. She wants family. So does he. Without the past grievances, without the 'he said she said' stuff… let's try to just meet one another and become friends. Hi. I'm Ianto, nice to meet you."

She took the offered hand and smiled as she replied "Hi. Lucia. I like being called Lucy by those in my inner circle. Please, you can call me Lucy."

Ianto smiled back and then whispered "Tell me John fucking hart does not call you Lucy. I am NOT looking forward to meeting him. I feel we will come to blows."

Finally, she laughed, her booming roar filing the room as she spluttered out "HART! THAT BLOODY PSYCHIC VAMPIRE!"

Both of them smiled, looking to the sofa and the little girl engrossed in the TV.

Ianto felt much better.