19
It was late and Ianto couldn't sleep.
Jack had said something in the shower as they got ready for bed, his hands roaming as per usual but stopping as he found Ianto's stomach with its little pot. He had asked again about the growth and again Ianto had told him there was no cancer.
This led to an argument after Jack commented that he had been happy to see Ianto gain a little weight but it might be time to start watching the intake ad he was getting …. Thick. Yeah. Jack told him he thought he was getting fat …. Yeah he went as far during the yelling match as to point out that Ianto had got too fat… yes he used that word… too fat to fit the trousers for his suits. Accused him of doing it a part of his psychosis in believing he was pregnant to fit in. This phantom pregnancy had gone too far, Jack was over it and as per usual, once over something he needs to stomp on it.
So here we are, just after midnight and Ianto is sitting in the garden staring at the stars while imagining ways to kill Jack in his sleep.
"Hey, cant' sleep either?"
Ianto turned his head to see Collette standing there, her hand on her stomach as she gently rubbed and he nodded. "Jack made a comment about my little belly, I think my phantom pregnancy is starting to take a toll. Too much rich food makes Ianto a flabby boy. I was sitting here wondering how to get a spin cycle."
"Oh my god… a spin class. If we could get some that would be fantastic. Something we could all do, sitting down can't hurt the baby and I do feel may arse getting bigger" she giggled.
"Oh god, was that a comment about a fat arse?" Helena joined them "I really need to get mine under control. But those yummy desserts just call to me."
"I will have a word with the kitchen, more salads and healthy choices, maybe... maybe dessert once a week like a reward for a job well done?" Ianto suggested and soon more had joined, soon all the pregnant women out there with him looking at the stars.
"Look at us. Fat Arse Forum is now open" Colleen said softly and they all giggled some more.
Ianto felt better.
.
.
The spin cycles came a few days later thanks to Rhys and his connections. Andy was excited to join in and soon they were all cycling like mad while arguing about the playlist. Poor Rhys. Gwen was up the diff and they had not had sex in many months due to their breakup before Fridayitis, leaving him clearly not the father. He did not speak about her, Andy sticking close to him but being the good man that he was, he did worry about her. Helping these women made him feel better.
Ianto felt better than he had in weeks and as he entered the house panting and sweaty he was surprised to find Jack there "Cariad? I thought you boys were digging trenches today got irrigation."
"I know, Samuel got toothache and had to come back to get it pulled. I did NOT want to take part in that drama" Jack flopped onto the sofa "What have you been up to?"
"Spin class." Ianto said as he headed to the bedroom.
"Time for some sweaty hanky panky since you are already sticky?" Jack followed him in "Yeah?"
Ianto was surprised and pleased to find Jack was interested in him still, the comment made the other night now in focus as he saw how tired Jack was. He was working hard to get this place off grid ina modern way, and maybe Ianto could take a more active roll too. He had been acting a little too girly. Seriously, he could adapt.
After an hour of playing about, both of them trying to breathe as they agreed they needed a fan in here, Jack asked "This place doesn't have a name. Can we call it Torchwood Mark II?"
Ianto snorted softly, and then admitted "Well, technically it would be Torchwood III right? Torchwood Village named after Torchwood Hill to the south of it?"
"Torchwood III. Yeah? Can I do that? Make a sign and stuff?" Jack asked "I am getting fed up with everyone calling it Jonestown."
Ianto grimaced as he saw the mistake there, sighing as he answered "And no Kool-Aid at the opening?"
Jack roared with mirth as he pulled him close and whispered softly "I am sorry I made fun of your little belly… I actually love your little belly. Because it means you are healthy. It means you are recovering. I need to member that and also remember that you are someone who knows how to handle themselves. Please don't' start the no eating thing, I … I was stupid."
"It's OK. The Spin Classes will do the job." Ianto said happily. So someone had been saying something and upsetting Jack, clearly the boys were capable of needling too.
.
.
"Toshiko, got a sec?"
"Hey!" she slid from the table she had been laying on, the scanning wand still in her hand "I was just communing with junior."
"I know it's silly but… I just wanted to check my cavities… if ya know what I mean? I know I am being a drama queen and we scanned everything when we got here but it's been a month since we started the spin class and my arse is getting toned in a way Jack has noticed but my pot is still here. Might be that it's just fat harder to shake off but I want o make sure there is not a growth hidden under my liver or something. We did not look high, we only checked the prostate area."
"Sure, you want me to help?" she moved forward immediately.
"Nah… go on. You want to tell Owen and show those photos you have printed off. Go on… I can do it myself, god… had it done so many times in the last few years I should have letters after my name." he laughed and she left him to it.
He lay there watching the screen for any sign of something that should not be there, when he became aware of a sound. A faint tapping sound that had him looking to the doorway, expecting someone to be rapping their knuckles softly against it or the bloody dog's tail or something.
He found nothing with him in the room except the sound.
He looked at the screen and saw a pulsating light that made his mouth go dry.
Toshiko had been listening to the baby's heartbeat. IT was a foetal heart monitor and it was calmly letting the heartbeat be heard. Did she record it? Leave it running maybe?
Ianto moved the wand up with a new feeling of dread.
This was not the growth he expected at all.