24

Ianto was first to open the vehicle door and slide out, leaving Jack sitting there with his mouth open.

Just when you think it can't get anymore crazy… it's a fucking castle. A real… castle… by the sea. What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Ianto turned to face him and canted his head. They had packed everything they would need into Rhys's truck and then with their baby in a gym bag… I know but it was only for a little while… they left the compound and headed off like they were going shopping with their dog, the cat carrier on the floor under Ianto's feet. As Jack drove, Ianto gingerly clambered though the seats to place their baby in the baby seat that had been covered by a blanket.

Owen and Toshiko followed them out the gates, going in the other direction. The pace where they would meet up another half hour away. The real thing that worried them all was Rhys and Andy leaving later in the day, at his usual time of 3pm. Ianto was going to panic ever so quietly until he saw those men in his front yard. Safe and sound.

"Cariad?" Ianto called out ot his stunned mate with surprise. Not often you saw a Pikachu face on that man.

"Ianto… what the fuck!" Owen said as he got out of his vehicle to stand by the grill, his eyes wide as he drank in the structure. "WOW!"

"It's an old movie set" Ianto said as he swung to grin at them. "Been in the family for a while, in another name. It had eight bedrooms, two lounges, four bathrooms… I don't know why… a home office…. and the kitchen is commercial, built to feed the film crew. No one knows it's here."

"Wow" Owen said again "I want pick my room!"

"Mine is already clearly mine, don't touch the door with the dragon painted on it.. any others.. go crazy rat man!" Ianto said, waving his am grandly, then grimacing as his stitches reminded him that he was only hours from a C-Section and supposed to be resting. Something that Jack suddenly remembered too.

"Come on, let's see where that room is so we can get you and Zane settled. When Rhys comes this Avo we can have the bassinette and such, for now he will be Ok in a drawer or something I suppose. "Jack said as he cuddled said bub to his chest.

"OUR CHILD! In a drawer like a… like a litter of kittens?" Ianto gasped theatrically and wailed loudly to Toshiko "Did you hear that!"

She was laughing softly as she finally saw the old Ianto reappearing after so long hidden away. The birth of Zane had released him somehow, along with Zane's birth, came the rebirth of Ianto Nutter Extraordinaire.

"I'm hungry" Owen yelled from the steps to the front door "Open the fucking door!"

"Awwww, the little fella needs some num nums and a time out. Did he miss his little catnap time again?" Ianto asked Toshiko in a babyish voice as he let Jack gather their son's bag as well, her laughter now loud as she reveled in her friend.

Ianto opened the door and Owen took off like a Labrador released from the boot of a car at the dog park, even the yodel was convincing as he skidded on the concrete floor that had been made to look like cobbles. As he skidded around a counter and disappeared Jack sighed "We need A LOT of rugs and runners. The babies can't be on the cold floor."

"Agreed" Ianto said, then turned to face him with surprise "Jack? Are…are you thinking long term?"

"Well… I think… yeah. Ianto, I've never told you this but… I always dreamed of being a lord in a castle, riding a horse in a field of high growing grass and… well… silly I know but…growing my own veggies and stuff." Jack looked a little bit embarrassed to share this and Ianto felt himself relax.

"What will we do for money?" he asked, changing the subject for Jack.

Jack snorted as he glanced over at him, then he let Ianto laugh slightly. Right. "How long have you known?"

"Ianto, I am a cop. How long do you think I've known that you write romance novels under a woman's name?" Jack laughed as he looked at the castle again "And why so many of them were period pieces. I do know who the hero is though, with his manly cleft chin"

"Oh dear god, do NOT tell Rat Man!" Ianto hissed.

"The thing is… no one knows. Not even UNIT, right? They can't close accounts in an attempt to flush us out, you have everything in that name with your publisher in one of their accounts, they manage everything. Right?" Jack asked. "I will go this Avo and clean out our bank account, Owen will do the same and then we ghost."

"I didn't want Lisa to find it, or my alcoholic father" Ianto agreed.

"Good job."