1

Ianto was cleaning.

Jack was off working, and the kids were at school, so of course he was cleaning. Made sense, this is Ianto after all. The house shone like a diamond, Marion (Stetson in Ianto's head still) was more than happy agreeing that giving his old family house to this man had been a good idea.

Ianto was actually happy.

Bored, but happy.

His work with the Bubble Council was sort of at a standstill he was too efficient for his own good and there really was not much else to be done right now bar the bloody paperwork. It would be at least a week before he could feel overwhelmed… not. The home office was calling him, and he knew sooner or later he had to go in there and do some real work, but he was avoiding it right now, typical Jonesy style, the Bubble still needing him even though he was more than happy this side of it. Seems he hated leaving things unfinished to the point of it being unhealthy. He knew this, recognized this and still… here we are.

Finally… he had nothing left to clean.

Well… there was Jack's side of the bed but seriously that was a last resort. Jack was a fucking slob. And Jack seemed to have some sort of weird system where he knew where everything was, annoyed at finding Ianto's cleaning had singled out this area.

Finally… he had to settle.

Ianto settled at his desk, finding the wall full of books behind him a comfort, like a papery hug. He opened the file that had sit primly waiting and he stared down at the letter on the top asking him to check the figures and give his expert opinion on how to proceed.

He knew what this was.

More families wanted out, wanted to move to the outer bubble he was part of as their desire to see the outside word strong. He had to think about this, those still loyal to the late Mother might not be looking for freedom, rather for revenge and he knew there were some who knew full well that he had been part of the overthrow. Even if they did not say it out loud. He felt eyes on him each time he walked down the main street with the Mayor. Oh yes, he knew he was a target. But he always had been one so…

Ianto drummed his fingers on the desk as he considered, then closed the file to sit back and go over things in his mind. Jack was waiting to leave the bubble, this secondary bubble between their old life and the Real World out there. He wanted to go to the city, to see the lights, smell the air and look at real shops, watch a 3D move… whatever the fuck they were.

Even as Ianto was digging into this new life in the outer bubble, Jack was seeking another way forward. Ianto knew Jack was right. The whole point of escaping Yvonne's madness was to find a new life for them… but wasn't this one?

Ianto sighed, his head falling back.

He had to stop this.

Jack was right.

How could he advocate for an end of the cordons if he was so scared himself.

.

.

"Where are the kids?"

"Toshiko is having Braxton hicks again and wanted some quiet time in the tub, so she told Owen to either find something to do or she would boil his damned head in a pot on the stove" Ianto replied to his husband. "He thought stealing our spawn might be the best idea for the 'Daddy' training."

"She is really ready to be done with the preggers thing, right?" Jack laughed, looking around the kitchen with interest then turning to Ianto "So… what's for tea?"

"Well, since Owen has got Andy and Rhys into a camping night with the kids… you and I have reservations at a restaurant Marion suggested" Ianto said calmly, "Clothes are laid out on the bed, so please shower and shave. I want to show you off, my lovely piece of fluff."

Jack lit up "Really? Oh, the Birdcage?"

"No. A new one."

"A new one?" Jack was wracking his brain trying to work out what place it could be. There was the pizzeria, the French place and the local pub. Was there a new one? This outer bubble was larger, had they not noticed one before?

He then saw the outfits, Ianto's sexy black Bastard Suit with a little pop of red. The tie was like red toffee on an apple.

"Ooooo, a new one?"

"I don't hear the fucking shower!"

Jack sniggered as he went to do as he was told, excited as he always was when Ianto took charge.

Then they were in the car and Jack was more excited, Marion driving them as his wife sat in the front passenger seat. Wherever they were going, it was to be a double date. Jack liked this. He would have liked Owen and Toshiko but knew she was so overly preggers that by the end of the week there would be a new family member. And he really liked Marion.

Then they neared the barriers and Jack realized what was happening, gasping as they drove out of the outer Bubble and down the country lane like it was no big deal that they had just left everything behind… again.

Ianto had taken him into the world.

Jack was so excited he might have squealed slightly, Ianto's hand squeezing his as he encouraged him to settle back in his seat. Tractors working the fields, cows… oh god.. they come on different colours? SHEEP. And there… there… awwwww… baby sheep?

Jack knew he was babbling, and Ianto was not scolding so he tried to be calm, even as he saw a bloody baby horse. A foal. Long legs and little head swinging as it ran along the fence line alongside the car.

"Look. Their little manes are short" he gushed.

"Like a baby with little fuzzy hair" Ianto agreed, also entranced.

Marion watched in the rearview mirror, like a proud father with children on an adventure.

And it was sort of like that.

These two so innocent.

And cute.

They were also a cute couple.

.

.

The place was packed with noise, colour and life. Jack didn't know where to look first, drinking in the atmosphere like a dying man staggered from the desert. When they were asked for their coats, Jack looked leary noting that Marion handed his own over while his wife slid off her faux fur shawl without a second thought.

Ianto was slightly more apprehensive, startled and … OK… scared… but for Jack, he sucked it up and settled in his chair only to startle when a man appeared with menus. Strangers, so many strangers out here.

Jack looked at his with surprise then read each thing with interest, while Ianto skimmed his for something he knew. Orders given with Jack wanting to sample things, while Ianto wanted something he knew he could pick at and hide his social ineptness with over-interest in the food.

All around them there was loud and obnoxious talking, laughter and general noise that Ianto was so uncomfortable with, not used to being somewhere others could see you eat. Jack knew and tried to keep up a good conversation with Marion as his wife watched Ianto and then leaned over to say softly "It's OK. Next time we can ask for a booth, it has high sides. I should have thought."

"No, no. It's OK. I have to get used to things like this if we are to be out in the world. How can I advocate this if I cannot be confident my own self?" Ianto replied with a soft smile. "I can take back what I know for those who will no doubt ask what I saw out here."

Then, someone at another table learned over "Excuse me. Are you one of those Bubble Poppers?"

The entire table froze as Ianto stared at the young man who seemed totally unaware of the shock that he had created in directly speaking to Ianto and he continued "You look just like the one in the papers. You know… the one who was the mastermind behind the escapes and things. They called you the Dragon, right?"

Ianto continued to stare at him silently.

"Oh my god it is… look… that's the cute husband. Where are your kids" someone else said with glee "Oh no… don't tell me they took them off you the fucking…"

"Connie, that's enough" another one said who was with her "Can't you see they just want a quiet meal?"

By now several tables had overheard and the buzzing was increasing throughout the restaurant, Ianto now moving in his chair to slide closer to Jack who was reaching out to hold him by his hips, both men not sure how to react to this unwanted fame.

Soon they were getting their meals to go and being ushered out the vehicle, Ianto starting to shake now as he saw how many vehicles were out there, how many people had just been in there, how many sets of eyes had looked at him.

There in the carpark of the restaurant….

Ianto Harkness Jones had his first panic attack.