3

Ianto had woken early, the bed still occupied by two wriggle worms and his shins were sick of the kicking, so he had slid out to leave them to it.

"Jack? Are you OK with the monster today? I have something I need to do, and he is not going to be helpful" Ianto purred into Jack's ear, the kiss to the shell of said ear making Jack grumble softly, then pout for another kiss, this time on the lips.

"Howlongyourgnnnnnnn?"

Ianto spoke Twat so he understood and answered "Sometime this afternoon I can relieve you of your post."

"hmmmm, K."

Oh yes.

It would be something… maybe not OK but… something.

Jack had to learn to pull his weight and Ianto was a great believer in the sink or swim method.

Deep water… coming up.

.

.

It was a lovely day really, peaceful as he walked along the riverbank. Blumanchu were in the water playing, their children squealing with glee as he calmly undressed and once in his boxers, he joined them.

A little one was curious of his pale skin and swam over to stroke the fuzzy chest with wonder, this something rare. So rare. The vivid scar going from one armpit across to the opposite hip was like a sash. I guess it was a sash, one worn with pride. He had killed the beast, slayed the dragon… won the day.

He let the little one explore his scars, those fingers like angel kisses. For this one was the offspring of those he had fought for, killed for and almost died for. The mother knew this, coming over to remove her child and place her hand over the heart of their saviour, looking him in the eye as the unspoken love washed over him, then she let her child go to swim back to the other children.

"Whea you Whitemanchu?"

"I left him with Jack for the day"

They all laughed, making fun of the idea of Jack being in control of the Beast. Ianto laughed along with them and then started to sing. A song of victory and of pride, an old Blumanchu song that everyone knew.

He enjoyed the mud in his toes, the sun on his hair and he just… breathed.

.

.

Jack was out of breath, on his knees as he loked under the bed in the boy's room. "Come on sweetie, we can get some snacks?"

Jack grimaced as he sat back and listened for a response. He was sure this would work, had even told Ianto to try this one as it was a good one for getting a response and he knew Ianto just didn't listen to his advice. Now was his chance to show that this was an effective tool. A Boeshanian method that would always bear fruit.

Silence.

Jack was shocked and wondered if their child had been checked for hearing loss. Maybe he was a bit deaf? So he shouted loudly "Num nums!"

Still silence.

The door slammed as Alice entered the house and looked at her father warily, the man in the middle of the room on his knese like he was about to beg forgiveness for something "Ah… hi Dad."

"Darling… can you call your brother?"

She considered then snorted as she opened the coat closet "If you've lost him, it's your problem. I came to grab a warmer jacket. Tad said I could have his black one I love so much as he got a new one… oh wow. Red. Pretty… ah… he is a stinker. This is my size. New coat for himself my arse. Lord, I see where Rhiannon gets her poker face from."

"Sweetie…"

"You are a grown arsed man. You survived battle… raising me, surely you can do this. After all… Boeshanian, right?" she sniffed sweeping out to leave him gasping at the closing door. Did his daughter just bloody drop his own line on him?

"Seriously?" he signed at the now closed door.

He considered. What would Ianto do. Oh god, don't tell anyone… ah… come on. Jack took a deep breath and let out a loud, theatrical sob. "Oh no… I'm alone. I'm all alone"

He waited.

Oh. Little fucker.

He rose and considered again… OK. Ianto is holding out on him? Hmmmm.

Jack fake tripped, made a squeal of pain and then lay still.

After a while he saw some little feet though his slitted eyelids. Ha. Little fucker. Wait… did Ianto shield? OK… project sorrow.

A little hand patted along his body, like he was trying to comfort him and then it happened. The slap hard and loud, the crack like a gunshot as his son slapped him fair across the face and shouted "GET UP!"

Jack felt his face, it was hot. This kid had an arm on him.

"Aw, that hurt!" he scolded.

The child rolled his eyes and wandered off, Jack now realizing that the child was naked. Oh no. Where were his clothes?

"Shit."

.

.

Ianto felt on top of the world humming as he walked along the street with the basket of goodies and as he entered the house he opened his mouth to call out only to freeze.

Gabriel was sitting in a chair with a face of doom.

Well… I say sitting. He was more like… strapped. He was tied to the chair with what looked like a par of braces and a belt… familiar braces that look a lot like the ones he had laid out that morning for Jack.

"Hello son" Ianori said calmly "Want a fresh Blumanchu bun?"

"Ta" a little hand reached out and accepted a Blumanchu bun, all cheesy and buttery.

"Hi hon" Jack said as he wandered past, completely naked.

Ianto blinked slowly. OK. This is new.

"Cariad? Whatcha doing?" Ianto followed that delectable arse into the bedroom where he discovered why he was naked.

The bathroom was awash.

"It' my fault, I had the bath running and was chasing him around the house and forgot." Jack grimaced "I was… well. A bit distracted."

"Well… it's not that bad. Go have a bun with our son and I will clean up. But… pants? What if one of the kids come in" Ianto kissed his cheek and pated his arse turning to watch him wander out of the bedroom and ponder the fact he was a little chunkier these days.

With this kid giving them the runaround you think it would be different but he as sort of benched with him too…. Not fair. But really… Jack had a lovely bum ya know. A little weight around the waist made him look so… er…hmmmm. Feminine. Ianto frowned.

"Jack" he walked into the living rom and stood watching the two loves of his life consume the buns "How about I take the beast for the rest of the week. You go sort that evac drill you wanted to do with the Judoon."

"Really?" Jack squeaked, the glee on the face worth it.

"Yeah, I got sorted what I have to and your drill is important. Besides, you look stunning when running the assault course and terrorizing the recruits." Ianto smiled.

"Thanks love" Jack was so excited, the loving thoughts washing over him as Ianto leaned over to kiss him, the taste of the kiss better than any bun. Ianto whispered close to his ear "And your arse in those combat pants… so fuckable."

But some cheese in one might be nice. "Tiger, we got cheese?"

"YES!" the boy crowed pointing at his father like he was a genius "CHEESE!"

And Jack forgave the little monster as Ianto shook his head. Seems like he did not even rate higher than food these days.