27

Ianto was happy, genuinely so. He had a safe space for Emma, a safe space for himself and Jack was part of it. He knew he was lucky, so fucking lucky a she withdrew from the preparations everyone else was undergoing in their own movements to settle into wherever they wanted to be.

Three islands had been chosen and cleared, the two cruisers with a third being quietly hunted down by Toshiko and her clever mind. They had found a family on the other island who had no idea shit had gone down, their holiday cut horribly short. He felt sorry for them, but there ya go.

So all together there were about fifty people or so. Ianto felt some fears here, so many souls, so much easier to lose one or two somehow. He decided this was not his circus, not his monkeys. He would focus on his own little world here on this island they had dubbed 'Oprahville.'

He had started by removing anything that was too… well… Oprah. He wanted to make this their home and he didn't want to be reminded of a world long gone so several skylines of famous cities also left the house, the walls bare but at least more comforting to him now. He set up baby gates he had taken from the boat to ensure Emma was contained within the house before he stated to paint those bare walls in bold colours.

Owen and Toshiko took the guest house.

Rhys wanted to be with them on this island too, which was sweet and Ianto was glad to agree to that, letting go of the staff quarters to some of the 'singles' so they might have their own spaces in the way of staff rooms. Andy also wanted to go there, as did Stephanie and her father. They got a room next to one another and then Ianto suggested they take a room out from one another so the middle on can have doors put in either side to be a room they can share between them like their own lounge room. This was something Andy and Rhys immediately wanted das well, surprising Jack even as Ianto liked between the two men with interest, then said softly "Well, the head of security had a room with an adjoining room for meetings and such. If the two of you take that you will also get the private bathroom attached."

"Ooooo" they rushed off to see and Jack frowned. Ianto rolled his eyes as he leaned in "Like we might have done at first?"

"Oh?" Jack frowned deeper, then got it "OOOOOO. Really? I would not have picked… of course. Right. Huh. They are just good mates for now but… might become more. Right. Things between him and Gwen were on tenterhooks for a few months, looks like it was worse than I thought. He's over her already."

"God, imagine if Gwen were still around. She would want this man house, kick us to the other one because we are 'just two single men' and become queen of all she surveys."

"I wonder sometimes, if you enjoyed putting her down" Jack said softly as he watched Ianto stalk about their new house with its decadent furniture and amazing pool area. The BBQ and grill would be amazing in the summer, Owen already eyeballing it.

Ianto did not answer him, knowing he might betray his true thoughts on the matter. As much as he did love her in a way, he also resented the fact she made it all look so easy. Swanking about with Jack thinking she's the best thing since sliced bread and all that. Yeah. He had been jealous of her ability to hold his gaze like that.

He was.

Ianto stopped walking to stare at the wall he had painted a bold purple, his mind asking softly if he had really given her a chance. He snorted to himself. Of course he had. Even if he enjoyed the silence, he didn't like Jack's pain. Rhys's pain was still there and it is never fun killing someone. Even if he has killed so many.

Ianto resumed pacing about, looking for ways to personalize the house more.

Jack left him to it, lost in his own thought on the matter.

Also a little guilty that he found Ianto's more confident and relaxed nature these days more accommodating and knew it was because Gwen was not constantly stepping into frame during a tender moment.

"Emma might like this room" Ianto called out, breaking into Jack's thoughts and he rushed to find a guest room with a large bed, airy feeling and soft white furnishings.

"With those fingers?"

"Well, I will swap out the white duvet for something more… kid friendly but yeah. She likes light." Ianto shrugged.

"The gardens are nice, exotic plants and such. Nothing genetically altered in sight" Jack said as he opened the sliding doors to open the room to the little garden outside.

"And it's fully fenced. Supposedly for her dogs?" Ianto agreed "Will work for toddlers too."

"I like it. But our room is the best one" Jack smiled a she pulled Ianto close and kissed him "an plenty of room for more… beasts."

"Oh?" Ianto asked with amusement as he saw Jack's twinkling jest in his eyes.

Another one might be nice, once she is larger and can share.

Yeah.

Ianto could do another one.

"Let's move in, get off that boat" Ianto finally said and Jack lit up, racing off like it was right now they were doing it.

After a beat Ianto followed him.

Right.

Why not?

Let the new life begin.