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"So, we scupper the big ones on this side here, so it is our barrier between us and the main land then the smaller ones later on as we have time and energy. Also, it means we can have larger gaps at the back as you pointed out, Uglies don't really drive boats so it will be boats drifting in. Netting and ropes… maybe even some of those ropes with buoys on them to create shark free areas would be good, then they wound catch then easily and we also have an easy escape route that was if we have to head out, we can quickly unhook one end." Owen rolled out the map he had drawn.

"You've thought about this" Ianto praised Owen, patting his shoulder like he had not just basically regurgitated their conversation the day before and Owen shone like a little boy getting an A+ on a test paper. The diagram was more accurate and even had pictures of the different boats available and where he wanted to sink them.

"Me and Owen checked out the marinas and what we want to play with, also some yachts there I wanna sink, those masts are a good hooking point for netting." Jack said around his food as he ate breakfast and Toshiko sat with Emma in her lap.

"So. What are you two gonna do all day while me and Jack do the men's work?" Owen asked and Ianto felt his face change before he could stop it, the glare one that had Jack choking in his food. Owen's brain caught up to his comment and he spluttered an apology as he tried to explain that he didn't mean it like that. Ianto had now folded his arms.

"So… us little women might get our nails done …. Or facials." Ianto's dry snark could have curdled milk as Toshiko started to giggle softly.

"I said sorry" Owen wailed as Jack shoved him out of the house with annoyance, not even getting a goodbye kiss as Ianto had stormed from the room.

Toshiko found him in the nursery folding clothes into a drawer and Emma wriggled from her grasp to rush to her toy box and start pulling toys out with glee. Apparently Ianto putting everything away then her destroying it all again was some sort of game as he did not seem to even mind her creating mess again. She watched him work and then said softly "He really didn't think."

"It's OK. I know. It's just… Jack wants me as one of the team, then he wants me as the butler, then he wants me to save the world, then he wants me to stay back in case I get hurt, then he wants me to run into the burning building… it all gets tiring ya know? He sees himself coddling me and over compensates. Now Owen had said that, he will want me to do one of the boats to prove I can." Ianto sighed "Jack was never born to be a leader. He never wanted to be one, this is something he reluctantly learned over a long, long time. He can't help it but pulling rank is sometimes all he can do because he can't answer an argument in order to win it." Ianto sat on the bed "Once upon a time there would be no discussion, I would be next to him setting charges to sink those boats and I don't even get an invitation here."

"Because of Emma?"

"Maybe. Maybe he will settle once he gets used to the fact that I am not dead. The coddling is just not over yet as he reassures himself that I am really alive. Weird isn't it? It takes him thinking I am dead to finally admit how he feels" Ianto then snorted softly, "but what am I saying. You have the same breed of idiot."

"Yeah. I really thought me and Owen would die in a blaze of glory somewhere without ever telling each other one how we feel. I guess the end of the world really does change perspectives" she laughed "He asked me if I was coming this morning. There's the difference. It doesn't occur to him that I might be in danger where as Jack is desperate to protect you."

"I know he loves me. He had lost so many lovers over the long life he has lived and I know he watches me sometimes with this look of pure… sorrow … like he's already lost me. I wish he wouldn't" Ianto then rose "No, Owen cut close to the bone because I am feeling a bit… useless."

"Why?"

"Emma prefers to spend her days with Alice and the others. I am boring. I am left wandering this place rearranging the furniture. I feel surplus. Not even an archive to keep e busy" Ianto pouted, "I miss being so buy that I don't have it to get it all done. This is so… erghhhh. Like an old retired person wondering what the pudding is tonight. My highlight of the day is tapioca"

Toshiko laughed as she shoved at him "well you can help me figure out how to tell Owen he's going to be a daddy. I tried about three times and he is so excited about blowing up boats he didn't even register my attempts to talk to him."

"Maybe you need to spray paint it on the sail of a sailing boat he's blowing up then?"

She laughed as she shoved him again and soon they were spit-balling ideas to get the idiot's brain in the right gear.

Ianto knew he had to lighten up and stop being morose. Stop with the self-hate. He was bored and was starting to take it out on others. That's not fair.

Ianto needed a hobby.