17
It was a nice day, the kids loving the idea of going somewhere and they set off early, the Blumanchu who were also up early to prepare for the wedding waving to them and Ianto got the feeling they wanted to talk to him, but he was not interested. He had his little life here and it was a good one. He had done his part … had got her to where she wanted to be and clearly she did not need him anymore.
Right?
Ianto watched his children playing, the pregnant man who made his life so full and came to the conclusion that he could let her go. He could easily let her go. Afte all, he had been preparing to burry her not so long ago and the fact she had fought and beaten the cancer, the fact she was carving out a new life for herself was not that much different from the fact he was too.
Maybe she is right.
Time to rip off the Band-Aid.
They headed home after their picnic lunch and as Jack and the kids took a snooze in the big bed, Ianto headed off to make some changes.
.
.
"Sorry… what does that mean?"
"It means I am retiring" Ianto calmly replied, smiling at Warren as the man sat behind the desk with a look of total shock.
"But…. But… you do such an amazing job and… ah…"
"Warren love, it' time I focused on my family. I gave Rhiannon my full attention and I think Grabriel and Star deserve mine now. And a third one on the way… my life is going to be full, and I only work for something to do. I can do what please me the most, loving those who love me back." Ianto smiled.
"So… who will take your position" Warren sighed.
"Well, Rhiannon is pregnant and has said on more than one occasion she wants to go parttime once off maternity leave so… I think Alice is the one best suited as she knows the paperwork." Ianto said, enjoying the little annoyance that would cause.
Be if she wanted to be a bitch, she would learn that he can be one too.
Right?
He wrote the book on passive aggressiveness.
.
.
Ianto could hear the wedding still underway next-door, and he hid his annoyance as he walked past, one of the elders calling out to him and hurrying over with a look of concern "Boss, we tried to find you."
"well, good for you, you have" he replied with a soft smile.
"Boss… we are all confused why you are not over there at the party, why did the Arch Man walk her instead?"
"She chose it that way and it as her right. She did not want me and my family there as we shame her with our…. Diversity… so she is choosing a new life without us" Ianto replied with a calm he had not felt since being on a battlefield "Rhiannon is embarrassed by my family, does not want a Judoon sibling or a pregnant male dam in the photos I guess. Never mind, I wish her the best with her life. She has decided I am not needed as a part of it. I shall respect that and cease to be her father."
"But… you're the Boss Man …" the old man's confusion was quite sweet and Ianto reached out to pull him into a gentle hug.
"It's OK Desjit. I was hurt when she decided not to invite me, but I got over it. She has a right to her life, and me to mine. Go on, go back to the party. I am going to my family who do want me in their life and I will learn to live with my daughter not in my world but she will always be in my heart."
Ianto headed inside and found them still asleep, the little arm lazily thrown over the now clearly visible bump was cute.
Ianto slid off his boots and jacket then slid onto the bed to snuggle into his son's back, his hand moving over the little one on the bump as on the other side of the bump a little stinker snuffled in her sleep.
Yeah.
It was OK.
Ianto could do this, and he knew it was time to let go of things not needed and focus on what was needed of him here.
Right?
.
.
"You what?"
"I quit. I mean… one of the reasons I took that job was to ensure Rhiannon had one with benefits. I don't need to work, the money we have including benefits coming in are more than enough. And I know you want to keep working so… I will be a stay-at-home Tad. Gabriel and Star can spend les tie in daycare, the newling when here will have more one-on-one time and when you are not working, we can spend time together." Ianto explained.
"Oh Ianto… just when I think you cannot be more sexy. You will stay at home and mind the kids? I can go back to work?" Jack lit up, "You know I love my job."
"Exactly. I love pottering about and sometimes get prissy that I didn't get the gardens done, or the things done here I want to… and with the three kids my life will be full enough without meetings and appointments to keep." Ianto smiled "and Alcie can step up into the role she is clearly ready for."
"Alice" Jack paused, "And Rhia?"
"Well, she has already applied for time off apparently, for when the newling comes. She wants at least a year off so… Alice is a shoe in."
"Well, I think it is a great idea" Jack said with glee.
Ianto thought so too.
