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"But another one?" Ianto had sighed "And the kids will have their second birthday without you here?"

"Ianto, love… it's only for six months, I will be back just a week or so later and they are so little, they will not know the difference!" Jack argued as he pushed things into the backpack.

"But I will" Ianto huffed.

.

.

Ianto saw Jack off at the airport, the sleek black private plane waiting on the tarmac one of many Harkness Empire planes and he was again reminded of the wealth and power this family wielded like a shield of entitlement. Jack was piloting, of course.

Their kiss goodbye tinged with both love and sorrow. Ianto stepped back to watch Jack board the plane and pondered his next steps now he was alone. The kids were at home waiting for him but he slowly headed back with a heavy heart and impending feeling of doom.

He knew the kids were waiting for him at home but he couldn't face them, or the old cow that would still be waiting there despite Jack telling her to go home to her own place.

Instead, Ianto found himself at a little café where he settled with a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate cake, watching the world go by a his own seemed to stall out.

How would he survive.

His mind went back to the first time they met, that moment of pure lightning when their eyes met and they had both known in that instant that they had found the one.

Only, Ianto's One seemed to be a bit feckless at times.

Ianto smiled to himself as he settled back in the chair and decided to call Toshiko and Owen for a little date night with the kids, maybe if he surrounded himself with friends it would feel more like family, his own so far away in Wales where hi sister and her children were only available via video link.

Ianto loved David and Mica and was a fun Uncle; life had changed so much since the wedding and the kids came into their lives. He felt the pangs of homesickness and decided that when Jack returned, they would take a trip to Wales, so his sons might know the feeling of the place. The rolling hills, the old stone buildings, the history steeped in every corner of Cardiff—he wanted them to feel that connection to their roots.

For now, though, he had to focus on the present, and his coffee had grown cold. He dialled Toshiko's number, hoping she and Owen would be free. He needed the comfort of their company, a reminder that even here, far from Wales, he had a family. The thought brought a small, hopeful smile to his lips as he left the café, stepping back into the fast-moving world with a bit more resolve.

He would endure, for the sake of his loved ones, and find joy in the small moments until Jack's return promised a reunion with his beloved homeland.

.

.

The plane crash was in all the papers and on the TV as Ianto tried to shield the boys from it all, his own grief pushed to one side as he tried to comfort the boys.

Jackson and Ifan clung to him, their eyes wide with confusion and terror. Ianto took a deep breath, pulling them close, whispering reassurances he desperately hoped were true. The weight of his own sorrow pressed down on him, but he remained strong, a pillar for his children in this moment of uncertainty.

"Everything will be alright," he murmured, kissing the tops of their heads. "We'll get through this together."

The boys nodded, trusting in his words, still too little to understand the impact of this as to them Daddy was just away working and Ianto prayed that he could keep that promise. Each day, he balanced his own despair with the need to protect them, finding solace in their innocence and love. The calls from friends and family were a lifeline, each voice offering support and strength.

Toshiko and Owen were constants, their presence a reminder that he was not alone in his grief. They visited often, bringing laughter and warmth into the house, helping to dispel the shadows that lingered. Ianto leaned on them more than he ever thought he would, their friendship a beacon in the darkness.

As days turned into weeks, the initial shock began to fade, replaced by a steadfast determination. Ianto knew they had to move forward, to find a way to live with the loss. He started planning their trip to Wales in earnest, believing that reconnecting with their roots would help heal their wounds. The boys needed to see where they came from, to understand the legacy of strength and resilience that flowed through their veins.

Until then, he focused on the daily routines, finding comfort in the small tasks that filled their days. Morning breakfasts, school runs, bedtime stories—each moment a thread that wove their lives together, creating a tapestry of love and support.

And as he tucked the boys into bed each night, whispering goodnight wishes and promises of a brighter tomorrow, Ianto allowed himself a moment to grieve. Alone in the silence, he let the tears fall, a release for the pain he kept hidden. Then, with a deep breath, he would steel himself for another day, determined to honour Jack's memory by living fully, embracing the hope that still glimmered in their future.

Life was irrevocably changed, but Ianto knew they would find a way to endure. For Jack, for the boys, for the family they had built together. And one day, he believed, they would look back on this time not just with sorrow, but with pride for how they had persevered.