Fic: A Nostalgic Yearning 4/16
TITLE: A Nostalgic Yearning 4/16
AUTHOR: Erin Giles
DISCLAIMER: Torchwood and it’s characters are property of the BBC. Finn, Rhiannon, Chris and all other characters are property of me. Although why you’d want them is beyond me.
RATING: PG-13
PAIRINGS/CHARACTERS: Jack/Ianto, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, OC’s
SUMMARY: Take two men, a small child, a seaside town, throw in a few locals, some Welsh rain and you’ve got a perfect holiday. Don’t you?
AUTHOR NOTES: Second in the 'Footprints In The Sand' Series.
This chapter kind of run away with me and as a result is a bit longer. Also warnings for MAJOR fluff followed immediately by angst! (because my brain can't stay away from the angst for long)
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
“Jack you’re heading up towards the University again.” Ianto frowned looking back down at the map. “You should have gone left back there.”
“You never said anything about turning left,” Jack replied as he swerved into a cul-de-sac to do a U-turn half way up the hill to the University.
“Yes I did. I said you needed to be in the inside lane so you could go left.”
“I don’t know what an inside lane is.” Jack shrugged. “Am I going right here then?” Jack flicked on the indicator and made the turn before Ianto even had a chance to reply.
“I don’t know why you don’t have sat nav in your car Ianto. It would make things so much simpler,” Jack complained as he revved the engine up the hill, narrowly avoiding a Clio full of students.
“I don’t see how, you never listen to the sat nav in the SUV anyway,” Ianto grouched, glancing between the map and the road in front. “Just follow the road round until you get to the sea front and then take a left.”
“Where now?” Jack asked as he sped down the sea front road, almost running over a couple of pedestrians that stepped out onto the zebra crossing.
“It’s up here on the left somewhere, number 13. Mrs. Evans said to just park on the sea front somewhere,” Ianto said, trying to look out for a parking spot while simultaneously looking for the bed and breakfast. Jack spotted the place before Ianto did.
“There we go,” Jack said, pulling into a parking space on the other side of the road. “Right outside the door, couldn’t ask for somewhere better.”
Ianto looked across the road at the yellow building. There was a plaque next to the front door that red ‘Gwyn Hafan, luxury seafront serviced apartments’. It wasn’t exactly the bed and breakfast Ianto had envisioned. He had been too distracted though when he called up yesterday; Ria had been on the phone in the other room to Chris yelling and crying at appropriate intervals.
Jack was getting out the car, stretching and gazing out into the bay that Ianto had yet really to take any notice of. He undid his seatbelt and got out the car as well, glancing in the back to notice that Finn was still dead to the world. He blinked dazedly in the sunshine reflecting off the water as he peered over the top of the car, watching Jack as he breathed in great lung-full’s of air.
“I may change my mind about going for a swim,” Jack said as he stepped up onto the curb so he could see further out to sea. Ianto closed his eyes for a moment, basking in the warm glow of the sun as he listened to the seagulls squawking overhead, transporting him back to childhood summers spent in Tenby. He could hear children laughing, the smell of sea air and his mother calling his name as he ran up and down the beach, his sister’s chasing him.
“Ianto?” Jack was stood by him now, a hand on his shoulder, a questioning look on his face.
“I’ll just call Mrs. Evans, let her know we’re here.” Ianto smiled before fishing his phone out his pocket. “Why don’t you wake Mr. Grumpy?” Ianto suggested, motioning towards the back of the car.
“I already woke him up.” Jack smiled cheekily as Ianto glared back in return.
**
“Mrs. Evans told me what Gwyn Hafan means,” Jack said conversationally as he hefted the last of the bags in the front door, letting it bang shut behind him as Finn raced by again, exploring every room at least twice.
“Finn, don’t run in the apartment please,” Ianto called before turning back to Jack, “She did?” Ianto waited expectantly, he knew this was Jack trying to test him, still convinced that he knew Welsh and was just refusing to teach Jack any.
“She told me it means blessed haven,” Jack replied after a long moment, looking for any tell tale sign that Ianto already knew this nugget of information. Ianto was too busy watching Finlay race back down the hall between bedrooms to notice.
“With this one I doubt it’ll be anything near a haven.” Ianto smiled as he moved round the kitchen counter. “Finlay will you stop running in the apartment otherwise-” Ianto was cut off by the sound of a loud thump followed by the wails of an injured child.
“What did I tell you!” Ianto reprimanded as he moved out into the hall to find his nephew lying on the floor holding the left side of his head as he bawled his eyes out.
“Come here,” Ianto said softly as he lifted his nephew into his arms, trying to pry the small boys fingers away from his head. “Did you run into the door?”
Ianto watched as Finn nodded guiltily, rubbing at his eyes as he sniffed pathetically.
“Did you get a bump on the head like Uncle Ianto?” Jack asked from down the hall.
Finn nodded again, pouting slightly, “Want Mummy to kiss it better.”
“Mummy’s not here, but I could kiss it better,” Ianto tried to persuade as he carried Finn back into the living room and sat down with him in one of the armchairs. Finn shook his head but continued to cling onto Ianto’s t-shirt while sat in his lap.
“What about if Jack kisses it better?” Ianto asked looking up at Jack who was busy rummaging in Ianto’s bag for the first aid kit Jack knew he would have packed. Finn seemed to consider this for a long moment before he was nodding slowly. Ianto smiled as he pulled himself back to his feet and passed Finn onto Jack.
“The masses have spoken,” Ianto said wryly as he watched Jack place Finn on the kitchen counter and put a brightly coloured plaster over the forming bump on Finn’s head.
“I’m surprised we’ve still got plaster’s left after you doing your rounds yesterday,” Jack said to Finn while Ianto watched on fondly as Jack kissed Finlay on the forehead before picking the boy up again.
“Better?” Jack asked as Finn nodded slowly in return, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Did you kiss Uncy Yan’s better?” Finn asked as he threw his arms affectionately round Jack’s neck. Jack gasped over dramatically, putting his free hand to his mouth.
“I forgot.” He looked apologetically over at Ianto who was putting the first aid kit back together. “Do you think it’s too late now?” Jack asked turning back to Finn.
Finn shook his head enthusiastically, smiling now, all trace of guilt and hurt at running into the door gone.
“Shall we both kiss it better just to make sure?” Jack asked the four year old, watching Ianto who was trying not to smile while surreptitiously trying to move further away from the two. Finn nodded again and Jack reached out his free hand for Ianto.
“Come here Uncle Ianto. Doctor Finn and Nurse Jack need to minister to you,” Jack said with a mischievous smile as he grasped Ianto’s wrist before he could disappear out the door again. Jack lifted up Finn so he could kiss Ianto on the forehead. It was a slobbery four year old kiss that Ianto wasn’t sure he appreciated wholeheartedly.
“Better?” Jack asked as Ianto looked down into Finn’s hopeful face.
Ianto nodded slightly before looking up at Jack, “A little.”
“You try, Jack,” Finn said, prodding Jack in the side.
Jack put a hand on Ianto’s shoulder reaching up to plant a gentle kiss on the gauze on Ianto’s forehead, pressing a second kiss to the tender skin just below the gauze. Jack pulled back resisting the urge to press another kiss to Ianto’s lips. His gaze settled on Ianto’s instead, a look in Ianto’s eyes that Jack couldn’t decipher.
“Did Jack make it better?” Finn prompted, reaching out a hand to tug on Ianto’s jacket sleeve when no reply came.
“Much better,” Ianto replied a little breathlessly as he tore his gaze away from Jack’s to look at his nephew who was now trying to wriggle out of Jack’s grasp. Jack noticed and put Finn down on the floor.
“Why don’t you go and unpack your toys,” Ianto prompted, passing Finn his Thomas the Tank Engine backpack from the chair before he toddled out of the room.
“And no running again!” Ianto called after him.
Ianto turned his attention back to Jack to find him still gazing intently in his direction.
“Uh, why don’t I unpack the food and you can take our bags through to the room,” Ianto said as he sidestepped Jack into the kitchen, ignoring the piercing gaze Jack was giving him.
He only turned round when he heard the heavy tread of Jack’s boots disappearing down the corridor, the room suddenly seeming far too big without Jack in it. Ianto took off his coat, hanging it on the back of the door next to Jack’s, his fingers running down the length of the RAF jacket as he sighed.
**
They couldn’t contain Finn for long, he was champing at the bit to cross the road and play on the beach even if it was already late afternoon. Ianto had said he would stay behind to make dinner but Jack had argued that he was on holiday and therefore not doing any of the cooking all week before pushing him out the front door.
Jack now watched from further up the beach, trying to shift some of the stones so he could get comfy. Ianto had his jeans rolled up to his knees and was gingerly walking down the beach to the edge of the water, one arm out in front of him, being tugged along by Finn who was screaming with excitement. Jack laughed as Ianto put one foot in the water before high tailing it back out again. Finn didn’t seem to care; he was running in and out, screaming with glee as he tried to avoid the waves.
Jack watched Ianto just stood there, observing Finn like he was unsure what to do. It surprised Jack that someone so young had forgotten how to be a kid so quickly. He wanted to go down and join them, run in and out of the waves with Ianto and Finn giggling like he was five years old again. He didn’t though; he waited and he watched as Finn encouraged Ianto by running round him and tugging on his clothes, willing his Uncle to join in.
Ianto finally got the hint, running towards the waves as they went back out to sea and running back up the beach again when they came back in. He seemed self conscious about it at first, but even at this distance Jack could see the start of a tentative smile on Ianto’s face.
As Jack watched Ianto seemed to grow in confidence, chasing Finn up and down the beach as well as chasing the waves. They seemed to be daring each other to stay in the water longer than the other one, shrieks of laughter drifting up the beach to Jack making him smile in return.
His gaze drifted further along the beach to parents with their children, making sandcastles and playing football. There were students as well pretending to revise but more interested in watching the dolphins bobbing about in the bay or distracting each other with dirty jokes. He watched an elderly couple sitting down on a bench back up the promenade with their ice-creams, not saying anything, just sitting in companionable silence.
As his attention wandered back to Finn and Ianto now splashing each other he had a brief glimpse of life outside Torchwood, of a world where life’s biggest problem was getting grass stains out of little boys clothes and arguing in the car about getting lost. And for one selfish moment Jack wanted to say ‘screw the world’. He wanted to be lying in bed hung-over on a Sunday. He wanted children throwing temper tantrums in the vegetable aisle at the supermarket. He wanted weekend runs to the country and family days out.
He watched Ianto swing Finn up over his shoulder before carrying him back up the beach towards Jack, the smile on his face crinkling the gauze on his forehead, bringing Jack back to reality with a jolt. He could never have those things; and Ianto never would have.
“I thought we could cook this fish I caught for dinner, Captain,” Ianto said when he was close enough, giving a mock salute which caused Finn to shriek in protest and Jack to chuckle.
**
Ianto watched the tide coming in as he listened to the phone ringing on the other end of the line. He was worried that if he moved too far away from the window he would lose reception, but he was also engrossed by the white horses lashing onto the beach three stories below him.
“Hello?” Ria eventually picked up just before the answering machine kicked in. She sounded tired and fed up and Ianto wished he could reach down the phone and hug her.
“Hey Ria, it’s me. Just letting you know that’s us here.”
A sigh of relief greeted him on the other end of the phone.
“Journey ok?”
“Apart from Jack almost crashing the car.” Ianto smiled to himself as he watched a small child chasing the far too large seagulls. No doubt Finn would be doing the same tomorrow. “Also Jack saw fit to make up several more verses to wheels on the bus, so you’ll be getting bombarded with them when we get home.”
“Finn ok in the car?” Ria questioned as Ianto heard the clinking of a glass down the other end of the line.
“Apart from ‘are we nearly there yet?’ every two minutes.” Ianto heard Ria laugh softly. “Do you want to speak to him? Jack’s just reading him a bedtime story.”
“Please.”
Ianto reluctantly moved away from the window towards the other room. “Did you speak to Chris today?”
“Shouted more than spoke really. Maybe not my best approach but I’m still angry with him.”
“Understandable I think Ria,” Ianto replied, pausing outside Finn’s room where he could hear Jack’s dulcet tones drifting through the door.
“I think it was more the fact that he’s decided he wants full custody of Finn.”
“What?!” Ianto all but yelled down the phone. “He can’t do that!”
“He’ll certainly try.” Ria sighed again. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore tonight Ianto. Is Finlay there?”
“Yeah.” Ianto pushed the door to the bedroom open and found both sets of eyes already looking his way, obviously heard his earlier exclamation. “We’ll call you again tomorrow Ria,” Ianto said into the phone before pulling it away from his ear and stepping into the room.
“Mummy wants to say goodnight,” Ianto said, handing his phone to his nephew before moving back out the room.
He went back to the window in the living area overlooking the promenade and the sea. He’d always loved the sea, being able to see absolutely nothing for miles; just endless waves of untouched nature. He could see cormorants perched on the rocks further round the bay. There was a group of students gathering at the other end of the beach on the pebbles with several disposable barbeques bought from Morrisons, alcohol cunningly disguised in Hessian ‘save the planet’ bags. He didn’t know how long he stood watching the tide swallowing the last remnants of sand on the beach before he felt Jack’s hand on the small of his back, making him start slightly.
“Everything alright?” Jack questioned, not looking at Ianto but choosing to stare out to the horizon with him.
“If alright meant that my sister’s marriage has fallen apart and Finn’s usually absent father wants him permanently, added to the fact it feels like my head is going to explode any minute then yeah Jack, everything is alright,” Ianto replied, tone harsh and condescending. He didn’t mean to take it out on Jack not when he seemed to be nothing but supportive these days but Ianto was tired and fed up of bearing the world on his already aching shoulders. He didn’t know how Jack managed it year after year without someone to share the burden.
Ianto sighed, trying to relieve some of the building tension, turning to face Jack. “I’m sorry, I’m just-”
“It’s fine,” Jack said shaking his head slightly before leaning in to capture Ianto’s lips in a tender and comforting kiss. Jack’s hand drifted up to massage the back of Ianto’s neck, Ianto letting out a soft moan in response, his head dropping gently onto Jack’s shoulder.
“I don’t deserve you,” Ianto whispered softly into the cotton of Jack’s shirt as Jack’s fingers continued to work their magic.
Jack’s features twisted into a slight frown. No, he thought, you deserve so much more.
On to Part 5
AUTHOR: Erin Giles
DISCLAIMER: Torchwood and it’s characters are property of the BBC. Finn, Rhiannon, Chris and all other characters are property of me. Although why you’d want them is beyond me.
RATING: PG-13
PAIRINGS/CHARACTERS: Jack/Ianto, Gwen, Owen, Tosh, OC’s
SUMMARY: Take two men, a small child, a seaside town, throw in a few locals, some Welsh rain and you’ve got a perfect holiday. Don’t you?
AUTHOR NOTES: Second in the 'Footprints In The Sand' Series.
This chapter kind of run away with me and as a result is a bit longer. Also warnings for MAJOR fluff followed immediately by angst! (because my brain can't stay away from the angst for long)
| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |
“Jack you’re heading up towards the University again.” Ianto frowned looking back down at the map. “You should have gone left back there.”
“You never said anything about turning left,” Jack replied as he swerved into a cul-de-sac to do a U-turn half way up the hill to the University.
“Yes I did. I said you needed to be in the inside lane so you could go left.”
“I don’t know what an inside lane is.” Jack shrugged. “Am I going right here then?” Jack flicked on the indicator and made the turn before Ianto even had a chance to reply.
“I don’t know why you don’t have sat nav in your car Ianto. It would make things so much simpler,” Jack complained as he revved the engine up the hill, narrowly avoiding a Clio full of students.
“I don’t see how, you never listen to the sat nav in the SUV anyway,” Ianto grouched, glancing between the map and the road in front. “Just follow the road round until you get to the sea front and then take a left.”
“Where now?” Jack asked as he sped down the sea front road, almost running over a couple of pedestrians that stepped out onto the zebra crossing.
“It’s up here on the left somewhere, number 13. Mrs. Evans said to just park on the sea front somewhere,” Ianto said, trying to look out for a parking spot while simultaneously looking for the bed and breakfast. Jack spotted the place before Ianto did.
“There we go,” Jack said, pulling into a parking space on the other side of the road. “Right outside the door, couldn’t ask for somewhere better.”
Ianto looked across the road at the yellow building. There was a plaque next to the front door that red ‘Gwyn Hafan, luxury seafront serviced apartments’. It wasn’t exactly the bed and breakfast Ianto had envisioned. He had been too distracted though when he called up yesterday; Ria had been on the phone in the other room to Chris yelling and crying at appropriate intervals.
Jack was getting out the car, stretching and gazing out into the bay that Ianto had yet really to take any notice of. He undid his seatbelt and got out the car as well, glancing in the back to notice that Finn was still dead to the world. He blinked dazedly in the sunshine reflecting off the water as he peered over the top of the car, watching Jack as he breathed in great lung-full’s of air.
“I may change my mind about going for a swim,” Jack said as he stepped up onto the curb so he could see further out to sea. Ianto closed his eyes for a moment, basking in the warm glow of the sun as he listened to the seagulls squawking overhead, transporting him back to childhood summers spent in Tenby. He could hear children laughing, the smell of sea air and his mother calling his name as he ran up and down the beach, his sister’s chasing him.
“Ianto?” Jack was stood by him now, a hand on his shoulder, a questioning look on his face.
“I’ll just call Mrs. Evans, let her know we’re here.” Ianto smiled before fishing his phone out his pocket. “Why don’t you wake Mr. Grumpy?” Ianto suggested, motioning towards the back of the car.
“I already woke him up.” Jack smiled cheekily as Ianto glared back in return.
**
“Mrs. Evans told me what Gwyn Hafan means,” Jack said conversationally as he hefted the last of the bags in the front door, letting it bang shut behind him as Finn raced by again, exploring every room at least twice.
“Finn, don’t run in the apartment please,” Ianto called before turning back to Jack, “She did?” Ianto waited expectantly, he knew this was Jack trying to test him, still convinced that he knew Welsh and was just refusing to teach Jack any.
“She told me it means blessed haven,” Jack replied after a long moment, looking for any tell tale sign that Ianto already knew this nugget of information. Ianto was too busy watching Finlay race back down the hall between bedrooms to notice.
“With this one I doubt it’ll be anything near a haven.” Ianto smiled as he moved round the kitchen counter. “Finlay will you stop running in the apartment otherwise-” Ianto was cut off by the sound of a loud thump followed by the wails of an injured child.
“What did I tell you!” Ianto reprimanded as he moved out into the hall to find his nephew lying on the floor holding the left side of his head as he bawled his eyes out.
“Come here,” Ianto said softly as he lifted his nephew into his arms, trying to pry the small boys fingers away from his head. “Did you run into the door?”
Ianto watched as Finn nodded guiltily, rubbing at his eyes as he sniffed pathetically.
“Did you get a bump on the head like Uncle Ianto?” Jack asked from down the hall.
Finn nodded again, pouting slightly, “Want Mummy to kiss it better.”
“Mummy’s not here, but I could kiss it better,” Ianto tried to persuade as he carried Finn back into the living room and sat down with him in one of the armchairs. Finn shook his head but continued to cling onto Ianto’s t-shirt while sat in his lap.
“What about if Jack kisses it better?” Ianto asked looking up at Jack who was busy rummaging in Ianto’s bag for the first aid kit Jack knew he would have packed. Finn seemed to consider this for a long moment before he was nodding slowly. Ianto smiled as he pulled himself back to his feet and passed Finn onto Jack.
“The masses have spoken,” Ianto said wryly as he watched Jack place Finn on the kitchen counter and put a brightly coloured plaster over the forming bump on Finn’s head.
“I’m surprised we’ve still got plaster’s left after you doing your rounds yesterday,” Jack said to Finn while Ianto watched on fondly as Jack kissed Finlay on the forehead before picking the boy up again.
“Better?” Jack asked as Finn nodded slowly in return, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Did you kiss Uncy Yan’s better?” Finn asked as he threw his arms affectionately round Jack’s neck. Jack gasped over dramatically, putting his free hand to his mouth.
“I forgot.” He looked apologetically over at Ianto who was putting the first aid kit back together. “Do you think it’s too late now?” Jack asked turning back to Finn.
Finn shook his head enthusiastically, smiling now, all trace of guilt and hurt at running into the door gone.
“Shall we both kiss it better just to make sure?” Jack asked the four year old, watching Ianto who was trying not to smile while surreptitiously trying to move further away from the two. Finn nodded again and Jack reached out his free hand for Ianto.
“Come here Uncle Ianto. Doctor Finn and Nurse Jack need to minister to you,” Jack said with a mischievous smile as he grasped Ianto’s wrist before he could disappear out the door again. Jack lifted up Finn so he could kiss Ianto on the forehead. It was a slobbery four year old kiss that Ianto wasn’t sure he appreciated wholeheartedly.
“Better?” Jack asked as Ianto looked down into Finn’s hopeful face.
Ianto nodded slightly before looking up at Jack, “A little.”
“You try, Jack,” Finn said, prodding Jack in the side.
Jack put a hand on Ianto’s shoulder reaching up to plant a gentle kiss on the gauze on Ianto’s forehead, pressing a second kiss to the tender skin just below the gauze. Jack pulled back resisting the urge to press another kiss to Ianto’s lips. His gaze settled on Ianto’s instead, a look in Ianto’s eyes that Jack couldn’t decipher.
“Did Jack make it better?” Finn prompted, reaching out a hand to tug on Ianto’s jacket sleeve when no reply came.
“Much better,” Ianto replied a little breathlessly as he tore his gaze away from Jack’s to look at his nephew who was now trying to wriggle out of Jack’s grasp. Jack noticed and put Finn down on the floor.
“Why don’t you go and unpack your toys,” Ianto prompted, passing Finn his Thomas the Tank Engine backpack from the chair before he toddled out of the room.
“And no running again!” Ianto called after him.
Ianto turned his attention back to Jack to find him still gazing intently in his direction.
“Uh, why don’t I unpack the food and you can take our bags through to the room,” Ianto said as he sidestepped Jack into the kitchen, ignoring the piercing gaze Jack was giving him.
He only turned round when he heard the heavy tread of Jack’s boots disappearing down the corridor, the room suddenly seeming far too big without Jack in it. Ianto took off his coat, hanging it on the back of the door next to Jack’s, his fingers running down the length of the RAF jacket as he sighed.
**
They couldn’t contain Finn for long, he was champing at the bit to cross the road and play on the beach even if it was already late afternoon. Ianto had said he would stay behind to make dinner but Jack had argued that he was on holiday and therefore not doing any of the cooking all week before pushing him out the front door.
Jack now watched from further up the beach, trying to shift some of the stones so he could get comfy. Ianto had his jeans rolled up to his knees and was gingerly walking down the beach to the edge of the water, one arm out in front of him, being tugged along by Finn who was screaming with excitement. Jack laughed as Ianto put one foot in the water before high tailing it back out again. Finn didn’t seem to care; he was running in and out, screaming with glee as he tried to avoid the waves.
Jack watched Ianto just stood there, observing Finn like he was unsure what to do. It surprised Jack that someone so young had forgotten how to be a kid so quickly. He wanted to go down and join them, run in and out of the waves with Ianto and Finn giggling like he was five years old again. He didn’t though; he waited and he watched as Finn encouraged Ianto by running round him and tugging on his clothes, willing his Uncle to join in.
Ianto finally got the hint, running towards the waves as they went back out to sea and running back up the beach again when they came back in. He seemed self conscious about it at first, but even at this distance Jack could see the start of a tentative smile on Ianto’s face.
As Jack watched Ianto seemed to grow in confidence, chasing Finn up and down the beach as well as chasing the waves. They seemed to be daring each other to stay in the water longer than the other one, shrieks of laughter drifting up the beach to Jack making him smile in return.
His gaze drifted further along the beach to parents with their children, making sandcastles and playing football. There were students as well pretending to revise but more interested in watching the dolphins bobbing about in the bay or distracting each other with dirty jokes. He watched an elderly couple sitting down on a bench back up the promenade with their ice-creams, not saying anything, just sitting in companionable silence.
As his attention wandered back to Finn and Ianto now splashing each other he had a brief glimpse of life outside Torchwood, of a world where life’s biggest problem was getting grass stains out of little boys clothes and arguing in the car about getting lost. And for one selfish moment Jack wanted to say ‘screw the world’. He wanted to be lying in bed hung-over on a Sunday. He wanted children throwing temper tantrums in the vegetable aisle at the supermarket. He wanted weekend runs to the country and family days out.
He watched Ianto swing Finn up over his shoulder before carrying him back up the beach towards Jack, the smile on his face crinkling the gauze on his forehead, bringing Jack back to reality with a jolt. He could never have those things; and Ianto never would have.
“I thought we could cook this fish I caught for dinner, Captain,” Ianto said when he was close enough, giving a mock salute which caused Finn to shriek in protest and Jack to chuckle.
**
Ianto watched the tide coming in as he listened to the phone ringing on the other end of the line. He was worried that if he moved too far away from the window he would lose reception, but he was also engrossed by the white horses lashing onto the beach three stories below him.
“Hello?” Ria eventually picked up just before the answering machine kicked in. She sounded tired and fed up and Ianto wished he could reach down the phone and hug her.
“Hey Ria, it’s me. Just letting you know that’s us here.”
A sigh of relief greeted him on the other end of the phone.
“Journey ok?”
“Apart from Jack almost crashing the car.” Ianto smiled to himself as he watched a small child chasing the far too large seagulls. No doubt Finn would be doing the same tomorrow. “Also Jack saw fit to make up several more verses to wheels on the bus, so you’ll be getting bombarded with them when we get home.”
“Finn ok in the car?” Ria questioned as Ianto heard the clinking of a glass down the other end of the line.
“Apart from ‘are we nearly there yet?’ every two minutes.” Ianto heard Ria laugh softly. “Do you want to speak to him? Jack’s just reading him a bedtime story.”
“Please.”
Ianto reluctantly moved away from the window towards the other room. “Did you speak to Chris today?”
“Shouted more than spoke really. Maybe not my best approach but I’m still angry with him.”
“Understandable I think Ria,” Ianto replied, pausing outside Finn’s room where he could hear Jack’s dulcet tones drifting through the door.
“I think it was more the fact that he’s decided he wants full custody of Finn.”
“What?!” Ianto all but yelled down the phone. “He can’t do that!”
“He’ll certainly try.” Ria sighed again. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore tonight Ianto. Is Finlay there?”
“Yeah.” Ianto pushed the door to the bedroom open and found both sets of eyes already looking his way, obviously heard his earlier exclamation. “We’ll call you again tomorrow Ria,” Ianto said into the phone before pulling it away from his ear and stepping into the room.
“Mummy wants to say goodnight,” Ianto said, handing his phone to his nephew before moving back out the room.
He went back to the window in the living area overlooking the promenade and the sea. He’d always loved the sea, being able to see absolutely nothing for miles; just endless waves of untouched nature. He could see cormorants perched on the rocks further round the bay. There was a group of students gathering at the other end of the beach on the pebbles with several disposable barbeques bought from Morrisons, alcohol cunningly disguised in Hessian ‘save the planet’ bags. He didn’t know how long he stood watching the tide swallowing the last remnants of sand on the beach before he felt Jack’s hand on the small of his back, making him start slightly.
“Everything alright?” Jack questioned, not looking at Ianto but choosing to stare out to the horizon with him.
“If alright meant that my sister’s marriage has fallen apart and Finn’s usually absent father wants him permanently, added to the fact it feels like my head is going to explode any minute then yeah Jack, everything is alright,” Ianto replied, tone harsh and condescending. He didn’t mean to take it out on Jack not when he seemed to be nothing but supportive these days but Ianto was tired and fed up of bearing the world on his already aching shoulders. He didn’t know how Jack managed it year after year without someone to share the burden.
Ianto sighed, trying to relieve some of the building tension, turning to face Jack. “I’m sorry, I’m just-”
“It’s fine,” Jack said shaking his head slightly before leaning in to capture Ianto’s lips in a tender and comforting kiss. Jack’s hand drifted up to massage the back of Ianto’s neck, Ianto letting out a soft moan in response, his head dropping gently onto Jack’s shoulder.
“I don’t deserve you,” Ianto whispered softly into the cotton of Jack’s shirt as Jack’s fingers continued to work their magic.
Jack’s features twisted into a slight frown. No, he thought, you deserve so much more.
On to Part 5