Jackson Returns
Who: troellwr, not_skywalker, nowonderland
Where: The House
When: A couple weeks later
Rating: PG-13
The beauty of a PINpoint doubling as a phone is that you can call anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. So, Jackson might be sitting in the sand on Boeshane, but he's going to call Ianto in the Nexus.
Ianto is busy playing his new piano. He's steadily gotten better at it. He grabs his phone when it rings. "Hello."
"Hey," Jackson greets rather simply.
It takes Ianto a moment to recognize Jackson's voice, because it’s been months. "Jackson?!"
"Yeah." Who else would it be? Ianto is crazy.
"I don't know someone who I've seen in the last month," Ianto is secretly pleased to hear from Jackson, but he can't let the kid know that.
"Has it really been a month?" It probably has been, come to think of it.
"You left in September, its February," Ianto was kind of worried.
"...so it's been a while?" he guesses, still not completely an expert on the 21st century calendar.
"A while is an understatement, do you remember how long it took for me to switch casts?" he asks. "Because that's how long its been, plus another month."
"...oh," he answers, sounding a little surprised. "That's a while."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "You calling to come over or is this just a phone call?"
"Are you busy?" he wonders, because he could stand to get away for a little bit.
"Nope, meet you at the club in fifteen minutes?" Ianto suggests, because he knows Jackson doesn't know how to get here. He's standing and moving, pulling on clothing to go out.
"Yeah, I guess," he answers. "I'll see you then."
"Yep, Dress warm, its cold here" Ianto warns before hanging up. He heads out almost immediately.
Dressing warm isn't really an option for Jackson, unfortunately. He's on Boeshane and the jackets they have here are kind of only to protect against sandstorms. So, it's not a wonder that he's freezing his arse off in khaki and white outside the club waiting for Ianto fifteen minutes later.
Ianto is heading down the street and when he's within yelling range, he hollers for him. "Jackson!" he waves, indicating that Jackson should come toward him. "C'mon we got to catch the bus!"
He has no idea why it doesn't stop raining here, but after spending so much time back home he really isn't prepared for the cold, sleet-y Cardiff weather. He hurries to catch up with Ianto. "What? Why?"
"Everything changes!" Ianto says, with a grin. Jackson has missed a lot.
He frowns, totally not getting what Ianto means, but follows along to catch the bus.
Once Jackson is in range, he's getting an arm wrapped around him and noogies. "Didn't I say dress warm?"
"These are the warmest clothes I have," he protests, feeling a little ruffled and fretted over. He's been at his mom's, so that's kind of natural.
"Jono wouldn't let you borrow one?" he asks.
"We're ... staying at my mom's," he admits, shamelessly budging up against Ianto for warmth. "Your planet is cold and sucks."
"Mom's?" Ianto repeats, looking rather surprised.
"Yeah. You know, on my planet?"
Ianto grins slightly, "Kinda forgot you were an alien." He ruffles Jackson's hair, before stepping into the bus shelter.
Once in the bus shelter, Jackson leans against the rail and Ianto's shoulder, shivering a little. "Kind of forgot I was, too." He's got a pretty nice tan going, though.
Ianto wraps an arm around him, because the kid is under dressed. "And I don't have a spare, I'll check the secondhand shops for you, if you're planning on visiting often."
"Why couldn't I just pin into the flat?" he complains.
"Because I don't live there anymore," Ianto replies.
"That's really inconvenient. Why did you move out?"
"Needed more room," Ianto replies simply.
"Why? There was plenty of room up there." He doesn't believe you, sir. "Did you break up with my alternate or something?"
Oh look the bus is pulling up. Ianto hands Jackson some of his money. "Give that to driver." He says, before pushing Jackson out of the structure to the bus.
Jackson looks a little alarmed and does as he's told. The bus driver looks unamused and tells him to drop the money in the slot, then take a seat. He does so, then finds an unoccupied seat near a window.
"Foreigner," Ianto says to the driver while flashing his pass. Ianto will try to guide him so that he's near the heater, but will settle next to him. "Ready for your first bus trip?"
Jackson smiles a little at being seated next to the heater. If Ianto notices, he's a little out of sorts, even when warmed up. "Guess so."
"Don't worry, its a quick trip," Ianto says as the bus starts rolling through Cardiff.
Jackson tilts his head against the window and watches the city go by.
"You okay?" Ianto asks after a few moments of silence.
"Sort of," he answers, more honest than noncommittal. "Just been a rough couple of weeks."
"You can tell me all about it when we get home, I'll even make you hot chocolate with little marshmallows."
"Thanks," he answers, though he's not sure what little marshmallows are.
"Or I can just make coffee if you don't feel up to trying something new," he offers, not sure if Jackson has had hot chocolate.
"I do like coffee," he agrees, thinking something like that would be good, given how cold it is.
"I know, you think about it," Ianto says, settling back into the bus seat.
Jackson does think about it, at least for a little while. Then his thoughts wander off while he watches the city.
It’s not long before the bus stops and Ianto stands to get off the bus. "C'mon, kid." Ianto encourages.
Jackson stands and edge out of the seat to follow Ianto.
Ianto will guide him out of the bus and down the street. There are nice looking, but small houses lining each side of the street.
"So you got a house?" he wonders.
"Yep," Ianto agrees, turning down one drive and up the pathway.
Jackson follows along. "Isn't that a big decision?"
"Yeah," Ianto says, opening the door grateful the warm heat. Ianto will slip out of his shoes and place them near the stairs and then hang up his jacket, before offering to take Jackson's jacket. Its still not as warm as Jackson's probably used to here, as they're saving money, by just wearing more layers, but it is far nicer than it is outside.
Jackson follows Ianto's lead and takes his boots off, then offers over the light jacket he'd been wearing.
Ianto hangs it up, before leading Jackson down the hallway and towards the kitchen.
Alice is home, if the bag by the door is any indication. Jack dropped her off after Lamaze class and went to run some errands. She's napping on the couch and generally being pregnant.
"So, why did you need more space?" Jackson asks again, following Ianto into the kitchen.
Ianto glances at the bag and glances upstairs, unsure of where Alice disappeared to. He passes by her on the way to the kitchen, pausing to see if she's awake. "Alice?" he questions softly, trying to wave Jackson quiet, in case she is.
Alice grumbles at the question and rolls over a little, only to find that her belly is in the way. This makes her grumble even more. "Wha?"
"We have company," he says softly. "You want any hot chocolate?" He isn't sure what Jackson has decided, but he'll make a cup for Alice, if she wants.
"Whosit?" she wonders, pushing herself up and trying not to look terribly cross. She was having a pretty decent nap. "Mm, with toast?" She means the hot chocolate.
"Friend of mine," Ianto replies, "Sure."
"'Kay," she answers, rubbing at her eyes. Jackson, meanwhile, looks really confused.
"Jackson, this is Alice. Alice this is Jackson," Ianto says, "Did you decide what you want to drink yet?"
"Nice to meet you," he says politely, while she just waves. "Um ... coffee? Please?"
"Sure," Ianto heads into the other end of the room where the kitchen is located and starts working on drinks. "Marshmallows, Alice?"
Jackson follows Ianto, wondering where he acquired the hugely pregnant girl. "Sure," she answers, yawning.
Ianto for his part isn't telling, at least not yet. He's busy with drinks, but is talking to Alice. "How was class?"
"Was all right," she answers, finally pushing herself up off the couch (with effort) and waddling (shut up) toward the kitchen.
Ianto is glancing between, trying to decide just how much they look alike.
Neither of them seem to notice a resemblance, though, but neither are actively looking for it, either. They definitely have similar features, though. Alice sits down at the kitchen table, rather content to be served now that she's too pregnant to care.
"So Jackson, what have you been up to?" Ianto asks, able to listen and work.
"...rescuing my little brother from aliens?" he asks, looking at Ianto like he might've grown a second head.
"And did you rescue him?" Ianto asks, because its been a while.
"Yes," he answers, frowning a little. Alice is kind of weirded out by this discussion, though. She looks very dubious.
"Nexus, Alice, I know him from the Nexus," Ianto explains, catching that look. "Glad to hear it," he pats Jackson on the bed. "How's Jono?"
"Home," Jackson answers, leaning against the counter.
"I'll have to call him," Ianto notes. "And how is your brother?"
"Well, he was captured and tortured by aliens for a few years, but otherwise I guess he's okay?" And by okay, Jackson means not at all.
"That doesn't sound like he's okay," Ianto notes, grimacing. "You getting him the help he needs?"
"Yeah." Jackson frowns a little. "I think Jono can help him."
"Jono has a bunch of friend's that might be able to, too." Ianto has seen the bunch he hangs out with. Grey should be in good hands. Ianto hands Jackson a mug of coffee, and then slides around the counter to give Alice her hot chocolate and toast.
Alice smiles sweetly. "Thank you. Can I have some butter?"
"Of course," Ianto says going to get it for her.
"Thank you." She smiles at Jackson. "Be a dear and hand be the sugar bowl?" Alice asks.
Jackson blinks around at the counter area, eventually finding the sugar bowl to hand to her.
Ianto smiles at him. He has a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows which he sets in front of Jackson, "Want to try it?"
"I guess I can try it," he agrees, looking down at the mug with a little smile.
Ianto does like to encourage him to try new things, well old things really. Still he nudges the mug over to him and waits for the other man to try it.
Jackson picks up the mug and pokes at the marshmallows. "What are they?"
"Marshmallows," Ianto says simply, before looking at Alice. Marshmallows are marshmallows.
"Um," Alice answers. "They're air puffed sugar?" Or something.
"I don't know," Ianto shakes his head.
Jackson shrugs and tries the hot chocolate. "Mm, it's pretty good."
"You want it, I'll take the coffee?" Ianto offers.
He nods. "Sure. As long as it's warm, I don't think I mind."
"Take it, try something new," Ianto says, picking up the coffee. "So besides the great rescue, anything else new?"
Jackson settles down at the table across from where Alice is making herself sugar-on-toast. "No, that's ... that's all I've been doing. Jono had some friends who could help us and it took us a while, but we found Gray and some other colonists."
"That's good," Ianto agrees with a smile. "So everyone is safe?"
"Yeah. Relatively." He pauses, then frowns. "I mean, we didn't find everyone who went missing. But we found a lot of colonists."
"Some are better than none, right?" Ianto asks, curious.
Jackson nods, looking down at his mug. "Jono scared the hell out of me."
"How?" Ianto asks, looking surprised.
"I'd never seen him use his powers before," Jackson admits. "Not like that, anyway. It was ... pretty scary."
"Ah, yeah, I imagine it would be." Ianto nods. He rather thinks that Jono would be rather powerful.
He is. Jackson had figured he would be, but he had no basis for comparison. "He said he lost control."
"But he regained it?" Ianto asks.
Jackson nods. "He was pretty upset most of the time we were looking for Gray, then when we found him and Jono saw what was going on ... well, I don't know, it upset everybody? But he just couldn't keep a handle on it." And the result was frightening. "He took some time afterward, tried to get his head on right."
"I can kind of understand why," Ianto agrees with a nod.
"It was pretty amazing," Jackson says, kind of embarrassed. "Once you get past the scary part."
"Yeah," Ianto nods.
Alice dunks her toast in her hot chocolate contently and just listens. Ianto has pretty young friends, huh?
Jackson is Ianto's youngest friend, yes. Its really obvious how Ianto is right now and he's making a mental note not to have Jackson, Alice, Ianto, and Jack in the same room.
Jackson goes quiet, just sipping his drink.
Ianto grins at him, "So, as you can see you missed a lot."
"I noticed. Where did you acquired the very pregnant girl?" He says this in the most alien way possible, just to tease Ianto.
Alice, luckily for Jackson, thinks it's funny.
"Oh, she's Jack's." Ianto says simply with a slight smile.
"She's Jack's very pregnant girl?" he asks in deadpan.
Alice just laughs.
Ianto glances at her, giving her a wink and grin, and nods, "Yep."
Jackson glances between the two of them. "And you're fine with that?"
"Well, it took a while to adjust to the idea of it," Ianto says honestly, "But I did, and she can be a real sweetheart. She's a good kid and a good cook, too." He does genuinely like Alice as a person.
Alice rolls her eyes, because she doesn't actually believe that (or that Ianto even likes her that much). "Mostly he couldn't get rid of me," she adds.
Whatever Ianto was going to say is lost. There was the option of leaving Jack, but this was the better one as far as he was concerned. Jack had expressed that Alice wasn't sure where he stood in December and he'd been trying to make it clear, but it apparently still wasn't working. "And now the house would be far too empty without her."
Alice wants to point out that they'd still be living in dad's flat without her, but ... Ianto has company and that's just kind of rude. She doesn't like being the topic of conversation, though, so she doesn't say anything.
"Which you need to see," Ianto says, to Jackson. "Grab your drink, its tour time."
Jackson does as he's told, picking up his mug to follow Ianto for a tour.
"Right, Kitchen, Living room." Ianto says. He leads back towards the front entrance and up the stairs.
Jackson follows along, sipping at his hot chocolate.
"Little office area for Jack," Ianto says, indicating the top of the stairs. He takes the longer of the two hallways. "Bathroom," he says indicating the first door the left. "Alice's room." Ianto says indicating the door across from the bathroom.
Now that they're out of earshot of Alice, Jackson wonders, "Isn't she too young for him? I mean ... legally?"
Ianto looks at him, arching an eyebrow. Feigning misunderstanding, "What are you talking about?"
"The very pregnant girl. Isn't she too young for Jack?"
"Too young for Jack?" Ianto repeats.
Jackson looks at Ianto. "You said the girl was his. That usually means something sexual in this century, right? And there's also laws against someone his age having sex with someone her age."
"Yes, she's his. No, it doesn't always means something sexual. And yes, there are laws like that."
Jackson sighs. "Okay, whatever."
"She's his daughter," Ianto replies.
"...you couldn't just say that from the beginning?" Jackson wonders. "Because you had me thinking something that in retrospect is really disgusting."
"Not my fault, if you have a dirty mind," Ianto says, heading down the hall again. "This will be the baby's room." He opens the door, which is now starting to have furniture in it.
Jackson looks in. "So she's his daughter and that's okay?"
"Yeah," Ianto nods, "The baby's father is some unknown. She hasn't talked to me about it, but she doesn't talk to me about anything."
Jackson looks at him and laughs a little. "Yeah, no shit. I wouldn't talk to someone who was practically my age if he started dating my mom."
"Yep, so baby room," Ianto says heading out of it and going into the next door. "And future guest bedroom." This room needs more work done, but it has a bed and a dresser.
"So, that place I'll get to sleep when I crash here?" he wonders.
"You planning on crashing here?" Ianto grins, wrapping an arm around Jackson. He does like that idea.
"Sure, why not? I promise that if I bring Jono, we won't have sex too loudly."
Ianto grins, "Alright then, consider the offer open for whenever."
Jackson secretly suspects that without the power dampening of Jono's room at the mansion, everyone's have a real good time whenever they're having sex. "Thanks."
"We'll try and clean it up for you then." Ianto says with a grin. "C'mon, just wait until you see the master bedroom."
"Is this where it gets kinky?" he wonders, following Ianto.
"That's what the main bedroom is called," Ianto rolls his eyes as he guides him down the hall. He opens the door to his and Jack's room. Its a little nicer than the other two rooms, but then these two have been living it for months.
Oh, Jackson is going to invite himself right in and flop down across the bed. Why hello very large, comfy bed.
"We didn't get a new bed, you know?"
"No?" He bounces a little. He could just be trying to mess up the sheets to be a snot.
"No, C'mon see our huge bathroom," Ianto says, stepping into the other room.
Jackson slides off the bed and follows along into the bathroom. "Pretty nice."
"Toilet is off in its own separate space," Ianto indicates, the small cubby. "So we can do our business in private while the other is in here."
That just makes Jackson laugh. "What, do you guys have a problem pissing in front of each other?"
"No, but its kind of nice, because its got a fan in there, so you can't stink up the rest of the bathroom," Ianto says with a grin.
Jackson just laughs. "I guess that's a plus?"
"Oh yeah," Ianto agrees, he leads Jackson out of the room and back down the stairs. He taps the door in the hallway, which would be under the stairs. "Basement, but we're using it for storage for now."
Jackson follows along, looking around. "So you needed more space for Jack's kid and the baby, right?" he guesses.
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, waving slightly at Alice as they past by her. "Plus we got Myfanwy a yard," he indicates the doors that lead to fenced in yard.
Jackson is going to stay away from the back yard, thanks. It's too cold. "Well, it's nice."
"Do you want to go out and see it?" Ianto asks teasingly.
"Oh yeah. Barefoot and everything."
"You could put your shoes on," Ianto says. "I'll even go get them for you."
"No thanks," Jackson declines. "Like I said, your planet is cold and sucks."
"C'mon," Ianto says, guiding him down the other hall. "Another toilet." He opens the door in front of him. "The washer and dryer and the garage, which we won't go into, because you're too cold."
"Thanks," Jackson answers, looking around the laundry room.
Its a small room, mainly taking up a hallway and the machines. Ianto gestures that Jackson should exit the way they came.
Jackson does just that, heading back into the living room. By now, Alice has moved back to the couch and is looking rather ... concerned. Which is that look that no one ever wants to see a very pregnant girl wearing.
"Hey..." Ianto says, coming around the corner following Jackson, "One more r..." He spots the look on Alice. "You okay?"
Alice frowns, sitting down on the couch with some effort. "Yeah," she answers. "Just cramps." Jackson looks at Ianto, giving him that 'not it' look in the case that Alice decides to pop.
Ianto rolls his eyes at Jackson, "Sure?" Ianto asks, "Anything I can do?"
"It's probably nothing," she says. "My class instructor said it's totally normal to feel like you're having contractions."
Dude ... Jackson is so not it.
Ianto glances at Jackson and can see him panicking. "Let me know if you need something okay,"
"Yup," she says. "I'll let you know if anything breaks." Namely her water. For now she's going to try to curl up on her side on the couch and get comfortable.
"C'mon," Ianto says, reaching for Jackson and tugging him out of the room and into his office.
Jackson lets himself get tugged away, kind of dazed. "...is she having a baby on the couch?" he wonders, once they're in the office.
"No," Ianto shakes his head. "False contractions, they're common."
"Seriously?"
"Yes," Ianto says. "Do you want me to call Jack, so you can quit panicking?"
"No," Jackson says defensively. "What's he going to do, anyway? It's not like he knows anything about delivering babies."
"He's been going to her classes with her, he's her birthing coach," Ianto tells him.
"Coach. Not doctor. There's totally a difference."
"Alice, isn't going to a doctor, she has midwife," Ianto says, just to see how Jackson will react to that.
Jackson looks unfazed. "Midwives are trained for that kind of thing, you know. Medically."
"Still isn't a doctor," Ianto states, settling into his computer chair and turning it on.
Jackson rolls his eyes. "I guess if she's got a midwife, she's going to be giving birth right here?"
"Yeah, we're going to set up a birthing pool in the garage along with some space heaters for her." Ianto is totally pulling Jackson's leg on this one. He's turning to his computer.
"Sounds great. You inviting people over to watch?"
"Alice hasn't decided, why do you want to come?" Ianto asks.
"Sure. I'll bring cake." Two can play at this game, Ianto.
"Good, Alice likes cake, we should make it baby shaped though?"
"That's kind of sick, isn't it?"
"Nah, its to celebrate the occasion," Ianto smiles.
Jackson shakes his head.
Ianto is totally looking up false pregnancies on the internet right now. "What you don't want to make baby cake?"
Jackson settles himself down on the piano bench and watches Ianto's search. "I like my cakes not shaped like anything."
"Like Jack's Christmas present to me?" Ianto asks, knowing where Jackson is settling.
"He got you a piano?"
"Yeah," Ianto agrees with a grin.
"Wow," Jackson says, pretty impressed. "It's nice."
"Uh huh," Ianto agrees softly.
"I don't really get Christmas," he admits. "Sorry I missed it."
"It's okay," Ianto asks, reaching into a desk drawer to flip a colorfully wrapped present at Jackson. "Merry Christmas."
He catches it and blinks. "Er ... thanks."
"You're welcome," Ianto says.
He looks the gift over for a moment, then opens it.
Inside is a stainless travel mug with the caffeine molecule on it. Inside the mug is some of that funky paper money that amuses Jackson so.
Jackson laughs at the mug, because he's geek enough to know what that molecule is. "Oh, hey," he observes, looking inside at the funny paper money.
"I figure that should amuse you for a couple hours," He actually has some from other countries mixed in there.
He laughs. "Thanks."
"Well, I could put actual food in there," Ianto says, with a grin. "Didn't know when you'd be back."
"Sorry I didn't get you anything. I can make it up to you, right?"
"Don't worry about it," Ianto shakes his head. "I'm happy to know you're okay."
Jackson grins, closing the lid on the cup. "Well, I'm pretty okay."
"I can see that," Ianto says softly. He really is happy that Jackson is back and safe.
"Plus," Jackson goes on, "zero-g sex."
"Kinky," Ianto says, turning and leaning back. "I used Jack's vibe and sent him pictures last Wednesday."
Jackson makes an impressed noise. "Really?"
"Yeah," Ianto grins, "He called me."
He grins. "Did you do it over the phone?"
"Nah, he was on his way home," Ianto says, "He called me from the rode. I think he ended up speeding."
"So dangerous," Jackson points out.
"I didn't ask him to speed," Ianto objects.
"Sent him a pic of you playing with yourself. He's totally going to speed."
"Well, nothing happened," Ianto shakes his head.
"...until he got home?" Or so Jackson hopes.
"Then he proceeded to tease me until I passed out coming," Ianto says with a grin.
Jackson laughs, looking impressed. "Really."
"Yeah," Ianto nods, with a grin. "I don't even remember how he came."
"Sucks to be him," Jackson notes, laughing.
"He came, I think, at least he didn't complaining to me about it."
"You should make it up to him," Jackson teases.
"I'm planning something special for Valentine's Day," Ianto states. "Skydiving, Dinner, and Dancing."
"Valentine's Day?" he asks.
"Holiday for Lovers," Ianto says. He's turns back to the computer to pull up the wikipedia page for it.
"What do you do?"
"Something," Ianto shrugs. "Its different for everyone and some people don't even like to celebrate it."
Jackson wonders if Jono celebrates Valentine's Day. "Oh. Huh."
"Do you want me to ask him?" Ianto asks and let you know.
"...ask who what?" Jackson asks, looking confused.
"Jono, if he does Valentine's Day."
Jackson looks down at his present and shrugs a little. "I can ask him."
"Okay," Ianto agrees with a slight nod.
"So ... skydiving?"
"Yeah, its all a surprise, but I was able to figure out that he just needed a refresher course."
"Ever been before?" Jackson wonders.
"Just what we did," Ianto answers simply.
Jackson grins. "So, not scared to go this time?"
"I wasn't scared last time," Ianto shakes his head.
"Uh huh. I don't believe that."
"I wasn't," Ianto scowls.
Jackson laughs. "All right, all right. You weren't scared. And you didn't use that lesson to make sure you don't piss yourself when you jump out of a plane with your boyfriend."
"I'll pee beforehand," Ianto says.
That just gets a harder laugh from him.
Ianto arches an eyebrow at him.
Jackson's laughter subsides and he gives Ianto a grin.
Ianto shakes his head. "Why did I miss you again?"
"No idea," Jackson answers honestly.
"I've forgotten why," Ianto replies.
"You fell and bumped your head."
"Actually, I did," Ianto admits.
Jackson blinks. "What, for real?"
"Fell down the stairs at the club when I had my cast on," Ianto explains. "Had a concussion."
"Ouch. Klutz."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, not wanting to go into the fight with Jack.
Jackson leans back against the closed lid of the piano and gives Ianto a scrutinizing look. "Is that what you got a house?"
"No," Ianto shakes his head. "The house we got because Alice is going to have a kid and she's living with us. We needed more space or we were just going to end up arguing with one another."
Jackson glances around. "So she's going to live with you guys ... forever?"
Ianto shrugs, "She's sixteen with no job. She's Jack's kid. She'll live with us until she's ready to move out."
"And then you'll have a huge house for just the two of you," Jackson observes. "Unless you guys are thinking about kids of your own?"
"We haven't discussed it much, honestly," Ianto says.
"Just seems so damn responsible," Jackson decides.
"Well, we have to be," Ianto doesn't see another choice.
Jackson frowns a little. "I guess so."
Ianto nods.
"Kind of sucks, though. You guys just started dating."
"Kind of sucks, that I broke my leg two weeks in." Ianto states.
"'Cause you would've stayed at your place otherwise and it wouldn't be so complicated."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "I offered to move back out, but neither of us wanted that."
"Not sure what to tell you, then," Jackson answers cheerfully.
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "We're together, we'll make it through this."
Jackson looks dubious. "Do you have any idea what babies are like?"
"Yes," Ianto says.
"All right," he says. "Best of luck to you."
"Thanks," Ianto says.
"I think I might take you up on that offer to stay over in two, maybe three years."
"Nope, we'll have a sleepover in two months."
Jackson shakes his head. "No thanks. I prefer an active, healthy sex life uninterrupted by a fussy newborn."
"I'll let you know how it goes," Ianto tells him.
"Yeah, give me weekly updates on your blue balls." All right, living at Xavier's ... he's picked up a bit of slang.
Ianto laughs, "I will, shall I send you pictures of them?"
"I think I've seen more than enough of you without pants on, thanks."
Ianto grins, "Actually, I'd like to discuss another photoshoot with you again"
Jackson looks unamused. "Why? You've got your cast off, your boyfriend doesn't need anymore pictures."
"But he likes the pictures," Ianto states, "You could do that for Jono."
Jackson almost blushes. "I don't need to do that for Jono. He can see my ass any time he wants."
"What about when you're visiting your family?"
"My mom really likes him," Jackson says primly. "He's always welcome."
"Ah," Ianto nods, "Does she know about you two?"
Jackson grins. "Of course she does."
"Good," Ianto nods.
He glances down, looking embarrassed and pleased. "You know, he told me he loved me."
"Good," Ianto says, with an easy grin.
There's a slight pause, "I need to stop saying, 'good'."
Jackson laughs. "Yeah, probably. So, what, you want someone to take pics of your cock now? 'Cause that might not work for me."
"I have lovely cock, you'd be privileged to take pictures of it." Ianto manages to say with a straight face, though after a few seconds its seriously cracking.
Jackson looks dubious. Mostly because he's seen your alternate's cock, Ianto, and he wasn't that impressed. When Ianto cracks up, though, Jackson follows soon after.
"I can't believe I managed to keep a straight face for so long," Ianto says in-between chuckles.
He shakes his head. "I can't believe you even said that."
"It is kind of absurd, isn't it?"
"Little bit, yeah."
Ianto just grins, "Need a refill?"
"After you tell me what pictures you wanted." Jackson's just too curious now.
"Haven't decided, yet actually," Ianto gives him an amused glance.
Jackson rolls his eyes and finds his empty mug, offering it over to Ianto.
Ianto pushes himself up to go fix some more. While he's up, he goes to check on Alice.
Jackson lingers behind in Ianto's office, knowing better than to mess with the piano. In the living room, Alice is curled on her side, trying to pay more attention to whatever's on the Beeb than whatever discomfort she's having.
"Hey," Ianto says softly, "Feeling any better?"
"Still hurts," she answers, "but I think it's okay."
"Do you think some tea would help?" Ianto suggests.
"Maybe. Yeah." Alice is British, so tea fixes quite a bit, including involuntary muscle contractions.
"I'll fix you some then," Ianto says pushing himself off the couch from where he was leaning and heads to the kitchen, trying to keep up some sort of conversation. "You know, Jackson is terrified you're going to go into labor."
She laughs a little, because that's sort of ridiculous. "I'm not," Alice answers. "Trust me, if I was going into labor, you'd know."
"I know, about another month, right?" Ianto suggests. "Then I get to start getting worried when you're like this."
"Just about," she answers, sounding a little nervous about the whole idea. "Like I said, you'd know if I was in labor."
"I'm sure, we'll have a few false alarms, at least that’s what I'm getting from my reading on it." He's hoping that if he's wrong Alice will correct him.
"This is one of those false alarms. Or so I've read." She pauses, sitting up a little. "You've been reading about it?"
"Well yeah," Ianto says, as if that's a foregone conclusion. "I know Jack is your go to guy on this, but we've been home alone often enough that if it did happen, I'd hope you go to me and we could panic together."
"Yeah," she agrees. "I'm not going to hold it in 'til dad gets home or anything, believe me."
"It’s supposed to take a couple hours, isn't it?" Ianto asks, "Its not supposed to be like on the telly.”
"Everyone's different. Sometimes it's a few hours, sometimes it's thirty-six. Just depends."
"Well, I'm sure Jack will be sticking close to you when it gets close to the due date."
"Hope so," she says quietly. This is kind of getting ... scary.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Ianto says, with a slight smile while he's making her tea and Jackson's hot chocolate.
"Guess so," Alice answers, trying to sound more convinced than she is.
"Hope you don't mind me, bringing Jackson over. I just haven't seen him in a while," Ianto says, because it is Alice's home too.
"It's fine," she answers, finally pushing up off the couch with a great deal of effort to head into the kitchen. "I don't mind."
"Good," Ianto says, "Because it kind of creeped Jack out that one of my closest friends was a younger alternate of him."
Alice is rinsing her old mug in prep for tea and gives Ianto a look. "That is a little strange."
"Completely alternate reality. He's from the 51st century."
"So that explains the aliens, at least."
Ianto nods, "He wasn't kidding when he said that."
"And you met him in the Nexus?"
"Yep," Ianto nods.
Alice nods a little. "Cool."
Ianto finishes making her tea and offering it to her. "There tea is all done."
"Thanks," she says, taking the cup of tea. Alice smiles a little, then heads back to the couch.
"No problem," Ianto says with a smile. He finishes making Jackson's hot chocolate up and goes back to his office.
Jackson is reading the website Ianto left open.
"Finding out all about Valentine's Day?" Ianto asks.
"Reading about pregnancy," he answers. "So she's not really going to have the baby in the living room?"
Ianto rolls his eyes, "No, she's having it in the garage, remember."
"Oh, right. Did you set up the pool? You should probably heat the water."
"We've got the space heaters for that."
"Uh huh." Jackson reaches for the hot chocolate.
Ianto hands it to him and then goes to sit down at the piano. He's start fiddling on it while Jackson reads.
Given a bright idea, Jackson sips his hot chocolate and looks up Valentine's Day.
Ianto did have the wiki page up when he left. Meanwhile, Ianto starts playing.
He reads while Ianto plays, kind of confused by this holiday.
Ianto will keep playing by memory until Jackson says something, simply giving him background music.
Jackson eventually sets the hot chocolate down and swivels the desk chair around to face the piano. He puts his foot up on the bench next to Ianto and nudges at him. "Not giving up on your guitar lessons, are you?"
"No, the guitar is so much cooler," Ianto says with a grin. "Though my teacher has been gone for months and months."
"Sorry," Jackson apologizes on Jono's behalf, but grins nonetheless.
"Its okay, he was off saving people."
"He was," Jackson answers proudly. "He was great, you know. Absolutely amazing."
"I'm sure he was," Ianto agrees.
Jackson is completely in love. He leans back in the desk chair and smiles, sipping at his hot chocolate.
"Someone is besotted," Ianto sing-songs.
"I don't know what that means."
Ianto laughs, song pausing. "Fine, Jackson and Jono sitting in a tree...." Ianto sings, playing along with little ditty.
Jackson has heard this before. He rolls his eyes.
But has it been sung while being accompanied? Ianto finishes with a little flourish at the end.
"Better?"
"Oh, very.," he answers sarcastically. "Thank you."
Ianto chuckles, playing the same song on the piano without singing it.
"You can stop that any time, you know."
"Stop what?" Ianto asks.
"That song."
"What about it?"
Jackson laughs. "You can stop playing it?"
Ianto stops with a laugh.
Jackson gives him another nudge with his foot.
"Yes, Jackson?" Ianto asks.
"So, what else did I miss while I was gone? You're practically married with kids, what else?"
"I got a raise," Ianto says managing a smile.
"Not too hard, you're fucking the boss." Jackson nudges him again. "Or is that the raise?"
"No, monetary, but they cut my hours."
"So you make more for working less? That's pretty good."
"No, I make exactly the same for less hours, I wanted the extra money."
"Well, that's still a good deal."
Ianto rolls his eyes, "Jackson the point of a raise is to make more money, not the same, besides I like working."
"If I understand this whole job and money thing right, making the same money for doing less work is technically a raise."
"Technically, it is, but that technicality doesn't pay the bills."
"Well, if they cut your hours, maybe you have time for a second job."
"I've been thinking about it," Ianto admits softly. "Its just two days a week? Not much time for a second job."
Jackson shrugs a little. "I don't know much about working for money, I'll be honest."
"Its alright," Ianto sighs.
"What would you do for a second job?"
"Probably a part-time job, fast food maybe."
"Sounds kind of terrible, though."
"It is," Ianto sighs, "Maybe a barista job though."
"Making coffee? You are pretty good at that."
"Yeah," Ianto nods. "After Valentine's Day though."
Jackson grins. "Plan on being too exhausted to move?"
"Busy day for us," Ianto says with a smile. "Though Jack doesn't know it."
"Just remember not to pass out," Jackson teases.
"I will," Ianto grins.
"Remember or pass out?"
"Remember," Ianto clarifies.
Jackson laughs, leaning back in the chair. "Should be fun, then. What's Alice doing for Valentine's Day?"
"Honestly, not sure, Jack and I really only discussed us," Ianto frowns, thinking that Alice should do something.
He nods, looking a little thoughtful. "What about the baby's dad?"
"The baby's dad is unaware of being a soon to be father," Ianto says calmly.
"Take it they're not close, then?" He doesn't seem that bothered by it. It happens.
"I don't know, I'm not getting involved in it," Ianto shakes his head. He was burned once, he's keeping his nose out of it again.
Jackson shrugs. "Well, hopefully she's doing something."
Ianto nods, making a mental note to ask later.
"Otherwise ... " Jackson shrugs a little. "I mean, it's not going to be Valentine's Day in Jono's universe, so if she wanted to come hang out with some people her own age ... " Yes, he's offering.
Ianto grins at that, before asking, "You sure?"
"Why not? She's gotta be bored to death just hanging out with you guys."
"You want to the make offer?" Ianto asks, "Or should I?"
"Nah," Jackson says, shaking his head. "Just let me know if she's not doing anything and I'll figure something out." Something that's subtler than 'hey wanna hang out with some pretty gay dudes on Valentine's Day?'
"Okay," Ianto agrees with a nod. "I'll try to figure it out, pretty soon."
"Cool. Just give me a heads up."
"Of course," Ianto agrees. "So what do you think of the house?"
"It's pretty nice," Jackson answers. "Not that I pegged you for the house and yard and all that type."
"I'm thinking of putting a garden in the back," Ianto says.
Jackson shakes his head. "You're all domestic suddenly."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, "Though if you want to clubbing some night let me know!"
He laughs. "Yeah, I do. Bet I'm old enough to get into the Hub properly, too."
"You bet?" Ianto asks, smiling. "You haven't figured it out yet?"
"Hey, I was gone from my universe for almost a year."
"Only almost?" Ianto asks, grinning.
Jackson rolls his eyes. "Look, it's past my eighteenth birthday in my universe, so yeah."
"Okay," Ianto nods. "Then you'll have to come out one night when I'm working, you won't want to go there on Wednesdays."
"Why not? What's going on Wednesdays?"
"Karaoke," Ianto says, and shudders slightly.
Jackson blinks. "What's that?"
"It’s where they have the background music going and you sing the words which are on a screen." Ianto explains. "There is a lot of maiming of good songs going on."
Jackson laughs. "No, that sounds fun. I should take Jono." :3
"Well, I won't be there."
"So we'll come back on a Friday?"
"Yeah, Friday is pretty rocking," Ianto agrees with nod.
That gets a laugh from Jackson. 'Rocking'? Really? "Sounds like a plan, then."
"I suppose I could use the term, jumpin'?"
Jackson just laughs again. "Sure, if you want."
"I'll check with Gwen, she's the PR, I'm sure she knows what word I'm supposed to use."
"Oh, please," Jackson answers, grinning.
Ianto grins back.
Jackson just shakes his head. "So where's your boyfriend?"
"No idea, he took Alice to Lamaze class," Alice is clearly home, so he pauses for a moment. "So I'd assume, he was running some errands."
Jackson nods. "Do I still weird him out a little?"
"No idea, we haven't talked about you in a while," Ianto reminds him.
This is where he gives a little sniffle. "You haven't? Forgot all about me."
"Clearly, I haven't or else there wouldn't be a Christmas present sitting in my desk."
"Nah, you just had that left over. Or you got it and didn't want it and wrapped it when I was on my way over."
Ianto snorts, "Yeah, that's why it was covered with dust."
"I'm still dubious." Jackson is teasing, of course, but Ianto is good for it.
"Of course, I save dust, so I can trick people into thinking the gifts I bought them for a holiday months ago were being stored for months."
"Ha! See? I knew it."
Ianto snorts, and laughs.
Jackson laughs, leaning back in the chair. After a pause, he admits, "Okay, I guess I missed you."
Ianto grins at him, "Well, I suppose, I'm glad to have you back."
"You better be," Jackson counters.
Ianto just grins at him.
Jackson grins back, then shakes his head. "I should get out of your hair, huh?"
"If you want," Ianto says. "Worried about your brother?"
"Yeah," he admits. "And I hate leaving my mom alone for too long. She was ... pretty upset when I ran off."
Ianto nods, "Alright, I guess I'll let you go, so long as you promise not to disappear for months."
He laughs. "Yeah, okay. I promise."
"Alright," Ianto agrees then. He stands then, giving in and hugging Jackson. "Take care of yourself and your family."
Jackson stands, with his mug in hand, and gives Ianto a hug. "I will. Good luck with that whole baby thing."
"Thanks," Ianto says with a grin. "I'm probably going to need it."
"Probably." Jackson fishes the PINpoint out of his pocket. "Can I save these coordinates?"
"Probably better to save from the front porch, so you don't pop in here when Jack and I are shagging on the desk."
"Wouldn't be anything I've not seen before," he answers, heading out of the office. "Gotta get my shoes and jacket, anyway."
"I'll walk you out," Ianto says, following after him.
"You just want me to go out in the freezing cold again," Jackson points out, slipping back into his shoes.
"It'll only be for a few seconds," Ianto shakes his head at the whining.
"Yeah, yeah," Jackson complains, shrugging into his jacket. "I'll see you. Text me, if you want. I still get reception on Boeshane. It's ridiculous."
"Is it a Nexus phone?" Iatno asks.
"Yup. Which explains a lot."
"Reception just about everywhere," Ianto says smiling.
"Yup," he agrees, then steals another quick hug. "See you around."
"Later," Ianto agrees. Ianto will give him a quick noogie while he's in there.
Jackson ducks the noogie as best he can and lets himself out. He spends a moment saving the coordinates before teleporting out.
Ianto watches from the window, giving him a quick wave, before heading back into the main part of the house.
Alice is curled up on the couch still, possibly napping.
Ianto will toss a blanket over her, if she doesn't have one, and then quietly head into his office.
Where: The House
When: A couple weeks later
Rating: PG-13
The beauty of a PINpoint doubling as a phone is that you can call anyone. Anywhere. Anytime. So, Jackson might be sitting in the sand on Boeshane, but he's going to call Ianto in the Nexus.
Ianto is busy playing his new piano. He's steadily gotten better at it. He grabs his phone when it rings. "Hello."
"Hey," Jackson greets rather simply.
It takes Ianto a moment to recognize Jackson's voice, because it’s been months. "Jackson?!"
"Yeah." Who else would it be? Ianto is crazy.
"I don't know someone who I've seen in the last month," Ianto is secretly pleased to hear from Jackson, but he can't let the kid know that.
"Has it really been a month?" It probably has been, come to think of it.
"You left in September, its February," Ianto was kind of worried.
"...so it's been a while?" he guesses, still not completely an expert on the 21st century calendar.
"A while is an understatement, do you remember how long it took for me to switch casts?" he asks. "Because that's how long its been, plus another month."
"...oh," he answers, sounding a little surprised. "That's a while."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "You calling to come over or is this just a phone call?"
"Are you busy?" he wonders, because he could stand to get away for a little bit.
"Nope, meet you at the club in fifteen minutes?" Ianto suggests, because he knows Jackson doesn't know how to get here. He's standing and moving, pulling on clothing to go out.
"Yeah, I guess," he answers. "I'll see you then."
"Yep, Dress warm, its cold here" Ianto warns before hanging up. He heads out almost immediately.
Dressing warm isn't really an option for Jackson, unfortunately. He's on Boeshane and the jackets they have here are kind of only to protect against sandstorms. So, it's not a wonder that he's freezing his arse off in khaki and white outside the club waiting for Ianto fifteen minutes later.
Ianto is heading down the street and when he's within yelling range, he hollers for him. "Jackson!" he waves, indicating that Jackson should come toward him. "C'mon we got to catch the bus!"
He has no idea why it doesn't stop raining here, but after spending so much time back home he really isn't prepared for the cold, sleet-y Cardiff weather. He hurries to catch up with Ianto. "What? Why?"
"Everything changes!" Ianto says, with a grin. Jackson has missed a lot.
He frowns, totally not getting what Ianto means, but follows along to catch the bus.
Once Jackson is in range, he's getting an arm wrapped around him and noogies. "Didn't I say dress warm?"
"These are the warmest clothes I have," he protests, feeling a little ruffled and fretted over. He's been at his mom's, so that's kind of natural.
"Jono wouldn't let you borrow one?" he asks.
"We're ... staying at my mom's," he admits, shamelessly budging up against Ianto for warmth. "Your planet is cold and sucks."
"Mom's?" Ianto repeats, looking rather surprised.
"Yeah. You know, on my planet?"
Ianto grins slightly, "Kinda forgot you were an alien." He ruffles Jackson's hair, before stepping into the bus shelter.
Once in the bus shelter, Jackson leans against the rail and Ianto's shoulder, shivering a little. "Kind of forgot I was, too." He's got a pretty nice tan going, though.
Ianto wraps an arm around him, because the kid is under dressed. "And I don't have a spare, I'll check the secondhand shops for you, if you're planning on visiting often."
"Why couldn't I just pin into the flat?" he complains.
"Because I don't live there anymore," Ianto replies.
"That's really inconvenient. Why did you move out?"
"Needed more room," Ianto replies simply.
"Why? There was plenty of room up there." He doesn't believe you, sir. "Did you break up with my alternate or something?"
Oh look the bus is pulling up. Ianto hands Jackson some of his money. "Give that to driver." He says, before pushing Jackson out of the structure to the bus.
Jackson looks a little alarmed and does as he's told. The bus driver looks unamused and tells him to drop the money in the slot, then take a seat. He does so, then finds an unoccupied seat near a window.
"Foreigner," Ianto says to the driver while flashing his pass. Ianto will try to guide him so that he's near the heater, but will settle next to him. "Ready for your first bus trip?"
Jackson smiles a little at being seated next to the heater. If Ianto notices, he's a little out of sorts, even when warmed up. "Guess so."
"Don't worry, its a quick trip," Ianto says as the bus starts rolling through Cardiff.
Jackson tilts his head against the window and watches the city go by.
"You okay?" Ianto asks after a few moments of silence.
"Sort of," he answers, more honest than noncommittal. "Just been a rough couple of weeks."
"You can tell me all about it when we get home, I'll even make you hot chocolate with little marshmallows."
"Thanks," he answers, though he's not sure what little marshmallows are.
"Or I can just make coffee if you don't feel up to trying something new," he offers, not sure if Jackson has had hot chocolate.
"I do like coffee," he agrees, thinking something like that would be good, given how cold it is.
"I know, you think about it," Ianto says, settling back into the bus seat.
Jackson does think about it, at least for a little while. Then his thoughts wander off while he watches the city.
It’s not long before the bus stops and Ianto stands to get off the bus. "C'mon, kid." Ianto encourages.
Jackson stands and edge out of the seat to follow Ianto.
Ianto will guide him out of the bus and down the street. There are nice looking, but small houses lining each side of the street.
"So you got a house?" he wonders.
"Yep," Ianto agrees, turning down one drive and up the pathway.
Jackson follows along. "Isn't that a big decision?"
"Yeah," Ianto says, opening the door grateful the warm heat. Ianto will slip out of his shoes and place them near the stairs and then hang up his jacket, before offering to take Jackson's jacket. Its still not as warm as Jackson's probably used to here, as they're saving money, by just wearing more layers, but it is far nicer than it is outside.
Jackson follows Ianto's lead and takes his boots off, then offers over the light jacket he'd been wearing.
Ianto hangs it up, before leading Jackson down the hallway and towards the kitchen.
Alice is home, if the bag by the door is any indication. Jack dropped her off after Lamaze class and went to run some errands. She's napping on the couch and generally being pregnant.
"So, why did you need more space?" Jackson asks again, following Ianto into the kitchen.
Ianto glances at the bag and glances upstairs, unsure of where Alice disappeared to. He passes by her on the way to the kitchen, pausing to see if she's awake. "Alice?" he questions softly, trying to wave Jackson quiet, in case she is.
Alice grumbles at the question and rolls over a little, only to find that her belly is in the way. This makes her grumble even more. "Wha?"
"We have company," he says softly. "You want any hot chocolate?" He isn't sure what Jackson has decided, but he'll make a cup for Alice, if she wants.
"Whosit?" she wonders, pushing herself up and trying not to look terribly cross. She was having a pretty decent nap. "Mm, with toast?" She means the hot chocolate.
"Friend of mine," Ianto replies, "Sure."
"'Kay," she answers, rubbing at her eyes. Jackson, meanwhile, looks really confused.
"Jackson, this is Alice. Alice this is Jackson," Ianto says, "Did you decide what you want to drink yet?"
"Nice to meet you," he says politely, while she just waves. "Um ... coffee? Please?"
"Sure," Ianto heads into the other end of the room where the kitchen is located and starts working on drinks. "Marshmallows, Alice?"
Jackson follows Ianto, wondering where he acquired the hugely pregnant girl. "Sure," she answers, yawning.
Ianto for his part isn't telling, at least not yet. He's busy with drinks, but is talking to Alice. "How was class?"
"Was all right," she answers, finally pushing herself up off the couch (with effort) and waddling (shut up) toward the kitchen.
Ianto is glancing between, trying to decide just how much they look alike.
Neither of them seem to notice a resemblance, though, but neither are actively looking for it, either. They definitely have similar features, though. Alice sits down at the kitchen table, rather content to be served now that she's too pregnant to care.
"So Jackson, what have you been up to?" Ianto asks, able to listen and work.
"...rescuing my little brother from aliens?" he asks, looking at Ianto like he might've grown a second head.
"And did you rescue him?" Ianto asks, because its been a while.
"Yes," he answers, frowning a little. Alice is kind of weirded out by this discussion, though. She looks very dubious.
"Nexus, Alice, I know him from the Nexus," Ianto explains, catching that look. "Glad to hear it," he pats Jackson on the bed. "How's Jono?"
"Home," Jackson answers, leaning against the counter.
"I'll have to call him," Ianto notes. "And how is your brother?"
"Well, he was captured and tortured by aliens for a few years, but otherwise I guess he's okay?" And by okay, Jackson means not at all.
"That doesn't sound like he's okay," Ianto notes, grimacing. "You getting him the help he needs?"
"Yeah." Jackson frowns a little. "I think Jono can help him."
"Jono has a bunch of friend's that might be able to, too." Ianto has seen the bunch he hangs out with. Grey should be in good hands. Ianto hands Jackson a mug of coffee, and then slides around the counter to give Alice her hot chocolate and toast.
Alice smiles sweetly. "Thank you. Can I have some butter?"
"Of course," Ianto says going to get it for her.
"Thank you." She smiles at Jackson. "Be a dear and hand be the sugar bowl?" Alice asks.
Jackson blinks around at the counter area, eventually finding the sugar bowl to hand to her.
Ianto smiles at him. He has a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows which he sets in front of Jackson, "Want to try it?"
"I guess I can try it," he agrees, looking down at the mug with a little smile.
Ianto does like to encourage him to try new things, well old things really. Still he nudges the mug over to him and waits for the other man to try it.
Jackson picks up the mug and pokes at the marshmallows. "What are they?"
"Marshmallows," Ianto says simply, before looking at Alice. Marshmallows are marshmallows.
"Um," Alice answers. "They're air puffed sugar?" Or something.
"I don't know," Ianto shakes his head.
Jackson shrugs and tries the hot chocolate. "Mm, it's pretty good."
"You want it, I'll take the coffee?" Ianto offers.
He nods. "Sure. As long as it's warm, I don't think I mind."
"Take it, try something new," Ianto says, picking up the coffee. "So besides the great rescue, anything else new?"
Jackson settles down at the table across from where Alice is making herself sugar-on-toast. "No, that's ... that's all I've been doing. Jono had some friends who could help us and it took us a while, but we found Gray and some other colonists."
"That's good," Ianto agrees with a smile. "So everyone is safe?"
"Yeah. Relatively." He pauses, then frowns. "I mean, we didn't find everyone who went missing. But we found a lot of colonists."
"Some are better than none, right?" Ianto asks, curious.
Jackson nods, looking down at his mug. "Jono scared the hell out of me."
"How?" Ianto asks, looking surprised.
"I'd never seen him use his powers before," Jackson admits. "Not like that, anyway. It was ... pretty scary."
"Ah, yeah, I imagine it would be." Ianto nods. He rather thinks that Jono would be rather powerful.
He is. Jackson had figured he would be, but he had no basis for comparison. "He said he lost control."
"But he regained it?" Ianto asks.
Jackson nods. "He was pretty upset most of the time we were looking for Gray, then when we found him and Jono saw what was going on ... well, I don't know, it upset everybody? But he just couldn't keep a handle on it." And the result was frightening. "He took some time afterward, tried to get his head on right."
"I can kind of understand why," Ianto agrees with a nod.
"It was pretty amazing," Jackson says, kind of embarrassed. "Once you get past the scary part."
"Yeah," Ianto nods.
Alice dunks her toast in her hot chocolate contently and just listens. Ianto has pretty young friends, huh?
Jackson is Ianto's youngest friend, yes. Its really obvious how Ianto is right now and he's making a mental note not to have Jackson, Alice, Ianto, and Jack in the same room.
Jackson goes quiet, just sipping his drink.
Ianto grins at him, "So, as you can see you missed a lot."
"I noticed. Where did you acquired the very pregnant girl?" He says this in the most alien way possible, just to tease Ianto.
Alice, luckily for Jackson, thinks it's funny.
"Oh, she's Jack's." Ianto says simply with a slight smile.
"She's Jack's very pregnant girl?" he asks in deadpan.
Alice just laughs.
Ianto glances at her, giving her a wink and grin, and nods, "Yep."
Jackson glances between the two of them. "And you're fine with that?"
"Well, it took a while to adjust to the idea of it," Ianto says honestly, "But I did, and she can be a real sweetheart. She's a good kid and a good cook, too." He does genuinely like Alice as a person.
Alice rolls her eyes, because she doesn't actually believe that (or that Ianto even likes her that much). "Mostly he couldn't get rid of me," she adds.
Whatever Ianto was going to say is lost. There was the option of leaving Jack, but this was the better one as far as he was concerned. Jack had expressed that Alice wasn't sure where he stood in December and he'd been trying to make it clear, but it apparently still wasn't working. "And now the house would be far too empty without her."
Alice wants to point out that they'd still be living in dad's flat without her, but ... Ianto has company and that's just kind of rude. She doesn't like being the topic of conversation, though, so she doesn't say anything.
"Which you need to see," Ianto says, to Jackson. "Grab your drink, its tour time."
Jackson does as he's told, picking up his mug to follow Ianto for a tour.
"Right, Kitchen, Living room." Ianto says. He leads back towards the front entrance and up the stairs.
Jackson follows along, sipping at his hot chocolate.
"Little office area for Jack," Ianto says, indicating the top of the stairs. He takes the longer of the two hallways. "Bathroom," he says indicating the first door the left. "Alice's room." Ianto says indicating the door across from the bathroom.
Now that they're out of earshot of Alice, Jackson wonders, "Isn't she too young for him? I mean ... legally?"
Ianto looks at him, arching an eyebrow. Feigning misunderstanding, "What are you talking about?"
"The very pregnant girl. Isn't she too young for Jack?"
"Too young for Jack?" Ianto repeats.
Jackson looks at Ianto. "You said the girl was his. That usually means something sexual in this century, right? And there's also laws against someone his age having sex with someone her age."
"Yes, she's his. No, it doesn't always means something sexual. And yes, there are laws like that."
Jackson sighs. "Okay, whatever."
"She's his daughter," Ianto replies.
"...you couldn't just say that from the beginning?" Jackson wonders. "Because you had me thinking something that in retrospect is really disgusting."
"Not my fault, if you have a dirty mind," Ianto says, heading down the hall again. "This will be the baby's room." He opens the door, which is now starting to have furniture in it.
Jackson looks in. "So she's his daughter and that's okay?"
"Yeah," Ianto nods, "The baby's father is some unknown. She hasn't talked to me about it, but she doesn't talk to me about anything."
Jackson looks at him and laughs a little. "Yeah, no shit. I wouldn't talk to someone who was practically my age if he started dating my mom."
"Yep, so baby room," Ianto says heading out of it and going into the next door. "And future guest bedroom." This room needs more work done, but it has a bed and a dresser.
"So, that place I'll get to sleep when I crash here?" he wonders.
"You planning on crashing here?" Ianto grins, wrapping an arm around Jackson. He does like that idea.
"Sure, why not? I promise that if I bring Jono, we won't have sex too loudly."
Ianto grins, "Alright then, consider the offer open for whenever."
Jackson secretly suspects that without the power dampening of Jono's room at the mansion, everyone's have a real good time whenever they're having sex. "Thanks."
"We'll try and clean it up for you then." Ianto says with a grin. "C'mon, just wait until you see the master bedroom."
"Is this where it gets kinky?" he wonders, following Ianto.
"That's what the main bedroom is called," Ianto rolls his eyes as he guides him down the hall. He opens the door to his and Jack's room. Its a little nicer than the other two rooms, but then these two have been living it for months.
Oh, Jackson is going to invite himself right in and flop down across the bed. Why hello very large, comfy bed.
"We didn't get a new bed, you know?"
"No?" He bounces a little. He could just be trying to mess up the sheets to be a snot.
"No, C'mon see our huge bathroom," Ianto says, stepping into the other room.
Jackson slides off the bed and follows along into the bathroom. "Pretty nice."
"Toilet is off in its own separate space," Ianto indicates, the small cubby. "So we can do our business in private while the other is in here."
That just makes Jackson laugh. "What, do you guys have a problem pissing in front of each other?"
"No, but its kind of nice, because its got a fan in there, so you can't stink up the rest of the bathroom," Ianto says with a grin.
Jackson just laughs. "I guess that's a plus?"
"Oh yeah," Ianto agrees, he leads Jackson out of the room and back down the stairs. He taps the door in the hallway, which would be under the stairs. "Basement, but we're using it for storage for now."
Jackson follows along, looking around. "So you needed more space for Jack's kid and the baby, right?" he guesses.
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, waving slightly at Alice as they past by her. "Plus we got Myfanwy a yard," he indicates the doors that lead to fenced in yard.
Jackson is going to stay away from the back yard, thanks. It's too cold. "Well, it's nice."
"Do you want to go out and see it?" Ianto asks teasingly.
"Oh yeah. Barefoot and everything."
"You could put your shoes on," Ianto says. "I'll even go get them for you."
"No thanks," Jackson declines. "Like I said, your planet is cold and sucks."
"C'mon," Ianto says, guiding him down the other hall. "Another toilet." He opens the door in front of him. "The washer and dryer and the garage, which we won't go into, because you're too cold."
"Thanks," Jackson answers, looking around the laundry room.
Its a small room, mainly taking up a hallway and the machines. Ianto gestures that Jackson should exit the way they came.
Jackson does just that, heading back into the living room. By now, Alice has moved back to the couch and is looking rather ... concerned. Which is that look that no one ever wants to see a very pregnant girl wearing.
"Hey..." Ianto says, coming around the corner following Jackson, "One more r..." He spots the look on Alice. "You okay?"
Alice frowns, sitting down on the couch with some effort. "Yeah," she answers. "Just cramps." Jackson looks at Ianto, giving him that 'not it' look in the case that Alice decides to pop.
Ianto rolls his eyes at Jackson, "Sure?" Ianto asks, "Anything I can do?"
"It's probably nothing," she says. "My class instructor said it's totally normal to feel like you're having contractions."
Dude ... Jackson is so not it.
Ianto glances at Jackson and can see him panicking. "Let me know if you need something okay,"
"Yup," she says. "I'll let you know if anything breaks." Namely her water. For now she's going to try to curl up on her side on the couch and get comfortable.
"C'mon," Ianto says, reaching for Jackson and tugging him out of the room and into his office.
Jackson lets himself get tugged away, kind of dazed. "...is she having a baby on the couch?" he wonders, once they're in the office.
"No," Ianto shakes his head. "False contractions, they're common."
"Seriously?"
"Yes," Ianto says. "Do you want me to call Jack, so you can quit panicking?"
"No," Jackson says defensively. "What's he going to do, anyway? It's not like he knows anything about delivering babies."
"He's been going to her classes with her, he's her birthing coach," Ianto tells him.
"Coach. Not doctor. There's totally a difference."
"Alice, isn't going to a doctor, she has midwife," Ianto says, just to see how Jackson will react to that.
Jackson looks unfazed. "Midwives are trained for that kind of thing, you know. Medically."
"Still isn't a doctor," Ianto states, settling into his computer chair and turning it on.
Jackson rolls his eyes. "I guess if she's got a midwife, she's going to be giving birth right here?"
"Yeah, we're going to set up a birthing pool in the garage along with some space heaters for her." Ianto is totally pulling Jackson's leg on this one. He's turning to his computer.
"Sounds great. You inviting people over to watch?"
"Alice hasn't decided, why do you want to come?" Ianto asks.
"Sure. I'll bring cake." Two can play at this game, Ianto.
"Good, Alice likes cake, we should make it baby shaped though?"
"That's kind of sick, isn't it?"
"Nah, its to celebrate the occasion," Ianto smiles.
Jackson shakes his head.
Ianto is totally looking up false pregnancies on the internet right now. "What you don't want to make baby cake?"
Jackson settles himself down on the piano bench and watches Ianto's search. "I like my cakes not shaped like anything."
"Like Jack's Christmas present to me?" Ianto asks, knowing where Jackson is settling.
"He got you a piano?"
"Yeah," Ianto agrees with a grin.
"Wow," Jackson says, pretty impressed. "It's nice."
"Uh huh," Ianto agrees softly.
"I don't really get Christmas," he admits. "Sorry I missed it."
"It's okay," Ianto asks, reaching into a desk drawer to flip a colorfully wrapped present at Jackson. "Merry Christmas."
He catches it and blinks. "Er ... thanks."
"You're welcome," Ianto says.
He looks the gift over for a moment, then opens it.
Inside is a stainless travel mug with the caffeine molecule on it. Inside the mug is some of that funky paper money that amuses Jackson so.
Jackson laughs at the mug, because he's geek enough to know what that molecule is. "Oh, hey," he observes, looking inside at the funny paper money.
"I figure that should amuse you for a couple hours," He actually has some from other countries mixed in there.
He laughs. "Thanks."
"Well, I could put actual food in there," Ianto says, with a grin. "Didn't know when you'd be back."
"Sorry I didn't get you anything. I can make it up to you, right?"
"Don't worry about it," Ianto shakes his head. "I'm happy to know you're okay."
Jackson grins, closing the lid on the cup. "Well, I'm pretty okay."
"I can see that," Ianto says softly. He really is happy that Jackson is back and safe.
"Plus," Jackson goes on, "zero-g sex."
"Kinky," Ianto says, turning and leaning back. "I used Jack's vibe and sent him pictures last Wednesday."
Jackson makes an impressed noise. "Really?"
"Yeah," Ianto grins, "He called me."
He grins. "Did you do it over the phone?"
"Nah, he was on his way home," Ianto says, "He called me from the rode. I think he ended up speeding."
"So dangerous," Jackson points out.
"I didn't ask him to speed," Ianto objects.
"Sent him a pic of you playing with yourself. He's totally going to speed."
"Well, nothing happened," Ianto shakes his head.
"...until he got home?" Or so Jackson hopes.
"Then he proceeded to tease me until I passed out coming," Ianto says with a grin.
Jackson laughs, looking impressed. "Really."
"Yeah," Ianto nods, with a grin. "I don't even remember how he came."
"Sucks to be him," Jackson notes, laughing.
"He came, I think, at least he didn't complaining to me about it."
"You should make it up to him," Jackson teases.
"I'm planning something special for Valentine's Day," Ianto states. "Skydiving, Dinner, and Dancing."
"Valentine's Day?" he asks.
"Holiday for Lovers," Ianto says. He's turns back to the computer to pull up the wikipedia page for it.
"What do you do?"
"Something," Ianto shrugs. "Its different for everyone and some people don't even like to celebrate it."
Jackson wonders if Jono celebrates Valentine's Day. "Oh. Huh."
"Do you want me to ask him?" Ianto asks and let you know.
"...ask who what?" Jackson asks, looking confused.
"Jono, if he does Valentine's Day."
Jackson looks down at his present and shrugs a little. "I can ask him."
"Okay," Ianto agrees with a slight nod.
"So ... skydiving?"
"Yeah, its all a surprise, but I was able to figure out that he just needed a refresher course."
"Ever been before?" Jackson wonders.
"Just what we did," Ianto answers simply.
Jackson grins. "So, not scared to go this time?"
"I wasn't scared last time," Ianto shakes his head.
"Uh huh. I don't believe that."
"I wasn't," Ianto scowls.
Jackson laughs. "All right, all right. You weren't scared. And you didn't use that lesson to make sure you don't piss yourself when you jump out of a plane with your boyfriend."
"I'll pee beforehand," Ianto says.
That just gets a harder laugh from him.
Ianto arches an eyebrow at him.
Jackson's laughter subsides and he gives Ianto a grin.
Ianto shakes his head. "Why did I miss you again?"
"No idea," Jackson answers honestly.
"I've forgotten why," Ianto replies.
"You fell and bumped your head."
"Actually, I did," Ianto admits.
Jackson blinks. "What, for real?"
"Fell down the stairs at the club when I had my cast on," Ianto explains. "Had a concussion."
"Ouch. Klutz."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, not wanting to go into the fight with Jack.
Jackson leans back against the closed lid of the piano and gives Ianto a scrutinizing look. "Is that what you got a house?"
"No," Ianto shakes his head. "The house we got because Alice is going to have a kid and she's living with us. We needed more space or we were just going to end up arguing with one another."
Jackson glances around. "So she's going to live with you guys ... forever?"
Ianto shrugs, "She's sixteen with no job. She's Jack's kid. She'll live with us until she's ready to move out."
"And then you'll have a huge house for just the two of you," Jackson observes. "Unless you guys are thinking about kids of your own?"
"We haven't discussed it much, honestly," Ianto says.
"Just seems so damn responsible," Jackson decides.
"Well, we have to be," Ianto doesn't see another choice.
Jackson frowns a little. "I guess so."
Ianto nods.
"Kind of sucks, though. You guys just started dating."
"Kind of sucks, that I broke my leg two weeks in." Ianto states.
"'Cause you would've stayed at your place otherwise and it wouldn't be so complicated."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "I offered to move back out, but neither of us wanted that."
"Not sure what to tell you, then," Jackson answers cheerfully.
"Yeah," Ianto agrees. "We're together, we'll make it through this."
Jackson looks dubious. "Do you have any idea what babies are like?"
"Yes," Ianto says.
"All right," he says. "Best of luck to you."
"Thanks," Ianto says.
"I think I might take you up on that offer to stay over in two, maybe three years."
"Nope, we'll have a sleepover in two months."
Jackson shakes his head. "No thanks. I prefer an active, healthy sex life uninterrupted by a fussy newborn."
"I'll let you know how it goes," Ianto tells him.
"Yeah, give me weekly updates on your blue balls." All right, living at Xavier's ... he's picked up a bit of slang.
Ianto laughs, "I will, shall I send you pictures of them?"
"I think I've seen more than enough of you without pants on, thanks."
Ianto grins, "Actually, I'd like to discuss another photoshoot with you again"
Jackson looks unamused. "Why? You've got your cast off, your boyfriend doesn't need anymore pictures."
"But he likes the pictures," Ianto states, "You could do that for Jono."
Jackson almost blushes. "I don't need to do that for Jono. He can see my ass any time he wants."
"What about when you're visiting your family?"
"My mom really likes him," Jackson says primly. "He's always welcome."
"Ah," Ianto nods, "Does she know about you two?"
Jackson grins. "Of course she does."
"Good," Ianto nods.
He glances down, looking embarrassed and pleased. "You know, he told me he loved me."
"Good," Ianto says, with an easy grin.
There's a slight pause, "I need to stop saying, 'good'."
Jackson laughs. "Yeah, probably. So, what, you want someone to take pics of your cock now? 'Cause that might not work for me."
"I have lovely cock, you'd be privileged to take pictures of it." Ianto manages to say with a straight face, though after a few seconds its seriously cracking.
Jackson looks dubious. Mostly because he's seen your alternate's cock, Ianto, and he wasn't that impressed. When Ianto cracks up, though, Jackson follows soon after.
"I can't believe I managed to keep a straight face for so long," Ianto says in-between chuckles.
He shakes his head. "I can't believe you even said that."
"It is kind of absurd, isn't it?"
"Little bit, yeah."
Ianto just grins, "Need a refill?"
"After you tell me what pictures you wanted." Jackson's just too curious now.
"Haven't decided, yet actually," Ianto gives him an amused glance.
Jackson rolls his eyes and finds his empty mug, offering it over to Ianto.
Ianto pushes himself up to go fix some more. While he's up, he goes to check on Alice.
Jackson lingers behind in Ianto's office, knowing better than to mess with the piano. In the living room, Alice is curled on her side, trying to pay more attention to whatever's on the Beeb than whatever discomfort she's having.
"Hey," Ianto says softly, "Feeling any better?"
"Still hurts," she answers, "but I think it's okay."
"Do you think some tea would help?" Ianto suggests.
"Maybe. Yeah." Alice is British, so tea fixes quite a bit, including involuntary muscle contractions.
"I'll fix you some then," Ianto says pushing himself off the couch from where he was leaning and heads to the kitchen, trying to keep up some sort of conversation. "You know, Jackson is terrified you're going to go into labor."
She laughs a little, because that's sort of ridiculous. "I'm not," Alice answers. "Trust me, if I was going into labor, you'd know."
"I know, about another month, right?" Ianto suggests. "Then I get to start getting worried when you're like this."
"Just about," she answers, sounding a little nervous about the whole idea. "Like I said, you'd know if I was in labor."
"I'm sure, we'll have a few false alarms, at least that’s what I'm getting from my reading on it." He's hoping that if he's wrong Alice will correct him.
"This is one of those false alarms. Or so I've read." She pauses, sitting up a little. "You've been reading about it?"
"Well yeah," Ianto says, as if that's a foregone conclusion. "I know Jack is your go to guy on this, but we've been home alone often enough that if it did happen, I'd hope you go to me and we could panic together."
"Yeah," she agrees. "I'm not going to hold it in 'til dad gets home or anything, believe me."
"It’s supposed to take a couple hours, isn't it?" Ianto asks, "Its not supposed to be like on the telly.”
"Everyone's different. Sometimes it's a few hours, sometimes it's thirty-six. Just depends."
"Well, I'm sure Jack will be sticking close to you when it gets close to the due date."
"Hope so," she says quietly. This is kind of getting ... scary.
"I'm sure it will be fine," Ianto says, with a slight smile while he's making her tea and Jackson's hot chocolate.
"Guess so," Alice answers, trying to sound more convinced than she is.
"Hope you don't mind me, bringing Jackson over. I just haven't seen him in a while," Ianto says, because it is Alice's home too.
"It's fine," she answers, finally pushing up off the couch with a great deal of effort to head into the kitchen. "I don't mind."
"Good," Ianto says, "Because it kind of creeped Jack out that one of my closest friends was a younger alternate of him."
Alice is rinsing her old mug in prep for tea and gives Ianto a look. "That is a little strange."
"Completely alternate reality. He's from the 51st century."
"So that explains the aliens, at least."
Ianto nods, "He wasn't kidding when he said that."
"And you met him in the Nexus?"
"Yep," Ianto nods.
Alice nods a little. "Cool."
Ianto finishes making her tea and offering it to her. "There tea is all done."
"Thanks," she says, taking the cup of tea. Alice smiles a little, then heads back to the couch.
"No problem," Ianto says with a smile. He finishes making Jackson's hot chocolate up and goes back to his office.
Jackson is reading the website Ianto left open.
"Finding out all about Valentine's Day?" Ianto asks.
"Reading about pregnancy," he answers. "So she's not really going to have the baby in the living room?"
Ianto rolls his eyes, "No, she's having it in the garage, remember."
"Oh, right. Did you set up the pool? You should probably heat the water."
"We've got the space heaters for that."
"Uh huh." Jackson reaches for the hot chocolate.
Ianto hands it to him and then goes to sit down at the piano. He's start fiddling on it while Jackson reads.
Given a bright idea, Jackson sips his hot chocolate and looks up Valentine's Day.
Ianto did have the wiki page up when he left. Meanwhile, Ianto starts playing.
He reads while Ianto plays, kind of confused by this holiday.
Ianto will keep playing by memory until Jackson says something, simply giving him background music.
Jackson eventually sets the hot chocolate down and swivels the desk chair around to face the piano. He puts his foot up on the bench next to Ianto and nudges at him. "Not giving up on your guitar lessons, are you?"
"No, the guitar is so much cooler," Ianto says with a grin. "Though my teacher has been gone for months and months."
"Sorry," Jackson apologizes on Jono's behalf, but grins nonetheless.
"Its okay, he was off saving people."
"He was," Jackson answers proudly. "He was great, you know. Absolutely amazing."
"I'm sure he was," Ianto agrees.
Jackson is completely in love. He leans back in the desk chair and smiles, sipping at his hot chocolate.
"Someone is besotted," Ianto sing-songs.
"I don't know what that means."
Ianto laughs, song pausing. "Fine, Jackson and Jono sitting in a tree...." Ianto sings, playing along with little ditty.
Jackson has heard this before. He rolls his eyes.
But has it been sung while being accompanied? Ianto finishes with a little flourish at the end.
"Better?"
"Oh, very.," he answers sarcastically. "Thank you."
Ianto chuckles, playing the same song on the piano without singing it.
"You can stop that any time, you know."
"Stop what?" Ianto asks.
"That song."
"What about it?"
Jackson laughs. "You can stop playing it?"
Ianto stops with a laugh.
Jackson gives him another nudge with his foot.
"Yes, Jackson?" Ianto asks.
"So, what else did I miss while I was gone? You're practically married with kids, what else?"
"I got a raise," Ianto says managing a smile.
"Not too hard, you're fucking the boss." Jackson nudges him again. "Or is that the raise?"
"No, monetary, but they cut my hours."
"So you make more for working less? That's pretty good."
"No, I make exactly the same for less hours, I wanted the extra money."
"Well, that's still a good deal."
Ianto rolls his eyes, "Jackson the point of a raise is to make more money, not the same, besides I like working."
"If I understand this whole job and money thing right, making the same money for doing less work is technically a raise."
"Technically, it is, but that technicality doesn't pay the bills."
"Well, if they cut your hours, maybe you have time for a second job."
"I've been thinking about it," Ianto admits softly. "Its just two days a week? Not much time for a second job."
Jackson shrugs a little. "I don't know much about working for money, I'll be honest."
"Its alright," Ianto sighs.
"What would you do for a second job?"
"Probably a part-time job, fast food maybe."
"Sounds kind of terrible, though."
"It is," Ianto sighs, "Maybe a barista job though."
"Making coffee? You are pretty good at that."
"Yeah," Ianto nods. "After Valentine's Day though."
Jackson grins. "Plan on being too exhausted to move?"
"Busy day for us," Ianto says with a smile. "Though Jack doesn't know it."
"Just remember not to pass out," Jackson teases.
"I will," Ianto grins.
"Remember or pass out?"
"Remember," Ianto clarifies.
Jackson laughs, leaning back in the chair. "Should be fun, then. What's Alice doing for Valentine's Day?"
"Honestly, not sure, Jack and I really only discussed us," Ianto frowns, thinking that Alice should do something.
He nods, looking a little thoughtful. "What about the baby's dad?"
"The baby's dad is unaware of being a soon to be father," Ianto says calmly.
"Take it they're not close, then?" He doesn't seem that bothered by it. It happens.
"I don't know, I'm not getting involved in it," Ianto shakes his head. He was burned once, he's keeping his nose out of it again.
Jackson shrugs. "Well, hopefully she's doing something."
Ianto nods, making a mental note to ask later.
"Otherwise ... " Jackson shrugs a little. "I mean, it's not going to be Valentine's Day in Jono's universe, so if she wanted to come hang out with some people her own age ... " Yes, he's offering.
Ianto grins at that, before asking, "You sure?"
"Why not? She's gotta be bored to death just hanging out with you guys."
"You want to the make offer?" Ianto asks, "Or should I?"
"Nah," Jackson says, shaking his head. "Just let me know if she's not doing anything and I'll figure something out." Something that's subtler than 'hey wanna hang out with some pretty gay dudes on Valentine's Day?'
"Okay," Ianto agrees with a nod. "I'll try to figure it out, pretty soon."
"Cool. Just give me a heads up."
"Of course," Ianto agrees. "So what do you think of the house?"
"It's pretty nice," Jackson answers. "Not that I pegged you for the house and yard and all that type."
"I'm thinking of putting a garden in the back," Ianto says.
Jackson shakes his head. "You're all domestic suddenly."
"Yeah," Ianto agrees, "Though if you want to clubbing some night let me know!"
He laughs. "Yeah, I do. Bet I'm old enough to get into the Hub properly, too."
"You bet?" Ianto asks, smiling. "You haven't figured it out yet?"
"Hey, I was gone from my universe for almost a year."
"Only almost?" Ianto asks, grinning.
Jackson rolls his eyes. "Look, it's past my eighteenth birthday in my universe, so yeah."
"Okay," Ianto nods. "Then you'll have to come out one night when I'm working, you won't want to go there on Wednesdays."
"Why not? What's going on Wednesdays?"
"Karaoke," Ianto says, and shudders slightly.
Jackson blinks. "What's that?"
"It’s where they have the background music going and you sing the words which are on a screen." Ianto explains. "There is a lot of maiming of good songs going on."
Jackson laughs. "No, that sounds fun. I should take Jono." :3
"Well, I won't be there."
"So we'll come back on a Friday?"
"Yeah, Friday is pretty rocking," Ianto agrees with nod.
That gets a laugh from Jackson. 'Rocking'? Really? "Sounds like a plan, then."
"I suppose I could use the term, jumpin'?"
Jackson just laughs again. "Sure, if you want."
"I'll check with Gwen, she's the PR, I'm sure she knows what word I'm supposed to use."
"Oh, please," Jackson answers, grinning.
Ianto grins back.
Jackson just shakes his head. "So where's your boyfriend?"
"No idea, he took Alice to Lamaze class," Alice is clearly home, so he pauses for a moment. "So I'd assume, he was running some errands."
Jackson nods. "Do I still weird him out a little?"
"No idea, we haven't talked about you in a while," Ianto reminds him.
This is where he gives a little sniffle. "You haven't? Forgot all about me."
"Clearly, I haven't or else there wouldn't be a Christmas present sitting in my desk."
"Nah, you just had that left over. Or you got it and didn't want it and wrapped it when I was on my way over."
Ianto snorts, "Yeah, that's why it was covered with dust."
"I'm still dubious." Jackson is teasing, of course, but Ianto is good for it.
"Of course, I save dust, so I can trick people into thinking the gifts I bought them for a holiday months ago were being stored for months."
"Ha! See? I knew it."
Ianto snorts, and laughs.
Jackson laughs, leaning back in the chair. After a pause, he admits, "Okay, I guess I missed you."
Ianto grins at him, "Well, I suppose, I'm glad to have you back."
"You better be," Jackson counters.
Ianto just grins at him.
Jackson grins back, then shakes his head. "I should get out of your hair, huh?"
"If you want," Ianto says. "Worried about your brother?"
"Yeah," he admits. "And I hate leaving my mom alone for too long. She was ... pretty upset when I ran off."
Ianto nods, "Alright, I guess I'll let you go, so long as you promise not to disappear for months."
He laughs. "Yeah, okay. I promise."
"Alright," Ianto agrees then. He stands then, giving in and hugging Jackson. "Take care of yourself and your family."
Jackson stands, with his mug in hand, and gives Ianto a hug. "I will. Good luck with that whole baby thing."
"Thanks," Ianto says with a grin. "I'm probably going to need it."
"Probably." Jackson fishes the PINpoint out of his pocket. "Can I save these coordinates?"
"Probably better to save from the front porch, so you don't pop in here when Jack and I are shagging on the desk."
"Wouldn't be anything I've not seen before," he answers, heading out of the office. "Gotta get my shoes and jacket, anyway."
"I'll walk you out," Ianto says, following after him.
"You just want me to go out in the freezing cold again," Jackson points out, slipping back into his shoes.
"It'll only be for a few seconds," Ianto shakes his head at the whining.
"Yeah, yeah," Jackson complains, shrugging into his jacket. "I'll see you. Text me, if you want. I still get reception on Boeshane. It's ridiculous."
"Is it a Nexus phone?" Iatno asks.
"Yup. Which explains a lot."
"Reception just about everywhere," Ianto says smiling.
"Yup," he agrees, then steals another quick hug. "See you around."
"Later," Ianto agrees. Ianto will give him a quick noogie while he's in there.
Jackson ducks the noogie as best he can and lets himself out. He spends a moment saving the coordinates before teleporting out.
Ianto watches from the window, giving him a quick wave, before heading back into the main part of the house.
Alice is curled up on the couch still, possibly napping.
Ianto will toss a blanket over her, if she doesn't have one, and then quietly head into his office.