Chapter Twenty: The Party's Over
May. 21st, 2010 04:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ericadawn16Title: Knocked Up!
Author: Ericadawn16
Prompt: Knocked Up
Character/Pairing(s): Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Rhi/Johnny, Ianto/Lisa
Rating:R
Warnings: MPreg, sex, language
Spoilers:Character from COE
Word Count:68,599
Disclaimer for TW and the movie you are using:I own nothing.
Summary:Ianto gets a promotion at work, meets Jack and things are never the same...
Beta: BIG Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
madkatstar_pir8 pirate4evrnavy2 and surreal_44
Author's Notes: This story is very AU. Chapter Nineteen: Still Twenty-eight Weeks Along
Chapter Twenty: The Party's Over
Ianto and Rhi sat on a street curb near his car.
"It's over," she said and sniffled.
"What's over?" Ianto asked.
"My youth," Rhi complained and Ianto took his mobile out. He was expecting Martha to phone him.
"Don't say that," he told her.
"It's true. I just want to dance. I love dancing," Rhi said with a frown.
"So dance," he spoke gestured toward the empty pavement.
"I can't dance," Rhi argued, "It'd be embarrassing."
"I'm the embarrassment. I’m a fucking whale and I have tits and guy hair..."
"No, you look beautiful. He was a fuckwit. You’re young and you’re tall and this is all temporary and you'll probably end up skinnier than ever. I’m going to be alone," she said as a loud car passed by them. It was playing a Spice Girls' song.
"Rhi, no, you're not," he said and put an arm around her.
"Yes, I am. Oh, God! Fucking, men! I get worse looking and he gets better looking, and it’s so fucking unfair. Oh, fuck. We should go. The Johnsons always some snide comment if I come to pick them up late," Rhi said, "Like I'm a bad parent. They won't even let their kids watch Disney!"
***********************************************************
On stage, an acrobat was given props to pile on top of each other in order to reach a street lamp. He took a long section of pipe and balanced on top of it.
"Ohhhhhh!" said Jack and Johnny in unison.
"This was a great idea, mate," John agreed, "but when are they taking their kit off?"
"This is the best idea you've ever had in my life," Johnny uttered with a grin. Then, the streetlamp was fixed onstage and all the lights started to sing.
"No, no, no, that's not right at all, that's like...Macamerics..."
"And they could put things in your ear," John complained with a shudder. Johnny looked at them in confusion and mumbled, "I think the mushrooms are turning on me."
The rest of the crowd applauded the act.
"No, don't applaud! That's what they want you to do!" Jack yelled and stood up. New characters came onto the stage.
"I'm not sure I like this anymore," Johnny said and stood up, too. A toddler stood up and turned around, staring right at Jack. She had dark curls and blue eyes or did she? Jack was on the verge of freaking out. He wasn't sure what was real or not. Jack sat back down.
"Daddy," the little girl babbled and Jack couldn't take it. He hadn't been called that in decades.
"I am not your daddy," he told her. The man who must have been her real daddy leaned over to sit her back in her plastic booster seat.
"I can't deal with this!" Jack screamed, stood up and ran for the exit.
*******************************************************
Ianto lay on his bed when his mobile rang. He checked the caller and saw it was Martha.
"Hello, Martha," he greeted into the device.
"How are you feeling? Any contractions? Plenty of movement? Any dizzy spells, spots or anything out of the ordinary?" she asked before Ianto could say anything further.
"Tired, I slept most of the day. She's cooperating and I haven't had any spells or incantations or anything of that sort," he joked and Martha snorted on the other end.
"Sounds good, I'll be over in the morning to make sure, but it sounds like if you're up to it, I might be able to clear you for work tomorrow," she said and Ianto rubbed his belly.
"Thanks," he told her and hung up.
***************************************************************
Jack was wrapped in a hotel blanket while wearing a t-shirt and boxer shorts.
"We should go to the beach," John suggested and lit a cigarette.
"No, the chairs won't allow for it," Johnny argued as he moved them around. On the telly, there was a movie about a white haired man and all his children.
"Let’s move, gang! Come on, come on, come on! Jessica, can you get these plates and put them on the table, please?!" the man begged on the telly.
"This isn’t funny. That guy has twelve kids. It’s not funny. This is sick. This is a sick movie. That’s a lot of responsibility to be joking about. That’s not funny. I got to turn this off. It’s freaking me out," Jack said and turned it off. Maybe he should call Ianto except he'd be waking him up or he'd be getting ready for work. He didn't want to sort that out this minute. Johnny was still chairs around the room.
"There are five different types of chairs in this hotel room," Johnny said, looking at all of them.
"Holy fuck, what are they all doing in here?" John asked.
"These are five different types of chair," Johnny explained and pointed to each.
"Get them out of here, mate. This is too many chairs for one room," John complained and started walking around the room.
"There’s a guy that works for this hotel. His whole job is to find chairs," Jack explained, "We've slept together before."
Johnny moved to a tall chair and sat on it. Jack let go of the blanket, stood up and walked over by him.
"Look at this one. Look at it. It’s gold and red and it’s kind of shiny. Shiny thread? Unbelievable. It is beautiful, and it feels amazing," Johnny said and Jack attributed his wordiness to the mushroom stuff.
"The tall one’s gawking at me and the short one’s being very droll. I don’t like them," John complained before sitting on the bed. Johnny switched to another chair as Jack tried one of them, too.
"Oh, wow!" he exclaimed at the chair. It almost seemed to be heated.
"It’s weird that chairs even exist when you’re not sitting on them," Johnny commented and moved to the tallest chair in the room, "I'm up high! I'm really high up."
Jack looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
"I should've read the baby books," he muttered.
"Why didn't you read the baby books?" Johnny asked.
"Because...because it's all the same anyway," Jack said, "because...because then it's real..."
"Mate, it’s real whether or not you read those books. That baby’s coming," John stated and ground out his cigarette on an ashtray. Johnny moved to a different chair.
"Oh, man!" Johnny exclaimed in ecstasy and rubbed his butt against the fabric.
"Think they'll take us back?" Jack asked with worry in his voice.
"Yes. But I don’t know why. Do you ever wonder how somebody could even like you?" Johnny asked while holding the armrests.
"All the time, man, like every day," John said while staring at Johnny.
"How can Rhi like me? She likes me. I mean, she loves me. The biggest problem in our marriage is that she wants me around. She loves me so much that she wants me around all the time. That’s our biggest problem. And I can’t even accept that? Uh, like that upsets me?!" Johnny complained and leaned back. The effects of the mushroom substances on Jack were starting to disappear.
"What?" Jack asked and tried to process this revelation. Johnny rubbed his wedding ring as he said, "She's the one. She loves me."
"You can’t believe...that people love you? I love you, man! Rhi loves you!" Jack told him.
"I don’t think I can accept her love. There’s something wrong with me," Johnny spoke and shook his head.
"You can't accept love?" John asked, "I can accept love in any position or orifice."
"I don't know what it is," Johnny whispered.
"Love? The most beautiful, shiny, warmy thing in the world? You can’t accept it?" Jack questioned and had another urge to phone Ianto.
"I have to go to this other chair," Johnny said and squirmed on the new one like he needed to go to the loo, "Oh, this is a better energy."
"You can’t accept pure love? You can’t accept Rhi? She’s chosen to give you her life. She’s picked you as her life partner! But you play fantasy baseball because you can’t accept her love?" Jack asked before finding the room a little hot. He took his t-shirt off and stood up. Then, he burped.
"Ugh. I could accept it. And Rhi’s amazing, mate. She’s cool and she’s funny and she smells good and she’s nice and her hair always looks different. She’s too good for you, mate," John spoke and stood up as well. Johnny picked up a cushion and licked it.
"Tastes like a rainbow," he commented.
"You’re disgusting. You’re an urchin and she busts your balls because you’re a little bitch! You’re a filthy bitch! And I’d bust your balls! Rhi wants to give her life to you and Ianto doesn’t want to do that with me and I made him cry and I made him go into labour and it makes me sad all day. I want to go home," Jack complained and crossed his arms.
"I want to go home, too," Johnny agreed.
********************************************************
Ianto was supervising the decorations for David's party. He had offered to help her as she placed pirate hats at each chair, but she'd refused. Ianto knew it was important to take things easy yet he hated being coddled.
"Everything looks great," Ianto told her.
"Thanks. I went kind of overboard, huh?" Rhi asked with a smile.
"No, it's fine," he said.
"Yeah, my son only turns eleven once. Is Jack going to come?" she asked and rearranged one of the other party favors. It had been a little over a week and they still weren't really speaking.
"I don't think so. I don't know why he would," Ianto spoke although there had been a phone call or two.
******************************************************
Jack walked up to the front of the house and knocked on the door. The birthday boy answered and Jack remembered his name was David.
"Happy Birthday!" he greeted and the boy looked confused.
"Where have you been?" David asked.
"Around. You know, just kind of doing my thing," Jack said to him.
"Why is everybody so mad at you?" the boy asked.
"I don’t know. Are they mad? What have they been saying?" Jack questioned and resisted the urge to pull at his jeans. He hadn't worn such tight clothing in decades, but he thought Ianto might appreciate the effort; something other than his World War 2 clothes.
"They’ve been saying, like “blah-blah blah-blah. Jack’s a cock,” David told him.
"They said that?" Jack asked and winced when he nodded.
"A lot," the boy added.
"That sucks," Jack complained. Then, David asked, "And you really don't know what you did?"
"I...I should have treated your uncle better," Jack admitted with more regret than he'd realised.
"He's really pregnant then, isn't he?" David questioned and all Jack could do was nod, "Mica and I aren't allowed to say anything unless no one else can hear us; only family."
The boy stepped aside so Jack could enter the house. He followed David through entry and rooms until they came across the kitchen. Johnny was wearing a pirate hat as he and Rhi placed party food on decorative trays.
"Rhi, we're running low on plates," Johnny said before noticing him, "Jack, how are you?"
It should have been a simple question except he knew what they'd been saying about him. He shrugged.
"Hi, Jack," Rhi greeted him with a fake smile.
"Hi, Rhi," he told her.
"How are you?" she asked before popping a melon ball into her mouth.
"Does it matter? Shouldn't I be asking you the same about him?" he questioned because he really did love him. David didn't give them a second thought before leaving for the backyard.
"Uh...yeah," Rhi agreed and turned to Johnny, "Did you just get black cupcakes or did you get black and blue cupcakes?"
Jack almost wanted to read their thoughts, but he didn't do it. He couldn't see any signs of Ianto even though he knew he would be around somewhere.
"I just got blue cupcakes," Johnny told her. Jack's stomach started twisting into knots.
"I thought I said to get black cupcakes," Rhi said with her hands on her hips like her brother did sometimes.
"I can run out. I'll get some more," Johnny suggested.
"Eh, it's not a big deal," she spoke and it was a little strange.
"I don't mind," Johnny insisted and Jack couldn't hide his laughter. This was so different.
"No, it doesn't matter," Rhi told him.
"You sure?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, you look really cute in that," she said of his khakis and polo shirt. She kissed him on the lips before going into the backyard.
"You seem to be on good terms again," Jack pointed out.
"And you dressed down, didn't think you were capable," Johnny teased while pointing at his button shirt with short sleeves. Owen had told him what to wear.
"If it does any good..." Jack uttered and picked up a piece of apple before eating it.
"He loves you...deep inside...beyond the part that wants to break your neck," Johnny said which didn't make him feel better.
"He could do that if he wanted, I'd let him," Jack uttered since Johnny wouldn't think anything weird from it. He seemed to be under the impression that Jack would say things he wouldn't understand and he shouldn't worry about it.
"You going to talk to Ianto?" he asked and motioned towards the doors.
"Yeah, I was about to," Jack confirmed and held up the box.
"Good," Johnny said and took the box from him. Most of the presents on the table outside were a lot bigger than his and he saw Gwen swinging Mica around.
"It's an autographed copy of Harry Potter," Jack told him, "all kids like those, right?"
"They both do," Johnny confirmed and Jack headed into the backyard. Ianto was sitting on a chair by the pool. He dragged a chair next to him.
"Ianto, I'm sorry about what I did," he uttered and reached for Ianto's hand. His belly was hidden under a beach blanket.
"I know you keep saying that, but...all these months, you could have just told me something. You didn't tell me anything," Ianto spoke and didn't take his hand.
"I'll do it all the right way this time, I promise," Jack told him.
"I just don’t think we can make it work," Ianto said, turning towards Jack.
"We can get back on track and everything’s going to be great," Jack spoke and moved closer. His blue eyes were sad and resigned.
"You were just being nice and now you feel guilty about what happened. And I was being nice and you smell really good and just because we’re feeling all of that doesn’t mean we should stay together. I don’t want this baby to determine the rest of our lives. You know? Me not wanting to do this alone isn’t enough of a reason to drag you into a relationship with me. It’s just not fair. And, and don’t repeat this, but, God, I don’t want to end up like Rhi," Ianto complained and a tear or two came down his face.
"But Rhi looked happy," Jack said, taken aback.
"She’s happy today, but every day is a constant struggle for them because they’re not right for each other. You see? And they have to force it and I don’t want us to have to do that. I don’t want to force you to be what I think you should be. That’s wrong of me because you’re great in a lot of ways. You really are, but then you do the cases in Torchwood that are tantamount to suicide, the ones too dangerous for active duty personnel and you like to do shrooms in Vegas and..."
"I didn't do shrooms in Vegas," Jack argued because that wasn't their technical name.
"And who am I to stop you? Who am I to tell you that that’s wrong? It’s not wrong. It’s who you are. It’s what you enjoy and that’s your life and..."
"I’m not that guy anymore," Jack interrupted and moved onto the edge of Ianto's chair.
"We can be friends. And you can be there when the baby is born, and in the baby’s life as much as you want. I hope you will be," Ianto said with a detached nod. If this had been a few months ago, Jack would have agreed that it was for the best, but now? It was too late. Yvonne was sure to know about them and Jack loved Ianto. He loved the baby. He couldn't lose them or keep making the same mistakes about not letting people get to know him. Jack was ready for commitment. He just didn't know how to prove himself.
"If you give me a shot to just show you that I’m com--" he stopped and kissed him. It was the only language that he fully understood or trusted. His lips pressed against his and his hands caressed Ianto's cheek. Ianto put his hands around the back of Jack's head to draw him further in and his tongue entered Jack's mouth. Jack pressed against Ianto's body so he could feel the bump against his abdomen.
"Ianto? Excuse me?" Rhi asked in an exasperated tone and nothing could ruin his mood faster.
"Oh, shit," Ianto spat.
"Can you grab the video camera? We’re going to sing 'Happy Birthday' now," Rhi said to Ianto. His mood was getting worse.
"Yep," he agreed and Rhi helped him up, "I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m sorry. You can come."
"Fine," Jack said but he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay. Ianto touched Jack's hair for a moment, saying, "I’ll be right back. We’ll finish talking."
From the expression on Rhi's face, Jack couldn't see that happening.
Chapter Twenty-One: Twenty-nine Weeks Along
Author: Ericadawn16
Prompt: Knocked Up
Character/Pairing(s): Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Rhi/Johnny, Ianto/Lisa
Rating:R
Warnings: MPreg, sex, language
Spoilers:Character from COE
Word Count:68,599
Disclaimer for TW and the movie you are using:I own nothing.
Summary:Ianto gets a promotion at work, meets Jack and things are never the same...
Beta: BIG Thanks to
madkatstar_pir8 pirate4evrnavy2 and surreal_44Author's Notes: This story is very AU. Chapter Nineteen: Still Twenty-eight Weeks Along
Chapter Twenty: The Party's Over
Ianto and Rhi sat on a street curb near his car.
"It's over," she said and sniffled.
"What's over?" Ianto asked.
"My youth," Rhi complained and Ianto took his mobile out. He was expecting Martha to phone him.
"Don't say that," he told her.
"It's true. I just want to dance. I love dancing," Rhi said with a frown.
"So dance," he spoke gestured toward the empty pavement.
"I can't dance," Rhi argued, "It'd be embarrassing."
"I'm the embarrassment. I’m a fucking whale and I have tits and guy hair..."
"No, you look beautiful. He was a fuckwit. You’re young and you’re tall and this is all temporary and you'll probably end up skinnier than ever. I’m going to be alone," she said as a loud car passed by them. It was playing a Spice Girls' song.
"Rhi, no, you're not," he said and put an arm around her.
"Yes, I am. Oh, God! Fucking, men! I get worse looking and he gets better looking, and it’s so fucking unfair. Oh, fuck. We should go. The Johnsons always some snide comment if I come to pick them up late," Rhi said, "Like I'm a bad parent. They won't even let their kids watch Disney!"
***********************************************************
On stage, an acrobat was given props to pile on top of each other in order to reach a street lamp. He took a long section of pipe and balanced on top of it.
"Ohhhhhh!" said Jack and Johnny in unison.
"This was a great idea, mate," John agreed, "but when are they taking their kit off?"
"This is the best idea you've ever had in my life," Johnny uttered with a grin. Then, the streetlamp was fixed onstage and all the lights started to sing.
"No, no, no, that's not right at all, that's like...Macamerics..."
"And they could put things in your ear," John complained with a shudder. Johnny looked at them in confusion and mumbled, "I think the mushrooms are turning on me."
The rest of the crowd applauded the act.
"No, don't applaud! That's what they want you to do!" Jack yelled and stood up. New characters came onto the stage.
"I'm not sure I like this anymore," Johnny said and stood up, too. A toddler stood up and turned around, staring right at Jack. She had dark curls and blue eyes or did she? Jack was on the verge of freaking out. He wasn't sure what was real or not. Jack sat back down.
"Daddy," the little girl babbled and Jack couldn't take it. He hadn't been called that in decades.
"I am not your daddy," he told her. The man who must have been her real daddy leaned over to sit her back in her plastic booster seat.
"I can't deal with this!" Jack screamed, stood up and ran for the exit.
*******************************************************
Ianto lay on his bed when his mobile rang. He checked the caller and saw it was Martha.
"Hello, Martha," he greeted into the device.
"How are you feeling? Any contractions? Plenty of movement? Any dizzy spells, spots or anything out of the ordinary?" she asked before Ianto could say anything further.
"Tired, I slept most of the day. She's cooperating and I haven't had any spells or incantations or anything of that sort," he joked and Martha snorted on the other end.
"Sounds good, I'll be over in the morning to make sure, but it sounds like if you're up to it, I might be able to clear you for work tomorrow," she said and Ianto rubbed his belly.
"Thanks," he told her and hung up.
***************************************************************
Jack was wrapped in a hotel blanket while wearing a t-shirt and boxer shorts.
"We should go to the beach," John suggested and lit a cigarette.
"No, the chairs won't allow for it," Johnny argued as he moved them around. On the telly, there was a movie about a white haired man and all his children.
"Let’s move, gang! Come on, come on, come on! Jessica, can you get these plates and put them on the table, please?!" the man begged on the telly.
"This isn’t funny. That guy has twelve kids. It’s not funny. This is sick. This is a sick movie. That’s a lot of responsibility to be joking about. That’s not funny. I got to turn this off. It’s freaking me out," Jack said and turned it off. Maybe he should call Ianto except he'd be waking him up or he'd be getting ready for work. He didn't want to sort that out this minute. Johnny was still chairs around the room.
"There are five different types of chairs in this hotel room," Johnny said, looking at all of them.
"Holy fuck, what are they all doing in here?" John asked.
"These are five different types of chair," Johnny explained and pointed to each.
"Get them out of here, mate. This is too many chairs for one room," John complained and started walking around the room.
"There’s a guy that works for this hotel. His whole job is to find chairs," Jack explained, "We've slept together before."
Johnny moved to a tall chair and sat on it. Jack let go of the blanket, stood up and walked over by him.
"Look at this one. Look at it. It’s gold and red and it’s kind of shiny. Shiny thread? Unbelievable. It is beautiful, and it feels amazing," Johnny said and Jack attributed his wordiness to the mushroom stuff.
"The tall one’s gawking at me and the short one’s being very droll. I don’t like them," John complained before sitting on the bed. Johnny switched to another chair as Jack tried one of them, too.
"Oh, wow!" he exclaimed at the chair. It almost seemed to be heated.
"It’s weird that chairs even exist when you’re not sitting on them," Johnny commented and moved to the tallest chair in the room, "I'm up high! I'm really high up."
Jack looked up at the ceiling and sighed.
"I should've read the baby books," he muttered.
"Why didn't you read the baby books?" Johnny asked.
"Because...because it's all the same anyway," Jack said, "because...because then it's real..."
"Mate, it’s real whether or not you read those books. That baby’s coming," John stated and ground out his cigarette on an ashtray. Johnny moved to a different chair.
"Oh, man!" Johnny exclaimed in ecstasy and rubbed his butt against the fabric.
"Think they'll take us back?" Jack asked with worry in his voice.
"Yes. But I don’t know why. Do you ever wonder how somebody could even like you?" Johnny asked while holding the armrests.
"All the time, man, like every day," John said while staring at Johnny.
"How can Rhi like me? She likes me. I mean, she loves me. The biggest problem in our marriage is that she wants me around. She loves me so much that she wants me around all the time. That’s our biggest problem. And I can’t even accept that? Uh, like that upsets me?!" Johnny complained and leaned back. The effects of the mushroom substances on Jack were starting to disappear.
"What?" Jack asked and tried to process this revelation. Johnny rubbed his wedding ring as he said, "She's the one. She loves me."
"You can’t believe...that people love you? I love you, man! Rhi loves you!" Jack told him.
"I don’t think I can accept her love. There’s something wrong with me," Johnny spoke and shook his head.
"You can't accept love?" John asked, "I can accept love in any position or orifice."
"I don't know what it is," Johnny whispered.
"Love? The most beautiful, shiny, warmy thing in the world? You can’t accept it?" Jack questioned and had another urge to phone Ianto.
"I have to go to this other chair," Johnny said and squirmed on the new one like he needed to go to the loo, "Oh, this is a better energy."
"You can’t accept pure love? You can’t accept Rhi? She’s chosen to give you her life. She’s picked you as her life partner! But you play fantasy baseball because you can’t accept her love?" Jack asked before finding the room a little hot. He took his t-shirt off and stood up. Then, he burped.
"Ugh. I could accept it. And Rhi’s amazing, mate. She’s cool and she’s funny and she smells good and she’s nice and her hair always looks different. She’s too good for you, mate," John spoke and stood up as well. Johnny picked up a cushion and licked it.
"Tastes like a rainbow," he commented.
"You’re disgusting. You’re an urchin and she busts your balls because you’re a little bitch! You’re a filthy bitch! And I’d bust your balls! Rhi wants to give her life to you and Ianto doesn’t want to do that with me and I made him cry and I made him go into labour and it makes me sad all day. I want to go home," Jack complained and crossed his arms.
"I want to go home, too," Johnny agreed.
********************************************************
Ianto was supervising the decorations for David's party. He had offered to help her as she placed pirate hats at each chair, but she'd refused. Ianto knew it was important to take things easy yet he hated being coddled.
"Everything looks great," Ianto told her.
"Thanks. I went kind of overboard, huh?" Rhi asked with a smile.
"No, it's fine," he said.
"Yeah, my son only turns eleven once. Is Jack going to come?" she asked and rearranged one of the other party favors. It had been a little over a week and they still weren't really speaking.
"I don't think so. I don't know why he would," Ianto spoke although there had been a phone call or two.
******************************************************
Jack walked up to the front of the house and knocked on the door. The birthday boy answered and Jack remembered his name was David.
"Happy Birthday!" he greeted and the boy looked confused.
"Where have you been?" David asked.
"Around. You know, just kind of doing my thing," Jack said to him.
"Why is everybody so mad at you?" the boy asked.
"I don’t know. Are they mad? What have they been saying?" Jack questioned and resisted the urge to pull at his jeans. He hadn't worn such tight clothing in decades, but he thought Ianto might appreciate the effort; something other than his World War 2 clothes.
"They’ve been saying, like “blah-blah blah-blah. Jack’s a cock,” David told him.
"They said that?" Jack asked and winced when he nodded.
"A lot," the boy added.
"That sucks," Jack complained. Then, David asked, "And you really don't know what you did?"
"I...I should have treated your uncle better," Jack admitted with more regret than he'd realised.
"He's really pregnant then, isn't he?" David questioned and all Jack could do was nod, "Mica and I aren't allowed to say anything unless no one else can hear us; only family."
The boy stepped aside so Jack could enter the house. He followed David through entry and rooms until they came across the kitchen. Johnny was wearing a pirate hat as he and Rhi placed party food on decorative trays.
"Rhi, we're running low on plates," Johnny said before noticing him, "Jack, how are you?"
It should have been a simple question except he knew what they'd been saying about him. He shrugged.
"Hi, Jack," Rhi greeted him with a fake smile.
"Hi, Rhi," he told her.
"How are you?" she asked before popping a melon ball into her mouth.
"Does it matter? Shouldn't I be asking you the same about him?" he questioned because he really did love him. David didn't give them a second thought before leaving for the backyard.
"Uh...yeah," Rhi agreed and turned to Johnny, "Did you just get black cupcakes or did you get black and blue cupcakes?"
Jack almost wanted to read their thoughts, but he didn't do it. He couldn't see any signs of Ianto even though he knew he would be around somewhere.
"I just got blue cupcakes," Johnny told her. Jack's stomach started twisting into knots.
"I thought I said to get black cupcakes," Rhi said with her hands on her hips like her brother did sometimes.
"I can run out. I'll get some more," Johnny suggested.
"Eh, it's not a big deal," she spoke and it was a little strange.
"I don't mind," Johnny insisted and Jack couldn't hide his laughter. This was so different.
"No, it doesn't matter," Rhi told him.
"You sure?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, you look really cute in that," she said of his khakis and polo shirt. She kissed him on the lips before going into the backyard.
"You seem to be on good terms again," Jack pointed out.
"And you dressed down, didn't think you were capable," Johnny teased while pointing at his button shirt with short sleeves. Owen had told him what to wear.
"If it does any good..." Jack uttered and picked up a piece of apple before eating it.
"He loves you...deep inside...beyond the part that wants to break your neck," Johnny said which didn't make him feel better.
"He could do that if he wanted, I'd let him," Jack uttered since Johnny wouldn't think anything weird from it. He seemed to be under the impression that Jack would say things he wouldn't understand and he shouldn't worry about it.
"You going to talk to Ianto?" he asked and motioned towards the doors.
"Yeah, I was about to," Jack confirmed and held up the box.
"Good," Johnny said and took the box from him. Most of the presents on the table outside were a lot bigger than his and he saw Gwen swinging Mica around.
"It's an autographed copy of Harry Potter," Jack told him, "all kids like those, right?"
"They both do," Johnny confirmed and Jack headed into the backyard. Ianto was sitting on a chair by the pool. He dragged a chair next to him.
"Ianto, I'm sorry about what I did," he uttered and reached for Ianto's hand. His belly was hidden under a beach blanket.
"I know you keep saying that, but...all these months, you could have just told me something. You didn't tell me anything," Ianto spoke and didn't take his hand.
"I'll do it all the right way this time, I promise," Jack told him.
"I just don’t think we can make it work," Ianto said, turning towards Jack.
"We can get back on track and everything’s going to be great," Jack spoke and moved closer. His blue eyes were sad and resigned.
"You were just being nice and now you feel guilty about what happened. And I was being nice and you smell really good and just because we’re feeling all of that doesn’t mean we should stay together. I don’t want this baby to determine the rest of our lives. You know? Me not wanting to do this alone isn’t enough of a reason to drag you into a relationship with me. It’s just not fair. And, and don’t repeat this, but, God, I don’t want to end up like Rhi," Ianto complained and a tear or two came down his face.
"But Rhi looked happy," Jack said, taken aback.
"She’s happy today, but every day is a constant struggle for them because they’re not right for each other. You see? And they have to force it and I don’t want us to have to do that. I don’t want to force you to be what I think you should be. That’s wrong of me because you’re great in a lot of ways. You really are, but then you do the cases in Torchwood that are tantamount to suicide, the ones too dangerous for active duty personnel and you like to do shrooms in Vegas and..."
"I didn't do shrooms in Vegas," Jack argued because that wasn't their technical name.
"And who am I to stop you? Who am I to tell you that that’s wrong? It’s not wrong. It’s who you are. It’s what you enjoy and that’s your life and..."
"I’m not that guy anymore," Jack interrupted and moved onto the edge of Ianto's chair.
"We can be friends. And you can be there when the baby is born, and in the baby’s life as much as you want. I hope you will be," Ianto said with a detached nod. If this had been a few months ago, Jack would have agreed that it was for the best, but now? It was too late. Yvonne was sure to know about them and Jack loved Ianto. He loved the baby. He couldn't lose them or keep making the same mistakes about not letting people get to know him. Jack was ready for commitment. He just didn't know how to prove himself.
"If you give me a shot to just show you that I’m com--" he stopped and kissed him. It was the only language that he fully understood or trusted. His lips pressed against his and his hands caressed Ianto's cheek. Ianto put his hands around the back of Jack's head to draw him further in and his tongue entered Jack's mouth. Jack pressed against Ianto's body so he could feel the bump against his abdomen.
"Ianto? Excuse me?" Rhi asked in an exasperated tone and nothing could ruin his mood faster.
"Oh, shit," Ianto spat.
"Can you grab the video camera? We’re going to sing 'Happy Birthday' now," Rhi said to Ianto. His mood was getting worse.
"Yep," he agreed and Rhi helped him up, "I’m sorry. I have to go. I’m sorry. You can come."
"Fine," Jack said but he wasn't sure if he wanted to stay. Ianto touched Jack's hair for a moment, saying, "I’ll be right back. We’ll finish talking."
From the expression on Rhi's face, Jack couldn't see that happening.
Chapter Twenty-One: Twenty-nine Weeks Along
