Living The Dream 117/?

[missthingsplace]

Title: Living The Dream
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Andy, John, Martha, Owen, Tosh, Myfanwy,
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: Orphaned at the age of seventeen Jack is sent to live with his uncle and cousins he barely remembers until he's eligible for his inheritence when he reaches twenty one, unbeknown to him his uncle has plans to get his own hands on the money.
Spoilers: Probably not, but you never know ...
Warnings: Slash, Angst ... the ususal!
Rating: NC17 for the series.
Word count to date: 159,602

A/N: This series is very AU and i haven't written anything like it before! For the purposes of this story Jack is seventeen and mortal. I have absolutely no idea where this came from but i hope you like and enjoy. Written for wrianojune

It was nearly two weeks later when Roberta's mum got the telegram informing her that her husband had died, Jack and Ianto both rallied around to help her with the arrangements to transport her husbands body back home in a sealed coffin and the funeral.

They offered to accompany Roberta to the funeral but knowing how they felt about her father, which she understood completely she declined, thanking them but saying she would be okay with Eirween and her mother.

On the day of the funeral they watched Roberta moving around as if on automatic, her grief for her father more than evident despite the way he had beat her and disowned her.

Before she and Eirween set off for the funeral both Jack and Ianto hugged her tightly and told her that no matter what happened they would always be there for her to which Roberta told them they had been the best 'fathers' she could ever have hoped to have.

Once the young women had left for the church Jack, Ianto and Sarah collected the small buffet they had all prepared and transported it to Roberta's mothers cottage where they laid it out for the wake before returning to the manor, not wanting to intrude on their grief.

The rest of their day was spend in a very sombre mood, Lizzy stayed out of the way reading in her room and Jack and Ianto spent their time in the living room, curled up on the sofa in front of the open fire hoping they weren't going to having a funeral for their son.

They had sent letters written jointly to Thomas a couple of times a week but it was a further four weeks after the funeral that they got a reply, it was short with Thomas explaining it had taken him that long to get the to agree to him writing another letter and that they were pleased with his progress.

He wrote that the cough although still there and a little pain in his chest which the doctors had said was the strain on his lungs partly from the disease and partly from the strain the cough was putting on them was nothing to worry about, the fact that it hadn't worsened but was beginning to improve was a good sign.

Thomas told them the doctors wouldn't release him from the sanatorium until he was stronger and he admitted that he was feeling weakened by the infection. The doctors had told him that if he kept improving he would be allowed to return home in a couple if months where he would still need to take things easy and recuperate.

He was also told he would now be exempt from joining the armed services as his lungs wouldn't be strong enough to the physical nature of it which both Jack and Ianto were more than grateful for.

Another week later and Jack had met with a local farmer to arrange purchasing the foal one of his mares had produced and was looking for a good home, he hadn't told Ianto as he wanted it to be a surprise and he had a feeling it would be good for Myfanwy.

The day Jack went to collect the new addition to their family he told Ianto he just need to pop into the village to collect a package, when he arrived at the farm he could see the young horse running excitedly around the paddock as if she knew something was happening that day.

Leading the young horse back to the manor he knew she would need breaking when she was ready and he hoped it would help take Ianto's mind off the fact that Myfanwy was getting very old and didn't have long left.

He had barely got halfway up the driveway then Ianto came running down it towards him with a huge grin on his face.

“She's beautiful.” Ianto exclaimed, stroking his hand down the young mares long face.

“And she's all yours.” Jack replied before Ianto lunged at him, hugging him tightly and kissing him passionately.

“Do you think Myfanwy will like her?” Jack finished when Ianto finally broke the kiss.

“I hope so, I think it'll do her good to have a young horse around.” Ianto smiled, running his hand down the mares neck and along her back. “She still young, she's not broken, is she?”

“No, do you think you can handle that?” Jack asked.

“I've never done it before but it can't be that hard.” Ianto shrugged. “I'm going to give it a try anyway.”

“Good.” Jack told him as they reached the stables. “Aren't you going to ask me what her name is?”

“Tell me then.” Ianto urged.

“Beauty.” Jack told him with a grin. “And she is, isn't she?”

“She is.” Ianto agreed, looking over the ebony black horse before him. “Come in, lets introduce her to Myfanwy.”

Leading the young mare into the stables they took her straight to Myfanwy's stall, Beauty took no time in shoving her head towards Myfanwy and nuzzling her as if she was her mother.

Myfanwy was a little startled at first, leaving Jack holding Beauty by the loose rope around her neck we moved into Myfanwy's stall and talked to her softly, encouraging her and they both couldn't help the huge smiles that crossed their faces when Myfanwy stuck out her tongue and licked Beauty over the face as if cleaning her.

Ianto prepared the stall beside Myfanwy's, putting piles of straw on the floor and then providing Beauty with food and water before Jack led her into her new home, they watched as she dug straight into the food before securing her.

They both stayed with the horses for a short time, watching Myfanwy watch over the newcomer and rubbing her nose affectionately against Beauty's.

“I think she's feeling all motherly towards her.” Ianto stated.

“She never got to have any young of her own.” Jack replied. “All those years of built up maternal instincts and she finally has a use for them.”

Ianto turned to Jack, wrapped his arms around his waist and kissed him softly.

“Thank you.” Ianto said softly. “Just, thank you.”

“I thought the time was right.” Jack replied. “She'll be good for both of you.”

“I don't think she has long left Jack.” Ianto said sadly, tears pricking his eyelids. “But at least what time she does have will be happy.”

I know.” Jack said simply, pulling Ianto close and kissing the top of his head as he hugged him tightly.

TBC