missthingsplace | Goodnight Sweetheart 48/?

Title: Goodnight Sweetheart
Author: missthingsplace
Parings/characters: Ianto/Lisa Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys, Owen/Toshiko, Andy/Donna
Disclaimer: I don't own Torchwood or any of the characters ... unfortunately, just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: When Ianto lost his job he knew it was the oppotunity he'd been waiting for but nothing could have prepared him for what was to come when he leased the premises for his new enterprise.
Warnings: Slash, fluff, romance, angst, humour, AU
Spoilers: Anything is fair game
Rating: NC17 for series

“If you turn left at the next junction, we should be on the right road,” Ianto stated, looking up from his map and wishing not for the first time that Sat Nav had already been invented.

Jack indicated left as they approached the junction and turned, the sign on the corner of the road telling them they were indeed in the correct location.

“What number is it?” Jack asked, the houses seemingly dotted randomly along the long country lane.

“Number 8,” Ianto confirmed, peering out his side window. “It should be on this side of the road.”

“Shouldn't be much further then,” Jack said, slowing the vehicle down a little.

“There, that one,” Ianto pointed through the windscreen, recognising the house from the picture he'd seen on the internet; it's external appearance had barely changed.

Jack pulled over to the park by the hedgerow and they sat for a moment looking at the house in question.

“It looks huge!” Jack stated.

“It's not small,” Ianto chuckled. “it's got four bedrooms for a start.”

“Would we need four?” Jack asked him, sure that they only needed two.

“One of them is quite small and next to the master bedroom so I thought we could convert it into an on-suite,” Ianto answered. “which would be ours, one for Jenni and the third … well, it could be a guest room.”

“You've thought of everything, haven't you?” Jack smiled.

“I've done a lot of thinking since Jenni was born,” Ianto answered. “I want us to be somewhere we'll be happy for a long time.”

“Will no-one really be bothered that we're living together, as a couple?” Jack asked him, not entirely convinced.

“The majority won't give a toss,” Ianto answered honestly. “but even in these modern times you'll meet the odd homophobic, but it's best just to ignore them and not them them ruin your happiness.”

Jack nodded slowly in reply.

“So, how about we go and try and get a look inside?” Ianto suggested. “It actually looks in very good condition as it stands now.”

“How will you convince them to sell?” Jack asked curiously, getting out of the car.

“I have an idea, lets just take one step at a time first though,” Ianto answered and they made their way up the path to the front door, Ianto knocking firmly on it with his knuckles.

They heard the sounds of commotion coming from the inside a good minute or so before the door opened and a young woman appeared before them holding a small baby in her arms, three more children at her side and a large chocolate brown Labrador trying to push it's way through her legs while barking furiously at the visitors.

“Ben, shh” The woman told the dog firmly. “Ben, I mean it, be quiet!”

“Does he bite?” Ianto asked the frazzled looking mum.

“No, he's just rather excitable,” she sighed. “he'll be all over you if I let him out.”

“That's fine,” Ianto told her, preferring that to the continued, excited barking.

“Be it on your own head,” she told him, stepping aside to let the dog out from behind her and watched, feeling rather embarrassed as the dog charged straight at the men to sniff and lick them both madly like long lost friends. “How can I help you?”

“Where are my manners,” Ianto said with a smile. “I'm Ianto Jones and this is a friend of mine, Captain Jack Harkness and I have a proposition for you.”

“What kind of proposition?” She asked, shrinking back a little, the kids still huddled around her.

“Nothing inappropriate, I promise you,” Ianto answered, rubbing the dog under one ear while Jack did the same to the other, calming it a little. “It's about the house, I was wondering if you were willing to sell?”

“Sell? I couldn't if I wanted to,” she replied, shaking her head. “my husband is away fighting in the war, that would be his decision and where would we move to?”

“You wouldn't have to,” Ianto continued. “would it be possible to come in a talk?”

She thought about it for a few moments and decided that they seemed trustworthy, opened the door wider and invited them in.

She placed the baby in the corner of the room, then sent the others out to play in the back garden before offering them a cup of tea and then directing them into the main living room. When she returned five minutes or so later she had a tray laid with cups and saucers, a teapot and a plate containing slices of home made cake.

“I'm Mrs Swanson,” she said, remembering that she hadn't given them her own name and lifting the tea pot. “I'm afraid I don't have any sugar, but there's milk for your tea.”

“That'll be lovely,” Jack said, speaking for the first time and giving the young woman his best beaming smile.

Mrs Swanson smiles and poured the tea, blushing a little and then passed them each a cup.

“So, what was it you wanted to talk about?” She asked. “You said we wouldn't have to move?”

“I would like to buy your house as an investment,” Ianto answered. “but I wouldn't need to live here until my wife and I retired, we are currently living in London.”

“Your wife couldn't be with you today?” She asked.

“She's just had our first child, travelling all this way would be tiring for her,” Ianto said, wishing he wasn't having to use Lisa's memory this way but it was as close to the truth as possible. “Jack came with me to keep me company and share the driving.”

“You're in the RAF?” She asked Jack politely.

“Yes ma'am,” Jack answered.

“My husband is in the Navy, I have no idea where he is,” she said sadly.

“I'm sorry,” Jack told her sympathetically.

“It's okay, I am rather used to it now,” she replied. “anyway, we should get back to your proposition.”

“As I was saying, we won't need this house for some time ,” Ianto began. “so if you agreed to sell it to me you and your family could continue to live here, free for as long as you wish. All I ask is that it remains empty upon you and and your husband passing.”

“And how much exactly would you be giving us for this place?” She asked him.

“I've done some research and the houses on this street are worth around two thousand pounds,” Ianto answered. “but I am willing to give you more than double that if you continue to maintain the house and gardens to their current standard.”

“More than double?” She asked with a small gasp, to her even two thousand pounds seemed like a fortune; they had inherited it from her husbands aunt.

“I'm offering five thousand pounds,” Ianto told her. “it will be yours, in cash. I've already told you the only things I will require, that you continue to live here and maintain it for us until your deaths.”

“I'm not being rude Mr Jones, but you seem to be around my own age, how can you be sure that you won't pass away before we do?” She asked him.

“If that is the case, then we will leave the property to our children,” Ianto answered easily. “or grandchildren.”

“It seems to good to be true,” she sighed, thinking of all the things she could buy for the children; they were all in need of new clothes.

“Would you mind if I slept on it?” She asked. “It's rather a big decision to make on a whim, perhaps we could talk more tomorrow?”

“That seems reasonable to me,” Ianto agreed. “do you know of any bed and breakfasts nearby, where we could spend the night?”

“The next village, Mrs Williams place,” she nodded. “you can't miss it, she has a large sign in her window. Just turn your car around and go back to the crossroads, then straight across and keep going for a couple of miles.”

“Thank you,” both Ianto and Jack said politely, getting to their feet. “I hope to do business with you tomorrow, would the same time of day be appropriate?”

“It would,” she agreed, showing them to the door and watching them leave before rushing through the house to the back door and calling her children inside.

Jack and Ianto found the bed and breakfast easily, as Mrs Swanson had told them and after explaining that they need rooms for the night she told them they would have to share one room with two single beds as the a single was already occupied and the other was a double.

They agree, telling her that was fine and she led the way up to the room.

“Would you require supper?” She asked them. “I can provide some sandwiches, you are welcome to eat them in the kitchen?”

“I'm fine thank you, Jack?” Ianto said.

“Not for me thanks, I just want to get some kip,” Jack told her. “it's a long drive from London.”

“That it is Sir's,” she smiled. “breakfast is at 8am sharp and the bathroom is just down the hall. I hope you have a good night.”

“Thank you and goodnight,” Ianto said polite as she left the room.

“So, which bed do you want to take?” Jack asked him.

“Whichever one you choose,” Ianto chuckled softly. “as long as the springs don't squeak!”

Jack placed his hands palm down on one of the beds and pushed, not a sound came from within.

“Feather mattresses, no springs to squeak!” Jack grinned.

“Perfect,” Ianto declared, unbuttoning his shirt.

TBC

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

iolo1234.livejournal.com

Wonerful been catching up on this again. great idea to buy the house and thank goodness for unsqueaky beds!

Wonderful been catching up on this again. great idea to buy the house and thank goodness for unsqueaky beds!

madbottoms

Really interested to see whether Ianto's paln works.

zazajb

What a good plan...hope it works out and feather mattresses...fab! xxx

trektorch

Ianto's offer does seem to good to be true. She has a right to question it. Ianto would have to travel back in time often over the years to see that they are living up to the bargain. Happy Easter to you and your family.

cjharknessgirl

Ianto has a brilliant plan and the woman seems like she could really use the money so I'm hoping she'll agree to it!

schnuffie

reddevilpoes

so, will we get a thourough description of the use for a non-squeaky bed?

From: (Anonymous)

I loved this chapter! I am terribly addicted to this story, just love it! Great idea Ianto has, lovely B&B with it's feather mattresses! I would love a description of it's use as well! Also I do hope Mrs. Swanson agrees to sell! It would be so good for her family and I think Ianto can manage a few trips over the years. Conclusion? Awesome and the sauce it came in!

kildarefiles

bluelilacs.livejournal.com

That's quite a generous offer Ianto made Mrs Swanson. That much money would be a blessing for her with four small children to care for, but I wouldn't blame her if she was a bit wary and a little suspicious of someone with that much cash at this period in time. Not too much though I hope. And bless Mrs Williams and her feather mattresses!