Title: What Happens at the Faire… Stays at the Faire?
By: suise69
Pairing: Jack/Ianto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG
Summary: Jack buys Ianto a present.

Rhys and Gwen sat quietly and watched the joyful chaos that lay before them. The day, so far, had been just the opposite of how days at the hub seemed to go lately.

 

The laughter filled in the empty spots left in the music as kids and adults, well really just very tall kids, ran or walk around the faire.  Couples, young and old, held hands and leaned into each other as they walked around. Sometimes they shared an ice cream cone, drink, popcorn or cotton candy.

 

Now and then, the sound of balloons popping or the bang of the oversize hammer made its way into the musical sounds of the faire.

 

Rhys and Gwen broke the kiss that they had been sharing at the sight of Ianto and Jack. The two men stood in the center of an open space.  It was as if a sudden private island of space had come into being.

 

"No! Jack! I won't put it on!" Ianto had stopped and turned his body in stiff stance, "I don't even think Gwen would wear it! Not even, if Rhys had it made for her.

 

Jack stood in front of Ianto holding something at his side, "but I asked for it special for you. I remembered you talking about wanting one as a kid. And this is just like what you said it looked like." Jack had a sad, disappointed look on his face.

 

Gwen looked hard through the moving crowd to see what it was the Jack had but all she could make out was flashes of purple, pink and green. Even from where they sat, they could tell Ianto was not happy with the gift.

 

It was rare for Ianto to get such a tone with Jack, "You don't understand… I wanted it at five years old!"

 

Jack tried once more, "but…"

 

"I will not put a purple balloon hat with a pink flower on my head," then added, "you wear it or give it to one of the pretty little girls running around here."

 

It was at that moment the Jack had lifted the balloon hat up.

 

Rhys turned and looked into Gwen's eyes "Would you wear it for me?"

 

Gwen gave him a quick kiss, "No!"

 

As Ianto turned and walked away, a pretty little girl of maybe five walked up to Jack.

 

She reached out and pulled on his long coat, "I'll wear it for you if you let me?"

 

Jack knelt down on one knee, "Ok, what's your name?"

 

"Rose."

 

And with that Jack placed the hat on her head then watched as she ran back to where her father stood with the rest of the family.