"Stormy, put that child down!" Jack's roar had Ianto looking up from the weeding as his two and a half year old son toddled past chortling softly, the bug in his hand waving merrily to Ianto.
"Caden, is Willy OK there or does he need his Mama?" Ianto asked and the little one stopped his forward motion to examine the bug a bit closer and then turn to find Mavis bearing down on him clacking softly as her friend looked around for her larva.
"Good baby" Mavis crooned "Willy has to go now, his mama is going to get his dinner."
Caden considered and held out his hand, relinquishing the little bug who scuttled across Mavis to his Mama's waiting claws.
"Good boy" Ianto said softly, resuming his weeding as he listened for the ping that would tell him Rose was back with Alice.
"Stormy!"
"Jack, Caden is down here" Ianto roared, hating to do so but the man drove him to it sometimes and he watched Jack enter the courtyard and clap his hands to encourage the little one to him. Jack called him Storm or Stormy a lot, most of them did now the wee one's personality matched it but Ianto retained the Caden first name for his son out of respect for the man who he would never meet to thank for such a gift … the little one's real father.
That the mother had gifted Caden to him before she died was something he would be eternally grateful for.
Ianto sat back as he watched Jack lift the little toddler up for kisses and cuddles the ping sounded so he rose, wiping his hands on his pants as he turned to politely bow to the dark shadow in the corner, the Panther Plant did not return the acknowledgement but they were not ones to do much.
"Taddy!" Alice exploded into the courtyard, her face flushed and something in her hand. She was a lovely little girl with Harkness blood assuring her many suitors and her parentals grey hair one day.
"My darling" Ianto smiled as he opened his arms and her face was glowing as she presented him with the envelope. Ianto knelt and looked her in the eye, "Is this what I think it is?"
Her hands were clasped together as she panted and nodded, no words needed as the coveted Family Evening Invites were due out any day for the important Ball the school held each year for those with good standing or scary pasts.
Yeah, they sort of fell into both categories there I suppose.
Ianto carefully opened the envelope knowing she had handed it to him as she knew he would preserve it for her, not tear it asunder like her Father would have and he slid the pristine invite out and let it shine in the sunlight.
"Wow" he sighed theatrically as her eyes glowed with pride.
"Alice, darling. You really make me so proud I might explode" Ianto said softly, "This will be framed, you know that right? My first official invitation to honour you, look. My name right there next to Daddy's."
She leaned forward where Ianto Harkness-Jones and Jack Harkness-Jones were written in flowing script, her eyes wide with delight as she saw Ianto's joy in her hard work. "No Caden?"
"Caden will be too tried, it's a night-time party love" Ianto smiled as he saw her love for her little brother, "Mavis will let the bugs have a sleepover maybe if I ask nicely, a wee inside picnic and bedtime cuddles."
She nodded as she accepted that and turned to look at her father who was advancing with Caden tucked under his arm, it looked like he had a teddy bear. A squealing writhing one.
"Our invite to the formal parental evening" Ianto said happily "Oh Cariad. We all need new clothes I think."
Alice's intake of breath was in stereo as Rose stood in the doorway of the courtyard, her own hands clasped like her niece's as they knew a shopping spree would be allowed.
"Yeah, well. Go on then, Pete Save Us!" Jack sighed as he swept the little boy into the air so he screamed with fake horror and then erupted into messy laugher once cuddled again.
"Black and white tie" Ianto said as he turned to nod to his sister-in-law. "I know I am usually picky but this is a special event. I would like a sophisticated dress, preferably a wee black number. Jack and I can both wear black as well. We will all look trim. She is almost six, I think she can be grown-up in her clothing now if she wishes. I will allow accessories."
"YAY!" Alice danced off as Alice raced after her and Jack lowered his son to the ground, then released him to run off.
"Gods, she is growing so fast" he sighed as he looked down at the invite, careful not to touch it. Jack knew he would destroy it in a millisecond's touch, as was his way.
"She is perfect" Ianto assured him, "Just like her Dadda."
Jack accepted the kiss with a soft hum of joy.
It had been a while, a couple of years and Ianto had said….right?
Jack wondered if it was time to raise the question of another baby yet.