1
Dylan was looking at the cards as they walked along the row at the supermarket, Ianto heading for the thank you cards. He still had a few late Christmas cards and such arrive in the New Year post that he wanted to respond to and felt it wrong to respond with anything other than a polite thank you.
Dylan moved to a display of bright love hearts, chocolates and such.
"Ianto?"
"Yes love?" Ianto turned and smiled softly as he gave his number one boy his complete attention, as he always did. Dylan felt so Grup when Ianto looked at him like that, like another clever person ya know?
"Why are all these cards here? Valentine's Day, this is another thing Grup's do right? Give each other these to say they love one another?" Dylan asked as he pulled one out to look at.
"Yes, a Valentine is like…a sweetheart. A lover" Ianto nodded, "But I always gave my Mama one."
"You did?"
"Well, she was my first love ya know. Always. I loved my Mama before anyone else even registered to me, of course I still visit her grave and give her roses. Same as I shall get one for your father. He is my love now. My beloved. My Cariad. I will give him one to show that he holds a piece of my heart" Ianto smiled, "Sometimes you give one to a crush, like someone you really hope likes you back. I remember giving one to my first crush. Annabelle. She had the prettiest shiny hair. Like a doll. I wanted to brush it and plat it and stuff. I think it was the first time I realised that I looked at people differently to others. Everyone made fun of her because her face was deformed. A mistake that happened when she was born and the doctor used special clamps to help birth her. They damaged a nerve in her face and one side drooped a bit. I didn't care. Such pretty hair and she was so kind. Always had extra things in her lunch box for the birds."
"So… I like someone" Dylan frowned, "So I give them one? What if they don't like me back?"
"Then you don't sign it. You can be a secret Valentine. If they like you then they will guess it's you. If you don't get one back you know they like someone else instead" Ianto shrugged, "then you don't have to feel silly and can deny it was you in the first place. Like …a foul."
"Oh" Dylan nodded, "Can I get some?"
"Sure" Ianto shrugged as he rose and continued shopping. Dylan examined all the cards carefully and chose three that were placed in the trolley with the magazines. Ianto deliberately made out if was no big deal as he added a couple as well, a wink at his boy as he handed them to the checkout man.
They stopped in at the delicatessen and picked up the cake Ianto had ordered and then they went home to find Jack asleep on the couch. Ianto rolled his eyes as he carried through some bags of groceries and Dylan leapt onto his father's stomach waking him with a solid thump to his bladder
"Shit" Jack spluttered as he struggled to sit up and seize the child for a tickle.
"More bags in the car" Ianto said as he wandered past and Jack got up to follow. Ianto checked Dylan was inside before he whispered "He got a Valentine's Day card for someone."
"No" Jack said with glee, "Awww, really?"
"Yeah" Ianto grinned back, "So cute. Took ages to choose the right one, all serious and pursed lips. I almost took a photo. I don't know who it's for but I hope they appreciate his lovely wee heart."
"Well I am sure you would be the first to tell them so" Jack assured him, then stepped back and their boy pushed between them to grab a bag, his glee at helping evident.
"Thank you Cariad, I don't know how I would have managed without you" Ianto called out and Dylan skipped happily with his little bag clutched tightly.
"He is so happy" Jack said, turning to hook Ianto against him "So am I. You have breathed life into us."
"Don't be a Muppet" Ianto whispered, stealing a kiss, "We all breathe together."
Jack hugged him against him, burying his face in his hair as he agreed.
Another breath taken.
Inside the house Dylan removed the card he had chosen and rushed to hide it in his bedroom.
He couldn't wait to fill it out.
So exciting.
A declaration of love.