The seatbelt was cutting into his neck as Ianto leaned forward to rummage through the bag at his feet, then reach between the seats to hand Stephen a tissue.

Poor kid had hay-fever. This time of year and he had allergies.

They were going to get the Christmas tree for the firehouse and Babbit was whining.

"We have the one at home already!" Babbit pointed out and Ianto ignored the way Babbit kept referring to the village as home lately and the firehouse as 'our other place'.

"Babbit, this is for the firehouse. It's our home too. Some people can't come out to the village for Christmas so we will be doing a wee Christmas for them at our town home." Jack answered, noting the grinding of teeth in the passenger seat.

"We always choose a tree and Daddy cuts it down!" Walter said, "You know he likes to do that. We cheer him on."

"He's not a trained monkey" Babbit muttered and Ianto coughed to cover the hysterical laughter that bubbled over.

"Stop being cheeky!" Ianto demanded, looking out the window as they passed the sign for trees.

They pulled into the parking lot and the family spewed forth.

Ianto collected his wee lad, straightening the little elf hat with sewn on ears as Ton demanded a kiss.

Kiss given, he was happy to accept his teething ring and Ianto popped him onto a hip.

Jack retrieved his axe and they wandered over to pay, then headed into the field of trees.

Ton was getting heavy and Ianto shifted him in his arms, the ground too bumpy for a pushchair and Ton had decided early on that he hated slings and packs.

"Ah. I like this one!" Jack declared as he sized up a tree.

"It has bird shit on it!" Babbit huffed and Walter giggled.

"Bab! Language!" Ianto growled.

"Well it does!"

"Right, this one then!" Jack pointed to its neighbor.

"Too short." Babbit declared.

"Same size as the other one!" Jack whined.

"IT was also too small as well as the bird shit!" Babbit grumped.

"I need to pee!" Walter suddenly said and he looked around for a toilet block.

"Just go behind a tree, like a bear in the woods" Jack laughed, "Go on. Just pee."

"I can't do that" Walter was scandalized at the mere thought, "My moon will be on high beam!"

Ianto had placed Ton down on the ground and he was picking up pine nettles and smelling them with interest.

"Yucky" Ianto said without looking and Ton regarded his handful for another few beats, then opened his hand and watched them fall.

"Good boy."

"He's not a dog either" Babs was on a roll, missing his favorite TV show for this crap.

"I swear, you get more like your uncle Owen every day" Jack scolded, "Bloody scrooge."

"So, Jack's not a monkey, Ton is not a dog. What about me. Or your brothers. What are they not." Ianto asked calmly.

"Yeh?"

Ianto nodded and Jack looked away as he struggled not ot laugh.

"OK!" Babbit stood up, "You are not the giver and taker of lollies. Daddy is allowed ot give some too. Stephen is not the one who is always allowed to be in the front back seats and Walter is not a bloody pack horse but he always carried Bubba's bag."

"Oh" Ianto said with shock.

"So, you want me to give and take lollies from you?" Jack demanded, his smile gone as he heard the tone of voice from the little upstart. "And Stephen has long legs, he doesn't fit in the very back seats, as you well know!"

"I like carrying Ton's bag" Walter shoved him, "I love Ton!"

"So do I!" was the reply and return shove.

"Stop it!" Ianto demanded.

The boys glared at each other.

"We are here to pick a bloody tree" Ianto roared, cradling Ton.

Everyone looked chastened.

"Sorry Taddy," came small voices.

"Right. This one!" Ianto pointed and everyone agreed.

"Just one small problem" Babbit said and everyone groaned.

"What!"

"IF we are tying it to the roof, we might want to shake out the squirrel first."

Jack's girly scream echoed across the park.