Chapter 1
(Disclaimer: Torchwood does not belong to me. Nor does Squiglet.)
Ianto was busy sorting out his washing when the front door bell rang. He looked up from the washing basket, momentarily annoyed. He was halfway through unloading the drier and he didn't like being interrupted when he was in the middle of something, no matter how small the task. But he supposed whoever was at the door wasn't psychic. It was hardly their fault. He got to his feet and went to answer the door.
He undid the latch and pulled the door open. He was slightly surprised when confronted by his sister. Although to be fair he'd have been surprised whoever it was. He rarely got visitors. "Bron." He said at last. "I've not seen you since Christmas."
"I know," Said Bronwyn Jones. She brushed her fringe out of her eyes. Ianto noticed it was considerably shorter than the last time he'd seen her and also considerably blonder. "It has been a while, hasn't it little brother?"
Ianto nodded. "A little while." He pulled the door open wider. "Are you coming in? I'll put the kettle on."
"Actually…" said Bronwyn, stretching the word out. "I need a favour."
"Ah, right…" Ianto sighed, disappointed but not surprised. It wasn't like Bronwyn to turn up without warning unless she could help it. She always phoned in advance. In that respect they were both quite alike.
"I need someone to watch Evie for me."
It was only then that Ianto noticed the small figure hiding behind his sister's legs. His niece Evie was three years old and quite small for her age. And utterly adorable Ianto had to admit, with her big blue eyes and mop of dark hair. He smiled at her and she smiled shyly back. "Hey Angel. Didn't see you there." He turned back to Bronwyn. "How long for?"
"The weekend."
Ianto opened his mouth to protest. Watch Evie? For the whole weekend? He had plans. Okay they mostly involved sitting in the house and watching the telly but he hadn't had the chance to do that for months. Working for Torchwood was a very time consuming job and it wasn't very often he got a whole weekend off. But before he could say a word Bronwyn cut in.
"Oh please Yan." She said, sounding desperate. "I'm going into London to visit Kerry-Ann. You know Kerry-Ann? Tall, skinny, red-hair? I used to go to college with her. She moved to London two years ago. I've not seen her properly since. And I've had this planned for ages. I was going to take Eves with me but she woke up this morning at half-five and climbed in with me. That's early for her. She's not usually up til half six and even then she stays in her own bed. I knew then she wasn't quite right. But I got her dressed and gave her some breakfast anyway but half an hour later she brought it up all over the living room. And I took her temperature and it's a little high. Nothing major, not 40 or anything just 38 and a bit. But I can't take her to a stranger's for the weekend if she's not well."
Ianto listened to all this slightly bemused. His sister could talk for Wales but this was a bit much even for her. "Well can't you postpone? Go next weekend."
"No!" Was Bronwyn's reply. "I can't. She's away to Germany next week, with her work."
"Well can't you get someone else to watch Evie?" Ianto asked.
"I've tried Penny and Joanne but Penny's going to visit her mum in Swansea and Joanne's having a party for her brother. It's his birthday. And you know I wouldn't trust anyone else. Please Ianto? For me?" Bronwyn switched on the puppy dog eyes and Ianto deflated. She so rarely asked him for anything and he hadn't spent any time with Evie in ages.
"Okay." He said. "Bring her in."
"Yan you are a life saver." She said, herding Evie over the threshold and throwing her arms round Ianto's neck. "Thank you. I mean it. You really are." She pulled his head down and kissed his forehead. "There's a bag for her in the car. I'll get it." She reversed out the door and back down the stairs.
Ianto turned to Evie. She was standing with her back to the wall and her thumb in her mouth. A scrap of blue silk was in her free hand and she was staring up at him a quizzical look in her eyes. She pulled the thumb with her mouth with a small pop. "Mummy's going away." She said in a small voice. "Why?"
"She getting your bag from the car." Said Ianto as he knelt down to undo the buttons on her coat. "She's coming back."
Evie gave him a despairing look. "I know that. She's going away after as well. For longer."
Ianto smiled to himself. Last time he'd seen Evie she'd only just learnt to put a sentence together. Now here she was talking to him as if he was the three year old. "Sorry." He said. Evie pulled her arms out her coat and Ianto stood up. "She's going to London to see her friend. I'm going to look after you for a couple of days."
The sound of feet clattering up the stairs pulled Ianto's attention back to the door. Bronwyn rounded the corner, navy changing bag over her shoulder. "Right." She said as he came through the door. "There are a couple of changes of clothes in here. Some pyjamas. There are pull-ups in there as well for bed. She's usually dry in the morning but better safe than sorry. There's also her Abba CD. That'll help her drop off if she won't go down. And there's calpol but she can't have any more for another hour." She looked at her watch. "That'll be two o'clock. I'll be back Monday afternoon so just drop her off at nursery Monday morning. It opens at eight. That's if she's better. If she's not better by Sunday night call Penny. She doesn't work Monday so she should be able to take her. Penny's number's in the bag as well."
As she was talking Ianto had taken the bag from her and gone into the living room. Bronwyn followed Evie's hand in hers. Ianto put the bag in the couch. "Got it." He said. "You'll have your mobile?"
"Of course." Said Bronwyn. Then she scooped Evie up in a hug. "I'm away now Eves." She said. "Uncle Yan is going to look after you while I'm gone so you be good. No throwing up on his carpet eh?" Ianto's face blanched and Bronwyn gave him an amused look. "Don't worry. She's not been sick since six." Evie was deposited on the couch and Bronwyn turned to her little brother. "Thanks Ianto. I mean it. I owe you one."
"It's no bother." Ianto replied. He kissed his sister on the cheek. "Have fun."
"Will do."
Then front door slammed shut and Ianto was alone with his niece. "So…" he said. "T.V?"
Evie nodded and curled up in the corner of the sofa. "71." She mumbled, her thumb back in her mouth.
Ianto didn't argue. He switched the T.V on and turned the freeview box to 71. Ah, Cbeebies. There was an orange bear thing with a purple apron. "What's that?" he asked.
"Squiglet." Was the mumbled reply.
"Hmmm."
Ianto went back to his washing. That was his weekend's plans out the window. It looked like it would be Cbeebiesfor the forseeable future. Not quite what he was planning on watching.
(First fic so any reviews welcome. I know it's not much but there's more to come. But first I'd like to know how many people would be interested in reading a story about juggling child care with Torchwood. I can't help it. I'm a nursery nurse.)