1

"So … how long?" Gwen asked, her eyes sliding between the two men who were standing there in the kitchen with her, Rhys shifting nervously as Owen folded his arms and waited for his friend.

"Come on love, we will be there and back before you have the evening meal ready" Rhys sighed softly, tired of the cloying way Gwen was trying to hold him close lately. She still had a couple of months to go, the home was well settled and everyone had their routines set. Today was his day off. He was going to go with Owen into the nearby village to place some flags after the last storm stripped the last ones.

"As long as Ianto is going with" she said as she turned back to the sink and Rhys was about to complain when he realised Ianto would be a good addition, turning to Owen who was already moving to find him.

"Ianto!" Owen roared as he wandered along the hallway and Ianto answered, stepping from the room that was being turned into a knick-knack room for the things they were taking from the other floors. Like a huge storage room. Soon they would need to close the upper levels so they could conserve energy and warmth, their daily routines settled in now.

"We are gonna roar into the village to replace the two flags at the entrance gates, wanna come with?" Owen asked, Ianto looking into the room where Jack was fast asleep on the floor, the little girl asleep on top of him settled for the afternoon it seemed. They looked like they had always been like that, grown like that. Ianto found it wonderful. Comforting to see that they both had room in their hearts for one another. Did that sound soppy? Maybe he was a little … soppy these days.

"Sure" Ianto smiled, pausing to leave a note for Jack before going to change into warm clothing. He came out to find the old Jeep that had been 'borrowed' from a neighbouring farm warmed up and waiting as Owen sat on the dirt bike. Rhys was behind the wheel of the Jeep and Ianto clambered into the passenger seat then clicked his seatbelt.

"Don't trust me?" Rhys joked.

"Nope. Bloody mad, you are!" Ianto quipped happily and Rhys laughed as he hit the accelerator and they roared off on their little mission. Kip watched them go then turned to walk towards the glasshouses, an afternoon of weeding ahead.

"Look at that" Owen pointed as they barrelled along the road with him keeping pace beside the Jeep on Ianto's side, and they watched a jersey cow wandering along, moving to one side for them to pass like it was no big thing. Like … come past or something and hurry up now, places to go, things to shit on.

"How did that get out?" Owen asked as he slowed so as not to startle it with the sound of his bike, Rhys doing the same with the jeep as they quietly passed the bored looking cow who was happily chewing as she walked. No big deal.

"Snow might have broken a branch, fell on a fence … stock is able to get out" Ianto said as he pondered "No farmer to check the gates, something opened at some stage and they found it, simply wandered out. Crashed vehicle early on in the piece and she's been loose all along?"

"Do you think it's OK?" Owen looked back with concern, showing he was worried for the cow.

"It's survived this long, must know about crawlers don't ya think? Hasn't gone for your jugular and I detect no bite marks. Would make a fucking ugly Crawler" Ianto frowned as he rubbed his face and Owen nodded as he laughed softy then throttled up, roaring ahead to leave the two men in the vehicle behind.

"He is a nice wee bloke, isn't he?" Rhys said as he smiled at the disappearing motorbike, "Acts all big and tough but then shows himself as a little boy still."

"Owen cares more than he lets on, yes" Ianto agreed, "I think he is starting to realise that we will not judge him for showing a softer side, it's not weak to worry about things. I know he loves the animals, is a real soft touch. I kind of hope we found all the dogs already though, I don't know if we need another one shitting and pissing everywhere."

"Awwww, come on. You like them too" Rhys snorted.

"Maybe" Ianto said with a fake arrogance, "Smelly things."

Rhys laughed as he knew damned well at least two of the dogs crept into the Library at night to burrow in the bottom of Ianto and Jack's bed to hide from the chilly night air once the fires had died too low preferring him to the children's arms.

Really, it was the cats that had surprised Rhys the most. They seemed to stalk Ianto like he was some sort of Kitty Cat God. Wherever Ianto was, a cat was nearby ignoring him intensely. You might think they didn't like him if not for the fact they ran like mad motherfuckers to see who got closest only to lick themselves and stare into space in the hopes he would bop their head absently while passing them.

Like it was a competition.

Weird little squishies.