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Christmas carollers.

Ianto heard them coming up the lane and watched Ton light up with glee, then run for the door as Ifan clamped his mouth shut and refused his custard, his eyes following his brother.

"Come on love" Ianto crooned, "You ate hardly anything."

"Still a bit squirrelly?" Jack asked as he sat and rubbed the little boy's back the highchair looking pristine as the little boy had refused to feed himself and now refused to be fed like a baby. Harley had gulped his down using the spoon like a boss and was back playing on the floor as John waited to take him home to Chrys, her morning sickness making her tired.

The snow was falling and he had watched it grow dark, Harley's favourite game to make weird spooky noises as John ran like he was scared of something chasing them while carrying Harley and shaking him about like a rag doll. Harley always laughed like a lunatic once they were inside and John wondered if he had been such a funny kid.

"Poor little man, listen can you hear the singing?" Jack crooned as he lifted the little one for the chair and walked to the door Ton was already struggling to open. Jack reached for the top clip that they set at night, letting Ton open the door to step out and listen to the song.

Ianto poured the hot chocolate he had been keeping on a low heat and carried the tray out, the carollers all lighting up as they accepted a cup and Ianto bent to give one to Izzy, then frowned, "I have two left. Where are the twins?"

Everyone looked around with confusion and Ianto felt mild alarm as he found them all shrugging, "When were they last with you?"

"Baxter's place" young Gordy said bravely, "Prim and Ifan were with me but Ifan needed to pee."

Ianto looked back across the field they had walked though, the footprints disappearing into the darkness and he reached for his jacket. Jack straightened up and looked at him then reached for his Great Coat as he called back inside for John who was sitting at the table still reading the paper while Harley finished his game with Ton to watch the kids.

Ton whined but then looked out into the dark and agreed he didn't want to go out, heading back in as Walter slid past him with Grub. Ianto looked down and saw the harness the dog was wearing, similar to his beloved mother's and he nodded as he stepped back to let Walter and his dog take the lead.

They headed out over the field, following the footprints and hoping to find two little sets heading off to a nearby bush.