1
Ianto had been antsy all day, nervously fiddling with things as he wandered their new home.
It was lovely, a sweet old homestead with pleasant grounds, the highest angriest looking fencing and such a sweet rose garden that when he saw it, Ianto had burst into hormonal tears.
The nursery was a vision of pink and white frosting, so sweet and cute as Jack spent as much time in there fussing as he did.
Ianto usually spent the afternoons in the garden, sitting on the large lounger as he enjoyed the sun. Apparently the wee cubbie loved the warmth and always settled for an afternoon snooze. Unfortunately today they were unable to go into the garden for Cubbie's snooze time because it was raining.
It had started about midday and Ianto knew she was unhappy, wanting her sunshine so he was left unable to settle either, her kicking against his back was strong as she complained and he crooned to try and soothe.
"Ianto?"
"In the living room Cariad" he called softly with relief as Jack had the magic touch…or singing voice, turning to find Jack bustling into the room with a grim look on his face, "What's wrong?"
"There is a problem at the night club, I have to go in damn it all" Jack huffed, "They sent the wrong bloody shipment again, if we get any more rum we'll have to become pirates to make it worthwhile."
"Awwww" Ianto pouted, "She's in a snot. I was hoping we might have a big bath together, you know she will want your singing."
"Sorry love, we only have a 12 hour period for returns so it has to be now" Jack leaned in for a kiss and then started for the front door, Ianto following with his pout getting bigger as he realised Rhys was waiting.
"You're talking her other pleasure?"
"I need Rhys to drive me, it's getting rough out there. Sorry honey, you need to sing yourself, you have a lovely voice too" Jack crooned, kissing him and then dropping to kiss the bump through the tunic, "Bye bye beastie."
Ianto stood watching the car go down the driveway and the guard came out to open the gates and salute then look back at the house and wave before going back into the guard house.
Ianto waved back at Ralph and then went back inside, using the keypad to relock the house. Nothing but the best.
Ianto padded through to the kitchen where Mama Francine was cooking, "Hello munchkin."
"Hey Mama" he sighed, settling into the large armchair in the corner of the room that made him look like a cub with its exaggerated size. He had loved it at first sight and Jack had said no but then saw Ianto's slumped shoulders.
Ianto had almost perfected the slump to his best advantage.
"Hungry love?" She asked, glancing at him as she expected the usual no but he nodded and smiled. He wasn't but knew she wanted to fuss so he asked for a sandwich, biting into a salmon one that was perfect, the diced onion mixed in was his favourite filling at the moment, the little one loved onion must to Ianto's chagrin.
"Did Jackie go into town love?" she asked as she watched him morosely chew and he nodded, a deep sigh that was so cute that she had to lean over and cup his face, "Awwww dumpling."
He stopped chewing and looked down at himself as her words caught up with her, "Oh sweetie, you are not fat. You are pregnant. You are radiant and so handsome."
He resumed chewing but didn't look convinced as she kicked herself for forgetting his insecurities. He left the second half of the sandwich, much to her annoyance and he slid from his big chair to wander off, his hands rubbing his bump as he hummed in an attempt to appease the beast kicking within.
He found himself back in the living room staring out at the roses as they got a bashing from the rain, the petals falling. His heart sank as he watched her garden get a pounding and he hoped there would still be some buds so the smell might come back with the sun.
"Mama my flowers are getting murdered with the rain" he called and turned to see if she had heard when he felt a twinge, grunting as he chastised himself for forgetting to move his torso. He was huge, the side of a bloody house and could not move like he once did.
With a sigh he moved to the middle of the room and he stood with one hand on the back of the sofa as he began his exercises. The next hour would be some yoga, maybe that would help. He was half way through his set routine when he heard the first roll of thunder, rising from his squat to rush to the large picture windows and look out, the lightning filling the dark sky as the storm changed its mood to a definitely darker one.
"Mama!" Ianto yelled, "Is Ralph about?"
Ianto turned properly this time and then frowned, muttering as he waddled through to the kitchen where he found a cooling loaf of bread and the heady scent of a casserole but no Francine.
"Bother" he muttered moving to the laundry where he found Francine on her hands and knees scooping up washing power, "Laws, are you OK?"
"The thunder startled me and I dropped the whole bloody packet damn it all" she said, then squeaked as more rolled around the house, her hand going to her chest.
"Mama, call Ralph up to the house, he is going to get pummelled out at the guard house, tell him to lock it down and get here. He can do the gates by remote from the security room" Ianto told her, "It's getting nasty and I would never forgive myself if he got struck by lightning or something."
Francine agreed, calling the young bear up to the house and they settled in to watch the storm press down in them with extreme malice.
Ianto's unease grew.
