1
"Jack?"
Ianto entered the Firehouse and looked up at the mezzanine level, hopeful of an answer but all he got was the sound of the dog's claws as she trotted past and headed to the French doors, waiting patiently to be let into the back yard.
Ianto let her out and three streaks of fluff raced in as the cats headed straight for Stephen's room, Lucky winding around his ankles as usual.
How did those little buggers get out again?
Ianto couldn't believe how often they were in – out – in – out – eating.
He stood watching as Myfanwy rolled in the grass, waving her legs in the air while groaning with delight.
The front door opened and Babbit's screams filled the house, Ianto smiled as he turned to watch as the little boy saw him and ran for him with his arms wide, a picture fluttering in one.
Ianto dropped to his knees and accepted the hug, and the wet paint on his shirt as Babbit crowed about his day at pre-school.
Jack grinned and saved Ianto from the paint as he asked Babbit if there was a spot on the fridge for his masterpiece.
"OK?" Jack had noticed Ianto's melancholy and Ianto smiled as he leaned back into his arms.
"She's whelping" Ianto finally whispered.
"Huh?"
"In pup? Preggers, in the family way?" Ianto sighed.
"Oh my god!" Jack roared with glee. "Puppies!"
"Puppies?" came three small voices and Ianto groaned as he rolled his eyes, then glared at the big mouth in the family.
Jack was oblivious as he danced around the room, enthralled at the thought of baby Myfanwys.
"Cariad" Ianto said patiently.
Jack did a bit of twerking at one of the sofas as the boys crowed.
This had become a weird sort of tradition and Ianto wished like hell it could be one Jack forgot about.
Especially since Babbity was doing it now, too.
At three, he was worse than Walter had been at that age and Walter was a calm eight year old doing the Patented Jones Eye-roll, while stood next to ten year old Stephen who clucked his tongue just like Ianto.
"For the love of god!" Ianto sighed, "Did you have to tell them?"
"Why not" Jack pouted, "they were going to find out sooner or later."
"I know" Ianto slumped into a sofa as he seemed to deflate, "but I don't know how we're going to do this."
"Hey, come on" Jack grinned, "They're just puppies. When Janet had the kittens it was no big deal."
"Cariad, there is a slight size difference" Ianto snorted, "She'll need somewhere inside because it will be too cold in her house."
"So?" Jack shrugged, "I'll fix it."
Famous last words.