With Christmas almost here, Ianto had been excited when school ended that Friday and they could spend the weekend preparing the cottage for the long holiday ahead.
This would be their first Christmas in the holiday home and next week would be the great shift, bringing the cats up here to settle for the holidays.
He was looking forward to it, even with the butterflies of having everyone not just here for Christmas but for the entire week.
Ianto was hanging the ornaments when Walter ran into the cottage with his mouth full of cake.
Another piece was in his hand and he handed it to the Babbit who was sitting on the floor with some toys.
"Daddy found another tree" Walter crowed as he settled by the fire and Ianto sighed as he eyed the almost finished tree.
"Oh no, it's for out front." Walter clarified and Ianto wandered to the door to peek out.
Ianto gaped as he stared at the fire truck sitting in the driveway with a tree tied to it.
What is it with this family and fire?
Several people were milling as Jack oversaw the lifting of the tree with the hoist of a large tow truck and the tree was place pride of place in front of the chalets.
Heck and Betty stood holding each other as Jack proceeded to order people about. Ianto simply went inside and searched for an extra box.
He walked outside with a chocolate cake covered Babbit and handed him to the eager couple, then went back inside, returning with a large box that seemed heavy.
Jack watched as Ianto again went into their house and returned with a box. This box, Jack recognised. It was a box full of solar lights and Jack clapped his hands as he realised what Ianto was thinking.
Jack squatted by the box and began removing the lights, turned one over and showed it to Manny who quickly got some wire and began clipping pieces for hanging hooks.
Ianto grabbed the first of the lights and walked over to the tree. To the delight and amazement of the small crowd, Ianto scaled the branches like a spider monkey, placing lights on the limbs.
Jack was flicking them up and Ianto was catching them as he climbed higher, acrobatic and lithe as he gracefully flipped across limbs.
Finally empty, the box was discarded for the other one and Jack smiled as he found the large ornaments inside that Ianto had been going to place in the garden.
These were strung and hefted as well, Ianto now gaining cheers and claps as he applied his parkour once again.
The tree looked grand and Ianto laughed as Hector showed him the paper chain that the children from the village had quickly gathered from the school, just down the road from their home.
Now the tree looked perfect and Ianto flipped through the branches, landing like a cat.
Clapping broke out as he bowed and accepted a kiss from his husband.
God he loved this place.