The Time For Giving Chapter 1
TWTWTWTW
Jack and Ianto had been married for almost two years, when they decided it was the right time to adopt. After filling out all the forms and attending three interviews, they were put on a waiting list.
Jon and Danny Farmer came from a family where the parents were habitual drug users and alcoholics, and only a week after their last interview, Jack and Ianto were offered one of these boys, then aged 4 and 6, for immediate fostering with a view to adoption. They jumped at the chance.
That was in September. This was to be their first Christmas as a family.
Jack was in with the boys, trying to settle them down for the night. He hoped a story or three would send them off to sleep.
Fat chance of that on Christmas Eve.
"Come on Jon, you promised you'd sleep tonight."
The young boy looked at his brother. "I think that was Danny, dad." He smiled cheekily.
Jack shook his head.
Ianto came into the room. "Jon, why aren't you asleep yet? Because you know, Santa won't come if your not asleep". He smile at Jon. "Come on, get under the covers. Danny's, already asleep."
Jon got into bed and laid down.
Jack smiled at the way Ianto could handle the boys so easily.
He winked at his husband. "Thanks, Hun."
They closed the door behind them and went into the lounge.
"Fancy a drink?" asked Jack.
"Yes, please. I need one after that." He laughed.
Ianto relaxed onto the couch.
Jack went to the cabinet, getting the good scotch out and pouring two glasses. "It's great having the boys this Christmas. You have a way with them."
"Yeah, I know. They are so hyper tonight."
"When you suggested adopting older kids, I wasn't quite sure. But you were right, as always. They're a delight. I love them to bits." leaning forward he kissed Ianto. "And I love you, babe."
"I love you, too" He returned Jack's kiss. "And we can always adopt another, maybe a baby next time, if you want that is." Ianto sounded nervous.
Jack laughed. "I never thought we could juggle two kids and Torchwood, but it works so well." Jack looked at Ianto. "Maybe, but not a newborn." He screwed his nose up. "18 months maybe."
"Why not a newborn? That's when they're adorable," he laughed. "I remember Gwen saying we could never handle kids and work, but we did didn't we, Captain Jack Harkness-Jones?"
"But Jon and Danny weren't new borns, Yan. They're a bit ...harder I think."
"We can manage their tantrums, we can manage a little baby. But I'm not rushing you into anything. If you don't want to I'll understand." Ianto sat back sipping his drink.
"I know you used to look after Rhi's kids for her, but, it's strange for me."
"I didn't have a clue either," he smiled. "You just have to learn that's all and I'll teach you."
"Let's get Christmas and the New Year out of the way and discuss it then. There's the boys to consider, too." Jack put his arm around the younger man, drawing him close.
"Yes, I know. Right, Santa, we better get their presents under the tree from the real 'Santa'."
Jack laughed. "Such a quaint tradition." He shook his head. "Lead on, my beauty."
Ianto got the wrapped presents from their bedroom cupboard and arrange them under the tree. He stood back looking at it.
"Perfect," said Jack, snaking his arms around Ianto's waist. "As always."
"Have we bought them too much?"
Jack shook his head. "Who cares? They certainly won't. It's our first Christmas. We'll learn by it, I hope." They kissed
"I don't care. Its money well spent and they deserve a proper Christmas. We should get to bed too Jack it's getting late."
"Mmm, what an invitation." He smiled. "I expect they'll have us up at some ridiculous hour anyway."
"Yep, come on Harkness, bet you'll be up bouncing off the walls before the boys are." He playfully nudge Jack in the ribs. "I would get sent back to bed until after 8am. by my dad." He laughed. "By the time I was 12, there was no Santa. Not for me, anyway."
Jack hugged him, but didn't ask any questions. "I've never gotten used to your traditions," he shook his head. "It was a thing of the past in my time. But I'll enjoy you and the boys opening your presents."
"I'm sure Santa will bring you something." Ianto held out his hand. "Now come on, bed."
Jack took Ianto's hand and then walked into the master bedroom, closing the door.
"I'm glad we adopted brothers. It feels more like a family."
"I'm glad we did, too." Ianto got undressed down to his red boxers and slide under the sheets.
Jack loved to watch Ianto undress. He never tired of watching his best friend, his lover, his husband. Taking off his own clothes, he got into bed beside Ianto in identical red boxers. He took the younger man in his arms.
"It's rude to stare," said Ianto. "I love you, too, Jack." He touched Jack's chest. "Have you been working out?" he asked.
Jack pulled him closer. "A little. We have two boys now. I need to play football and maybe baseball and all the other sports boys do. Don't want me gettin' to fat on your cooking."
"I'll cook healthier food and give you smaller portions." He joked. "I'll have to do that too. I used to play rugby when I was a kid." Ianto said, grinning.
Jack kissed his forehead. "Really? I thought you'd be more the tennis, badminton type." He smiled.
"Oi! I used to be captain of my team." Ianto smiles. "What makes you think that, anyway?" Ianto looked up at Jack.
"Oh, you're small boned, kinda delicate. Rugby is a rough game, that's all."
"Yes, I was a runner, too," he laughs. "You have to be very athletic."
"Mmm," Jack buried his face in Ianto's hair. "You still have a great body." He ran his hand down Ianto's back.
"I try my best to keep in good shape, as you know," he said, shivering slightly at Jack's soft touch.
"That you do," Jack agreed, drawing circles over Ianto's back.
"I hope the boys are asleep."
"Why?"
"I want you to make love to me."
Jack carefully removed their boxers, kicking them out of the bed.
"I love you," said Ianto, as he wrapped his arms around Jack's naked body and pulled him closer.
Jack made love to Ianto and they fell asleep in each others arms.
TWTWTW
They were woke the next morning by giggles and laugher.
It was 6.15am.
The boys were standing at Jack and Ianto's door. They then opened the door, ran in and started jumping on them. "Santa's been!" They shrieked, falling on top of both men.
Jack watched as Ianto took the boys into his arms, hugging and kissing them. It brought a lump to his throat.
The boys wriggled from Ianto's arms. "Can we open our presents daddy?" asked Jon, looking from Ianto to Jack. "Please!"
Jack looked at Jon and then Danny. "Of course you can. Just let us dad's get some clothes on."
"Was you hot last night, daddy?" Danny asked Ianto.
Jack looked at Ianto and smiled.
"We were just about to get dressed when we heard you two." Jack told them.
"Yep, I was very hot last night, Danny." Ianto grinned, pulling on his boxers, pj bottoms and a t shirt. "Come on boys. Jack do you want a coffee?"
Jack pulled on sweat pants and a thin robe, following the boys down into the lounge. "Thanks, babe, I'd love one."
The boys sat by their many presents, waiting for Ianto, who went to the kitchen and made himself and Jack a strong morning coffee. He walked back through, giving Jack the warm mug of coffee and the boys milk. "There you go, Cariad." Then sat on the floor in front of the sofa, next to the boys sipping his own coffee. "On you go boys." he said.
Jack sat on the sofa and watched as Jon and Danny opened their presents. He sipped his coffee, occasionally looking at Ianto and smiling. He made a great dad, Jack thought.
Ianto watched the look on the boys faces, as they opened their presents, revealing games, clothes and other goodies.
"Dad," Jon said to Jack, "This one is for you from Santa" Jon passed it to Jack, looking at Ianto and smiling.
Jack took the present offered to him by Jon and read the tag...'To the man I adore, Love always, Yan xxxx'
Ianto looks up at Jack, rolled his eyes and smiled, "Open it."
With nervous fingers, Jack tore the paper away from the gift. Inside was a gold watch and fob chain. Jack smiled, looking up at a beaming Ianto. "How did you guess? I love it!"
"You can put your dad's watch away somewhere safe now. I know you'd be devastated if it got broken or lost."
Danny scrambled onto Ianto's knee, smiling up at Jack.
"It's pretty, dad."
"Yep," Ianto agreed. "Santa's got a good eye." He smiled, bouncing Danny on his knee.
Jack indicated to Jon, who knelt under the tree, coming up with a package, which he handed to Ianto. "This one's for you, daddy."
It read 'To my beautiful Welshman, my one true love, yours always, Jack xxx' Ianto carefully opened the package. Inside the box was a silver decorated stop watch. "It's gorgeous, Jack. Thank you."
Jon smiled at Ianto. "I was with dad when he got that and sent it to Santa."
"We chose it together." Jack added.
Danny leaped up and down.
"How about we get breakfast now?" suggested Jack. "I'll cook."
"Okay, sounds good. Boys, don't we jump in the shower after breakfast. We need to be squeaky clean before Auntie Gwen, Uncle Rhys, Uncle Owen and Auntie Tosh arrive, don't we?"
"Will Bobby and Sophie be with them?"
Jack nodded. "Of course."
"Yay!" The boys chorused together.
Ianto just smiled.
Jack cooked breakfast and then after they'd eaten, they all had a shower and dressed, waiting for their guests to arrive.