2
The day was flagging and Ianto was late.
The streets were busy and he was anxiously waiting at the cross-walk lights to cross, making his way down the street to the parking area.
He had hoped to have been done early and be back home before Jack and the kids but London was as crazy as ever, reminding him just why he preferred quiet Cardiff.
Christmas had been draining, even with the wonderful wedding anniversary gift Jack had sprung on him, eclipsing his own offering, Ianto was glad things were getting back on an even keel.
Valentine's Day was tomorrow, Jack's birthday. The last of the preparations had been made and now the last gift was settled in Ianto's breast pocket, inside his jacket.
A woman stopped beside him, the baby in the pushchair asleep in the warm sunny afternoon. Ianto smiled as he wondered if Ton had gone down for Tosh or not, he had been a bit grumpy lately and Ianto suspected more teething.
The buzzing sounded to alert the pedestrians that it was time to cross and Ianto walked alongside the woman and baby as he mentally went through his list of things for Jack's surprise 40th birthday.
The balloons, cake and invites were done, Jack was still none the wiser and the boys had happily helped. Babbit even demanded Ton sign the birthday card for their gift as well, almost costing them the birthday card as the little devil tried to eat it before Ianto saved it.
There was a squeal of brakes as a car ran the lights and Ianto instinctively grabbed the pushchair, pulling it out of the way as the woman screamed with shock.
They both then checked the baby and laughed softly as they realized nobody was hurt. The mother had hair like autumn leaves, a pretty auburn with lighter highlights amongst the pretty curls. A contrast to the blonde haired child sleeping in the pushchair.
They continued along as some were heard shouting abuse at the driver in the background.
"Thank you for that, this thing is so heavy" the woman said politely.
"I had one similar with my first" Ianto agreed softly, "So hard to get over door jams, especially single door ones. Some stores were just not worth the effort."
"Go, I know. She is just too heavy for my hip now" the woman laughed, "So nice when I could just run I places quick with her."
"I have four now" Ianto smiled, "Youngest is eight months old and getting quite an attitude on him. Refuses to use one of those, get unbelievably upset if you put him in one. Only word he seems to use is No, much to our despair. Mind you, he has Down Syndrome and they said he would never speak so we mustn't complain."
"I worried about her, my first" she nodded at her baby, "Didn't want the test, worried about miscarriage. I know, they said it was such a slim chance but still, when it's your baby you do tend to get a bit anal."
Ianto hummed his agreement as he looked at the little blonde head that nodded as they rolled over the cobbles.
"Are you parked up here as well?" Ianto pointed, "I can help fold it into the back for you if you like. Not a madman stalker, promise!"
They both laughed as they watched a large double decker bus lumber past and then she replied, "My husband is meeting me, he's just posting something that needs extra stamps and grabbing a new mouse for his computer. We parked where it is closer for me and Della so he's probably another five minutes away."
"Takes so long to get a park" Ianto offered, "Only getting worse with the increase in businesses in this area."
"Yes, so much easier to walk than try and find parks these days. Inner city London is so busy" she sighed.
"I don't think I ever seen so many tourists about, we do seem ….."
Whatever Ianto was about to say as lost as he found himself airborne, no sound or sensation.
He could see bright light and something fluttering about as he twisted in the air.
He just felt surprise.