The Time For Giving Chapter 2
TWTWTWTW
Rhys and Gwen were the first to arrive with little Bobby, now aged almost 4. They gave Jon and Danny presents and then all three boys went upstairs to play.
Owen and Tosh arrived half an hour later with their baby, Sophie, aged 10 months.
"She's gorgeous!" Ianto smiled when Owen walked through with the tiny girl in his arms. "Boys, come down, please." Asked Ianto.
All three boys came down the stairs to see Owen and Tosh. They handed them presents and then everyone went into the lounge so Jack and Ianto could give their visitor presents.
Jack was holding Sophie, while Ianto gave out the presents.
Ianto gave the presents to Jon and Danny to hand out. Their eyes were bright with excitement.
After all the presents were opened, Jack gave the adults a glass of Mulled wine and the kids soft drinks.
"How about we go down to the Bay for a walk round before dinner?" he suggested.
"No dad, it's freezing," Jon said.
"Sorry, Cariad, it's a little too cold today." Ianto walked to the kitchen, to prepare dinner.
"Need a hand?" asked Rhys.
Ianto smiled, nodding. "Please."
Jack sighed. "Okay, let's go play until daddy calls us for dinner." he smiled at the children. "You can show Bobby what Santa brought you."
The boys disappeared upstairs again.
Gwen smiled at Jack. "They're lovely kids."
Jack shook his head. "No, they're perfect."
"They certainly are, but they can have their moments." Gwen laughed.
Danny and Jon sat in their room with Bobby, show him what Santa brought them.
TWTWTW
Once Jack had left the kitchen, Ianto and Rhys began to chat.
"So. What time do we spring this on them?"
Ianto looked towards the living room. "I was thinking about 3 ish."
Rhys agreed. "They're going to love it!"
They carried on preparing the dinner.
Back in the lounge, Owen was sitting on the sofa with Sophie in his arms.
"Ianto and I were talking about maybe adopting a baby," Jack told Owen.
Owen smiles. "Sophie's good. She sleeps well, thank goodness." He looked at Tosh.
"They seem to have settled in well." said Gwen.
"Love was all they needed." Jack listened to the giggles from the boys room. "Their parents were on drugs. Social Service wanted a quick adoption. Ianto and I were lucky."
Tosh wandered through to the kitchen. "How are you two doing?"
"Veg is all peeled and in saucepans. Turkey crown and gammon are in the oven. Ianto is making the stuffing and I'm about to mix the Yorkshire batter."
Tosh raised an eyebrow. "Mmm, you'll have to teach Owen. He's taken over my role with Sophie."
They all laughed.
"I love cooking." Ianto smiled. "I always used to help my mam in the kitchen. Maybe that turned me." He laughed, "Nah, it was Jack's pheromones that did that." He grinned looking at the picture of him and Jack on a fridge magnet of their wedding.
Walking out into the kitchen, Jack heard Ianto's last sentence. "Best thing I ever did, then," he winked at Ianto. "Second was asking you to marry me."
"And the third?" asked Rhys.
"The boys," Jack and Ianto said, together.
Ianto smiled, wrapping his arms around Jack and nuzzle into his neck.
"The best thing I ever did was tell you I loved you," said Jack. "I wasn't sure if you felt the same, not until after Brecon." He half smiled. "It took something as bad as that to make us both see what we knew was there from day one." He kissed Ianto's nose. "Button nose."
The others were used to seeing public shows of attention from Jack and Ianto by now.
"Awww! You guys are so cute." Quipped Owen.
"I know we've had our ups and downs, but we always come through, don't we?" Ianto pinched Jack's butt.
Jack actually blushed. It was him that usually did the flirting and pursuing, but Ianto felt in a cheeky mood.
"Okay, my turn to get the dessert ready, scoot," Jack tapped Ianto's hand away.
Rhys shook his head and smiled.
Ianto grinned at Jack, as it was very rare that he got embarrassed.
"What's for dessert?" Rhys asked.
"I was thinking, Fools Pudding," joked Jack. "Brandy trifle, freshly made, with ice cream and blancmange for the kids."
"Sounds nice. I hope the cream is actually cream and not that synthetic stuff," Ianto said, laughing.
Jack nodded. "Of course. I might even make brandy snaps." His eyes glittered. "I'm in the mood to bake."
Jack went about making the dessert while Ianto chatted with their guests. After he'd finished, Jack joined them.
About a couple of hours, Ianto checked on the dinner. "Dinner's almost ready, Cariad. Can you get everyone seated at the table, then help me get everything plated up." He smiled at his lover.
"Mmm, it smells wonderful."
Once everyone was seated around the dining table, Jack helped Ianto bring in the dishes full of vegetable. Carrots, parsnips, mash potato, brussel spouts, roast potatoes and cauliflower. The meats followed next with pigs in blankets and stuffing balls.
"Wow," said Rhys. "It all looks wonderful."
Gwen smiled.
"He really knows how to cook. I choose right when I fell for Ianto."
"Just for my cooking? Thanks, Jack." Ianto laughed.
Jack took the meat, placing it in front of him.
"Thank you for all being here today," said Ianto. "I'd like to ask my loving husband if he would do the honour of carving the meat." Ianto handed Jack the carving knife.
Jack started carving the turkey and gammon while Ianto placed veggies on Jon and Danny's plates.
Rhys did the same for Bobby.
Ianto had blitzed up vegetables and gravy for Sophie and Tosh was feeding her. Then he started putting meat on their plates. "There you go boys, tuck in. Please, help yourself. There's plenty." Ianto told the grown ups.
Everyone enjoyed the meal and Jack's dessert was a hit, especially with the kids and Rhys.
After loading the dish washer, Jack went back into the lounge and they chatted happily together while to kids played upstairs.
"So," began Gwen. "A baby?"
Jack smiled, looking at Ianto. "Yep. Maybe next couple of years. Who knows."
Ianto looked at Jack, clearing his throat. "I was thinking. Maybe we could find a surrogate and have a child by one of us."
Jack looked at Ianto and nodded. "I...was thinking the same thing, actually, now you come to mention it." He smiled. "But it has to be you, not me."
Ianto looked confused. "I was thinking it should be you, not me."
Jack tried to smile, but his face told everyone he was serious. "I think you'd be better, that's all."
"But…."
"I know what your gonna say and the answer is no. I don't know more than you. Just because I'm from the future. If our kid inherits any of your qualities, he or she will be blessed." He watched the look on Ianto's face change.
Ianto was lost for words.
Jack put his hands on Ianto's upper arms. "I don't want to fight over this. Yes, I'd love OUR child, but by you." He kissed him. "Okay?"
Ianto nodded and returned Jack's kiss.
"Okay. We'll search around to find a good mother for our little one." Ianto smiled.
His wish of becoming a father properly might come true.
As they walked back into the dining room, all eyes were on them.
"We're gonna try for a baby of our own." Jack told them.
"That's great news," said Rhys.
"Well done boys," said Tosh and Gwen.
Owen smiled at the two men, whilst feeding Sophie.
Ianto looked at Rhys and nodded.
"Jack, can you call the boys down, please."
Rhys joined Ianto by the fireplace and waited for the boys. Once down they began to sing 'Oh, Holy Night'. Everyone was enthralled by their voices, especially Jack.
"See," said Jack. "And the voice of an angel. The baby will be perfect."
"Are we getting a little brother or sister, dad?" asked Danny, smiling.
Jack smiled at his youngest son. "Maybe, yes. Is that okay with you?"
Danny nodded. "Yes, please."
Jack smiled at Danny and then winked at Ianto. "Okay. We'll see what daddy and I can do."
"Okay," replied Jon, who was standing with his hand down his trousers.
"Jon! What are you doing?" Asked Ianto.
"Bobby put my Ben 10 down them. I can't get hold of it." He shrugged.
Rhys smiled.
Jack took Jon out into the hall and helped him get his Ben 10 back.
"Thanks, dad." He got closer. "Can we have a sister, please?"
Jack, frowned. "We'll see."
Ianto shook his head and rolled his eyes. He sat down on the sofa, picked Danny up and put him on his knee.
The rest of the day went quickly and soon it was time for everyone to go home.
"Thanks for coming round, guys. It was a great day."
"Thanks for having us," said Rhys. "See you all tomorrow."