Chapter 4
The next morning, Ianto is sitting on the couch when his father comes home. "Tad" Ianto screams when he sees his father and launches himself into his arms. "Ianto" Mr. Jones laughs as he swings his son into his muscular arms and holds him. Ianto nuzzles close and starts giggling when his father's beard tickles him. "Tad, you're all itchy!" "Oh am I" Mr. Jones asks with a smirk before tickling his son with his beard which causes Ianto to start laughing loudly as he tries to get away. Chuckling, Mr. Jones stops and holds his son protectively. "So, your mum told me you had some news you wanted to tell me?" Ianto nods. "My cancer's gone!" Mr. Jones grins. "That's amazing. I'm so happy for you." He kisses his son on the head and then asks "Did you do anything special yesterday for your birthday?" Ianto stops. "We went to the hospital, and then mum and I went to Fuddruckers. "That sounds like fun. You know what else, Ianto? I have the day off today. If you and Rhiannon agree on something you want to do, we'll celebrate your birthday today, ok? Why don't you go ask her while I talk to your mum?" "Alright, Tad" Mr. Jones sets down his son, and Ianto goes running to Rhiannon's room.
"Rhi, are you up" Ianto calls at her door. In response he hears a sleepy "I am now. Come on in Yan." Ianto walks into his sister's room to see her sitting up in bed and rubbing her eyes. Her dark hair falling over her shoulders and the right side of her face is pink from where she was sleeping with it against the pillow. When she opens her eyes, and sees her little brother, she opens her arms to him, and Ianto immediately climbs onto her bed, and into his sister's lap. "What's going on, Yan?" Ianto looks up at her and smiles. "Tad says if we can agree on something to do, we can do it today for my birthday! What do you want to do, Rhi?" Holding her little brother close to her, Rhi responds with "I don't know. It's your birthday celebration. Why do you want me to choose?" Ianto laughs at her. "Just choose something, Rhi!" Rhiannon can't help but laugh at her little brother's good mood. "Well, there's that amusement park we've both been saying we want to go to. Want to see if tad will take us there?" Ianto grins. "Yes! Rhiannon laughs. Alright, I'm going to get dressed. I suggest you wear a tee-shirt and shorts. It's going to be hot today." Rhiannon kisses Ianto's head as she sets him down. "Now scoot so I can get dressed too." Ianto runs out of the room to go find his tad.
When Ianto runs into the kitchen, his father catches him and flips him in the air before bringing him to his own chest which causes Ianto to laugh as he clings tightly to his father so he doesn't fall. "Did you and Rhiannon decide on something already?" Ianto nods "Can we go to the amusement park?" Mr. Jones just laughs. "I should have known that is what you would choose. Of course we can, Ianto." Ianto smiles as he climbs down to go get dressed. When Ianto is out of the room, Mr. Jones walks over to Mrs. Jones and pulls her to him and rubs her back lightly. Mrs. Jones smiles and rests her head on her husband's shoulder. "It's so nice to see him happy. I've missed this." Mr. Jones nods in agreement. "He's like a new child. He looks a lot healthier too." Mr. Jones steps back, and takes his wife's hands. Mrs. Jones laughs, but allows her husband the silly mood as they are all celebrating for Ianto.
When the children come out of their bedrooms, Mr. and Mrs. Jones have just finished dancing, and Mr. Jones catches Mrs. Jones around the waist, pulls her close, and kisses her. They are greeted from a chorus of "EWWW" from both of their children causing them to almost fall over in their laughter. "Are you both ready to go?" Rhiannon nods and Ianto sits to start tying his shoes. "Yup, I'm ready." "Um… Yan" Ianto looks up at his sister. "Yeah" Rhiannon starts laughing. "Your shoes are on the wrong feet again." Knowing that had always been a problem for Ianto, she sits down to help him fix his shoes before standing, and helping him up. "There you go." Mr. and Mrs. Jones smile down at their children. "Rhiannon, would you grab everyone a water bottle please. Ianto, will you grab some crackers?" Both of the children move to follow their parent's requests while Mrs. Jones gathers a project to work on, and grabbing some of her children's favorite books before packing the car, and helping Ianto in the car. As soon as he was in, Ianto cried out. "Wait! I have to go to the bathroom." His father hopped out of the car to unlock the house and waits for him. As soon as Ianto is back in the car, and the house is locked Mr. Jones drives them to the amusement park.
On the way there, Ianto is happily showing Rhiannon his toy gorilla and telling her about yesterday at the hospital. They're all glad that Ianto is happy, but they can tell that it's unnerving Rhiannon who can't tolerate hospitals. Just when Mrs. Jones is about to speak up, Rhiannon picks up one of Ianto's books "Hey Yan, want me to read you Captain Underpants?" Ianto grins. "Ok" Mrs. Jones sits back in her seat, and smiles at her children. She silently thanks whatever Gods may be listening that it's as easy to redirect her son as it is. She listens to Rhiannon reading, and she thinks once again how glad she is that her children have such an incredible and inseparable bond. Rhiannon is only about a chapter into the book when Ianto screams out "We're here! We're here!" Everyone looks out the window and grins as their senses are hit by the screams of children on rides, and the smell of hot popcorn and butter along with flashing lights.