4

Ton was standing by the table again, reaching for the silk scarf as he said "Mama"

Chrystal knelt and agreed, "Yes. Mama Rhia's scarf, Daddy Gray's watch."

Ton pulled something out of his pocket and she saw with horror that Ianto's broken glasses were being placed with the keepsakes.

"Taddy's eyes" Ton said sadly, "He see me."

"Oh Ton" she swallowed, "Taddy is going to be OK. He will come back. He isn't all gone like them. Promise."

"No" Ton stepped away angrily, "Taddy say lies are bad."

The little man stomped off as she sat back on her heels and wiped tears away, angry that she could not fix this, not comfort the poor little boy. Or herself.

"Hey"

She looked up to find Connor leaning against the doorframe and he looked at the table and blanched, "Shit. Wondered where they were, searched the school after they had taken him. Oh shit, do you think ….the blood was everywhere."

"He thinks he died" she said sadly, "That what he saw was his body or something, that we are lying to him."

"Poor wee bugger" Connor shook his head as he watched her straighten the glasses with a trembling hand.

Bets walked past and hesitated with surprise.

"Ton" Connor explained and she sighed, then gasped as she heard the front door slam.

"Tonny?" she called out, starting to search, the knowledge that they were the only ones there meaning it was only someone entering or leaving to make that noise and the leaving could only be him.

They quickly knew he was gone and Connor took off with Chrystal in tow as Bets picked up the phone to call around, knowing that the entire village would watch out for the poor little boy who had been so sorry since it happened.

It was Carl that found him, standing in the cemetery at Heck's grave.

"You see him?" he was asking the gravestone, "He OK?"

"Oh Ton" Carl sighed sadly as the little boy looked around the lawn and then saw a fresh grave, crying out as he raced for it.

"Tadda?"

Carl caught him and walked him over to show him, "See? Mrs Heffershom. Remember? She had the car ride? The trip to town and she fell over? Died and they brought her ashes back? That's why it's a little bit dug up, it was a wee box. Remember?"

"Not Tadda."

"No darling, Taddy is still sick, that's why no Daddy too." Carl explained, "Daddy is trying to help make Taddy better so he can come home for Ton Cuddles. Then he'll be right."

"So long"

"I know, I am sorry. Poor Taddy is so tired and sick. I know it's mean and not fair. You are OK to be angry love" Carl held him as he huffed, "It doesn't mean you are being bad if you are angry. We are angry too. A bad man hurt Taddy and we are all so mad!"

"Daddy got him."

"Yes. Daddy made the Bad man hurt too."

"Good."

Ton pushed away and walked back to Heck, leaning in to kiss the stone like he had seen Babs do.

Then he held up a hand to signal his willingness to go home.

The little pathway back had never been so long.