4
Ifan arrived and saw that Ianto was already cleaning house…literally.
The front yard was covered with furniture, some people scrubbing stuff down while other pieces were being carried across the large green to the garage, obviously pieces being rejected as Ianto started making the house his. Ifan stood and searched his heart for how he felt as he realised this was not a little vacation, his little cubbie intended making this a den.
He was excited, hurrying up the steps to find the front receiving parlour clean and spacious, the place seeming larger than he remembered and twice as friendly as roses sat in vases on plinths, for the baban.
He entered the larger dining room and found it completely stripped out, soft rugs down and sofas being positioned as Ianto canted his head, "There it is perfect, she can see the roses while feeding in that one. Hey!"
Ifan smiled as his grandson approached, handing the baby over and then rushing to help Jack move cushions to fill the sofa and Ifan saw a day bed building. A little nest. Whites, greys and rose. All for the baban.
As it should be.
Gloria entered, "Darlings. You have visitors, the neighbours have come to see who is here."
"Oh lord!" Ianto huffed, "This place is nowhere near ready to receive!"
"Too late" she laughed, stepping aside as a middle aged couple shuffled in, heading for the cub with wide eyes. They were cooing and enamoured as Ifan proudly turned to show her to the couple that he clearly knew.
"See the nose?" he asked them, "Amazing isn't it, how the bloodline continues."
"Ah Ifan, a bonny wee lass, you must be so proud" the man crooned.
"Yes Angus, I am" Ifan said with glee, "My grandson there bore her. She came out a true Ted. Wee claws and everything."
"No!" the woman gasped, "Transformed? Awwwwww."
"Rayne, for the storm that she arrived in" he said, "Say hello to Kathy."
The little girl yawned and looked around for her Dam, the strength of a Teddykin helping lift her head from the chest of her Grandy. Ianto rushed to pluck her back and the couple looked at him with surprise.
"Come on bubba, do you want me or Daddy?" Ianto crooned, jiggling her as he retreated to Jack and Jack tucked them both against him as he leaned in to kiss Ianto.
"You're Harkness!" the man said like an accusation "Good grief. I remember watching you rip that vehicle apart on the news when your mate was killed!"
Jack nodded, "Yes. We were not soul mates but he as the only love I had known. Now I know what a soul mate is. I would have killed for him. I will die for this one."
"Oh Cariad, thank you" Ianto sighed happily, laying his head against Jack's shoulder as their cub squealed softly to show her pleasure in the affection in the room.
"Ianto!" Kathy suddenly said, "You're little Ianto. No. No. Oh goodness, look how big you grew, I was so worried yoy were always going to be a small streak of piss."
Ianto blinked, then started to laugh softly, "I remember you now. You did the gardening sometimes. You used to let me at the strawberries."
"That's right, you were so cute, always surprised that I even noticed you" she smiled.
"Well, to be honest not many people did" Ianto said softly, turning to rub his nose into Jack's neck, letting him know that he wanted to leave.
"If you will excuse us, I think our little one needs feeding and we are still trying to keep the milk flow while we can" Jack said as he pushed them towards the door, "We have this special room for feeding so she knows what is happening. She seems so alert and likes order, just like her Tadda."
Ianto relaxed as soon as they were alone and Jack soothed him with a kiss and a rub of his back.
"She is hungry now" Ianto said as he lowered to the chair and Jack went to get a bottle as Ianto gave her what little milk there still was, still pleased that he at least had that. Jack returned with a bottle to find Ianto rocking a complaining cub with a look of total devastation.
"It's gone" he whimpered, "I'm dry."
"Oh love, it was bound to happen" Jack said softly as he offered the bottle instead of taking the baban for his own feeding moment "You've lasted longer than some."
"Some lasted longer though" Ianto pouted.
"But not with your start to things" Jack defended, "I could not be prouder, I swear. Now stop that and have something to drink too, OK?"
"Yes Cariad" Ianto said as he watched Jack settle his cub in his lap and finally saw the refreshments waiting, choosing a soft drink to please his alpha. He also chose a sandwich once the bottle was empty and chewed as he watched Jack burp the little one in the way he had perfected. Ianto wished he could do it so easily, a slight to his parental abilities that she seemed to be gassy.
"You worrying about her colic again?" Jack asked and Ianto smiled, unable to lie to his beloved.
"She has you to fix it" he finally said, "always there when needed."
Jack smiled as he placed a now limp baby back into it's Dam's arms and kissed Ianto gently as he whispered, "Always."
