11
Christmas Day arrived with the usual fanfare of screaming B's (Babs and Bethy) as well as a wailing Ton who was confused by all the activity without his usual morning cuddles.
Then he saw the gifts and immediately forgave everyone, everywhere …. For anything!
Walter and Stephen found more joy in him that their own gifts, pushing them aside to sit and help him open his, their faces full of love and delight as the baby clapped and crowed over everything, even the bows and gift cards he couldn't read yet.
John had wrapped several things individually for Ton, remembering Babbit's love for opening and ripping at that age and even a sun hat that looked like a shark was eating his head was met with squeals of joy.
John had got him a large chocolate chip cookie, wrapped in cookie monster paper and his high pitched scream at the prospect of a cookie before breakfast as deafening.
His wee Elmo PJs and the cookie being devoured was too much and Water was soon lying in the ripped paper and discarded ribbons getting shots of his beloved baby brother.
Babs got a new book of lizards, one that was especially for Iguana lovers and his eyes almost popped out of his head as he looked at the pictures of full grown Iguanas lunging on top on their hapless owners.
"He's gonna be as big as me!" he said with the most enthusiasm you might ever imagine, shaking with excitement, "My Papa got me a dragon!"
John felt a swell of pride as he watched his little imp dance on the spot with one of Bethy's bead necklaces swinging about.
"Some have harnesses and stuff" Bethy pointed to a picture of one dressed in medieval armor and Babbit rushed to John with his eyes blown out as he could no longer speak and he thrust the book at him tapping the picture and squeaking.
"Oh my god!" John was amazed as well, shifting forward and look at the picture under full light, "WOW! God, who made that for him, I wonder if there is a website"
"John, please." Ianto sighed as he looked up from the marzipan he was calmly mounding into snowmen, "How about we have something that ….cool … for next Christmas. Give old Berty boy something to look forward to?"
Babbit snatched the book so he and Bethy could show their 'child' the pictures and Connor started to giggle as Ianto frowned and accepted another piece of marzipan Ton was offering. Ton shoved the ball into his Taddy's mouth and Ianto made happy noises as he chewed the sickly sweet icing and tried not to pull a face.
"God, he is going to be hell in slippers today" Jack sighed as he watched a snowman go into a cookie crumbed cavern. Then another one was offered to Ianto who groaned and looked to Jack for help.
"One for me?" Jack begged with a sad face and Ton liked at him calmly shaking his head. Nope.
Jack whimpered and pouted as Ton grinned and deliberately offered another to Ianto who had spit the last one out quickly into a napkin.
"It's Christmas Jack, he knows he can get away with murder already, bless his little soul" Bets laughed as Stephen called out to Ton that he had lost Walter.
Ton called out, "Wally?"
He padded over to the camera, sitting by the tree and squatted, peeking under the tree with his little bum poking up, calling out again, "Wally bums?"
The wrapping pile snorted and Ton swung to stare at it, a bow sliding down to rest by a little Thomas Tank Engine slipper.
"Wally?"
The slippers shuffled closer and then Ton leaned forward with his hands on his knees, inspecting the paper.
Walter erupted form the paper with a roar, scooping up the little boy who screamed and then burst into large gawfs of laughter, sounding just like Ianto.
"Buggery Wally!" Ton screamed, slapping at him and then grabbing his face to kiss him.
"I got a Tonny bum" Walter sing-songed as he danced around with Ton in his arms and Ianto sat back watching the display with a baby he had managed to steal during the noise.
Prim had startled to snuffle and was now dead to the world as Ianto rubbed her back in slow circles as he whispered endearments.
Ianto was still not sure of the name, knowing it was one Em loved so he was trying to accept it but she looked so much like an Elizabeth or a Sophia to him.
And as for wee Ifan, he was still shocked at that one.
Bets walked in with Christmas chocolates and Ianto groaned as more sugar was handed around but politely took one and enjoyed the nutty centre.
Just like his family.
A wee bit nutty at the core.