12

Josh was ready for his new school, his uniform crisp and neat as he waited impatiently for his parents.

Jack took his hand as they walked, Ianto and Jay following with the pushchair as Jay crowed happily. It was a cool day but the sun was shining as they traversed the path down to the school to enrol their son and entered the large ornate gates, children running about yelling and playing. One saw Josh and ran over excitedly, recognising one of his own and pulled him away as Jack tried to tell him they were meeting the principal but their son was gone, washed away in a tsunami of limbs as the children all roared past and Jay leaned out of the push chair with a look of surprise, waving goodbye to his brother.

Ianto and Jack moved on to the principal's office and entered, being show to chairs.

"I understand he has already been absorbed" Mrs Hayes said dryly rolling her eyes and Jack saw Ianto in her mannerisms, turning to Ianto.

"Second cousins" Ianto replied as he guessed the question coming, "Mother's side."

"Ah" Jack leaned back and smiled, Jay climbing into his lap and starting to examine the woman's desk with interest.

"And another handsome one here" she smiled, "Are you going to come to school here soon too?"

"He is about to have his second birthday, Gods help us" Ianto said happily, "This weekend in fact."

"Oh lovely" she smiled, "You are such a big boy."

Jay chose his Daddy's shit eating grin and was rewarded with a softening of her smile back. He liked this smile thing, practiced different ones and found Daddy's one gets the most things, especially at the lolly counter and the butchery.

"And am I right that there is another on the way?" she asked, "The jungle drums are pounding away about it. Wow. You are really replenishing the bloodstock aren't you."

"Tell me about it" Ianto sighed, "A wee girl. She will be a horror for certain with two big brothers to spoil her, let alone this one here."

Jack made a noise raising his eyebrows like he didn't know what he meant and then they all laughed, including the toddler who then reached to Ianto with a look of expectancy. Ianto immediately reached out and scooped him from his husband's lap and cuddled him close, kissing his face as he told him he was being a good boy and might like to walk home and push the pushchair.

"Yeah!" Jay crowed, loving the game of pushing his own pushchair while making car noises. When his baby was here she would ride in it and he would make noises for her too. She would like that, he was sure. They were going to be best of friends.

"We were just going to visit today but it appears he is already gone" Ianto said with amusement as their son ran past the window with a large bulrush swinging about, screaming like a banshee.

"Let him stay then" she said happily, "We have art this afternoon, nothing hard so he can work out his friend base before tomorrow morning. There is not a lot of arguments here, we try to work out who likes who and team them together. With their gifts it is easier to have them learn in a small group, friendship is important for supporting one another and helping each other with new things."

"I agree" Ianto nodded, "I didn't get that, it was very hard to learn the craft without the support of others. A lonely place to be when different to everyone around you."

"You are lucky you managed to master it then" she said with new respect, "Some turn away from their heritage."

"My children will have every opportunity to seek their heritage here" Ianto said happily, "Josh is gifted with our old blood. Jay here, I'm not sure. He's not decided if he wants it yet, I think."

"Well, having an older brother with the gifts of our old ways will encourage him" she said and Jack looked over at his baby who was sucking his fingers as he looked back with big eyes, unaware that he was the topic of conversation as his little bare feet rubbed together.

Jack grinned and reached out to tickle wee feet, Jay giggling around his fingers as he pulled his feet back and Jack leaned over to kiss a wee knee. Ianto had stopped talking to watch his husband show affection to their wee man and his own affection rose as he thought sweet thoughts, reaching out to cup Jack's cheek.

""Well, any questions?" she asked softly.

"No" Ianto said, then broke eye contact with Jack to look at her, the remaining affection still there and she was struck with the look of love.

"Bonded" she said quietly, "Lovely."

"Yeah" both men sighed and she laughed softly at them, glad they had joined the village.

"I hope one of you reads. We have a book club each Tuesday afternoon if you are interested" she said and Ianto lit up, his smile so sweet as he looked at Jack.

"Well, looks like Tuesday afternoons will be Daddy and Demons then" Jack said as he happily agreed that Ianto should join the group.

He wondered if Tosh would like it too.