14
Ianto was ready, fluffing like a madman as the basket was carried in and placed on the floor, releasing the babies who all screamed with glee as they exploded from the basket like mad motherfuckers.
Ianto had set up the cat tower, gaming mats and little jungle gyms and soon there were little balls of fluff flying about the place ninja attacking each other and anything else up to knee height.
One had a little love heart on his side, a throwback to his grandfather and Ianto knew he had a soft spot for wee Thumper, trying not to make a thing of it but the way the little guy sat on his slipper hugging his leg as Ianto carefully walked him around the place showed the feeling was mutual.
Caramel watched with interest, playing happily with the little ones and loving the wee squeals and jumping about.
Then Ianto brought out the food and they all started screaming, including the bigger two until Ianto scolded softly and they ran to the feeding mats, lining up in a way that Autumn never could get them to.
The foot long subs were lovingly made by Pop-pop. Open sandwiches covered in roast chicken, vegetables and mayo. Ianto placed them both down for the little ones to eat, Caramel watching as Germaine picked up the piece of one cut into sections and she did the same, humming happily.
Ianto was gushing with pleasure as they ate, then he went to change and come back down with a new toy.
Bubble wrap.
He laid it out and then stepped into it, squealing as it went off and a couple of babies jumped with surprise, then Thumper took off, racing to leap and cavort on the plastic. Twists and pirouettes, a mad thing as he attacked and laughed, the others joining in as Caramel sat popping the edges with open curiosity.
Jack was glad he had thought to save the bubble wrap off the last consignment from Unit and Jack watched Ianto gush, then he went to the kitchen to do the dishes but Ianto ran after him, hugging him from behind, plastering himself against him.
"Thank you Daddy" Ianto sighed happily, "I'm so happy."
"Me too" Jack assured him, feeling the little man's hands slide to his stomach as he rubbed happily, Jack's hands moving to cover Ianto's as he leaned back against him.
"They will need beddies soon" Ianto said softly, "Did you put the wee steps at the side of the bed?"
"Yes love, they can climb up and down easily" Jack assured him, patting his hands.
"I am so happy" Ianto repeated as he kissed the back of Jack's neck, "Oh! Milk!"
Ianto collected the drinks for the fridge and went back out, proudly praising the babies that were wiping their wee faces on the feeding mat like he had told them to. He might have missed out on their development until now but he would be damned if his great-grandkits were going to have no manners.
"Thank you Pop-pop" Germaine said politely and the others chimed in with wee meows, looking for praise as they learnt more manners from their big brother.
"Right, a DVD and sleepies" Ianto told them, "In the bedroom in Caramel's beddie."
Caramel looked at him with interest, then rose to follow the others through to the bedroom. She looked at the big bed that the babies were already on, lining up along the foot board to call to her. She clambered up and pulled at the covers, making a nest and they all cuddled in, her weird humming starting as she stroked the babies to sleep.
"What a good mama you are" Ianto gushed, "Sweetling, you are so lovely."
She wriggled as he leaned in to kiss her then he kissed Germaine as well, "Sleep tight babies, I will leave the DVD on for you. Then when you wake up we can go outside to run about."
Ianto tip-toed out and snuggled on the sofa with Jack, "I wish Nutty were here."
"Shhhh" Jack crooned as he looked over at the old cat asleep in the sun patch by the door. His fear was the coming day the old man wouldn't wake.
Minnie's death had almost broken Ianto, Peanut dying within a day as the two best mates went together across the rainbow bridge and it was only the stubborn heart of Bandit that kept him here.
Jack knew that he wouldn't worry about his love's heart now, he could see Ianto was happy with babies again.
Then Jack realised it was not just Ianto who would be heartbroken.
The last of their litter would be gone.
Jack held his sweetling tighter.
The babies would wake soon and their sunlight would chase the shadows from their hearts, filling the house with energy.
Like them, Bandit seemed to breathe it in like an elixir.
He wished for many more happy days in the sun.