25

So, Ianto found himself standing in the wardrobe room looking forlornly at all those lovely Yan things with a wanting/longing that tore at him, his hands rubbing the slight bump as he considered what the hell he was going to wear to this bloody naming day.

Hero and Kitty were such sweet little buttons and he was having trouble equating them to the two mischievous imps he had met during…that time.

He scratched at his three day's growth, wondering if Jack wanted to shave him as a treat, gods he loved pampering him any way he would let him and it was getting insanely hard to find something that wasn't boring for him while Jack gushed about.

He sighed as he looked over at the Ianto side and grimaced at his tailored suits that would never fit now. He was walking towards them when he had an inspiration so he walked over to Yan's side and removed the nice blue and white paisley scarf Tosh had gifted him that he liked so much, then he headed to Jack's corner.

Ianto stood and stared at himself in the mirror, not sure what to make of himself.

The old pair of denim jeans were held up by a belt and the knitted vest over the soft shirt seemed to look OK, not too much bump visible. It was the coat Jack had never worn that seemed to finish off the ensemble with the scarf tied jauntily. Ianto looked like a cross between Ianto and Yan that somehow seemed fitting.

He was unsure if he looked silly or not so he carefully made his way to the top of the stairs, calling out to his Cariad as he had promised not to travel the stairs without him, the nightmares Jack had started to have of ways he might lose this baby included one of Ianto falling down the stairs.

Jack raced to the bottom and looked up eagerly, then froze as Ianto looked down.

"Holly fuck" Jack breathed as this fuckable god stared down. Ianto looked like he was about to take a catwalk and his blush as he watched Jack lick his lips made it worse.

"Not too…fluffy?" Ianto grimaced.

"Baby, you look super sweet and manly yet…gods, the scarf is perfect. I'm so glad you didn't shave or it wouldn't work but your little beard makes you look kinda dangerous. Like you just flew in from some other world." Jack gushed "Oh gods, you are in my pants! Ho-ho, in my pants."

"Stop it!" Ianto scolded, leaning against him as he let Jack practically carry him down to the bottom, then before Ianto could react Jack was calling his mother.

"Yes love?" Dahlia tottled into the hallway and stopped as she looked at Ianto, "Oh! Where's the baby?"

Ianto grinned and opened the flappy coat, showing the vest which he smoothed with his hands and the bump was suddenly SO real.

"Clever" she laughed, "I like that on you, you look lovely and warm. Can't have you catching a chill."

Ianto resisted the urge to eye roll as gloves were pushed at him and did a pout instead as Jack took a breath, "Now Mama, we talked about this. Ianto knows his own temperatures. If he is cold I will warm him. He will tell me so."

Dahlia caught the warning and smiled as she moved away to check what the little princess was getting into. Now that she was crawling not much seemed safe.

"Thank you Cariad" Ianto gushed with appropriate eyelash fluttering, "Can I please walk to the SUV?"

Jack considered and Ianto knew the urge to carry him was overwhelming so he added, "I need the exercise, you know I will sleep better for it and you can always give me a lovely massage later."

Jack nodded happily and 'helped' him to the vehicle and lifted him into the seat where he found the little minx had inserted herself in her seat already, the distant chirping of Dahlia quietly, yet desperately searching filtering through the open back door.

"Cariad, go tell Mama that Byrd managed to get in here" Ianto said and Jack's head popped up with horror to look at the toddler who calmly poked her tongue at him, then went back to examine the necklace she was playing with.

"Is that your heart?" Jack pointed.

"It's ok Cariad" Ianto replied as he adjusted the blanket Jack was now stuffing around him, "She knows it's your heart you gave me so she will always treasure it and keep it safe."

"Oh OK" Jack shrugged, then he turned to the house "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

"I can't find…you little bugger!" Dahlia puffed as she rushed out to peer at the baby.

"Like the tide Dahlia" Ianto said softly, "Never turn your back."

"Indeed" she huffed, "Not going in the front darling?"

"Safer for bumpy in the back, he can wear the body harness instead of a lap belt" Jack explained as he slipped Ianto into a harness, much to his horror, "Must protect the cargo."

Byrd inspected her Taddy's contraction that was sort of like a parachute harness attached to the seat and Ianto counted to ten silently as she pointed at him and rolled her eyes for him.

Then they were off.

Ianto just hoped Jack would calm down before they got back to the Lilacs for the 'after party' party this afternoon. At least he would be happy with home just over the lawn.

Byrd patted the purple love heart as she slipped it into her little dress's bodice.

Claimed.

After all…

We all know it was destined to be there against her heart anyway.

Right?