It was Saturday afternoon and Griffin was already getting homesick. Rhys could tell by the set of the small boy's shoulders that he wanted to go home. Rhys couldn't wait to start a family with Gwen and it was moments like this that he really wanted it. To see how much love Griffin had for Jack and Ianto but he was a good boy, Ianto had been right. He was just restless. Rhys would have to take him out to cheer him up for a few hours, he would be going home on Sunday evening anyway and he wanted to make sure that Griffin had an amazing time before then.
Rhys crouched down next to Griffin who was watching an episode of The Simpsons, Gwen had objected at letting Griffin watch it but Rhys couldn't see any harm in it. It wasn't like he was watching a horror or a very violent film or something.
"Hey mate! Do you fancy going out for a bit?" Rhys asked him with a big grin. Griffin looked at him miserably and shrugged his shoulders lightly. "Where?" he asked quietly. Rhys hadn't thought that far ahead and tried to think of something that would interest a young child. There was bowling but he was a little too small for that and he didn't want to take him around the bay since that would bring him close to the hub.
Owen had taken him to a football game, could Rhys really top that? Did he want to? Owen was brilliant with Griffin, Gwen had said so. "Erm, I was hoping that you would tell me Griff" Rhys replied sheepishly.
"I dunno, just want daddy and da" Griffin replied truthfully, a little tear running down his cheek. Rhys reached out and wiped it away, still trying to be light with the little boy. "Well how about I take you to the Dragon Centre and let you play in the amusement area in the bowling place? Does that sound fun?" he asked.
Griffin didn't look that convinced but he knew that his uncle was trying his best to cheer him up and if he said no then that would mean he was being bad. "Ok" he agreed with a little smile. "Come on now! You can do better than that! I know you have the Harkness grin in there somewhere Griff" Rhys encouraged, nodding as Griffin grinned at him.
"That's a boy! Now let me just tell Auntie Gwen that I'm taking you out for a few hours. Do you want dinner here or chips?" Rhys asked as he grabbed hold of Griffin's shoes and started to help him into them.
"Da said I not allowed chips!" Griffin pouted. "He said that you weren't allowed to have too much junk food. A few chips isn't breaking that rule Griffin" Rhys reasoned gently. Griffin seemed to think about that for a few minutes before nodding happily. "Ok! Want chips then!" he announced excitedly.
"Alright let me talk to your Aunt then before she starts dinner" Rhys winked before heading over to Gwen who was feeding Tucker. "What is it Rhys?" Gwen asked without looking up as she fed Tucker his baby food. She was actually doing a good job despite that the little boy was more interested in getting the food over him than actually into his mouth. She did wonder how Jack and Ianto got the patience sometimes but then they were parents, they were in it for the long haul and Gwen knew that she wouldn't really understand it until she had children of her own.
"Just going to take Griffin out to cheer the little scamp up. Just thought I'd treat him to some chips whilst we're there" Rhys told her with a smile. "Thank you for informing me before I put the dinner on" Gwen rolled her eyes with a little smile. "Come on Gwen, look at him. He's missing his daddies. A few hours playing might be good for him" Rhys pouted. "Oh alright! Don't spoil him too much, he may not want to go home ever again" Gwen teased. "You going to be ok looking after Tucker?" Rhys asked her. "Yep! He's as good as gold. I'll put him down for a nap in a bit anyway. Now shoo!" Gwen told him with a laugh.
"Come on little man! We better go before Auntie Gwen runs us out of the door with a mop" Rhys grinned, helping Griffin into his coat as the small child tried to wave goodbye to Gwen and his little brother.
When they arrived at the Hollywood Bowl at the Dragon Centre, Griffin looked at Rhys for permission and ran through the doors to one of his favourite games, the table tennis table.
Rhys followed as he quickly checked his wallet. He had enough for Griffin to have fun on the games and for him to get them dinner.
"Do you want to play this first then?" Rhys asked as he grabbed a few coins and looked at Griffin expectantly. "Yep! Daddy said I'm good at this!" Griffin beamed. Ah so Jack had been sneaking his son here on occasion? He wondered if Ianto knew that but then there wasn't a rule saying that Griffin wasn't allowed to have fun.
"Oh isn't he precious! Is he yours?" a voice asked making Rhys jump. Griffin looked up at him and then at the woman who had addressed him. She was pretty and looked about late twenties. Griffin gave Rhys an unimpressed look and waited for him to start off the game.
Rhys caught the look that said 'don't cheat on Auntie Gwen' and rolled his eyes. Like he would and the woman thought that Griffin was his own so that worked in his favour a little.
"No, he's not mine. He's my wife's boss's little boy. Just babysitting him for the weekend" Rhys replied, looking at Griffin for approval. The little boy nodded his head once to say that what Rhys had said was fine.
"Oh how wonderful you are! Your wife must have a pretty good relationship with her boss to take care of her child" the woman smiled. Rhys sighed, now was getting to the part where he would have to dig himself out of a hole. "It's a he actually and my wife is quite good friends with his partner as well. They're just spending some time together and wanted us to take care of their boys…sorry, I best play with Griffin now, he's getting restless" Rhys apologised, noticing Griffin's glare.
After the woman had gone, Rhys raised an eyebrow at Griffin as he set up the game for him. "What was that all about Griffin?" he asked the little boy quietly. "You flirted! Daddy doesn't even flirt anymore!" Griffin scolded. Rhys looked taken aback at that. Had he flirted? He was only talking but in the eyes of a five year old, then yes it may have been seen as flirting. "Griffin, I would never hurt your Auntie. Don't you worry about that, it was just an innocent conversation I promise" Rhys explained. Griffin didn't look that convinced but nodded slowly.
"Come on Griff. You know me better than that" Rhys tried again ruffling the little boy's chestnut hair gently. Griffin let out a little sigh and hugged Rhys the best that he could. "Ok!" he finally agreed, running back to the table so that Rhys could play with him.
After they had played a few games of the table tennis, dance mat and other arcade games, Rhys glanced at his watch. The time was going on and he still needed to feed Griffin before taking him back so Gwen could put him down for a nap. Tucker should already be down by the time they got in. "Alright, do you want chips and a sausage or fish fingers?" Rhys asked. Griffin wrinkled his nose as he thought. "Chips and fish fingers please!" he replied politely. "Ok. And a juice?" Rhys asked as he started towards the small café. "Apple!" Griffin grinned. "You're too easy to please young man" Rhys chuckled as he started to order. "But I like!" Griffin grinned at Rhys who grinned back at him. "You feeling a bit better now? Do you want to go home now?" Rhys asked. "I feel better and don't wanna go home yet! I go tomorrow! Promise!" Griffin announced, making Rhys grin like he was the cat who had just got the cream.