26
Ianto had been considering and now stood in the back yard looking at the high fence between his yard and the vacant lot beyond.
"Tad?" Valentine said softly, pulling the door shut as he stepped into the patio to watch his lovely Taddy, the silent scene inside playing out as kits raced about covered in tinsel swatting at baubles and the older Kats tried to coral them. Yeah, you get the picture of chaos, right?
"It is a big section, they both are" Ianto said as he turned to look at his son and he smiled, reaching out to stroke the little love heart swatch of ginger fur lovingly, "Her house is a bit buggered. Needs work."
"So what are you thinking lovely Taddy bum?" Valentine asked as he stepped closer to get arms to cuddle and caress under his shirt, Ianto's fingers deftly working his backbone.
"I am thinking your Daddy said we could build a place if I wanted and those two sections are huge, running the entire block. If we build on there then a large playground for the babies could fit too, these fences come down and we have us a commune right in the middle of the town. No need to move, no need to leave the wee graves." Ianto glanced at the little memorial garden where Minnie and Peanut lay in repose and Valentine felt himself going mushy at the thought of his lovely Taddy not wanting to leave their remains. Of course not.
"So, Rem and his queens could stay here with their new ones enjoying a Kit Paradise" he agreed, "You and Dad in your new place with the new baby and the twins."
Melly and Germ now insisted on wearing matching things and had been called the twins for a little while, usually out of Ianto's hearing but they all knew he was encouraging them to be little nuttas.
"Yes, then maybe if the Calmitty house is done up it can serve as another home?" he said with a hopeful gleam that had Valentine looking surprised.
"Tad? Are you thinking of me and Stasi?"
"She is getting frail love" Ianto sighed, "She has many years left but she is not conducive to spaceflight, the years you have spent on the cruisers have been fun I know and you have both loved travelling the stars but her voice is waning. Her time as ship's entertainment is drawing to a close. Maybe if it is you saying you want to spend time with your grandkits she need not admit her singing career is coming to an end? My love, you are both still young and have time for some fun. Come home, be here for the birth of your sibling. You know it will mean so much to your Dad as well, having you here to witness his baby. Not to mention the fact Uncle Owie misses you dreadfully each time you sail."
"She is getting frail" Valentine said softly, "I wonder if she had been given a better start in life if she would have more time but I fear she is entering her adult years. More time sunbathing and listening to a song on the radio instead of providing one for those eating their meals. Yeah. I have loved sailing, loved space and Uncle Doctor getting me that job on the big star liner was such a boon but I am being selfish wanting to stay there. Besides, every time I come home Uncle Owie is impossible with his moaning and pouting that I am leaving him again. I think if I spend more time in the Hub he would be happier as well. It is a shame he and Aunty Tosh never had children and I know me and mine are cherished."
"You trained to be a Torchwood medic, and agent. The job on the cruise ship was too good to pass, I know that love but it's been almost five years, the shore time here way too short. I have pined for you, never said so but I have. Your Daddy will tell you, I cry every time the Away Ship ascends."
"Oh Taddy" Valentine smiled, his lovely Tad so wonderfully sweet. "Stasi misses you, constantly rings for that reason. Having our own wee home next door would be wonderful. Thank you."
"What are you two up to?" Katylyn asked as she stepped outside and escaped the madness, "James is getting smothered by a little black kit I've never seen before, is that one if Autumn's?"
"No, it's one of…gosh what is her name?" Ianto screwed his face up, "Stella. Gosh. Stella, the new queen that came with your Uncle Doctor the other day. She has two Kits. Her Tom left her for another and she was ostracized as he told everyone they were not his. Silly really, he is a Persian as black as the ace of spades and she such a lovely champagne Siamese. Two little black fluffy beasts that are the spit of him and he turns his back. Autumn likes her, seems she is also into gumboots and gardening. The two are as thick as thieves. The Kits all love it, calling her Mama2. Cheeky brats."
"Well, as long as they know there is only one Pop-pop" she smiled as she entered the hug, her father and grandfather holding her tightly, "no one can ever come close to you."
"Awwwww" Ianto crooned, "Remember that when the wee one on your belly won't go home because he wants to stay for bubbles."
Her eyes widened as her father started to purr loudly with delight, his own mind feeling the baby in the bond.
His beloved little bit was with kit.
What a way to start Christmas.