28
They drove through the village with open interest, Ianto leaning forward now and then to look at the pots of colour with a soft noise of satisfaction. Each individual house had their own colours and designs. Some pots, some barrels and others ….ooooo…. a wheelbarrow full of colour. Lovely. Ianto made a noise for the car to slow so he could len out and lok, checking the mixtures were compatible plants. Perfect.
"Hello darling" came a faint call and he smiled, waving out to the Biddy who was sitting on her front deck enjoying the view as well. Lovely.
Ianto knew they had finally found their feet, letting go of the small niggle of doubt and he looked at Babs in the drivers' seat as she sedately drove her beloved Phantom along their street for him to see her input. She waited, as always for his thoughts and he knew she would not be upset if he hated it. As always, she accepted his words but she did seem nervous.
"I love it" he said after a while "I like that some of the other houses joined in. No two are the same anywhere now. Each their own stamp. Those we do not own joining made it all gel."
"That's what I thought. Maybe a change is a good thing so … go hard and stay home!" she said as she brightened, her Taddy's truthing making her feel stronger as she looked at him again "And … I joined in too."
"Oh?" Ianto raised his eyebrow and then as they turned to head towards the garage Ianto saw the mural still being completed on the side. Heck. Heck and Sean on the mountain. It had been a photo taken a year or so before Sean's death that Bets had loved and kept by her bed. Both men laughing as their faces turned to the sun, now turning to their mountain.
It was gorgeous.
And the green bobble hat on a distant climber behind them was unmistakable too, as was the dog running towards them. Myfanwy. Oh. Wow.
"Oh Babby. It's … perfect!" he sighed happily.
"Walt. Who knew he could paint!" she enthused, then looked at him and started to laugh as she realised that the gift would have come from him like the acting and singing and musical talent. Of course.
Ianto laughed with her, revelling in the fact his daughter ws no longer a girl … but a woman. A capable one at that.
This village would be OK.
It was theirs.
