29
Jaxton loaded the last of the parcels into the cart and took a last look about to see if he had missed anything.
The first snows were due that night, the air felt so crisp and incredibly bright.
He had found something in one of the stores and hoped it would be a change to the tea Johnty loved.
It was called coffee and he had liked the smell, almost like chocolate.
Hendry had a rare taste, he hoped he would like this drink.
He was just getting onto the cart when he heard someone calling out ot him.
He looked down to find the young boy Hendry had saved, grinning up at him with glee.
"Hello there, young sir" Jaxton said politely as he climbed back down.
"So glad we caught you!" his mother smiled, striding forward.
"Ma'am" he smiled, enjoying the colour coming onto her face.
"This is for Hendry; can you give it to him for me? The snow is coming so I can't leave it for him by the stump like normal." The innocent child smiled.
Jaxton was careful to keep his own smile in place as he silently seethed.
So this is why Hendry was sneaking out to play.
He had a playmate.
Jaxton realized it had gone quiet and he took a deep breath before speaking, "Just thinking how long this winter might be, Hendry will pout like a three-year-old when he finds himself tapped indoors."
She laughed and slapped at him, "Poor boy."
He bid them good day and climbed back up, throwing the newspaper behind him in a box, ignoring the urge to throw it back at the child who was quite unaware of the hornet's nest he had just stirred up.
All the way back to the house, Jaxton seethed and went over the different things he wanted to say, shout, roar, hurl.
He knew any and all choices would hurt Hendry, upset Johnty and ultimately make him feel like a heel.
In the end he settled for calm.
Yes.
He would be calm.
The lanterns were hung by the gates, showing Hendry's concern for his return and as the horse drawn cart drew to a halt, Hendry was climbing up to embrace him.
"Oh Cariad, I missed you!" he enthused, kissing Jaxton passionately as he pulled at his clothes, "So, what did you bring me?"
Jaxton laughed, forgiving him as he felt hands feeling in his pockets for hidden treasures.
The chocolate bar found, Hendry sat back with glee and hummed softly as he peeled back a corner and bit into it.
"Oi!" Johnty yelled up at them, "I'm freezing my balls off and they are far too spectacular to die this way!"
Jaxton laughed and helped Hendry down, then reached back for a box to pass down.
Soon the cart was unloaded and the night was well and truly settled in. They started to unpack the boxes in the kitchen.
"Listen" Hendry whispered, touching their arms.
Both men turned to him and canted their heads.
"I don't hear anything my little rabbit" Johnty said softly and Hendry grinned.
"Exactly. Not a thing!" he enthused, "Oh gods, the snow is here! Ianto said that the snow is a silent visitor and …."
Hendry stopped speaking as he watched Jaxton frown.
"Cariad?"
"Ianto. That young boy has been in the woods, playing with you" Jaxton said as he tried to remember his promise to be calm, "You have been talking with him."
"Yes" Hendry smiled, "Listen!"
"Mae fyhofrenfadynllawnllyswennod" he said in Welsh and both men stared at him, "It means … it means ….'My hovercraft is full of eels'!"
Hendry was laughing as he slapped at his thigh, "Oh and … 'Dwiddimyndeall' means 'I don't understand'!"
"He's teaching me Welsh, so I can hide better" Hendry smiled as he hugged his beloved, "You see Jax? I sound like them now!"
Jaxton sighed as he accepted the hug, secretly thinking it had sounded lovely.
Johnty smiled and then looked down at the newspaper he had picked up from the box.
He flicked through it as Hendry tried a few more phrases and learned just how much his lover liked those vowels. They kissed as Johnty shook his head and resumed reading.
The middle page was a roundup of the year's news.
Johnty felt the world around him fall away as he stared at a grainy photograph of Hendry holding Ianto in his arms as he spoke to the mother.
The caption said "Hero"
Johnty said a different word altogether.
They were now recorded.
Johnty looked up with horror as he realized they were now history.
Literally.
