29
Ren was sitting on the floor playing with his sister, making cooing noises as she laughed.
"Hello Ren" Ianto said as he settled next to him, "I understand you got frightened this morning but Walter was there to help."
Ren nodded, not looking at him.
"It's OK to ask for help, we all need help sometimes" Ianto said as he grinned at the wee girl, "Walter was really happy that you went to him because he loves to help. Babs is too big now and Ton only wants me. To have a friend like you has made him very happy."
Ren looked up at hi with surprise, a small smile.
"Ren. I know it can be scary in a new place. When I first went to live with my Daddy and Taddy I cried every night. Not because I didn't want to be there, but because I was scared that I would have to leave." Ianto was speaking very softly now and Jarred froze with Carl in the doorway, behind the two talking on the floor, "I thought. One day they will want a better one. A cleverer one, or one that isn't … hurt inside. Every time I did a bad thing I waited for the smacking. The hurting that never came and it made me even more scared because I thought that when they did finally punish me it would be so bad."
Ren was not moving, barely breathing as he listened.
"Then one day I broke something important. I knew it was too and I still broke it because I was angry about something I didn't want to tell them" Ianto sighed and looked up at the ceiling, "My Taddy was so upset that he cried. Knelt picking up the pieces of the vase and crying because it was his Mama's and she was gone and I broke it out of temper."
"I wanted to die. I knew they didn't' want me now and I just waited to see if they were going to hit me a lot or just give me away without any of my things" Ianto spoke, "Like my Daddy had."
Ren was plucking at a trouser leg, looking up at Ianto with huge eyes, "What happened Uncle?"
"My Taddy stopped picking up pieces of vase and pulled me into his arms, asking if I had been cut and kissing me" Ianto snorted, "He told me it was just a vase. In the end things are just things but I was special. Can you imagine? Me. Special. That's what he said, cuddling me on the floor."
He looked down at the little boy's open face, "That's when I knew he was never letting me go. That I was never being put back into a scary place full of hurts."
"My Taddy loves me" Ianto grinned, "You get to meet him at the weekend. Him and Daddy are coming to the book launch. My Tad and Dad, also my brother Gene. He looks just like me, we are almost like twins. One day it will happen for you too. One day you will be doing something and a voice in the back of your mind will say that you are safe and it's OK. Maybe not now, but one day. Because it's true. "
Ren nodded as he took it in.
"My mama died." Ianto staid sadly. "I never saw her again. One day though, you might see your mama again. Here. She might visit you to say hi and you can show her that you are safe. She knows you are better here and she is going to tell you how sorry she is that she let you down. She won't take you away. No one can. This is where you belong now, here with us and we all love you so much and are so happy that you are here."
Ren looked down, hiding his grin as he nodded.
"Mama and Dadda did it wrong" he stated.
"Sort of" Ianto was careful with his reply, "I think … I think Mama and Dadda found it too hard. They needed someone to be better for you. Carl and Jarred are better for you. Right?"
"They are the best!" Ren said, looking up to defend them, "They are mine! I wanna stay forever."
"Good" Ianto grinned, "Because we all want you to as well. You are too much fun."
Ren thought for a while as Carl pushed his beloved over to the sofa and they sat.
"Uncle?"
"Yes Poppet" Ianto answered.
"Can I call then Taddy and Papa?"
"If you want. They would like that because that's what they would like to be for you."
Ren nodded and went back to examining the toy his sister was chewing on.
Ianto looked back at the two men who were holding each other with glee.
Ianto had done it again.
Saved this little family.
