34

"So your mother might come looking for you?" Herb asked as he sat at the table watching Bets cut some cake for the table.

"I don't think it will occur to her that I came here" Chrystal said, "She told me that if I ever went near John again she would send me away. I don't want to go to my Uncle in Spain."

"When she found out that you had left Babbit behind, signed him over to me, what did she do?" Ianto asked and she screwed her face up.

"She said…she screamed and said that I was a disappointment from the moment I was born" she sighed, "If only I had been a boy. She wanted a boy. I knew she wanted him too. I knew ... I mean, I would have lost him anyway. To her, don't you see? I had to save him. I couldn't save myself."

Jack stood in the doorway and watched her crumble, watched John move to comfort and his lovely Welshman rub his face.

"Chrystal, I understand that you didn't come here for Babbit. You came for John, didn't' you" Ianto finally stated and she looked up at him from John's arms and nodded morosely.

"Sweetling" John sighed, "We both agreed we were not going to work. You were too young and your mother …"

"I'm older now. I'm nearly 24! She can't control me now, I'm old enough to defy her. John please. I haven't found anyone else I even remotely see the way I see you. I never stopped loving you, please. I messed up, I know you didn't want a baby but … John?" her lip was wobbling and her eyes welling as she looked at him and Ianto knew before John's face betrayed him.

"Things will need to be said" Jack interrupted, "My daughter is not part of this. Babs is mine. Mine and Ianto's. John was included, you can be too. In time, but you need to remember that she is ours. There is no negotiation there."

"I understand" she said eagerly, "I would like to know her. Be a friend. I know I can never take the place of you and especially Ianto. I know she is yours. I just want a spot at the table. Right? I wanna be here, safe and …"

"Somebody" Ianto finished for her "You don't want to be your mother's daughter anymore."

"Yeah" she whispered, "I wanna be me. Whoever I am."

"It's OK" Babs said as she clambered out from behind the sofa, "I didn't know who I really was for a long time. It's scary when you are someone else to who people think you are. Don't worry. You will find who you are. I did and I'm awesome!"

Everyone laughed as Ianto scooped her onto his lap and kissed her lovingly, "Yes my love, you are the awesomest awesome."

Babs snuggled into her Taddy's arms and whispered softly, "I don't wanna call her Mama."

"You don't have to" he sighed as he closed his eyes and squeezed lovingly, her moan of contentment making Jack smile.

"Hey, you aren't stealing all the hugs I hope" he scolded, "I want some later."

"Don't be silly" Ianto said softly, "I'm stealing some off her!"

"Taddy!" she laughed, pushing back to place her little hands on his face, "You are so naughty. You are lucky that I love you!"

"Yes angel, I am" he smiled and she stroked his face, feeling the whiskers starting.

"Taddy?"

"Yes love?"

"Can you be whiskery tomorrow? I want a whisker kiss, like Heck used to give."

"Alright darling, I won't shave all day tomorrow, then Daddy can shave me in the bath tomorrow night." He promised and Jack made a happy noise before he could stop himself.

John laughed as Ianto blushed and Jack leered happily.

Chrystal clung to John and Ianto took a breath before talking the next issue, "Chrystal. I will show you to the guest room …"

"Can't I be with John?" she asked plaintively.

"We have a rule in this house" Ianto explained, "John is not allowed a woman in his bed around the children."

"But, I'm not a stranger, I'm …"

"A stranger to my children" Ianto said forcefully, "If … IF … you and John go somewhere and the kids accept it then OK, but right now they need to see you for yourself, not part of John. If you go back to your mother, or you and John don't work it will be too upsetting. My house. My rules."

"Ianto's right" John said as he watched Babbit stare at Chrystal, "Babs likes morning cuddles and Ton comes in some nights since the flooding. It would be confusing. They never see someone else in there with me."

Jack was pleased to see Ianto's head rising to show his stubbornness on the matter.

There was no need to speak.

Ianto spoke for them both.