37
It was the first session with the child psychologist and Ianto was having kittens as he checked his watch for the fourth time in as many seconds while waiting in the outer office.
Babbit had changed three times, alternating between boy and girl outfits before deciding on a pair of brown pants and a blue t-shirt with little palm trees on it. It had been worn at Stephen's birthday party and Ianto had thought it was the end of it.
Ianto had sighed as he watched the little boy adjust himself nervously and then pause at the door and pick up his lip gloss.
They were now waiting for his turn to go in and Ianto had hung back as the door opened but Babbit had seized his hand with open fear as he stared at the large man who came out.
"Hello there" the man said softly, "Are you Noah?"
"I'm Babs. Um … Babbit."
"So, you like being called Babbit?" the man asked and Babbit nodded meekly.
As they walked to the office Babbit snuck a peek at the man, then spoke, "But teacher sez it's stupid when the name I was given is Noah."
The man turned to look at Ianto and saw the hand being clasped.
"We have asked them repeatedly to respect his choice but they keep forgetting" Ianto frowned, "This is not the first time we had a slight problem."
"Sit down Babbit, wherever you like" the man smiled, "I'm Doctor Tennant."
"My friends call me Babs" Babbit said as he sank into a beanbag.
"My friends call me Ten."
Babbit giggled as he pulled a giraffe out of the soft toys and examined it. "Tennant. Ten. I get it!"
"So, you look nice today" Ten said as he watched Babbit examine the toy.
"I was going to wear something else but ... I didn't want you to think I'm silly" Babbit peeked over the giraffe, "This is what my Nainny got me at Christmas."
"And what were you going to wear Babs?"
"A pair of red dungarees and a pretty blouse," Babbit admitted, "And Taddy let me get some really cool rainbow shoes that light up when you run."
"Maybe next time? I do like rainbows" Ten asked, gaining a smile.
The questions were not leading, judgmental or hard and Babbit started to relax once he decided this man was not going to make fun of him.
He told him about the hair cutting and about a time in the playground where they all called him queer that Ianto hadn't heard about and Ianto struggled to remain calm as he heard more incidents.
"I was also told I was going to hell by Miss Delvon" Babbit ended, then frowned, "Taddy? If I go to hell will I still go to Valhalla?"
"You will go to the same place as me and Daddy darling. And the Gradys, Heck, the Mamas. All good people go to a nice place. You will always be with me and I will always love you." Ianto said, reaching out to help as Babbit climbed into his lap and sighed happily.
"Thought she was full of Ballcrumbs" he said and Ianto stared into space.
"Bulldust?"
"Yes. That's bullshit being said politely, right?" Babbit frowned.
"Yes love, always try to be polite, then no one can say they have the right to be rude" Ianto agreed.
"I said the wrong thing again, didn't I" Babbit growled.
"I understood you perfectly" Ianto assured him "and it was very polite."
"I don't want to be rude" Babbit said as he reached out and started to play with Ianto's tie, "Rude people are ignorant."
"That's a big word Babs" Ten smiled, "Did your Taddy teach you that?"
"No" Babbit looked up with a smile, "I read it in a book. I like books."
"He loves words, any new one gets examined and checked in the dictionary, then he tries to use it to see how it fits. Some he keeps and some he doesn't" Ianto shrugged, "He sometimes mixes them up but it's only that his mind gets ahead of his mouth. He's very clever."
"Yes" Ten smiled softly, "I can see that. In fact I would hazard a guess that he was prem, right?"
"Yes" Ianto said with surprise.
"Hardy kids, prems. They can be a lot more forward" Ten smiled, "You are very interesting Babs."
"Thank you sir" Babbit smiled. Then frowned, "Is that why I'm broken?"