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The midwife looked from Em to Ianto as she walked around the class, noting the gentle hands that were helping Em settle in the bean bag.
What a lovely couple.
She talked about the change in a woman's body during the first trimester and got intelligent banter from the young man, obviously not his first rodeo and a natural at disarming women.
She wondered if he ever considered being a midwife, himself.
Em laughed at something he said and several couples nearby laughed as well, his pretty blush was endearing and they all felt happy that they had joined their group.
Em got cramp and Ianto carefully removed her shoe and sock, crooning to her as he massaged her foot and ankle, easing the pull across the top of her foot.
"Stupid place for a cramp" she panted as he worked, laying back as those fingers did their work.
"Had a cramp in my little finger once" Ianto said with the usual Welsh calm, "Now that! That is a stupid place, Could have been worse, could have been the middle one! Imagine trying to explain that on the subway."
More laughter as people watched Ianto lovingly kiss the big toe on the foot he was dealing with.
"Wonderful, thank you darling" she sighed as she watched him slide her sock back on.
"Oooo, a foot massage?" came a brash American voice, "Do I get one babe?"
Ianto looked up at Jack and grinned, leaning back as Connor knelt to kiss his wife.
"I got a cramp" Em pouted and Connor laughed as he helped her to her feet.
"Looks like our guardian angel took care of it for you" Connor said softly as he watched Jack lift Ianto to his feet with ease.
"We're talking about the first three months, the first trimester, our little beasts are listening, aren't you" Ianto crooned to the belly as Em grinned lovingly at him.
"Uncle Ianto knows you are listening, you little horrors!" he continued, "I know you are already scheming!"
"With Babbity as a big brother, they will definitely have the upper hand" Connor laughed, "The story he told them last night about breaking out of prison, I almost believed it. Like he was some old con on the run."
"Some days, I think he believes it too" Ianto sighed.
"Babbit? Interesting name for a child" a nearby woman commented.
"Noah, he was a little skinned rabbit in the incubator, seemed to stick" Ianto gushed, pulling out his phone and passing it around.
A lot of cooing ensued and then came the pics of Ton.
"He … he has DS?" the midwife asked as she examined his grinning picture.
"Yes. My sister never doubted his beauty though, neither did I. When they died and we gained our wee man, we knew we were still blessed" Ianto smiled.
"My brother was her husband, losing them and their three children had hurt us deeply but his lovely little heart had helped us heal" Jack smiled, "We have four boys between us, two are ours biologically and two gifted blessings."
"How wonderful" a woman smiled as she rubbed her large belly, "And now twins."
"Em and Connor may not be our family by blood, but they are in everything that counts" Ianto gushed, "Just like our boys. Family is everything!"
A young woman who had come alone and sat listening smiled, "I wish that were true for everyone. I've not spoken to my mother since I told her I was dating a black man. Now he's dead and I'm all alone."
"Have you tried? Does she know?" Ianto stepped towards her, "I know that you never stop loving your child, mine could be serial killers and I would still want to blow on their boo-boos."
Some people laughed while others nodded their approval.
Ianto looked at his next project and smiled reassuringly at her.
Jack watched and hoped this time they could reconcile the mother and daughter.
If anyone can, Ianto can.
...
Just wanting to remind people that this series has always been from Ianto's point of view, it is called Walter because that was all he lived for. His world is pretty big now, Jack is the star he orbits but he still has his own identity, this is what he fought for when he got too close to that sun and started to burn.
Jack will always be a part of Walter Verse but there will be parts of the story where he will take a back seat. Sorry to those of you who think he is being ignored, if you really knew my Jack you would know that nobody puts baby in the corner.