51
David was excitedly eating and talking at the same time as he knelt on the chair, leaning over to peer out the window as he worried he might miss the arrival of the horses. Mathew had gone to get them and David was sure he would miss out on the ride, even with Jack still there at the table. After the third craning neck moment Ianto sighed, "Alright. Take that last slice of toast with you, go wait by the mounting step."
"YES!" David punched the air, racing out as he shoved the toast in his mouth and pulled at the jacket on the back of his chair making it topple and Ianto casually placed his foot on it to steady it again.
"Right then" Jack rose, leaning in to kiss Ianto goodbye and after a moment's thought he kissed Mica's cheek and told her she looked pretty today, her blush definitely Jones material. "We will be back for lunch love."
He checked the sleeping baby in his mother's arms and wandered off after the boy, leaving Ianto with the two of the females in his life. Gloria was clucking softly at the baby as Mica sat chewing her toast with a thoughtful look.
"Uncle?"
"Yes love?"
"What are we gonna do while they are off horsing?"
Ianto snorted as he added 'around' in his head. He looked over at Gloria and then beyond her to find Francine was hovering, her eyes firmly on the prize.
"Well, if Francine can mind the wee prince for a half hour or so we can go get dressed and then go car shopping" Ianto finally said, "Jack and I agreed I should go buy a car I like. One that fits all of us. My god, my own mini bus."
Mica giggled, her eyes glowing with excitement as she decided what to wear, apparently Gammy was quite generous with the wardrobe gifts these days and although it had only been a week since the wedding the kids had her right in their back pockets.
Francine snatched up the baby with glee, shooting from the room and Ianto laughed as Gloria gaped at the retreating woman's back. "Did you see that?"
"A mugging if ever I saw one" Ianto agreed.
Mica skipped off and Ianto watched Gloria's eyes following so he leaned forward, "She will never ask but she likes an audience when dressing up. If you go help her she can then watch you get dressed too. She will love that."
Gloria lit up as she hurried to please the little girl…and herself. Ianto smiled as he saw at least another thirty minutes of peace and he rose to head to the guest house, also considering that. The Guest House. Was it right for him and Jack to hide out there? This was a lovely home and the children were already sliding on the polished marble floors in socks, squealing as Jack and Mathew played hide and seek with them. Ianto knew Jack was waiting for him to be ready, for him to see this and he finally did. He sighed. He knew he would have to explore this place properly and stop pretending like they were just guests… after all … the joy in Jack's face when Ianto had said they were staying had filled the whole place with light.
Mica was soon running around barefoot looking for her special shoes, then running back up the sitars to help her Gammy get ready. Ianto folded into a chair in the parlour, the nice high backed chair that seemed to call to him from the first time he was in there and it still didn't occur to him that it had been the throne for the man of the house, simply liking the warmth of the dark soft leather on a well loved old chair. It fit.
Ianto looked up from his book to find two ladies waiting with matching looks of impatience, his smile enough to placate them as he rose, "Mama? Want to go wrestle the mad woman for our baby?"
"Oh, yes dear" she shot off and returned with an excitable wee man all rugged up for the drive into town.
"Awwww, you wanna go in the brum-brum?" he crooned and then laughed as the baby squealed excitedly, not knowing what was happening but loving the energy. They made their way to the garage where Ianto chose the large dependable BMW, wrangling the car seat in there while Gloria waited with Quinn in her arms, Mica clambering in though another door to pull her booster seat behind her while talking ten to the dozen about the perfect car.
Apparently built in DVD players and cup holders in arm rests of the seats were a great idea Uncle really needed to consider.
Cheeky monkey.
As they drove along Ianto glanced over and saw some horses galloping along, one clearly David as the small dark lump on the pale horse's back whooped faintly in the distance.
"Look Mimi" Ianto laughed, "There goes your mad brother."
"Don't worry Quinn" Mica said softly, "You are the clever one."
They all laughed as they passed the large gates and headed for town.
The proudest one making sure he watched the speed limit.
