49
Ianto wasn't hungry and he was picking at the food when Rhys reached over him and placed down a plate of cold chicken.
"Not ours" he said hastily to the children, "You can go count after if ya don't believe me. The Uncles brought back some for eating."
Ianto had a leg and was humming as he reached for a hunk of breast and Jack watched as he suddenly found an appetite and he smiled, reaching across to place some tomatoes on his plate. Ianto's hum was delightful.
"Hungry love?"
Ianto hummed again, more food going down as Rhys looked pleased with his efforts being so happily accepted.
Abner looked around the table and saw wee Clyde holding a chicken leg tearing at it like Ianto, his little snarls cute as he emulated someone he saw as strong and cool. It as a sweet moment.
"So" Owen said, unaware of the madness around him, "What's the afternoon going to bring?"
"I want to check the tunnel house and plant those marigolds" Tosh said, Bonny nodding as she motioned that she would help, her mouth too full to speak.
"I thought I might do a perimeter check and make sure those batteries are charging with the solar fencing" Abner said and Jack cleared his own mouthful.
"I thought I might get on the roof of Cabin three, get the leak sorted." he said to the room, Ianto leaning back to watch Andy try to fit an entire sandwich in his mouth.
"I am going to do shepherd's pie for tea" Rhys told them, "And those cake tins need filling."
"I'll help" Andy perked up, dropping the half eaten sandwich, "I will lick any bowl you give me!"
They all laughed, then Ianto spoke.
"It's going to rain" he informed them, "I can smell it. Maybe some shitty sleet. No snow so we will get boggy and sludgy out there. Best the wee ones stay inside. Maybe some crafts or we could do some Lego building."
"Are you sure?" Owen asked "you smell it?"
"Sort of coppery, like…a taste in the back of my throat. Yeah" Ianto nodded, "Definitely about an hour away."
"Well, I better get the roof done" Jack rose, kissing Ianto and heading out.
"Hang on, he just said he smells rain and you don't blink?" Owen challenged, Jack turning to answer.
"He has always smelt the rain" Jack laughed softly, "Even in Cardiff, why do you think he always knew what footwear he needed? Ianto is a weather radar, always has been. It's not alien tech, it's Welsh blood."
"Thank you Cariad" Ianto said happily, rising to help clear the table.
"You are welcome my love" Jack answered easily, the L word not sticking at all.
Ianto's look of delight making it all the easier to release.
The rain did come, within an hour like Ianto had predicted and he laughed as the dogs raced in, shaking themselves as Andy and Rhys roared, kneeling to mop up the water from the kitchen floor. The dogs then raced for the fire and sat staring at the flames alongside the cats who were not dumb enough to have been caught out like that.
The Lego construction was growing, becoming an epic cubby house and they realised the children were walling them out as much as themselves in so Jack started poking them though the windows and making monster noises as they squealed with glee inside the structure.
"I will get me some child for tea" he growled, swiping at one as they laughed until they choked, Ianto's smile fading as the memory of those babies appeared in the back of his mind. He felt something shift and made himself release the anger as his tattoo started to reposition and he realised he was angry, not upset and the armour was responding as it thought he was preparing to go to war.
Well that was a surprise to file away.
"Story Time!" he suddenly called out, the structure exploding as the kids struggled out with glee, then ran to sit at his feet and he laughed as the others did the same, Owen leaning against one of the dogs like it was a cushion.
"Right. What am I going to tell you today." He said slowly, "Hmmmmm."
Little faces looked at him eagerly as they hoped for a new one.
"OK" he clapped his hands, "Lord of the rings or Wizard of Oz or…"
Ianto leaned in close and eyeballed them, "The Santa Clause."
Shrieks as he reminded them Christmas was coming and Owen perked up as one of his favourite movies was chosen. Ianto began to tell the story, the movie coming to life as he laughed, growled and ho-ho-ho'd for them. Even Rhys left his cooking to listen as Santa found himself a good job done in the end.
Cheering.
Ianto smiled, "Now. Since Christmas IS coming soon, maybe we need to think of gifts. I think things we make and give each other would be nice. I for one would like someone to make me a nice coaster for by my bed for my mug of coffee Uncle brings me in the mornings. So, maybe that? Or someone might like to draw a nice picture for my wall? I do like pictures so much."
"And someone could learn a song to sing" Owen chimed in, "At Christmas we sing together and stuff. We can do that, have a real Christmas Day."
"But what about Santa" Clyde asked softly.
"What about him?" Ianto asked, his eyebrow rising, "I think he will be along but to be sure Uncle Andy might like to build a wee sign for the front porch so Santa knows you are here. Put your names on so when he visits he can go 'Thank goodness, I thought I had the wrong map' and get you your gifts."
"You think he is OK?" Clyde asked nervously, "The lights didn't hurt him?"
"Clyde" Owen answered for Ianto, "Come on man. A magical fella like him? It was probably daytime there, night time here is daytime there right? Cos he is so far away. He would not have even seen them I bet."
Ianto smiled as Owen lied about the distance the lights had gone, how global the event had been and he watched the little boy light up as he shuffled closer to his big friend.
Who always said the right things.
Owen hugged him tightly.
