52
Rhia loved the camera and had always wanted a digital one like that but could never have hoped to afford such luxury.
Now she knelt on the picnic blanket as the late morning sun dappled the petal laden grass, looking through the lens as Ianto stood with his angelic face turned up and his arms out on delight.
The petals fell like confetti.
A celebration.
She found herself captivated as he breathed in life, looking down the lens at her with open joy.
"OK, brunch!" she called and Ianto giggled as he fell to his knees on the blanket and accepted a sandwich.
"This was a nice idea Rhia love" he crooned, opening the sandwich and cooing when he saw the chicken breast within.
"Do you see the kids?" she asked as she pulled out some juice packs.
"Kids, food" Ianto called and a child dropped for a nearby tree, followed by another.
They each snatched a sandwich and took of crowing madly.
"Don't hurt yourselves" Ianto called after then as they took off at speed, their laughter wafting on the wind as they disappeared into the trees.
"Mad, those wee beasts" Ianto sighed happily as he fell onto his back and Rhia was surprised when his head fell into her lap.
She leaned back against the tree and stroked his hair, marveling at its softness.
"Are you OK?" Ianto asked her after a while, "I know it must still be hard to adjust, you never lost your memories, you had to change the most of all of us."
"Yeah" she sighed, "I did always love you though."
"Good. I didn't doubt that, even if you did" he said cryptically as he sucked a lollipop that had materialized from one of the many pockets of his coat.
"Are things with you and Johnty OK?"
"Still feeling our way there too" she sighed, "I still have a problem with letting him take the lead, I was his superior, his mate and then he was gone. Now it's like a massive re-boot."
"Yeah. I know he was hard on you about me, I know the thought of sharing him must be hard but there is nothing sexual between us, you must know that" Ianto assured her, "Teddykin breed for life, we are single mate creatures. Jack is my everything."
"I see that" she smiled as her hand finally stilled.
"It's strange, one of the things I feared when I was betrothed was the fact I would be alone. Yet here I am, surrounded by kinfolk."
"We are not Teddykin, do you still consider us so?"
"Yes, you are mine" Ianto sighed as his eyes fluttered closed and Rhia smiled.
"yes, I believe I am" she whispered, leaning over to kiss her little brother.
Ianto smiled and snuffled, letting the warmth of the sun comfort.
"Hey good looking" Jack called as he approached and Ianto's eyes sprung open. He clambered to his feet and launched himself at Jack with gleeful whimpers.
"Easy there" Jack laughed as he got a passionate kiss while Ianto rubbed decadently against him.
"Hello Jack" Rhia laughed as she watched; "The kids are over on the fields playing. I'm just going to go round them up."
Jack kissed Ianto and stroked his hair, "Things OK with you two?"
"Yeah, she was trying to apologize, I think" Ianto smiled, "I already forgave her so she didn't really need to. I know things have been hard for her and she didn't understand."
"You are my clever Teddy" Jack crooned, rubbing noses as Ianto sighed happily.
"So!" Jack started to pack up the blanket, "We have all afternoon. What would you like to do baby?"
"Really?" Ianto gasped, "No more painting?"
"Not today" Jack laughed, "I'm all yours. Did you like the picnic?"
"He liked most of it!" Rhia laughed as she returned, having taken some shots of the two of them embracing without their knowledge.
"It was very yummy" Ianto agreed with a grin.
"So! What do you want to do?" Jack asked again.
"A picnic!"
Jack roared with laughter, "You stinker, you just had a picnic."
"No Cariad" Ianto blushed as he leaned in close, "A 'cave' picnic my love."
"Ah!"
Jack's grin was brighter than the midday sun!
