45
Ianto was trying not to laugh as he watched the twins, carefully carrying a ball of fat they had rolled in seeds. Their little feet were still in training and it was hard enough to work their own let alone each other's. It was like watching a terrible uncoordinated drunk hippo moving sideways.
"What the hell are they doing?" Jack asked as he walked over to see what had Ianto snorting with mirth.
"They made a fat seed ball for the birds and are carrying it to the feeding station they are allowed to fill over by the tank" Ianto replied pleased Tosh had worked out how to open the top of the Dome to allow birdlife in and out.
"Well … nice to know they found a use for the rendered down fat. Nothing is wasted" Jack smiled, the old ways he remembered from his early years now coming around again. "And what about you? What are you doing?"
"Well, now that Marley is there with the kids I might go check the new kittens" Ianto smiled, watching Jack light up, "Then … I thought you and Kev might sort the tree to come down to the Family Room. A real one?"
Jack stalled out, gaping as he looked at Ianto and then he was off, yelling for Kev who popped up out of nowhere with a look of alarm. Ianto watched them talk, the younger man's face lighting up as well, then Owen was roped in. Ianto watched them take off, no doubt to go down to the vehicle pool and get something to take out. He waited and the sound of the snow cat soon permeated the tranquillity as the men rumbled past with …. Yeah … Bonny hanging off the back.
No doubt she would keep them in line.
Ianto decided to go for a run after kitten squishing, skirting around the village while the balmy sunshine soothed. Soon they would have to go back down, soon the cold would creep forward like a hungry animal seeking flesh to chill.
For now though … it was a good day up top.
Ianto went through a mental checklist as he ran, the Littles, the Bigs and the Grups. He had almost everyone sorted but was still unable to find the right thing for Hope. If all the children, she was the one he chewed over and he knew whatever he got her, it would have to be unique. She would be spoilt, at least until she looked over her gifts and then placed some into the communal toy basket, like a good girl does.
He also knew some children wouldn't.
There would be no scolding. It was up to them to share or not to. Those who did not were not excluded from the basket either. They had to learn at their own pace and he knew sooner or later they would give.
He became aware of silence, the birds had stopped their songs of conversation and he slowed, listening, then he sighed as he swung back, running for the village as the birdlife amassed into the nearly barns that had gaps to allow them entry.
"SNAP COMING!" Ianto shouted as he passed the men struggling a tree back to the village and they lamely dripped it and started to run for the snow cat but Bonny roared she still held her end with a startled Jack and they shamefacedly retuned to secure it to the back.
Ianto entered the village to call it time again.
Soon everyone was down below and within, the monitors watched intently as well as the huge screen Tosh now had in the Family Room. The white frost the children called 'crackle' crept across the ground like incoming sea foam and soon the place was white again.
"Uncle? What about our birdies?" a little voice whimpered and Tosh clicked to another camera in the red barn, the birds all huddled in the rafters chirping softly as they settled.
"See?" he said gently as he gathered the children around him, "They are fine. All settling to snooze until tomorrow. They had a wonderful day, ate far too much and will poop everywhere."
Giggle as fears were eased and Ianto knew they were raising them right as little ones crowded to watch the screen and coo happily at the menagerie of feathered bodies that looked like a weird undulating monster from some horror movie that will never be made.
"That was a surprise" Vic said softly.
"Yes, but … we have to accept a down swing now and then. The key is not to get caught" Ianto warned, "I think from now on all vehicles that explore need to have survival gear inside just in case. Give them a chance for me to get to them if they get caught topside now we are moving further from home."
"This isn't over" Francine sighed, "I hoped … I really did."
"No mama, I think a few more months, the warmth is getting longer. I feel another three … four?" Ianto considered and she knew if anyone would have a sixth sense on this it would be him so she nodded, sure she could last it out.
But she did miss the flowers, it wasn't the same in the hydro caves down here.
