51

Jack etered the house and called out as he pulled his gloves off, canting his head to listen for any signs of life but there was only silence.

Weird.

He went to the covered lean-to by the back door and the Mayoral Motor sat there staring back.

He went back in and calmly checked each room before going out into the chalets to call out some more. He found Bets and Herb in a chalet changing some bedding as Connor worked nearby on a gutter.

No Ianto.

Jack was turning back for the house when he saw footprints and his heart flipped as his eyes followed them up the path to the gate, the way to the mountain.

Oh god.

Jack ran, following the tracks with open fear as he yelled Ianto's name and he soon found himself panting was he struggled to calm down.

There, ahead of him was Ianto.

Seated on one of the many wooden benches placed aroud the mountain's lower edges for people, Ianto sat with a menagerie of woodland creatures gathered as he flicked breacrumbs and crusts saved from Babbit's many crustless sandwiches to them.

"Cariad" he said with joy as he watched Jack approach, "You scared the deer!"

"Deer?" Jack said and then he noticed the tracks as he sat and Ianto shushed him. After a while they returned, hesitantly creeping from the treeline and Ianto flicked the rolled oats at them, then grasped Jack's hands with glee as they watched the creatures all feed.

"There were squirrels before, but they run off with their wee mouths and hands full, I think they might have a wee famiy somewhere in there" Ianto whispered, "I must get some more trial mix for them. They really wanted the corn."

Jack settled and watched a couple of phesants creep out to feed as Ianto squeezed with delight and the silent world around them turned slowly.

After the animanls had slid away Ianto tilted his head up to let the gently falling snow settle.

"I feel so …calm" he finally said, "Like …everything is going to be OK. Ya know?"

"So, with wee Neve here you think whatever you were waiting for had arrived?" Jack asked, rubbing Ianto's hands in his.

"Yeah" Ianto sighed, "I know things have been crazy but now things are going to be OK. I feel it in my bones. We're OK. We are all OK now."

Jack pulled Ianto in and kissed him, feeling him go limp against him and he listened to the world around them. Snow crackled as it shifted and settled, small creatures snuffled about their feet as thy sought to last crumbs and Ianto's breath against his neck as Ianto closed his eyes and snuggled for warmth.

"I love you" Jack whispered, suddenly overcome.

"Oh Cariad, I love you too" Ianto sighed sofly, "so much. So happy."

"OI!"

They both straightened up and watched Ton stomping toward sthem, laiden down with enough wool to cover several sheep and Ianto started to laugh as Walter ran after him with a look of pure mirth.

"I told the wee bugger it as too cold to go out" Walter laughed, "I turned around to help put away the groceries and next timg I know he's gone!"

"Did you get everything you wanted?" Ianto laughed as he settled back against Jack.

"Yeah, but the eggnog is gonna be a killer. She seems to have that devilish look!" Walter laughed.

Ton reached them and demanded, "UP!"

Javk lifted him into his lap and Ianto leaned in to kiss the little piece of space still viable under several hats and scarves.

"My clever boy, you did such a good job of bundling up, are you OK in there?" Ianto laughed.

"HOT!" Ton panted, his tounge out like he sees the dggies do, "Belly hot!"

"Oh dear, a hot belly is a dangerous thing" Ianto gapsed, "We need to get you home before it needs something to eat to calm it down."

"Yeah, cold eats" Ton sighed happily as he was lifted into his Daddy's hip, Taddy keeping a hand on his back as they walked down the hill to the gate.

"Tad? You OK?" Walter asked, "Pretty bumpy out here"

"All good, I took my time." Ianto assured him, touched by his concern, "I'm fine sweetheart."

And Ianto found that he was.

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sorry about all the spelling mistakes, fixed what I found when re-reading LOL. Christmas Eve has me nutty