54
The phone rang and Ianto answered it, "Hello. Harkness-Jones residence, Ianto speaking."
"Ianto? It's Dafyd."
"Dafyd, lovely to hear from you, how are those rewrites going?" Ianto asked calmly. "I hear Malcolm has changed the storyline again with the twins."
"Ianto, I was just wondering if you knew where the kids are? We are ready to start the bedroom scene and can't find them" Dafyd said with worry, "Did you hear anything?"
"Oh they are here because you breached contract when Babs was verbally attacked in the toilet by the new girl's mother and the office girl that told me to stuff off…er…Helen knows all about it. I told her we are on a Stop-Work and are going to the press to tell them about Babs' treatment." Ianto said with a sigh, "Terrible to have to air the dirty laundry but the public will slather and roar when they hear how she was accosted in the loo. Also, the studio's spokesperson who said you were too busy for my problems…Helen…she said we were replaceable. Well. Replace away. My children are not going to be in the same room as that bigoted woman and her child. This new character placement should have brought more diversity to the show, not harm to my trans child."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll send you a copy of the phone call with Helen shall I?" Ianto said soothingly , "I did tape it. I think the media will love hearing one of your staff scoff at my children. Even if you do not think they are important to the show the fans might."
"Ah…Ianto, I don't know what is happening, you know we love your kids, Babs is a star" Dafyd spluttered with growing horror, "Please do send me the recording and give us time to respond before going public, lets give this time to settle."
"Settle" Ianto sighed, "Dafyd you should know by now that when it comes to my babies I will never 'settle' for anything."
"Oh god"
"Look, I have to go because I have things to do and my lawyers need to get involved" Ianto said as he finished the call, "You have two hours then the shit hits the fan, OK? OK. Bye."
Ianto felt childish, petty and oh so pleased with how that had gone, walking back through to find Babs was awake and Walter was coaxing her into a bubble bath.
"Sounds like a wonderful idea" he smiled gently, "I might join you."
Babs finally smiled again.
