63
"Well … since we are stuck in here, can we do the Christmas decorating already?" Owen asked after lunch.
Ianto looked up at him with interest. "You been counting?"
"well …yeah" Owen shrugged like it was no big deal but Ianto smiled softly as he knew Owen had been carefully checking things. The calendar of his own making found by Ianto ages ago. Of course he was counting. It was for the kids.
Tosh rubbed her large stomach as she watched the two men talking, her little one moving inside her as it seemed to listen as well. Jack was just starting to show now, just a small pot that was visible when he reached out for something and his shirt moved. Christmas. Snow. Wait.
"We're not that cold" she said "Why … if it's December … why isn't it colder?"
"It is" Ianto replied "Just not in here. Outside the temperatures drop in the late afternoon but since we are always in here during the possible 'scouting' hours, the dirt holds the heat of the day … we don't feel it" Ianto smiled "But I know what you are thinking. Cold means safe. Yes. I can't wait for the first snow either. No lizards, if it gets cold enough and snow fall … no drones"
"I am looking forward to marking off the year" Owen said to Henry as they started to go find the Christmas decorations from the last year, "It will mean another year from the bloody things. Two Christmases now … you know … another eighteen months? Maybe less … we might be out of the woods."
"I don't know … the way they were talking, I would expect another Christmas after this one yet." Henry sighed "anyway … don't know it I wanna go back."
Owen stopped at the doors to the barn and turned back to look at him with his goggles glinting in the light "You too? You know … it's weird but … I feel the same. I like it here, love it. So peaceful, we all get along and …well … yeah. I sort of like this life, even with the risk of sudden painful death. Sort of had that before but without the family feel. Ya know?"
"I'm a fuckup. A first class one, always have been and I know there has been a few moments the urge to pull the trigger in my direction must have crossed some minds but ... the forgiveness and connection … yeah that's the word I am looking for. A connection. I feel part of something, connected to it. Real."
"There it is" Owen grinned, pointing up into the rafters as they both stood looking up, cursing softly. High.
"Whatcha doing?" Ianto asked as he wandered past with some chaff for the horses who were settled in their stalls, not wanting to be outside today. No mind … Ianto felt the heebie-jeebies still too.
"Gotta get that down" Owen pointed up and Ianto looked up.
"Hang on, I'll drop and you to catch. For Godsake don't drop them, some have little things in them" Ianto said as he started to climb, both men watching was awe as Ianto become a pseudo monkey, swinging about in the rafters as he pulled out boxes to drop. He called down "these boxes with the big crosses on them have pressies in them for the kids from some retrievals. We will hide them under the stairs in the Stock room. They don't go in there because of the lingering smell."
"you thought of everything" Owen called back happily "Are there things for us too?"
Ianto laughed softly and did not reply, all the reply Owen needed as he wondered which box had his special thing then he realised Ianto would not be silly enough to let that one drop. Damn it … as he thought. Some boxes stayed safely too high for Owen and Henry to climb.
"You know …. They have to come down sometime" Owen said with fake growling that had Ianto laughing some more as he shook his head.
"These two boxes with circles on them … they are for your spawn" Ianto said softly as he redirected Owen's attention "Might be nice for Tosh to set up her nursery now"
"She's going to have a whale of a time … holly shit. Do not let me say that around her… I just realised that is a bloody stupid phrase to use right now"! Owen was horrified and looked around furtively.
"Your secret is safe with us Frog Boy" Henry said as he shoved Owen and Owen shoved him back.
"If this is gonna turn into one of your wrestling matches, can we get these decorations and such inside first?" Ianto asked calmly "We are still supposed to be on lock-down ya know. Tunnel notwithstanding."
"Yeah. Sorry" Owen said as he poked his tongue out at Henry and darted away as Henry slapped at him.
Tosh was over the moon as the baby stuff started to enter the house, immediately pointing at things with interest "Two bassinets? Yours too?"
"No, ours is still in the barn rafters. This is one for out here, the other for your quarters so when you have bubba out here for the day you do not have to traipse all the way back to your room to put bubba down for a nap."
"Oh Ianto … how thoughtful" she sighed happily "When Jack's comes they can snooze together."
"Exactly, a communal one. The lager cot will replace it as they grow so that they will always have one another, like twins. They will have a best friend." Jack said with delight as he caught on "Like on my home planet, Boeshane. Communal. We have our own spaces but also share. Great. During peak time they will still hear everyone like they do now too. Might sleep better."
"Hadn't thought of that either" Owen nodded "Mine might want Welsh vowels sometimes .. the amount of time he spends with Tosh!"
"Diddums. Don't worry, will probably swear like a sailor soon enough like it's dear daddy" Ianto crooned and Owen slapped at him, his delight clear.
Definitely a little bugger in the making.