2

"Heather-Jane!" Ianto bellowed and Tarn was running as he followed the sound to find his Tad-in-law standing over the child with his hands on his hips as he glowered at the baby and an upturned pot plant. Oh no … a flowering one.

She likes those.

"HJ, what did you do?"Tarn sighed, waiting for her look up at him with wide almond shaped eyes that were CJ's bright blue like his Dad's, a bright pink cyclamen flower in each hand as she calmly chomped through those in her mouth. "They are not food!"

"You know … maybe next time we are talking to a delegate from the Tertardian sector we should ask the about their favourite plants on our planet. Since your people are predominantly vegetarian maybe she needs something we are not providing" Ianto sighed, kneeling to scoop the dirt up as best he could.

"Oh no" a little voice said as PJ stood surveying the mess "He-Je. What a naughty thing to do, Tadda liked this one. Even called it Fuzzer."

"It's OK darling, I name all the plants in here, silly but the only pets I have" he said gently and her frown deepened as she looked at him with those large eyes.

"But the doggies…"

"they belong to the twins, just as the angry cat is yours. I do love them sweetie… I am the one who feeds them and cleans up all those messes after all but … the plants are mine. I guess, growing up without pets I found other things to love. Pets. Books. I was a lonely child. Why I am so glad this is a big family, you kids have one another to play with and go to for cuddles or advice."

"But you had Aunty Rhi" CJ said as he entered and lumbered to a chair, flopping into it with a soft groan that had Tarn leaving their toddler to rush and rub his feet.

"Yes but… she is not that motherly. Six years between us… not like the ten years or so between you and the twins. You welcomed them, enjoyed the addition. I don't think she liked me at all. Even now I sometimes wonder why I bother trying. She is still in one of her moods because I didn't send her anything for mother's day." Ianto laughed softly "Can you imagine? She's me sister not me mother. And if this were the correct thing to do, where are all my father's day things from her? Hmmm? So entitled she can't smell the stench of her own farts!"

"Tad!" CJ said with shock, and then laughed as his lovely dam made a rare rude comment.

"Hey, Whatcha do….oh no. Fuzzer?" Jack gasped as he knelt to help Ianto.

"Well … was needing re-potting soon … now it needs recovery as well. Has had a haircut." Ianto laughed.

"I know someone is eating things again… I will give you something to eat you beast" Jack growled in a fake voice, snatching up the little girl and making her squeal around her fists full of flowers in her mouth and he swooped her from the room.

"Ice-cream?" CJ sighed at his Tad.

"What flavour my love?" Tarn leapt up to oblige and CJ sighed as his mate swept from the room then he looked at his Tad again, rolling his eyes.

"I know... you were saying that your father is about to give your child ice-cream instead of a scolding like he did with you kids. Now you see the problem? He is an enabler." Ianto sat and grinned "Now you get ice-cream too because your mate is a smotherer!"

"To the max" CJ laughed.

Tarn had entered the kitchen to find something amiss, the twins standing on their chairs eyeballing their little sibling whose face was of pure anger. She said in a low, almost dangerous tone "It's Peta!"

"PJ" they said at the same time.

"No! I don't want to be a J. I want to be a Peta. That's my name!" she was angry now, her fists rising "Stop calling me PJ, I am a Peta!"

"Wow. Looks like you decided on who you want to be then" Tarn said as he entered and pulled out a chair "My first and middle names are Tarnish Frorent. Weird mouthful. I hate it. Imagine. TF. At least I am not the wife in the relationship with your bother, would be WTF."

They stared at him for a moment then started to snort with mirth, the anger dissipating as they all took seats and Jack swung around with bowls of ice-cream and a soft smile, kissing his son-in-law's cheek by way of a silent thanks.

Tarn was a natural with the kids, much like Ianto and Jack was increasingly alarmed by the way the house was groaning at the seams. Another little one on the way… they needed to think about this. Their adult son and his family could not continue to live in the sleep-out, not with one here, another coming … they needed room too.

Also… Tertardian are pack animals. Tarn has thrown to the old blood, evident in is almond shaped eyes and light green child he and CJ produced so lovingly. Even the thought of moving out to their own house would sent Tarn into a panicked spin.

Ianto will know what to o.

Right?