64
"Are you OK love?" Ianto asked as he settled next to Curtis who was sitting in the sunshine with a closed book in his lap.
"Thinking."
"Dangerous that, I delve into the madness myself on occasion. Barely made it out alive a few times" Ianto nodded sagely, turning to see what he was looking at and found himself looking at the little summer house where Bethy was entertaining the little ones.
"The biggies are at school and Gracie is about to start full time instead of just morning sessions too" Curtis finally spoke "I will be…free."
"Yeah. I tried to use that work to hide the fear of being alone when mine left the nest of a day. Having the school there and the mayoral chambers so close was lovely, I could spy. I did. Spent hours not working, looking out the window to check their playtimes, if they were eating at lunch … I am the essence of a Helicopter Mom. I was horrified but unable to stop."
Curtis grinned as he could well imagine that.
"I guess, the best thing to do would be to volunteer as a parent helper." Ianto finally said. "Maybe even do a few courses in early education. It's clear neither you or Walter see you back in the crew, now you have tasted Baby Madness you are hooked, like me. Of course you are, my son married my doppelganger in that respect. I am so touched that he loves me, loves that in you. You have parts to you I don't though. I am also glad you are your own man there, that Walter and you click so well. Maybe that's why he hasn't broached the 'back to work' thing with you. He fears it might be the living in each other's pocket feeling that he doesn't want. He loves coming home to you. Jack always said that the highlight of his day was opening the door to the vision of his world exploding around him with sounds, smell and love."
Curtis smiled softly. Of course Ianto knew that was what he had been mulling over. The fact the show was continuing without him and Walter had not brought up a job. Of course. It was not babying or infantiling him after what happened. Or protecting him. Walter liked having him around, but not smotheringly.
"I might do that, go talk to River when I pick up the beasts. Yeah." Curtis smiled "Now Maisey is happy going to be with the others and is actually learning … I am so proud of her … my presence might help River as those Maisey Moments can be hard with other kids to control. When she's in meltdown I can remove her… it works the days I have to go in after an incident. Me there might mean no incident to begin with. The other kids might be less afraid of her … yeah. Some more courses. Really? I did enjoy those, I find the Child psychology ones so interesting."
Ianto nodded "I will get some options to look at. Maybe some developmental ones now so the day-care can snavel you at times too? I mean … if you have another baby then …"
"Tad!" Curtis said sternly, then started to snigger ad Ianto raised an eyebrow innocently.
Yeah.
Walter had chosen another baby lover.
Of course… one day. Curtis would manage to convince his Cariad.
More babies would come.
Ianto sat back with a grin to watch Jax sit and clap his little hands with glee as Hawk did a dance of neekid freedom.
