22

Ianto was feeling good again the weight of mourning still there but not pressing down anymore, more like a blanket across his shoulders now. He could wear that.

He walked around his little village taking in the changes as the place prepared for the coming Silly Season also commonly called Christmas. Hawk's Birthday was looming and although they had tried several suggestions nothing seemed to motivate the tiny guy to excitement about it. Ianto knew why. So close to Christmas, some friends already gone for the holidays, everyone so busy. Hawk was not the center of attention.

"Hey good looking" Jack called as he started to walk over, Jill following obediently along with Cee-Cee who's tail swiped slowly back and forth, hitting her doggy friend's rump each time.

"Hey. Where's Moo-Moo?"

Jack faltered, and then turned to look at the dogs then for the dark one's owner. Maisey not behind him like he had thought. "Shit."

Ianto was not concerned. The direction they had come from was a DS quarter and he knew someone had merely swiped the young one for some cuddles and she is too polite to extricate herself. Come so far from the little beast who hated contact of any kind, she now enjoyed cuddles on tap.

Finally she came running, a kitten in her arms that made Ianto's smile fade slightly and Jack's widen "Mooey! Did Missus Flufferkins the Third have them already? I wasn't told!"

"She had them four weeks ago Grampy. Look, this one is white too!" she gushed, holding out the tiny kitten then turned to run back as she knew it was too little to be too far from it's littermates.

Ianto opened his mouth but then saw something that changed everything. Hawk had hold of a cat too … this one older and …er… less cute. It was one of the old strays that get fed communally. He was old, an ear torn and his eyes gunky. The child holding him looked … less that happy too.

"Daddy! Meow is sickers!" Hawk yelled, Jack swinging to look horrified and he rushed to pull the dirty thing from his son's arms only to pause and remember the conversations with previous children and the tantrums when 'extracting' pets.

"Let's see son" he tried, crouching to look at the cat that stared back from one almost good eye, the puss grossly crusting on its face not good at all.

"Jack? Is that contagious?" Ianto asked gently "Maybe the other cats…."

"Come on Hawk. Let's take Mister Meow to the Cat Doctor man. See if he needs medicine or something but… he will be scared so … Daddy will carry him and Taddy will get the carry box yeah?" Jack seized the cat by the scruff, holding it out from him with distain as Ianto accepted a carrier from a Biddy who had seen the problem and run for one from her house.

Hawk seemed pleased and held tightly to his father's pants all the way to the car, his eyes firmly on Mister Meow.

Ianto didn't like this one bit.