8

Jack slowed as he approached the ridge, the scuffing from her little shoes showing Ianto was right about her dragging her heels as she had calmly wandered over the ridge to the other side of the valley. Gods please. This would kill Ianto… OK… it would kill him too. Jack stepped onto the ridge and looked down, finding his little girl sitting on a rock talking animatedly to a rabbiterha.

"Oh thank the gods" Jack sighed as he approached the little girl "Darling? Come to Dadda."

"Oh Daddy" she rose with glee and pointed to the large green rabbit thing that was ignoring her "I found the Easter Bunny."

"Well… we best leave him to his snack, getting ready for some big work tonight then" Jack said as he snatched her up and turned to move quickly, the Blue Bear scat in the distance giving off a faint smell. Oh god.

"Hey everyone, I founded the Easter Bunny!" she yelled as they neared everyone and the boys both visibly relaxed with relief. He knew they hoped like hell Taddy would not have to know but he knew damned well the Easter bunny story would be retold with equal glee to him as soon as Pearl saw him. They rode back with Pearl in her Daddy' slap, her little babbling insistent as she wondered if the rabbit had enough to eat, if he would leave a special egg, if he had a family… all things that mattered little to Jack who thought it more likely a Blue would eat the fuzzy little bugger before sunset.

They entered the yard to find Ianto standing there with a bored look on his face, his eyes taking in the two boys riding quietly to the stables with shifty looks over their shoulders.

"So… they went for a fide?" Ianto asked watching them with growing awareness.

"Someone wanted a little walk so they went with her" Jack said, covering for the child.

Ianto made a noise that told Jack he knew damned well what had happened as he reached for their daughter, lifting her down from the horse to his hip so she could tell him about the Easter Bunny and the cool day. And the blue fuzzer playing far away like the blankie on the bed. Oh really? Hmmm.

"Well… let's get some food in us, yeas?" Ianto crooned to his diameter, glancing back at the boys before locking eyes with Jack. Fifty? Both boys shared a look as they knew it might near a hundred now.

They ate, Ianto keeping one ear on the other side of the house in case Mae needed anything but after Emma had fussed food onto plates she took off with a couple of large bowls of porridge for the new parents, her own already eaten hurriedly as she had worked. Ianto was again reassured that he had made the right decision there, epically as Damien rose to gather the empty pates then make some sweet tea to take down as well… for the new parents. Tick. Good man. She will notice that.

Ianto sat back to ponder punishments and Jack knew it would not be pretty so he got in first "I see an entire stable to shovel out and fresh straw for the beds… then you can groom them all."

"Awwwww" Dickie broke first "Not Tadda Ianto's one. He's mean."

"All of them" Jack repeated "You can both do Grenadine and hopefully only get a few nips."

The horse had been a gift from Jack. A rare Parsecian Red that was as large as his own black but a rusty red colouring with a white mane and tail… socks of a palest pink and eyes as red as rubies. All in all, she looked fucking terrifying but Ianto had spotted her while they were at an auction and Jack had heard the sharp intake of breath that said Ianto found her attractive. Rare to find something he wanted so of course Jack had bid… no one else wanting her as she had seized the man trying to lead her around the arena by his shoulder and shaken him like a rag doll until the shock sticks got her to drop him.

Yes.

Of course she loved Ianto who had discovered singing was the balm and she was like a big bitey dog following him about the fields when loose. Not that anyone else could EVER get near her without a nip or five. She was more careful with the little ones, maybe smelling Ianto on them but Dickie of course… a miniature of his father… she knew he was fair game.

"That sucks the big one" Charlie agreed "You can get the wheel-barrels of stuff, I will go in, I will sweep it out into the main area and distract her so you don't get bit."

"You had better… last time she got me ear!"

Jack smiled at Ianto who decided that was apt, going back to spoon feeding the little bird who really could feed herself, but knew the art of distraction as well. She also knew she was in trouble for wandering off in the first place and sooner or later Taddy would let her know his real thoughts on the matter.

Oh dear.