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The pups were a hit.
As Ianto had hoped, everyone gushed over the strange creatures as he diplomatically explained that they were a hybrid. No one cares, to busy cuddling and laughing at them. Ianto gave up and settled back to watch with his hand going to his stomach as he grimaced.
"Something wrong sweetie?" Clara asked as she noticed this.
"Gas" Ianto replied "I love the greens but they don't love me. Will have to take a walk around Shiloh's garden to …. Air meself out"
Several people laughed softly as she smiled along with them, then Sean grunted from the table where he had sat with Clara in uncomfortable silence for the meal "You always do get gassy with pups."
The room fell silent and Ianto felt the blush flaring up his face as everyone stared at him, Jack rising from the floor where he had been with the pups "Want to say something? Say it. Come on Sean. Want to take a shot at someone?"
Sean looked at Jack and blinked "I didn't mean it like that. Usually he's the prickly one when he's up the duff."
"Well, since until you opened your mouth no one knew he was pregnant I guess it's your fault I am a little prickly. My mate didn't want to broadcast so soon after YOUR loss" Jack replied.
"Don't. Stop it both of you" Ianto rose and felt the tornado inside him "I don't have the patience for this bullshit. Mickey, is Pip OK there?"
"He's grand." Mickey replied, a pup in his arms as Pip happily proclaimed that one his ya know.
Ianto stormed outside and Jack followed "You OK?"
"What do you think he wants? Really wants?"
"What you thought he did. I think he wants you to rip his head of" Jack relied calmly "Only thing that makes sense."
Ianto stopped storming along and turned to Jack, pulling him in for a kiss "I know I get cranky. Pissy, pricy and downright insane with the hormones but I do love you."
"Are you kidding? I was a diva!" Jack laughed "No, you are best at the baby making, I readily admit my turn was more than horrible for all of us. Besides, I like rubbing your feet and tending to you when you are tired or pissy or just plain sad. I provide."
"Yes you do" Ianto smiled as they started to walk again "And speaking of providing. The list from the Outpost had coffee on it again?"
"They bathe in it" Jack replied sagely and Ianto laughed, the tension going as they enjoyed the evening air.
..
.
.
Sean sat rubbing his head as everyone shouted, the large serving spoon Pip had hit him in the head with swinging back for another strike as Francine struggled with him, Mickey no help as he roared with mirth at the little hellion.
"You are a…a… doody!" Pip yelled at Sean "Always were, even as a baban you took his thunder time and time again. Grow up!"
"Look who's talking" Sean said before he could stop himself and Pippy snarled as he wrenched the spoon from the woman in a show of Wolfling strength and struck Sean so hard he fell off his chair and Hope barked loudly, stilling the room.
"Pippy, that spoon was one of Nainny's. Don't' bend it!" she scolded and the little boy examined the handle to see if it had bent from the strike. Sean sat on the floor with a look of shock.
"He hit me" he said incredulously "Did you all see that?"
"He will again" Pip said with such clear words, the voice so familiar as Poppy looked at him from the little face and Sean felt a twist in his own gut as he realised he was being judged all right. Judged for his own childishness.
"I will apologise OK?" he held his hands up in surrender "I will find him an apologise. I honesty thought you all knew Sorry. Shit. I am a dick. Shoot me!"
"No, I will bash you" Pip said and then he looked at the spoon and gently placed it on the table, turning to Francine "sorry."
"That's OK love, I am not mad" she assured him as she took the spoon then kissed his little head.
Micha shook her head as the baby cooed, Pip turning to walk over and place his hands on her little face "Hi there."
Everyone smiled as he showed affection, then he looked over at Marley and smiled. He looked so much like Ianto that Marley awwed "Look at that face. So like Ianto. What a Jones face. Coveting the babies."
"Babies are good" Pip said as he grinned, "Even when we are teething."
He then sat back with the pups and Hope looked around the room, satisfied that everyone was calming down. Later when no one was looking she would lean over and casually bite her Uncle on th arm, drawing blood as a punishment for upsetting Pip and Ianto.
Neither of them would speak of it.
Not when he knew he deserved it for being so thoughtless.