2

Ianto watched the kids gush over their dogs. Yeah… he had accepted that Damo was happy to take Myfanwy his even if the huge creature knew it was just a game. They took to walking the dogs around the little cul-de-sac on leashes, the little ones with harnesses the same as the large dog. Seriously, it looked a bit stupid but they liked it.

Bonnie was a bonny girl and she clearly loved David. She slept on his bed, yeah… Ianto was not happy about that but had to give up arguing as Mica admitted her doggie slept with her on the bed too.

God damn it. At least Myfanwy sleeps on the floor.

Right?

Damo did not bother respond to that as he asked his Daddy to build an obstacle course for 'his' dog to learn ticks and stuff on. Oh. Right. Ignore the silly man waffling on about fleas and germs. OK… I know… NOTHING in this house would DARE have germs let alone flea… but that's beside the point.

Franklin arrived in time to see his son and best weirdo… ah.. Friend pacing out a grassed area and he tined to find Ianto watching with that hooded look that could go either way "Hello son."

"Hey Dad, home early?"

"Yeah. Things are running so smoothly thanks to sweet Toshiko that I wanted to spend time with my grandchildren but it looks like Jack and Johnny are way ahead of me. Oh well… I do have something I want to research" He replied, then walked towards his home which sat next to Ianto and Jack's house.

"Dinner is in about an hour" Ianto yelled after him, then he turned and walked back into his own house. Might as well have an early dinner. These fools will be exhausted and need an early night to… oh my god. Ianto stopped walking as it occurred to him that he was including John and Jack in the child group.

Could be worse.

Could include Owen I guess.

That thought running through his head made him snigger softly as he checked the pot roast and hummed to himself while turning the pot on for the potatoes, everything else ready to go as well. Heat… serve… eat... clean.

Good.

"Babe?"

"Yes Cariad?" Ianto said, then moved to look at him "Jack… who is watching the kids?"

"John… Owen came to say hi and is helping too. We are building a cool course… where can I get some old car tires do you think? I reckon Myfanwy would savage them like a good soldier" Jack gushed, sniffing the air like some sort of weird predator hunting pot roast.

"I would ask Smoky over at the service station. They repair tires right? Must replace them as well, likely have a stack of them out back of the garage" Ianto said as he lifted a pot lid and peered in like he didn't know which one held the carrots.

"Oh. I never thought of that" Jack said with a tilt of his head, staring at the ceiling. "You know… a doggy door…"

"Nope. Locked in at night safe and sound" Ianto said calmly, stirring the dessert before popping it into the fridge to set.

"I was going to say… ah… I mean…. (insert thinking hard) a doggy door in the garage connecting door so in the summer they can escape to the garage where it's cooler if they want." Jack said and Ianto did not have it in him to call out the fact he knew that was a massive lie.

"Hmmmm… good idea. Set up a water station out there to encourage them… then if you crack the door a few inches a bit of a breeze can come on" Ianto ran with it and glanced over to see Jack's mind whirring as he now saw it might be a good idea too.

"I will talk to Toshiko, we will need a way to lock it in place once cracked. We still need the place secure" Jack said as he pulled out the chair to sit. Showing that he was NOT calling anyone.

"Is John staying for dinner? Your Dad will be over soon."

"Nah. He's going with Owen to his" Jack looked at that ceiling again and Ianto finally put the spoon down.

"Come on. What."

"Huh?"

"What do you want to ask?"

"Well… Damo seems to have Myfanwy a lot. I mean... she was sort of yours and now… are you OK with that?" Jack finally asked and Ianto frowned, then saw what the problem was. Oh. A little green monster.

"You know how it is Cariad. At first something new is exciting and shiny… then it gets old school and you want your best things again" Ianto said softly.

"So… in time the routines will set in and the dog will be…"

"Normal. If you are feeling a little strange with all three kids doing their own thing instead of with you… maybe… you know David likes watching you build stuff around here. So build for something that includes the dogs. Like that obstacle course. That was clever. The kids will love you for it. Maybe… maybe build an air conditioned summer house for the dogs in the back yard so when they are also in the fenced area they can get some shade. The kids can help build it, paint it and stuff. A real family project." Ianto suggested.

"Yeah. Yeah. Maybe then they will get bored with the dogs" Jack agreed.

"And they will want to play with you again" Ianto agreed, then looked up to see Jack looking out the window at the kids and their dogs.

"Yeah. And the kids might share them."

Oh. It was not about the kids at all.

Jack missed the dogs?

Ergh. So it was a dog Jack wanted to play with.

SIGH

Could they relay stand four? I mean… could Ianto stand four.

SIGH