10
Ianto had made an innocent comment about the uneven ground with his hip and wouldn't ya know it… Next day Jack and the others were out there discussing the merits of cobbling the pathways between the houses.
"Better for gardens too… the kids will know you can run on the paths, not my flowers" Ton agreed as he hoisted Tony up and then sighed "You know… you really should be with the others Grandy has a nice warm safe house just here through the new side gate."
Ton carried his daughter through opened the sliding door and shoved her in with a pat on her bum, then wandered back to reenter the conversation about the merits of pathways… maybe little fences too.
"Garden gate for this one? A white picket fence? We can put a wishing well in then" he pointed and they all stared at the 'fairy house' before agreeing.
Ianto watched out the window with Shay asleep on his shoulder, Curt on the floor behind him covered in toddlers with undisguised glee "You know Tad… that is dirty pool."
"Nonsense, they are loving it out there. Look at them. It's gonna drizzle soon, you wait… they will rush for their wet weather gear like a gale is coming and then stomp around all important yelling over the slight breeze… these are men… building shit" Ianto replied, patting a little nappy as he grinned "Time I start that soup. They can have it out in the patio, no need ot take off those dirty boots then… push the dirty boots more… get those pathways sorted."
Curtis sat up, a child clinging to him with little growls as it tried to tear his head off and he blinked "Tad? Are you…. Are you handling…. Ooooooo. Now… that is diabolical."
"At least a week of work being negotiated out there… then once they are done I will mention ever so causally that they should not lay the grass yet… not if there are little street lights to go in… then they will dig shit back up, argue and gleefully cause more mess… lay wiring and pipes … then they will lay the fake grass once I point out it is easier to care for than stuff that needs mowing. Oh the little ace will be so sad if they have to wait a whole day for Tonny to mow it… so fiddly around the little corners… and the grass stains… doesn't bear thinking about."
"Oh my god. You do that so.. effortlessly, my Master."
"Don't worry Padawan… I am still teaching you the ways of the force" Ianto said and then both of then giggled like kids as they watched a forklift in the distance bringing in a huge concrete pipe.
"What's that for?"
"The bear cave in the corner. Jack read the Bear Hunt to Shay last night and I sort of… mentioned a Bear Cave would be cute. Burry it in and plant flowers, cover with grass an trees… let it settle in and then in the back put some little sticks and things, create a fake bear bed like he just got up." Ianto said sagely "For the Bear Hunt."
"You're mad. Totally… cleverly fucking insane" Curt said then sighed "A picnic. A Teddy Bear Picnic complete with a hunt… you will place a special teddy somewhere to be found?"
"Pirate style map Ton will create… little clues along the way… yeah. The kids will spend an entire weekend in the little Kid's Village and not hassle anyone."
"Right here next door so Grandy can come out with snacks and stuff all the time… a cuddle for anyone tired….. you b…bugger." Curt laughed softly "Your plan to take over all the children is almost complete."
"I know" Ianto turned and grinned, his hands stroking the head of the sleeping toddler in his arms like a mastermind stroking his cat, "Told you… I had a project in mind."
Curt pulled a child in to bury his face in its belly, laughing out loud.
Crazy as a fox.
