35

"Tad!"

"Ifan."

"Listen, Ton did something to my song and the house is refusing to release it from pause. Can you override it or something?" came the terse demand.

"Hello to you too, yes we are all feeling the effects a bit and it seems little Shay is the most ill but Dad and I will continue to do our best. Thanks for asking." Ianto replied.

Imp's face froze and then he sighed "Sorry Taddy, Shay is really not well?"

"Temperature is not dangerous yet but the little chest rattling worries me. Dad has the shower going for some steam treatment, not sure if it will help but it does make Dad feel better. Hawk is sleeping." Ianto could see Ton in the background and was glad to see that he was not upset. Clearly Imp had resisted going off at him at least.

"Honey, I am the one who paused the song. I was talking to Ton and heard it in the background. Today is his mama's birthday. My sister. My beloved gone sister and that is not appropriate" Ianto said.

"It was not that loud and it has nothing to do with a truck eating a car" Imp was clearly ready to dig in for a good argument.

"My father killed my mother when I was a little boy. He dragged her to the basement and hung her from a beam. I came home from school and found her swinging, long dead" Ianto said flatly "That song is… disgusting and offensive to me."

Imp blinked, then looked chagrined "Oh. Granny Jen. Right."

"Right. You have read my autobiography even thought I told you not to, I am not stupid. I know you did, you always do as you please. You are my son after all and you inherited my bastard streak, match that with your daddy's influence and there is no way you did not know how and why I grew up without my mummy. Grady and Grampy instead" Ianto scolded, more stern now "You forgot? My mum? My everything. She loved me, as much as yours loved you. And Ton's loved him. Would you like a nice rendition of 'Up, Up and Away' on her birthday?"

Imp snorted as he tried to think of a comeback and Ianto had enough of himself in this one to know he was secretly angry with himself for causing hurt but not wanting to admit it "Well… well… he could have asked me to turn it off."

"I did" Ton said from behind him.

"You could have said why."

"Why should I have to? This is my home too and I am older than you. While Dad and Tad are gone I am the Grup in this house. I am a Taddy too, a real grown up and you should not be such a… such a… dick!"

"Well said Ton" Ianto replied, proud of him for speaking his mind to his brother he loved so much "And now… find another song or find another activity. Today is Rhiannon's Day. Not yours."

"Yes Tadda. Sorry" Imp said, and then showed he was his father's son "Tonny, I am sorry bud. Come on, let's get the wedding DVD out yeah? We've not watched that in a while. She was so pretty in all that pink crap."

Ianto closed the call and took a deep breath.

Thank god for zoom technology, that would not have gone the same over a phone without face-time involved for the Taddy Stare of Doom.

Imp had to see his anger to accept it.

Just like his old man.