61

The new room was taking shape, Jack up a ladder currently painting the window frames as Ianto stood in the middle of the room staring at the back wall. He had a paintbrush in either hand and a little table set in front of him covered in paint. He dipped the brushes and moved forward to mash them into the wall, the white brush creating dappled light as the other made more leaves to the trees.

The woodland scene taking shape covered the entire wall, a view seen from the Lake House now superimposed onto the wall so the little one could see the trees, the sky above and the water of the lake lapping at the dark carpet. It was truly one of his masterpieces and Jack was being so damned careful not to say so. Any praise now might annoy Ianto who hated complements like the plague.

Finally satisfied, Ianto changed blushes, dropping the two he was using into a large bucket of water and choosing a fresh one, dunking it in yellows and then crouching to smash some buttercups in a clump.

Angel was peeking around the bathroom door fame now and then, her face full of excitement before disappearing to the nursery on the other side of the bathroom, the mural in there already finished. This one was not of the Lake House views. No. This was the village, full of life. Houses lined the walls, cats in little crevasses and the occasional dog walking the footpath too … people walking that were recognizable as family and the pots of colour that had returned after the village agreed they needed them back also filled the room with so much happiness.

"I want to know" she said to Ton who nodded.

"Yes. Me too. I think knowing might make this last bit easier, and the name thing can be better decided." Ton agreed.

Angel then went back to playing with one of the teddy ears on the little sofa in the corner, humming as she re-tied his bow and knew within a few days they would know the sex of their child and then it might feel a little more real to her.

"Ton?"

"Hmmm?"

Angle was looking around the room "I see people but… where is Taddy?"

Ton looked as well and frowned "you know… you are right. He put everyone else. Silly man… he has to put him too."

Ton went to inform Ianto of his error that would make Ianto so damned uncomfortable as he hated his own image. The one finally agreed to was of Ianto's back, looking at the street as if from a distance. Unmistaken with his watch chain on one hip and his cane gripped solidly. Still… Ton knew they were lucky to have got that much from the elusive man.

Strange for him to think he is not important when he will be one of the most loved people in this baby's life. Ton always wondered how that is… he can be so quiet and yet so….so… BIG.