A/N: The entire premise of this is "tooth-rotting fluff with no real plot" and I'm not sorry.

Rough ages are as follows: Johan at 74, Clara at 55, Lena at 24, Astra at 22, and Jasper at six months.

Chapter Fifty-One: Peace, Serenity, and Many Nappies

It was morning in Castle Gallifrey, twilight having long given way to sunshine. Few were quite as ready for the day as the former lord and lady of the lands. The air was warm, birds sang from the trees, and summer was comfortably nestled over the city and her inhabitants.

"…and if he begins to get too fussy and won't stop, he likes to be sung to in the ceremonial tongue—though none of that bawdy stuff that Tara likes," Astra said quickly. She was passing her son over to her parents for the day, making sure she gave a complete briefing before holing herself up in her office for most of the remainder of daylight hours. Her father took the babe from her arms whilst her mother laughed.

"Astra, sweetie, we know how to take care of children," Lady Clara reminded her. "Just go to work; we'll have this little one safe and smiling by the time you fetch him."

"Are you certain you're fine?"

"Starlet, if we could handle raising you and your siblings while running the march and earldom, then we can mind a single wee babe for a day as our only priority," Lord Johan assured.

"I know, I know, it's just…" Astra trailed off as she looked at her son, who was grinning back at her as he clenched his lord grandfather's cape in his tiny fists and drooled all over it, and exhaled heavily. There was worry in her eyes, the way she held herself, and it was the sort of worry that was not lost on her parents. In fact, they knew what their daughter felt for her son, simply because they experienced it every day for her and each of their other five children. A parent's concern was always in a constant and never-ending flux, and although Astra had thought she was ready for such a thing, concern over her younger siblings was nothing like the tug she felt towards her son's wellbeing.

"Go, or you'll be late," her mother said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Astra snapped out of her daze and bid her parents and son goodbye for the time being. They watched as their daughter went around the bend, heading towards her office, and breathed a sigh of relief. Jasper wriggled in his grandfather's arms, babbling excitedly.

"That's right, starlet," Lord Johan chuckled. "You get to spend the day with Grandpapa and Grandmamma. Aren't you a lucky lad?" The baby made a few more noises and flailed his arms happily.

"He certainly is vocal this morning," Lady Clara beamed. She tickled her grandson's chin and her heart warmed to hear his giggles. "Now, what shall we do today? There's plenty to do outdoors before the sun gets too hot—would you like to wander the grounds?"

"Yes; I think a walk around the grounds will be nice," her husband agreed. Plan in place, the couple made their way down towards the gardens, greeting servants and lesser lords alike as they wove through the corridors. Eventually they were outside, warm sunshine on their faces, and everything seemed tranquil… nearly too much so for the bustling city and castle.

"Do you remember the walks we would take out here with the children when they were small?" Lady Clara asked.

"I recall carrying each one in a basket, so as to ensure that you did not wear yourself out," her husband replied. Lord Johan looked to the boy in his arm and poked his nose. "Your mama had to share her basket with your Auntie Tara. They have always shared many things, with exception of your papa."

"Johan, don't confuse him," she frowned. Holding onto his arm firmly, she rested her head against him as they walked. "It's bad enough you're imprinting on him, or whatever it is you are doing. Alida and Antoine will come to visit next month and won't be able to get the poor boy's attention."

"Are you saying I am trying to steal such a sweet child?!" he asked, feigning insult.

"I have no reason to insinuate what I know to be truth."

"That cuts deep, Clara."

"Not nearly deep as the wound that might plague the Peladon-Lakertyas when they visit."

They finally reached the water fountain and sat along the edge, allowing Jasper to reach down and smack the water. The boy giggled as he played under the watchful guise of his grandparents. Eventually, Lord Johan took the dress off Jasper and allowed him to sit in the shallow water clad in only his nappy. The baby squealed in delight at the cool liquid, slapping his chubby arms against the stomach-high water.

"You spoil him," Lady Clara deadpanned.

"No more than I did his mama, aunts, and uncles," Lord Johan defended. Fish swam up to Jasper and poked at his toes before quickly darting away, making the boy giggle and the man smile serenely. "He shall be an excellent child, just as they were."

"Then you can take the fall when he cries non-stop when his great-uncle tries to hold him," she said.

"You are starting to sound like the panto group that recites the same sketch every Violet Sky."

"Continually espousing the knowledge that needs to be taught to the young and old alike?" She gave her husband a coy smile, knowing it was not the answer he wanted to hear at that moment, but that it was the one he would give during any other discussion.

"Dully repetitive," he teased. He leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. "Don't think I have lost any of my people skills since we handed duties over to Lena in-full—things will be fine."

"Were those the people skills from before or after I came to Gallifrey? I don't remember seeing those wandering about on the loose." Lady Clara laughed quietly as her husband pouted before turning her attention to Jasper. She saw bubbles escape from the nappy and a grin creep across their grandson's face. "Alright, that's enough—time to change that soaked nappy of yours."

Jasper whimpered in confusion as his grandmother plucked him from the water and placed him on the stone edge of the fountain, his nappy making a mighty squishing noise as she did so. He protested as his dress was put back on him and was handed back to his grandfather.

"Can't the lad enjoy the water for a while longer?" Lord Johan protested.

"No; now you made the nappy that way, which means that you carry him back," his wife said. He grumpily followed her back into the castle, their grandson confused as to why they were going in so quickly, and went up to the family's private wing without a word.

Once inside his former chambers, Lord Johan changed the baby into a dry nappy and dress, leaving the lad on the floor of the nursery—on his stomach and with some toys—as he went to change his own shirt and jacket which was now wet with what he hoped was merely all fountain water. He returned to the nursery to find his wife sitting on the floor with their grandson, the two playing with the soft blocks a couple of the maids had put together from fabric scraps and stuffed with rejected wool from the Spring shearing. She poked the boy in the nose with the corner of a block, which made his brown eyes go wide and his body shake in confusion.

"Grandmamma is being silly," Lord Johan chuckled kindly. He sat down next to them and watched as Jasper took blocks to squish them together, fascinated when they would reform upon letting go. His grandparents watched him contently, amused when he would hold up the blocks for them to admire as well. "Yes, starlet; those are very interesting blocks, aren't they? Real blocks do not collapse like that, nor do they reform."

"He is a curious one, that is for certain," Lady Clara observed. They watched Jasper as he threw one of the blocks and chased after it, scooting around on his hands and knees until he reached the toy, and threw it again. He played like that for a few minutes—tossing and chasing and tossing and chasing—until his hand slipped and he fell flat on his face. The boy laid still for a minute, softly whimpering in the rug, before he was picked up by his grandmother and allowed to snuggle into her chest. "There now… it wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Lad has the right idea," her husband said. Before Lady Clara could question him, she found herself being scooped up off the ground and brought to the pile of cushions in the corner. There she was placed down in the soft mound, with Lord Johan joining her once he arranged a couple cushions to ease his hip and knees. He joined Jasper, facing him as they both rested on Lady Clara's chest.

"I'm married to a giant baby," she teased. He rubbed his face against the fabric of her dress and wrapped his arms around her in response. "Remember, Jasper, that your lord grandfather is the one who is an incurable clown, not me."

Lord Johan listened to Jasper babble before he nodded gravely. "Yes, it does seem like it is Make Fun of Grandpapa Day, doesn't it?" The baby patted his nose and cooed consolingly. "I appreciate the sentiment, starlet."

"I can't believe you still want me to think that you speak to babies," Lady Clara tutted. She skritched her husband's scalp with her one hand and stroked her grandson's soft, downy hair with the other, calming them both into stillness. At the sound of their soft snores, she knew they were asleep, and she decided to go along with the mid-morning nap. She and her husband both were happily becoming addicted to the idleness they found themselves in and for that she was glad.

However, once Lady Clara was fast asleep herself, Lord Johan's eyes snapped open. Moving carefully, he eased himself from her grasp and stood up. He gently plucked Jasper from his resting spot and took the boy from the nursery as silent as he possibly could.

"Starlet, it's not Nap Time yet," he murmured to the child once they were in the corridor. Jasper jolted awake and looked around, confused at his change in surroundings. "No, everything is alright; I just thought we might let Grandmamma sleep while we have our own fun."

The lad's eyes inflated and he made a squeaking noise.

"Then that settles it—let's go!"

It was nearly midday when Lady Clara woke to find that she was alone in the nursery. She did not wonder why or how—those questions were so obvious they needn't've been asked—so she stood herself up, smoothed out her dress, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before heading out into the castle to search for her charges.

"Oh, is milady happening to be heading down for lunch?" a maid asked as they crossed paths in the corridor. A look of relief had crossed her face when she saw her; it was apparently her task to fetch Lady Clara for the meal.

"Is my family waiting for me?" she asked.

"Not yet… that I'm aware of…"

"…then no." She walked right past the maid, feeling guilty for having her next words fall on deaf ears. A sense of urgency was filling her—if she did not find her husband and grandson before her daughter checked in during lunchtime, then she knew Astra's ability to work would be impacted for the rest of the day.

"Milady!" The maid grabbed her wrist and gently tugged her back, finally recapturing her attention. "I'm sorry, but I had wanted to know if you needed me to fetch His Former Lordship and Young Mister Jasper for you."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Outside in the gardens, underneath one of the larger oaks last I heard."

Lady Clara quickly thanked the maid and apologized before heading back to the castle grounds. She knew her husband's favorite places to loaf about, though knowing which sort of favorite place narrowed it down considerably. Both husband and grandson could be seen from afar soon as the suspected tree was in sight; it made her feel more cross than anything as she stomped across the lawn, readying her lecture, though she knew deep in her hearts that it was only a matter of time before the two of them had a row over something like this.

When she was able to see her quarry clearer, Lady Clara's pace began to slow and her ire calm. What had looked from afar to be her husband playing with their grandson on a blanket under the tree was actually her husband and grandson sleeping. She saw Lord Johan curled up, with one arm as his pillow and the other surrounding Jasper protectively. Shaking her head, she knelt down besides the two and gently touched her hand against her husband's face, thumb stroking the side of his whiskers.

"Wake up," she said. He opened his eyes blearily, turning his head to kiss her palm.

"I must have fallen asleep," he admitted. "Is it time for lunch?"

"Yes, but why are you sleeping out here instead of inside with me?" she wondered. She watched as he rolled to his back and stretched before picking up the still-groggy Jasper.

Her question was answered for her—a nappy that was soggy through and through.

"Oh, I see," she said. She kissed her grandson on the forehead and placed him on her husband's chest. "The fountain again?"

"No…! Why I…!"

"Then why is there a leaf in his nappy?"

Lord Johan fell silent—she had him there.

"Don't make me sound like a dully repetitive panto group again," she joked, offering a hand to help him up. "What else did you do?"

"Oh, nothing," he lied. They began the walk back to the castle and his ears began to turn pink. "Well… maybe we also took a walk around the grounds…"

"Mmmhmm."

"…and played with some rabbits…"

"Figures."

"…and some of the castle hounds out for a run, once they chased the rabbits away…"

"As expected."

"Are you… erm… cross with me, Clara?"

"Let me have a day alone with him, another day with you, and we might call it even," she teased. She gave him a flirtatious wink, allowing the wind to catch her greying hair and let it dance in the breeze.

It was, for Lord Johan at the very least, like falling in love with her all over again.

Sure enough, when the lord and lady entered the dining room for lunch, the eldest two of their daughters were waiting patiently for them. The young mother took back her son in a quick swoop, making certain that he was still doing alright. She did not doubt her parents, nor her child, yet the bright look in his eyes was enough to melt her heart upon seeing him again.

Jasper cuddled against Astra's chest as the adults ate and talked, the little boy content with the love and attention that was lavished upon him. He soon became hungry and was given a bottle of warm, delicious milk mixed with cereal flakes, which he spat up all over his front in a fit of giggles. Passed back to his grandfather, he was carried back up to the nursery yet again for another changing, for that's all his life was: changings and playtime and naps and changings and his grandparents snuggling before going home for the cycle to begin again with his parents.