6th Christmas
Walter was a precocious five year old with an attitude that left no one in any confusion that he wanted to grow up to be his Daddy.
Since Ianto's 'illness' Walter had been a bit clingy but now he was back to being the master of the house.
The paint up the walls of the living room a prime example and Ianto was holding his tongue as he scrubbed at the wall with gusto, Jack's calm voice reasoning with the heartbroken child that a door for Santa was not the right way to go.
Ianto rose and carried the bucket thorough to the laundry and tipped it out, got fresh water and went back, asking himself why he had gone for ivory walls with a small hellion for a child. Also making a mental note to have a wee word with the school about their idea of a school concert set with a real 'Santa' door installed in a wall.
Finally he decided he had done enough and it was only his mind playing tricks, telling him there was still an image there. He turned to go back to the laundry but Jack was there.
"I'll do that babe" he said with a casual kiss, "Walter is in time out so you go sit down and get that temper sorted, you are clenching your jaw so hard you'll pop some teeth."
Ianto huffed and slumped into a sofa, wondering if the place needed a repaint.
This may have been a wakeup call, she could do with some fresh makeup ya know.
He looked around and felt a surge of affection for the Firehouse and all the goodness contained within, even a budding artist currently sitting in his room being comforted by the dog.
He let his head fall back and stared up at the Christmas tree that went almost to the ceiling. Jack and John had spent quite a while wrestling it in and the ladder to decorate it was too much. John falling into the tree and almost bringing id down through the French doors way too much and Ianto had conquered his new found fear of heights since the fall by completing the task himself.
Now as he sat there is occurred to him that there may have been tomfoolery there as John was usually not clumsy when sober. Had that been a setup to get him back up in the air?
Ianto sighed and looked back towards the TV, and found Jack kneeling by his knee.
"Cariad?" he said softly, "Did you lose something?"
"No baby" Jack smiled softly, "But …something is missing."
Ianto frowned as he tried to understand Jack and his brain farts, then Jack lifted his hand showing Ianto's wedding ring pinched between finger and thumb.
"I didn't want to get paint all over it" Ianto sighed, "I was going to put it back on when I emptied the bucket."
Jack drew it back when Ianto reached for it and grinned again, wriggling it at him and Ianto tried again only to be thwarted.
"And you wonder where Walter gets it from" Ianto muttered angrily.
"Ianto" Jack said softly, "Ianto Harkness Jones, love of my puny little existence, giver of sustenance and warmer of the bed. Will you promise to now and forever fulfil the role of ring holder?"
"Huh?" Ianto said with confusion.
"Ianto, will you marry me? Anywhere? Anytime? Again and again?"
"Ya Twypsn!" Ianto giggled as he held out his hand and Jack slid the ring on, then leapt to his feet and did a victory lap around the room as he declared this the happiest day of his life.
Then he landed on the sofa and drew Ianto into a hug.
"Christmas tomorrow Tiger" he whispered into Ianto's hair, "And you've been so naughty this year that I might have to put a ring on something else once the monster is of a bed!"
"Stop it" Ianto giggled uncontrollably now at his husband's playfulness.
"Harken to me, wench!" Jack snarled" Least you go over my knee!"
"Wench?" Ianto asked as he drew back and eyeballed Jack, "Did you just call me a girl?"
"Nope, a wench!" Jack grinned, "Busty, buxom and sexy as hell in that pretty gold number you wore the other night with that red wig …oh gods, when is bedtime again?"
Ianto laughed and let him kiss him again as the ring sat comfortably in its ridge.
Naughty or nice ….
Captain Harness-Jones was getting stuffed tonight!