21
Fen was laughing, his head thrown back as Walter camped up and down the room with the amazing wig on that Imp had found gods knows where. It was an afro so big it might not fit through doorways.
Ton was looking smug and Ianto realised he had helped his little brother procure it. He was getting such a big boy, Ianto was so proud of him. Gods, such a big boy fitting under Ianto's arm so snugly now, soon he might be the same height. Unusual for a DS person but Ton was anything but usual. Jack's pride evident as he did everything with him now, his Best Boy.
Imp was opening his morning gift, his face pinched as he shook it and then pulled back the wrapper to scream in a high pitched way that made Monkey jump. Jazzy started to whimper and crawl for the only one who is safe in times of such madness and Ianto scooped her up easily, letting the toddler cling to his robe as she burrowed into his chest. He was touched that John and Chrys had come over so early bringing Bethy with them, the children all so happy to share the season together and as he watched it became evident that Monkey had been the instigator, snuggled next to his best friend and co-conspirator, opening his own choice of morning gift, the same shape as Imp's. He screamed too.
"Well? Who are they from?" Chrys prompted, smiling as the two boys checked the little card on the paper they had torn off. Then they rose to race to Fen, hug and scream of glee before racing back to examine their gifts, swapping them in one another's hands to look at one another's before deciding that was better.
"I got different colours so they would not mix them up and the first thing they do is swap" Fen laughed as he shook his head then rose, "Excuse me, gonna ring Carrie to see if her day is starting well."
Ianto watched him go and Jack saw a flicker of something before Ianto went back to watching the two little boys pour over the small bright coloured cap guns complete with holsters and extra caps. "Outside use. You rug up and can go out to play in the car park where the snow is not deep"
They got up and took off, Imp racing to get dressed as Monkey hooted encouragement and soon they were outside screaming lustily. The best thing about the new house in their opinion was the huge courtyard that was kept snow free with the cool ride on snow blower thing Jack had in the garage next to his ride on mower. In summer he drove around mowing, in winter he drove about clearing snow. Later today he would take it up the pathway to town and do all the front walkways for the old biddies Ton would point out as he clung to the back like a little Napoleon. There would be eggnog warm food and a lot of fussing as Ton would accept more hats, mittens and other knitted gifts than you could shake a stick at while handing our his homemade jam Taddy helped with, going home with probably at least four hats on his head, all sticking up as he screamed with delight at the speed Jack could get up to on that awesome 'Ton Road' Taddy had installed before the house was completed.
Ianto looked at his own gift with silent delight, shots of Walter and Babs on set from the show in an album that included others of the various children visiting at different times. Curtis was in some, standing in the background and in a couple even brazenly beside Walter. This was no passing thing, Ianto was seeing the first tendrils of something real here. He smiled as he ran his hands over the cover, so pleased the two children had thought to get him a keepsake like that, their first years now chronicled with their careers.
Babs had opened hers, a pretty necklace form Bethy that had her gushing, even as Bethy opened her gift to find Babs had got her a necklace as well. Babs had a bling one full of shinnies where as the one she got Beth was all dainty filigree like a fairy queen's ornate neck piece and it was so her that Ianto couldn't wait to see the two …well … young women dress up later and put their hair up to show off their gifts.
Ton had not opened one, sitting patently, then turning to his father, "Right. I wanna know what is under the tarp."
"Your big one? Baby, you know it's a little one first thing then we have our meal and then the rest of them are opened" Jack crooned softly but Ton's pout told him that was not gonna work.
"Hold on then" Ianto said softly, "He might die of ya don't. Christmasitis is a dangerous thing."
"Thank you Taddy" Ton said with open affection rising to follow his father out and Jack opened the garage doors to let Ton in, the flurry of the tarp revealing the Mayoral Motor. But … it was not purple anymore. Ton gaped as he stared at the bright green paintwork and the basket style seat in the back that was clearly padded for a dog's arse.
"Taddy and I think that since he is going to stop being Mayor soon, he needs a 'normal' motor and the Mayoral Motor should be passed to the next in line to wear the chains one day. Since one day you will be mayor maybe … Taddy and I think the MM should be yours now" Jack said as he watched jazz hands fly about, Ton running around it in a circle.
"EPIC!"