24th Christmas
"Pen, just calm down" Walter scolded as he struggled into the room, the children filling the doorway as they all screamed with glee. The presents were at least twice as many than the night before when they had all gone to bed. There was a blizzard outside, everyone in a lockdown.
Everyone was warm, safe and happy. All that matters.
Ianto padded into the room with Grace on his hip, the little one squealing to beat the band as Ianto looked out at the snow piling up. A little terror tot who had her Grandy under her thumb as he spoke "They will not be over until later in the day when this dies down. Sam is waving from the window, she is not even dressed."
Jack sighed and picked up the phone "There is this new fangled thing called phones love. No need for hand signals across the wasteland."
"Wasteland" Ianto snorted as he rolled his eyes then watched Jack call Fen, listen and smile. Of course… then repeat the exact same thing Ianto had just said.
"So. Luckily Curt and Walt stayed the night eh? Pen? Benny? Off ya go then." Ianto smiled "There are presents for you in there too, Santa knows when kids are staying over during storms too."
"But… how did he get here?" Imp asked, ever the questioner.
"Don't be a dork. He's magic!" Ton snorted "Now … use the brain to read some labels and give me a big one!"
Laughter as everyone settled to open the gifts, Ianto moving to check the food once and a while.
"Tad? What if the power goes off?" Imp asked as he looked at the ceiling with interest.
"Generator" Babs replied for him "Daddy got it in the basement remember?"
"Basement?"
Ianto started to laugh, unable to stand the horror on his child's face at the thought there might be another part of this house he had not claimed in some way, if only for hide-n-seek. "She's pulling your leg. We do not have a basement! We do have solar panels though, right? Enough solar power for a three day blackout. Not that it would come to that, never having that long without a good oven again!"
"Babs, you Cow!" Imp glowered in Ianto-like fashion then let out a bellow as he launched at her and she shrieked with glee as she caught him and swung him around.
"HEY! GIFTS!" Ton scolded angrily, "Come on, before you scare the baby!"
"Sorry Ton" everyone said with that manic grin of naughty children … including Curtis, Walt and Jack. Ianto sighing as he settled to accept a gift to open. "Hmmmmm. Curt?"
Curtis watched eagerly as the perfectly wrapped gift was delicately opened, and Ianto stared at the cufflinks then sighed softly "Perfect. Oh Curt. Perfect!"
Jack leaned over and saw two little red dragons, facing one another. When worn they would both face out like little challenges on his cuffs. "Good one!"
"Two actually" Ton said calmly "Don't be lazy daddy. You can count."
More laughter as Ton frowned and then handed a gift over to the idiot "Here Dadda."
"Thank you my Best Boy, it's from ….ahh... you!"
Maybe the fact the wrapping paper was not even Christmas wrap … it was birthday might have given it away, the small slices of pizza on it the clincher and Ton gushed as he wriggled with glee, Jack tearing into it with gusto to examine what his lovely man had decided was perfect for his Dad.
"Ton! Really?" Jack laughed softly as he revealed a model airplane kit "It's awesome. A project for both of us at the Lake House. Son, you have such great taste!"
Ton preened.
Grace gave a small squeak and Ton was there, gushing happily as he helped her free a doll of its packaging, so many little twist tie things and bloody plastic … her patently wanting hands clasped together as she looked adoringly at her sweet uncle.
Hawk's little voice chirped over the baby monitor and Jack rushed to get the little beast from his nest before Ton beat him to the morning smile, time for the real fun to begin.
Perfect day really.