14

Ianto was sitting at the table with the bassinette pulled to the side of him while Jack slept upstairs. Seems Ianto wrecked him a bit.

Gray and the kids were due back with the pizzas and Ianto was reading the paper while trying not to move about too much. The little fella seemed to prefer the quiet to sleep, not loud noises. Ianto surmised his mother did not interact with the louder members of the tribe so little man had grown inside her in silence.

"Evening"

Ianto looked up with a start, almost asleep in the chair and smiled as he waved the Sherriff in "Good evening Paul. Jack is upstairs asleep if you want me to…"

"No, it's OK. Just came to warn you, we have some poachers in the region. We've run them off a few properties, almost caught the fuckers at the McGrevey place over the other side of town. Out of towners, all we know it that it's a white pick-up with spotlights. After anything they can get. Shit a pet donkey. I don't know, thought it was a deer maybe in the half light? The locals are up in arms and they were trying to rally to chase them off so …"

"My white pick-up is best left in the shed for a while and use Ianto's red one while in town this weekend?" Gray grinned as he entered and settled next to Ianto, peering at the baby while the kids fussed with plates and napkins. Yes … Ianto had rules for pizza too.

"You know … it's admirable of you to come home every weekend and spare minute. Does Washington mind all that airfare?" Paul asked with interest.

"Jack gets frequent flier miles" Gray shrugged "But you know … a certain young filly is on at me to consider a career change. You know … wife and family … sort of … well. We will need a nice little place to live, raise some rug rats … you know… if you don't mind me marrying your daughter."

"Really?" Paul lit up "Damn son. That girl is smitten on you, mopes around like a dog without it's bone when you …ah shit … don't' tell her I said it like that!"

"Said what?" Jack asked as he entered the room with no shirt on, leaning over to kiss Ianto.

"I just asked Paul for Bonnie's hand" Gray said with glee and Jack looked at Ianto in surprise.

"I didn't say anything" Ianto said softly, warning Jack that their news had not been shared. Gray had not intentionally stepped on their big moment with his own.

"Say anything about what?" Gray asked as he chose a slice and motioned for Paul to dig in. Five pizzas was a bit of overkill but he wanted to try them all.

"Ianto just agreed to marry me" Jack said happily "Out there in the rotunda."

"Shit. If I had know I …"

"It' OK. Not like you asked her on our day. Besides … a whole different deal with a bride. I remember Rhiannon … scary shit!" Ianto hissed low so the kids didn't hear "I swear to god. She was ready to cut someone."

They laughed and settled, Gray sighing happily "I will ask her tonight. Taking her to the old drive-in they revamped with the 3D projectors. We are seeing Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"Love that one" Jack grinned.

"Me too" Paul said, surprising all of them "Meatloaf was hilarious in it. Apparently he couldn't ride the motorbike and crushed it, almost killed himself."

Rye made a small noise and Ianto smiled, lifting the baby up to his shoulder and letting him drape there like a large wet towel. "There, there. It's hot is it?"

"He's hot?"

"Clammy. Can you turn on the air conditioning please?"

Jack moved to comply as Paul leaned in to coo softly to the baby, those eyes sooo clear it was like looking into glasses of spring water. It tickled Paul every time..

"So. The paperwork is final, it's all done right? I got the notifications and all. This little bit is now officially your son. You fellas gonna have a party? I mean … wet the baby's head or whatever. I know some of the townsfolk are dying to see him. You keep him cloistered away here and they all want to fuss. They are getting to like you lot, ya know."

"Really? A stuck up toff like me?" Ianto raised an eyebrow and Paul looked at him, then started to laugh softly.

"Well … you don't miss much do you son." He sighed "Yeah, they do feel bad for misjudging you, then the Blue debacle. Seriously … they all know about this one and the rare times you take him to town he's all bundled up and hidden in that front pack like a mama bear protecting her young. They are too scared to come over for a peek for fear you will chew them a new arsehole. Your resting bitch face is too strong."

"The Force is string in this one" Jack said dreamily and they laughed softly again.

"Well … maybe you are right. I do hold him a bit tightly to me. But he is special. Delicate … maybe … well. I will try. I need a little baby carriage of something though, not a lot of places to shop." Ianto frowned.

"They are having a Baby and Me afternoon next weekend… here. I got the flyer in my pocket somewhere" the man mad a show of looking for it like all sheriffs carry those things about and Jack smiled as he watched Ianto move closer with interest "Here it is son. It's one of those … Whatcha call them. Expos. They have displays, stalls and such. They do it twice a year. The neighbouring towns and a few companies from the city come, fill the local hall with stuff and you can shop up, order stuff from the big smoke… you know. Browse."

Ianto took the flyer and peered at it as Jack saw their son's first official outing about to happen.

Secretly he was relieved. Ianto was scared about people's reactions to a Wilder child but he hoped desperately tht it would not be a shit show. I mean … seriously. Look at him. Who would not fall in love with that ethereal face?

He looked just like a porcelain doll.