24

"You don't need the right words if you are telling someone who knows your mind"

"Extrateresticles" Monkey said as he shook the little green alien toy over the interested Lady Bug.

"Extra what?" Sam asked as she watched the little boy gush over the baby.

Monkey was like his sisters, small for his age and pixie-like. Also, afflicted with the misuse of words gene.

"Teresticles" Monkey repeated, "You know … ETs."

"Aliens" Imp said as he settled to watch his best friend "Monkey and me watched an alien movie with Tonners. You know … they are from another planet and everything. Do you think there are ETs?"

"I don't know" Sam smiled, then watched Ianto wander past, slowing to watch Monkey as he crooned some more.

"These Extrateresticles come down in their big ship to take cows away for prodding" Monkey was explaining to the Poppet who blinked as she nodded to show interest.

"Monk, she might be too small to know what probing is" Ianto warned, "Might be more of a grownup thing."

"Yeah. True" the boy sniffed, "I am eight now. A bit old for her little brain box. Sorry Lady Bug. I mean … they poke things in their bum holes."

Sam started to giggle as the little girl turned the toy over to check for such a hole and Monkey leaned in to say softly "I don't know if Aliens have bum holes lovely girl."

"Oh dear gods" Ianto sighed, then watched Ton lean forward from the chair he was reading in.

"Don't be a donut, there are no alien bum holes" he said with authority, "Clearly why ours are so interesting. Have you ever heard of alien poo being found anywhere? Travelling this far, they would be busting!"

"You know … I didn't think of that. Lady Bug, don't listen to me. Aliens are different to us and maybe they don't have a bum hole on their bum. Might be… they spit it out or …or … it comes out their ears or something." He leaned in and kissed the little head.

"Just like Babs" Ianto said softly to Ton, "Mad as a hatter but twice as much fun."

"We know what he means, it's OK if she is too little. It means something to him" Ton agreed, "Monkey loves her."

"Why she always laughs with him when he tells a joke, she doesn't have to know what he is saying to laugh, she does it to show she loves him too" Ianto agreed.

"When you love someone, you know what their heart thinks even if their brain mixes the words a bit" Ton realised as he saw that Taddy always knew his questions even if he was excited and they came out weird.

And that's not to mention Babs and her funny use of words.

Love is more than words I guess.