37

"Laughter is the duster that cleans the cobwebs from the corners of our hearts"

Ton knew his Taddy was in one of his 'black dog' moods as Ianto slopped around the kitchen with his old Grandy robe on ignoring the cat attaching itself to the back of it as he dragged it behind him. Ton wracked his brain for something he could do to help, his Taddy always the first to comfort him when he felt bad. Taddy's bad is a different sort of bad though. Ton knew his brain was different and he would never understand Taddy's hurt, not this one. It was one that didn't show but he knew Taddy ached deep down like a toothache but in his heart. That's how Walty explained it and that made sense.

Sometimes when he has a toothache Taddy heats a little pillow in the microwave, letting him put it against his face to soothe it until they go to the dentist. Ton considered this, then wandered off, going to his big box at the end of his bed where he puts things he had for no apparent reason but really likes.

Ton found what he wanted, one of the Christmas presents one year that he was uninterested in as it was not his colour. It was a little owl, like a soft toy but it is a cushion. A little wheat pillow thing and he read the instructions carefully, walking back into the kitchen to put it in the microwave and wait for the beep.

He is proud of that, being able to use the microwave. Tadda taught him how. Daddy gets him to heat up pies and things sometimes, tells everyone his Best Boy does the best pies. Ton is proud of that too.

He carried the pillow to his poor Tadda now sitting in the sofa with that sad face "Here Tadda. Hold this over your heart, it will help."

Ianto blinked as he accepted the little purple owl, the heady sent of lavender hitting his senses and he knew the tears would come as he held it tightly to his chest.

Rhiannon.

"Where did you get this?" he croaked as he breathed it in and revelled in the simple act that his sister used to do to comfort him as a child. Her own child had done it now.

"In my box of weird stuff. Curty got it for me one time, in with that lavender hand cream I like" Ton smiled as he watched his Taddy cry a bit then settle, letting out the bed feelings.

Then as he had hoped, Ianto held the owl up and laughed softly at it, calling it Oliver the Owl and telling Ton it was a wonderful Owl from a clever man.

Ton liked that too.