6

My Darling Bethy Girl

I love you more than Chicken.

I am sorry I was an angry bear today. I did not mean it and I know you are always right.

Unless I am.

I am hurt that you did not love me enough to trust my kisses. I should be able to kiss people who are important to me without you thinking I love them more than you. You know I save my bestest hugs for you. And Taddy and Daddy. And Papa and Ton. Stephen doesn't cuddle much but you know I love Walt. And Mama Em and Dada Connor.

I am sorry I called you a mad mare. Of course you are not a mad mare. You are a crazy woman and I always tell you that you are my lady.

You always said I was your fella.

Aunty Connie has a wife already and I don't think she wants me that way, Papa said he asked her if she wanted a tickle match but she said no, she only does tickle matches with other women.

Stop being so hard on my feelings, they are making my stomach feel bad.

Noah

.

.

.

"Are you sure you don't want it to say Babbit darling?" Ianto asked as he watched his boy carefully write his name.

"No."

"Would you like to take it over to her?" Ianto asked softly, "I will go with you."

"No."

Ianto watched Babbit stomp over to where Jack was laying on the sofa where he poked him until he shuffled to give him space and he curled up in his lap.

Ianto walked over to the cottage where he found an equally morose child, snuffling under some sofa pillows on the floor.

"Hey" Ianto said as he squatted by the mound of woe.

An eyeball came to a gap and he held up the letter, "Would you like me to read it?"

A little yes was faintly heard and Ianto calmly read the letter out loud as Em and Connor stood with a baby each, listening.

Bethy exploded from the cushions, sending them flying as she stormed across the short walkway to the main house and into the kitchen where Babbit was playing with Jack's phone.

"I did not say you was my fella!" she roared and Babbit squeaked as he dropped the phone and Bert who had been sitting on his shoulder was flicked into the air.

"BERTY!" Babbit screamed with horror patting himself as Jack cursed and gently rose from the sofa, making sure not to squish anything.

"TADDY!" Babbit was hysterically flapping his hands, tears rolling down his cheeks, "I'M KILLING MY BABY!"

Ianto sighed as he stepped around the frozen girl and plucked Babbit up under his arms, shaking him and sitting him down, then pointing.

Bert stared silently from the sofa arm and Babbit burst into fresh tears as he scooped the lizard up.

"Taddy's sorry. Taddy would never hurt his baby" Babbit crooned, "Mama was being silly, we will always love you!"

Bethy had crept closer and reached out to stroke the reptile's back, "Sorry Bert. Mama and Taddy are just being silly. We will never hurt our little boy."

"We need to stop this nonsense" Babbit told her as he let her take the lizard on her arm, "It's not good for our boy. We need to be grown-up and put a line under this."

"I'm sorry Noah."

"Yes, angel I am too."

Everyone smiled as the children hugged awkwardly, careful not to knock the lizard.