32
Ianto hung up the dress and smiled as he felt hands slide around his waist.
"That cost you a lot to do that" Jack whispered as he kissed Ianto's earlobe.
"Not as much as those curls cost our Babs" Ianto sighed, "Worth the embarrassment to see him smile like that."
"And I never thought I would see you wear this outside the bedroom" Jack grinned, "I'm a lucky man and now John has even more reason to be jealous."
Ianto huffed as he turned to kiss Jack and stroke his face.
"It's OK hon, he's OK now" Jack assured Ianto, "You did the right thing, always the right thing."
"My poor baby, reduced to that. You didn't see him at the school, he was frantic" Ianto sighed.
"I keep seeing them holding him down, how scared he must have been" Jack held Ianto as he tried not to get upset again.
"Oh Jack."
"I feel so … redundant. I don't know what to do" Jack whispered as a traitorous tear rolled down his cheek, "How do I fix this?"
"We just stay true to him honey" Ianto whispered, "We let him lead and we follow like we knew that was the right path all along."
"God, he's so little" Jack started to cry, "Our little imp. How can anyone hurt him like that?"
"I rang Idris and Gene" Ianto admitted, "They are sniffing about to see what the story is."
"Christ. John has been stirring the pot as well, apparently the school board want a meeting"
"Is this going to be a problem for you if it turns into a mess?" Ianto asked as they rocked without music, "I sort of took the high ground and this might turn into a LGBT rights issue."
"Go for it, I have no shame in our lifestyle babe" Jack assured him, "and I love our children, be they straight, gay, Trans or aliens hidden here on earth to observe us. I'm actually wondering about that Ton."
Ianto snorted and then led Jack back out to the sofa bed, climbing in as the kids pretended they weren't waiting for them.
As they settled to sleep John reached across to snag Ianto's hand and he squeezed a silent thank you for the display.
Babbit sighed softly and reached out to hook is fingers into Ianto's collar like he used to as a baby and Ianto automatically cradled his head.
"My baby" Ianto whispered lovingly as Babbit drifted off, "My perfect little baby."
Walter was letting Jack rub his shorter hair, knowing Jack was trying to accept his long curls were gone as well and he rubbed Jack's belly in an effort to comfort him.
"I'm so proud of you" Jack said as he squeezed Walter, "To choose to sacrifice your long afro for your brother."
"Always, I would give my arms and legs too" Walter said, showing his Taddy's heart.
"And Stephen, you Hoodlum you!" Jack laughed softly, recalling Ianto's telling of the Harkness rant at the headmaster.
"I'll beat their arses!" Stephen repeated, "Nobody hurts our Babs."
"It's OK hon" Jack whispered, "Babs is OK now, look."
They looked over and saw a soft smile as Babbit slept in Ianto's arms, as he did as a baby.
"We are gonna pound them though" Stephen muttered.
"Hush now" Jack soothed, "We are going to do something, but we are going to do it the right way."
"Tell that to Uncle Idris" Stephen whispered with glee, "I heard him in the Spaceship coz he was on speaker. They are gonna be sorry."
Jack sighed as he agreed.
Sorry was going to be the least of what 'they' were about to feel.
