41

Walter was nervous and excited all at the same time.

Taddy had taken him to a real studio, with cameras and make-up people and everything. Babbit had wanted to come and Taddy said this was his special thing but Babbit was OK to come too, right?

Walter sat reading the script he had been given, grinning as he watched Babbit do the same.

"Wouldn't it be neat if we both got parts" Walter gushed, showing his huge heart as he didn't for one moment see Babbit as a rival.

"I think you are both talented, but you have your singing voice as well." Ianto pointed out and Walter hummed happily, and then started to sing in order to clear his throat.

Several heads turned as Water got into the song, opening his lungs and stretching his diaphragm as his teacher had shown him and as he finished the song he took a deep breath and rose to look around in surprise as people clapped.

"That was wonderful" a man said, "I'm doing a musical next, would your son consider stage work?"

"I love doing plays" Walter gushed, "I am lead in my school play every time."

"I wish they would do a Wizard of Oz so I can be Dorothy" Babbit said, "I already have the shoes. Taddy, I don't have a Dorothy dress though."

"Plenty of time for that, love" Ianto said absently as he read the paperwork he had been filling out.

"Your father?" the man asked Walter and he nodded, "My Taddy and that's my … Babs. He's talented too."

"Hello" Babbit smiled, "You have a very cool hat!"

"Thank you, I love hats. Have a collection of them" the man answered.

"I have quite a few, but I really want to collect lizards. So far I only have one." Babbit smiled, then went back to his script, "This has a typo or two. Do you have a proof reader?"

The man laughed and Ianto finally looked up at him and focused, "Sorry. All these forms."

"We would like your children to come over to this booth please" the man motioned for them to follow him, then Walter sighed with delight as he saw the staging area.

A sign 'Give Me Hope' was all there was to define the project, whatever it was.

Walter rushed over and started going through the lines softly, feeling the space as he had been taught, judging his mark.

"He's new?" a new voice asked and then, "Dry run. Boy! What's your name?"

"Walter Harkness-Jones Sir" Walter smiled his best 'Taddy' smile.

"Proceed!"

"Huh?"

"Action!"

Walter went though the scene, showing the anger requires and at the end of it he turned away from the camera, leaving his shaking shoulders at the end of scene instead of his snarl as instructed.

"Cut!"

Walter turned back nervously.

"Walter. Who's your agent?"

"He doesn't have one. I'm his Tad" Ianto said as he lost his grip on Babbit who flounced out to hug his brother, flapping with glee.

"Who's that kid! Oi, what's your name kid?"

"Babbity bum" Babbit said coyly, and then turned into a total diva as he did a fair pout.

"Sorry, he's excitable today. Babbit, please stop mauling your brother" Ianto said sternly.

"God" Babbit said with exaggerated pouting. "Don't blow a carburetor!"

"I want them both!" the man demanded, "The older one for the part of Henderson and the little sweetheart can play one of the foster children. I like that one!"

"Um, excuse me" Ianto said softly, "Babs is …"

Ianto took a deep breath, "Babs is Transgendered and like being a girl sometimes."

"I thought that was a girl! I want her to play Serena" the man said distractedly, already looking through a script.

Babs screamed with delight as he heard that he was going to be a girl.

Ianto nervously rang Jack.