44

The village was a buzz, people coming to congratulate them and cuddle the children, not a single negative comment.

Ianto felt so grateful, knowing Babs might have got a negative response in a town that knew Noah. The flowers were the biggest thing for Babs who was reduced to tears more than once as bouquets were presented.

The boys were so popular and Walter was beside himself as he posed happily for photos and autographs.

Bethy sat beside Babs in a matching outfit, calmly thanking people for begin nice to her partner.

Yes, she said that.

Ianto knew it was time to stop saying him and he.

Right now, in this moment she was shining.

Babs was beautiful.

Ianto knew there would be a lot to do but left that to his Tad, also knowing his main attention was to his babies, his beautiful daughter and proud son.

Walter and Babs were reenacting a scene together, Babs doing a brilliant lip wobble that had onlookers crooning and Walter said "End Scene" as he scooped up his sister and kissed her.

Everyone cheered.

Ianto relaxed and accepted well wishes, writing down names as he saw gifts that would need thank you notes. He would be damned if his children were not going to have manners, thank you very much!

There was a break in filming so the next day he let the kids choose what to do and Babs asked for a walk on the mountain.

Everyone agreed, even John who usually did his best to avoid such things.

Ianto packed a picnic lunch and the kids took off with glee, leaving Walter to walk with his Tad.

"Papa is gonna break his neck if he doesn't stop the crazy run" Walter pointed out and Ianto laughed.

"It's your father I worry about, he's going to lose Ton in a minute" Ianto sighed as they watched the child cling to Jack's head with glee as he sat on his shoulders and Jack cantered around making horsey noises.

"They are all insane" Walter said blandly, then dropped to a knee and started taking shots.

Ianto chose a spot for the picnic and Ton screamed to help so Jack plonked him in the grass. Ton happily began ripping out handfuls and offering them to Ianto like pennies from heaven.

Ianto had a paper plate which he would hold out, accept the grass and make excited noises, then flick it over his shoulder.

Ton would scream and laugh until he rolled onto his back, then sit up and they would do it all again.

So simple.

Just another day out for a normal family.

Ianto lay in the grass and Ton slithered over him pretending to be a zombie kid with slobbery chewing.

Ianto giggled as he pretended to die, gargling and squealing as the little boy played.

Babs plonked down beside him and brushed her hair back, looking at the spread with obvious hunger.

"Help yourself darling" Ianto said softly, "We don't need manners at a picnic."

"Yum!" Babs crowed as she chose a chicken leg and then stripped out the bones and handed it to the zombie monster formerly known as Ton, then chose another for herself as she leaned back against Ianto to eat.

"Thank you Taddy" she said softly.

"Just a picnic baby girl" he said distractedly as a hunk of chicken was force fed to him.

"Are you fattening Taddy up to eat later are ya stinker?" John laughed as he sat and chose a sandwich.

"Can you open my bottle of water please Papa?" Babs asked, "I'm just a girl. I need help."

"Don't let Bethy or Aunty Em catch you doing that" John laughed, "they'll flay you alive."

"Not normal those birds!" Babs snorted as she sniffed a sandwich, "radioactive chemicals in their blood, those two."

"And you love her" Ianto smiled.

"Yeah" Babs smiled as she turned to watch her love smack Stephen.

"She's my bestie."