69

Babbit knew Christmas was only a few weeks away but it was killing her and she also knew who the soft touch was, so when Papa came into the house with a furtive look whispering if she knew where her Taddy was she knew her work was done and she politely held out her hands for the box he was cradling.

"Your Tad's gonna kill me" he hissed, placing the box down as she grinned.

"He said I could, remember? So what if it's early, they don't really celebrate Christmas ya know" she said calmly, "Lizards don't have a religion."

She opened the flaps of the box and gasped as the pale lizard blinked at the sudden light.

"He's an albino, see the pink eyes?" John said happily, "That's why he's white with yellow tinges instead of green."

Babbit scooped out the lizard and turned it over gently as a good mother does, examining her new child, "Actually Papa bum, SHE is white. This is a girl one. Oh wow, I have a set."

"Set of what?" Ianto asked, making John squeak with shock as he stelthed into the room.

"Look! Bert has a new friend!" Babbit thrust the lizard at Ianto who, to his credit, didn't flinch as it came within inches of his nose.

"Well, she is a pretty colour" he said as he examined her.

"Oh wow, a name. Can't be Ernie, that would be silly. Um … she's so pretty" she gushed.

"Maybe Berty can pick one" Ianto said and John gaped at him like he had gone nuts.

"Oh! Clever Taddy, of course!" Babbit ran for the snoozing lizard and plonked the new one in the tank, "BERT! Rise and Shine!"

She watched as the new lizard slowly moved over by Bert and found a warm patch of rock, then went still.

"Look. Hey are in love already!" she gushed, "Oh how wonderful. He's so happy, look at his little face."

John looked at Ianto who blinked slowly and shrugged.

"Darlene?" Babbit frowned, "That's a bit long for her to spell Berty. Got anything shorter?"

Ianto swallowed back a giggle as their child looked expectantly at the prone lizards and canted her head.

"Sheila! Oh much better!" she gushed.

"Baby, Darlene and Sheila have the same amount of letters to spell" John said with confusion and she sighed as she turned to speak slowly as you do to a silly grown-up who understands nothing of the life she must live.

"Darlene is longer that Sheila. Just say them, see? DARLEEEEEEENE" she drew it out with a wrinkled nose.

"Sheila" She said in a quick clipped tone.

"See? Bert is right, besides, it was his decision. Best we try to support him Papa!" she turned with a sniff to watch a green leg wave and then settle on the body of the while lizard.

"CDUDDLES!" she screamed with glee, waving her hands with joy.

"Bloody mad mare" John muttered as he walked out, followed by Ianto who started to giggle once he was in the kitchen, then both men started to laugh as they looked at each other.

"Oh my god, this family is insane!" John laughed happily.

"Yep" Ianto popped the P and stepped forward to hug John as the two men rocked gently for a few minutes.

"Cuddle time?" Jack quipped as he entered with a sleepy Ton who had woken along with his Daddy when the Babbit cries had filled the house.

"Best kind" John said happily as Jack entered the hug and the little boy in the centre of the clutch hummed happily.

What an insane family.

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So ends Walter and Co 9 … 10 is under construction and will start soon, don't fear … I have more madness to share.