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"Faith, slow down ya bugger!" Jack's voice echoed along the main street of the village as he roared after his daughter while she ran hell for leather along the sidewalk. At almost two and a half years old, the little bugger was a goer alright, able to escape her Daddy at a moment's notice and once suitably escaped…. Run!
Those walking sedately along the sidewalk did not interfere, preferring to step to one side to watch as the man chased his daughter along the street and smile fondly at their shenanigans. This little one did not crawl, she butt scooted long for a month or two until she learnt to pull herself upright, once there… she was off. Her feet wore little doggie slippers with flopping ear as she ran, her PJs were bright pink with unicorns on them and her hair was wild and free as Jack had been still in the middle of raking it out from her sleep cap when distracted. Jack had painstakingly learnt about her hair, the necessary treatment and respect due to it and he even went to the city for classes on how to style it and care for it. Her afro was more like a little crown of pride, a halo on a little devil right now. Her giggle as she ran was kind of cute too.
Everyone knew where she was going, it was where she always ran towards and as it was on the same side of said street, a mere eight doors down… they let her go. The Firehouse was the largest and most spectacular thing along the street… bar the church at the end and we all know that was a stark pristine white against the fire engine red building that dominated the town's main street.
The money raised to restore the church back to its glory had been raised and the huge doors that welcomed all in for Sunday service where blonde stained wood and could easily allow Big Bessie inside… if she could climb steps and believe me… Ianto would be the mad motherfucker to try it.
The church simply could not compete with the Firehouse mind, this was the most prideful thing there and they all knew it. Ianto had painted such amazing things along those fiery red walls. Beautiful things that told the story of brotherhood and love. Family. Big Bessie and Baby Bessie Mark II always seen now even with the doors shut as the painted images made the walls seem to disappear and the roller doors, once down faded into the black. Truly… it was fine work. The boots lined up along the side of Big Bessie all looked ready to go, the turned down overalls tucked inside said boots so you can slide feet in, pull up and run had perfect kinks and one even had a tear on a pocket that would get a threat of a write-up soon. Like everything he touched, Ianto had made this a masterpiece.
Faith raced around the side of the huge roller doors and slapped Big Bessie's bumper with a small pudgy hand before screaming at the top of her small yet well developed lungs "TADDA!"
Ianto turned from the morning briefing to watch his daughter running towards him with her arms outstretched, her face full of glee as she once again found him. Then he saw Jack running after her and the blood drained from his face as the firemen waiting to be dismissed started to snort, giggle and some openly roaring with mirth at the man in the bright pink bathrobe with Minnie mouse on it and the matching pink slippers with black pompoms for ears, yeah… mouseies too.
Jack came to a halt and panted as he doubled over and grimaced "What!"
"Jack… you have you Minnie mouse ensemble on again and nothing else" Ianto said calmly "we talked about this."
"I have boxers too" Jack said, going into a hero pose with the robe flipped back to reveal bright red boxers with … of course… Mickey mouse.
OK…now they were all in hysterics as Ianto glared at him silently. Jack grinned and then said it again "What?"
"I can't even with you!" Ianto rolled his eyes as he lifted Faith to a hip and turned back to the team "OK squad… fuck off."
"OOOOOO SWEAR JARRRRRR" several yelled as Jack took a deep breath and pointed out a finger to say the same.
"SWEARRRRR" Faith agreed.
"Later… first little missy… you behave yourself" Ianto crooned, kissing the little shiny cheek of his beloved little girl, her little smile with a few pearly teeth wide and cute.
"Sorry love, I stepped out to get the milk off Donny and the little beast saw the door still open a crack. I swear to god, I will have to start wearing the key around my neck on a piece of string and deliberately lock myself out each time!" Jack complained as he took the child from his husband.
"Maybe if we get those doors that are cut in half, what are they called… stable doors or something? Like a rabid doggie, yeah?" Ianto joked and Jack pulled a face that warned Ianto that he had not made it clear enough that he was kidding.
"No… no chainsaw to the front door Cariad!" Ianto warned.
Jack grinned and nodded, wandering off with their daughter chattering away at him.
"Man, she can motor Toto… clearly anyone seeing her run can tell she's yours!" someone called out and Ianto laughed.
Thy were right.
She might be a lovely dark mocha colour with a head of amazingly soft afro hair but damn… that kid was a replica to Ianto with her little button nose, her high forehead and cheekbones… and when told No by someone that look of doom was sooooo Jones it was spooky.
The only thing that was a negative in her world was that she was an only child.
Still… Ianto never thought he would have any children let alone one so damned perfect.
Life is good.
