3
Monica's pregnancy had settled in and the village was humming with the new lives coming soon, Christmas and New Year babies included. Owen had found room for her and the old doctor had been so annoyed that he had finally retired to the relief of everyone. Owen now did not have to keep to the agreed small patient list, could have it all.
Things were looking great all around, Senior also in a good mood lately as he found himself about to be a grandpa. He had never actually envisaged this and was happily trying to build a cradle. Badly. Ianto was resisting the urge to help right now, hoping sooner or later he was asked for it so it did not seem like he was watching him fuck it up.
The first snowfall was predicted and Ianto was looking forward to it. Christmas was coming and along with it came the madness that is Jack Frost Harkness-Jones. She had been too small last time, this Christmas was going to be all about the princess and they all knew it.
He was heading to his Fire House as the dawn lit the sky, the birdsong full and the clinking milk bottles sounding. Yeah… some places DO still use them. Ianto waved as he passed the postie also doing early rounds as he had band practice later and wanted to get the deliveries done earlier than usual.
With the first snow storm predicted, Ianto wanted to make sure things were battened down and the rigs were ready to roll if needed for any emergency the snow might create. Also, you cannot salt the forecourt too much ya know.
"Morning Chief" the boy called out, waving as Ianto saluted and headed on.
Ianto was still humming as he walked around to the side door and he saw a gym bag someone had left on the doorstep. He sighed softly, going over the night shift list in his mind and trying to work out which tired sap placed their gear down while locking the door and then wandered off home without it.
Wouldn't be the first time… no doubt not the last either.
Ianto unlocked the door and pushed it open with his hip as he reached down and hooked the handles of the bag to heft it inside. He would flick it to one side and wait for the twat who would no doubt venture back before lunch with a silly look on his face.
This was when he noted the weight seemed… off. The bag felt lighter than one with boots in it, or shoes and civvy clothes if the uniform was still on or with a uniform inside for the wash. He had spent years hefting these things and… hang on. He stood and hefted it up and down, trying to work out whose it was as they usually all had dark blue ones with the firehouse logo on the side. This one was red. Who had a red one?
Then … of course as some of you guessed… it made a sound.
Ianto cursed softly as he gingerly placed it on the table their gear got checked over on. The little mewl sound came again and he rubbed his face as he considered what would happen the moment he opened the bag and saw the little kittens inside… the fact he would have ot tell Jack… that another kitten or three might not be such a bad thing.
Right?
Now that he had decided he could do this, he carefully unzipped the bag and peered in.
"Well… fuck."
.
.
"You seemed a little freaked out on the phone" Gwen said as she entered with Andy and they both waited to see why they had been called so early.
"I got one of those dump and run bags this morning" Ianto said as he pointed at the bag and Andy bounced over with glee, expecting to see kittens, like Ianto had. His face changed as he looked in and he squeaked with shock.
"What is it?" Gwen asked, "a puppy instead?"
"It's a… a baby."
Gwen rushed over and peered in with horror, then stepped back as Andy gingerly picked out the newborn baby, still mucky and rolled in a towel "Oh shit."
"Yeah… right? Looks freshly cooked" Ianto agreed.
"Yeah, clearly new… poor little bugger. Owen…"
"Oh his way" Ianto assured Gwen "Just getting pants on, thank god. I told him it was best for all of us and we would be happy to wait for that."
"Poor little thing, needs a change. Shit, you think it's hungry?" Andy asked s he peered into the bag "There's a bottle and things in here."
"Don't give it to the baby cold" Ianto instantly seemed to shake out of his shock and he snatched the bottle, heading over to zap it in the microwave and then tested a drop or three on his wrist "Here. Now it won't hurt the little bub's tum."
"He" Andy said gleefully "I changed him while you were doing that, he's a boy and man… that first nappy is still a stinker. He is REALLY new. His cord is tired off, freshly cut."
"Shit, the sludge one? Really? Then… born within the last six hours or so maybe?" Ianto asked, turning to Gwen.
"None of our pregnant women are due right now, the closest is still two months away and this one if fully cooked, not a prem so…" Gwen stooped talking as Owen stepped into the building and headed to Andy, peering at the baby.
"Yeah, she's right. This baby is not a prem." Owen nodded, taking the baby and gently unwrapping him to check him over "Looks to be new… also fully formed… a Caucasian, nothing unusual or remarkable. Not birthmarks or… what. Sorry, strike that. A little birthmark here, on his left knee. Cute."
"What's cute?"
Ianto swung to see Jack in the doorway with their daughter lunging at the end of her reins, snarling like a little dog or something.
Then Jack saw the baby.