7
Sparky was in high spirits, laying on the baby rug by the fire kicking his little legs much as Faith had done not so many months ago. Of course she was a big girl now. With Christmas bearing down on them Jack was more excited than a cat in a room full of moths.
Ianto was trying to pretend he did not notice the new decoration(s) each time he returned home. Jack was really going all out, like something from a National Lampoons movie or something and Ianto was starting to get a little scared that the next step would be some on the roof… the snow already settled up there.
"Smells good" Ianto called out as he toed off his boots and slid his feet straight into the waiting slippers. One thing you have to say about Jack... he is a brilliant wife. The smell of the casserole was mouth watering.
"You better not have come home without a bloody shower at the fire house first!" came the faint reply "I don't want a smelly man at my table!"
"Yes dear, my hair is still wet if ya want to smell it for the proof of apple shampoo" Ianto answered with glee, hearing the faint laughter of his beloved.
"Dada!"
"Hey dumpling bum. Whatcha doing there princess?" Ianto crooned as he knelt to kiss his little girl who had a doll by a leg, dragging it along.
"Look… picky nick!"
Ianto followed her to the living room where Sparky was on the rug watching the pretty light up toy thing Jack had set up to amuse him. All around hum were teddies and a few dolls like an audience. Awww. She was building a little team of friends for her…. Shit.
Almost said brother.
Dangerous.
Ianto swallowed hard and headed to the kitchen where he leaned against the doorframe "she's making a hell of a mess with her teddies."
"Oh god, surrounding Sparky again? I can't work out if they are there to observe or contain" Jack laughed "but she's busy."
"You mean, she's distracted and not in here underfoot" Ianto corrected with a smile, pulling out a chair and settling in it to one side so Jack could still see the kids. He could see the screen for the TV and saw that Jack was watching the living room CCTV feed so Sparky was being well taken care of and they both watched their daughter lean over to croon and pat a tiny head with raw affection.
"Awwww, look at her. She loves him so much" Jack gushed. "right love? You love Stephen, right?"
"Jack!"
.
.
"Duncan? It's a bit early for you, isn't it?" Ianto opened the door wider to let him into the firehouse office and they settled on the comfortable sofa, Duncan seeming upset about something. To drive all this way, it must be bad and Ianto had that feeling in the pit of his stomach that he was not going to like this one bit.
"The five families holding out…" Duncan began, and then stalled.
"Yes, why Child Services are considering possibly doing a court order thing. Personally, I hope they don't because…. Wait. No. One of them flipped?" Ianto asked, his own stomach flip flopping as well.
"He's growing, it's been a week and his face has changed, filled out. They showed us a photo of the girl's father as a child and… they think there is a similarity there" Duncan sighed deeply and Ianto leaned back to stare at him.
"Why? Why now?"
"Look…I've looked into this family and it's all bad. He's fifth generation money. Big money. They have four daughters, three born in short succession and then two miscarriages… both boys. Then the last one was a girl again and the mother suffered catastrophic damage that resulted in a full hysterectomy. I think they are desperate for a son and a grandson will do."
"So, they've shown proof of the daughter having given birth?" Ianto asked with wide eyes.
Duncan grinned "and there you have it. No. If the baby is NOT theirs then their daughter can still claim to be a virgin, but a medical examination will show she is not, whether she gave birth recently or not. Yeah… not happening."
"So… all we can do is wait" Ianto nodded.
"I am sorry sweetie, I know you've invested in the little fella but there is a good chance… or at least a 20 percent chance it is going to be positive." Duncan warned "But as they are throwing major money at this… they seem certain."
"When will we know?" Ianto asked.
"Within a week."
Just in time for Christmas. Jesus, we could be spending this Christmas looking at an empty crib?" Ianto shuddered "I … shit. I have to explain this to Jack."
"Rather you than me. He's rather attached" Duncan rose, clapping his hand on Ianto's shoulder, then bending over to kiss his cheek in a fatherly way.
After he had left, Ianto sat back and stared into space for a while, then rose and walked out into the engine room. "Millar, you have the house. I need an early day."
"Right you are, boss" came the reply and Ianto headed across the forecourt, across the road and as Millar watched, Ianto walked across the snow covered field to the woods on the other side.
As he walked he came to the creek that was less than a foot deep but still flowing.
He sat on a stump and stared into space, the lone stray sheep on the other side of the creek ambling past totally unnoticed.
Ianto sat there for a long time.
Silent.
Still.
Then once he was sure no one had followed him, no one was walking past on the track and he was totally.. completely alone, Ianto leaned over and placed his head in his hands, rubbing his face with his hands.
His shoulders started to shake as Ianto finally let himself feel what was about to happen, knowing he had to be strong in the moments ahead.
Alone in the cold snowy wonderland like on another placet, space or time.
Ianto wept for the baby he had started to love.