2

"Come on in" Ianto gave his usual greeting and she got one foot over the threshold when the other sounded.

"GRANNY" Lorenzo was screaming with glee as he ran from the side room, "Dyls, Gran's here!"

She knelt and accepted the little explosion into her arms, his kisses frantic as was his talking while he gushed it was his birthday coming and she was invited and it would be grand. Grand. He liked that word. Sounded so Ianto.

Dylan walked out calmly, not a mad thing today and hugged her too, meaning he hugged her around his brother as he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Then Jack was there, Carley in his arms with her cheek presented, cheeky little thing, Deidra laughing as she supplied the kiss then she watched the little girl claim Jack again.

It had been explained by the ever patient Ianto that she loved Jack 'mostest' for now. Women didn't scare her so much as annoy her. One had stolen her away, she had been given to one who didn't want her and it was men who came to rescue her. It wasn't personal. She saw all women as potential danger.

"So… I understand there is to be a party meeting?" she stage whispered to Dylan who looked directly at Lorenzo as he nodded, then pointed to the side room.

"Come on Lorenzo" Ianto said loudly, a theatrical tone to it, "Let's go make sandwiches for Granny."

"Yes Tadda" Lorenzo answered in the same tone, his nose pointing at the ceiling, "Lets."

Jack was torn. Who to follow, finally settling for Dylan as he was curious to learn what he wanted his grandmother there for. He didn't expect what it was at all.

"So you see" Dylan was explaining as he held her hand and patted it gently to show affection, "It's not that people are not welcome it's just… his first real one and I want it special. I don't want problems and I am scared it might be."

Jack settled wondering what he had missed, then he noted Deidra's pale face.

"Do you get me Granny?" Dylan asked, "Is it rude to ask a favour like that? It's just…. Taddy is so special and I was so scared. I don't want Enzo or Car-car to be scared on a special day. Not like that."

"My darling" she said shakily, "Aunty Gwen will not come, I promise."

"Good, good" he nodded sagely then smiled letting the sun out, "Thank you Cranny. I knew you would get it. I just…. It's my first one and I want it all to go well so I can do more parties ya know?"

"Of course darling" she relaxed, "It will be ever so much fun, I can't wait."

"Oh, your invite" Dylan handed it over and she looked at the hand drawn birthday card, the little scribbles and obvious Ianto help with some spelling.

"Oh wow" she gushed, "An original."

"Yeah, each one is" Dylan grinned, "Taddy said they are art."

"They are" she said gently, "I will put this in the Best Things Box."

"No" Dylan's face changed, "You have one of those too? Really? I thought I was the only one, nobody else here has a special box."

"Oh yes, all the best bits are in there" she said with glee now, seeing a little of herself in the child for the first time.

"Oh Granny, that's so brills. We are both boxers" he gushed.

"I don't think that's the right….." Jack began but Ianto entered the room, halting his train of thought.

"Safe for him to come in love?"

"Yep"

Food began to enter, followed by that lovely dream coffee for Jack who had to drink it to one side as Carley now decided she needed to stand with her back to him leaning back as he held her steady with one arm, and she was barking intermittently as Deidra watched with alarm.

"Ignore her" Ianto said softly, "She is trying to annoy you so you leave. If you ignore her she will decide on another tactic. Not personal she's just worried why you are here."

"She really is not into women" Deidra snorted.

"She likes Aunty Toshi" Lorenzo said gently "But that's different. She's a Tosh."

"I see, she's different?" Deidra asked.

"Yeah, she smells of flowers and she sings" Lorenzo said, turning to Carley, "Right Carley? Aunty Tosh rocks."

"Yeash" The little one smiled, her attempts to drive the old lady away forgotten as she looked around excitedly "Whea?"

"Ah bum, she wants her now" Jack sighed as he picked up the tablet awkwardly due to the jiggling monster on him.

The screen flickered on the wall, then Tosh leaned appeared, her glasses on the end of her nose and a pencil to hold her hair in a messy bun, "Hello there, I was just thinking about you."

Carley screamed and waved with both hands, Jack grabbing for her as she tried to launch herself at the screen.

"Hello bean" Tosh laughed back, "Little Jumping Bean of Doom."

"YEASH!"