12 Twelve children humming

Jack blinked slowly as he stood watching the performance, turning to open his mouth, then close it again as he watched Ianto's face glow with pride.

Mica finished her solo and stepped back into the group of children she was singing with, then it happened.

They forgot the words and they all looked horrified for a second then Mica picked it up and they followed. Giggling started to swell around them as Ianto's mouth fell open. The little ones up on the stage were humming the verse.

Jack placed a hand over his mouth to stifle his own amusement as Ianto's face grew more annoyed, Mica now starting an interpretive dance with the others all followed as well, then came the chorus which they remembered so they stood stock still and roared it out like fucktards, then went back to humming and dancing.

A teacher entered the stage and tried to seize a child, only to trip into the scenery.

"Oops. Man down" Jack choked out.

Ianto gaped.

Another teacher rushed across the stage from the other side, through the children like knife through butter and Jack was impressed. She would have been a brilliant pilot with those reflexes, the woman stopping to help her colleague out of the wooden cut out animals he was currently stuck in floundering about, kicking them over as he cursed loudly into the microphones on stage.

Ianto sighed.

"Again. I don't know how she manages it but this is like last year's fiasco all over again" Ianto muttered with a look of doom that had Jack wishing he had been here then too. Jack was about to ask what had happened then when Ianto continued "At least it's not all on fire this time."

Rhiannon's' voice boomed out across the parents and Ianto cringed, sliding down in his seat like she might see him and slap his head or something "MICA DAVIES! SING THE BLOODY SONG AND STOP BEING A DIVVY!"

Ianto's face started to turn red as the place erupted with laughter and Jack found himself feeling sorry for his lover who clearly doted on the kids even if his sister was a bit of a nightmare for him. What strange children they both must have been.

"UNCLE IANTO!" Mica screamed stopping the performance to point directly at him and he sighed, waving meekly back as more laughter started and Jack turned to watch Rhiannon stride towards them with a determined look.

"Danger Will Robinson" Jack hissed, Ianto turning in time to catch her approach and squeak with alarm, then plaster on a smile usually reserved for John Hart. You know the one. Lovely to see you, please fuck off now.

"I didn't know you were coming!" Rhiannon said in a loud voice, her hands on her hips as the place went silent with anticipation. Rhiannon Davies was known for her eruptions and many had no idea who the alarmed looking young man was she had decided to attack, her face one of annoyance.

"Didn't know if we could make it so I wasn't gong to get your hopes up" Ianto replied, then grimaced as he realised his mistake. Her eyes widened and slid to Jack who was sitting with his arm still around Ianto's seat and Ianto knew without looking that shit-eating grin would be employed as Jack looked up without fear.

"Hello Rhiannon love, wonderful outfit. Did you help with that? She looks just like candyfloss with legs." Jack said gamely.

"YOU!" she hissed, then looked at Ianto "This him? This the man you are sneaking about with? Eh? This your fella?"

"Yes!" Ianto rose with that ramrod straight back to face her, "This is Jack. He is ….is… the one I love!"

Jack gaped as Ianto placed his hand on his hips and faced off with the one woman he feared in the entire universe, "What of it!"

Rhiannon deflated, looking at the handsome man who now looked concerned for Ianto, rising to stand behind him with a hand reaching for his shoulder, to comfort and support.

"Well. You don' have to act like I am scoffing at ya. I don't know. You never come around anymore, you used to spend time with the kids but now … well. I am not judging. OK? If …if … he makes you happy then … OK then."

"Uncle Ianto?" Mica called from the stage across the people in the audience "Does that mean Da's right? Are you a poofter?"

Jack froze, his lover's shoulder under his hand turning to stone as Ianto looked at his niece.

"Yes. I am a raging poofter. I love my man and will dance like a fucking fairy in the moonlight if I need to in order to prove that to the world." Ianto said calmly.

"Good!" Mica called back, "Love is important!"

"Yes, I agree dumpling bum. Now … finish your lovely song!" the entire auditorium erupting with applause.

Goddess save. They all thought it was part of the performance.

Ianto did the only thing he could, turning to bow to the applause as Jack laughed, seizing him and kissing him with glee.

The cheering almost blew the roof off.

"Guess I am setting another place tomorrow then" Rhiannon muttered as she retuned to her seat where David sat with a look of glee.

He hopes someone loves him like that one day.

Someone just as handsome.

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Merry Christmas everyone.