41
Tarn was scrubbing the carpet in the hallway and Jack sighed as he knew without asking that Ianto was sick again.
He padded softly into the bedroom and found his beloved rolled in the bedding moaning softly as CJ tried to comfort him with soft rubbing to his back.
"Dad, thank god" CJ sighed, relinquishing his place where he was kneeling on the bed and Jack quickly toed off his boots and shucked his braces as he clambered to take his place.
"Babe?" Jack said softly and Ianto gave a high pitched whine.
"Massage? Feet or belly?" Jack offered.
"Back, lower back" came a shuddering reply.
Shit. He was crying.
Jack removed some bedding, careful to keep the one sheet over Ianto to hide his dismay from the kids and began slow, deliberate circles with the heel of his hand.
Ianto moaned and stopped rocking, pushing back.
Tarn came into the room, having changed clothes and washed thoroughly as he had learned that Ianto couldn't stand the smell of his own vomit and would start again if he smelt it now.
Tarn crawled into the bed and started to sing softly to the bump as Ianto reached out for his hair.
Like a large teddy, Tarn lay in Ianto's arms getting a cuddle and soft strokes to his head as he soothed the baby.
Finally Ianto started to buckle and Tarn slid back as he collapsed onto his side and Jack spooned against his back as Ianto slowly wound down.
Tarn crept from the room to help CJ with the twins and closed the door softly.
"How long this time?" Jack asked and Ianto mumbled, pushing back against him.
"Ianto" Jack sighed as Ianto did it again.
"OK, this time" Jack conceded as he cuddled Ianto and let him sleep.
Jack woke to find himself alone, bloody hell.
Jack padded out into the kitchen and found his spouse in full blown baking frenzy.
The kids were eagerly icing gingerbread men as Ianto pulled another tray of muffins from the oven.
"Babe?"
"Banana and choc chip" Ianto declared as he placed them on the cooling rack.
"Hon, you OK?" Jack slid into a char and accepted a plate.
"Brilliant. Just really need that ginger crackle to hurry up and set" Ianto growled as he opened the fridge and poked at it again.
"Oh gods, really?" Jack asked excitedly.
"We have ginger men!" SJ waved one that looked a bit weevil-ish and Jack grinned.
RJ showed Jack hers and then screamed with rage when SJ leaned over and bit its head off.
"You ate Taddy's one!" she roared as she reared back.
Ianto yelled a warning but was too late, at the fist caught SJ on the nose.
Ianto turned to yell and yelped instead, grabbing at his belly.
"YAN!" Jack yelled with fear and rose but Ianto was laughing.
"Quick, he's kicking" Ianto said and Jack rushed over, almost beaten by the others.
Several hands pressed against the bare stomach as Jack pulled up the shirt and they all waited expectantly.
Then it happened.
Ianto's belly undulated and everyone cooed with glee.
SJ looked at RJ and whispered an apology. RJ smiled.
A girl. She was sure of it.