47
"Well?" Ianto demanded, his hands on his hips and the bump poking out into the room.
Everyone was seated in the living room, silent and staring at him with open fear.
"Either someone answers me or you will all bloody well pay!" Ianto snarled as he spun on his heel and walked some more.
His stomach looked huge in the shirt that was stretched as far as it would go. It had been a favourite sleeping shirt but was now stretched beyond repair.
"Well?" Ianto stopped pacing and canted his head, "I'm waiting."
RJ looked at her brothers and her eyes begged them to do something, to protect her but Ianto saw it.
"RJ?" he said as he leaned into her face, "Something to tell me?"
She squirmed and screwed up her face, "Sorry Taddy."
"Well?" he groaned as he took a knee and looked into her face.
"It was me who didn't hang the bath towels up properly last night" she said softly, her bottom lip quivering.
Ianto sighed and rubbed his belly.
"OK thank you for you honesty." Ianto rose and regarded the room, "Shame the rest of the family is less honest. I forgive you. You may go."
She looked to her twin who hand motioned her to go, quickly.
She felt bad leaving him to Taddy's wrath but was also relieved that Taddy had not wanted that confession. Whatever it had been, it must have been bad.
Real bad.
Next to break was SJ, wanting to follow his sister.
"I left the toilet light on after a pee in the night, but it was really early morning." He said looking imploringly at his Tad, "I didn't leave it on all night. Honest."
Ianto looked at him silently and then a single nod.
SJ ran from the room like the hounds of hell were after him.
That left three little Indians and Ianto eyeballed them.
Tarn had hold of CJ's hand and squeezed as Ianto leaned into his face.
"Tarn, I know you are innocent in all this." He whispered, "You would never do something to upset me like this. You at least, care about my baby's needs."
Ianto was pacing again, Jack sweating as he wracked his brain for what he might have done.
"Tad, I honestly don't know what is wrong" CJ said calmly, "Apart from forgetting to remove my shoes the other day, I can't think of anything. You yelled at me then, I know you don't punish twice so I'm at a loss here."
Ianto's eyes rolled to Jack who squeaked and looked back with wide eyes.
"Taddy, maybe if you tell us? We might know what happened" Tarn said and Ianto swung to look at him with wonder.
"What did you call me?"
"Um, Taddy?" Tarn squirmed.
Ianto burst into tears as he flopped onto the sofa and hugged a shocked Tarn to his breast as he glared at the other two.
"See? He loves me" Ianto growled, "My baby."
"Hon, please." Jack begged.
"The Jammy Dodgers" Ianto hissed, "Who fucking well ate my Peanut's Jammy Dodgers? I had a whole packet aside for Peanut's craving in the night and what did I find? Empty container this morning. Sorry Tarn darling, dirty mouthed Taddy."
Ianto kissed Tarn's head and crooned as Tarn sat shocked into immobility.
"Baby, you ate them" Jack said softly.
"Bullshit!" Ianto roared, his hands over Tarn's ears as Tarn blinked.
"Baby, you woke in the night and complained that you were hot. You threw all the covers over onto me and then went for a pee." Jack said as he leaned forward in the chair.
"I did not!" Ianto frowned as he tried to remember.
"You complained that the under floor heating was off again, walked into the kitchen and returned with the packet of JDs."
Ianto was frowning as he finally released Tarn who kissed his cheek before scooting back to CJ's arms.
"Are you sure?" Ianto asked softly, "I don't remember that."
"You put the packet in the bedside drawer and then complained about the crumbs" Jack sighed, "Remember? I had to get the dust buster and vacuum the bed before you would settle."
"I …. I do remember the crumbs." Ianto said then he took off for the bedroom.
Jack sighed as a howl came from the bedroom and motioned the boys to stay there.
Ianto sat on the bed cradling the packet as he wept and Jack sat, taking him into his arms, JDs and all.
"I yelled at everyone" Ianto sobbed, "I was horrid and it was me! It was me all along"
"It's ok" Jack soothed.
"I'm horrible!" Ianto wailed.
"No darling" Jack crowed, "you're pregnant."
"Oh Cariad" Ianto leaned into him, "What wold I do without you."
"Never have to find out" Jack assured him as he kissed him and rubbed the belly.
"I'm never leaving you."