13
It had snowed in the night and Flynn's first day of school was a Snow Day.
Typical.
Ianto had relented and let his kid out to play, then Flynn had woken and joined Jack in the games as Ianto made hot chocolates in big travel mugs, carrying them out so the 'kids' could play as well as sup.
Yes, Owen was there.
He hadn't stayed the night but was there as soon as he had woken to the white world, gleefully calling out as he slipped and fell, clambered up to slither towards them some more. Gods he must have been a little terror as a child. One on a leash for certain.
Ianto silently held out the spare mug of hot chocolate, showing that he had been prepared for this level of madness and he smiled softly as Owen slammed into Jack who gently cradled him until he got his feet under himself again.
"I'll just get some little mince pies heated for you" Ianto called out as he headed in, his son's faint crow as a snowball found it's mark followed by Owen's bleat making Ianto smile.
The house was so Tardis-like that the kitchen seemed to be closer today and Ianto found himself gently thanking it out loud for being so considerate, then he laughed softly to himself for being silly. But really, this was a wonderful house.
Maybe Ianto did stroke the walls as he walked down the hall and had hugged a doorframe or two when there was no one around to see the craziness.
So?
Ianto walked out with the pies and froze, the snowman in front of him seemed to have eaten his child, just the legs and sneakers poking out of its cavernous mouth. Then he heard the faint giggle and relaxed, seeing Jack and Owen hiding behind the car to see what Ianto would do as Flynn cuddled against Jack inside the Great Coat.
"Right. Never around when you need him, you know the Doctor might have saved my child but woe is me. I am all alone in the world with no heart" Ianto sobbed loudly as Jack popped up to watch Ianto play, "I may have to bash this beast's head in."
"NO!" a voice gasped.
"Flynn? Oh by the Goddess, Flynn? Oh no! He's eating my darling alive!" Ianto screamed and Flynn giggled some more as he clutched at Jack to see over the bonnet.
"I will save you" Ianto cried as he seized the broom from the door and ran at the Snowman screaming like a banshee and Flynn gasped as its head exploded.
"Oh no too late" Ianto fell to his knees fake sobbing, "My baby. My lovely baby. Curses!"
"Taddy" Flynn slid around the vehicle and ran to him, "Look. I'm saved"
"What?" Ianto gasped pretending he couldn't see his son's frozen legs and feet, "How is this so?"
"Magic" Flynn sniffed.
"Wow"
"Taddy?"
"Yes my magical child?"
"Can I have a hot bath? It was cold in his belly."
"Oh my love" Ianto scooped him up and ran for the door shaking the child about as he squealed gleefully and the adults followed with soft laughter.
Soon Flynn was in a wonderful bubble bath as his Taddy continued to gush at how wonderful it was that he had been magically saved.
"Daddy helped" Flynn said with big eyes and Ianto stopped folding the towel in his lap to look at Flynn.
"Daddy?"
Flynn started and then looked contrite as he splashed the bubbles, "Sorry. I forgot, I mean Uncle Jack."
"Flynn, you want to call him Daddy?" Ianto asked softly. "Can you tell me why?"
"Because I don't have a mommy. I have a Taddy. I want you to be loved too" Flynn said sadly, "No one to cuddle you. If he is a Daddy and you are my Taddy then you can cuddle each other, right? Love each other?"
Ianto swallowed thickly as he struggled for an answer and Jack did instead as he leaned against the door frame, "Yes. I love your Taddy. I would like to cuddle him forever and love him and keep you both in my heart."
"Good" the little boy said happily, "You can be my Daddy, right?"
"Yes please" Jack said softly, his face softening as he watched Ianto get his breath back and look up at him with one of those rare dazzling smiles.
"Yes" Ianto whispered, "Yes please."
Jack bent down and kissed Ianto, revelling in the freedom to do so as Flynn played in the bubbles without concern.
The warmth in the room was amazing.