7
"You know… I do not believe it" John said as he straightened up and loke dover at Jack "We've been at this all morning; the place looks great and once we have some seating around the edge of the green for people to settle with picnics and such to watch the display… we are done."
"What I cannot believe is that we have done all this without Ianto out here doing that death stare at Jack" Owen replied, "He was shot, remember?"
John stared at him blankly then blanched, swinging to gape "Fuck. You are still supposed to be taking it easy and we have been…"
"I am fine. Ianto trusts me to know my limits, I am not pushing it. I am fine" Jack reassured them, glad they finally remembered, even if he wanted to forget it.
"Well… tonight's the night." Skidmark started to sing, dancing around as Owen joined in and the to weirdoes looked so… weird. Electrocuted Squirrel and Meth Monkey.
"Is Ianto doing a spread?"
"Yes, he will come for the first half hour with some food, more to please me and the kids than anything, then beg off. Probably take the little ones in so they can watch out the windows in the warm with some bedtime snacks in their hands." Jack took on a wistful look "He will snuggle in with Tonny and wait for me to get home."
"You lucked out Captain" Mountain said softly, the huge man patting Jack ever so gently on the shoulder.
"I sure did." Jack agreed.
"Funny mind, so different but you seem to fit together" Skidmark agreed as well.
"Well… I think in any space, time or universe… he is waiting for me to get my head out of my arse long enough to see him and fall in love." Jack gushed, all silly with his hands clasped under his chin.
Then they all roared with mirth and went back to preparing.
.
.
"Babbit, please stop doing that" Ianto said once again, the glare deepening as he had been made to do the bloody cursed repeating.
Babbit swung to look back at Ianto and do an eyeroll, then lower the stick that she had been annoying Walter with, standing with Bethy hand in hand waiting for the next light display.
Jack knew he was close to calling it and gathering a hoard of bubs to take home, the night air no good for his lungs and the amount of people to much for his nerves this late in the evening but it had been a great one.
As Ianto rise and started to look around at the remains of the picnic Jack said softly "I will pack things up later when Walt and Fen are ready to go. You get these little ones home by the fire, it will be low by now and the DVD for the fluffs might be finishing."
"Die Hard next" Ianto said, making several kids gasp as they swung to stare at him and he relented "You know it is far too old for you… I am corrupting… oh… OK. Come on. Hot chocolate by the fire and the doggies and get cuddles too."
Jack watched Ianto trudge back up the lane towards home, like a mother duck and her little line of ducklings following ever so happily.
What a great start to the year.
As if to hear him, the first drops of rain started, and he sighed "Fuck. Come on guys, let's ramp it up before this rain settles in and everyone can get inside. Fire them up!"
Whooping now as several were set off at once and the crowd gasped, oooed… ahhhed… clapped.
Jack considered things and knew that it might be a good idea to have some large umbrellas next time, just in case.
Note to self.
He will check it out in the New Year Sales tomorrow, take the kids for a ride.
Might get some new wellies too.
Looks like this rain might get heavy.
.
.
Happy New Year everyone… this now leads into Walter 10. Wishing you all the best for 2024 and blessings to you all. xxxxx