31

"What are you thinking?" Jack asked as they drove, Alice and Lucia in the back seats.

"That we either give up the last lounge to fit everyone or we get creative." Ianto replied.

"Clarify creative" Lucia spoke from the back of the SUV.

"Well, we have options. We split up, two groups. We get an RV or something to create more room. We go full madness and simply convert the garage into a room." Ianto rolled some ideas around "A Caravan… tents?"

"Which seems the easiest?" she asked.

"Well, converting…. What the hell. We have a bloody attic." Ianto blurted out, stomping his foot on the gas at the same time, making jack yelp and grab or the dashboard.

"Ianto … god!"

"sorry. I just. I can't believe I overlooked that. A coupe can easily turn that into a loft apartment style living area. Room for a double bed, even a sofa and stuff one end… like… a little apartment but without a bathroom." He snorted "I bet Andy and Rhys would love that. I know the babies must wake them in the night… right?"

"Meaning Lucia and Alice can have their room!" Jack said with a nod "I would rather not split up. I want the babies together, it feels better that way and they sort of pine for one not in the room."

"So… snug but doable?" Lucia snorted with mirth, Ianto always managing to amuse her.

"For now. A few weeks to make sure we are safe then… we can look at splintering then" Ianto assured her.

"You know, I always wondered what it would be like to live with you... no offence Jack… and I get the feeling it will be… interesting" she sat back with a sharp nod, looking out the window again as Into glanced over at his husband's surprised face and tried not to grimace.

Yes.

Interesting might be the word for this experiment.

.

.

Days passed with Rhys and Andy happy to take the attic once it was ready, currently sleeping on the foldout bed/sofa in the remaining living room while they cleared out the attack space and decorated it before taking it over.

Jack was happy to help, physical work always embraced by that man and Ianto found himself spending his days in the 'Nursery' with the babies. It felt calmer there somehow. Like, when he could not physically see them he sort of felt a mild panic and he had been told several times by different people that the babies seemed to pine for him, lighting up when he entered the room.

Felt nice.

Today he was uncomfortable, sitting the edge of the chair while trying not to get too sweaty, singing to the rapt audience on their baskets all lined up, all faces wide open with that lust for learning babies have. The little brightly clothed babies with their matching little hats and bobbles on top like cherries on top of yummies, their cute wee onesies with either Peter Rabbit or Flowery things on them… all of them with at least one bootie off… little devils hated booties. Ianto could see a lot of barefoot children in his future. It was grand.

"Zane, Laurie, Jasmine, Darius Holly and sweet Alice" Ianto said softly, all kids rapt as the two older ones sat with dolls clasped on their hands, firm friends to the relief of everyone. Alice liked Holly and Lucia instantly seemed to be drawn to her.

Mica and David were not there, they were 'helping' by delving into the boxes of stuff from the attaic that was now filling the garage. A day of wigs, weird fake weapons and giggling that the adults could easily ignore. The fact Alice would rather play with Holly showed she had a kind heart.

"You alright there mate?" Owen asked as he settled on a nearby chair "You look… hot."

"Thanks Owen, I am trying a new shampoo"

Owen blinked, then started to laugh "Cheeky bugger."

"I am feeling hot. It's so bloody irritating, I don't' have… I mean…. It's hot right? I want to open a window but I don't want to give the kids a chill" Ianto admitted "Man, it's hot."

Owen stared at him for a while then asked "Anything else? Your milk has dried up right? Zane is on a bottle same as Laurie?"

"Yeah, I head Toshiko is about to succumb too?"

"Yeah. Seems like the others see that bottle and want it too, like… they all wanna be the same. And the women are sick of trying to keep it fair with the sharing of breasts. Anyway, it's been eight weeks since they were born, they are healthy and I know the usual rhetoric is Breast is Best but they seem fine." Owen nodded, then added "And anything else? Moody?"

Ianto looked up "Jack been talking to you?"

"No" Owen reassured him "It's a hunch, that's all."

"What is?"

"Mood swings, hot flushes, your facial hair is slowly coming back. You've not had to shave since getting preggers right? So… your testosterone levels are rising and your estrogen is disappearing. I bet if I test you, it's barely there." Owen pointed out.

"And?"

"And things irritate you. Things you usually overlook or just roll your eyes at, you want to kill something" Owen said mater of factly like he already knew.

"Itching, I am itching and the smells…. Some smells are…. So intense…."

"Menopause."

"What?" Ianto gaped, not sure if he had heard correctly.

"Mate, you are going through a small and concentrated menopause"

"What?"

Owen laughed as he rose to leave, adding "Jack has no idea what he is in for."

"Jack?" Ianto spluttered "What the fuck about me!"

Oh god.