51
Time passes, which it is inclined to do these days. Like the saying, time might change you but you can't change time. Right?
What is not a given thing is the growth of the kids. They were about to be two years of age, but looked more like five year old kids. They now stood the same height as Mica, which freaked out Rhiannon sometimes before feeling her brother's glare as a warning that it was showing in her face.
Jack found himself measuring them against things. Doorframes, the kitchen table, the car bonnet… the height of their heads as they walked next to any object and he found them all to be the same height. Looks like the little 'runt' caught up to her 'siblings' and now they were all the same height and approximate weight. Ate the same food, drank the same drinks, moved the same while doing so, like synchronized dancing or something.
Zane however… yeah. He seemed different. Minor things. He moved first. A millisecond, or a slight head tilt and they all did. If you were not looking for it, they might all seem in unison but Jack had noticed.
Zane was their leader.
Jack contemplated the reason why. Was it because of a male dam? Was it because the mix of Ianto and Jack was so strong? Or was it what he secretly… really thought… that it was the fact Ianto was the real conduit to all the kids and Zane had the inside track being connected to Ianto first and foremost.
This did not alarm Jack. At first, on the day he realized this it seemed to slap him in the face it did but as he sat and considered things, he knew tjhis was a good thing. Horrible to admit and never to be said out loud but this means Zane was not only the leader of the pack, he was most likely the safest. Yeah. Horrible thought, right? That one of the others might sacrifice themselves in a time of need before Zane would be considered expendable. This then lead to the thought that his sweet Lou-Lou might be expendable too. Of course he then saw the folly of this as Zane confidently spoke to another child while his arm was slung around Lou-Lou's shoulders ina loving way. No. She was his right arm. His bloody sidekick. He would not sacrifice her.
Fuck, listen to all that blarney. Like.. he is king and these are his faithful knights of the round table. Jack found this train of thought amusing and laughed at himself, telling himself he needed a task, a job to do because he was starting to sound like a bloody conspiracy theorist… when in fact they WERE the conspiracy.
"Jack? What are you thinking?" Ianto asked suddenly, startling him out of his thoughts.
"That I need to paint the barn" Jack replied and all heads swivelled, the children slowly rising to their feet to louk at him. Jack blinked "They OK?"
"You pushed a button" Ianto laughed "They want to paint the barn too. They think it sounds like an excellent idea."
"Really? You kids want to spend the day with me?" Jack asked with surprise and more than a little bit of delight.
"Yes please Dadda Jack" voices sang softly, little hands now clasped under chins "we can paint?"
"Sure, we need to sort some old clothes and maybe some sunhats to protect as well as cover your hair. Maybe you lot can do the bottom part and Daddy Jack can do the top half. We can sort out a picnic lunch for such hard working painters, then some photos with the masterpiece."
"Do we have to paint it all the same colour?"
"I want rainbow"
"What about a doggie!"
Suddenly the kids fractured, all voices calling out as they turned to the circle of talking, the surprise making everyone gape as, for the first time in ... well… forever... the kids showed individuality.
"Wow… tell you what. Today we paint it ALL red. Like… block coloured fire engine red. Then you can spend the next few days while it dries, drawing up some ideas for what to paint along the sides to gussy it up" Jack suggested.
The kids squealed and jumped about like normal little kids, Jack looking over at Ianto who nodded his approval.
Looks like this covenant thing was not locked in and they were still just little kids wanting to play. Jack knew he had to remember this, and stop forgetting the fact that they are lovely little beings.
And they are his.
Ianto stood back as he watched his husband's face and felt relief in the way Jack smiled, knowing the kids had been practically too focused lately. IT was not their fault, they were bored and cooped up.
Ianto also learned something that morning.
The kids need less structure, less routine and more fun.
To be kids.
And he knew the Grups needed to sort this out for them, maybe even try to separate them sometimes into smaller groups if only to forge some friendships that were genuine, not bond required.
And he knew Zane would have the first and last word on it.
So he would have to find time to speak to him too.
This child with his Taddy's mind and Daddy's enthusiasm.
A born leader.