14

Ianto was singing softly as he looked around the room and knew it's days were numbered. Since Rhiannon had moved out, the house was quieter, and the kids seemed a little… down. Clearly, they missed having David and Mica around.

"Whatcha doing?"

Ianto grinned, turning to face Stephen who had sounded just like his father then.

"I am thinking about this room and the one next to it." Ianto replied, "And where the nursery will go for Bubba."

As Ianto spoke, his hands moved over the bump that was now obvious despite the loose clothing. The boy's eyes followed and then he asked "But you need your office. It's your little safety zone from Dad."

Ianto stifled a giggle at that and in the air came another little giggle. Ianto watched with awe as Stephen's eyes widened and he looked at Ianto with shock "what was that?"

"That Stephen… is your little sister" Ianto said with delight, the female tones unmistakable. His first female, of course it all felt different. A girl. "Oh Fen… she chose you for her first contact!"

"I'm a Mute!" he replied with wider eyes "I mean… I heard her."

"Yes. Yes, you are. Wow. You are telepathic like Daddy… oh Stephen… this is amazing. I am so pleased she likes you… she must do to choose you!" Ianto gushed, watching the fear in the boy's eyes get replaced with delight.

"Oh… she likes me!" he finally said, rushing from the room to shout for his father.

By the time Jack was in the room panting, the giggle had tuned to soft wind chimes of laughter, the little girl's cheekiness filing the room.

"And this room!" Stephen said firmly "Sorry Tad… she's liking it."

"I know, probably because I spent so much time in here escaping Rhianon… I mean… god, don't tell her I said that" Ianto scolded and the boy laughed.

"But your office love" Jack sighed.

"Well… I was thinking about that. What if we build on?"

"Huh?" Well… if we knock the wall out between Daid and Mica's room, make it like one big rumpus toom with some sofa beds for when they stay over, the kids can sprawl out a bit more… Alice really wants a sofa and a TV for the kids as she finds our shows so boring so… that can be the kid's room. Some board games, some console games for the TV in there… make it a real thing for them. Then if we are going to build on off our bedroom it will be OK too. A nice big walk in robe for us both and my office on the end? Walk though the robe to get to it, even more hidden from … others that slap your head."

More giggling was heard, and Jack grinned as he heard his daughter "Wow."

"My office is big, roomy and bright. Airy, of course it's perfect for her." Ianto sighed "I can survive."

"Well, one of the perks of being the one in charge of the rebuild is you can reassign some workers now the builds are being completed right?" Jak asked.

"Can I help?" Alice asked tentatively.

"Of course, I will need you" Ianto told her calmly "A nursery AND a rumpus room… especially from a woman's perspective."

Alice squealed and raced off as Ianto turned to Stephen and winked "And you can pick the games and sofas in peace."

To their amusement Stephen did a silly mimicry of his sister as he ran off with hands flapping and Ianto roared with mirth at them, so silly and so sweet. From a single depressed man to a father of two… almost three. No. A Tad. He was a Tad.

He liked the sound of that.

This time… he would not fail.

.

.

"Commander… a bad time?"

Ianto looked at the botherer… I mean, school representatives and smiled "Of course not. Come on in."

"Sir, oh… you are…" the man made a motion at Ianto's stomach.

"Pregnant. Yes" Ianto said calmly, not afraid here in the world of Mutants. He resisted the urge to pretend he was not and was offended that they had commented on hi weight, he saw little humour in these people.

"Oh. Right. You see, we have bene having some trouble in Stephen's class and… now I see… oh dear."

Ianto canted his head as he motioned for the men to sit, the offer of refreshments waved off as the talker seemed a little flummoxed. "Yo see Sir… Stephen has bene talking about his little sister and… well… his sister is much larger than him and the kids are starting to think his mutant powers are the ability to de-age or something. They are making fun of him for being… so small. Now it makes sense, I take it…"

"A girl… yes. Well, seems to want to be a girl so… has decided" Ianto nodded sagely, "Then… those children making fun of him… bullying him… are to be dealt with I hope?"

"Oh… oh yes. Oh goodness. We came here hoping to find out if it IS a power or he is just making some sort of game out of it but… clearly the others are being cheeky."

"Cheeky" Ianto repeated "Look… you all know how we wanted to deal with his sister's bullying, do you need me and my partner to come down again only… this might cause a stir and some of the women might get a tad pissy when they see my condition."

The man paled "Oh no… no… we shall deal with it."

"Good. See you ae the fete the weekend" Ianto smiled, letting him know he was not off the hook and come this weekend, the whale would cruise the stalls so EVERYONE could see that his boy was not a liar thanks muchly.

Ianto knew he would need to flex occasionally for his children and was prepared to do so, Jack giving him free reign to do as he pleased added to it.. not to mention the hormones.

"But what shall I wear" he muttered knowing nothing would suit now.

He wanted an impression.

Oh yes… a little trip to the dressmaker, I think.

Three days is enough time to come up with something both fabulous and… gaspy.

Snigger.

Ianto was forming a plan.