18
"Gee?"
"In here dumpling" Ianto called out, stepping out of the nursery to see Mica waiting for him in the hallway "Hello sweetheart."
"Gee, can I do a sleepover here for a while?"
Ianto groaned "Really? And do you have any money to pay for your keep?"
She giggled t the old joke and lifted her rms, something she had not done since she was a little one and Ianto instantly picked her up to cuddle close "Hey… darling. What's wrong?"
"I don't like it there anymore and I miss you" she muttered into his hair.
"Mimi" Gabriel said happily as he exited his room and saw them "Wanna play?"
"Goober!"
"Star, you need another word. God save us!" Gabriel huffed "Come on. I know you have more than just one."
"Goobe?"
"Stop messing with me!"
"Mimi!"
Mic gasped as she slid from Ianto's arms "Oh Starlight… you said my name perfectly!"
The kids left Ianto in the hallway as the little Judoon happily waddled back into Gabriel's den and he wondered what was going on.
She didn't' like it there anymore?
Ianto wandered outside and found David out there with Stephen, both boys morosely swinging on the swing set with the enthusiasm of a funeral.
"Hello boys. Wanna have a sleepover at mine tonight? Go ask your mothers."
David snorted.
Ianto focused in "Davie?"
"She doesn't care. She's in luuurrrrrrve. The other mamas are in charge and thy don't like my hair. Thy don't like my attitude and they smack me a lot to let me know" David folded his arms and Ianto remembered the old 'village' mentality of Blumanchu.
A child belongs to all of them and is raised by all of them. Smacking, lecturing and down right punishing for anything is allowed and not interfered with. Rhiannon is not even seeing the way her children have been dunked in the deep end of a society where the children either fuck off from underfoot outside all day or get a thick ear.
David who always stood near his mother as the 'man of the house' has been usurped and Mimi who was always the baby now shoved off the lap with the bump taking the room. Blumanchu way is for kids to work it out and be a pack with their own lives.
Not these two at all.
"Can I get one of the big tents out?" Stephen asked "Me and Davie can camp."
"Good idea, Mimi here can make a blanket fort in the living room. If you ask Gabriel, he is a master of madness there. He will live a snuggle with you if you don't mind Star farting." Ianto offered and the kids all lit up as thy took off.
Ianto knew he had to bite the bullet and he headed over towards the Blumanchu camp and the house he knew Rhiannon was still in, another problem as the kids wanted their own place still and she had totally emersed herself in the culture to prove she was a good wife.
To the detriment of being a good mother.
The kids all slept in a dorm, the parentals in another area. The have kids lost their home, their privacy and their self-worth. Damn.
"Heri" Ianto said softly, making one of the old men jump and he swung to face Ianto, lighting up with the affection they had for one who was so old, fierce and loyal to them.
"Hey Boss."
"If Rhiannon misses her kids, they are doing a sleepover for a while at mine. Giving her some space while she settles in" Ianto said calmly.
"Oh, she's not here. They went for a drive" Heri waved a hand into the air to show it was neither specific or known where this 'drive' was to or for how long. In Blumanchu this meant a holiday that might be hours, days or even weeks.
And she did not think of the kids.
"She said we can look to them, as is our way but… they are not like ours." Heri admitted with a sigh "I think we made them sad. We don't mean to, but they are… whiteys."
"Yes, unfortunately they are still Whiteys, and I fear the Blanche life is too intense. Mybe in time they will slide into it." Ianto said with a hopeful look on his face and both men nodded agreeing silently that was not likely to happen.
"Me youngest baby mama took a dislike to the boy's hair. I am worried all the goop she rubs in will not make the dreads she wants, it might all fall out" Heri admitted.
"Yes, he said something about his hair. His father's hair the feckless prick. Well… I will take them back and when she is settled and has a spot, she can come get them if she wants them."
"Well… you know our way. If you have time for them to be with you… it is best. When a baby is born the olders are always shipped out to someone else for a few months or a year or so for the bonding with mother and child anyway." Heri shrugged.
"Yes, I did think of that. If I take them now, she had time to assimilate, settle and prepare for the newling. Yes, I agree Heri. You are right there, after all, your people, your way" Ianto nodded, and suddenly it was Heri's idea in the first place, the elder not one to be argued with and now it was done.
Even if she wanted them back… she would need approval form the council of elders and Ianto knew that they would scold her for going against the decision of one.
Dirty pool.
But she started it.
And he was again disappointed that he had not taught her anything about putting your child first. As Ianto had all her fucking life.
When will she learn.