ericadawn16 | Patience is a Virtue

Title: But Time Marches On
Characters: Mica, Rhi, Jack, Emyr, David, Iefan, Johnny Gwen, Rhys, Ianto Jack/Ianto, David/Emyr, Rhi/Johnny, Gwen/Rhys
Rated: PG-13 ANGST COE Spoilers MPREG
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Summary: Breakfast is a time for presents.
Author's Note: The Sequel to But Time Didn't Stop

Previous Chapter: What's Better than a Ring?

Masterlist: http://ericadawn16.livejournal.com/113396.html

Patience is a Virtue

Mica was racing through her breakfast. It wasn't because it was bad. Jeanette, the owner, seemed incapable of a bad meal, but there was a small tree in the corner and they'd put the presents underneath.

"Mica...you know Iefan's a toddler and he's being more patient than you," Rhi pointed out.

"That's because he doesn't know it's Christmas," she replied.

"Crismas," Iefan repeated.

"Mica, I have an idea," said Jack, "How about you pass the presents out while the rest of us finish eating?"

She didn't wait for a response before jumping from her chair and running to the tree. Since Jack had chosen to stay, they decided to do a Secret Santa so everyone was only responsible for one present. Unfortunately, that meant she'd only receive one gift but she'd have more when they got back to Newport. Mica smiled as she noticed that despite each wrapped gift being from a "secret" Santa, the handwriting gave each giver away. After everyone had one, she sat down and started staring at them one by one with her best puppy expression. If that didn't work, she would have to get Iefan on her side.

"David, get your sis to stop staring at me! I'm trying to eat," Emyr complained and David stopped chewing. Her brother was up to something. There was a glint in his blue eyes and he whispered something to Emyr. They clasped hands and David hit his orange juice glass with a knife.

"Emyr and I have something to announce," her brother spoke and they were both beaming.

Oh God, he had found a way to upstage Christmas. Now it would be ages before the presents.

"We're getting married!" they announced and her parents cheered.

"Finally," Mica stated, "It should have happened a long time ago."

For a second, David glared at her so she stuck out her tongue.

"How about we go from oldest to youngest when opening presents?" David suggested with a devilish smile.

"No," Mica said, crossing her arms.

"David, Emyr, congratulations," Jack told them, "but if we're doing that, I think Iefan should go first."

Iefan already had one corner of the wrapping torn off.

"I agree," Rhi said and Johnny nodded. She knew she couldn't protest so she might as well enjoy everyone else opening their gifts until she went last.

"Okay, you can open it now," Jack told Iefan, "Do you need any help?"

"No," said Iefan while shaking his head. A split second later, he was ripping the paper to shreds in his haste to get to the toy. They knew it had to be a toy because it was already making noises, like at a construction site.

"My 1st JCB: Talking Joey," Jack read off the package and the toddler started to work on the package itself. Mica couldn't help being amused at his frustration to find that cardboard was not as easy to break as tissue paper.

"You know, Iefan, your dad used to drive those with Johnny years and years ago," her mum spoke and Jack got that expression on his face; the one where it seemed like he wasn't entirely here. Jack liked to pretend that Ianto was Iefan's father and her mum went along with it. Mica wasn't sure why but it did seem to make Jack happier, for the most part.

"Your dad even rescued me once by driving one of these," Jack spoke and a smile appeared on his face. Then, he took the toy from him and started undoing the package.
"Fasyer," Iefan told him when the adult was being too slow. Jack's turn was next so they had to wait for him to free the plastic excavator.

"Down," Iefan requested as soon as it was in his hands.

"First, what do you say to Aunt Rhi?" Jack asked him.

"Down," the toddler repeated.

"Thank you," Jack suggested and nudged him.

"Fank you," Iefan spoke and Rhi said, "You're welcome."

"That's better," Jack uttered and wrapped his left arm around him. His father scooted away from the table and set him on the floor where the toddler began rolling it on the tile. Jack picked up the box from the table, took the paper off and opened it up to reveal black trousers.

"I wasn't sure what to get you," Emyr apologized.

"No, Emyr, these will be useful, thank you," Jack told him and gave him one of those grins that made everything seem fine. All eyes turned to her father who was next. His gift was contained in a hotel envelope. Could her brother be any cheaper? Despite the presence of breakfast knives all around him, Johnny insisted on tearing it open with his fingers. The edge of the letter became a mangled mess and he forced it apart before dumping the stationary onto the table.

"One free ice cream outing with David. Happy Christmas!" her dad read aloud. He turned to David and asked, "By free, you do that mean that you'll pay, right?"

Her brother nodded and her dad nodded as well.

"That's bang on then, thank you," he said, "and I hope my present when we get back is something more substantial than a McDonalds gift card."

Mica tried to read her brother's expression. He was pleased and she found herself thinking about football tickets. Their dad would like that. Now, it was her mum's turn. It was a small box, like jewelry, and the card was Jack's handwriting. Her imagination went wild at the possibilities as her mum undid the paper and popped open the little box. Then, she started laughing.

"What? What is it?" she asked when her dad started chuckling, too. Rhi stuck a finger in the box and pulled out a keychain.

"It's a Lego Hagrid," her mum told everyone and laughter filled the room. She never would have guessed that as a present possibility.

"Iefan picked that out himself," Jack explained and her mum's brown eyes lit up more. She stood up and walked over to where the toddler was playing with his new toy. Mica and the others stood up to see better.

"Vroom!" Iefan said and pressed one of the buttons so it talked. She bent down and kissed him on the top of his head. He looked up.

"Thank you, Iefan, for your gift," she told him and he smiled.

"Haggy!" he cried and pointed to the little plastic man.

"That's right," her mum confirmed and he went back to the JCB. Emyr held up his gift and said, "I think I got exactly what I wanted." It couldn't be anything other than a cd. He unwrapped it and David gave her another glare.

"Selena Gomez? I thought you liked Emyr," he retorted.

"Actually, it was on my wishlist online," Emyr revealed and she smirked in vindication. David didn't say anything. He picked up his heavy package. It had to be a book, Mica thought and her brother looked at her for a moment. After opening it, the gift was revealed to be a book. It looked like a very thorough tome on Leonardo da Vinci. She had to admit that it looked interesting with the illustrations and paintings on glossy, heavy paper.

"Thanks, Uncle Jack!" David exclaimed and he nodded as though it wasn't that big of a thing. Finally, it was her turn except it was from her dad, but it had to be better than what David got him. She undid the wrapping that had to have been done by a sales clerk and found the flimsy box within. Inside was a tan angora sweater.

"Thanks, dad," she said and decided she should probably wear it later. They were all going to dinner at Jack's daughter's house.

****************************************************************

Gwen perked up from the couch at the sound of the mobile ringing, but it was Rhys' and not her own.

"Hello, Rhys Williams here, Harwood's Haulage," he answered in case it was business, "I'm sorry, who? You want Ianto?"

He put a hand over the microphone and they both looked at each other.

"Is it a kid?" she asked because she couldn't hear the other end. He nodded and bellowed, "Ianto, someone's on the phone for you!"

Their son came down the stairs with his new Hobbit book in hand.

"Who's this friend phoning my number?" Rhys asked.

"Matt, he's in London with his aunt and uncle," he answered like that cleared everything up.

"Talk to him now," said Rhys turning over the mobile, "but you'll be talking to us afterwards."

The boy pouted for a moment before taking it.

"Hi, Matt, so, she got the mobile then?" he asked, "Must be nice to have a rich auntie like that."

Rhys and Gwen smirked at each other. Before their son was born, she had finally let Rhys in on her precise salary with Torchwood. However, it was decided that they wouldn't spend so much that any children would know. They would try to maintain the status of "comfortable". They waited for Ianto to finish as he made more exclamations they couldn't follow. After about a minute or so, he gave it back.

"Well..." she prompted and crossed her arms. Their son slumped before explaining, "His name's Matthew."

"We got that. Does he have a surname?" Rhy asked.

"Temple," he answered.

"And is he from your class? And why is he calling you from London?" Gwen questioned.

"Yep, he sits by me. His sister got a mobile from their aunt and uncle because they're rich," he said and nodded.

"And who's this aunt and uncle?" Rhys asked, "Are they famous?"

"Dunno...they're...umm," Ianto started and his blue eyes narrowed in concentration, "Donna and Shaun, that's it. Her granddad has a telescope and they get to look in it."

Something about the name Donna Temple sounded familiar yet she couldn't place why.

"But he doesn't like his cousins," the boy said in a confidential voice, "They're six. They're twins."

"Ah, girls?" Rhys asked him.

"One of them," Ianto confirmed.

"Well, ask me next time if you can give out my number, alright?" Rhys asked him and he nodded.

Bombs Away!