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Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Rhiannon entered the house and turned to find a teenage girl pushing past David, her face one of glee as she ran into the house to look around with wonder "Wow… Daddy… it's huge!"

Ianto had exited the kitchen and stared at the strange teenager, then at Rhiannon who shrugged to show that she had no idea who the child was moments before Jack Harkness entered with suitcases in his hands.

"Hey, they let us have an hour in the lower quad to get what we could out of our houses… those still partially standing so… where are you gonna be?" he said happily and Ianto blinked slowly, confused as to what the hell… David then entered with a blonde boy and they were holding hands, talking animatedly.

"Uncle, look. It's my friend Stephen from school. They are billeted here too!" David gushed.

Ah. Bloody Cooper. Why she had looked so gleeful.

"I see" Ianto said softly, knowing he really didn't have a choice, even if the man seemed to rub him the wrong way and they all had to do their part now. "Well… Rhia will have the room there, David and Mica already have their rooms and that leaves these two rooms here"

"Wait. You. Her. Them with one each, one for Dad, one for Stephen and that one there for me?" the girl pointed to each door as she corrected Ianto like he was insane. Eight rooms."

"That room" Ianto corrected her with a steely gaze, pointing at the closed door like she just had "Is out of bounds. It is locked and shall remain that way. It is not for general use. In fact, let me make it clear, it is off limits to all of you. Clear?"

The girl went to open her mouth to complain but Jack was quick to shut it down "Understood. Come on Jellybean, you shared with your brother on the ship, you can gain. Just for a few months."

"A few months. Are you mad? Eight rooms, eight of us. It's perfectly clear what the billeting should be" she argued back, the insolence making Rhiannon take a deep breath.

"Alice. That's enough" Jack said firmly, "I don't have time for this. You think I like turning a room into both my bed chamber AND my office? We must work with what we have. Being a spacer is all about give and take."

"And yet he has two rooms" she made a weird shrieking sound and flounced off to look at the room Ianto had indicted for them, slamming the door so loudly that Ianto grimaced.

"Sorry about that. My marriage was a nasty breakup, she didn't want the kids and they took it badly. Still in the blame stage" Jack sighed, turning to Rhiannon "Do you have bags too?"

"Yes, still in the Transporter. I couldn't gather much, thank the Gods the kids had spare clothes and such here for their sleepovers and Uncle time, I hope you managed to gather the important things."

With that, his sister and new flat mate moved outside to unpack the meagre things that had salvaged, and he felt a bit of a heel for being too brisk. Of course, the girl was upset. She had lost things, even with the salvage and was likely quite shaken.

He decided to cut her some slack.

This time!

.

.

"What is this!" the girl screwed her face up as she lifted the fork to sniff at the food on the prongs of it like it was dog shit.

"Meatloaf" Ianto answered calmly, this the third day of her antics and he was starting to think this was her actual personality.

"Well, it smells like…"

"Alice!" Jack warned "I like it, IF you don't I will have your portion."

She glared at her father and pulled her plate closer to herself as Rhiannon took a deep breath, much as her brother just had "Thank you Captain. It was our mother's recipe and I usually make it on a Tuesday. If your daughter would prefer to take over the cooking duties each Tuesday, maybe she can do better than me!"

Alice looked at the woman and her clearly hurt expression "You made this?"

Rhiannon nodded.

"Oh. Sorry, I thought he had his dirty hands in it" she said, a hand waved at Ianto as he placed his knife and fork down, looking pointedly at the man who needed to control his child.

"Alice, that's enough. If you are finished maybe clear the table." Jack seemed unconcerned, clearly used to this act and Ianto wondered what structure the girl had growing up at all. Clearly, she needed a good smacked arse.

Ianto rose and cleared his plate, leaning over to kiss his sister's cheek "Well I liked it, made me think of mama."

Rhiannon smiled again, relaxing as she saw his desire to end this evening's complications but as she rose to start clearing, she gave Jack a look to tell him he needed to do something about that child.

.

.

"Hey soldier, what are you up to?" Jack asked as he entered the bedroom to find Stephen gathering some things.

"I am gonna sleep with Davie, he has two beds and we are gonna have like a sleepover" he replied excitedly as he brushed past and Jack looked at the young woman on the unmade bed with her shoes still on.

"Alice. We need to talk."

"Oh god, here we go" she sighed theatrically.

"Alice. We are only here for a while, we are guests and we should be grateful that we are not in the communal living area right now. Have you seen that bloody air hanger people are all bunking in?" Jack asked.

She gave him a withering look.

"I mean it young lady" Jack warned "Your grandmother is showing."

Alice pulled a face at him, rolling to face the wall and he sighed softly "Baby girl, I know you are upset that we couldn't find Mamma's box but I am going back to look again. I still have another couple of days until that area is cleared and if it is still there in the rubble, I will find it."

"In a couple of days the big machines go through and clear all the rubble away, mamma's box will go too" she said into her pillow "And we both know it."

Jack cursed softly as he made a mental note to go back again tomorrow, to hunt for the fucking memory box. All that poor girl has left of her mother who not only abandoned them without looking back, but told her daughter that she was extra baggage she didn't need as she did so.

At least Alice did not blame Jack for the divorce.

Hard to when her mother's lover helped her pack.

Chapter Text

Jack was again in the lower sector, using his clout and medals to get him into a restricted area. He was standing in the ruins of his house when a huge destructor hover moved past and stopped, the voice that yelled at him to move making him raise his hand and wave it away.

The man started to climb down the ladder while still shouting abuse when he froze, looked past Jack and then started back up the ladder like the hounds of hell were after him. Jack turned to find Ianto standing in the cleared part of the street glaring at the hapless man who was now firing up the leviathan to retreat.

"Wow, I had no idea your Glare had such clout" Jack said, looking around his feet as he kicked at debris.

"What are you looking for so intently that you are holding up my crew?" Ianto asked softly, stepping over the barrier to enter the field of mush.

"Alice's room was about here. There was a small wooden jewelry box about… yay big… and she needs it for her attitude adjustment" Jack motioned with his hands and Ianto sighed, looking down at the ground like it might give him an answer, then he turned slowly before moving to his left a couple of paces, crouching and pulling from the dusty crap a wooden box.

"There is some damage to a corner but other than that, it seems intact. Lucia. Why does it call to Melissa?" Ianto asked, rising with the box in his hands.

"Empath" Jack blurted with alarm, then cleared his throat as the mutant calmly blinked back. "Sorry… ah… I am a telepath myself."

"I know. I hear you constantly."

Jack grinned as he stepped closer "No you don't, I have firewalls. The Academy taught me how to shield! but how did you… it called to you?"

"Well, I know the girl and I yelled out in her 'voice' to see if anything responded. There is some sort of trinkets in here with her mother's latent energy attached to them. Might be why she is acting out so much, it seems rather strong." Ianto handed the box to Jack and for the first time as their fingers brushed, he felt the gentle tingle of love from the box.

"Huh. I wondered why she took her mother leaving us so well… she kept a little piece for comfort" Jack sighed as he tucked the box under his arm "Thanks Ianto. Melissa was her name but after her mother left she insisted in changing it to Alice, to honour the name I had wanted to call her but had been denied. She wanted to please me, no doubt terrified I would leave too. So young, so much sorrow and anger. Hopefully this will smooth out that temper of hers."

"Well… it's worth a try" Ianto said, turning to step back out of the barrier.

"How did you know I was… oh right. I was thinking about it at breakfast. Shit, you hear me that well?" Jack asked.

"Only when I listen. I usually shield but I was actually trying to listen to her. She is so quiet, I don't think she knows her abilities are starting to shine. Maybe another reason she is so upset all the time? The upset of the entire colony surrounding her, and she isn't shielding" Ianto replied, hesitated then added "And she doesn't blame you for her mother leaving. She blames herself. And her brother. You do know that right? You wife saying she did not want the kids in the first place… she heard that."

"Shit."

"COMMANDER!"

Ianto swung to see another man approaching at speed "Sir, we have looters trapped in a collapsed building, the silly fuckers… sorry sir… the silly buggers went into a red stickered house and… it's all going down. They're just kids."

Ianto started to run, Jack following as he paused only to shove the box under the seat of his Hover as he passed it, stopping next to Ianto as they surveyed the large house that was groaning as some of it seemed to crumble.

"Fuck" Ianto huffed "there is so much…. I mean do we know if any of them are still alive?"

"Don't know Sir, we've had no response since the crumbling started. They could be trapped but… more likely squished now" came the tepid reply.

Ianto stepped closer and looked at his feet. Jack recognized the same thing from before and motioned with his hands for everyone to be quiet, watching as Ianto listened intently to something none of them could hear, then he suddenly jerked forward, running over the rubble as he called out "GET THE BIG BERTHA HERE … NOWWWWWW!"

Jack followed Ianto onto the second floor of the building as Ianto paused now and then as if listening, then turned to a doorway, hesitating now. "They're in there… but if we open that door the wall loses stability."

"So, what do we do?" Jack asked.

Ianto looked up as the huge crane came into view above them, Ianto motioning it down and he clutched it as he was lifted to the next floor's cleared ceiling as the top floor was completely gone and he started to bash on the floor or the room below.

Jack climbed up to help and panted out "What do I do?"

"Prepare to scream at your daughter" came a panted reply as Ianto broke through and Jack looked down with horror as Alice looked back up with her face showing equal horror and fear.

"Daddy?"

Jack didn't even stop to think, forcing himself through the widening hole to land in the room and look at the four kids huddled together, covered in dust, sweat and fear. "You fucking idiots!"

"Jack… come on. Abuse her later. It's unstable…. Lift." Ianto yelled his hands reaching into the hole and Jack seized his daughter, hefting her up for Ianto to seize and then she was gone. Ianto showing immense strength as he yanked her out into the dull light and shoving her aside to crouch and reach back in.

Finally, Jack was the last one out and he felt a rush of adrenalin as Ianto yanked him up with the same calm effortlessness as the teenagers. Ianto stared at him long and hard before turning away to help the other kids off the rubble and Jack seized his daughter by her arm "Come on. NOW!"

As Jack dragged his child out of the area, noticing that the others were surrounded by security to no doubt get a bollocking he also noted the fact no one defied him, letting them pass. Behind them the noise of the building collapsing was like a monster roaring, the shaking of the ground making the hover skip. He did see Ianto stumble moments before it happened, like he was suddenly releasing something. It was not until they were powering along towards the house that he finally registered why he had felt so strange back there.

Commander.

They had called Ianto Commander.

Really?

He had never given rank, did not seem to live by it so Jack never really thought about it. He did not answer to it wither so... did he even have true rank?

Ianto had just flexed slightly to protect Alice and let her get away with what the others will probably have to spend some community service for. He had just protected her.

Jack had a lot to think about.

Chapter Text

Ianto returned later that day to a silent house. He didn't know what was worse, one full of bullshit and bluster or silence. He walked around and came to the conclusion after listening for a while that no one was home.

He felt relief, entering his room and closing the door to remove his clothes and shower the stench of death from himself before they returned. The body recovery was still underway, and he was now sure there were no more left alive, the scant eight souls saved… not counting a certain group of looters…. Was a sorrowful celebration.

He let his head fall back to hit the tiles, staring intently at nothing, letting the water loll and soothe until his mind wandered back and he saw his son playing in the rain, his little bare skin glistening as he laughed, his mother scolding as she chased him trying to catch him with a towel that was quickly becoming as wet as both of them.

The distant slam of a door had him falling back to reality and he stepped from the shower to dress quickly, entering the main room with his hair till wet to watch Alice slamming her bedroom door after a scream of rage and Jack collapsing into the chair that had become his.

"All OK?" Ianto asked hesitantly.

"I made her go give an account, confess to what happened and she feels that I betrayed her by not covering up her crime" Jack said with a soft snort of annoyance "Like I can ignore it, head of security can just let his daughter break the rules I am trying to enforce."

"She will not see it that way" Ianto settled in the chair next to him that was clearly Ianto's.

"Tell me about it" Jack laughed bitterly then rose "Thank for today."

"At least she has the box, that will please her yes?" Ianto asked, then canted his head as he stared at Jack intently "You've not told her you found it?"

"No. You found it. She does not deserve it right now, I think she needs to earn her bloody happiness like the rest of us" Jack rose and Ianto went to say something but thought better of it.

Not his child, not his family. Butt out.

That was a bit of a slap too and Ianto accepted Jack's silent rebuff with grace, heading instead to the kitchen to check the situation for the evening meal and sighing "Rhia had left a note here. She has taken the beasts to some movie about sea creatures from different planets the kids wanted to watch. Will be bringing home the evening meal."

"Right, well I might as well have a shower and do some paperwork after today's fun" Jack levered himself from the chair and headed towards his room.

"And I might go get some soft drink from the quartermaster to go with the evening meal since we are low and bubbles always help" Ianto replied, leaving the house with a lighter step. The two men not only more comfortable with one another… Ianto had actually started to like the oaf… in a way.

Once the house was quiet once more Alice left her bedroom to stand and stare at the living room wall, the portrait of Ianto, Lisa and little Jayden. She then turned to look at the door that was firmly locked, the Out Of Bounds room. After standing there for a while like she was arguing internally, she strode forward, seizing a knife from the knife block as she rounded the kitchen island and headed for the door, slamming the blade into the locking mechanism with an animalistic snarl.

She would know why this room sat vacant while she had to share with her little tattletale arsehole brother. How else was Daddy to know she was there, why else was he there but to catch her out.

Stephen must have told.

Even if this is a broom closet the little shit can sleep in here for all she cared, but to have an entire room locked off when the house is bursting at the seams is just wasteful.

And Alice would not have it anymore.

.

.

Rhiannon entered the house with the boxes full of food, lifting them to the table as the children placed the boxes that had each carried proudly as well and as David went to get plates he froze, his hand on the counter and his eyes wide with horror.

Rhiannon looked up and saw his face, moving from the table "David? What is it love?"

She turned her head to look in the direction of his gaze and saw the open door, walking slowly towards it "Ianto?"

She pushed the door open and found Alice in there, drawers open and cupboards too, toys strewn about and ripped posters on the floor as she trashed the room with wanton abandon,

Rhiannon did not stop to think, did not hesitate to consider the fact that this was not her child. She stormed across the room, seized the girl by her arm as she yanked her off the bed she was standing on to rip stars from the ceiling and slapped her hard across the face.

Jack ran from his room as his daughter's howling began and he was confused when she was not readily visible, then she was. Being thrown from the room and across the floor to land by his feet, Rhianon exiting with her face contorted with rage "You little bitch. You nasty, unfettered cow of a child. How could you do that!"

Jack picked up his daughter, noting her red face and swung to step between her and the woman intent on hitting her again.

"What the fuck is going on" he snarled, meeting Rhiannon chest on.

"That little bitch broke int my nephew's memorial and trashed it. She has destroyed the remembrances, I don't even know where the candles are that Ianto lit each night to pray to their lost souls" Rhiannon was calm, speaking ever so calmly even as she moved and Jack to try and seize the girl again.

"What is going on?" Ianto asked from the doorway, the bottles of soda in his hands dropping to the floor as he noted the door "No. No… no …. Oh god… what have you done."

He stepped towards the door and saw the destruction through the open gap, stepping back now "No. No. No…. what have you done to my child's room…. No."

Ianto looked at Alice, looked at the little t-shirt still in one hand and the glow in the dark star in another, his son's things… desecrated… and started to roar. It was a deep, bellowing wail that came from the depths of him a he doubled over and Rhiannon stepped towards him only to stagger back at the psychic force of his anger.

"Oh goddess … Ianto…" she sobbed as he took a deep, shuddering breath and spun on his heel to leave the house.

Jack was clutching Alice so hard he would leave bruises on her arms later but the only pain she would remember was the one that psychically attacked her in that main room, the force of his despair entering her very bones as he screamed at her.

And she would finally understand despair.

Chapter Text

Jack waited for his return and was disheartened when it was the Brig who entered the house instead, his gaze falling on Jack with such sorrow and pity. He walked over and sat "Right. He knows you have nowhere else to go. He has requested that as soon as there is a space in the communal housing that you and your kids be placed there until you house is rebuilt. He will not put you out on the street but clearly… given her... ah… misstep… he is refusing to be in the same house. For now, he will fly the black as part of the outer ring security force."

"Is he OK?" Jack croaked out.

"No. No, he is not. It is a mere year since his son died, what your daughter has done by desecrating his son's shrine as she did… no. He is not OK. I have never seen him so angry. He is visibly shaking and unable to speak without showing his teeth. First time I've seen his bloodline and I have seen him in combat" The Brig warned "best leave him be. OK?"

"He is on the Betty, I take it?" Rhiannon asked from the kitchen counter and the Brig nodded "Goddess, I hate that big bitch of a thing. He told me he would not take her beyond atmo anymore, not since we heard of that model imploding."

"Well, it seems he would rather have his crappy old ship crumple around him than face this" the Brig stood and smoothed his clothing while looking around uncomfortably "I don't know how to fix this one. I have seen him in combat, I have seen him in childbirth… I have never seen this level of pain."

Jack looked up at him with confusion, then rose "You know him well?"

"Of course. He is my ward" the old man replied sadly "I saw the power in him, the leadership in him even as a child. I have helped him, honed and have been proud to watch him excel. He cam here for me. But when he lost his child... then his wife… part of him died too."

"What can I do to fix this?"

"You can't. That shrine in there… you can't put it back together. For better or for worse… the mourning he was putting off, the pain he was swallowing down… it's all coming out and maybe he is right. It is better to scream into the black where sound does not carry."

Jack nodded sadly, watching the old man leave and then he turned to Rhiannon "Will he be OK?"

"Eventually. What choice does he have?" she replied sadly, moving around the table to put out plates for the food none of them really wanted anymore.

In her room, Alice wept.

.

.

Ianto was sitting in the captain's chair, slowly revolving back and forth while he hummed softly to himself, trying to work out the fuel ratio with the lighter load than usual. The ping of a vid-com incoming made him groan as he reached for it, seeing the Harkness insignia. It had been three days, and he was still not sure if he was ready to hear the man's excuses for his child.

But it was not Jack who appeared on the screen, it was Alice. Ianto steeled himself for another assault as he stared at her silently. After a while it became apparent that she was not going to speak so he sighed "Look princess. These vid-coms ship to shore are really expensive so if you intend burning your Dad's credits out of spite, at least sing a song or recite some poetry or something."

"I'm sorry" she finally said softly, her eyes red from crying "I didn't understand… I mean… I don't know how that much pain can be in one person."

Ianto rubbed his face as he considered the answer "I am sorry I threw it at you, I didn't mean to project so much. You just… hurt me."

"I know" she said, then a sob escaped "It really did hurt."

"I am powerful, more so than you can know. What I threw your way was only a small part of my strength, I have knocked people off their feet with anger in my youth ya know" he grinned "One day, when you can control your own powers, you might too."

Then her eyes tracked up to him "You know?"

"Alice, I hear you loud and clear. Don't tell your father, but you are already stronger than he can ever be ya know" he grinned "You have a chance, if you hone it and can focus on training, you know, you could be a leader."

"You think?"

"I know. I know you are feeling displaced, the energies are off, everything it weird. That's because you don't know how to center yourself how to focus and shield from things. You need training. I can help, but we need to talk to some of the old mages, get you a trainer."

Her face changed hope there now "Really?"

"Alice. I am still hurt and angry over what you did to my little boy's room but at the same time I know you have never suffered the loss I have. Your mother leaving, times that by a hundred… consider her dead, not just unloving. You saw a monster bite her head off. Can you?" Ianto counselled as bet he could, considering this is not his child, or one of his recruits. But she was a fellow mutant, and they are far and far between, rare and sometimes frightening out here in the black.

"I felt so alone" she admitted "And Stephen calls me creepy."

"Ah. My sister is sometimes annoying too. When she started dating, she brought them home and I would try and set them on fire with my mind." Ianto admitted, making Alcie giggle "One time… I swear to the gods, his hair did smolder a bit."

"Are you the only one?"

"In my family? Yeah this string, but I think Mica has promise, once she starts puberty she might exhibit. Rhiannon is a Norm, so is David" Ianto nodded "Lisa was telekinetic so Lucas was likely going to have powers too. Sometimes at night, when I am alone, I imagine the man he might have become."

"What happened?"

"He was attacked by a Hererbdon" Ianto said, knowing he should say it out loud at least once in a while "Lisa and I could not deal with his loss, our shared power making the house so sad. Lisa was caught in a recovery mission and was lost… I know she didn't really care if she made it or not, the vessel we were saving had kids on board so… she sacrificed herself with our son on her mind."

"And you lost everything." she slumped back "Bummer."

"Yeah, sucking fucking bummer" Ianto agreed "Life is a bitch and the gods are arseholes."

Alice giggle again, then again said "Sorry."

"Accepted."

"So… can you come back?"

Ianto was surprised and he knew it showed "Excuse me young lady?"

"I will cook. I will do roast beast and we will have scalloped potatoes, I know how to do those, we were taught at school in Home Economics… come on… come home" she asked.

Ianto felt something inside as he looked at her face on the flickering screen, saw her honesty and it felt nice that someone wanted him around, even if she also sort of hated him.

"OK, I will come home on Friday, so you don't miss any school. You have Fridays off, right?" he relented "I will return and I will eat your food."

She squealed happily, then made a face "Daddy's home. I better go before he catches me burning up his credits."

Ianto heard his own voice coming back at him and he laughed, Alice joining in as she reached out to cut the feed and he wondered for the first time if they might make this work after all.

She did need help.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Archie."

An old man in mage robes turned as his name was called out, something rarely done as everyone bowed and called him Mage these days. He saw Ianto and smiled "Boy!"

"Archie, this is Alice."

The old man looked at the girl and his eyes widened slightly "My, strong this one"

"Yes. And no training. She is… drifting. Any chance there is a spot in your class? As a favour to me?"

The old man chuckled "Now…you know I could want a dullard with two fingers on each hand for you but this little one… she is strong. Lively. Come dear, I shall find a spot. Do you like liquorice?"

Ianto watched Alice get introduced to other mutants her age and one of them rose to offer her his seat, her face blushing slightly as she knew him from the shelter. Ah. Good. A friend. She lacked those, Jack had said. Good friends anyway.

"Alice, I shall leave the light hover for you" Ianto called out "The return home is pre-set, just hit go."

She spun to gape at him, a hover something you do not hand over to a teenager willy-nilly and she sent him a loving thanks for giving her some clout. The other kids immediately wanting to be friends with someone who had transport.

Ianto headed home on foot glad to check the progress of the rebuilds as he wandered, also glad to find Stephen in the room talking animatedly to David as they unpacked things.

"Thank you" Rhiannon said as she watched her brother peeking around the doorframe "That must have hurt."

"Needed to be done. You know me, I don't like to rip off the Band-Aid, or pull slowly. I would rather it stayed there forever while it all festers underneath" Ianto said making a face that had her giggling softly at his tepidness.

"You seem… better." She finally said. The death of baby Lucas in still birth soon after they began the space flight for here… Jayden born and a little toddler by the time they arrived here, then to lose Jayden a mere two years later… followed by Lisa… how much pain can one man take? The fact he called Jayden Lucas at times, the souls of his sons haunted him now as one painful entity. She wished he had sought counselling or something, his wounds so vast.

"I think I am. For peace, there must be war. This is something we are taught from a young age, I guess I forgot it and avoided the pain to get to the Zen. Alice forced me to… well… wake up. She needs me."

Rhiannon raised her eyebrows with interest.

"She's mutant, like me." Ianto admitted "And I suspect Mimi is too… as you well know. Alice has no idea what she is doing, her father's powers are strong, but he clearly never noticed his daughter following in his footsteps."

"No wonder she is all over the place. Hormones plus her powers… not nice" Rhianon agreed, her own meagre powers were hard to adjust to and had it not been for Ianto's calm leadership she knew things might have been a lot worse. Bad enough she was taken with Johnny Fuckface Davies before Ianto got back from battle to meet him and warn her that he was an Influencer.

A rare mutant that will push feelings and memories into someone to get their way. Johnny always won, by hook or crook. And Ianto had wanted to beat the living tar out of him, the moment Johnny touched Ianto's arm and said softly 'remember' only to find himself through a wall had been pretty amazing really.

You can't fool someone stronger, and Johnny had never come across a full Mute. Ianto was the rarest of breeds that can do anything… not that he does but in battle it had showed a few advantages that now had her in a better position with her kids.

And he was also right about Mimi. She was going to be strong too. David… seemed to be a Norm. No shame there. Rhiannon was almost one, the little hint of motherly love she could exude to calm others a gift from their mother.

Jack… now he was different. There was something to him she could not see, know Ianto could but would never tell and she wondered for the umpteenth time what he was hiding.

.

.

"Bore Da" Ianto said as he entered Jack's office and then he paused "Sorry. I mean… hello."

"I don't speak the old tongues, but I do love to hear them" Jack replied, sitting back from his desk "What brings you all the way to the Agency?"

"Alice."

"Ah" Jack prepared for some ground rules, some complaints and general uneasiness.

"She is a strong mutant with promise of becoming a good leader" Ianto said as Jack blinked with surprise "I have taken her to Mage Arch. He is impressed with her and has made room for her in the teenage induction program so she might hone and control herself better."

Jack blinked again "what?"

"I know, it was a liberty and I apologize for not speaking with you first, but she needs to learn to control her gift. Her pain over her mother is… still raw. I think once she understands what mutism is, she might let go over this idea that she is to blame for her mother's choice to abandon her." Ianto plucked at his trousers "After all, clearly you have never explained to her of her mother's own powers."

"Lucia was a Norm."

"No. The box called back, latent energy from her on those things, not Alice. Lucia. She was an Empath. Why your daughter exhibits not only your telepathic ability, but an empathic one is there too. She gained from both sides" Ianto corrected gently, realizing that Jack still had not handed the box back to the girl until he felt she had earned it back "I think that is why her mother left. She never accepted her own abilities and when she realized, as we all did, that they are inherited she could not deal with others knowing she must be a Mutant too."

Jack sat staring at him for a while, then admitted "I never even thought to check… you know that makes sense. And Alice's mood swings… empathic. Like you?"

"One of mine, yes. Why her anger fed mine and vice versa. We will need to train together so she can learn how to influence others with feelings and thoughts, her combat skills could be impressive given the skillset you and Lucia have provided her with." Ianto sighed "But I know you do not want her to be a soldier. Neither do I, she is… delicate. But maybe in a security level position, she might provide service as a community protector. Feeling needed and respected."

"Security. Yeah, I think she might…. Is that her?" Jack stopped talking as a Hover sped past his window with some teenagers hanging off it yelling with glee.

"She has my light hover, yes." Ianto replied calmly "Don't worry, all the safety features are on 100% so she can't kill anyone."

Jack started to laugh as he agreed that she was more than capable if no one was looking of running over a small child, then he sobered "Listen… the room…"

"It's OK. He is happy, I am cleansed, and we move on" Ianto said waving a hand to show that he really did not want to go there. "You need to give her the box back. She's been punished enough."

"So, are we still on eviction notice?"

"No. No, I rescind that. Please, stay." Ianto smiled then he rose to show he was not staying, exiting with the same unannounced flair as he had entered.

Jack sat back and stared at the chair Ianto had just evacuated and found himself grinning as he had felt the man's amusement in the room, and welcome.

He was not only becoming a friend, he was starting to like him… like… LIKE…like him.

This might work out after all.

Chapter Text

"I have a question for you."

Ianto was not sure if he liked that, Jack not only appearing at his shoulder in the kitchen like a fucking wraith or the serious tone of his statement. Barely a week since their talk and he had been on tenterhooks watching her interactions with others. He knew this was coming, Jack chewing over words in his mind, he was working himself up to a confrontation.

"OK."

"Do you think Alice is improving or is it my imagination being so damned hopeful?"

Ianto relaxed, this one he could answer "Yes, she is showing great improvement. Mage Arch is very pleased with her, he is sure her gift is strong, and she is capable of wielding it."

Jack considered his next words before saying "I don't want her to be a soldier. I never saw her in battle. Maybe why I ignored the fact she was starting to exhibit. I mean, I ignored Lucia too since us both being Mutes meant a 50/50 chance offspring might be too."

"You have to get over that, being a Mute is not a death sentence or a terrible affliction. Their lives here are going to be different to what we endured… why we came here remember? To leave the Norms and their prosecutions behind. And as to her place? No, I agree she is too emotional for full service… but as I said, there are many ways to defend. As a bodyguard at the school to protect the children if we are invaded… that is a worthy spot too" Ianto assured him "I already talked to them and the security detail there is happy to take her under their wing and make her part of their private security for the creche or something. She can serve, hone her skills and if we are ever in a position where her skills are needed, she will be the last line of defense, not on the front lines."

"My little brother Gray did not shield, or hide from the assessors and was taken when we were both young and… the thought of losing her… I am being silly" Jack relaxed, "It has all moved so fast. I know you did not intend taking over and I also know there was no disrespect in helping her as she clearly needed it and I am grateful but… I do feel slightly out of the loop."

"Sorry, I should have discussed it with you, but I do not regret answering her plea for help. I owe it to any fellow mutant. She felt unable to approach you due to the Gray issue… she knew his loss scared you for her and Stephen" Ianto smiled as he placed the dishcloth down and gave his full attention to Jack "It is not like our inductions. It is different now, mutants are not shunned or treated like second class citizens. The perception changed after the Great War. I know you worry… your shields do not fully contain it, like water seeping out… but she is not only fine, she flourishes."

"And that hover…."

"Was Lisa's. I thought it girly, used to razz her over it actually, fitting a little girl should have it" Ianto shrugged like the expensive thing was a trinket.

"Thank you" Jack settled in his own chair "for everything. I have not been this comfortable in a long time. I would also like to admit to having feelings for you, but I will not let them interfere with our friendship."

Ianto stifled a snort of amusement as clearly Jack had no idea how strongly his desire wafted off him like a deep, cloying scent. Ianto was well aware of the attraction and answered "Well, I am attracted to you also and am growing impatient waiting for you to make a move actually."

Jack stared at him "What?"

"At first I found you to be an insufferable twat and almost did not a have a mind to get to know you… but you know… you are rather a sufferable twat after all."

Jack gaped at him and then started to laugh, the underhanded insult was so finely done… it was perfect.

"Do you think…" Jack paused nervously before continuing "Mabe we could go for a meal together in the mess hall? Maybe, a walk around the gardens being reconstructed or something?"

"Are you asking me on a… a date?" Ianto asked incredulously.

"Well… would it be a yes?"

Ianto seemed to ponder this, and Jack realized he was playing with him as the air crackled with humour and then Ianto finally said "I suppose so."

Jack laughed, clapping his hands together before saying "Saturday night. Book me in, please. I will do everything; you just turn up."

Ianto had no idea what he had in mind, but he was willing to give it a try. They might not be there in his house much longer, the rebuild underway and the thought of the house being so quiet once more filled him with a fear he had not expected.

Or was it that thought of waking up to a house not full of this man's musk?

He had things to think about.

.

.

Ianto was nervously checking his tie again; the antique suit one Lisa had always loved on him and he knew he made a striking figure in it. The three piece was a soft light grey with powder pink silk lining and the white shirt made the matching pink tie look so cute. Ianto noted that he had put on a little weight in the right places, the suit fitting perfectly but his bum was… well… larger. Hmmm. Funny how the body can change, good thing the tailored suit stood up to the curves.

Finally ready, Ianto checked himself one more time then exited the bedroom with the jacket hooked on his hand, intending to get Rhiannon to check the buckle on the back of his waistcoat to make sure it was fastened securely.

Jack was talking to the kids who were all at the table waiting for their own meal and as Ianto entered the room Jack made an audible groan, stepping back to gape at the handsome man who seemed oblivious to the effect he was having on him.

"Rhia, check my buckle will you love?" Ianto asked turning to let her tighten the clasp, so the waistcoat became more pinched, the arse now even more prominent. Jack gaped.

Ianto turned to face him as he shrugged on the jacket, and he frowned "What?"

"Nothing… just… nice."

"Oh, thanks. One of my favourites. I haven't worn it in years, a whole wardrobe full of these babies, the only thing I could not give up when we emigrated. Lisa told me I was so vain" Ianto laughed, pulling at the jacket.

"If you've got it… flaunt it baby" Jack leered "And you got it in parsecs."

Ianto blushed as he turned to face the kids, winking at them as they all drank in the handsome man now accepting the overcoat Jack was holding out for him to slip his arms into. Ianto returned the favour with Jack's Great Coat that showed his service in the front guards and the two exited the house to head to their 'date night' as the kids giggled amongst themselves and whispered that they both looked so happy.

Rhiannon settled with the family meal underway and hoped to the seven hells things would go well tonight, the clear intention to see if they could court behind the evening. If one of them stuffed this up… she might bang their heads together.

She could only live and hope.

Chapter Text

Jack was a wonderful creator for their date… and Ianto was happy to call it a date. Like… gooey, silly, teenage angsty date. Holding hands while sipping their drinks as they waited for their food, small talk and silliness. More than once, he felt Jack's eyes sliding over him and he was not afraid to let Jack see him checking him out as well, letting his hand slide over Jack's butt at one stage that made Jack's grin wider.

Ianto let Jack drive the hover, take their coats and make the poor girl blush as she gave them a secluded corner to sit in. Clearly, he was an Alpha and Ianto had always bowed to Lisa as well, more the 'wife'. They did not talk about the kids, or work. Instead, they told each other stories of their youth, memories and funny things they thought of. Now that they were in the candlelight Ianto noticed the silver thread in Jack's dark blue suit, like little starlight shots. So sweet, clearly it had cost a bit and he had been saving it. Felt nice to know this was a special occasion for him too.

Laughter was a balm, both of them having such similar funny bones that Jack felt almost like he was walking on air as they ended the meal and rose, Jack rushing to get their coats. Then they walked towards the gardens, lit up in the evening twilight with the pretty fairy lights still being hung. The aftermath of the strike here had left a crater, this was filled with not only more dirt but also some of the masonry from the damaged buildings, the result was pillars sticking up and in time, somewhere roses might clamber over and creepers will cover.

In a few years this memorial garden will not only have a plaque for each lost soul, but a wonderful area full of life and colour. Jack hoped that one day, this would be an area people came to fill with noise and bluster, the best way to pay homage to those who died is to show them that those who survived will live.

"This is so pretty" Ianto sighed softly. "My boy loved these sorts of lights."

"How old was he… I mean… sorry. We don't have to…"

"Don't be silly. I should talk about him, give him air. His remembrance is an honour to him, much as this garden will be a positive thing for those lost now" Ianto replied. "He was three when he was killed."

"You saw?"

"Yes, I was running for him from across the playing field where some of us were sorting the food while the kids played with kites, Lisa was the one watching over him and the other children with other parentals. I heard the screams when the creature broke through the security mesh and… I ran as fast as I could. I swear it was days before I could breathe properly… we lost him, and another little one as well. His best friend who clung to him as they crouched with fear instead of running like he had been told to so many times. He would not leave his friend. Lisa never forgave herself even though there was nothing she could do. It was huge, fast and deadly. I killed it… I… well. Why some are more respectful of me now they know my powers."

There was nothing more to say, his pain wafting off him as he tried to shield but it was so intense that Jack found himself taking deep breaths to get through it. No need to look up the security footage to see for himself, the images seeping through were… to much.

"I lost a child" Jack finally said in a soft voice he could talk again "My firstborn was a son. Herix. He lived for almost an hour and a half. I held him, wept and knew I would never again know this level of love. Of course, the first time I held Alice I knew I had been a little overdramatic but still… I never forgot him and will never allow anyone to tell me that he didn't matter. He was my first, my only birthed."

Ianto glanced at him "By you?"

"Boeshanian."

"So who was the father... no… strike that. I know who it was. Hart right? Why he is connected to you even though there will never be anything between you again, there will always be that tenuous strand of sorrow." Ianto nodded, the man's need to needle him finally making sense. John knew Jack liked Ianto, so he was being a prick without meaning to. Jealous.

"It was a long time ago, we were still kids ourselves, still in the Academy" Jack confirmed.

Ianto nodded as they continued to walk, pausing to look at some bright blooms that only came out at night "I am sorry. Lisa lost one before Jayden. And I … I bore him as she did not want to try again and fail. He is … was… not hers. Jayden was of another, her brother gave his sperm and we used the old turkey baster."

Jack was now confused and tried not to show it. They were both breeders, capable of creating a child. Rare, so damned rare. You could comb an entire colony and not find one… two?

Then he realized what Ianto was saying. His son's death… a mutant with empathic and telepathic… oh gods. Birthed by him. He must have heard his sons' last frightened thoughts … felt the pain… shit. No wonder she killed herself to save others, connected… she felt it too.

"Jack, we really have to work on your firewalls, I heard all of that." Ianto sighed then added "Yeah, unfortunately with me being bonded to her, I enhanced those last few moments unable to hold it back as I threw myself at my son so he might be shielded from the pain. He felt only confusion and love as I took the pain."

Jack stopped walking. Shit. So technically, Ianto had felt death.

Ianto reached out his hand "Come on. There is nothing to be learned by going over the bad parts, come… I will tell you more good parts. There was this one time he tried on my boots, all two and a half years of fury stomping about trying to be me and Lisa laughed so much, milk spluttered out of her nose."

Jack started walking again, now more determined than ever to cleave to this man. This likeminded man who was clearly a good man. A just man. A worthy mate.

Ianto did not scold or remind him that he was projecting again, instead he allowed the thoughts to flow and found a comfort in knowing that not only did Jack find him attractive, but worthy of maybe bonding with.

He would like that too.

.

.

They made love that night, nothing fancy just soft caresses, kissing and when Jack entered Ianto there was a comfort there, a coming home that Jack had sought for so long.

It felt…. Right.

Over the next week or so things really shifted, and Jack found himself in a comfortable relationship with the man he had hoped to connect with. Tentative, small steps but… they were moving towards something he had really hoped they would have.

They were starting to bond.

Chapter Text

"Whatcha reading lover?" Jack asked as he entered the office to find Ianto swinging in his chair with one of those pursed lip things he does when not only is he shielding, but he is actively trying to glean something from the screen. In the three months since they had settled into a familial routine after THAT date, Jack find himself learning more every day about this man.

"This report about the bloody Xenomorph XX121 creatures. They give me the utters. I am trying to read the report between the lines" Ianto replied, turning to lean back for a kiss, their lips fitting together like a hand in a glove.

Jack leaned forward to scan it and sighed "Right. This is the final report of the commercial starship Nostromo, third officer. Ah…. Ripley, right? Old, the recent one from the colony is here too? Ergh. Come on love, these are at last three galaxies away from us. Like… they would have more luck reaching Old Earth than here."

"That was a terraforming colony they overran, Hadley's Hope, that had been established on LV-426 and I am sure to them it seemed to be more than safe too" Ianto leaned back "I don't like it. I am going over the schematics for the bunker system and if these little buggers ever arrived here, they would get in as easily as they did on Hadley's Hope. Look at this… they used the duct systems, the fucking walls… coolant in the ships to help travel… like rats." Ianto pointed out.

"So… you think slamming some grating and stuff about the place will make you feel better?" Jack asked.

"Slam… you think I am overreacting or something?" Ianto leaned back to take a long, hard look at him "Jack… I never question your way of doing things, you never question mine. We are a Mutant Colony, ostracized from our home planets and here to settle into some routine that makes sense to us. I did not expect to be minimalized over something as simple as safety. I really thought my powers would cause friction… wow."

Jack opened and then closed his mouth "Wait… hang on, that's not what…. Ianto!"

Ianto turned back to the screen with a glare and Jack found himself out of the room standing in the hallway and he had not even consciously thought about it. Had Ianto just ejected him?

Jack found it oddly amusing.

But maybe Ianto was right… it did not hurt to look at safety measures.

Man, he was touchy lately.

.

.

"Where were you?" Alice asked as she watched her father enter the kitchen to slowly pace it, checking the food she was preparing. Replicator Meals tonight, but still a nice assortment. Like a buffet.

"Ianto has some sort of conniption about Ripley's Reports, and we were looking at the bunker systems all day for any weaknesses anything larger than a mouse can fit through" Jack sighed, leaning against the counter to watch her "Look at you. You look just like your mother, so organized. You did NOT get that from me."

"Don't change the subject, what is Ripley's Reports?" she turned to face him, her head tilted in an Ianto kinda way that made him feel a swell of affection for her. She felt it and smiled softly.

"Actually, you remind me of something else. He scolded me for it again earlier, wait a sec" he left the kitchen, and she sighed going back to her work as she lamented that this is something her mother always went a little mad about. Attention span of a goldfish… whatever a goldfish was.

"Here we are darling" Jack reappeared and in his hands was…. She was screaming, her hands flapping as she felt it before even turning to see it, her eyes wide as her mother's box looked back at her.

"Oh Daddy!" she sobbed, snatching it to clasp to her chest "Why did you not give it back?"

"You hurt Ianto and I was… OK… I was being selfish. I felt her too… hadn't before but once Ianto said there was latent energy from her, I felt it too. Silly really, like I might discover why she stopped loving me from a box. She is not Ianto and I have decided not to compare this relationship to the last, to stop being afraid that he will leave me too" Jack shrugged, the adult conversation one he didn't think he would be having with his daughter.

"You let him see it?" she was not sure how to feel about that. Sure, she was happy here now and Ianto was a good man but still… this was something special. Private.

"Well, that's the other reason I held off. I didn't want you to think I was using it as leverage there" Jack grimaced.

"How?"

"Well…he is the one who searched and found that for you. While you were looting, he was thinking of you. I would never have found it where he dug. His power is so strong… he heard that energy calling to Melissa. It sort of unnerved me at first to know he could hear the box but… since I have been connecting to him I hear it too… soft, faint but now I realize it is a comfort too and I should have handed it over, despite my fear that you might not be happy Ianto touched it."

"Connecting. You are really bonding with him, right?"

Jack rubbed his face, then added "I love him. I am in love with him. I don't want you two to fight, I don't want to be forced to leave him as it would kill me."

She stood holding the box as she knew several things at once. He would have left Ianto for her. She would have been the reason for his heart breaking all over again. Ianto found the box and had searched for it for her while she was being horrid.

She was a twat.

"Well, I might take after Mama in the kitchen but clearly the Twatness comes from you" she finally said, and Jack blinked, then started to laugh.

Cheeky mare.

.

.

.

"So, how long have you felt like this?" Owen asked poking at Ianto as he reached out for a body scanner.

"About a week. I put it down to Ripley's Reports making my skin crawl. Did you read them? The recent one on the colony?" Ianto asked, watching Owen as he waved the scanner then brought it close to his face like he was half blind.

"Yeah, Toshiko was a little freaked out too… fucking things. But there is more chance of one getting to Old Earth than here" Owen replied, then choose another scanner.

Ianto was surprised and asked calmly "So Jack talked to you about it too?"

"How did you know that?" Owen was genuinely surprised, then laughed "Oh… yeah… that was his take on it. Shit, that brain of yours. I will NEVER play any games with you or Toshiko. Freaks."

Ianto laughed as well, not taking offence at the tag too hard as Owen was a freak too… here on this planet we are all allowed to be one.

"Well, Toshiko is onboard with the idea of meshing the place" Owen finally said as he placed the second scanner down and stared into space, like reading the screen still. Ianto was curious, he had never seen Owen using his powers before and it was interesting to see that he could remember a spot second image and was still going over it long after he had put the scanner down. Gleaning, much as Ianto had with Ripley's Reports.

"I will feel a lot happier once I now those things who I am repeatedly told will never get here cannot get in" Ianto nodded then added "Oh… and this."

He lifted his tunic so show a small pimple on his stomach "A gorch. I have another on my shoulder too. I only ever get these when I am run down like after a mission or something. I've not had one in years."

"Well… about four, right? Four or five?" Owen muttered as he stared at it and then let his eyes move up to focus on Ianto's face "Think about it buddy. What happened about five years ago now? your system had a bit of a surprise? What did you and Lisa do? Remember the turkey baster?"

Ianto did.

He paled.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"And you didn't lamp him one?"

"No. I might lamp your fella mind," Ianto warned watching Toshiko giggle softly behind her hand as she knew Ianto would never harm Owen… he likes him.

"Owen is so dense. No matter how much I tell him about other powers, he thinks his own healing power is the only one that matters like most Healers, he is a dick." She admitted.

"Well… once Jack had calmed down and realized the mistake, he is over the moons." Ianto rolled his eyes and settled back in the chair "But if he asks me one more time if I need slippers on in the house as a chill is bad for bubba I might lamp him."

"And Alice? Another one you didn't lamp."

"I know. This Zen me is so unexpected right? You would think a little smacking and throwing of shit but… no. Losing my Jayden… I changed. Lisa saw it and it scared her, why we were so distant in those few months after his death before she chose her own demise" Ianto sighed.

"And now? Another grows."

"I am conflicted. On the one hand, will I see my son in this one? Will I compare them? Will each milestone my sweet boy never got to be something I hold over this one? Like I did with Jayden, comparing him to Lucas?"

"Don't be silly" she laughed, sipping on her green tea "You haven't a mean bone on your body. And you know it!"

"Speaking of mean bones… that bag of nasty bones called Alice needs picking up as her hover is in the shop." Ianto rose. "Rhiannon dropped her off this morning on her way to work, thank God she has her hover still. Imagine if only me and Jack's were left for the entire family? Some people lost everything. The little one is perfect for her as a learner."

"Lisa's one?"

"Alice's one now. Yeah, someone scratched whore into the paintwork" Ianto grimaced "Looks like there is some competition for one of the boys and Alice is winning on that score, the others are getting nasty."

"Oh shit."

Ianto hummed softly, agreeing that mutant teenage girls are vicious creatures when pissy.

.

.

Ianto entered the school and strode confidently to the cafeteria where the after schoolers met for their weekend assignments from their teachers before they could be let go. As he entered the room he got to see the girl throw the large cup of soda at Alice's face and front, her white cotton shirt about to become see-through and dangerously so.

Ianto flicked his hand and the Liquid froze, suspended in the air between the two young women as Ianto walked towards them, Alice's cringe changing to glee as she swung to see him. She started to smile as she stepped out of range of the drink and Ianto released it to splat harmlessly on the floor.

The girl had not seen Ianto and was enraged, screaming "Which cocksucker did that! I will tear your fucking throat out."

"I would like to see you try" Ianto aid as he came to a halt next to Alice, "I am a heavily decorated Mutant Militia Commander, retired. I can kill you in over a dozen different ways right now at this range without even lifting my hand. You wanna try to take me girl?"

The room teacher who had been at her desk arranging papers turned slowly as those vowels filled the room with a deep booming anger "Well? You care to tell me why you think it is a good idea to throw your drink on MY Alice?"

"Oh… Ah… Commander Jones. I… oh… Alice is part of your family?" the teacher gushed as she ran over, knowing the mutant who they had been warned of during briefings on their flight here in the first place, the one who not only knew here the bodies were buried… he had created those bodies of the greater good. And that day…. That horrible day the poor little boys died…. They all saw his power.

"Well, since my youngling in my belly is her new sibling-to-be… I think I know her pretty well" Ianto said calmly "Alice is my daughter. Her father, Captain Harkness, and I are not happy about this. First the Hover is damaged, now this? For some boy? If these little girls are so insecure that they must tear one another apart instead of working together like strong mature women… then maybe Alice is in the wrong school and I need to talk to Archie about enhancing her world."

Ianto had dropped several things into the conversation but he knew Archie would get the most reaction, and it did as the teacher took a step back to regard the man who could say his name like that.

Alice had never felt stronger, standing next to the man who did not reach for her hand, but instead for her mind, his own strongly advising she smile sweetly. So, she did.

The other girl screamed, launching herself at Alcie and Ianto raised his hand, the girl now frozen in midair as he held her there turning his gaze to the teacher "This is inacceptable. What sort of school is this?"

"I assure you sir, we will sort this out quick smart" the teacher spluttered with open fear a his eyes seemed to change to fiery globs of rage, then he released the girl who stood mute with shock.

"Come on Jelly Bean, the hover is ready for pick up" Ianto dismissed the rom, offering his arm like she was his lady and she felt ten feet fucking tall and bulletproof as she accepted, her hand sliding into the crook of his arm to let affection flow between them.

Felt nice to be righteous.

.

.

Jack was enraged too, glad Ianto had stepped in and also angry that in 'his condition' he had to. Ianto had resisted the eye roll and allowed Jack to bluster about, then the call to return to the school for a meeting had Ianto curious, deliberately taking the back seat to things as Jack strode in with Alice, every bit her father.

As Ianto chose a seat near the back he noticed Hart there, watching the glee on the man's face as he looked around ad saw the father of the drink throwing girl blistering up front and demanding answers. Ah. Lt Gordon. Fuckwit. Could not fight his way out of a wet paper bag that one, only one in the academy who failed EVERY test bar writing his own name. Only gained rank due to his father's money. Hart was his bodyguard? Quaint.

"I am Alice's father, you want to talk to me?" Jac demanded, "Captina Jack Harkness."

The man spun and took a step towards Jack who grinned like a maniac, letting his powers show as he expanded himself like a fucking blowfish. The man stalled out, seeing the tall man now towering over him.

Ianto felt amusement now, seeing Jack be a twat facing a smaller, weaker twat. Like… battle of the twats. Jack snorted softly, no doubt hearing Ianto and seeing the silliness of it, so he retuned to normal size and folded his arms "Well?"

"YOUR daughter…."

"WHAT ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER" Jack screamed back, the man's hair flipping back from his face as Ianto held a hand over his mouth.

Then the other two adults sitting with kids started, clearly the Mean Girl clique had their parentals there. Ianto also watched the other kids who did not engage, rather sitting back watching their parents make twats of themselves. Other parents seemed embarrassed.

Ianto recognized some of them. Knew they would recognize hm too and after Jack's voice started to crack with anger, Ianto rose to let himself be seen.

"OUR daughter Alice has been the subject of some abuse, and I am not amused" Ianto said calmly, walking forward to stand next to his mate, the others all falling silent.

"And who the fuck are you!" one of the women sneered.

"Commander Ianto Jones madam… your husband's boss I think" Ianto grinned widely, his own smile not the Cheshire cat of his husband… rather the pointed teeth tiger snarl.

"Miranda… come away" a man called out nervously "He's the one who lost his son last year to the attack… come away."

Her mouth slammed shut, her eyes widened, and she seemed to move backwards like she was afraid to break eye contract with him. Like escaping a wild animal.

Ah.

Strange when your reputation precedes you eh?

Chapter Text

Ianto was laughing as he lifted the plate of food, offering it to one of the other men helping at the tables as the children laughed in the distance, the screams changing as he frowned, watching the man's face change too. He slowly turned to see what the man was looking at and saw the huge monster throwing itself at the forcefield surrounding the colony.

It all happened in slow motion.

Lisa screamed as she dropped the kite she had been untangling, running for their son as Ianto started to run as well.

There was time.

He had to believe there was time.

The Hererbdon was moving fast though, the children scattering and forgetting the drills they had done so many times. And Jayden… he was not running. He had hold of his best friend Jason who was laying in the fetal position on the ground, and he was trying to get him to run with him.

There was no more time.

Jayden threw himself over his friend, covering his head as he cried out for Ianto. Ianto screamed as the Hererbdon opened it's jaws and in those last moments he did what he could for his son, throwing love into the bond. Even as he threw all his rage at the animal who was now savaging the two little bodies like a Pitbull with a chihuahua.

Finally, Ianto was close enough for his power to reach the thing, he stopped running even as others ran past him. It was too late. Both children were dead, the bond snapped in his heart. Finally, as it continued to run … he was close enough.

Ianto took a deep breath and screamed, his arms thrown wide as the monster finally looked in his direction, it's jaw dripping with blood. His son's blood. He thought of Lucas's little face as he held that cooling baby in his hands, he thought of Jayden moving in his belly, the birth and the first time he held him, his own little face so identical to his brother's. Laughter of his sweetling he would never hear again.

The joy of finally getting it right.

Ianto roared.

As he crouched now, his hands claws as he ripped at the grass, the monster made a shuddering back step, then as people watched on with horror… it simply… imploded.

It's skull crushed into itself, an eyeball popping out of the socket, even as the shoulder blades snapped and slammed together, the chest cavity slamming into a thin line. Like two inviable tanks had met head on with it as the filling to their grill sandwich… the monster began to vomit blood, the gush of it coming from it's mouth, nose, eyes… ears… Ianto roared again, and it crumpled like paper.

It burned.

Finally, he stopped, too spent to argue anymore as hands helped him to the ground.

Lisa was screaming, her voice breaking as she screamed their son's name again and again.

But it all faded away.

Ianto was empty.

.

.

Jack was aware of Ianto being still in the bed… so still that he was not even breathing, and he was about to turn the light on when Ianto spoke "My first born was called Lucas."

"Lisa's?"

"Yes. Lucas. He was so small, so perfect and so… dead. She was so destroyed by it that she said she didn't want to try again. She blamed herself even though it was not her fault. So, her brother offered his jizz knowing my ability to carry. With a turkey baster we created Jayden. After only two tries. All while keeping it quiet from the others as we were still in space flight from the home planets to the colony." Ianto stooped talking, then snorted softly in the darkness "No idea the madness when they realized I was with child. I was accused of being unfaithful, she was called a cock… it was insane. Then he was born. I waited for that cry, felt it was not about to happen and was prepared for a second child to be jettisoned out of the airlock… and he cried."

"So that's why they reacted like that at the meeting?"

"No. When Jayden was killed, I showed myself. They fear me. Fear my power." Ianto rolled to face him and his hand was then on Jack's cheek, gently stroking his face "I am vicious."

"I did wonder… Lucas… Jayden… the two boys… you sometimes think of them as one child" Jack kissed the hand.

"I sort of do. Both sparks of promise… I sometimes wonder if Jayden was Lucas reborn. Silly I know, but they were identical. I mean… down to the little ear folded on the left side." Ianto leaned in to kiss him now "So… I mean… I am going to be a little stupid when this one arrives, my need to make sure it is perfect. I fear I will compare again."

"This thing with Alice…"

"I think, given the reactions when they were reminded of my temper, Alice has nothing to worry about now" Ianto laughed, flopping back.

"You took us into your home, into your heart and we cause such disharmony when you seem to be fighting for calm and…."

"You can't have sunshine without a little rain sometimes" Ianto whispered "For the calm… there must be a storm. I was born in a storm, it suits me."

"Oooooo… deep."

"Read it on a greeting card or something."

They both giggled softly.

.

.

Down the hall Alice was also thinking about things instead of sleeping.

Would it be another boy? Would Stephen feel pushed out? Would she? Will she be able to care for the baby like a mama? She wanted to. She really wanted to be a good big sister.

Or a girl? Would she become Daddy's little girl? What did that mean for her? Alice chewed on all of this then made the decision to accept what came. After all… she had gained Ianto as a parental too. She was better off this time, the affection he showed do her, like a real parental, was more than her own mother had given her.

Any child they have will not be better or more. Ianto would not do her like that. She knew that. He was already calling her HIS daughter and standing there in her name.

Alice felt that if it was another girl she would not be competition, rather she would be someone to shelter and protect.

Like Ianto was protecting her.

Right?

.

.

Ianto was humming softly as his Son's second Death Day came and went, determined not to dwell on it, not to let it define him in this moment, not when a new life was almost here. He was finished his first trimester, into the second one now.

Jayden would have been five. Lucas would have been six a mere two weeks before Jayden's death day. It had been Dex's birthday; the little boy had been three that day and it had been his party. The loss of his friend something he never spoke of, but Martha confided that in the night, he sometimes whimpered Jayden's name.

Ianto entered the house, newly built and looking so new and clean. He had held out the Gerfil and let the child scream lustily for the rare cat-like rodent thing that was all the go on this planet, like a rabbit/cat/rat/crazed nutta thing with bright blue fur.

Jayden had wanted one. They all had. Dex was beside himself as he cuddled the soft little thing and Ianto had assured the horrified parents that a hutch and food was in the hover outside.

"I wanna call him JJ" the little boy said softly "My new best friend."

"You know… Jayden would have thought that was a cool name" Ianto assured the boy "And he would have been soooo jelly.

The kid giggled at the word for jealous the two boys had used, usually when scoffing at the random child trying to join the exclusive Jones Bond.

"Thank you" Martha said as she hugged him "So expensive."

"Well, when it breeds my little Bubba can have one I guess."

Breeds" Mickey said with a snort "Nope on that one!"

Ianto just grinned knowing those things were more prolific than rabbits on Old Earth… and twice as easily impregnated …. No matter how careful you were.

This planet seems to be great for conception.

Chapter Text

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.

Chapter Text

Jack arrived home to collect Ianto for the Fete, his morning work done and as he called out for Ianto to shake his tail feathers he opened the fridge to check what goodies are in there. He chose a snack, closed the door and stood gaping at the man walking towards him in the prettiest dress.. er … coat he had ever seen.

It was militarial grey, it had medals on it like it was a dress coat but it went all the way down to his calves, the trousers underneath were the same material and instead of boots, he was wearing comfortable shoes. But there was no sash, no belt, it seemed to move like it was a fucking vehicle.

He looked huge, insanely preggers and at the same time… still so sexy.

"Ianto…"

"Do you like it?" Ianto asked, "I can unbutton it and then you can see the shirt, it's so comfortable."

Jack watched the huge coat waft out like it was suddenly a cape and the shirt inside was a delicate blue, now hugging the belly. Ianto pulled a face "too much?"

"Are you kidding? Business on the outside… sweetness in the inside…. Baby, you're having my baby" Jack gushed.

Ianto rolled his eyes.

"Come on lover, let's not forget I still wanna put a ring on it" Jack stepped in close, his hands sliding over the bump as his mouth moved in to find Ianto's. The kiss was sweet, and their child moved under his hands like she was happy too.

They arrived at the huge space vessel repair hanger the fete was in, in case of rain and in these parts you do NOT wanna get caught in the rain. They exited the Hover and Ianto adjusted the coat as it was chilly by the huge doors, letting Jack place an arm around him as they walked toward the tables. Since the storm and rebuild there had been a flurry of activity to create this happy day, a time of celebration. Ianto plastered a smile on his face as he was moved into the flow of people.

They moved around the tables, stopping at one where Alice was working for her school, the artworks of the children were amazing and Ianto instantly knew which one was hers, reaching out to pluck up the pretty starscape "Look Cariad. It's perfect for the nursery."

"Oh, yeah. You think Bub will like the stars?" Jack asked, unaware that the painting was hers.

"I think it is so realistic, calming" Ianto replied, looking past it at the teenager who was now puffing with delight.

"Well, I like it. I think it is strong and at the same time… yeah. Reminds me of the quiet times in the Black. Wow. So…. Yeah. Good word. Strong." Jack smiled as he canted his head like Ianto had.

Ianto let him pay, watching Alice preen with delight as she assured them she would be home once they cleared up after things were finished.

"Nonsense. You have your Hover, take your time. Just be home intime for tea darling" Ianto said smoothly "We trust you. Besides, I bet you would be a boon helping get some of this stuff back to the school afterwards."

Alice nodded as she agreed, going away to serve another person.

As they moved around Ianto became warm so he unbuttoned the coat letting it waft back and Jack was the one who enjoyed the staring and whispers more than Ianto, their child making waves all over the place.

"Oh, how cute. Look Cariad" Ianto gushed at a stall with little handmade teddy bears.

"Awwww…. Yeah. So, what colour do you think for our little incoming beast?" Jack asked picking up a bright orange and a soft pink one to wave in each hand.

Stephen had joined them and was picking through the teddies with gusto, turning to show Ianto ones he had found.

"Actually… the lavender and purple ones are more her I think… oh goodness…. Is that …. Do you have one with a glittery thread Fen?" Ianto gasped "Look Cariad. So cute."

"We'll take it" Jack said grandly, another purchase made.

Ianto let Stephen have the coat now to carry like a footman, walking confidently with his silky shirt clinging, the bump leading the way and the PREGGERS screaming from him. People were moving out of the way automatically, Ianto was simply mowing through them like a bloody icebreaker.

Jack found himself giggling as he felt the amusement from his mate, Ianto deliberately making people uncomfortable with his pregnancy on display, stopping before a stall with a quiet couple of men who were still laying out their goods.

"Oh, silversmiths. Wonderful, you have rattles?"

One of them looked up, took in the belly then the male voice, letting his eyes travel up to the warm smile. Then he straightened up and showed his own smaller bump. The two Dams grinned at one another as Jack caught up and looked as well "Oh wow. Look Fen darling, another preggers one. You are both amazingly pretty."

Cue blushing.

"Hi there, Captain Jack Harkness"

Now both of the poor men behind the stall were blushing as Ianto held back a giggle, leaning on the handsome man who had no idea the warmth of wafting of his hormones in the presence of pregnant men. Oh yes… it made them hungry alright.

Finally, Jack moved away with Stephen and Ianto leaned back to whisper "Yeah… he does taste like that when you lick him."

A shriek of laughter had Jack turning back to see the preggers man cling to his mate as he screamed with glee, Ianto sedately wafting towards him like he had no idea why the man he was leaving like that was acting the fool.

"Did you just do a Jones-Hit-n-Run?" Jack asked as they wandered around once more… for luck.

"Hmmmm?"

"Cheeky."

Chapter Text

Ianto had been pleased with the positive responses from the Fete and he had thought everything had been swimmingly fine. Invites to Baby and Me group and some nods of friendship in passing when he took his morning stroll. Now he knows better, and he wondered why they took this long to test the waters as it were… or… to poke the dragon?

Ianto was in the local store looking at the display of fruit on offer, some of the Feddils for the outer regions were sweet this time of year and he knew Alice liked the fruit finely cut over her ice cream. As he was reaching out for one a hand shot out first to snag the one he wanted and he turned his head to see a sneering face close to his as the man hissed "Not for spunk receptacles."

Ianto raised an eyebrow as he replied, "So your mother does not eat them?"

The man blinked, confused momentarily as he stared at Ianto, then realized the use of his own words back at him and he drew back slightly "What the fuck do you mean by that?"

"I think you know. Took you a moment to get it but you DO know and now you know that you insulted your own mother in the way you chose to needle me, maybe you could buy her some as a thank you for clearly suffering for her decision not to abort you." Ianto smiled back, not the least bit ready to step back.

He felt amusement, anger and a shifting of interest. They must know who he is, what he is but think his belly makes him … what…. Soft? Idiots. Clearly they have no idea that when a pregnant person is cornered their powers can sometimes become more focused… not less.

Ianto watched the idiot's two mates move in behind him and wondered what their end game was. Clearly, they could not attack him, not harm him as it was a clear violation of the laws to even challenge him, so… intimidation?

Ianto chose a slight flex, sending out a little repelling power that had them stepping back automatically even if they did not know why. Then before he could stop it, his power flexed big time, the store growing silent as everyone inside the walls felt a wash of cold water in their veins.

"Sorry" Ianto called out calmly "my baby does not like me being annoyed."

"Morris, what are you doing to that man!" a new voice chimed in, a woman coming around the shelves to glare. "If I get a violation this place ha to shut down for 24 hours."

"It's OK, they can't harm me. I might harm them mind, don't mean to but it would make a hell of a mess in here if I implode his head and the three kids waiting for him at home might be a little startled to find their father died poking at a pregnant Dam. Of course, his wife won't mind, his mate here behind me have been keeping her warm for about a year now… in fact… the baby in HER belly right now is his. So… poor Morris here is a little insecure."

Everyone froze as Ianto grinned wider "Ya see… Morris here shoots blanks and can't actually father a child. None of the kids are his. Ouch, that must burn there old buddy. Seems your hermaphrodite parts have rendered you sterile, where as mine have made me… bear fruit a it were. You are jealous? Really? It is a 50/50 crap shoot as to fertility when you have both genders ya know."

Morris opened and closed his mouth, then Ianto sighed "I see, you didn't know? The doctor did explain it all to you, did you really think he might be wrong? Look mate… I can see your mutant power is numbers so… do the math. Come on. This fucker here is only hanging around you because you always pay the bill after a meal and your wife asked him to, she is worried that you are lonely. The other one here on the other side of me? He secretly fancies ya but until right now didn't even know you were a Doub like me and is now confused as he has never… you know… done it… with a two hole joy-sticked fella? Ew… that's a horrible description of us and for your information… we still only have one hole… the birth canal and … sexual service centre a my partner calls it… are all in the one hole like … you know… our bum. Lovely prostate there, shame not to use it… girls don't have that ya know."

Giggling started somewhere as Ianto gave them an anatomy lesson on Dams, explaining that the anus serves as both an innie and an outtie. Then he sighed "But you know… since you are a Dam too, maybe you needed to know this."

"What?" the man squawked with horror.

"Yeah. Standing there judging poor Morris for being of both persuasions and unable really to choose… hence no balls really… when you are also one of us and clearly… bigoted towards your own kind. Now that… that… is sad."

Ianto wafted off and left the three men all staring at one another, unsure who was going to make the first move but he was sure that the fight would be messy and he did not want all the blame for the produce that might be damaged once Morris took off.

As smashing and yelling began, he reached the counter "Hello there Darlene. Care to ring me up love? I have had a smashing time in here, bubba loves the music you are playing over the speakers. Did you choose it?"

"Yes Sir, I did" she giggled back, calmly bagging up his purchases as a can of baked beans sailed past in the distance. Yeah… those things have lasted though the millennia… dammed beans.

Ianto winked at her as he headed to his hover, pleased that one of the girls offered to vary his bag and ask after the bub, genuinely interested so he let her touch. Her eyes widening as the baby moved and she lit up.

"You will be a lovely mother one day Meryl. And don't worry about that… you know… my mama had the power to induce and seduce with song…. Like a Seiren she would sing softly and all those around her would calm and do her bidding. I have a speck of that too but do not use it as … well… ladies are best for that. And you are a petty lady with an amazing chance. Choose the mate you want well, then remember that once ensnared… he will never leave you. Sing only for him" Ianto winked as he clambered into his seat and added "But as I say. Choose well. Choose better than my mama… Da killed her in the end as he was so possessive and jealous."

She watched the Hover skim off and thought of the gorgeous boy she watched from afar with those steamy eyes and that tight arse when he bent over… his laughter… all the girls wanted him and he had smiled at her. Her. A wealthy family and he was such a softie that he gave up the football tam for fear of hurting someone with his huge shoulders and strong muscles.

Maybe she should find a nice song to sing.

Ianto hummed all the way home.

Chapter Text

The bump was huge, the baby squished for room and complaining so loud they could all hear it.

"Come on June-bug, poor Taddy needs some sleep" Ianto said softly as he rubbed the bump.

"We are not calling her that" Jack said as he sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his hair with a towel as he watched the large bump… on the bump… move.

"Why not?" Ianto asked jokingly adding "June-bug Loraxia Harkness Jones sounds sweet."

Jack did not catch the humour in his mate's voice and was shielding form a long hard day working so he did not take the best step in responding "My child will have a name of my family. Like Alice… Stephen… all ancestors. A Harkness."

Ianto looked up from the bump with surprise "Excuse me? Don't I get a say?"

"I am the father, that's how it goes." Jack replied, then spun as he caught the anger in Ianto's voice, opening his shield to find too late that he had misstepped.

"Look" Jack shuffled over and leaned in close "I am there for each birth, as is the Harkness way. I hold up the bub before the cord is cut and I declare the name from the list… it is always done that way."

"So… if you are not there I can name her?"

Jack started to laugh as he now saw the cheekiness in his mate "That's right. If I miss the birth of our daughter, you will get the right to name her."

"I will hold you to that" Ianto replied as he kissed him softly.

"It will never happen. I will NOT miss her birth" Jack said confidently "I would be a pillock to even be apart from you near her time."

"Words of wisdom."

.

.

"So she said… this Thursday onwards… tomorrow after school" Alice was talking to Jack as Ianto entered the living room to flop into his chair and groan softly. In the last two weeks he had started feeling so over the entire thing. Alice automatically rolled her eyes at him and then turned back to her father.

Jack seemed to consider.

"Thursday, just the one night away?" he finally asked.

Ianto turned to look at him and opened his mouth to remind him that he was working Thursday night and Alice might be best at home with him when Jack said "And Ianto will be the first to complain that I am working, and you need to be here for him. Sorry love, it's up to him if you have fun or not."

Her face dropped as she shot a look at him and Ianto was now the heel. Shit, thanks Cariad. Ianto shot a look at Jack in response then said calmly "I can ask Rhia to come keep me company, or maybe Toshiko."

Alice lit up again "Please Daddy?"

"Just the one night won't hurt" Ianto said, trying to keep the annoyance from his voice as he was again ignored. He would never truly be a parental to Jack's kids, would he.

Jack caught the thought and glanced back at the retreating bulk of his heavily pregnant Dam. Instead of thinking through the problem or even comprehending the problem Jack did the usual "Come on Tiger. Don't be pissy. I would say don't have a cow but our daughter might be a right cow if your mood swings are anything to go by. You sure are the right size!"

Ianto stopped moving. Did not turn, did not speak, just stood there for a beat then continued out the door and Jack cursed softly at himself for a flat joke.

Or a fat Joke.

Shit… did he just insult him?

Jack groaned, rubbing his face as he pondered the fact Ianto was damned near impossible to please these days. Why they are called Dams? Damned hard. Bloody hormones had him moody, whingey and picky. Like a highly strung horse boxed for too long.

Ianto stopped walking along the hallway as he caught that thought as well, the weight of Jack's annoyance pushing against his shoulders and with a soft sniff Ianto tried not to have a crying fit. Those really annoyed everyone and he wished he didn't have them too.

He was being a cow lately with his needy diva behaviour.

He vowed not to complain anymore.

.

.

"I can't sorry love, the boys are having a sleepover."

"Boys?"

"David and Stephen, along with the boy from school… Damien. They are all having a little camp-in or whatever they call it in the living room."

Ianto blinked slowly as he learnt that Stephen was also going to leave the house tonight, leaving Ianto all alone. "Did Jack OK this?"

"Yeah, Stephen will be here for the long weekend, no school Friday remember?"

"Right. Yeah, baby brain… I had forgotten." Ianto replied, now wondering if Alice was only having one night away or not… no Friday school… of course.

He ended the call and rang Toshiko only to find that she was filling in at the medical center for a doctor who wanted the long weekend off, her and Owen both going to work for the duration.

They all knew he was due any day and now there was going to be the next three days as a weekend holiday… holly shit.

They had forgotten?

.

.

"Jack, did you remember this weekend is a long one with Friday being a holiday?" Ianto asked as he walked into the bedroom to watch him pack a bag "Jack?"

"Yeah, the kids are really looking forward to it" Jack replied, rushing to throw another pair of socks into the kit bag.

"Well… it is also my Due Time" Ianto said softly "And we agreed that you would not work."

Jack sighed theatrically "You've not even dropped, and WE never agreed to it. Just because you demand something like a bloody Diva, it does not automatically make it a law."

Ianto was hurt and Jack turned to face him with anger now "Look, you need to stop using this baby like a weapon. You don't always get your own way in this family just because you can shit out a baby!"

Ianto was stunned.

Jack turned back to his preparations, muttering to himself internally that Ianto was just like Lucia always wanting shit from him with not even a blowjob lately.

Ouch.

Yeah, there had been no sex for the last two months, Ianto was too uncomfortable and tired all the time with HIS child in his belly.

"Fine" Ianto said shortly, turning to storm from the room.

"Great now he will cry" Jack sighed to the now empty room.

Tears prickled and he cursed the bloody hormones that made him seem so bloody weak. Jack being all alpha fucktard in response.

Well… fine.

He didn't need anyone.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Hey Tad" Stephen called out as he slammed through the house "I need my swimming trunks."

"Sure sweetie, they are in your swimming bag, the towel is one of those fluffy ones you like rolled in there too" Ianto replied, still working calmly at the kitchen counter as he made soup. He felt like soup so… it was a soup day.

"You all good?" the boy hesitated in the doorway, his hand on the frame like he might get washed away.

"Yes sweetie, I am all good. We are fine here, off you go. Enjoy the rest of your weekend" Ianto replied, still cutting vegetables as the boy left.

He had survived on his own before… he could do it again.

This was not a big deal, he had to be an adult and just… find his Zen again.

.

.

"Hi Ianto, I can't find my shoes for the walk across the dunes."

"Under your bed Alice, or maybe in the laundry still, I did tell you to put them away once they were done on the drying rack. I had to scrub the mud off from last time remember?" he replied sagely, watching her move through the house.

He stirred the soup and breathed in the aroma. God, he was hungry.

"See ya."

.

.

"Ianto, that towel Stephen has…"

"There is a whole pile of them in the cupboard by the office door" Ianto said as he lifted the bowl to scoop some soup into, leaning over to breathe it in with a hum of delight.

Rhiannon passed with an armful of towels and called over her shoulder that she would wash them before she returned them.

Ianto hummed as he placed the bowl down, then settled in the chair, adjusting the baby in the little front pack, then the robe wrapped around himself and bub. Warm, safe and sheltered.

He had his soup.

It tasted better than he had hoped for, and he even had seconds.

You know what? He really WAS OK. It was all good and he was not even angry anymore. After all, he had spent a lot of his life alone, he was a solitary creature truth be told and bonding with this little on right now… felt pretty good. He had a false alarm and now everyone was sick of it, he got that. After all... HE had been sick of it too and it was a relief to finally have that part of things done with. He was never a good patient, pregnancies brought out the sulker in him. Lisa used to tell him he was like a three-year-old wanting ice-cream before dinner. Ianto smiled as he recalled the tantrums she would watch him throw while telling him it would only tire him out.

Bloody hormones. He didn't blame anyone for this, after all… he WAS annoying I guess. Everyone made that so perfectly clear. And he hadn't even needed them. Was this so bad? This was his life now, right? They all had theirs and he was just… what… a side piece? He could live with that, after all. He had his little star in his pocket now. All his wishes came true. A good man, a family, a baby… so he forgot to wish for love. Stupidly thought that was a given. Didn't matter. He had all the love right here in his arms.

No problems.

.

.

"Hey Babe" Jack called out as he entered the house with Owen and John in tow "Is that file still in your office on the xenomorphs? We wanna check those grating measurements on the other bunker."

"Sure Cariad" Ianto replied, lifting the cup of coffee, relishing his one cup a day. After this he would clean up that bathroom, the dull throbbing of his body healing was almost bearable now, he could have a little nap afterwards

Jack walked through the dishevelled bedroom and into the walk-in robe to head to the office beyond. Owen slowed as he recognized a smell turning to look into the bathroom and the towels still on the floor as Ianto did not want to bend over to clean up just yet.

The afterbirth was wrapped in a towel in a bucket, the blood in the tub smeared around the sides.

Owen stood staring at it, then turned and walked out to the main room "Ianto…"

"Nope. You can't."

"Huh?"

"You can't see her. The first person to see her is supposed to be her father, so… let's just wait for him to have time for me and his daughter so he can welcome her" Ianto said as he rose from the chair, wincing "Coffee?"

"Christ, sit down. I will get it. I cannot believe this… you are so calm" Owen leapt up, watching as Ianto gingerly sat once more, his hand sliding around the small bump in the front. "Are you OK?"

"She was smaller than Jayden was and I did not even tear, if felt… sad and at the same time… the joy. I cannot describe it. We just lay there in the water for the longest time just examining one another" Ianto smiled softly "I am OK Owen. I am fine. Good even. The pulling feels right, I am not bleeding, I was hungry so I made soup and now I am sitting here while the throbbing subsides more before I tackle the mess I made in the bathroom."

"Are the kids, OK?" Jack asked as he entered the room and plonked into his chair "Seen them?"

"Yes. Rhia has taken the boys to the underground pools and Alice has gone on a day trek with her friends" Ianto said as he watched Owen get Jack a cup of coffee.

"She found her boots?" Jack asked as he looked at the biscuits on the table "she always forgets where they are. I think she gets that from me."

"Yes, they were still in the drying rack." Ianto took another sip of cooling coffee. "And yes… forgetful as fuck, you two."

"You told her to put those away when they were dry, I swear to god she inherited my vacantness sometimes" Jack took a swig and made a face "Owen, you don't make it like Ianto."

"Yeah, but he has just had your baby all alone so I don't want him up and down tending to you, ya fucking idiot" Owen exploded "You asked about your kids. Did you forget this one? And the person you are supposed to love and respect who has clearly done some really hard work? Shit I feel shitty for missing it… how do YOU feel?"

"Owen, it's OK. He was busy and I was… static. He has time for us now, which is nice I suppose. When he is ready, I guess he will ask to meet her, maybe not. Who knows. Clearly, I am not a priority as he has not once asked how I am doing, let alone even noticed that I have given birth already. She's waking up, I can feel her breathing change" Ianto opened his robe slightly and grinned down as he watched a tiny hand moving "Awww… she is trying to suck her thumb."

He then closed the robe again and added ever so fucking calmly "So what have you got planned for this afternoon? Checking the secondary bunker? Sounds like fun. You should see if John is free, or maybe Rhys. You know, I think that man is lonely. Some of us are not built to live a life alone like I seem to be."

Ianto started to rise with one hand under the bump, moving over toward the bedroom so he could change her nappy as Jack sat there in stunned silence staring at the now empty chair.

"Jack?" Owen said softly "What the actual Fuck are you doing? Why are you still sitting there?"

Jack blinked as he tried to get his head on straight.

What the hell was going on?

Chapter Text

"Are you just going to sit there while the relationship you told me is the best thing in your life is slowly eroded away, or are you going to follow him into that room and get a look at the child he has borne you with absolutely NO feckin help from anyone? Ya useless gobshite"

Jack shot from the chair like he had ben bitten in the arse, entering the bedroom to find Ianto on the bed, their little one on a blanket with her little nappy getting done up. Ianto smiled down at her "And here's Daddy, finally showing an interest. Don't get too used to it. He will leave again because I am such a fucking bore. Sorry little one, we are almost done. There we are."

Jack looked down at the tiny face, those stormy pools of anger staring back up and he felt his knees buckle, kneeling now to reach out and gently touch her cheek "Oh by the Goddess on High… she's…. wow."

"Yeah. That' what I said too" Ianto smiled at her "Isn't she the Wowest of Wows?"

"She looks pretty lively" Owen said as he peered around Jack.

"She is fine, suckles like a piglet, is not afraid of loud noises or the bluster of the kids traveling around the house, she likes to snuggle and sleep. So far she has not really done much else. Being brand new and all, but she definitely has promise" Ianto said happily "Don't you Astra?"

Jack looked at Ianto and asked "You named her?"

"You were not here. What were the words John used… ah… 'I need a break from that man and his baby madness?' Yeah… me and my Baby Madness are more than capable of doing this without you, breaker of oaths. User and deceiver." Ianto scooped up the baby and turned his back to Jack as he rose from the bed "You two go play now. I will be fine. Another half hour for her to suckle and then she will sleep, and I can clean up the bathroom finally. I don't need help. Clearly, I asked for too much already."

"Wait… wait… hang on. That's not fair" Jack spluttered, totally flummoxed.

"Fair? It's not… fair? It's OK Jack. I mean it. I am not even mad anymore. Disappointed sure but… I get it. I do. When you have time, you will be here for us. When you don't… I can sink or swim. No big deal, right? You can live off my other tit, she only needs one" Ianto said with the calmness oozing out of him like a syrupy sweet honey.

"Astra? Can I… can I hold her?"

"Named for the star she is." Ianto handed her over calmly, letting jack finally hold their little one and she looked up at him, then screwed her face up and roared more loudly than one so small should be able to. He thrust her back quickly, showing alarm.

"Sorry. I guess she can hold a grudge even if I don't really give a rat's arse" Ianto said with a shrug, accepting her back "Go on then. You were going to play in the secondary bunker with your friends, right?"

Jack sat on the bed and looked at Owen for help but he just shrugged and headed to the bathroom to clean it up, at least he could do that with the horrible feeling in his gut that Ianto had tried to call for help and had been simply dismissed as whinging again.

Like the boy who cried wolf… only… the Bad Wolf had the last laugh there.

.

.

Rhiannon entered the house with the two boys, both of them running for the bedroom as she placed the armful of towels on the table "Ianto? I have the towels."

"Thanks sis" he said as he walked past, his robe now open as Jack was refusing to let go of the little one like he was scared Ianto might not offer again, the second cuddle going better than the first one.

Jack entered the space with his face full of adoration, fully focused on the little bundle in his arms "Ianto… does she have my mouth?"

"Could be worse. Could have Owen's gob" Ianto tittered like everything was grand, lifting the towels and wandering off to put them in the cupboard like Rhiannon could not do that one simple fucking thing.

"Did you have her when i…"

"Yep."

"Why didn't' you say anything!" she demanded "You took the chance of a first look?"

"Jack is her father and as such, apparently it's a family tradition for the father to be the first to hold her and bullshit so… you would not have had a peek at her anyway. Nice he has finally found time for me. I guess a little meet and greet in a few days could be a go, I will feel more like sharing then. And maybe Jack has time in his busy life for it too" Ianto replied as he settled into a chair and sighed softly, letting his head fall back. "I am so tired laboured for a few hours ya know and then all this after stuff… Owen, thanks for cleaning up the bathroom. You didn't have to. Apparently, I can do anything all by myself."

"Yes, I did" Owen argued as he watched Jack softly dance around the room crooning at the baby now. "Right, for the records. Her name is Astra?"

"Astra Lenora Harkness Jones" Ianto nodded absently as he plucked at the tablecloth "Jack's grandmother was called Lenora. I think… yeah. I had a Great Aunt Lenny who was a brilliantly stubborn woman. She chewed tobacco, drank like a sailor and could punch a man right off his feet. A good name."

"OK, and it is Harkness Jones?"

"Well… he still hasn't bonded to me, maybe never will. He might be waiting for a better offer to come along, how do I know. Bound to be someone out there with more money who can keep him in the lifestyle he has grown accustomed to" Ianto said without looking over at the man holding the baby "But she is his so... she will have his name but mine last too so if he does leave me she can still have my name with his can be as a middle one."

"Ianto, I am sorry" Jack said. Trying to get his attention.

Ianto did not acknowledge him but continued to speak to Owen "She was born at thirteen past six. I don't know her weight and I will not let you weigh her. I don't want anyone else touching her for a while, she is delicate."

"Of course," Owen nodded "Toshiko will want to come over and say hello, is that OK?"

"Sure. Only if she wants to, there is no pressure. She might want to come for the party if she has time" Ianto shrugged and Owen saw the raw pain, the sheer mental pain Ianto was holding in.

Thye had all let him down.

They had become complacent, and they had all disregarded him and their promise to stay close and to be with him to care for him and welcome the little one into their world.

Owen felt horrible, he could not even imagine Jack's shame.

.

.

"Ianto, I am sorry."

"I know" Ianto replied as he fussed on the little bassinet by the bed "Here we go. Pop her in, she will sleep better in here than in our arms. We need her to get used to being alone sometimes. How it is in this house. I might be busy and no one else can be fucking bothered, right?"

Jack took the sting in the words grimacing as he placed the baby down, watching Ianto move in to cover her and croon, his hand stroking the little tufts of hair and then he stepped back with a sad smile "There ya go. Sleep tight little star."

"Ianto…"

"I don't want to hear it. I don't want fake apologies, or to feel your pain and need for comfort. I don't need your pain on top of my own. Shield please or leave" Ianto said as he moved to the bed and started to crawl into the bedding "I have to sleep while she is. When she wakes, I will have to feed her. Either stop making me feel bad for not having you here for the birth you clearly did not care about or fuck off."

"I want to stay."

"IF you stay… there will be things to talk about later once I am calmer and there WILL be changes because I have Astra to consider now and since no one else seems to care… I must act in her best interests. And mine."

Jack kicked off his boots and clambered onto the bed to spoon Ino and send only happy feelings on the arrival of their child, trying to swallow back his disappointment and anger in himself.

Ianto was right.

He needed to cycle with the baby, and he needed to be present for her.

Jack could not be relied on. He had proven this with his childish blocking of Ianto's coms at a time where he really should have been home so there was no need for a emergency call that never got through.

And he did not know how to apologize.

Chapter Text

That evening Jack waited like a naughty child in the principal's office. He knew he needed a good telling off and knew Ianto needed to tell him off but at the same time… that twist in his gut as he feared the worst, made him want to bolt.

"Right. She is down" Ianto said as he entered the room and looked around "Where are they?"

"Both in their beds, went early with their tablets. I told them… I told them we needed to talk and make some new rules."

"How did that go down?" Ianto asked as he settled gingerly in a chair.

"Alice told me that if you throw me out, she does not want to leave and if you would adopt her or something."

"And Fen?"

Did this sort of glare thing I had never seen before. You know, I think he is turning Mute, I swear I felt the sweats coming on." Jack grimaced.

"Well, he did hear her in my womb, he is growing to be Mute." Ianto settled more, the rug over his legs now being plucked at.

"Ianto…"

"NO. I go. This is My house and I get to go first."

Jack closed his mouth. This was new. Ianto was not just being assertive, he was being… dominant. The words were not just being said out loud into the air, but in his mind as well. Ianto was completely owning the moment.

"First of all… either you start providing finds towards this house or get out."

"Wha…"

"I am still speaking. Shut the fuck up."

Jack closed his mouth.

"Secondly, I want designated times for family time. I don't are about the fucking rosters, I don't care about John needing help with an array, I don't care that Owen wants to show you a new bug. I want designated times where we are here, as a family for her."

Jack nodded, learning not to speak.

"Third and most importantly… we seek family guidance. If we are to be a family, we need to find a rhythm that we can all dance to… for her."

"Can I speak now?"

"Yes. Go on then, give me your best shot!" Ianto settled back, his eyes hooded in a way that was almost predatory and Jack felt a rush of love and lust for him, trying to tamp it down and focus.

"Firstly… what do you mean… provide finds. There is the joint account…"

"For you and your kids. I don't get any of that. It does not pay for the food on the table or clothes on their backs. They use that as their pocket money. You have not paid towards the purchase or upkeep of this house at all."

"Huh? No, I gave you access to it, I mean… I did, right?" Jack asked then knew from the silent glare that he had not. He hadn't? He meant to; he was sure he…. Fuck. "So, all this time…"

"Hmmmmmm"

"OK… ah… I will fix that immediately and make sure you are the second signatory on the account. What is mine is yours love." Jack said with a horrible feeling now, god. He was a fucking leach. He had ben living if Ianto all this time… he had been sure he had given Ianto access. Fuck it.

Ianto did not speak, hearing Jack's thoughts and feeling a little better knowing it had been just another idiotic Harkness brain fart, not a deliberate thing.

"Secondly" Jack continued "Ah… what was that? Right. Family Time. Yes. I agree. We all eat together at the table each night, we have a family meeting once a week for anything and… and… ah… one weekend a month is to be family thing like… a day hike or picnic or something?"

Ianto was surprised by this and let it show as he nodded.

"Third. Yeah. Family Guidance. Yes. For all of us as well as for you and me. I think… I think also individual counselling might be good. The kids need to get over their mother and… I know the boys and Lisa are still here in the house. I think… you can find a way to relax more with those ghosts too."

"Do you really feel that?"

"Well, yes. It was her house, right? You lost the first baby by her in space flight, but Jayden did live here. That was his room. She laughed here, you made love to her here. She is in the walls; her scent is in the curtains… I feel her here too."

Ianto sat back to consider that, he had not known that. Huh. That was a surprise to him to learn that Jack felt her. But his babies… they were in him. No mater where he lived, they would be with him. He could not simply leave and build another house.

"I don't want that" Jak blurted as he caught the thought, "I mean… I love this house. I love this home and I know the kids do too. And it has proven itself as a safe zone… I don't want us to leave. Maybe… just… some redecorating and… sort of… letting go?"

Ianto pondered this, then a little cry began in the other room.

"Shit, that wasn't long. I will get her." Jack rose and rushed off as Ianto considered things his fingers drumming the arm of the chair. He knew he had just woken her with his feelings all over the place, bloody hormones. It is not unknown for a Dam and child to have a bond that remains unbroken after birth… it was this way with Jayden too. Only once they grow to be proper little children, the independent stage starting do they relinquish that bond. Jayden never did. Did not get the chance to grow up.

If Astra was to, if she had any chance of being a strong independent person like her namesake… Ianto had to make sure they all worked together.

"So?" Jack settled back in the chair, their daughter now awake and clutching the tiny little winged soft toy thing he had offered her, her eyes drinking in the shiny material. An Old Earth Dinosaur I think.

"A trial. We will take it week by week. At each family meeting we will report on the week as a whole… if we ever reach a point where the weeks are all negative and it is clearly not working, we will ok to take maybe a separation time or something."

Ouch.

Jack took a deep breath and tried to look positive as he answered "Whatever you think is best love."

Ianto felt it and nodded, knowing deep down he might not be able to live up to that particular threat but at the same time… he hoped it would never come to a thought of separation where it was tested.

Jack had to step up.

Chapter Text

"Good morning, everyone" Ianto called out as he entered the room and those in there lit up, rising to welcome him and demand to know where he had been for the last few days. It was the handsome man coming behind him that had them falling silent.

"I thought it was time you met Jack, my feckless partner. Jack, this is the Baby & Me Group I have been coming to for the last three months" Ianto said as he chose a seat, then opened his coat and let the place go wild.

Jack watched men and women become gushing idiots, the little one Ianto placed on the table in font of him being fussed over with such affection, even some clapping with glee. Then, to his immense delight, they broke into a welcome song that was co cute.

"So, you are the famous Jack" a voice said, and Jack turned to find a handsome man standing nearby. He grinned and pointed to a pretty blonde girl who was heavily pregnant "That's my Ella. We are due in the next week or so. She was so scared she might go early and miss this. Ianto has been such a lovely help, so calming and with experience having a baby already, he has made it seem like something less than a monstrous thing. And now he's done it again."

"Well, add to that I was a total arsehat who was not home when he needed me, he had her all by himself" Jack said, and the place grew silent.

Ianto grimaced internally and sent a soft scold to Jack, then said out loud "He makes it sound like as storm was raging, and I was trapped in a cave or something. It was not like that. She decided to come and that was that. I was not afraid, it was not horrible and in fact… the moments after her arrival, just the two of us in the water greeting one another… the most precious moments of my life."

Awwwww. Everyone forgave Jack, the feeling of it washing over him as the room shifted again. Jack saw the power of Ianto, his ability to change a room's mindset and knew this man was more powerful than he would likely ever let on. And he had just thrown him another bone.

Felt nice to be on the right side.

Then another baby that was a couple of weeks old was produced and Jack found himself holding him, gushing along with everyone else and he saw the support network in the group, one he should have been a part of and he knew he had more than dropped the ball. He had run it over with an industrial hover then set it on fire for good measure.

"Don't be so hard on yourself" Ianto said softly as he stood back, watching their daughter get passed around gently "We both learned something and have a lot more to learn about one another, ourselves and this co-existence."

"Co-existence. I really hope we can be more than just that" Jack sighed "Did I really fuck it up that bad?"

"Let's just try to move forward with some positive thoughts and clear determination not to fuck up again… yeah?"

"Yeah" Jack turned and kissed him, not caring about the cat calling and laughter as Ianto blushed.

For the first time since Astra's birth, Ianto let Jack be the Alpha and it felt nice to be back there again, even if he now knew he had to work hard to keep the spot. And Ianto was more than capable of being the one at the top without him.

Jack vowed to try harder.

.

.

"Well Alice, why not hare with your father what you told me" the councilor said in that calm, deep sweetness that seemed to rankle Jack.

It was her power. To be persuasive and Ianto knew Jack was instructively against that one, his own power as an Alpha developed to see dangers and a Persuader is a danger to his offspring. They both knew that, why she was careful not to make eye contact as Jack metered his annoyance.

"Well… when Mum left I … I did wonder if I could find her. Follow he and she might take me with her" Alcie squirmed in the chair as Jack hid his surprise "And… I did find her at a café near my school a few months later. I thought… I thought she had come to see me. Like a secret meeting or something. You know, to tell me she missed me or something but as I started to run towards her this man came out of the store and… it wasn't him. You know. HIM. It was another one and he kissed her right there in the street like they… and I … was so confused. She didn't see me. I don't know… why he was with him."

Ianto did not speak, this was not his place to, and he let Jack know it softly in their mind, telling him to at least respond.

"Well… I did suspect there was more than one. I … sort of thought she might have a back-up to her back-up. Maybe once she left with HIM she saw that she did not love him… rather the idea of him. Like… a really good movie you heard about from everyone and really wanted to see for yourself and as you watch it you're like… is this it?" Jack tried valiantly to explain things "Your mother… I don't think she was happy with anything really. After her father died; she was so sad. I think, she was trying to find someone who made her feel the way he did and there was no one. Not like a father."

Alice looked over at Ianto who had been silent "Ianto? Do you think so too?"

"I did not know your mother. I only know you kids, and your father. All I know is that I would never leave you. I would fight for you and… that is just the way I am. Who knows. Your mother's powers were strong, and I think… given her residual energy on the box… she did love you very much but, she saw herself as separate. Some do. Some Mutants think they are in this… ah… bubble of power that is unique to them. I think that separation made it harder for her to bond and … well… feel connected. I have bonded to you all, but my bubble is large and can fit you all inside it. You are all loved and protected by me. I think… maybe your mother's bubble was too small."

The councilor stared at him with shock as he shrugged and added "So, it is important to learn to grow your bubble so it can hold those dear to you. That way, you don't forget them. Even if this planet was on fire, I would come for you. I swear."

She smiled, her entire face lighting up "Even through fire?"

"Well… maybe a little fire… around the edges. Definitely smoke. Yah" he winked, and she giggled, throwing herself at him, then apologizing as she remembered he was still sore form the womb shift.

"That's OK. Cuddle always makes things better and so… how could you hurt me, hmm? Besides, I am almost back to full strength. Astra will soon be on a bottle too, then look out. I will strut again." He winked and she laughed, snuggling against him.

"I like it in your bubble. You have a nice bubble."

Ianto shot a warning glace at Jack who had started to open his mouth and Jack added carefully "I like it here too. Let's strengthen it and make it OUR bubble."

Fen finally spoke from the other chair where he had been curled up with a book "I don't care. I am already in the bubble thing. No one ever learned how to cut my crusts, Ianto always does. I know he loves me."

They all laughed as the baby snuffled in Jack's arms.

They were all working at this, it was going to be OK.

Chapter Text

"Ianto?"

"Office" Ianto yelled back, now accustomed to the yelling in his once quiet house. He didn't even cringe anymore when replying in kind. The baby slept in the bassinette by his desk like there was not trumpeting elephants nearby.

"Hey, there you are" Jack entered with a wide grin.

"Yes, surprisingly I am right where I said I would be. I did not know this was negotiable. Maybe next time, eh?"

Jack blinked, then started to laugh "As long as you are naked next time."

"Oh. Naked Hide N Seek is it?" Ianto leaned back in the chair to accept a kiss, then he watched Jack lean over the bassinette to croon, his finger touching the hair of their daughter ever so gently so as not to wake her. "ahhhh."

"What did you require, oh sexy god of mine?" Ianto finally asked once he had his fill of love in the bond.

"Well… Toshiko and Owen want to host a party this evening. Like… just for no reason" Jack said like it was sheer madness. "They are inviting a few people and wanted to know if we could come too. "I said I didn't know, Astra is not an evening mingler."

"Well… she does like daytime socializing. We've not really tried evening parties… might be a bit much. Tell you what, we each take our own Hover. If she gets fussy, I can putter home and you can stay for the entertainment. Get him to play Twister or something, I am sure he will cheat as much as you do."

"Gasp" Jack said… yeah… he said it theatrically as he clutched at imaginary pearls, then roared with mirth. Again… baby did not move. Used to the foghorn too.

"Go on. Accept the invitation for us. Alice and Fen might want to go over to Rhia's. Hell… if Fen wants to go to Dad, Alice might want to come with us. She is old enough to start socialising with the adults." Ianto waved a hand to shoo Jack away like a fly.

"But what will I wear" Jack flounced off and Ianto shook his head. For an Alpha... he can be such a bloody Diva.

.

.

Fen was already sorting a sleepover and told Ianto as much, Alice shocked and delighted to be invited to an adult evening, eyeing the baby until Ianto explained that he was responsible for her and if she fussed, HE would leave with her. Alice would be able to stay with her father.

"But what will I wear" she flounced off and Jack pointed after her.

"Look at that, what a bloody Diva."

Ianto closed his mouth and his mind so Jack could not hear the spitting of mirth.

Nutta.

.

.

"Hey, glad you could make it" Owen said, his grin wide as he reached out and simply snatched the baby away, leaving Ianto to laugh softly and place the baby bag on the floor by the door.

Alice entered with her father and looked around with delight as there were only adults there. Astra the only child. Finally, she felt like a grown up. It felt… nice.

"Everyone, those of you who do not know, this is my gorgeous daughter Alice." Jack said pointedly pushing her in front of himself "Be warned. Ianto and I are very protective, and she does know self-defense."

Everyone laughed and some moved to welcome her, the delight on her face enough for Jack to see that Ianto had been right. She was ready to be one of the crowd.

Later, as Ianto changed a little wet bum in the baby's bedroom that awaited a Harper sprog, Toshiko entered and settled on the edge of the bed "Are things OK? Jack was in some pretty deep water out there for a while."

"Yes. We are… sort of treading water right now. It's a good spot and we need to sort of reestablish some connections, gather strength before we move forward into the next stage" Ianto nodded.

"And the next stage is?"

"Well… hopefully the fucker puts a ring on my finger, and we finally dispense with the fear of splintering. He needs to declare that I am his, he is mine and we are one. Then… I think… we are moving from the deep towards the shoreline." Ianto nodded.

"Is there anything we can do?"

"Be his friend. Owen is a good mate and sometimes he might need to vent, to ask what he is doing wrong or what he thinks about to do next… Owen is a good sounding board. For all his Mad Man posing he is a good man," Ianto replied, not knowing said Mad Man was behind him with a bottle for the baby. "Owen is sort of like the brother I never had. I think as kids, we would have been diabolical."

Toshiko looked at her mate who was beaming as he gently shook the bottle and made himself known "Bot bot? Jack was almost here and that made mare Donna got hold of him for a dance."

Ianto canted his head "I don't hear music?"

"No, why he was a little rattled" Owen said, thrusting the bottle at Ianto then lighting up as the baby was thrust at him instead.

"Go on, you are the godfather, feed your beast." Ianto said, "You must be a pro by now."

Owen looked at Toshiko with raw joy, setting to croon and feed said beast who's little eyes were crinkling to show her amusement. She liked him too.

"You know, he has never been happier." Toshko said once they had left the room "You and Jack are good for him too. He needed to belong to something, always felt like…"

"Imposter Syndrome is what it's called. I suffer it too. Like… we don't belong here and sooner or later someone will look at us and ask why we are here, all the things we love will disappear. Like we are faking it." Ianto admitted "But Jack… I feel his genuine feelings."

"And there is a shoreline."

"Yeah, and it's pretty there… closer every day."

She hugged him without thinking, glad when he overcame his shock to hug her back.

Owen was not the only one who gained from knowing these two men. She had brothers now too.

Chapter Text

Ianto hadn't expected it, not here and as he stood watching Jack sink to one knee, he wondered how he could be so bloody dense as to choose this spot to propose.

.

.

"A picnic?" Ianto asked as he watched Jack set things in a basket. Where the hell did he even find a bloody picnic basket? Did they even still make those or were they some sort of antique?

Then the baby was placed in her capsule and placed ever so lovingly in Jack's Hover. OK. He's driving. OK. Ianto can handle this; Jack can be Alpha. As long as he keeps it up.

Soon they were skimming along and as they turned onto a siding Ianto hid his surprise at where Jack chose to take him. Maybe it is a good idea. This place. To take her, to change the place from somewhere so sad to somewhere with new memories.

This might be one of the places she might be the closest to Jayen.

After all.

Jack had just chosen the picnic spot where the monster had rampaged and killed Jayden. Jack must know, this is a such a special place for him. For them. Like, light a candle, let her know her brother was here? Maybe make it a thing? So she can have a connection? Ianto was touched. This is so nice of him.

Then he saw the table and his confusion grew.

Owen and Toshiko were there, their own baby capsule on the ground like it was no big deal. What the hell were they thinking, at least place the baby on the table. Gorum. They came to a halt and Ianto waited for Jack to open his door but after snatching the capsule, Jack took off yelling at Owen.

OK. That lasted… huh. Attention span of a goldfish.

Ianto got himself out and lifted the basket, surprised by the weight of it. He then walked to the table and smiled as he placed the basket down, looking around to see if the other kids were there. No. Just them.

A double date?

OK.

Ianto can deal with that. Maybe Jack thought that coming back here after what this place became as a place of slaughter, mayhem and grief he thought that safety in numbers might help. Ianto might feel better with people around. OK. Did this mean he was listening in the therapy sessions? Was this to help him see that Astra was safe here?

The two fathers started to talk shop while their dams sorted the baby bottles for when the babies woke up, the two Alphas discussing the new pulse rifles about to be dispersed for the neighborhood watch. Ianto ate and watched Jack laugh with Owen over some inside joke, the joy radiating off him as their little girl woke, chirping for his attention.

It was such a nice day.

Ianto was about to go for a walk over to the spot with Astra. The spot where Jayden's blood had soaked into the dirt and become part of the planet when it happened. As Ianto extracted his long legs from the table with her in his arms, Jack made his move.

Jack had gone quiet, and Ianto looked up to ask if she had fallen asleep in his arms to find Jack sinking to his knees. Had he dropped something? What was going on?

He looked at Owen who was watching with a grin. Even as Toshiko's face stated o change to horror.

What is… no..

Ianto hadn't expected it, not here and as he stood watching Jack sink to one knee, he wondered how he could be so bloody dense as to choose this spot to propose.

"Jack… don't" Ianto said, the NOOOO scream in his head resonating around the table as everyone froze.

"What?" Jack squeaked.

"I can't… not here. Please. IF you are about to do what I think you are… please… I wanted it to be special. Sweet, happy and… not here. Here. I mean… this park?" Ianto grimaced. "Memorable sure but… really?"

Suddenly Toshiko got it, gasping with horror as she rose to grab her child like there might be another monster along any time soon "Oh goddess… I am sorry. I never thought… oh man… who chose this spot? Oh Ianto… no."

"Jack, I get what your intent is and… Jack. This is where Jayden died. Over there… just over there my life changed and my heart broke. You can't do it here. You can't bring our baby here and offer me a new life when I lost one here. This is his spot, a place of his memories… we can't override it" Ianto took Jack's face in his hands "You need to think it through as it needs to be… different to this. Call me needy but… I want it to be… amazing."

"Shit."

"I know. It's OK. Let's just… prepend this didn't happen and enjoy the day. Try again. OK?"

Jack felt terrible and Toshiko glared at Owen who should have known, who should have warned Jack and the look of confusion on the Doctor's face was not unusual. He was always so blinkered.

God.

What a cockup.

.

.

Later at home Jack tried to apologize again, so confused and upset that he had almost trampled over such a sacred memory.

"Ianto…"

"Jack. Look, it was an honest mistake. I am not mad or upset just… there are so few places where I still feel a connection to him. And no… I do not regret giving Stephen the room... it was time. But I do think that spot, where I had my last moments with him… it's sacred. I can't… not with you. I want our own spot to be full of joy, love and promise of a future. Where we can go and reconnect sometimes. A place that is just ours. Not a ghostly place haunted with my pain."

"I get it. I do. I am bloody furious that this had happened. I mean… Owen knew right? Why didn't he tell me?" Jack groaned.

"Owen has the brain of a guinea pig. Sorry, I love him, and he is a brilliant doctor, but his brain is so small, all that medical knowledge… so much information that he decided was not needed had to be wiped to make room."

Jack started to laugh softly.

He was forgiven and it was a relief.

But Ianto was right.

He had to think this one through and make it their special thing.

Maybe he had been asking the wrong person.

Chapter Text

"Wanna see my ship?"

Ianto looked up from the paperwork on his desk with surprise, not having heard Jack entering the office "Excuse me?"

"I know you have Betty, but you've not been on my Janet, right?" Jack sat on the edge of the desk "So? She's Chula ya know. Old. Decrepit. Very moody."

"Sounds charming" Ianto sat back and grinned "go on."

"Well, she is now three months old, a rise into outer atmo will not hurt her ears. The school is having a camp thing in the bunkers. They think if the kids spend time in them, they will be less scared next time we have to use them. Just the fact we that have to plan for a next time is a little worrying but, they are right. Learning where everything is and what to do down there might make it less scary so… it will just be us and the sprog for the next few days." Jack explained.

"Oh, thank god they didn't ask for parent help" Ianto sighed.

"They did. So many offered that they could pick and choose. Of course, they went for nurturers and calmers. Makes sense. So… you wanna?"

Ianto considered and then nodded, making Jack punch the air and then cover up his excitement by pulling up his pants. Like he needed to. Man had suspenders AND a belt.

Ianto thought about it and thought it might be a nice change. Out of the house, both of them in the Black. Hell, some sexy time may be ahead.

Ianto went to look at his wardrobe.

.

.

She was like a big fat bug in space, just sitting there like … well… a slug.

"Don't be fooled, she goes like stink" Jack defended her even as Ianto shielded his thoughts, and he smiled seeing that there was genuine affection for the ship.

"How many souls can she hold?"

"She is OK with one pilot, but I have had ten souls inside her… not recommended. The farting alone… well… best for two or three. Like, a small family planet hopping." Jack said happily "She was an ambulance that has been decommissioned so she has two sleeping bays as well as the patient quarters which I turned into the galley."

The small shuttle clipped onto the arse of the slug… stop it… ship and the two blasters either side would clearly miss hitting the shuttle during movement. IT was actually cleverly made. Jack made a thing of carrying the bub through the airlock onto the vessel like he was presenting her to family and Ianto knew his was a big deal for him, so he stood back as Jack gushed showing the baby all the blinking lights.

Soon Ianto had the baby food put away since the replicator did not have any in its menu, plus a bottle made and being shook gently as Jack settled in the pilot's seat to feed his munchkin and then Ianto could make up their bed.

So domestic.

"You know what I like about the Black?" Ianto asked as he tucked in the sheets.

"Hmmm? The stars? Why you named her one?"

"The silence."

Jack glanced over with raised eyebrows so Ianto elaborated "No other Mutes. Really it was a bit silly, shortening Mutant to Mute because no one ever shuts the hell up. If they are not talking, flexing or snarling, there are their thoughts wafting around like smells."

"Really? Its that loud for you?" Jack was surprised.

"God yes. Sometimes it is deafening."

Jack pondered how it must be in a room full of talking people all the time, even when you are walking down a street or in a store…. Like… crowded. "Well, I like it up here because I find the stars so peaceful."

Ianto smiled as he settled in the other flight seat, watching their daughter start to lag "Burp or pay the price."

"Shit yea" Jack complied and soon their daughter also complied with a little pop.

Ianto put her down to sleep in the cradle before settling back to watch Jack watching the stars with a faraway look on his face.

So peaceful.

.

.

That night… well it is always night out there in the Blackness of forever but I mean once they had their meal… the sex was amazing. Little noise made, their hands doing hard work and their lips so soft to one another. It was like meeting one another after being away for a long time.

No longer apart. Nice.

Once they were all awake once more, the baby fed and both men with nice hot cups of coffee, they once again settled in the seats to look out at the stars.

Ianto held his charge and watched her eyes flick around the Black, drinking in the stars. He softly explained like you would to another adult as he parented like they were intelligent enough for conversation and not in need of baby talk "Stars form in large clouds of gas and dust called molecular clouds. Molecular clouds range from 1,000 to 10 million times the mass of the Sun and can span as much as hundreds of light-years. Molecular clouds are cold which causes gas to clump, creating high-density pockets. Some of these clumps can collide with each other or collect more matter, strengthening their gravitational force as their mass grows. Eventually, gravity causes some of these clumps to collapse. When this happens, friction causes the material to heat up, which eventually leads to the development of a protostar – a baby star. You are called Astra. Our baby star. See? So bright, so shiny. The Black can never touch you."

Jack saw that this was the time. For once in his life, he saw the moment and knew he was right. He cleared his throat "Most natural diamonds from Old Earth have ages between 1 billion and 3.5 billion years. Most were formed at depths between 150 and 250 kilometres (93 and 155 mi) in the Earth's mantle, although a few have come from as deep as 800 kilometres (500 mi). Under high pressure and temperature, carbon-containing fluids dissolved various minerals and replaced them with diamonds. Much more recently (hundreds to tens of million years ago), they were carried to the surface in volcanic eruptions and deposited in igneous rocks known as kimberlites and lamproites. So rare and so strong."

Ianto looked over at him with sock "Jack… that… you know all that? Well now. Listen to you. Did you hear that? Listen to Daddy being all smart and stuff."

"Diamonds from Old Earth are so rare, so much more rare than those little globs of light out there, despite these seeming to be so many, like the diamonds of Old Earth, they are scattered so far and wide" Jack said, shifting from the chair to the floor and Ianto felt his throat tighten as the ring box came out once more.

This time… this time he had it exactly right. Out here, where they needed only the diamonds of the Gods to light their joy.

"Is that a yes?

"Well... yes, yes. of course."

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Ianto, you got a minute?"

Ianto turned from the men he was talking to and acknowledged Eugene, one of their nerds who scuttled around the edges like a bug. Owen called them that. Bugs. Ianto knew they were highly intelligent… almost as much as him, and their mutant powers made them see things others didn't. Patterns in things, like someone high on the autism spectrum, so high there was no ceiling.

"Eugene, how are you buddy?" Ianto smiled, the baby asleep on his chest jerking a foot as Ianto spoke and Eugene's eyes slid to the baby with interest. "Here, want a hold?"

The young man loked horrified at the notion, even as he reached out hands hesitantly to accept the bindle so easily unclipped and handed over. She now flopped back in his arms like a little doll.

"Awwwwwww…. She has his mouth."

"I am afraid of that, I believe she will have his gob. Maybe a bit of Doctor Harper in there, enough to make me cringe and blush while apologising to people once she starts speaking" Ianto laughed.

Eugene gave a rare chuckle crooning at the baby with undisguised affection, then he sighed "We found something weird in the northern sector. Over by Obama Mountain. We hadn't noticed it before with the wind and sand storms but now it's all died down… something was uncovered during the storm."

"A good or a bad thing buddy?" Ianto asked accepting the limp baby back and swinging to hand he off the eager hands, now his workers enjoying a good look at her as Ianto squared off with Eugene again.

"Not sure… unsettling we would say. It is… not usual."

"OK, I have to offload this one to her father, or Rhiannon and I will meet you back there" Ianto nodded, turning to find the baby some distance away now as others took turns crowning and drinking in the goodness of new life. "And… she's gone."

"Like a bunch of Magpieerts." Eugene giggled and Ianto laughed as he rarely saw the humour of this one but enjoyed it when it came out.

Eugne grinned sheepishly and shuttled off.

.

.

He had been unable to find Rhiannon or Jack, something that did not concern him. They were all busy lately, with the winter season due, the days about to become bleak and unsavoury for a few months. Toshiko was happy to take the bundle of sleepiness, settling back into her book as if Ianto had delivered a loaf of bread.

He chose his all-terrain Hover and clambered up, belting in as this bitch went fast. Oh so fast.

"Whatcha doing?"

Ianto looked over the side to find Rhys looking up at him with wonder "Hey Rhys. Going for a blatt out to Obama Mountain."

"This beast is yours?"

"Yeah."

"I have bene drooling over this… really?" Rhys loked up at Ianto with unabashed wanting and Ianto grinned as he saw a fellow speed demon. The Hover twice the size and higher than usual. Like… a Hover version of a Big Foot Truck.

"Come on then, better get a coat if you are coming with" Ianto said as he turned back to start the preflight checks. Yes. Rhys had no idea did he. Head Surveyor meant perks.

"OK, we are five by five" Ianto muttered, then touched his earpiece with two sharp taps "This is Ianto Jones onboard the Baby Betty Boop, I am leaving the hanger and heading for the mountain ranges. Do I have clearance Control?"

"Baby Betty Boop, you have clearance. Good flight sir."

"Lovely" Ianto settled back and saw that Rhys was clipping the last clip to secure himself into the seat. He grinned at Ianto and sniggered as he slapped at the harness.

"Tighten it buddy, pull the two straps at your hips to snug yourself" Ianto said as he flipped the final switch and a soft purring started "You are gonna want to make sure you are not tossed about when she corners. She swings her arse like a hooker."

Rhys complied and was about to sat something else when the purr faded to silence. Both men started at one another, Rhys with concern and Ianto with glee…. then a huge boom before a roar filled the area. Ianto whooped as he hit the power throttle and the big bitch started to rise further, taking are so she was now hovering above the ground.

"Is it supposed to sound like that?" Rhys yelled over the engine and Ianto laughed.

"And we are flying" Ianto said to himself with that childlike wonder that had never and maybe will never fade.

He pushed the throttle forward and she took off, Rhys screaming as they immediately hit G-force and Into laughed as he swing her toward the mountain, Rhys's knuckles white as he clutched the seat's armrests, trying to stay calm. Like a fun ride at an amusement park… where the man in charge is on crack cocaine or something. It was so much fun in a scary almost feels like dying kinda way. By the time they came to a screaming halt that had them thrown forward in the harnesses and then slammed back into the seats Rhy was laughing so much he could barely breathe.

He had no idea Ianto was so skilled… or fun. Fuck… he was fun.

Eugene waved a hand at them like this arrival was no big deal. Ianto must regularly drive it like he stole it. Rhys staggered from the Hover on wobbly legs, following Ianto over to peer at a creek bed. Eugene crouched and pointed a shaky finger "See?"

Ianto crouched, squinting at something in the water "How many have you seen?"

"Harver is our counter. He has counted 3496 so far."

Ianto seemed to stall out, then look at the huge man on his hands and knees, zeroing in on the water with wide eyes. The man said in a deep rumble "3497."

"What is it?" Rhys could not see anything, but he knew whatever mutant power these ones share, there was something in the water.

"Little fishes. Little wriggly fishes" Harver crooned "3498…9…oooooo 3500."

Everyone cheered around him like it was a game, Rhys looked around then back at the one who had not cheered. Ianto pursed his lips "Come on. Let's scoop some out for Owen to poke at. I've not seen them before. Maybe a fissure has opened from a meteorite strike that has released them from an underground lake or something… but they are new. We have no idea if they are OK in our water or not."

"Our water?" Rhys asked.

"Yeah, the water for the colony comes from the same water source you see here… it goes under the rocks there going the ground which acts as a filtering system, and we have the well near the pumping station. Shit, these might get clogged in the pipes. Or go to the underground river source. We need to know if they are going all the way."

"Shit. Jack is not here. Should I make a sexual innuendo?" Rhys asked.

Ianto turned to look at him with a bland face then he burst out laughing.

Rhys grinned "So… Home Jeeves?"

"Come on. Wanna have a go?"

Rhys gasped, his hands clasped under his chin as he jigged on the spot, then he ran for the Mega Hover.

"Excitable" Eugene said softly.

"Yeah, but a good bloke." Ianto nodded "And out here he can't hit anything."

Eugene gave a rare smile and then turned back to the other mutants waiting for their instructions.

Ianto accepted the container of little fish and walked slowly towards the Hover, raising the container to peer at the tiny see through fish inside.

He was not sure about this at all.

This was their planet first, were they taking precious water these things need? Was it right? Were the colonists endangering them… or were they endangering the colony?

Ianto hated the unknown.

Chapter Text

"OK, they are newly hatched, and we do not know what an adult one looks like. They seem to like the usual fish food so we have those you brought in a large tank We will see how big they get" Owen was crowing, enjoying the fact he had something to do that was not just boring humanoids "But what we have decided is that they are indigenous to this region. Match both ancient carvings in the caves, and fossils too."

"Right. So not dangerous to the area… but to us?" Jack asked as everyone listened intently around the meeting table.

"I do not believe so" another voce cut in, Gerk leaning over the table with his unusually bright pink eyes rolling around the table "The water goes into the soil and it is well filtered before reaching our water table. We have tested it, there is nothing there out of the ordinary."

"Right, so this is most likely an indigenous species that has been dormant and is now waking up. Yes, let's monitor the growth of these things and work out if they are friend, foe…"

Ianto was cut off by Rhys who could not help himself as he blurted "Or food?"

Ianto looked at him as the table laughed and then he sighed "Rhys, you and your stomach. No ya numpty. Friend, foe or inconvenience."

"But we might be able to eat them" Rhys said as he looked around the table for support, ensuring more laughter.

Numpty.

.

.

"Fishies?"

Ianto glanced over at Mica who was close, her face screwed up as she repeated ""Fishies?"

"Yes. Here. These three are for you and your brother" Ianto lowered the tank he had been carrying, about the size of a shoe box, three tiny little things barely visible wriggling within. In the past few weeks, they had not only been deemed safe, but cute. Now the hundreds of them on hand about to become pets "Some of the kids are getting some as pets."

"Oh wow" she breathed with wonder "We feed them?"

"See this dust in this container? Look. A tiny pinch like this… scatter like this… only every second day"

"So cool" she breathed with wonder.

"Yeah, you both have to name them, love them and try not to kill them" Ianto said as he placed the tank on the sideboard in the main room "Just like parents."

"Parents don't want to kill their kids" she scoffed as she drew a chair over to kneel on and press her nose to the tank.

"Sez you" Rhiannon scoffed as she entered the room "Are those the Fishies? Who named them that? No, don't tell me. Bloody nerds."

Ianto laughed as he moved away and left his niece to her Fishies. David might be allowed one… she had already named two. Little bugger. Will be a fierce Mumma one day.

"Well, since you are here. This dishwasher is not working" she kicked at one of the lower cupboards and Ianto opened it to reveal that it was in fact a dishwasher. He knelt down and sniffed then pulled a face.

"Smells like it's blocked."

"Yeah."

"OK. I will get it looked at, one of the boys will be here this avo to bash it with a hammer" he assured her and she nodded settling back down to watch her daughter though the doorway. "Bloody Fishies. All she's talked about since they found them. The school has quite the support group for Fishie lovers."

"Well… she has some so now she can crow" Ianto snorted "until all the kids have them and it's boring."

"Oh god. You know her so well."

"Well… she is lovely."

"Where is the barnacle?"

"Jack's turn for show and tell at work" Ianto grinned "He is besotted, the silly bugger. Nice though, to get a breather now she is on bottle in the daytime."

Rhiannon kissed her brother and then offered a sofa, rising to get the homemade cookies he knew he would eat, at least.

Mica had helped make them.

.

.

"So, almost every home has tanks, this is going to be epic" Owen gushed happily.

"As long as they don't grow to the size of Hephalumps on the night and eat everyone in their sleep…yes" Ianto said blandly as Owen jiggled in his seat at the meeting.

That man is so excited about these bloody Fishies Tiggy.

Mind you Jack, they are something new and different after a long spell of boring.

Could be worse. Could be another meteor storm.

Gasp. Stop that Jack, wash your brain out with soap.

Come on Tiger... you know…

The inner banter between the two men halted as Owen's chair finally tipped back too far like Ianto had been warning him about for the last three meetings, it shot under the table and across the floor, Owen's chin hit the table and he howled as he bit his tongue.

As everyone helped him up, Ianto shook his head with wonder then turned to Jack to speak, only to find him looking a little queasy at the sight of the blood.

"No."

"What?" Jack squeaked as he finally managed to get a grip on himself.

"You can't be… it's too close. No."

Jack was about to ask what the hell he meant when it occurred to him and both men stared at one another with open horror.

Oh god.

Was Jack preggers?

Chapter Text

"Well. That is… well" Ianto said, at a rare loss for words as he stared at the screen in Owen's clinic. Jack was also wordless as he stared at the undeniable spark of life on there.

"That… that's mine" Jack finally said.

"You can't accuse me of sleeping around mister" Ianto spluttered with fake annoyance and Jack found himself laughing.

"Yep. Congrats. You two weirdoes are going to have ANOTHER one for the madness. Christ, you don't half like punishment do you" Owen chortled, then let it drift off as Ianto turned to glare at him. "Ah… sorry?"

Ianto took a beat, then said calmly "It is a blessing. A wonderful… amazing blessing and we will act accordingly. I will have to review the house and if another room is a possibility or if we should look at the two babies sharing since they will be… what is that old saying? Irish twins? Might depend if it's another girl or not. I need pen and paper for a list I think."

"Wow" Jak said, now starting to wake from his shock "Wow. It's… it's a baby."

"Indeed" Ianto said, then turned back to Owen "Birth control. For me. Now. We have to… ah… yes… two will be…. Yes. Not three. No."

Jack finally noticed Ianto's flustered talking and loked over at him "Tiger? You OK?"

"Yes. I am… overwhelmed… this is wonderful, and I am… yes Ianto smiled at him "Just… we need to focus on you and the new future baby. If I can fall again too, it would be catastrophic."

"Yes. Yes of course. I see what you mean" Jack relaxed as he knew his pregnancy had to take priority… oh shit. Jack went back over Ianto's pregnancy and some of the things he had done… er… not done… to help him. Not the shoe was on the other foot. No wonder Ianto was a little hesitant.

"Jack… projecting." Ianto said softly, stepping to the side of the bed to take his hand "This IS wonderful news. I mean, this means they will be best friends, grow up together and never be alone."

"Yeah… right?" Jack smiled again as he saw that Ianto was going to be positive here.

Ianto was not so positive but could fake it 'til he made it.

.

.

"You are fucking with me" Rhiannon hissed rising from her chair to look out the window at the kids playing, Ianto's little sweetling asleep in the pram. Yes, Ianto had an honest to fucking god pram. No, I do NOT know how he managed to get one out here in the arse end of space but never underestimate a Welshman.

"Yeah. Jack is over the moon…I am too… sort of."

"Sort of. Sort of, can I be a dickhead around you like you were with me… sort of?" she asked sweetly. "Christ almighty Ianto. They said you would never have kids with the injury to your hip, then you not only do you father one… you birth two… then now father another? You better get a Birth Control patch or something."

"Already on board. I know. Imagine if I fall again. No. We have to be more careful" Ianto laughed, starting to get over the shock.

"And you are OK with it?"

"OK?" he laughed "Like you said… I lost two and thought my little Astra was my only miracle…. Now this."

"Well… I am not having another one. Those two are mental" Rhiannon rose, leaning over to kiss her dear bother before wandering off to see what her little buggers were up to and knowing David was most likely wherever Stephen was too.

"Do you mean that?"

Ianto turned in his seat to see Jack there in the doorway from the back of the house. "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to know I was silly for thinking you might not want this madness I am about to rain down on us" Jack lowered himself into a chair with a huff "God. I know I am not even showing yet but I swear, just thinking I am pregnant makes my ankles puff."

Ianto laughed softly "Well… Astra is asleep, the others are all buggered off for the foreseeable so… want to lay on the bed and I will give you a foot massage that includes ankles and calves?"

"Really? I never gave you one" Jack said, a pout starting as he saw that over the next few months there would be many times to see places Ianto would step up where he should have.

"Well, we are different. After all, I am stubborn and would rather cut my arm off if it is infected than ask for help" Ianto shrugged, giving Jack some grace. Again, which he didn't really feel like he deserved.

Ianto decided to ignore his insecurities and maybe… when he could not help himself… rub it in a little.

.

.

Alice sat quietly in the chair as Stephen leapt firm his "NO! What? Yeah!"

"Finally, I see you in him Cariad" Ianto said softly as the boy leapt around the kitchen making noises and punching at the air. Ianto let his eyes slide to Alice "Are you OK with this darling? I know you made adjustments for Astra and now we are dropping another monster into the mix. I swear, you never have to babysit, and I will never ask you to give up anything."

"Where will it fit?" she finally asked.

"Well… that's the thing" Jack sighed theatrically "We need to either build on again… or build. A in… an entirely new house."

"What? No, I like this house." Stephn frowned as he stopped jumping, looking at his sister for help.

"Fen is right. This is the first place we felt like a family since… well. And I don't wanna move either" she folded her arms "I suggest you make a room somewhere!"

"Oh. Is that right?" Jack gaped at his teenage minx.

"Well… I guess the flat I was going to move into the back between the house and the garage so the covered walkway could be for that too might have to be a go then" Ianto sighed theatrically.

"Flat?" she swung at him with wide eyes "Like… mine?"

"Your own large room for a bed, couch… TV and stuff… your own bathroom and also…. A kitchenette."

Her eyes were bugging out.

"We will have to fully enclose the walkway so you are still part of the house. No friends over unless we know, and you are still not sneaking out to parties without us knowing where you are!" Ianto said firmly.

"But it's my own flat. Like… moving out. My own pad" she squealed. Then ran to look at the area outside the back door like it was already there.

"Does that mean I get her old huge room?" Stephen asked with a hopeful side eye.

"Well, that is the idea. Then your room can be for the newling coming, Astra can stay in hers." Ianto laughed. Jack relaxed as he saw that it was going to work.

Then she slammed back into the room "But I CAN babysit right?"

"Of course. Whenever me and Dad need one, we will write it on the board on the fridge. If you can do it, write your name. If it is not written up within 24 hours, I will ask someone else. Emergences are verbal and no is still OK" Ianto nodded.

She jiggled on her feet "And the flat…"

"I can get it here by the weekend so you can have a friend over for a sleepover and a little mini party. Like a housewarming." Ianto nodded.

"Three friends?"

"Two!" Jack said firmly and she giggled as she took off. Jack turned at Ianto "Did she play me? Was it two she was thinking of anyway?"

Ianto nodded silently and Jack puffed his chest out. Little beast had tricked him again.

Another one coming?

Wow.

That Meteor storm caused so much destruction and chaos and in the end Ianto was right. Things Born of a Storm are mighty.

Him included.

Chapter Text

Ianto was late, blustering about the house as he double checked the place was clear of bodies before finally accepting that he was the last one still at home. The morning was almost mid-morning and he hated to be late.

He checked his reflection and made a mental note to change the jacket out for the afternoon shift at work in the office, the need to look dapper real, but for now this older slightly faded jacket was nice and warm for the construction site where the last of the houses were now coming down for the new builds to begin. The new build just completed were about to be filled as the new 'imports' arrived for processing. He hoped there were more medical professionals in this lot and less drinkers and gamblers. Pretty soon they would need to bolster the security force. Why Jack was busy with training of the Next Gen who were still wet behind the ears but at least the latest recruits were full of vim and vigor. Or… piss and vinegar as Jack said.

The kids were off to their respective schools, the baby on Jack's chest asleep since daybreak and probably forgotten until one of his security details he was off training pointed it out and the nappy bag was gone so thankfully whoever picked Jack up for the battlefield fames had clocked the baby and seized the ever waiting bag Ianto kept by the door.

So.

Ianto stood and enjoyed the silence as he heard only the sound of the tie hissing while the silk rubbed against itself, creating the knot. He then opened the door to step out and came face to face with a startled woman, her hand raised to knock.

"Oh. Sorry. I was told this is the Harkness House" she said with genuine friendliness.

Ianto felt the anger in his very bones… my god… he felt it like nausea in the back of his throat a he stared at her and he knew who she was in a heartbeat "There is no one here."

"Excuse me?"

"You are misinformed about this place. It's mine. Go check with the records office, check the address marker by the road. This land is mine. Jones." Ianto said sternly.

She looked confused as she looked from his house to those others in the street and then she stepped back "Well, I apologize for interrupting your morning"

"Never mind, but I do have to go. Work to do" Ianto smiled as fakely and weirdly as he possibly could, brushing past her to head for his industrial Hover currently parked in the especially large carpark. As he climbed up into the seat of the huge monster he glanced at her, watching her get into her normal sized civilian's Hover and heading off, no doubt to check that land license like he had suggested.

Ianto knew he was not heading to the construction site, rather to where the war games were being held, even if it meant gaining his baby back.

Jack needed to know what was happening.

.

.

The Hover moved over the uneven ground like it was an iced over lake the thrusters industrial like the rest of it. He could run over a small contingent of soldiers without much bother… but they might not like it much.

Ianto knew where Jack would be, safe in the control area and as he neared it he could hear the unmistakable roar of his youngling. Seems she is getting bored. He powered down, even the sound of the lifters humming not able to be heard over the ordinance going off.

Live fire?

Great, his daughter's little wars ears… oh. Never mind. As he neared the tent he could see his daughter, in the arms of John Hart with tiny little earmuffs on to protect her delicate hearing, the little cat ears on the muffs so cute. John was fussing on her clothing, making sure she was warm and as Ianto drew closer her head suddenly whipped around, feeling him coming.

"Hey, my little stinker" Ianto saif softly "Whatcha doing with uncle Johnty?"

"Miss Astra is supervising" John said in a silyl voice, his affection clear as he kissed a tiny cheek, "You should hear her going off at the men when they come in all dirty and stinky. You tell them all off don't you Azzie?"

She grinned at him like he was her favorite toy.

"Looking for my mate" Ianto said with a touch to his child's face to check if she was warm and finding she was indeed quite comfortable ta. She gave off waves of delight. She did love her Uncle.

Ianto found him pouring over maps while yelling instructions down the coms for the next charge. Even now, this far in the future with all the pulse weaponry there is still little that beats boots on the ground. Ianto leaned over to look as well and earned himself a kiss.

"And now my day is complete. Hey good looking" Jack said as he watched Ianto drink in the map before he rose and smiled down at him as he reminded on his elbows across the map "Whatcha doing? I'm winning a war over here"

"I am here because the latest batch of terraformers have arrived to work, the offload complete and those leaving the planet are also almost done." Ianto reached out placing a hand between Jack's shoulder blades sending out calm loving waves.

"Oh?" Jack straightened up to face him and pulled hm in for a gentle kiss.

"We have had a visitor at the house, one of the newbies. I thought I should warn you, I put her off by saying she had the wrong address, but she will be back. No way she will not find out where you are in the end." Ianto stroked his face and Jack felt alarm as he cuddled him tighter.

"What is it, Tiger?"

"It was your wife."

"what?"

"Lucia."

"Oh… fuck."

Chapter Text

Ianto returned home without a baby on board, her hand up in his face making it clear that he was dismissed. He heard noise and saw the shoes discarded by the door so he knew who was in the house and he headed in that direction to see if he could head off another problem.

He entered the little flat and placed the shoes he had scooped off the floor in the shoe rack where they belonged, the teenager on the bed not even blinking as she spoke to her friend on the vidcom while comparing dresses, holding each one up for her friend to see.

"Greetings Commander Harkness-Jones"

"Greetings Leena. I love the green, it really pops with your eyes. You should ask this creatin here to loan you her gold strappy heels to go with that." Ianto smiled back at the girl on the screen who DID have manners.

"Which ones?" Alice turned to look at him and Ianto reached back to the rack and removed a three inch pair with gold straps that looked like string. So dainty and cute. "Oh, yes. We are the same size, right?"

"Oh, they are adorable! But you're not worn them out yet? Oh… can I borrow them for the dance?" Leena squalled, "May I please Alice?"

"Sure" Alice shrugged, dismissing something as unimportant to her as shoes. Not like there are a lot of shops out here and she had lost so much in the storm but Ianto had diligently ordered things and the courier vessels had delivered. I don't think it even occurred to Alice how rare those shoes were. Ianto knew she would likely not even remember them if they didn't come home again. So loved and spoilt. She only knew comfort.

"And as for you, young lady. That fiery orange number… I've not seen that before" Ianto waved a finger and she lifted the dress gain.

"We had a Swap Day at school, Tad. Everyone brought the clothes they don't wear anymore or don't like and swapped with each other. That pink thing with the fur for this." She gushed and Ianto giggled softly, the pink jacket with white fur trim was a gift from Gwen that Alice had barely managed to hide her horror at when it was gifted.

"Well, you father will have a fucking heart attack and go on about the cleavage but… it think it's divine. You know… I might have shoes for that" Ianto frowned then exited as the girls giggled and Leena told Alice she had such a lovely parental. Ianto returned in time to hear Alice's response.

"I know" she laughed "I miss my mom; I think part of me always will, but she never loved me the way Taddy does. I think… I think some are meant to be parentals and some aren't. Taddy was born to love us. My mom… I don't think she even really cared."

Ianto entered with the box "I was saving these for your graduation, but I think that would be a waste. We all know I will see something better before then."

She accepted the box and opened it, gasping at the dainty four inch stilettoes that looked back at her, the shoes were made of a translucent material but when you moved them in the light they changed colour, like…shots of pink became hots of red… like glitter.

"Firey. Right?" Ianto asked.

"Oh Taddy… these peeping out with each step, the dress flying to one side with the part halfway up my thigh I will have to hide from Daddy noticing… the boys will drool!"

"And your father will wave his gun in the air" Ianto sighed, both girl shrieking with laughter as he mimed Jack shooting at things. Ianto let himself show to his daughter, her friend Leena seeing a rare glimpse at the real man behind the glower and although she knew many would never believe her, she did have a little crush on Alice's Tad. He was so cute when not hiding.

After Leena said goodbye Ianto sat un the bed and waited, seeing Alice happy and content. He hated to do this but knew he had to.

"Darling. I know you don't like to talk about your mother but… I feel me need to" he said softly.

"OH? Must we?" she screwed her face up with annoyance. "Did you hear that conversation with Leena? Sorry, but I really do not even think of her much now."

"I have a theory. I passed it over your father's head, and he was not sure but you know your Dad. He is blinkered to some things sometimes." Ianto watched her as she settled next to him, her face now serious "Sweetie. Your mother ran away… but it was not you he was running from. Not your father or Stevie either. I think… I think …ah… she was trying to run from herself."

"What do you mean Tad?"

"Your mother presented as a Norm. Always has, right? Your Dad even thought she was a Norm, everyone did. But she isn't. Is she. The latent energy on the box tells me she has a touch of mutism in her. I think… I think when it came out that it is hereditary, and she knew one day you and Stephen would exhibit given the odds with Jack being clearly Mute … I think it scared her. Her secret would be out, and people would know she was one too. She ran away to hide herself."

Alice sat back and considered "Mama is a mutant. Like us. But… is ashamed of it?"

"Not ashamed so much as terrified. I mean, it was not as easily accepted now like it is, not back then. I remember the cruelty of others. It was a scary, horrible time. Your mother thought of herself, her image and how she portrayed herself. She was afraid. Not for you or of you. But for herself."

"I … I always thought, maybe if was me" Alice leaned against him, seeking his comfort and he knew the hardest part was about to come. "It was selfishness?"

"Darling… I saw your mother toady. She is here, on-world and… she is mutant alright."

Alice went ridged in his arms and then drew back to stare into his face "What?"

"She is in the new lot of people arrived. I guess she secured a job here with the scientific team. Maybe… maybe she is ready to make amends and embrace the Mute. She came here looking for you."

"Well… good for her. Embrace away" Alice snuggled back against him "But she needn't expect a fucking hug form me. Whether she ran form me or not… she left me behind. Knowing the horrible feeling of becoming a mutant, the growing pains she could have helped with, prepared me for… been there for. She was selfish. She was cruel and she is not my mother anymore. You are my parental, and you have been more of a parental to me than she ever was."

"I just want you to know that if you do want a relationship with her… eve if it's just a loose polite friendship… it would not offend me. OK? I love you and I know you love me. I will not feel left out or replaced if you want her in your life" Ianto lied.

"No. That's the difference between the two of you Tad. She would NEVER say that." Alice sighed, now burying her fae in his neck as she took comfort from him.

"I love you, jellybean. I could not love you any more if your veins held my blood in them, for my heart holds you so close, so deep within me… my blood has you in it" he whispered in to her ear and she clung to him.

She did not want to see her mother.

She did not need her… not now.

That time had passed.

Chapter Text

"Whatcha got on today lover?"

"Mapping" Ianto said as he lifted the cup of coffee "Can take the monster."

"Ergh… sorry love. John already called dibs."

"Excuse me? Our baby is not… really?" Ianto canted his head "Is he clucky?"

"I think so. He never really saw himself as nurturing and such. The thing between us was a lifetime ago and he is just starting to see that we are not the kids we were back then. He has started to think maybe he deserves happiness too." Jack nodded "And that on there has him wrapped around her little finger."

"Well… what is she doing today?"

"The physical and paperwork side so we can place them into troops, she is the distraction" Jack accepted the plate of food from his daughter with a grateful smile as it was her turn on the roster today, Stephen excited to have tomorrow… god only knows what they will get "Lovely darling."

She smiled and offered Ianto a refill on his coffee which he accepted. He sat back "So, our daughter here is going to the school gymnasium to help set up for the dance, Fen here is with David and their group of larikins off to cause mayhem about the town. You have more war stuff with the baby along for shits and giggles… literally as it's all she has to offer yet… and I am mapping."

"Mapping?" Alice asked as she sat.

"I am taking the low skimmer to map out the new streets in the lower quadrant now it is cleared for the next phase of the city build. I will create streets, parking lots… everything we need for the four to six blocks about to begin construction." Ianto explained. "I have mapped everything built so far, this entire colony."

"Cool" she nodded "So our old house is not in the lower quadrant anymore, it is now considered middle ground?"

"Exactly. As they continue to clear and flatten the areas that do not impact the local wildlife we will continue to spread out to fill those spaces. I think another… five maybe six hundred people will be here withing the next five years. Why we will need a third bunker soon."

"Mphhhh" Jack said around a mouthful, waving his hand to speak like he was at school or something. Everyone waited patiently for him to clear his mouth, a sip of coffee to help so he could say "and we are already working on the designs for it Tiger."

"Good. My diggers are ready to start when you are" Ianto smiled, "But today… I map."

Everyone headed off to their respective jobs as Ianto hummed happily, heading for work as he really did enjoy the mapping part of it all. Creating the streets, the networks. He knew this place like the back of his hand because he created each and every turn.

"Hey fuckface" Ianto called out as he came to a halt, Owen clambering into the passenger seat.

"Hi Fucktard" Owen replied, also happy as when a Mapping Day happened he came with. Today he was not a doctor, not a revered and aloof prick. No, today he was a Mapper, alongside Ianto who let him do what he really enjoyed doing and saw as a reward for not deliberately killing a patient or two.

Own lifted the worksheet to check "Wow, you are adding a large parking area here?"

"The third bunker is going to go snug against the hill. Many will use Hovers to get there even if we both know running is probably faster." Ianto agreed, powering down as they got the worksite and both men got out to head for the workers waiting patiently. Some of the newbies were in the mix and Ianto knew some onsite training was about to happen, but he also hoped there would be some experienced workers in the group.

"Good morning everyone, I am your Commander" Ianto called out "Doctor Harper is my Port… who is my Starboard today?"

Someone stepped forward and Ianto felt his smile freeze as he stared at Lucia who looked as surprised as he felt "I am a fully licenced Drome operator Sir. I worked roadworks and battleground recon in my youth. I will be your Starboard pilot today."

Ianto turned to Owen and said softly "That's Lucia. Jack's ex."

"Well… fuck me sideways in a vat of honey" Ownes said loudly, walking towards the low skimmer like it was no big deal "I thought she would be taller."

Now maybe it was the weird comment about her height, or the fact she stood there like a deer in the headlights not sure what was happening, but Ianto found himself chuckling softly as he shook his head "Right. Come on Lucia. Let's get the show on the road."

"Yeah… let's hit the road.. after we make it" Owen roared back, chuckling as he sat in the back with a large drone, going over the fans with his fingers. A pre-flight check.

The Low Skimmer was like a Hover but it was only two or three inches off the ground and on the outer edges were jets that expelled florescent paint for the huge building bots to recognize. It was roughly the width of a standard two land road so both sides were mapped at the same time, the jets creating the road that the Bots would lay down. Wherever Ianto went, they would map and the huge drone either side would also record anything like building zones. Each drone creating a site identity by assigning a number for each plot of land selected by the Skimmer's jets.

It was huge, complex and only someone with Ianto's level of intensity was even capable of fully imagining let alone control the dual working that needed to all be auctioned at once.

As Lucia crouched on the back deck of the skimmer to check her own massive drone she would be operating Owen asked "So… you're really the one who left her own kids behind?"

"Owen. Stow that" Ianto scolded gently "She made a decision. For better or for worse… we were not there and not part of it."

"Yeah… but they ARE your kids now so… it has everything to do with you. As Jack's Bond-mate, you have every right to demand answers for the mess she left you to pick up" Owen argued like she was not there crouched frozen with her mouth open in shock.

"Owen. I said it once and I shall not again… are you really trying to make me repeat myself knowing my hatred for such an action?"

"Tosser" Owen went back to the drone which he had switched on and was now humming "But I will say… Alice does have her looks."

Ianto did not answer, merely firing up the machine to start moving forward.

Lucia crouched there for a few seconds more before Owen poked at her "Come on. Get fired up girl."

Lucia's hands shook as she rushed to catch up to him so the two drones could fly out in unison on either side of the skimmer, the man behind the controls of the huge vehicle not even glancing at her as she felt stabs of shame and alarm.

This was the one her husband bonded to? This is the one raising her children? No wonder he knew her name.

Now, more than ever she knew her return was not welcome.

Chapter Text

They had stopped for a break while the AI on board the skimmer compiled, and Owen reached under the front passenger seat for a large chiller, which he pulled out to open and peer into "Ooooo, you made little baby cakes."

"Cupcakes Owen… they are called cupcakes ya lazy bastard … and no… Alice made those at school for Home Ec" Ianto replied "Jack has some in his lunch too."

"Wow, she is really good at cooking, you teach her well" Owen said as he handed one to Lucia and then bit into the one he had chosen. He did not offer one to Ianto knowing that he would not want one.

Ianto reached in and retrieved a cookie, sitting back to nibble at it as he looked around and considered "You know… a swimming pool might be more use here than a sports field."

"A pool? Yeah, with the heat of summer, there is not much shade." Owen agreed, sitting back to lick frosting off his fingers.

Ianto lifted the tablet from the passenger seat and started to tap, no doubt going over the map and tweaking it. Lucia felt weird as the men acted like she was just another co-worker and finally she could not stand it any ore as she asked "So… you are with Jack? When I asked…"

"I told you the truth. He wasn't there. None of them were. You surprised me and I was a little pissy so I decided to be a bitch" Ianto replied as he scrolled down to check another road "I needed time to speak with Alice and warn her that you were back. She was hurt so deeply when you left, she is in counselling even now. Turning up again like you did, would have really pissed her off and destroyed any chance of a reconciliation if she didn't have time to prepare. She needs time to think it through and decide for herself. In time she will see you, be ready and have some pre-worded things to say. Even if they are nasty, you need to hear them and accept them as her truth. You need to understand… she is strong. And still so very hurt."

"You called her Alice. She was born Melissa. Whose idea was it to change her name?"

"Hers. I think she was so scared of losing her remaining parental that she wanted to do something, anything to please him. So, she changed her name to the one he had wanted for her, desperate to show her loyalty." Ianto explained. "Jack didn't make her, she chose to leave the little girl where you did. Alone in the dark, letting Alice emerge."

Lucia nodded, looking at the other man who merely nodded in agreement to Ianto's words, then Owen decided to change the subject so she could have a moment to think over the words used.

"Where is the imp?" Owen finally asked.

"Jack took her to work with him again."

"Christ on a cracker… that man is obsessed. Or is it John?"

"Well, he loves to fuss on her and now I am over him and his prior claims to Jack, I think it is kinda sweet that he is besotted with Astra. She is so bloody crafty though, she already knows which pout to use to get what she wants with him" Ianto laughed.

"Isn't it Physicals today? Why I was so happy to bow out of that. So… your little baby girl is going to be strapped to the chest of her father, or uncle John… and look at naked men and women all day?" Owen asked.

"Not ALL day. They will break for lunch and her bottle" Ianto said distractedly as Owen roared with mirth.

"Baby?" Lucia asked softly.

"Ianto and Jack. Now they're a bonded pair, they not only have the two you made with Jack but also the little one Ianto grew. He birthed Astra, who is such a Harkness with her pouting. I mean… Jack doesn't stand a chance. Alice looks more like you and Fen is himself but Astra… man. She can pull off the Harkness Bastard look like a pro."

Lucia sat there stunned, so much to take in at once. She pondered her future here.

"There is no place for you at my table" Ianto suddenly blurted like he knew her thoughts and she was startled by his anger "My children are not up for grabs. Any of them. One day your two children might forgive enough to let you be part of their lives but the family unit will never welcome you in."

"I… how did you… I mean…"

"Ianto is a multi-mute. Careful, he even outdoes Jak in the brainiac stakes with his powers. He probably plucked your thoughts out of the air around your head or something. Freak doesn't say" Owen snorted "But he is fair. If anyone can bring the children around not letting you see them now and then it's him. So don't fuck with him."

"It's OK. She won't" Ianto said sternly, "Come on. I need to finish up the shopping center so we can go home for today."

If Owen was surprised by the sudden change of pace, he didn't show it as he calmly packed things up and got ready to fly again.

Lucia was more confused than ever but seeing more and more that the man behind the controls truly did have his hand on the wheel and fingers on the pulse.

And could have his foot at her throat just as calmly.

She felt his power each time she tried to touch him.

He was powerful… a killer.

Chapter Text

Ianto powered down the skimmer as they closed out the end of the day's work. Owen took off like a dog shot in the arse, not even collecting his tablet. As the other two got their things form the skimmer Ianto turned to Lucia "Look. I know what you want but I don't think you will get it the way you think you will."

"Then what can I do?"

"The hardest thing…. Wait." Ianto replied.

"But they are my children and…"

"No. They aren't. You need to get that out of your head. You don't even know these young adults. You've never met my Fen, would not know my Alice if she was standing in front of you with her new hairstyle. The children in your mind, the little crying things that clung to you and begged you not to go, not to leave them as your lover roared at you to hurry the fuck up… those little children still cry in the night. The nightmares wake me, I hear their pain. The young adults that I call mine… MY kids… are not what you think they are. Alice is a powerful Mute, taking instruction from one of my old masters, she has the potential to be a planetary protector." Ianto stopped talking to give her a moment to reel back from him with shock as he dropped a clanger. The thing he knew she feared the most, he threw in her face. Alice was openly a Mute. Everyone knows.

She sat and asked softly "well… does she know…"

"That you are a mutant too? Don't be dense, of course she does. She knows it's heredity, she knows you left out of fear of that. She thought you left her, because she shamed you or scared you. Can you imagine that?" Ianto huffed "You made her feel … wrong. That takes time to heal too."

"But it wasn't that, it.."

"I know. I explained that to her. You ran because of the fear of your own powers being discovered, weak as they are… I know they are there. The waves of green and blue swirling around you." Ianto waved a hand like it was no big deal he was telling her he could 'see' her powers.

"You… you see it?"

"I am one of the most powerful Multi Mutes in the known verse. I am what they call a Master Mutant. I am the strongest one in this sector… maybe the entire quadrant" Ianto stared her down "Not many know that. I hide as well as I can but if I wanted to, I could set fire to this entire world with Dragon's Breath."

She stood staring at him.

The warning had not even been all that veiled.

.

.

"Hey good looking" Jack called out from the counter of the kitchen where he was plating up the evening meal as Ianto entered the house via the back door, placing his chiller by the door on the floor, then leaning across the corner of the counter for a kiss.

"Alice… your cupcakes made Uncle Owen's day darling" Ianto called out as he patted Jack's arse, heading into the main room as Jack finished preparing the evening meal. After a quick wash and a clean shirt… Ianto would never sit down to a meal with a dirty shirt on folks… he returned to find things ready.

"Did you get it all mapped Tad?" Stephen asked as he sat at the neatly laid table, folding the napkins.

"Not quite smudge. Will need to go back tomorrow, I got sidelined by the pool."

"Pool?" Alice asked, settling in her seat at the table, the jug of juice she had carried through placed in the middle where everyone could reach it, the glasses already full of water sorted by her as well.

"I decided there should be a pool" Ianto said in a silly voice, "Yeah. Reconfiguring will take some thought process. I did some on the site scribbles and now after dinner I will sneak into my lair to do some more calculations."

"And what street will you put the pool entrance at?" Stephen asked excited to watch Ianto instantly pull the schematics out of his brain.

"Oh, that's an easy one" Ianto smiled at him "Stephen's Drive."

Stephen sat there in silent shock, then he lit up "Taddy… did you name a street after me?"

"Alice Avenue.. Astra Lane … Daddy Jack has one too. His is Jumping Jack Flash Boulevard."

The kids roared with glee as the food was placed down and Jack looked around the table for praise gaining it as Ianto breathed in the gorgeous roast meal "Oh Cariad. I was sooooo dreaming of a roast today."

"So did Uncle Owen crash the drone again?" Alice asked as she settled back from pouring a glass of juice for Stephen.

"No but your mother did crash hers." Ianto replied like it was no big deal, "It skipped like a pebble on a lake. Your Uncle crowed like he had NEVER done that before… three times last month."

"Mama?"

"She's on my work crew and today she flew with me." Ianto placed down the knife and fork to watch the boy's face "She says hi and was pleased to hear how well you are doing. I explained to her that you are mine now and I will fight her for you."

"Is she… is she OK?" he asked.

"Oh, she is fine." Ianto assured him "Healthy, looks good and she told me she is going to join the building gang once I have finished mapping. She has learned to drive the road layers. She will pave your street."

Jack sat watching his son as Stephen pushed his food around the plate before asking "Do I have to see her?"

"No. Never if you don't want to. I told her that too darling. You are a young man now, you have a busy life and she has no place in it… like she wanted. It is entirely up to you if you do or don't. And it's OK with me either way. Your Dad and me… we love you. And want you to be happy. If you want to see her for some sort of closure or whatever that's OK too. If you want Dad or me there with you… that's fine too. If you feel in your heart that you don't want to or need to see her… we will support that too."

"I don't know if I want to see her or not. I don't really remember her and… I don't need her, ya know?" he shrugged like it was no big deal.

"And that's totally understandable son" Jack finally spoke, seeing that Ianto had left that moment in the conversation to him, the soft whispering in his mind comforting "We are totally different people now, our lives are not the ones she was part of so really… she's a stranger."

"How I feel too" Alice said softly "But maybe… maybe I want to tell her how she made me feel."

"And me and Tad will support that too" Jack said as he loked over at Ianto, seeing how amazing he was. How his life was just as it should be and she was not welcome.

Astra chose that moment to wake and call out for attention, Jack rising to rush to get her, pushing to kiss Alice's forehead on the way past and say softly "And she chose to miss out on so much goodness. Her loss, not yours."

Enough said.

"Dessert?" Alice asked, rising to see what her Dad had under the cloth on the counter for afters.

Conversation over.

Chapter Text

Ianto was crouched looking at a line painted along the ground, frowning as he made a call to have the paint machine's tubs replaced with fresh cans, it was fading. He was about to straighten up when he heard a familiar sound and he looked up as Alice came skimming towards him on her Hover, knowing that by now under her Tad's eagle eye the main road was already laid and her sweet little Hover would be safe to use.

Ianto slowly straightened up and glanced over at Lucia who was in a group of four other workers having a break while discussing the current plot of land they were inter-mapping for the community building that would be built there.

Alice was out of the Hover and skipping towards him, her punky hair high in a crazy plait that looked a lot like a mohawk with the tufts sticking up here and there. It was also sprayed bright pink. Well, Rhiannon was happy to do this for her, like Mica wore hers too. The two girls proudly telling people they were cousins. It was OK… all washable and Ianto knew she loved expressing herself and hopefully upsetting the 'oldies' that he hoped she did not lump him in with. In her hand was a large blue chiller… ah. He had forgotten the food and Owen noticed as well, breaking from the group to run over.

"Oh sweetheart… you are wonderful" Owen said, reaching her before she got to Ianto and kissing her on the cheek "Perfect. I am gasping."

She laughed as she released the handle and Owen took off calling out that there were some cold-water bottles. Everyone headed over and accepted one, Lucia finally seeing the young woman and she nodded politely as Alice stared at her, then looked at Ianto with open amusement.

Like Ianto had warned… she had not recognized her own child.

"Dinner is at eight tonight because Fen and Davie have the Patrol Meeting" she said as she leaned in to kiss Ianto's cheek "They get their uniforms today."

"God, your father is going to be insufferable demanding photos" Ianto laughed, reaching out to touch her cheek lovingly.

Alice skipped over towards her Hover with her ponytail at the back of her mohawk swinging from shoulder to shoulder and she was soon powering up.

"SEATBELT! GODDAMN IT CHILD!" Ianto roared loudly, so loudly that some flinched as they heard him in their heads. He looked around and grimaced "Oops, sorry. Was I projecting?"

"No worries… none of us will forget to buckle up now Taddy" Owen slapped him on the shoulder and wandered off to place 'his' food in their vehicle.

"Oh my god… was that…"

"Yes. That was my Alice" Ianto nodded then resumed looking at the line in the dirt and muttering about bloody paint quantities as she turned to gape at the disappearing Hover.

"Where did she get that Hover? It must be worth at least a year of wages" she demanded.  

"Was me wife's. she's dead, not like she was using it" Ianto frowned, clearly annoyed by the questions as he added "So? I have enough credits to build all this, you think that hurts me pocket?"

"Excuse me?"

"Who do you think you work for Lucia? All of this… is mine. I am one of the financiers of this colony, this suburb is mine, I am paying for everything to ensure it is done correctly and the bunker is graded at the highest level. Once complete, I will sell off the completed houses to those incoming. I will make profit and still be able to make sure about a third of them go to those who would otherwise not be able to afford to come here without my Mutant Charity paying their way. Giving them a job to pay their way once here and a feeling of self-worth. Now that things are running smoothly, this all pays for itself. The profits in the charity not only pay for those coming out, but it also pays for the building and reaps the rewards. I no longer even draw money from this… I have enough. 100% goes back to the people."

She frowned "What's in it for you?"

"Freedom" Ianto replied as he laughed, waving down a couple of the other workers who had started to bristle "Lucia. Who do you think pays your wages? The charity. It will build all this and in time… the profits from this will build the next suburb… and beyond."

"But why?" she asked.

"Because I can. I made good coin and if I can't help out fellow mutants escape an unhappy world… I will." Ianto leaned back and canted his head "You want to know how I made coin in the first place? Ah. That is another story."

"One he's never told any of us" Owen cut in with a roll of his eyes, "But I know it involved gambling."

"Huh now, or I shall tell Toshiko on you for gossiping ya little shite!" Ianto fake growled and Owen giggled as he took off like Ianto might chase him. Ianto looked after him with raw affection then turned back to her "Not all family are blood. Family is love."

"You helped set this up… I mean… you? Part of the steering committee?"

"Yes. Myself and two others with powerful mutant abilities and money… yes." Ianto nodded.

"But no one says anything about it" she pointed out.

"Because not many know. I don't toot my horn because I am not here for accolades, I am here for the betterment of my children and their children beyond." Ianto sighed as he leaned in close to whisper "And because I can have more control over who is where while on MY planet."

Finally, she understood that not only had she surprised everyone with her unannounced arrival, but she had also stepped on toes by not going though proper channels.

And still, he had allowed her so much leniency.

"Come on, let's get back to it. Show me the layout you lot worked out for this store" Ianto said, closing out the conversation and making it clear that he did not want to make it a thing.

Lucia saw that Jack had landed on his feet, and so had her children. His children. She understood that not only was she an interloper… she was not entirely welcome, but he was too damned polite to punt her off world.

Would she ever be able to atone for her stupidity.

.

.

...…../.../.../.../.../...

.

.

OK so I've already received a couple of Christmas Story requests so I have plenty of time to chew on them. So, from now onwards, I am accepting requests for your Christmas Gifts. xxxx

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

"Ianto? What… what is that?"

Ianto rose from where he was siting, eating lunch with the roading gang to turn and look in the direction Lucia was pointing, feeling a coldness washing over him as he stared at what Lucia could see moving beyond the shields.

There, merely half a mile away on the other side of the forcefield were a couple of Arerdisherols.

"That is… that is an indigenous creature of this planet that does not like us. At all. We chose to inhabit an area they do not live, but we still seem to enrage them with our noise. They come every now and then to watch us. If one gets though the barriers… it will kill." Ianto said so calmly you would not know he was shaking internally.

As he stiltedly packed thing up and started to move in the opposite direction to the creatures it was Owen who said softly "One of those things killed his son in front of him… and the other little boy he was trying to help get up and run with him. Ianto…. Ianto saw them die. Felt them die. Those things are not only dangerous… they enjoy killing things. All other creatures fear them. Ianto is maybe the only thing they fear. The only thing here that can kill one of them without a weapon."

"How?" she asked softly "How did he kill ti?"

"With his pain." Came the cryptic reply.

Lucia followed Owen, asking about the child that died and learnt more about Ianto then she really felt she ought to know, but was glad she did. She now understood more the changes this man must have made for her children, the allowances made and she knew his heart was damaged but still purer than hers.

"You know… I came here hoping my children would at least speak to me. To find them not only loved but better off… I feel sort of… you know. Redundant." She said and felt a strangeness turning to find Ianto behind her, his glare at Owen strong.

"I was only talking to her. I can talk to her. You talk to her, I am a grown-up man!" Owen said defensively.

"If you have to say you are a grown-up…"

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But you know… she was not prying."

"Come here." Ianto said and she followed silently, feeling like he was somehow aware of everything whirling around in her head. "Here. See this?"

Ianto showed her a compartment on the side of his huge hover "See this? In here is a pulse gun, it has a code to get in. 1328. OK? This will take the head off one of those things."

Lucia nodded, feeling like he had not told many people about it being there, let alone the code. He was trusting her, she felt like he was giving her something and she nodded as she felt gratitude in the feeling of being included in something.

"You were an only child."

Lucia looked at him with surprise "My parents died young, I was raised by my grandparents who died when I was only sixteen… and love had not been strong in their sense of duty. No. Gods, what a thing to ask."

"No. You are alone. Always alone. Why you feel strange with love. You also don't like the fact some can hear your thoughts when you are a private person. Not lonely, you prefer to be alone. Solitude" Ianto smiled "I am the same. Jack drives me mad, I know he must have done with you too. Like a constant noise in the background. It took me a while to learn how to totally block him out, but I don't think you could."

"No" she laughed softly.

"So … Would you like to come for dinner on Saturday night?"

Lucia froze with shock "What?"

"You heard me. One of the things you will learn about me is that I loathe repeating myself" Ianto scolded then he wandered of as she turned to gape at Owen who grinned.

"Don't worry. Me and me missus are coming too, she is preggers and needs some adult time" Owen assured her. "She's going mad with nesting and shit."

Lucia relaxed as she wondered what to bring, if there is a pregnant person there, she can't take alcohol. Jack did like Guavel Juice… would that be OK?

Can you even get it here?

.

.

"Guavel juice!" Jack squealed, snatching the bottle out of her hands as he ran from the doorway "TIGER!"

"Right here Cariad, give it to Toshiko to open please. You know you will drop t on your foot or something."

"Oh god, I loved this back in the day. You know, I was just thinking of it the other day, lamenting to Martha that I can't drink anything nice until this beast pops" Jack said, patting his small bump and Lucia froze, the reality setting in that there was more than one pregnant person there.

"Here we are, this is Astra" Alic appeared beside her "My little sister. Isn't she sweet? Ianto grew such a lovely little beastie."

Lucia found a baby shoved into her arms as Alice ran for her father "Dad? What's that?"

As Jack told her about his preferred drink once upon a time as Ianto calmly set the table, ignoring Toshiko and Owner bickering over the baby clothes he had laid out as Astra was grown out of them and they knew Jack was having a little boy now.

Anything clearly girly was going to them for the little incoming princess that was going to be so spoiled and sweet. Toshiko's little self and Owen's gob… oh gods… Ianto could not wait to see the little gremlin that his own little ones would get up to mischief with.

By the time he yelled that dinner was ready and Luca noticed the little boy again stuck to Stephen's side, they were all seated, a little blonde girl with curls blinking at her as well "Who is you?"

"Mica, be polite. This is Alcie and Stephen's mama" Ianto said calmly "Be polite at my table. Sorry Luce. My sister is off on some date so I have these horrible things infesting my house."

"Sorry Uncle." She said "I didn't know they had one. Wow. Nice. She has pretty hair."

And so they ate.

And drank Guavel juice.

Seems Ianto had produced a chilled bottle as well.

Yum.

Chapter Text

Lucia was standing with Ianto looking at the blueprints she had created for one of the buildings and he was signing off, telling her that she had done a great job and as it was the first one he had given her complete control over, she felt quite excited about it.

Seeing him list it under her name was also a thrill, realizing that this was to be her house. Once completed, Ianto was giving her a home, finally allowing her to relax as this means he was going to let her stay.

She turned to say something and froze as she saw who was approaching, this not something she was expecting at all. Noticing her alarm, Ianto turned as well and then further confused her by opening his arms to embrace the monster who was grinning at her.

"Hello Eye Candy" John purred as he kissed Ianto's cheek like a lover.

"Hello Fuckface" Ianto replied just as lovingly "Don't tell me you managed to escape the damned shackles again."

"I know darling… baby oil" John purred his hands around Ianto's waist in a way that made her blood boil and she stepped forward to face him, shaking internally as she was about to snarl in his face that this one was not a slut.

What she did not expect was his reaction to her, seizing her to pull in for a kiss and swinging her around like a dance as he said happily "And Lucia. Hello Buttercup. Listen… Ianto told me you want some Black Time so I am here to see if you want some weekend work on one of the freighters. They need a medic and I remembered your ticket."

She was back on her feet like nothing had happened, the man she hated with a passion suddenly turning back to Ianto "You know… you look so sexy in that outfit."

"Yes Johnty, thanks so much. Now… stop needling the woman or I shall cleave your skull with my pinky finger" Ianto said, poking the little finger at him as he roared with mirth, his own coming out.

"En guard!" he shrieked, the two men wriggling pinkies a tone another like fucking kids.

"Right, fuck off now. She will see you later for the freighter callsign. Are you coming for the evening meal? If so, let Jack know please, it's his night for cooking" Ianto turned his back on the man and looked back down at the tablet as John obediently lifted his coms unit to call Jack.

"Jacky… hey darling. Your piece of fluff sez I have to book my seat at the table tonight? Oh? Oh my god… the shit went where? Oh god… the little demon child… is she laughing?"

John wandered off while making gagging noises and Ianto handed the tablet back to Lucia "Looks good to me. Oh… Jack wants you to know not to bring anything tonight. You are no longer a guest and do not need to bring a gift every time we invite you… best just accept that we expect you there at least twice a week for the children's happiness. You are family and just need to place your bum on the seat."

"John is…"

"A prick. Yes. But like a bee sting, after a while you want to scratch the itch" Ianto smiled softly "Don't worry. He is terrified of me. Best way to keep him. He knows my strength and does not push that much. Just enough to reassure himself that he is still a cool cat. Just remember that he is slightly deranged and has head trauma from a nasty childhood. He will always be combative to hide his insecurity."

Ianto then walked away as she gaped after him, then she turned to see John in the distance play fighting with Owen who managed to get a good whack in, Jonh falling on his butt as Owen wagged a finger at him, scolding him like he was a naughty child before heading for his Hover.

John got up, dusted himself off and headed to his own Hover, his laughter carrying on the breeze.

She had never seen him happy before. Always angry, combative and fucking nasty. To see him laugh, play and banter was… off putting.

If she had not seen him in action, she would not think is possible that he was a first class fucker.

.

.

Lucia entered the house and headed to her seat where she always sat and slowed as she saw who was sitting in the chair next door, already with the baby in his arms as he crooned and gushed, little hands full of hair as he yanked at his scalp.

"Good evening Johnty" he said as he settled next to him.

"Hey Luce. Look at this beast… Jack and Ianto make such cute kids eh? Mind, I remember when Fen was born and those little eyes were soooo intelligent." John gushed.

"What about me!" Alice demanded.

"Oh no… horrible. Ugliest baby I had ever seen. I could not even bring myself to hold you. Egh" John made gagging noises as she screamed and slapped at him.

"Ali, not at the table love. Gut him later please" Jack said as he wafted into the room, a dish towel over one shoulder and plates of food in each hand.

"Oh Jacky… that smells amazing!" John said as he released the child to Ianto who had appeared from nowhere to swoop and snatch.

"It was a number on the replicator that I had not tried before. Who knew it would be so amazing… a potato bake or something. Bacon in there too" Jack placed the plates down and grinned, then went back for the other plates.

"Daddy?"

"YES. I GRATED EXTRA CHEESE ON YOURS DARLING!"

"Thank you" Alice hummed, squirming in her seat like she used to as a small child and Lucia saw how happy her daughter was, her joy showing in the huge grin as she reached for the cheese shaker like she might not totally believe her father capable of making enough cheese grating for her.

"Ignore her… she has a cheese fetish" Fen said dryly "Might have a cheese cake when she gets married to Devooonnnnn. Oh… oh… Devvvoooonnnnn is soooooo…."

"I will lamp ya, ya feckin…"

"Manners.. I know the word you are about to use!" Ianto muttered his hands full as he tried to wrestle the little girl onto her highchair. "You are not marrying him, he has weird hair like his mother."

"Sorry Taddy. But Fen kind of is one." Alice giggled not the least bit chastened.

"Animals" Ianto huffed softly and Lucia found herself laughing along with everyone else.

It felt nice to be part of a family.

Part of a home.

And she was grateful to be here.

Chapter Text

It started like any other day, laughter and general banter around the workplace as Ianto pretended not to hear some of the more derogatory things being said. Nothing brings out the lower intelligence than boredom and of course, Owen was the worst one for being a douche.

Lucia was now part of the crew, another foul mouthed creatin as they all roared and pointed their sandwiches at one another while trying to be more gross about something none of them really meant.

"What's that?"

Everyone stopped as Ianto suddenly spoke, all turning their heads to look up where he was squinting into the two suns. There was something there. Like a spec but it was moving… closer… it seemed….

"Fuck me, it's a space freighter breaking atmo" Ianto suddenly blurted with horror, reaching for his tablet and hitting the alarms.

As loud klaxons started to sound Lucia swung in behind him as he ran, falling into step like it was the most natural thing in the world to follow him blindingly wherever he was heading and as she saw the doors for the new bunker still under construction she knew that the space freighter was coming in too fat.

It was only once she had stepped inside with everyone else that she realized Ianto had stepped around them and back out, swinging back to make eye contact as the doors started to close.

"Ianto?" she gasped, shocked with herself for the level of horror he felt for someone she had already started to see as family. Oh god, what would she say to her kids? How would she face Jack?

"he's coming hard and fast Luce. Too fast. It will be like a comet hitting, the shields will fail, the ground will be impacted, and we are going to have what might be a world changing event. I have to protect. It's my job. My power."

The doors clanged shut as she tried to get out, the arms holding her back accompanied by Owen's soft voice trying to get her to calm down. She swung for the control room, running to see Ianto on the screen as he passed the cameras and headed at great pace for the upper ward, running like he was on an invisible hover.

She had no idea he was so fast, so powerful… or stubborn.

A side screen flickers and came on, Jack was roaring over the speakers "Tell me he's in there! OWEN!"

"Jack" she sobbed "He's out there running."

"Fuck." He slumped back, his hand going to his face.

"Are you safe? Are the kids safe?" she asked "Bubba?"

John appeared behind Jack, the little girl in his arms waving energetically as John told her the entire school was in with them and it would all be OK. Just hunker down and stay safe. She nodded looking back to the screen and Jack's eyes narrowed.

"Tosh? Get me the cameras, I need to see Ianto."

The screens flickered and then they saw him, standing in their own front yard, his beloved rose bushes he had been trying to encourage into bloom, feet apart and his arms thrown out like he was getting a rain shower.

He was screaming, his entire self was focusing on the task at hand. Then, behind him came another person, mimicking him, another… another… until there were eight powerful telekinetic mutants joining their powers to his, projecting as much powerful shielding as possible in an attempt to slow the descent of the vessel, giving it a chance to alter course.

"Why are they not firing some landing blasters?" Alice whispered to her father as she clutched at his shirt.

"Because there is either no one on board alive… or the bridge and AI are damaged which cased this to happen. A runaway" Jonh answered, reaching out to tuck her into his armpit.

"Is it working?"

"Yes, it is" Toshiko answered with her fingers working "Ianto has control of it, it's being turned for the outer reach… he is trying to control the damage …. We were going to build there. It just clipped the hall roof… god… he has saved the township….Damn… it's going to cause damage on the outskirts …everyone needs to brace for impact."

The distant boom had children whimpering, then the rumbling sound followed by the massive 'yerk' that had people screaming with fear as the ground shuddered like a wet dog.

Then the silence.

The lights flickered and swung lazily as Jack repeatedly called out Ianto's name over the loud speakers.

"Cariad"

Ianto's voice was flat as he came over the speakers and everyone froze to listen "It's down. It appears intact but with no landing gear employed, it did had a last minute deployment of the emergency thrusters that the system must have as part of the automatic safety features. I am heading that way, I want security to come and I really… really… want everyone to stay in the bunkers for now, until we know what was on board."

"Baby… you and your xenomorph phobia" Jack laughed softly, the relief palpable.

"I know… but I am thinking more of Space Fever or something" came the sighed reply. "Where were the crew? Even out of control, they could have signalled somehow."

"Oh shit. He's right. Something must have incapacitated the crew. If not scary little monsters, tiny little monsters…a virus or something. We have no idea where this ship came from, what is on board… I agree with Ianto" Owen called out "Full hazmat!"

Everyone settled down to listen to those who had their lives in their hands bicker, agree and move out.

.

.

"Are you OK?" Jack asked as he came alongside his mate, who was standing there quietly staring at the huge freighter.

"I am not detecting any life within… not even pets" Ianto whispered back "For a multi-level carrier … It's a ghost ship."

"Fuck off… really?" Owen asked, the hazmat suit not like the big bulky things of today but more like a wetsuit with a helmet.

Ianto nodded touching his collar to activate his own helmet and the team moved forwards, Toshiko's tech in a plastic covering to protect it from anything they might inadvertently come in contact with.

Jack punched in an override code for this model, his wristlet talking to him and telling him what this one's call sign had been as it made contact with the AI and he called back "This is The Gisborne."

"The Gizzy? Isn't that a livestock carrier?" John asked, "Fuck… you not picking up any animals on board Eye Candy? They can carry up to eight hundred animals from space dock to space dock for the farming planets."

"Not a ducky bird poppet"

Jonh found himself grinning at the strange man Jack had found in the wilds.

God, he was fun.

Chapter Text

The interior was dark, silent and ominous.

"Lights" Owen muttered, "Toshi love, any lights?"

"It's dead love. I can't' make it do anything" came the rely over their coms and Owen sighed. "I know, you hate the dark. Come on, it's completely safe. Jack is there, right? Along with his little passenger? Would Ianto let Jack tag along when preggers if there was any danger? And Ianto is the pessimist right?"

"Come here" Ianto said, kneeling beside a bag he had been carrying and Owen started to giggle as Ianto rose with what looked like a vest, "Here. Put it on."

"When did you have the time to even make this" Owen giggled uncontrollably as Ianto started to reach for things and make a cracking noise, the little, long lights coming on showing that they were Fluro light sticks that were usually used by teenagers at raves.

"I found a whole heap of them under Alice's bed and in the trash. I knew the last disco at the school had been a nightclub theme, so these were left over. Typical child, she was discarding the rest. I was going to give it to you on Halloween but… well… there you go ya weird man, you."

Owen stood there with his arms out, twirling like it was a catwalk runway or something, the twenty or thirty little sticks throwing off green shards of light.

"OK… it's official. I like him" John said as he adjusted his own backpack "Where now?"

"Jack?"

"We need to get to the bridge. There we can retrieve the black box and get back off this thing, lock it back down and then see what data can be uploaded to another device." Jack said confidently, Toshiko already having told him that was the best idea.

"I am scanning… still no signs of life" Andy said softly, checking his gauges "I don't like this."

"Right. We seal this hatch in case there is something on here we are not picking up. We do not want it getting out, we place sensors and remote cameras here by the exit as well, Toshiko to watch in case someone or something flanks us." John said as he crouched to do so, "We will place sensors and cameras as we go, anything moves that is not us, we will know. But we would have flushed anything already with all your whinging."

"Seems prudent."

They moved slowly, clumped together and with purpose, Jack and John both holding weapons with safeties off, despite scoffing at Ianto both of them secretly thought of the Nostromo and the Ripley Reports. Jack had warned John not to say anything or Ianto would bench him.

"Stop" Ianor hissed, pausing to cant his head "Was that… was that something?"

"Tosh?" Owen hissed.

"Nothing." She replied "Likely the hull still settling after the impact damaged her structural integrity."

They continued, entering the bridge to find chaos, damage and bodies.

"Oh damn… they all fired on one another?" John stood looking around as Jack crouched to check the bodies. Ianto headed for where the box would be.

"It looks like… from the angle of their falls… the shots all came from about here.. by the captain's chair. He fired on them all?" Jack frowned; it didn't make sense.

"But there are no captain's pips here on the bridge. Where is he?" John demanded looking at the bodies "Fuck… he killed his crew and then… what…bolted?"

"Bolted. Bolt hole" Jack muttered, looking at a door "Is he in there? Captain's Ready Room?"

"Awwww, do we have to open the door?" Owen whined.

"Owen, come help me get this box out" Ianto said, stepping back to let Owen into the space, then stepping between him and the door as his hands rose slightly in a 'stay back' motion.

"Ianto, how much strength have you got left if you need to repel something?" Jack asked.

"No much, but I only have to do it until you fire… right?" Ianto's eyes slid to him and Jack grinned back. "Jack? Can Johnty take point please?"

"Sorry love, my wristlet has the override code" Jack sighed "But I will step to one side and let John have the space."

"OK… open it" Ianto said, crouching more as Owen muttered to himself, not even aware of the conversation overhead.

Jack opened the door and froze in the doorway, slowly backing out as Ianto's stance changed from crouched to straight backed, the shock and horror in the bond telling him that there was no threat… but that Jack recognized something.

"Cariad?"

"I know him" came the flat reply, "Oh my god. He killed his entire crew… then himself. Christ, even his own daughter there by your feet… I … I don't know what to say now."

Ianto looked down at the young woman in her early twenties at the most, her face serene as she stared back up at him like one of Mica's dolls, her eyes sightless.

"Alex Hopkins… he was one of my trainers at the academy. He wanted me on his team but… I was too loose and breezy to settle for a regimented life" Jack sighed.

"Shit a brick, I remember him. He had the best shooting scores in the academy when we started training." John said behind him "You broke his record."

"Space sickness?" Owen asked, now standing there looking into the room at the slumped body and the viscera on the far wall that told of a head shot, Ianto the one who had taken his place to finally slide the box out easily, like it had been able to be slid the entire time, those screws and such Owen was loosening had nothing to do with it.

"Come on… it gives me the heebie-jeebies" Ianto said softly, his shudder going through everyone present.

"Ianto's right. There is no life here. We need to know what happened, report it and… give them a burial or something" Jack nodded turning to look at the man watching them through those hooded eyes "You OK lover?"

"Moderately unnerved but otherwise… still OK"

That said it all for everyone really.

Unnerved.

Chapter Text

"So… all I have so far is some sort of breach" Toshiko said as she went over the files she had managed to download. The screens around her were showing CCTV footage of crew members wandering around, a stock bay with sheep rocking slowly as the ship seemed to list and then running crew… confusion then the screens started to flicker. Cut to different cameras that had the galley with people eating and one of the corridors. Again, calm walking, talking and interacting, a sudden list… yelling, running… "Everything was normal but then we get that list to port some weird noises, screaming and yelling… then the firing."

"So, Alex didn't just go mad, they did too? Can it be an inner Atmo issue? Did the gases get mixed wrong and cause some form of psychosis? The list was a hull breech? Hypoxia?" Ianto asked turning to Owen who was looking at another tablet, shaking his head.

"No, numbers look normal, the only drop comes when the firing starts and there is a hull breach… then the list… there was something earlier, but I am not sure what it was. They picked up a life pod or something it says on the incomplete captain's log… was there something in that maybe?" he finally replied.

"Tosh?"

"Wait!" Ianto rose from his chair, his face ashen as he reached for his coms "Johnny. Are the bodies still contained? What? What do you mean… ahhh… shit."

"Ianto?" Jack asked softly but Ianto was still talking to John.

"Johnty, I want those bodies contained. Place them in full containment boxes, every single one with the Captain's body in full view, I want it in an exploration box for an autopsy." Ianto demanded then he turned to Owen "What if the life pod had something in it that affected him. Not everyone… just the man who opened pandora's box?"

"He might still be infected or whatever… ooohohhhh… infested?" Owen asked his face changing "You are thinking a hitchhiker. Fuck, they are as rare as hen's teeth. Fuck, I would never have thought of it."

"Ianto?" Jack asked.

"If the life pod contained a body, Alex would have leaned over it, made sure it was dead… if it had a hitcher on board, a symbiotic organism, it could have transferred. They are rare, but they exist and it might explain him loosing his mind. If the hitcher was not used to human anatomy, it might have had trouble controlling him." Ianto loked to Owen who was already tapping through his folder with glee.

"Yeah… yeah… looking at the flight manifest they moved through the northern sector where there have been the rare reports… fuck. It makes sense" Owen loked up from Toshiko's tablet he had been reading over her shoulder, and directly at Ianto. "The livestock bay doors were opened in the black… all crew and animals in there sucked out… only the captain's override could do that."

"Well… we need to check him over, see if there is one and if there is, make sure he still has it on board and it hasn't jumped or is hiding in the vessel somewhere." Ianto sighed.

"But there were no life signs…"

"It would not show. Small, like… the size of your little finger." Owen wriggled said little finger in Martha's face as she frowned and looked to Jack.

"Jack, you OK?"

"I feel ill, the thought… we saw some of the slides in the academy, the biopsies of the brains of those used… the parasite gets in through an ear canal and burrows into the brain stem… god. The thought of one loose… Owen's right. We have to check, make sure and the other bodies… there might be more than one. Fuck." Jack shuddered.

"Well, let's go check the body before we go too gross over this, I might be wrong." Ianto pointed out and it was John who was first to speak.

"Eye Candy, you might be any things but wrong? Nah, it does not ever touch you"

.

.

Owen held the scanner over the head of the corpse, only the thin payer of shielding glass between them and his discomfort was clear, glancing over at Toshiko who stood back nervously.

"I… shit. It's still moving" Owen said with horror, stepping back from the corpse "Oh…ewwww…ewwww…. Yucky… gross."

"OK. It's OK, come back over here Owen" Toshiko held out her arms and he shot over, shuddering like he was covered in bugs or something.

"Right. We have three things of concern here that need to be sorted" Ianto said calmly, even if his hands were fists at his sides. "First thing tp do… Owen… scan each and every one of us that came in contact with the vessel. I don't care… no argument or pointing out it is silly…I want everyone scanned and checked for a rider. Then, the second thing is the bodies. We have to conder them all infected, even if we don't see riders. I would rather not believe one is simply playing possum. So… we burn them, the burn all of them and then burry the ashes deep. Just for my constitution. OK?"

"And the third thing?"

"That Vessel has to go. We can't risk there being hitchhikers in there somewhere waiting to hatch or something weird. I know… I know it is silly but that's how it is. I want us to remove it from this planet, plant it on the far moon." Ianto looked around "I know it will cost a lot of fuel and such, we might need to pay some off world constructors to come help if our own vessels cannot lift it from the crater… but I want that thing off my planet."

"Agreed" Jack said as he reached out of hook one of those balled fists, feeling it relax as he massaged the knuckles.

Ianto would not relax until he knew the people were safe.

And of course he knew he was right.

He always was.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

After all the drama, Jack finally admitted that he was tired and wanted a day off. Ianto considered, then agreed. A day of family time would be nice, after all, it would take most of the week to clear away the mess for the building to start again.

Jack was currently sleeping, as was little Astra. The older kids were off with their friends after school and the early afternoon time seemed to tick slowly. Ianto felt the change in the air, the boredom settling in and Jack's low mood as he felt fat, slow and hungry. Even as he knew Jack was now only able to eat small meals several times a day due to the baby taking so much room.

Finally, he walked into the bedroom, finding Jack awake and moodily staring at the ceiling as he tried to find a reason to get up, the effort of moving immense. Ianto knew that feeling well, his own pregnancies making him moody. He watched for a moment before Jack spoke in a dull tone "What."

Ianto did not snap back, he took a calming breath then replied, "You know, now that the ship is gone and the cleaning has started, the supply vessels have now been able to land and offload."

Jack grunted sliding to the edge of the bed to look at the sleeping baby, her little self starfishing in her little daybed in the corner of the room. Another thing they had to sort out as soon she would have to sleep in her own room more, making room for the baby.

Ah… case in point.

"Well?"

Jack looked at him with confusion, then frowned "Huh?"

"Well… it means all the things we ordered for the nursery are there at the loading docks, we can take the low hover to get all of it and spend the next few days building the nursery furniture and setting out his room." Ianto said softly, watching as Jack's face changed then the man was on his feet, looking for shoes.

"Pants? And maybe pants my darling … Carid?"

"Shit, yeah" Jack grunted looking for pants too.

Soon their child was in the baby carrier, still asleep of course. Like her father, this one could sleep through anything when she had a full belly and was happy in her little world.

They skimmed along to the loading bays where everyone rushed to see the sleeping tot, help load the boxes and also cluck at Jack and rush like he might trip over his own feet. As Ianto had guessed, he loved the attention and fussing as much as Ianto had hated it. In now time they were heading back home where he knew the real fun was about to begin.

Jack did not know that Ianto had been painting, and the room was ready for immediate move-in of furniture. Ianto let him power ahead into the room, then waited for the gasp. The room was full of colour. Rainbows, bright yellow sunshine and butterflies.

"Butterflies" Jack sighed as Ianto entered "I remember those."

"I am in negotiations to introduce a few breeds once the gardens are fully established" Ianto replied as he watched Jack's fingers stroke the walls gently. As he had hoped, Jack loved it.

Ianto began moving in the boxes of things their daughter asleep in the net room that was now hers. The door between the tow rooms open so he could hear if she woke. This door meant when the kids were older they could play between themselves when the doors were open, the large double doors that folded back to make the two rooms almost one. Ianto had been clever.

Jack settled in the lovely huge rocking chair already in the corner of the room and waited as Ianto calmly opened the first flatpack and sought the instruction sheets to hand him. Yeah, arsehole end of space and still fucking flatpacks. Like cockroaches, those things will survive all.

Jack 'helped' by reading the instructions Ianto had scanned quickly before handing then over, so he could actually do the build while letting Jack think he was actually helping instead of giving the wrong instructions, wonder the man could read at all as he tried to bend over to grab for some screws, his belly making it difficult.

By the time Alice was calling out her return, the room was starting to take shape. Jack was now unwrapping little things from paper, his face full of joy as he found yet another little space vessel model for the shelf he was filling.

Ianto had finished building the furniture, moving it around and deciding, like he did not already have the entire thing sorted in his head, letting Jack think he had chosen the spot for the furniture in the end.

"It's a boy!" Alice said as she stood in the doorway looking around the room.

"Yes, we can feel his little self I the bond" Jack gushed "Astra will dominate him I fear."

Alice giggled, rolling her eyes as she entered the room and drank in the brightness of it, not fluffy and soft like Astra's. Clearly the little boy was going to be bold, strong and as she stood there she felt a faint…. Strength of power. He was saying hello as he let her in. Awwww. She smiled, "So Tadda, this one going to control Uncle Johnty too?"

"Oh no, I don't think Astra will share THAT much" Jack answered for Ianto and they giggled as Ianto and Alcie shared a look. She knew, in that look she knew her incoming baby brother would be another powerful mutant.

The thrill of it all making her squee.

Chapter Text

"So, scans confirm all those gross fuckers are gone, the land is cleansed with the Lazer hovers usually used to kill weeds and stubborn roots." Lucia held the meeting, standing with her feet apart, her hair tied back messily, and her head held high as she gave clearance for the building to begin again.

"Jack is entering his last few weeks of pregnancy, I want to step back for him, so Lucia is now in charge" Ianto said as he looked at the paperwork with a nod of satisfaction "Everything is mapped, straight forward to deploy and I have every faith in her ability to continue my work."

Lucia nodded with a smile of pleasure as Ianto handed things off to her and turned to his husband who knew full well what a first class prick he had been during Ianto's own pregnancy to not have been as so damned attentive.

They headed back home without Astra, the little girl snatched away by John the moment he saw her and as Andy argued with him for a cuddle, the baby had simply waved her parents off like a queen dismissing her servants.

They entered the house silently, no need to talk as they knew what they were going to do. Jack was tired and he headed to the bedroom for a snooze while Ianto did what made him most comforted, settled. He cleaned. Ianto sang softly as he worked, his happy place full of song and activity.

He remembered his son, who had liked sitting right over there in the little chair swaying to the music as he fought sleep with his little dragon toy clutched in his hands. His beloved little boy, gone but not forgotten, that same dragon now sitting on the shelf in the nursery where it waited for the next little boy to come with the same sense of wonder, the same mutant abilities and the hope… the promise of a better life ahead.

Jayden. I love you. And Lucas born without a spark left in the fires of his light… light the way now. Join with your bother to welcome this new life, let him be safe, strong and let him know nothing but happiness.

Ianto stopped working, the thoughts growing so loud that he heard his daughter in the bond, her small voice still new as she tried to form words, instead forming images. She knew her brothers. She knew them, especially Jayden who had walked this dirt, known the warmth of the suns and now stood with her, guiding her.

Ianto knew this newling would not replace those he lost, Astra showed him that love is limitless, a heart is bigger on the indie and has more capacity for growth than anything else in the known universe.

Ianto walked into the bedroom to retrieve his now awake daughter and found Jack awake as well, tears rolling down his face as he felt the love flowing in the bond, those gone and those here, coming and maybe yet to be.

Neither man spoke, their lips meeting as Jack reached out to stroke Ianto's face, revelling in the love, the raw power that Ianto let loose in the house. Their home. He let his freak flag not only fly but expand to fill each corner.

"Ianto… we are going to be OK" Jack said, not as a question but as a statement of fact. Something both men knew.

By the time the kids got home both men were in the main room, Astra with blocks on the floor preferring to throw them into the air instead of stacking them. Alice froze as she watched the blocks fly up, seem to pause in midair and then slowly lower.

"Dad? Is she… is she casting?" she whispered softly.

"Show off" Ianto muttered from the kitchen as Jack laughed and agreed that the little one was showing powers way ahead of the usual time. But of course, two powerful mutants sharing their bond like that, the little one growing and becoming in the house full of them… stands to reason I guess that evolution would make this next generation even more powerful.

Steven entered, David in tow as Rhiannon was doing something and the kids were having a sleepover. Dvid glanced at the blocks moving and with a soft grunt he flicked a hand and they changed colour, making her scream with glee.

"OK, now everyone is showing off" Ianto yelled as he stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips. The laugher was loud and comfortable as his family stood there, feeling the waves of love washing over them. Ianto waved towards the table, and everyone settled to see the food coming, Astra squealing as she clapped to show her appreciation.

"Thank God John isn't here. He would find some way to make this into some sort or erotic comment" Jack said as he watched his little girl show off.

Laughter filled the house as they all settled on for another evening of family time.

Ianto thanked the Gods.

Chapter Text

Jack was ready. He was overly ready really. Over everything if ya really wanted to know. He could not see his feet, his back hurt and the need to pee was almost as annoying as the constant hunger. Only able to eat a few bites before feeling full of the baby taking up so much room. This was going to be an overly large baby for a male Dam and Jack was torn between being triumphantly proud of achieving a big baby or bloody fed up with it.

Ianto had been home for the last few weeks, not even going out to collect the groceries as he had them delivered. Jack knew he was being watched, knew it was about the right time, and everything was soooo ready but when the first twinges started, he felt an irritational fear.

"It's the fear of letting go" Ianto said out loud, hearing the strange feeling Jack was mulling over. "You lost your firstborn, even with him moving around still, you have that fear of not only losing him but of losing that feeling of movement that had been a comfort."

"You're right" Jack nodded, of course he was. He always was.

"But imagine holding that life in your arms, seeing the pink skin, the wide and intelligent eyes and knowing this one made it. You did it. This time you win" Ianto crooned his hand on Jack's shoulder rubbing gently.

"You know, I think the water birth like for Astra might be best" Jack rose, his previous want to birth in his bed going as he felt the water lapping already. Ianto had been right there too; his son was already looking for the comfort of it.

As Jack sank into the hot water, he felt his son move more than he had in the last few days, like he was overly eager to get loose. Ianto laughed softly, crooning and then to Jack's delight he broke into song.

In the other room he heard another voice and gasped with delight as their daughter started to sing too, not the words but her little voice was clearly making the right tones as she welcomed her little brother into her light. Jack felt nothing but peace, the pain fleeting as the love washed over him like the water and as his son slid from his birth canal into the water Jack was watching his beloved's face instead. Ianto's eyes were wide, his mouth open and the joy, the pure joy on his face filled Jack with love.

"Oh… look. My nose!" Ianto squealed with delight as the little boy blinked up at them, the mop of dark hair clearly Harkness "And my chin. Oh Jack… look. I've never had myself so clearly seen in another."

"Really?"

"Both boys were more Lisa's side… oh look. Oh Jack… what a lovely… perfect… oh…" Ianto was tearing up, his hands flapping as he showed a rare inability to find the right words.

"He's got my eyes" Jack said with glee. "Oh… Alice. I see Alice in those cheeks."

"Really?" Ianto asked, "I feel weirdly annoyed I never knew her as a baby."

"Oh, sometimes she is still a baby to me" Jack assured him, his grin wide as their son floated on the surface of the water like a piece of driftwood. No fear, just curiosity.

"So… want to get out?" Ianto asked after a while and Jack nodded, pleased when Ianto slid the baby into his arms and placed a towel over both of them before helping Jack rise so Jack could still have the skin contact with the child, the bond still there like the string had not yet snapped, an unseen umbilical cord still there.

Then Ianto was drying him while talking softly as he coaxed them to the bed where Jack eagerly sank into the bedding and let Ianto take the little boy to clean and dress before placing back in his arms. Then Jack snoozed, knowing Ianto was there to watch over them and would never let him accidentally roll onto the baby.

Jack woke to quiet, and his arms were empty. He turned his head to see the baby sleep beside him in a little basket, safe from rolling or smothering. Jack grinned, then listened to Ianto's voice from the next room, crooning softly. Ah. Feeding croon. Astra was awake and hungry.

Jack then saw those blue sapphires open to roll around and look at him. Yeah. Hungry. Jack lifted him to his tit and felt a lovely feeling as he was again reassured that there was still a connection there.

"Ah thought I felt something" Ianto entered, Astra squealing as she waved at her Daddy and little brother. "Hungry?"

"Later, right now this is all I need" Jack assured Ianto.

And Ianto could only agree.

This was all he had ever wanted too.

His family.

Chapter Text

"So, what's he called? Something Boeshanian right? Your dad was… ah… Franklin? Gonna be a Frankie? You wanted to call Stevie that, but Lucis vetoed it right?" John was talking mindlessly as he stared at the little bundle he had been allowed a cuddle of. "I mean, you get to choose. Or is it Ianto since you gave birth and he actually WAS here?"

"Still deciding. Nothing I can think of seems to fit him. He is himself, not one of my ancestors" Jack sighed softly.

"He looks… precious as hell. Like… wow. Astra is named for the stars, maybe he needs something angelic or spacey too" John said as he lifted the little one to smell him.

"What, like Angelo?" Jack asked, then smiled softly "I had this lover once…"

"No!" Ianto said quickly "Lover names are out."

Jack made a face, then grinned as John giggled "Wow, that narrows it down."

"Stop it!"

John snorted with amusement, hiding it in the blanket of the baby while Ianto gave him such a look that John had to turn way. He did love Ianto's dry humour now he understood the difference between annoyance and amused. It's in the eyebrows ya know. Then John suggested "Why not Odin. Or… or… Zeus? A Godly name?"

"Stop it now!" Ianto scolded softly, reaching out to snatch the baby back like a punishment that left John pouting. The games were fun, John loved this family like he never thought he was capable of.

Then Ianto looked into his son's eyes and let himself move through the ethos, relaxing into his own mind's eye. Jack feeling the shift in the air that had him closing his own eyes to see what Ianto was up to. It was hard but they had been practicing lately, something to amuse Jack while keeping his feet up in the afternoons, sharing their minds and creating little stories, scenarios and even fake dates. Now, Ianto was using it for something else and Jack was about to learn that their unborn child had been learning as well.

There, before him stood a man. Handsome, virile and so bloody heroic in a typical hero pose, his grin wide and clearly Harkness, as was the mad mop of hair flicking over his forehead. But the little button nose… oh. Shit. Jack dared not breathe as his newborn child showed him who he wanted to be when adult, their son was projecting himself into the daydream verse.

"James" Ianto finally whispered softly "But you prefer Jamie. Like Stevie. Oh, you want to be like your big brother? Oh, OK. Hello Jamie."

Jack opened his eyes and grinned with glee "I like James. Sometimes used James as a fake name when undercover in the service ya know."

"So, James IS a family name" Ianto finally laughed.

"I like it!" John nodded happily.

"Me too" Jack agreed, "Hello Jamie lad."

.

.

Astra was awake, demanding a cuddle and Ianto placed her in enough pillows to smother a hippo, then gently placed the baby in her arms. Her little eyes drank in her new sibling, her little grin wide as her few tiny teeth gleamed.

"Jamie" Ianto said softly "Bubba's name is Jamie."

"Jammy"

"No… Jamie" Ianto repeated then sighed as John started to snort with amusement.

"Jammy. Well, he is a Harkness…"

"Johnty. Not helping" Ianto sighed without malice, half pie expecting him to be more hindrance than help right now, his love for Astra making him as soppy as a labrador.

As the family got to know the little newling Ianto went back to work, knowing that for the next few days Jack would have more than enough people around to support him, making sure he could set the work for the coming week and then take that time once the others had dwindled to give him back his space next to Jack. As always, Ianto was respectful of everyone else as they invaded his home and his psychic bubble.

Lucia had been absent, making sure to leave things alone. It must be strange for her, Astra had been hard enough, but this was something else, Jack birthing a child. The kids were so excited they had forgotten about her, again something she had to swallow as she had been the one to forget about them first. Right?

As they stood at the work table going over the blueprints for the upcoming builds Ianto took a moment to look at her, Astra in her arms as she crooned over the baby that Ianto was now allowed to take with him, Jamie the shiny new one for a while. She looked… sad.

Coming for dinner?"

She started, looking up at him.

He smiled and then added "I am making everyone go away tonight. Just family, so… I expect you there."

Ianto pushed off the table and scooped up his child, wandering off like it was no big deal. She watched him go and remembered the early days between them, his threats of what might happen to her if she ever hurt the kids again and the snarl that there would never be a seat for her at his table.

Now she finally understood.

There was not a seat at HIS table. It was a seat at THEIR table. And she was family too. It was her table to claim rights to, her place beside her children and the men who she loved so much.

Lucia swallowed thickly as she went back to her work.

Making sure to make time for dinner.

At her family home.

Chapter Text

Ianto was not surprised to get a ping of an incoming message as his report on the Ghost Ship did the rounds. Most were other colonies asking how he had treated the possible infestation, leading to some looking int their own Mutants in their security protocols, while others were giving their advice on what they would have done. Most of those were stupidly inept of course. And of course, Ianto was polite in his replies.

"You want me to what?" Ianto was aghast at learning that the Intergalactic Agency wanted him to speak at a symposium on the matter. "Look, I do not leave the soil. I like my soil, purchased it so I don't have to walk any other. Either the symposium is here or we do it via vid-link."

"We will discuss it, I guess we can do a vid-link. Would you be OK speaking and taking questions?"

"Yes, OK. I guess, but I need time and plenty of preparation, I hate surprises and believe it or not, I don't like vid-links as I can't feel the person speaking to me" Ianto replied, then watched the man's face change to one of horror. Fleeting but there. Ianto now felt a grin, and he stifled it. So, the guy hadn't realized Ianto was a mutant? Cute. Did he not read the bloody report at all?

"Well, get back to me. I have a planet to colonize" Ianto closed the call and sat back to laugh softly. After all this time, he still got a Norm to feel uncomfortable over time and space where there was no way he would even be able to use his powers to harm him. Goes to show now stupid they are, to think it possible. After all, did ne not just say that why he didn't like vid-links?

He went through from his office to find Jack asleep on the daybed, his baby on his chest awake and enjoying the motion of going up and down while listening to his father's heartbeat. Must feel similar to being back in the womb. After considering, Ianto pulled the blanket up over them both, letting the baby stay there while he sat close enough to snatch him up if Jack rolled. Not that he ever had with Astra but there was always going to be a first time, right? And we all know Ianto was a three different scenario at least kinda guy.

By the time Jack woke there was food there, Ianto humming softly as the baby was now in his arms getting attention and Astra had taken his place, splattered on her Daddy's chest while looking adoringly at him. Jack grinned and cuddled her, kissing her face as he crowned that it was the best way to wake up, to a little angel.

Important to let her know she was still a star, still his little princess. Jack looked over to watch as his little boy loved Ianto, a hand stroking the cheek he liked to stroke as well, sometimes finding sleep easier with that cheek to caress.

"Hey guys"

"Rhia!" Jack said as his daughter pushed off form him, clearly wanting another person to conquer and he watched as Rhiannon scooped up her niece and wandered to the kitchen for a drink like it was no big del.

"Mic tells me Alice is going to do something at the school gym this weekend. Some sort of dance for the little kids?" Rhiannon said as she reappeared with Astra now under one arm like a sack of spuds.

"Yeah, Stephen and David are helping. Like a little disco thing. Something Astra is big enough to enjoy in her little mad mind, lights, balloons and music" Ianto replied, "the girls are wanting to do something for her as they don't want Jamie to make her feel less than important."

"Awwww, they do love her. Mind you, he is getting a lot of table talk" she laughed.

"I've noticed that here too. He is clearly a winner" Jack agreed. He then focused on Ianto "So, what's your news you are chewing on?"

Ianto told them, waiting for the laughter and ribbing but instead Rhiannon sighed "And now they want to annoy you with this. You can't go off planet. And you hate… oh no. They are coming here aren't they!"

"I hope so, I did make the idea seem best… well… I don't need mutant powers to convince people that they made the right decision now. A Vid-link is my less preferred way, but not as bad as them thinking I would leave here. For them to come here would be such a blood nuisance." Ianto huffed, Besides, no room at the inn."

"But if they all came in a pleasure cruiser, you can be shuttled form planet to surface for the blah blah, or them come down for the day. Shit. Would it be worth it to them? Where would you do the talk, we don't have a fucking symposium or whatever." Rhiannon asked.

"Ew. Norms on my planet?" Ianto said in a shocking voice, his eyes wide as they all laughed.

"Come on Tiger, like Norms would ever want to step foot on a Mutant planet." Jack assured him but he glanced over at Rhiannon and saw the way she was frowning at her brother.

They didn't like that idea one bit.

Chapter Text

Ianto did not like this but he held himself with the calm of someone used to hiding his true feelings. The away vessel that had landed for him was slick, screamed of money. He hated that. If they had to flex like this, they were not as rich as they made out.

He stepped off the vessel into the landing bay and looked around dispassionate. He knew this one. He had boarded this very vessel a long time ago. This belongs to a family he knew and despised with all of his being. He could feel the man on board before seeing him, knew where he was. And they clearly had no idea he was the one who had just entered their realm. He was glad the kids were back with Jack, John walking alongside him unaware of the lion's den they were about to enter.

Ianto was calm, super green calm as he entered the receiving room, noting who was watching with mild interest. He came to parade rest, his eyes boring into the man settled calmly in his chair watching the men enter.

"Ah, Mister Harkness-Jones. Good of you to come. We would like…."

"I don't know if I care for what you would like!" Ianto cut him off, his voice deep and booming, also quite threatening and John took a physical step back with shock. Ianto never showed anger but right now it seemed to be wafting off him like a bad smell.

The others in the room all grew quiet, turning as the psychic slap of anger hit them all. The man in the chair laughed like it was nothing, waving a hand "You always were a tepid little thing. I did not realize it was you… Harkness-Jones. I guess Hallett did not last after all huh? You did all that posturing and flouncing off with her for nothing? Come on now, we are here for a meeting, not a dick swinging contest."

Ianto canted his head, looking at the man like a predator looks at a little bug on its paw, then to John alarm, he smiled. Teeth. Big teeth, Ianto seemed… dangerous.

"Hew. You have come to MY planet for MY help and I do not appreciate the posturing and bullshit you seem to think is appropriate here. I also do not appreciate my dead wife's name on your lips" Ianto finally said "So… I think I shall take my leave. After all, I am clearly not needed at all."

Ianto spun on his heel and swung around John like a dancer on a pole and John finally grinned as he tuned to follow him back to the away vessel like it was no big deal.

"Hew?"

"My cousin. The family did not like Lisa, a huge fight and I was disowned. Was easier for them to claim it was a dislike of her rather than their fear of my growingly obvious mutant powers. He called the authorities on me and tried to have me sectioned as dangerous. A right, egotistical…. Cunt!" Ianto spat the last word making John gasp with horror, then laugh as he staggered into the Away Vessel after Ianto, the shock of Ianto's transformation into something full of such hatred so extreme. God he was fun.

"So, that's it? So, this is a Jones family vessel right? You are part of that, on the board and everything. Like… a recipient of the finds, why you spend it all on us? So… you own all of this too right? This Trust insignia is the one you have control over right? I've seen this on your paperwork. I mean, this is your money the little prick is using? I take it he has a little piece of it? But you hold the lion's share. You are the biggest dick in the room?" John strapped himself into the pilot's seat and then, before anyone else could even fathom what was happening, they simply took off. He liked this one, might keep it if Ianto agreed to it, being a major shareholder in the Jones Trust used to fund this entire vessel and all those cool things within it. Like Ianto said, Hew was a Cunt. And a stupid one to use funds in a Trust where the one that could take everything away didn't like him.

Ianto went home.

This was no request for help, this was no friendly meeting. It had been an ambush. After all this time, Hew was still a little bastard who needed to be the best one in the room. Well fuck him, he can have the room. He can have the bloody entire vessel. Ianto knew the little fucker had not even realized that Ianto was the one who eld all the power here, the head of the Jones Family Trust. Ianto would let Hew have the boat.

Ianto had a planet.

And he was done with bullshit.

.

.

"So he was one of your lesser cousins using your own Trust money to flaunt his little side account about the place. And he just sat there like Judda the Hutt?"

Ianto stared at Jack as his brain went back over things, finding the reference and smiling softly as he replied "If you think I am getting little gold bikini for you…."

Jack roared with mirth, pleased to find a kiss coming his way as well as a soft bum goosing. Nice to be thought of as sexy so soon after giving birth, Ianto still slightly bristled but calmer as he breathed in the handsome man his life now revolved around. Hew had less than ten percent of the wealth Ianto did, why should he care?

"So what now?" Jack asked as he watched Ianto's face soften. Clearly his mind was made up.

"Fuck him."

"He must have known it was you, I mean… this entire thing was a power play? He thought he was coming to piss on someone's leg and discovered too late he was pissing on an electric fence?" Jack asked as he settled on the sofa with Ianto cuddled against him.

"I don't think the others knew, I detected a lot of confusion and alarm at my anger. I think he kept it to himself, wanting the great reveal that he knew the guest speaker. I was so pissed off, I just let fly. He was lucky, I held back and just gave them a slight slap. I wanted to squash him like a bug." Ianto grumbled.

"A bug, yeh. That's the thought I had" John said from a nearby chair as he sat with Astra in his lap while hungrily looking at the sleeping baby he was not allowed to scoop out of the bassinet when asleep.

"So what now?"

"Now, like it or not, they will send someone down here to splutter and apologize then ask for my help again. I will not let him in, I will not allow him to walk my dirt and I will not help them. They have my report, they just spent a lot of time and money to come and impress the wrong person." Ianto was bristling again and Jack knew this was not going to end well.

They had stepped in it alright. And my when they finally get the first whiff of the smell of it, they would understand the depth it was as well.

Jack hoped he could be there to see it.

Chapter Text

"Wait… so your cousin… your POOR cousin who lives off the interest from your Trust Fund has come to try and throw his little wrinkly dick about?" Owen was intrigued "You know, you never did explain where all the money came from."

"Some was inherited some was gifted for services rendered and… of course… you should never play poker with me. I amassed most of my fortune in the casinos before each one twigged on to my abilities. Took time, win small, move on, come back later for another go. I could do four or five before a major win when I knew they were changing protocols. I am worth more than a planet… I could probably afford three or four of them. Hew and his family live off the sub-trust I set up that the interest overflow gets scooped into now and then. All the family do. They have no idea what I have, what I am worth. Clearly, he thinks that is the only fund as he is getting a large percentage from that… guess who the Golden child in my family is? If he knew it was less than ten percent of the annual revenue I spend on hit… I don't know." Ianto shrugged.

"You know, sometimes even a meekest of kitty cats has to use it's claws and we both know you're not a house cat, you're a Tiger" Jack said softly, his hand sliding around Ianto's back as he leaned in "you know, he needs some scratching up."

If he pushes it, I will do more than scratch him up. I will fucking gut him" Ianto sighed without any real malice in his voice just fatigue, ribbing his face. Jack did not know but clearly felt the pain of Ianto's memories. The way his family turned on him, rejected his mutism and even knowing now that some of them likely have traces as it is hereditary, his hatred for them was raw.

Ianto finally stood and walked to the large vid-screen on the wall, punching in a code he knew as well as he knew his own name. He summoned someone to the other end like he was fucking royalty and the way the old man's face paled, maybe he was. Ianto took a moment to glare, letting the old man feel his wrath. He might not be able to send mutant thoughts down the comms line, but he knew his grandfather's glare still got things done in a world who remembers the Jones temper.

"Commander Jones" the man whispered like it was a secret to say his name "Sir?"

"Hello Silas. I have a little jobbie for you my good man."

"Yes sir?"

"Silas… what is the name of the trust you are overseer of?"

The old man blinked, then said softly "Phoenix Trust."

"Hmmmmm. And this planet?"

"Well, you are on Planet Torchwood Sir." The old man was straightening slightly as he got the indication that someone else had pissed the man off, not him.

"Hmmmm. And who owns every fucking thing?"

Now the old man chuckled "Well now… you. You Are the Phoenix and the planet you chose was one that only you could pull life from the ashes of. An unwanted planet touched by a civilization ending solar flare left a crispy pile of ash and charred trees. Even the water had evaporated, it took years for the water to reestablish topside. When you purchased it was still considered a money pit."

"Yes. A stark wasteland of charred trees and ash" Ianto nodded slowly "And… tell me my good man. Who's the boss of this hell?"

Another chuckle as the reply came "You."

"So. Why is Hew in my doorstep with a shiny new toy that must have cost a year's worth of interest, trying to tell me his dick is bigger than mine?" Ianto did not change his tone, still conversational but Silas took a sharp intake of breath, the disbelief rippled across his face.

"What? No. He's…. no. Oh no. Tell me he didn't."

"I suggest you talk to the boy's father. Uncle Francis. Remind him where the money comes from, who holds the keys to the vault and above all… whom not to fuck with." Ianto smiled softly and then with a little wriggle of fingers; he cut the feed.

"Is that sort of… passing the buck?" Jack asked as he held his baby gently.

"No. That's saving Hew's life. If he comes at me one more time he will lose more than the keys to the ride" Ianto huffed "I am tired, fed up and I would rather let the people I pay to sort shit out actually do their job. Otherwise… Hew might drown in it."

"Oh, you know you want to shit on his face!" John said from another chair, Astra singing in his lap with a look of adoration as she stroked his arm like it was a pet.

Language" Ianto sighed.

"Shit!" Astra agreed solemnly as John barked with laughter, encouraging her.

Ianto rubbed his face as Jack laughed as well, waking Jamie who gave a little yell of indignation.

"Pirates, all of you."

.

.

Hew had made the wrong choice, stepping off the ramp of the away vessel to walk calmly towards the receiving office.

"Oh, fuck me" Toshiko said as she saw him coming "Someone cut him off before he gets to the main mess hall over there, Ianto is in there with the babies."

"Oh fuck" came a reply as several people scattered to try and stop the man moving into where Ianto was currently talking to the roading crew while they all gushed over the little ones.

Hew swanked into the main area, saw Ianto and headed straight for him, now seeing the little girl who was toddling towards Ianto from Jack's arms. As Hew drew close he sniffed waving an imperious hand toward the little girl's head "Get out of the way little pup!"

The entire place froze.

Ianto tuned slowly his eyes wide as Jack acted first, his fist connecting with Hew's face as he roared "Don't you touch my baby!"

Ianto watched his daughter turn to look at the man now staggering back, then she pointed a finger at the man and screamed "JOHNTYYYYYYY SHITTTTTTTTERRRRRRRR"

John had not seen what was happening, on his knees gathering up Astra's toys and he dropped them, rising to seize the man that had upset his angel, his own fist echoing Jack's.

"Enough." Ianto's voice was not loud, but in the skull of everyone present, making the place silent once more. "How dare you, step onto MY planet and then come over and insult MY daughter you piece of shit!"

"Yeashit!" Astria said in one word, her finger wagging now as she turned to John "See? Shitter."

"Yes darling girl, uncle sees" John scooped her up and looked at Hew with total violence before moving away and Ianto stepped closer to Hew.

"My husband just hit you, her godfather also just hit you. Tell me Hew, do you think a strike from me might hurt s much? Or… will I take my shot? Only, I will not use fists. I will use my mind and believe me, if I take a swing at you, you will lose your head"

Hew scoffed, then one of the men came ring to seize his arm and whisper something that made his pale, then turn and walk away.

"And just like that, he's going?" Jack asked.

"Something tells me there is an urgent message for him that might change his attitude" Ianto agreed. And then he turned to look at Jack as he added "and if he thinks it's over, he needs to think again."

Chapter Text

"Ianto love, do you have a moment while smiting your cousin or shall I wait until he is smote good and proper?"

Ianto swung in his chair to see John in the doorway of his office, the man looking eagerly in the direction of the sleeping baby. The disappointment in seeing that he was sleep and therefore off limits. Astra already shrieking in the other room with her Daddy who was trying to make sure she didn't feel jealous of his time with the baby.

"John. You come with a problem for me to fix?"

John pulled a face, "I don't know if you can fix it. I mean it's not something I thought I would feel but seeing Jack with these babies and with my time spent with them, I…. well…."

"Ah. You want a baby" Ianto nodded sagely as he knew already what the problem was, he had just been waiting or John to admit that he yearned to be a daddy. Oh. Pappa? OK. He wanted to be a Pappa.

"I know you have many sexual exploits, I also know you have no desire to settle down to just one. I think the best thing would be an honest conversation with some of those…. Friends… you enjoy conversations with, not just sex. If one or two are interested, then talk about the possibility of a closed circle. Get a harem, or just a like minded group who only enjoy one another. Then, any one of them might fall preggers, including yourself and any child that eventuates would be shared amongst all of you, commune style. Is this not a Boeshanian thing Jack has talked about in some villages back where you two come from?"

"You know… I never thought of that. I mean, a little one that is shared, sort of like these two are but… mine" John grinned widely and Ianto was surprised to feel a rush of affection for the man who had just admitted to loving the babies as if they were his own.

John took off, no doubt going to tell some of his many lovers that he wanted word, seeing a lot of Hart to heart conversations, if ya know what I mean. Cute. Ianto grinned as he wondered how there can be so much love in the heart of a man who was clearly a feckin psychopath. Then there was Hew. No brain at all. Were they really even related?

Ianto sighed, reading the screen as he went over the communications he knew Hew was reading as well, the naughty little Toshiko having pinged int the man's comm feed easily and rerouting a mirror of them to Ianto's feed as well.

Currently, Uncle was scolding his child like he was three and trying to step into a puddle of mud. Hew was arguing, something silly when Uncle needed to feel big and would slap his child down soon enough. He knew. Deep down the old fucker knew Ianto's power and was trying desperately to save face while saving his child from the horrible embarrassment of finding out he was a bug trying to make everyone clap at the ball of shit he was rolling.

This image of dung beetle with his cousin's face on it made Ianto smile, a giggle from the little bassinet telling him his son was awake and had caught the image of the dung beetle, even if he was too little to fully understand that it was an insult.

"Right" Ianto rose, scooping up his son to head out to the main room where he found his daughter being thrown through the air between Jack and John like a football or something, her scream of glee making it clear that it was as much her idea as theirs.

"Right" he repeated, I know. Rare but it happens. He placed Zane on the floor where the 'baby space' was marked with toys, a little gym and the sweet handmade blanket.

"Any noise from the trenches?" Jack asked absently, careful not to take his eye off the ball… er… child.

"Nah. He will be regrouping, thinking of another strategy that will not work" Ianto smiled as he intercepted the flying toddler and her laughter rang out as he kissed her, then placed her down to watch her toddle carefully across the floor to flop down by her baby brother.

"So, what now?" John was breathless, more from laughter than effort and Ianto shrugged as Jack flopped into his own chair.

"Food?" Jack offered a solution to the quandary and Ianto grunted heading for the kitchen as he agreed.

Food was a good idea.

They can do food.

.

.

"Dad? Taddy?"

Ianto wondered when Jack became Dad and he was still Taddy, then decided he liked that. He was still Taddy to Alice, still had her as a little girl whereas Jack now had a young woman looking for him. A difference.

"Hey sweetie, how was school?" John asked.

"Glad it's over for the week" she replied as she found another flop chair, then she gasped with glee as the plates of food appeared, everyone choosing a sandwich and a slice of cake before it was all left on the coffee table.

Astra crawled, too intent on to food to remember she was trying to act grown up… you know, a toddler not a baby, and seized a handful of chocolate cake before sitting with her back to John's legs as she started eating.

"Awww… little heathen scummer" John crooned, patting her head as he reached for some cake as well.

All heathen scummers here.

Chapter Text

"Overseer?"

Ianto hated that term and tried to hide the cringe as he looked up to see one of the younger officers looking at him with open apology for entering his office.

"Tilly?"

She blinked, surprised that he knew her name, then smiling and showing that she was younger than first thought, barely out of her teens. "My Lord, your cousin… ah… he is here again."

"What?" Ianto leaned back in his chair, gaping as her as he wondered why Jack or John had not called him to warn him.

"He is… he came on an away vessel and is in the new bunker, exploring it." She embraced "He said… he said he was checking what his money was paying for."

Ianto did not answer her as he rose from the chair appearing to fill the room with anger. The kids were with Jack, he knew he had free rein to be himself without fear of upsetting the little ones, so as he flew in the hover, he went over possible things to say, to do and came up with the overall thought that he had to be calm. He had to show his teeth and not actually bite the little fucker's head off. He was Uncle's favourite fucker.

He entered the bunker and strode though the hallways to where he knew the fucker would be. In the control room, seated at the head of the table like he owned the place, and in his little delusional mind he probably thought he did.

"Hew" Ianto barked as he entered, making everyone jump "Careful, stomping about where angels fear to tread."

Hew laughed, leaning back and throwing his arms onto to table like he was in charge "Come on. I simply thought I should see what our money was paying for."

"Our?" Ianto slowly swiveled his head to one side, looking slightly deranged as he grinned widely "What... our?"

"Well, Phoenix Trust… you know… ah…."

"Hew. What is the name of the sub-trust you get paid from? You know, the one Uncle controls which is why you get the lion's share of the cut each quarterly?" Ianto selected the chair at the middle of the table, settling at it with is own hands on the table, palm down 'what name is it?"

"The Ember Trust."

"The Dancing Ember Trust. You don't even know the name of the tit you suckle from? Embers, the little sparks and dying flames that fly about in the air while the main fire consumes. The dragon might breathe dense consuming fire, these little embers are like… a dragon's cough? No… fart. Hmmm. Yes, you live off the frats of the main Trust." Ianto nodded like it all made sense then rose to walk around the table slowly "You know Cousin Hew, you were told not to poke the dragon. A dragons' breath is all destroying, why this planet is like it is. Huge cosmic dragons breathed fire, only a phoenix can rise…. Or another dragon."

Hew snorted but looked uneasy as Ianto came to stop near him, looking down as he continued to speak softly, like to a child "You should ne er poke a sleeping dragon. To wake one, is to wake the gods themselves. You know just a cough can cause so much damage. In a fire, there is a time, between the initial burn and the flashover or… blowback. You know, in that moment when things go still, just little dancers in the air around you, a firefighter knows to get the fuck out because the dragon has awakened and is about to breathe. And the blowback can be deadly."

Hew scoffed but looked uneasy as Ianto leaned in close to whisper "and if your minion over there checks she will tell you I do not get ANY money from the Dancing Ember Trust. Therefore, none of things here can you claim at all."

Hew glanced at the woman who was nodding furiously at him as she tapped the tablet then her hand paused, her hand holding the tablet almost dropped it and she made a noise in her throat.

"Ah. And now she knows who I am. My name… she found it in the directory of the Trust. But your sub-trust… oh no. She has just found out who the CEO and major shareholder is… didn't you little mouse?" Ianto ginned at her and she made a noise of fear in her throat.

"You see Hew, I am the one who owns Phoenix Trust…. I am the one who dienes to let you have my leavings every now and then… for tax wite offs more than anything because you might be worth a lot… a lot… but it's pocket change for me. Chump change to you." Ianto then laughed softly as he then looked around the room at those seated, and added "Hew? What are you doing?"

Hew blinked then said calmly "I am sitting here looking at the new bunker.'

"No, you're walking MY dirt and pissing in MY cereal. You know there are several things you do NOT do in the presence of a dragon. You don't poke one. You don't laugh at one and… Hew… dear cousin the only reason your life is so sweet is because Uncle Francis is one of my favourites and you are his… Hew" Ianto leaned down and whispered in his ear so softly that Hew only heard it in his head, right behind his eyes came the thrumming voice deep and melodic but deadly "in MY house when I am standing…. No one sits."

Hew rose to his feet, turning to face Ianto with confusion as he clearly had on idea what was happening.

Then chiming stated and the Vidscreen flickered do life, Ianto's Uncle there his face ashen as he said Hew what did you do?"

"He rang my bell" Ianto replied for him, turning to simile at the screen "Hew came to my door and rang the bell."

"Ianto, dear sweet boy… lets…."

"You can't un-ring a bell Incle."

"Please…"

Ianto waved and "go on then. Piss off but I want to see a half share next quarter as punishment."

"You can't do that, I need that money…"

"For two quarters."

Jew opened his mouth again but his father cut him off "Hewson! Stop arguing because Ianto will keep adding quarters! Get back home NOW!"

Ianto smiled sweetly at the screen before it winked out, then he swanked from the room, from the bunker and he swung into the seat of his hover as several men waved, still working diligently outside.

He didn't have to watch Hew and his minions running for the way Vessel with speed and alarm.

And the dragon had spoken.

Chapter Text

It was late. Both suns were gone or the stark four official hours of darkness. One of the moons was full, the other one almost on the horizon as a crescent. Darkness spread across the land like a blanket. Everyone was asleep, well all but one. He was wandering aimlessly around his kitchen in his old man comfy bathrobe, the slippers scuffing lightly in the floor, even though he scolded the kids for doing the same thing. With no one to see, he was a grumpy old slouch monster. He could not sleep. He hated change, hated thinking about things that could only go over and over things in his head.

Ianto finally landed in his big comfy chair. So, what now Ianto pondered to himself, wondering what to do about Hew. He didn't want to be a bad man, he didn't like being the one on the back foot either. Not when he really had the power here. Power. Yeh, that's the real thing.

Ianto swung in his chair as he went over that in his head.

Power.

Ianto rose and headed to the Vidscreen where he tapped the screen three times and turned on the computer mode. He then did a head check of the planetary citizens. He checked that Hew and his dickheads were all on board the vessel that was orbiting like a fucking wolf circling the flock. He then did something he knew was dangerous and would cause talk, he stood in the back yard in his old man robe and slippers, staring up at the vessel barely visible, and…. Pushed.

He must have been angrier than he thought because it did not just move back towards one of the moons, it flew past it and out of sight completely. Oops. Ianto felt drained from the effort, needing to sit down now, so he simply crumpled onto the grass to lay there string up at the night sky as not even a blinking light from the vessel could be seen.

He giggled softly.

"Tiger? What are you doing out here in the dark?" Jack's voice was soft but comforting.

"A balmy night and I couldn't sleep. Thought I would look at the stars Cariad" he replied softly, looking over to see the sleeping baby in Jack's arms. After a beat or two of consideration Jack laid down too, the baby paced between them as he sniffled and went back to sleep. So cute, just the three fellas looking t the moon.

Perfect.

.

.

"Uncle!" Ianto acted surprised and pleased as the screen lit up, the morning chaos behind him full of kids, food and a shoe flying past for some reason.

"Young man, do you have any idea why my son's vessel suddenly lost flight control last night and wound up on the other side of the sector?"

Oh shit. Had he pushed THAT hard?

Ianto shrugged and tried to appear confused at he turned to look behind him, calling out "Cariad, any cosmic storms last night?"

"Nah, we watched some shooting stars remember? And there was that meteor storm off in the far Endemol Sector we could see lighting up" Jack called back as he held Astra upside down shaking her to make her release the toy she had snatched off her baby brother "But now I think if it… the vessel wasn't there. Must have gone before we were out there."

Ianto turned back with side eyes as his uncle stared at him, then Ianto added "Like… what. I huffed and puffed and blew him away?"

Laughter began at the table behind him, Astra seizing a handful of grapes to throw at Steven who simply opened his mouth to catch what he could.

"You bloody heathens, I just washed those floors" Jack's voice wafted back as he left to get brush and shovel. He had a set with long handles so he didn't have to bend over, Astra the first thrower teaching him it was easier to simply scoop and run.

Then came a soft sigh as his uncle gave up, knowing Ianto was right. To admit Ianto had done it was to admit a powerful Mute had just flexed and the Jones family did NOT admit to Mutism.

As he waved bye-bye Ianto knew the problem had been solved, his uncle now ordering his son home for a real conversation as well as a double check of where they stood. He would find the quicksand and realize that the best thing to do is what you always do when in the mire of shit they had now found themselves in.

Be still.

Be very, very fucking still.

And hope the dragon goes back to sleep.