1 – Seeds of Hope
Winter lasted almost two years.
It has been thirteen years since Z-Day and the seasons are lengthening as Ianto worries how long their winter might be. The Snap came without warning and was fierce, there is hope the spring will be gentle with them.
STRONGHOLD – living quarters underground. The Family Place is the huge cavernous space turned into a hall and common area. Like a rabbit warren, Stronghold traverses a large distance, from distant mountains to a cliff face that they surmise may go as far as three more villages. It has been agreed that evening summer months they would be safer living down there with only some going back above ground. They are really undergrounders now.
A Beryllium Chrystal Palace has been found, the true power source they needed to power the alien tech down there. The Food Replicator is a boon but they are trying not to overuse it, who knows how long it's power will last.
Ianto and Jack have Hope (11) and little Dean (9). Rose is now five. The twins Burn and Tum are now three . Pip is 2 give or take. With the three groupings so close it has been sort of nice for Ianto to have a break from baby making but …. He does want more. He knows Jack does too, it is merely a matter of seeing who falls first. Ianto has a feeling Jack craves another turn. If he can put up with a hormonal Jack again.
Billy (23) works Security and is with Marley (24) who is a Beautician and child care worker. Daisy is (3 ½) is their princess. They hope for another soon, the gap wide enough now.
Micha (18) works laundry and kitchen, is living with her husband Michael (21) in livestock and security. Micha has her first child with Michael, Lily-Rhae born in the winter and is now a healthy little one year old demon child spoilt by everyone with so few babies to dote on. The two waifs Ianto rescued in the city, Solomon (15) and Mia (12) live with them too.
Sean is Head of Security and Clara is the Head Teacher with their son Liam (21) who works in Security with his Da. They also have a girl 6 called Destiny. Clara knows there will be no more for her, her menopause started. Secretly she is pleased as she felt eyes were on her to provide. She enjoys what she has thanks muchly.
Alice is Head Teacher and Rhys is Head Mechanic and driver. Stephen (24) works with the livestock and the little boy Preston, from the newcomers is now 8. Alice also proudly has a daughter, Melina who is 5 and also thought to be her last.
Tosh and Owen have Blossom (12 ½ ) and Ifan (12 ). The third child was another girl named Poppy (8). Tosh has hoped 3 ½ little Katie will be the last. Time marches on, they are getting too old for this baby thing. Tosh hopes the next generation stats their own offerings, not that she would complain about the life she wound up with. Owen is a wonderful father and husband, more than she thought he could be.
Owen's little Weevil Frank is now a hefty tall (10) that Ianto has a soft spot for. All the children know sign language now, even as he has started to share his voice more, still shy about the raspiness of it.
Mayor Vic is Security and general hand and his wife Fay works Laundry and Kitchen with their children Andrew (22 ) Security and general hand. Fay had a surprise late life baby girl, Penny 6. Micha's husband Michael is their son too.
Martha is Security and Garden and her two husbands Andy is Security and Livestock, Mickey is Security and garden and they have Trixibell (9) and little Clarkson who is 6. Martha knows her days are numbered babywise but hopes for anther before she is done. She loves being pregnant and her mates are wonderful caregivers allowing her the freedom to pillage on a whim with the other outgoing teams.
Francine head of Kitchen and Clive works Livestock. They are raising Kitty (16)
Leo works Security and his daughter is Amber (13). He is married to Patsy from the other village. Their little one is now almost 20 months. A little boy called Hamish. Yeah, surprise for Patsy too but Leo was set on that name.
Tish is a kitchen worker and married Kev. They have a 2 yr old son named Koa which is Hawaiian for Warrior. Tish craves more, knows Kev does too. Ianto is already sniffing around her and she holds her breath with glee. A telltale sign that if she has not fallen she is about to. That Wolfling always knows.
Ebony (Bonny) is a Jack of all trades, Boomer works Security and mechanic with her brother Randy who works Security and Livestock and her children are Eric (14), Keera (11) and Raven (9). Raven is gender fluid. Bonny is the proud mama to a son Leo who is five. It is now accepted that more than one can hold a name, little Ifan showing that as there were three at one point until old senior died. No one was confused with Ifan, Ianto and Ifan, even as Anna yelled IFAN at all of them sometimes. Anna. Nainny. Talked of gently these days, remembered with more affection than sorrow as they adjust to the realisation that this will be their first spring without her. Francine had BIG shoes to fill as a matriarch. Ianto is determined to help her there.
Dean and Frank are firm friends, with Martha's wee 'Bella the third musketeer. A force to be reckoned with and sometimes only Ianto can talk them down from their tantrums. Amazingly, Frank doesn't seem to realize he is a Weevil and continues to strive to keep up. Now considered a set group there is also an unspoken interest shown as the three move as one unit, even sharing a bed most nights.
Hailey works in the Kitchen and gardens, Art works in Maintenance and has Lewis (11) Charlie and is now 8. Art's blind son Freddy (19) is finding room with Kitty. Hailey's baby Karen is almost eighteen months. With three children still at home even with Freddy moving out Hailey is not ready for another yet, maybe ever. Art is older and she knows his patience wears thin sometimes with Charlie's games.
Paige is Hailey's sister and works in the Kitchen and Crèche.
Emily works in the Laundry and Kitchen with Leon (12) who is affectionately called 'Onny' now as Frank had trouble with that name.
Logan is a medic and Heather is the coms support with Tosh and they have Gill (14)
Jordan and Gina are here, he is farm and she is sewing guild.
Travis is now a Grup and works Security/General Hand and Clay (13) is now in his care since his Mama Sarah was killed. Travis and Juniper have a little girl who is now about 2 ½ called Sarah.
Mathew is Head Gardener and security.
Patsy works Garden and livestock, brother Robin is a Mechanic, Olivia (11). Robin is still the driver for the school run each week day, also ferrying food and supplies back and forth underground with the Crawler.
AJ and Rebel are now adults working in the gardening department.
Morris is currently the Chief of Fallback with Holden (11).
Sisters Juniper and Brandy work Kitchen and laundry, three children called Millie (15), Celia (14 ) and Rex (13 ) and (21) Trey that is in maintenance. Brandy won Morris and wants a baby with him whether he likes it or not.
Abner and his son Samuel have settled as well, young Desiree and Trey seemed to fizzle out. Seems Trey looks in another direction these days and Dessie is with Eric now.
Henders, Barrett, Grettel and Petta are all farm .. little Petta (12) is a natural with the animals.
Sarah and her daughter Rachel are still moving quietly but Sarah has proven to be a good seamstress which was a boon. She also has a little boy called Harrison (5). She wants a man for a baby, nothing more. Has made it plain she does not seek a mate. She likes her independence and Ianto supports that.
Keisha and her son Joel (13) are involved with the animals with Joel now a healthy teenager.
Ash is resident plumber as well as teacher, Mel works in the crèche and Dinky (10) loves the farm.
'Little Kev' Forrest who is (12) and his sister Freya (9) are part of the huge crèche and have settled into life with gusto. Such is the resilience of children.
Elton and his wife Jenna along with baby Leroy (16 months) have settled into their new life, still amazed that after all this time there is a place for them. Frank still calls their baby Lee and the other Littles do too.
Elvi and Daniel along with their DS son Errol (16) and Elton's brother Scott were found by Ianto after Nainny died.
The Wolf Pack has settled in an outer cave and the humans within the warm embrace of the earth.
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117 souls
As you will notice … not many babies happened this winter …spring might bring new life. Although Ianto feared going over the 100 mark there is no turning back now.
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For those asking … Grups are 16 and over … Bigs are 10 and over … and the Littles are the babies who would rather not be called that ta … they prefer to be called the 'firsts'. LOL attitude there!