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Jack was calling out as he strode through the long grass, feeling it slap against his thighs and he looked around as he called again, the answering giggle making him crouch as he started to prowl, hidden now beneath the heads of grain.
He heard the rustling and giggling, erupting into the small clearing made by the child who looked up at him with her strikingly blue eyes, her mouth open with glee as she laughed.
Jack woke.
Ianto was still asleep, turned on his side breathing deeply and Jack carefully relaxed back against the pillows as his heart pounded in his chest, the image had been so real, he had smelt the grass, her sunshine in her soft dark hair and Ianto's sweet nose below his own sapphire eyes…
"Same dream again?" Ianto asked softly and Jack grunted as his hands moved to touch his stomach, Ianto rolling to watch "Same feeling?"
"Three nights in a row" Jack sighed, "Christ. So real."
"How old was she this time?" Ianto asked, now his voice was even sadder as he rose to sit and look at his husband, the lost child in the bed between them.
"Three, maybe four" Jack sighed, "She was so pretty. I was playing with her in the grain field, hide-n-seek I think."
"I am sorry" Ianto said softly as his hand slid to cover Jack's, "She would have been a star."
The miscarriage had come as a shock during a morning ride of all things, the pregnancy not even hinted at let alone expected so to learn that Jack's ailment had been a child lost had injured them in a way they were finding hard to move on from. Even though it had been almost three months ago the baby still called to Jack in his sleep and, he suspected Ianto's as well.
"Come, we cannot sleep now" Ianto rose wearily and walked to the end of the bed, retrieving their robes and walking around to Jack's side, "Let's go walk the garden in the moonlight."
Jack nodded as he accepted the robe and then he sought his slippers and they ventured down to the Gardens. They walked along the rows of standard roses, their scent heady as it hung in the spring air and Jack felt himself renewed as Ianto held his hand and silently attended his king.
"I think the Wisteria is going to put in a show this year Cariad" Ianto finally spoke, "Can you smell it? And a fruit bread in the oven."
"Only the roses" Jack smiled as he was still amazed at the sense of smell Ianto had, always knowing what the cook was preparing just from the ingredients being laid out.
"Also, we have a new horse in the stables" Ianto smiled as he stopped walking and turned in that direction, "Snowflake has dropped her foal."
Jack felt a lift in his heart as the thought of the new baby and they rushed to the stables where Rhys was gently cleaning out a stall, his face glowing with pride like it was his own child, "A filly, as bright and sweet as her mama!"
Leaning over the ropes of the next stall where Rhys had moved them, the mare stood proudly with her head held high as the tiny foal wobbled about, seeking the tit.
"Awwwww" Jack gushed, "Just a wee fleck of fluff!"
"Fleck" Andy repeated from the corner of the stall where he was leaning, "She does have some wee black freckles by her tail. Love, did you hear that?"
"Fleck" Rhys called back, "Yeah. Like it too."
"Oh! I named her?" Jack asked with glee, "Oh darling, I named her!"
Ianto saw Jack light up, the dream long gone and silently thanked their friends for allowing him this small pleasure, he hands reaching across the rope and the mare lowered her muzzle to allow him a touch.
"Did you hear that sweet lady?" Jack crooned happily, "I named your sweetling Fleck as she is a perfect wee bit."
Snowflake blew her breath onto his hands, cleansing and making him laugh with delight as he looked back at Ianto, their kiss also sweet.
"I would say get a room, but you have a bloody palace!" Rhys boomed with mirth and Jack turned back to watch the baby bunt at the mare some more.
"Hungry wee thing" he noted.
"Me too, but not so little meself" Ianto replied, getting the crowing he had hoped for as Jack leered at him, "Come on Cariad, let's go raid the larder and take a midnight snack back to bed. Some wine to toast our newest member of the family."
"Yeah" Jack sighed happily, turning for one more glace at the foal.
Rhys patted Ianto's shoulder softly as they passed and then went to the stall where Andy was re-clasping the ropes after exiting it.
"Poor buggers" Rhys sighed.
"Well, at least she brought some pleasure" Andy smiled as he let his big bear cuddle him, "Wishes and horses, eh?"
"Yeah, and us beggars too" Rhys chortled as he slapped the smaller man's arse playfully.
Soon they were all abed.
A new day dawning.
