1
It happened with more of a roar than a whimper, Ianto's rage indescribable, as was his wrath.
A simple matter of some uniforms and clipboards, barked ordered from a very pissed off Captain who knew the right words and the holding facility suddenly evaporated into the cosmos, UNIT glad to drive off and leave the other teams to do clean up.
The children were understandably terrified and when they finally realised the grups there were stealing them back they were crying with relief and shock, accepting the hugs and comfort of the Riftlings waiting to greet them.
"Right, you get these kids to the crèche, I will go back down to help with the babies" Owen said as he hung out the door of a bubble, "We have four newborns that will need some special care. One is quite delicate."
"How delicate?" Suzie asked with worry.
"Might not make it, delicate" Owen confirmed and she turned to search for her sister who was quickly heading over when she saw Susie's face.
By the time the bubble arrived Rory and Amy were ready, eagerly accepting the babies as Ianto carefully stepped out cradling the little one he was worried about.
"I thought we agreed you were going to stay behind the scenes" Jack scolded as he stormed over to argue about the danger Ianto had or hadn't been in and the baby was a surprise as Ianto thrust it into his arms.
"Here, I think she's dying and I can't hold her" Ianto said shakily."Her pain is crippling."
Jack saw the fine hands shaking as Ianto rubbed his face and realised how horrible the experience must have been for an empath, the fear and pain of children must have been raw. Owen arrived to snatch the baby and Jack reached for Ianto, pulling him into his arms and cradling his head gently as he let Ianto melt against him, drawing strength.
When he was ready, Ianto drew back and kissed Jack hungrily before he straightened up and turned to stalk off with Jack following eagerly.
The crèche was a large cargo bay with bunk beds along one wall, sleeping mats and such scattered around and the other wall was lined with the cots and cradles for their newest additions. Micha was engrossed in a small baby that was laying there playing with a toy she had gifted it and it was lovely to see her maternal instincts intact.
At least she had them, unlike her mother.
The thought of his sister made Ianto feel ill and he looked away, finding two small boys watching him silently, their hands clasping each other's as matching eyes blinked. Twins. Identical and Ianto could see they were powerful and dangerous.
He knelt and opened his arms, inviting them to him and they rushed for a cuddle as they also showed their lack of love, his heart swelling for them as he crooned and told them they were so handsome and he was so glad to meet them.
Some of the energy he had just gained was expended as he pushed affection into their little bodies, making them both mewl like kittens in his arms as the power swelled in their veins.
Jack knelt and looked at them as well, smiling as he saw their thick black hair reminding him of the Beatles with their bowl cuts.
"You two young men look just perfect for a job I have" Jack said softly and two heads swung to look at him with interest.
"You see?" Jack raised his hand to show a little book he was holding, "I need names. I am terrible at names, can you go ask everyone their names and age so I can remember them?"
One took the book as the other looked around with determination then they took off to fill the book.
"You know names like an idiot savant" Ianto said softly, "Thank you for creating a job for them."
"Did you just all me an idiot?" Jack asked with confusion.
"Twypsn" Ianto snorted.
"Did you hear that?" Jack said to the kids surrounding them, "He's picking on me."
They all gleefully cuddled into him and Jack hugged as many as he could fit his arms around, revelling in those little lives, so precious.
Ianto watched from the doorway as Jack succumbed to the huddle, flopping onto the mats and the kids gleefully piled on top engulfing him with love.
Yes.
This was what he had seen.
The future stated here.
.
.
.
.
.
"The beginning!" they crowed as she laughed, her head thrown back as she agreed.
"Yes, why I speak the words" she nodded. "The beginning of the middle bits."