1
Ianto sat nervously waiting.
This would be their first meeting, the only time to see if this would work without foreknowledge. First impression. If he didn't make a good impression, if they didn't like him he would be rejected. Again. Jack had been visiting for a few weeks since the authorities suggested their bonding and now it was down to this final hurdle. If the sister-wives accepted him as a new addition to their family unit. The Hive.
Ianto thought back to the first attempted placement. It had all seems to right. Harold Saxon had seemed a soft man, polite and kind. His first wife Lucy standoffish, but the first ones usually are but the second one, Lisa … she had been so lovely and warm. So welcoming and he had seen a friendship there. They could be siblings, share the man and have a good life. Already he saw pretty little dark skinned children on his knee as she let him co-parent and revel in their little hands in his clothing as they adoringly called him Tada. Then it had all fallen apart. Saxon had exploded over something. Lucy had commented that he and Lisa were too close. Suggested a dalliance between them that could undermine Saxon's place as leader. Siblings do not mate, only the Alpha gets to taste and seed those in his care. It had all gone south, he had beaten Lisa, entered Ianto's' chambers and attacked him as well. Only the fact they were not yet bonded saved him as the council agreed it was a poor match after all. When the place went up in flames with the new wife Yvonne he was torn between relief and shame.
So here he sits, waiting to meet a potential family. Gwen. The first wife was Gwen. He had learnt his lesson, knew to make sure to include her and let her see that he respected her place as first wife. Elizabeth came next, close to Gwen if he remembered right, gentle and kind but also settled in the family. Cheryse was the last one, still relatively new and apparently there had been some bonding issues there. He wondered if this was why Jack had suggested a male for the fourth tier. Maybe he hoped a male influence would calm, the women would not feel as pressured or undermined. After all, he was Gentile. This forced bonding thing was hard, so many failing and impeding like the Saxons had.
He told himself not to fawn over the children, to be more careful there as well. To be thankful for another chance at a family. He knew the window was closing, his age nearing the third rell. If he did not bond before his third rell, he would have to go militarial. He did not want to kill. He wanted to nurture and to enter a family with three wives already? Children already? Gods, he was so nervous and hopeful. Jack was sweet, friendly and there had been promise in the few touches that there might be kindness too.
He could literally taste it.
Doorbell.
Fuck.
He rose and waited as his manservant answered the door and stepped back, Jack entering with a pretty woman holding his hand. Her hair was dark and sort or erupted around her face. Her eyes were large and expressive and she smiled, showing a gap in her teeth. Gwen. Yes. Wake up.
Ianto smiled back, reaching for her hand as he bowed slightly, "You must be Gwen. Jackson told me you were beautiful."
She preened as she looked back at Jack, her eyelashes fluttering playfully as she repeated 'beautiful' then turned to accept Ianto's hands "Hello Pet."
"Please, come sit. Your sisters came too, come in. I am so nervous and excited, I apologise if I gush. Jackson has spoken of you all so often I feel like I know you and am so excited to finally meet you. Three children Gwen? So wonderful. What a fruitful union, such gifts from love." Ianto sat and forced himself to stop talking as they all settled and looked around.
"Yes. I have three, Elizabeth two" Gwen nodded, "As you see Cheryse here is due any day."
"Blessings" Ianto finally focused on the young girl who looked terrified of the woman that had pointed at her. Ianto filed that away. She looked at Ianto and smiled sensitively, then let her blonde hair fall forward to cover her face again.
"Yes, all gorgeous kids" Jack said happily, "A handful though. When we reach six it will be chaos and Gwen here is pushed as it is. A household as large as ours to run is a large task."
"Yes, as you have said" Ianto nodded, careful to make eye contact with Gwen, "Such a burden when you are a mother and first. I trained as a headman. I would be so delighted to assist you with the day to day efforts, that you might have more time with your gifts. I see my place as…. An assistant to you. As a male I would be able to take on those responsibilities of staff so you might not have to deal with the pettiness of that. More time with the children, with your sisters. Jackson tells me you are all loving and kind to one another, spread so thin must make it hard to find time for your own time together. Important, to also be friends. Please. I know I cannot provide all that you have but I would like to be productive."
Gwen looked at him and smiled as she saw what he was offering, what her husband had found.
A headman.
Really?
She leaned forward as she asked him of his favourite colours and other inane things, watching his eyes flick between everyone and rest a moment longer on Jack before focusing back to her. Full of passion, strength and honesty.
Yes.
He will do.