2

Ianto was nervous and he glanced at Idris as he watched the sun go behind the trees, lighting the leaves like they were aflame.

Now was the time for the gift he had prepared, the long talks and meetings, the preparations and negotiating well gone, now. Babs would get the one of the things he valued most of all.

Ianto hoped to give his daughter a place.

Idris looked back and nodded, watching as Ianto swung from the room.

"Babbit Sweetheart, follow me" Idris commanded in that tone you didn't question so she handed her plate to Bethy and followed her uncle out to the Old Father where he waited patiently for his children to gather around him.

Ianto was waiting as well, in long flowing robes with gold brocade that made him ethereal in the evening glow. As Idris got to him, he reached out and took something from behind the tree, then handed Ianto the Staff of Righteousness.

It was a long staff carved with the faces of little creatures, all peering out as if peeking from another world and as Ianto accepted it he seemed to grow taller as he straightened and looked out over the family assembled.

Eugene grasped at James's hand as their son glowed with the sun breaking through the canopy as Jack licked his lips and did mathematical sums to try and calm his libido.

Goddess, those white robes were coming off soon.

"Long before we were the Hoodlum Clan we were a family. The Clan of the Wilding Wood. Today my daughter is double digit." Ianto said grandly and Babs gasped as she realised something special about to happen, "In the custom of our people, I hereby present my daughter, no longer my baby, forever my child and now as a woman in waiting."

The only sound was the breeze as Ianto held them captivated and he flicked back the long sleeve of the robe to reveal something in his hand not holding the staff, handing it to her.

Babs looked down at it with confusion as she tried to work out what he wanted her to do, the wooden acorn was the size of an orange with ….oh.

Babs blinked as she stared at her name, emblazed in gold lettering.

Barbara SweetHart Harkness-Jones

"As my partner and I hang on this main limb, as does the mother of my child…" Ianto pointed to the plaques in the breeze as they seemed to wave back "Each limb holds the name of my children. Today my daughter chooses her own main branch, breaking away from the main one. For in time …in time…"

Ianto took a moment to control himself and swallowed, determined to finish. His hand gripped the staff for strength and he looked into Jack's eyes, taking a deep breath before he began again.

"The night of the storm one of Old Father's children fell. From her heart we carved this acorn. Why an acorn? Because from an acorn grows a mighty tree. My daughter, my only daughter will one day fill the limb of her choosing. First with her beloved, then their children. In time…my daughter shall hold the right of a high maiden to stand in this spot as a priestess of our people and place her hand as I do on the Old Father and call to those in the woods, the leaves, the breeze and all the Verse. Harken to me. Here is a spark of my life."

Babs was shaking as Ianto looked down at her, his strength washing over her and calming her as he motioned her forward.

"I call her father forward."

People turned to look at Jack but he reached out and shoved John, who stumbled with shock and then stepped forward, followed by Jack.

"I task you with protection" Ianto said as he looked down to John with those fuckable eyes, "Our daughter will one day be the one holding the Staff, her seed now growing, one day she will cast her shadow over those under her protection. I hereby declare my daughter Babs SweetHart Harkness-Jones a High Maiden of the Wilding Wood!"

"SO SAY US ALL!" roared out.

"So say us all" Ianto whispered as a tear finally rolled down his face and his pride overflowed, "My beautiful young maiden of the woods, Babs. Welcome to the Clan."

John and Jack helped lift her between them and she reached for a branch next to her Taddy's to hang the acorn and looked back at Bethy with delight as she was lowered again.

"It is done" Idris said happily, "My niece, my daughter, my sister, my motherling to be. So Say Us All!"

"SO SAY US ALL!"