4

Ianto had mere seconds to assess the incoming damage and knew his babies were not gonna make it, her grill bigger than their little selves so he stepped away from Tosh and Jypsy and did the only thing he could.

He raised his hand and said softly, almost sighingly "Stop."

The world stopped.

His cousin continued to run with horror as she was unaffected by such things due to their blood connection and Josh slowly stood to look back at his father who was trembling with the effort of containing the scene. Little Jypsy's hand was up, finger splayed as well, mimicking her Tadda and she did not know if she was helping or not but she must try.

Josh then saw his headmistress running and knew it was the right thing, pulling Jay away from the road as she met them and scooped Jay up, "Run darlings!"

As they got to the grass Ianto let out a soft sigh and seemed to crumple to the ground, the world resumed and the woman hit a bump in the road, Jay's school bag, and sneered her lipstick.

Tosh stood with confusion, a quiet and clingy Jypsy now in her arms as she looked around, "What was that? What ... what happened, why did they all … what?"

"IANTO!" his cousin fell to her knees, puling him into her arms as she checked him over, Jypsy staring to cry as she reached for him. "Give him the baby!"

Tosh knelt and handed the toddler over, Ianto cradling her as he seemed to shudder with each breath. Josh and Jay crowded around, placing their hands on their Taddy as they all seemed to be willing him better then he took a deep breath and nodded, "Enough. I can get to the pools now."

Tosh helped him up and he looked at her, "You saw?"

"Yes it was … the world seemed to …. Like … pause!"

"Magic" he smiled softly "You were holding the stinker, she bled her power to help me hold the scene, it also meant you were immune from the hold. Tosh … I stopped time for a moment."

"You can do that?" she gaped.

"Momentarily, that was a long time and I am in trouble if I can't get to the pools." Ianto warned, then watched the black SUV cresting the hill. "Shit."

Jack came to a halt and did the sweep from the vehicle like some wraith thing he does, "Hey! Did you feel that?"

Tosh gaped.

"Yeah .. everything as in …. Everything" Ianto nodded "I can't just stop one small bubble of space, I had to stop the world."

"What happened" Jack was there pulling Ianto to him with concern as Ianto waivered. He was glad they had finished early and he had come home … whatever was going down, Ianto looked like death warmed up.

"A car almost hit the boys, Ianto stopped time to let them get out of the way and now needs the pools" Mrs Hayes explained as the boys cling to one another again, nodding with wide eyed fear.

"Tadda is tired" Jay whispered, "He needs the pools or he will lose his power for a while."

Jack understood that, scooping Ianto into his arms "argue later, right now let's go. Tosh, you grab the kids and Owen can drive the SUV, I gotta go!"

Jack stepped off the roadside into the paddock and then he saw an elder motioning from the tree line and knew they had felt it and come for him. A disturbance in the force. Yeah. Freaky right?

Ianto was soon in the pools, clothes and all asleep in Jack's arms as he watched others come to touch, check and croon. Then Ianto's grandfather settled next to Jack, "He will be OK. You got him here, that's the main thing. Last time he expended like that he had no way to get to a portal. Took him years to get enough power back to step through portal can come home."

"I felt it" Jack whispered "It was like someone clutching at my heart."

"Bonded, you felt his pain." Ifan nodded "They came close. That was too close, she will be dealt with for her inattention on our road but … he needs you now. Comfort, affection and although it's hard …. Try not to smother or he will have one of his little tantrums."

"I do not tantrum" Ianto muttered, his pout starting.

"You do" Ifan leaned over to kiss his little boy "Like a trooper!"

Ianto snorted softly and rolled in the water, deeper into Jack's embrace "He's mean."

"Poor baby, I shall smite him for you! How do you want it. Death by feather duster attack or would toe eating crabs be enough of a warning? Yeah?" Jack crooned, Ianto's snort if amusement a balm as everyone heard him relax and they did as well.

He was OK.

It was all OK.

Ifan rose to go do some real smiting.

Red lipstick indeed.