7
Ianto opened his hands with a shaky whine and looked down at the fluff.
Little eyes blinked back and Ianto sobbed as he kissed the tiny creature's nose.
"Ew, is that … is that a Pyra?" Rhia hasped, "Mica, honey, get away. They bite!"
"Don't be silly" Ianto crooned as the little foot kicked again, "He's lovely, aren't you."
"I don't understand" John muttered as he examined the fluff, "It was dead, broken back and … gods, you can't even see the broken skull anymore."
"Oh gods!" Ianto gasped, "The ring!"
"What about it?" John looked up from the fluff.
I have the pin on my collar, look." Ianto pulled the left collar and showed the pin glinting.
"And you put on the ring, but it only works once!" John was confused as well.
"Maybe, maybe I didn't need a full charge, just a boost or whatever" Ianto shrugged, "Jack's love was still in me and the ring acted like a top up. It had enough left in it, combined with the pin form one more wee life."
"Oh my wee Frosty" Ianto crooned as the Pyra rolled in his hands and stood, clutching his fingers.
"The Gods are in a strange mood" John muttered and Rhia nodded silently.
"Oh, he needs food, I was famished!" Ianto flapped a hand and an apple appeared, Ianto looking down to find Mica holding out her own plate with a look of open love.
Ianto knelt so she could meet the fluff and she cooed as she clasped her hands together with delight.
"Frosty is so tiny, he's just a baby too" he told her with a soft smile, "He would love a friend like you."
"Can I hold him?" she implored.
"It's his choice" Ianto watched as the fluff smelt her fingers and then peered into her face.
Then, to everyone's delight the Pyra clambered into her hands and settled.
"Oh! Look, Look mama, a baby!" she squealed.
"He cannot sleep in the nest!" Rhia said firmly and everyone groaned.
"Then where?" Ianto demanded, "He needs a nest too!"
"Where is the set of drawers you are throwing out" she huffed and Ianto pointed at the back door.
She stormed off and returned with a drawer, plonking it down and then going into another room.
She returned with a piece of blanket and rolled it, creating a wee nest in the box and Ianto laughed as he watched the Pyra inspect her handy work.
"What do you think Frosty?" Mica crooned to her new baby, "Will that do when you aren't in my pocket?"
"Your pocket?" Ianto laughed.
"He's a baby. I need a baby" she declared and Ianto accepted the loss with dignity.
After all, he did seem quite taken with her as well.
"Thank you John" he purred, grabbing him and kissing him soundly as Rhia's mouth fell open.
Mica, of course, didn't react at all.
"Wow" John gasped with his hands shaking as he adjusted his jacket.
"My wee family." Ianto said in that lovely, deep melodious voice.
"Our lovely Ianto" John returned and Ianto grinned.
"Did you know what it means?"
"What?"
"Ianto, the child version of Ifan. The Welsh version of John" Ianto giggled, "My only way to keep you. I was allowed to choose, as they put me under, I could choose my name and I said Ianto. They all thought it was because of the child, but it was because he had explained his name. You kept my name for you, I kept your name. What a pair!"
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle" John snorted.
"Well, if it could ever be, you would be a Teddykin's really" Ianto smiled, then the smile fled as he looked away.
There it was again.
The great coated elephant in the room.
Ianto cleared his throat and walked from the room.
John swore softly.
Bloody Jack.
