9

Ianto was walking sedately back towards the chaos that is the family when he felt something in the back of his mind that had him running. He entered the kitchen to find his grandmother on the floor with several women fanning her with tea towels as Pip struggled to get out of his chair in vain.

Ianto knelt and touched her, relieved to find her breathing.

"It's not that hot, we've worked in hotter when doing the pastas, she just seemed to wilt" Fay said with concern, "Her speech slurred and down she went."

Ianto looked up at her, "Slurred?"

Owen was soon there, crouching to speak softly to Anna as he checked her over, her head starting to turn as she woke, looking for the baby who was now toddling to her as fast as he could not caring if he crashed.

"It's OK" Ianto said softly as he helped Pip to her side, "I think Nainny has had a little micro-stroke."

"Yeah" Owen grunted, "Looks that way. You carry her?"

Hailey went to lift Pip and Ianto made a noise, "Paige, can you lift Pip and carry him? Haley should know better."

Owen stopped his fussing and looked over at her "Really? She's not been to see me about it yet."

"About what?" Hailey frowned at Ianto as Paige swooped on Pip with glee.

Ianto lifted his grandmother with extreme care, "The baby. That one is not going anywhere!"

"Oh my god" she gasped as her hands went to her stomach and several others rushed to fuss. "I knew I had missed a couple but…I was too scared to check."

Hope was running towards them, Dean and Frank following with a twin in each of their arms, Ianto looked around, "Where is Rosie?"

"Daddy had her in the stupid hover thing" Dean said as he followed, his eyes locked on his beloved great-grandmother.

"Not Shangri-La!" Owen yelled as he struggled to keep up, amazed that the little ones could move as fluidly as their dam and when Jack came running along with Rosie he simply gave up and came to a halt "Do not take her away! I need to fucking monitor her and people will wanna fuss!"

Ianto turned and nodded thinking he was right so she carried her to her cavern that was full of Poppy still, Pip happy to see the place as he cooed and struggled for Paige to let him go as she stopped, panting for breath.

"I know" Owen gasped at her "Bastards the lot of them. Look, not even winded!"

Ianto was fussing on her, pulling off her shoes as he tried to stop his hands shaking and Pip reached the bed to pull at it and grizzle.

"He needs steps" Bonny had followed Jack when he ran and now saw what was happening, feeling strange so she looked for something positive to do. She knelt and pulled a suitcase out from under the bed, then two more that she stacked together. Pip watched the steps getting made and grunted, clambering up them so he could crawl up the bed to Anna.

"Oh my darling, it's OK" she crooned softly, "Silly old body."

He stroked her cheek and smiled, his face one of complete adoration as he babbled.

"He wants you to know that you are as pretty as the first time he saw your face at the Dance Hall with your sister. The red and white gingham dress hugged you so tight…Pippy! Gods, that's not right. You re too young to remember such thoughts!" Ianto snorted, "You romantic you. You really asked if her name was short for Annabelle because she rang your bell?"

Anna stopped struggling with Owen to look at Pip with shock.

"Ifan?"

"Of course he's Poppy" Autumn said with surprise, "He is Pippity Poppity Poo!"

"Nainny…it is. He came back for you, he is reincarnated. The Mara pulled strings or something, I don't fully understand but it's him. He missed us so much and worried so much that… he didn't want to wait over there" Ianto said softly as she started to weep, one side of her face not moving as much as the other and Ianto felt the first tendrils of fear as he looked at Pip who was stroking that side with concern.

He saw it too.

Owen looked at the two as they lay together and then at Ianto "Hang on. That's really Ifan in a baby?"

"Yes. His thoughts, memories and also a baby" Ianto smiled, "Why sometimes he tantrums. He is still a baby and can't do things he can remember doing once. He does love you though, as always he loves you Owen."

"I'll be damned" Owen smiled, "No wonder you like my surgery. You always said the smell was soothing."

"Right now I think a sedative is the only thing to soothe me" Ianto huffed as Jack pulled him in for a kiss, Micha entering with open concern.

"Michael wouldn't let me move any faster than a snail on smack" she complained, sounding so much like her mother.

"I am fine!" Anna promised as Ianto and Owen shared a look.

No she wasn't.

That hadn't been a full stroke, it had been a precursor. A micro.

She was still at risk of a big one.