10
Jack was sitting at the screen as the hour clicks by, the little boy in his lap growling as he tugged at him for his overdue bottle.
Rhia was standing to one side with the cooling bottle behind her back also pleading but it is Lola who stands and watches the screen flicker to life.
"TADDY!"
"Hello darling" Ianto sighed.
"Oh Taddy, your boat blew up" Lola said sadly, "Sorry. If everyone OK?"
"Yeah, look." Ianto moved to show Rhys sitting on the bed with Jewel and Tyke.
"What happened" Jack asked softly as he noted Ianto's pinched mouth.
"Blerg tried to take my boat like bloody pirates or something" Ianto huffed, "I had no choice but to scuttle her."
"Did you lose anyone?"
"No. I lost your tunic though, I am sorry" Ianto seemed on the verge of tears and Jack acted swiftly, raising their son to his feet and turning him so he could see the screen and Ianto's eyes widened as he tapped the screen to 100% the image between them, then knelt.
"Look, look" Jack crooned happily, "Who's that? Logan, look."
Logan saw Ianto kneeling and he squealed, pointing at him.
"TADA!"
Ianto gasped with delight as he heard the word his son had never said aloud and then he burst into tears, calling out his joy as Rhys whooped in the background.
"Taddy's coming darling, I'm coming home" Ianto sobbed "Oh my goddess, thank you for my blessings, thank you for my loves, oh Jack, my Cariad, I love you so much."
"Oh darling, I wish I were there to hold you" Jack sighed as massive armed snaked around Ianto and Rhys cradled him.
"It was bad" Rhys admitted, "Ianto saved us, it was…close."
"And now?" Lola asked as she canted her head, "Are you done?"
"They are negotiating now" Ianto sighed as he regained control of himself, "his majesty wants me out of harm's way. Seems their actions angered the other quadrants as well. They have joined the king in condemning it. It looks like the war is over bar the paperwork."
"It always come down to the paperwork" Jack smiled as his baby wriggled happily and pushed off to wave at the screen again.
"Soon be walking" Ianto smiled, "Any look of it?"
"I was thinking he might but he is still afraid, see how he keeps on hand on me?" Jack said, watching his love rally, "Come home darling, be here for that moment."
"On my way" Ianto smiled that special one just for Jack, "another day's flight."
"What?" Jack sat straighter as he stared at the screen, "Are you truthing me?"
"Yes my love, about twenty six hours away, tomorrow night your time" Ianto smiled, "I miss you."
"Oh gods" Jack's eyes bugged out and Ianto caught the thought.
"No party!" Ianto demanded, "I don't feel like celebrating this. OK? I want to slip home quietly, cuddle my babies and smell you."
Jack laughed softly, "cheeky brat."
"I'm so tired, I ache for you" Ianto whispered softly, then he sighed and looked to one side, "Gotta go. Still work to do."
"I'll be here, don't keep me waiting now" Jack sobbed happily as he struggled to his feet and his hand found Ianto's on the screen before it flickered to black.
"One more day" Rhia sighed softly, her own heart aching for her love, "A family meal, a good slap up one I bet they are sick of space food. Gods, I better check with cook."
She bustled from the room with excitement and Jack settled his children into his bed as Lola gushed, "Oh Daddy. My Taddy is coming home."
"And you are to be squished so tightly" Jack assured her, "Taddy has missed you so much that his heart hurts for your smile. I am sure your love had kept him safe."
"I prayed to the Goddess in the moon" she said softly as she stroked Logan's hair, "I asked the goddess to save my Taddy. I know she can be a bad wolf but I think she is good too."
Jack looked at her with surprise, "A Bad Wolf?"
"Yeah, Wolves howl to their goddess in the Moon" she said calmly, "So that is where their Queen lives, right? She must be bad to have to live there. But she grants wishes for those who are good. I was trying to be good. Taddy is coming home so she loves me too, right?"
Jack laughed at the childish logic and kissed his love, "Yes my dearest daughter, you are the bestest."
She sighed happily as she nuzzled Logan now, both of them sleeping in no time with the bottle rolling from little arms. Jack retrieved it and noted it was almost empty, placing it to one side and smiling down at his sweetlings.
Ianto would be tired, annoyed and desperate to have his loves in his arm.
Jack wondered if they needed a bigger bed.