11
Phoenix woke to silence and sighed as he knew without rolling to look that his mate was already on the bridge.
He opened the bond to see what the children were doing and found them to be in class, Rhia teaching them their reading and numbers. He felt their annoyance and boredom and moved on, finding a little hum.
Hawk was awake and bored as well, his Dam fast asleep in John's arms and Phoenix also felt John's desire to hold his new son but didn't want to let go of Bennu.
Ah, the problems of being a parental.
Phoenix smiled as he listened to Ianto's soft laugher and he slid from the bed, rubbing his own impending chickie as he waddled next door. John looked up and smiled eagerly, knowing that Phoenix would sort things and he soon had his son on his chest as Phoenix gently manoeuvred his own son so the baby could nurse.
"There you go" he purred softly, watching as John let the baby slide between parents, and the little boy smelt the milk, eagerly mewling as he nuzzled and then latched on.
Bennu sighed and smiled softly as he woke, looking down with wonder and delight.
Phoenix slid out gracefully to allow the new family their privacy and found Tosh standing outside the door.
"Good morning sweetie" he smiled and she canted her head.
"The little one, he is OK?" she asked gently reaching out to adjust his collar for him.
"Hawk. Bennu named him Hawk" Phoenix grinned, "He is grand. A good size too, larger than Bennu was. He has Jack's eyes."
Tosh watched Ianto gush and grinned wider, offering her arm and he let her lead him to the Mess where everyone fell silent and he realised that Jack hadn't told anyone.
"Are you kidding?" he gaped as Bollo rung his hands expectantly.
"He wouldn't say" Bollo growled, "The shit said it was too early to talk of babies and waltzed off."
Phoenix laughed even as he felt Ianto spark with annoyance, "A son. A beautiful bonny boy called Hawk. Dam and Chick doing fine."
"He's a Firebird?" Bollo asked and Phoenix nodded as the place erupted with excitement.
"And you?" Bollo asked in a quieter tone, knowing Phoenix wouldn't want to broadcast his own impending.
"Tired, hungry and my leg is still healing" Phoenix admitted, "I am going crazy stuck in that room and wanted to see my friends. Also, I wonder about that chocolate pudding."
Bollo rushed about serving his favourite friend and soon Phoenix was sitting with his leg up eating a huge bowl of chocolate pudding, humming happily as he licked the spoon between mouthfuls and Bollo was wringing his hands as he stood by with Tosh standing guard over her charge.
"Bollo" phoenix said and then licked, "Wanna touch?"
Bollo rushed forward, falling to his knees as his shaking hands reached out and stroked the stomach with glee. He felt the life within moving and huffed with delight.
"She loves chocolate too" Phoenix hummed as he watched Tosh reach for the empty bowl, and then turned on her heel for refill it from the larger bowl she saw Bollo replace in the fridge.
"She is so …intense" Bollo whimpered.
"In life she was shy and gentle" Ianto supplied, surprising Bollo with the deeper Welsh vowels "But I think this is the real Toshi. The wee dragon I saw when we were in a high stress situation. Of all my team members she was the one I trusted most, aside from Jack. She would die for me. Kill for me. Now, she lives."
Tosh returned and smiled politely at Bollo as she offered Phoenix the bowl and he hummed some more as he ate.
Leia walked in and saw the small huddle, rushing over to welcome Phoenix and ask of the baby.
"He has at least told you his name!" Phoenix sighed and she laughed.
"Couldn't help himself" she confirmed, "As soon as the doors swished shut he was gushing at me about his little ears."
"He is so excited about this one" Phoenix grinned as he rubbed his bump, "She is going to be smothered. The others are so big now, he craves a wee one to snuggle with. I will have to watch he doesn't snatch Bennu's."
"She will be loved" Bollo assured him with glee, "I will be so happy to have little ones in the play area again, my little one is already lonely, even with your children trying to include him."
"It will be nice to have little hands grabbing for attention again" Phoenix smiled, "Bennu will be strong enough for a wee visit later. You know he loves you so and will want your wee Plum to meet his new best friend."
"Hawk" Bollo said with wonder, "What a strong name."
"With the mixture of DNA he is bound to be a horror, actually" Phoenix laughed, "As my son threw to his father, I fear Hawk has already displayed Jack's intensity."
"Wonderful" Leia sighed and Phoenix felt a stirring for her as he remembered her loneliness.
"You are off duty?"
She nodded and he smiled, "Then come back with me and keep me company. Toshiko wants to check the storage bay but doesn't want to leave me, you can come tell me of the next planet we are about to visit."
Her face lit up and she eagerly offered an arm as she and Tosh helped him waddle back to his nest.
All safe, all warm.
Phoenix held her hand as she explained the cargo they were about to drop off and he stroked her palm as she smiled happily.
All loved.