Sorry to those of you who did not like the last chap. I did not know how else to claim John and form the bond needed for the next part of the story. Hope those of you who disagree with my decision can forgive me, you will see why eventually. I am posting two chaps in the hopes you will see the path that is being walked here, it is not over yet.

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Since the claiming, Jack was spending more time with John as their previous selves started to emerge. Partners, in every way.

Ianto felt a small stab of jealousy but reminded himself that this was to be expected, he hadn't wanted to share in the first place.

The Gods were split on this, their hatred for Hart and their knowledge of what might have been if they had not suggested a compromise.

Ianto felt their warning that it had happened differently and Hart had come back to lay down a serious vengeance without even knowing it. His ultimate betrayal had cost Ianto dearly. Not this time.

Ianto wandered out to Myfanwy and leaned against her giant claws, running his fingers over the skin of her toes.

"Is it wise? Is it safe?" he whispered and she hummed.

"What does your heart tell you?"

"Either way, he is not to be trusted. I cannot expect his loyalty overnight, even if Jack thinks so." Ianto sighed and laid his head on his hands, "I feel a loss of some kind. Whatever I have done, it has changed things and I have lost or missed something significant."

"There was another, the first time." Myfanwy agreed, "A team mate you could trust. She was important to you and you look for her in the shadows."

Ianto huffed and rose to leave, only to hesitate.

"The war will come. I have stopped nothing have I" his shoulders slumped.

"I do not know my love" she whispered.

Ianto returned to the house and went in search of the children finding them playing dress up.

One of them had a black sheet and wore it like a hood. Ianto shivered as he regarded this dark wraith. He felt the stab again.

He went to find Jack and found him deep in discussion via vid-link with a delegation of others, no room for him at that table.

He searched for somewhere quiet to think.

Lisa, Jack, John. What did he have such a large sense of need? Why?

He could not settle. Is was as if he was waiting for a bomb to go off.

"Are you OK?" Rose asked softly and he turned to face her.

"Tell me something" he stepped closer, "Do you feel a shifting in your soul?"

"I feel …" she frowned, "uneasy. Like a storm is coming."

"Yeah." Ianto sighed, "It is!"

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King John was waiting for something as well.

He stood on the lawn as he watched the clouds forming.

He felt more than heard someone approach and turned to se Ianto rubbing his wee bump as he came near.

"They won't be happy about Saxon" Ianto said and the good king nodded.

"They are coming, I can feel their ships approaching" he agreed.

"Even with John here?"

"It matters not, they want war."

"Then they shall have it." A deep voice of Myfanwy made them both jump and Ianto cleared his throat before answering.

"If it is a battle, it will be fought on the land and in the sky" He turned and looked at his dragon, "I don't want to risk you."

"Risk is life little one," she smiled, "Fear not. I shall fight."

Ianto sighed as he stood and watched the clouds as they shifted in the sky.

The battle is coming.