14

"I want to talk big person things now" Jack said as he watched Dylan fiddle with his buttons, it was early in the morning and Jack was a rip the band-aid off kinda guy now. Ianto had given him food for thought and the slow burn was over.

Dylan looked up at him with a raised eyebrow that seemed so Ianto.

"Dylan. The day of the crash it was so horrible and scary and all the stuff that happened after was horrible too. You were so brave and I am so proud of you for how you kept yourself together and acted like a Grup. OK?" Jack glanced over at Ianto anxiously, "Mama was so badly hurt, her body so damaged that it was too much for her soul and it went to the light."

Dylan froze as he heard talk of the light. The same one he saw?

"Sweetheart, her body is still here but her soul went into the light to become something. Only, with her body still her she can't become." Jack seemed to flounder so Ianto leaned forward in his chair.

"Dylan, Mam is waiting in the light to become a star. A big pretty star so she can watch over you and keep you safe" Ianto whispered, "When her body is still here she is sort of stuck, like…a tether. You know what a tether is? While her body is still here she can only go so far from it. She can see the spot in the sky and everything but we have to release her so she can go the rest of the way. Daddy knows only you can do that as you are wonderful Dylan, our little star maker. We need to go to Mama's body and say to her that she can let go now. Release the tether and watch Mama become the star."

Dylan nodded as he pondered and Ianto pulled him over, "You see love. She's waited for it to be now. A special time, Christmas. She can be a Christmas star then, more magic in one of those. If we catch her just right then your wish will be forever. She can do that ya see, mamas have powers like that."

Dylan laid his head against Ianto's shoulder as he listened and his fingers stroked Ianto's throat as if he needed to feel the words.

"Dylan, I think Daddy is right. I think we need to go to Mama's body that is still here and let it go. Let it become what she must be. We can bury her ashes and say nice words over her, place flowers and sing a song. We can let her see as she floats over top of us. We will go home where she knows we are and watch for her becoming in the sky. Then you make a wish. A real one. A big one that trumps the one you hold now. The one that keeps your mouth closed will be nothing to this because Mama can make it happen right away. A Christmas wish happens then and there so you don't have to keep it in and wait. Cool huh?"

Dylan seemed to consider and he looked at his father for confirmation, Jack nodding, "Yes son, that's how it works. Mama is special and powerful now. She had been waiting for this and our job it to help her become. She will be right up there outside the window watching over us in here and we will be so safe and lobed."

Dylan's fingers tapped Ianto.

"Yes, me too" Ianto laughed "Your Mama will see me here with you opening the presents on Christmas morning. You know some are from her? She had already got some before the crash? We found them and they are right here?"

Dylan looked at the tree and the few scattered gifts with new interest, then back to Ianto.

"What is it love?" he whispered, "Whatever it is you can tell me after the Mama Star becomes, right? Once you make that wish it will come true and you can talk again. It's allowed then because the magic is done."

Dylan nodded and sighed softly as Ianto lifted him in his arms and carried him to bed, "How about you and Daddy snuggle in here while I clear things away, yeah?"

Jack found himself in the little bed with his sweetling whispering to Dylan about the first time he saw his mamma and their first date. Dylan fell asleep to the gentle voice so Jack slid out and walkd out to find Ianto sitting in the chair waiting for him.

"Asleep?"

"Yeah. Gods, he took it well. I was so scared he would…well. All this time and I …"

"Jack, stop that" Ianto rose and went to him, finally able to touch, "The timing is in the lap of the gods and obviously this was time. Now. This is the time or I wouldn't be here to guide you through it, right?"

Jack nodded as he pulled Ianto closer and let his forehead rest against Ianto's,.

"Are you here? I mean….all those talks and those late night moments with that screen separating us. Right here, right now. Are you here for me?"

Ianto silenced him with a kiss.