21

Ianto heard the soft hum if Micha's wheels and looked up as she came across the grass towards him. He was sitting in the grass outside the cabin with the babies, all three of them playing happily with the daisies. Shangri-La was warm and balmy with a light breeze today.

"Hello pumpkin" he smiled softly as she came to a stop, Rosie immediately clambering up into her lap with glee.

"Climbs like a monkey, you do" she laughed softly as she cuddled her cousin happily. The twins were unconcerned as they leaned in together to study a blade of grass like it was a wondrous thing.

"Where is that man of yours young lady?" Ianto asked as he leaned back against the rock and watched her leg jiggle with the little one getting a horsy ride, "You seem to have good movement there."

"I am standing unassisted" she smiled happily, "I think I will take my first steps outside of the pools soon."

"That's wonderful news" Ianto smiled, rising to scoop Tum up as Burn flopped onto his back to stare at the stars. Micha looked up with surprise.

"Uncle? Why are there stars in the daytime?" she asked and Ianto snorted as he looked up.

"Burn likes them so the Mara oblige, even as Tum likes the sunlight. Quite a hard balance to maintain yet they seem to do well enough" Ianto replied.

"And Rosie?"

"Doesn't care as long as she can see me. She is a bit clingy today and I know she would rather have Jack but he and Hope are up top categorising some of the stuff from the hoard" Ianto sighed, "She knows something has happened, but still too small to know Poppy is not coming to see her again. Well, not here."

Micha looked at him but didn't probe, understanding that there were things about her Uncle that were beyond her realm and the fact he seemed settled was enough for her.

"So. Michael and I have been talking" she began and Ianto looked interested with a raised eyebrow, "I know it's still another couple of years before we can marry but … I was kinda thinking … is we can so of be roommates?"

"Roommates" Ianto repeated, "Have you discussed this with Nainny?"

"Well … Solomon and Mia are hard work Uncle. It was different when there was Nainny and Poppy but Poppy is gone and Nainny is so busy. Michael can handle them, especially Solomon and his thing for knives. Not the same room, like … the one next to mine? Be the man in the house?" she plucked at her skirts as she waited for him to debate, ready to argue.

"Well. I think that will be up to Nainny but if she sees him as welcome, I will endorse it" Ianto finally said and she lit up.

"Really?"

"Also, Freddy wants to come back to Holdfast but his father is worried about this. Maybe if Nainny agreed you can invite him too? Then the others will not see it as you giving your intended a room, rather that you are filling the house with some male role models for the little man who misses Poppy more than he lets on." Ianto finally suggested. "Fred knows his way around the Big House well, his blindness not a problem there."

"They are enjoying the extra attention from Kev and Taffy right now but I do think it's in the evenings when it hurts the most, especially while Nainny has been here. I wish they would come here too but they are scared they will miss something topside" she snorted.

"They have always stuck together those two, little wild things" Ianto smiled as he nodded, "Of course. I think it is a good idea, fill the house with noise, she will feel better fussing on you all."

"Uncle?"

"Yes love?"

"I know you told me that I will see Mama and Daddy again, David too but…"

"Micha, there is another place, I know this. One day you will see them all again. Poppy will be there too, you don't just stop when you die. That spark, that energy that fuels you continues" he assured her and he smiled as he saw the real reason she was visiting.

"I miss Mama, I still talk to her" Micha sighed as her buddle of energy wriggled away to crawl after a butterfly.

"I talk to her too" Ianto nodded, "And all the others. I have a lot to talk to, apologise to and sometimes rail at them for."

She laughed as she powered up her contraption, "Well, I am going to go help with the bread rolls."

"Mimi, you can come visit anytime. I mean that, you are blood" Ianto said as he waved her off, the chunky wheels easily crunching out in the tunnel system then the door gently swung shut. Once again this 'other place' breathed.

"I know you keep an eye on her, I do appreciate that." Ianto said softly to the breeze, "She is all I have left of my dear sister. She is blood."

Magic in the blood.

They agreed with that, they had saved her after all.