21

Chrys was in labour, Ianto hesitating at the hospital as he looked to Jack and then followed him to the waiting room. Connor had been relieved that it was a midday delivery for a change, the children all awake and playing without any worries so he had waved the two men off without a second thought.

"You don't want to go in?" Jack asked and Ianto shook his head as he placed the little Moses basket on the chair next to him and sat, his hands clasped together. They waited.

John came out with a panicked look, "She's out, she's out. Yan, can you come on? They are gonna get him out next."

Ianto followed and stood back by the wall, waiting with a steely heart as the dead twin was gently removed and placed in a blanket, then he held out his arms, "Give him to me. I'll take care of him, get that little princess sorted."

Ianto accepted the bundle and moved to the other room where he undid the blanket and looked at the little body with sorrow, gently lifting it and placing it in the little bath a nurse had ready and she watched the man's hands gently clean and prepare the child with such an intimate love.

Jack had the Moses basket and he removed the little parcel in it, opening it to reveal a little outfit Mrs Evans had carefully knitted from a doll's pattern no doubt with Other Muffy watching on.

Ianto dressed the baby and accepted the ice packs from the nurse, packing them in the basket under a blanket and then he laid the baby in it, the little nightgown fanning out with its fine lace covering little feet so Ianto pulled it back so the feet would be visible.

He waited.

When the nurse came back he lifted the basket and followed her to the room where Chrys lay with her daughter in her arms, she thrust the baby at John struggling to sit up and she looked into the basket being placed on the chair by the bed.

"Prefect, he was perfect" Ianto whispered and she nodded. "It's up to you if you want an autopsy or not."

"No. No, we can't do that. He's too wee for someone to cut him like a piece of meat" John said with a shuddering breath, "Look at his little toes. He's tiny."

"And she is a good weight, lovely and strong. Well done" Ianto smiled as he checked the living one now, pretending not to notice Chrys as she reached out to stroke the cold feet and pull the little night gown down to cover them.

Good.

She would remember that in years to come, an act of love.

A motherly love.