28

It was later that day that John returned, hands full of sweeties for the children and a look of doom.

"He is trying to stir something up, I am too far away to hear what is said but he seems to be choosing those that don't play well with others" John quipped and Jack raised his eyebrows.

"Then you should fit right in" Owen grinned, gaining soft laughter.

"Anyone in the kitchens?" Tosh asked as she looked up from her laptop screen, the battery was low but she had another backup in her bag.

"No, not that I could see but a few servants that might have been a link in the food chain, as it were" John smiled as Micha climbed into his lap for a cuddle.

"I hear a certain fluff needed a good talking to" he crooned, rubbing her back and she nodded as she launching into a long winded story that seemed slightly exaggerated.

Ianto rose and stretched, then walked back to find out if his baby was wanting to come back, pleased to find her waiting patiently, her little face lighting up as she held out her arms.

"There's my cub" he crooned, "Ready to go see what the others are doing?"

He turned to leave and found Gert in the doorway, leering at him.

"She's a girl" he said stupidly and Ianto blinked, gasped and then looked at his child with horror.

"Oh my god, you think so?" he said and then turned back to him and smiled as his Taddy laughed softly from the bed, "I had actually noticed that."

"My first born will be a son" Gert snorted and Ianto smiled as he agreed.

"My oldest is a boy too, adopted. But it does count, he is a protector" Ianto went to step around him and Gert looked at the little cub with open interest, her nose wrinkled as she glared back at him from her Taddy's safe arms.

"You are a pretty wee cub" Gert said, "I have to give you that."

He reached out to stroke her cheek and she struck, lightening reflexes as all Teddykin have, sinking her teeth into the fleshy part of his hand with a snarl.

Ianto cried out with shock, pulling at her as Gert screamed with pain and Ianto remembered Rikhard and the bite she had administered.

The Queen was there, pulling at the hand as she scolded the cub gently, making her release and Gert backpedalled until he hit a wall, wailing as he clutched at his wrist.

"Genevieve!" Ianto scolded, "That was naughty. Uncle Gert is family!"

"She has fangs!" Gert gasped as he examined his hand, "Still a wee cub and her incisors are fully grown!"

"So are mine" Ianto snarled, "Don't fucking test them as you will lose more than your pride!"

"You startled her" the Queen reasoned, "You were not here when Rikhard harmed her, she bit him the same way. She thought you were going to hurt her so with Teddykin logic, she struck first."

"I heard about that, I …" Gert seemed to consider his words and Ianto felt unease creep into his bones as Gert suddenly smiled, "She is true Teddykin. The first. Beats mine by a country mile."

"So you see, she will rule one day" the Queen crowed happily and Gert's eyes rolled to Ianto and Ianto knew with horrible clarity that it was Gert behind his father's poisoning.

He hurried to the rooms and told Tosh as she tapped at the keys and she nodded, "The results are not good. It was in the sweets, the boiled ones your mother likes. Likely that she even had one or two but her Teddykin metabolism burned it back out, too worried about your father to notice her own illness."

"So, it was only to make mother unwell?"

"Well, with Teddykin …maybe it was designed to make her hallucinate? Certainly not to kill, but make her … manageable? Pliable?" she frowned, "I don't think your Taddy was meant to eat some. If your mother becomes unable to rule does your father still rule?"

"No. Boeshane law says …shit. Both or nothing. If mother becomes insane or struck down Taddy must give up the throne to the next one in line." Ianto sighed, "Gert thought it would be him. He didn't know I was so close, could come quickly or that my cub was Teddykin."

"So under the Teddykin law Evie can stake claim?" Owen gaped with shock.

"After me yes. As my daughter, now that I am the crown prince, she will reign one day" Ianto shrugged, "It is set now. Evie is to be Queen."

"Unless …" Tosh swung to look at John who was listening silently, "Unless something happens to her. Then is goes to the next cub, right?"

"Jesus" Ianto paled, "If he gets rid of Evie, his unborn cub can claim from me."

They all looked at the dozing tot with horror as it sank in that she might now be a target.