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Ianto was standing at his sink, well as close as he could get with his large stomach in the way and he turned his head as Elizabeth entered "Hey chicky"

She smiled as she settled at his kitchen table, "Jack not here?"

"Something about paperwork" Ianto shrugged, "He left early."

"Good I wanted you anyway" Elizabeth was plucking at the tablecloth as Ianto settled with his hands still drying in the tea towel. "Um … I wanted to ask something."

"OK" Ianto placed the tea towel on the table and started to smooth it flat as he nodded.

"Since you are providing the male heir, there is no need to continue breeding right?"

Ianto looked up with surprise, "Pardon?"

"I mean … it's not that I didn't like laying with him but … since Gwen went and everything got messy he has not lain with me … he goes to you each night and I have found that comfortable too" she finally looked up at Ianto and saw confusion "I wanted to ask him if I could become chaste."

Ianto sighed and stilled his hands that had started to fold the tea towel now. "Lizzy … Jack and I are not... I mean. I am chaste too. I think we all are. Since Cheryse died … I have not allowed Jack in my bed. He sleeps in the other room the children sometimes use when not in his own quarters. He wants to be close to me, wants to comfort but I am not ready to forgive yet."

"You don't … cuddle?" Elizabeth looked surprised then amusement crossed her featured, "That is so … what a punishment. You are all he ever wanted and now he has you … you do not let him have you?"

Ianto frowned as he processed her thoughts and then answered "I have been unwell since the spaceflight, I didn't want him to touch me, didn't want anyone to. I now think it is some sort of natural defence mechanism because of the babies. Jack respects that by not forcing me to have relations that are both unnecessary and possibly harmful. I do not know if or when I will ask him to re-enter my bed … if ever."

"That would be a shame. He loves you, he truly does. His face when you enter the room … he truly loves you in a way the rest of us will never know" she shook her head sadly and Ianto plucked at the tea towel.

"And I love him, deeply. Madly perhaps… that I even attempt to forgive what has happened but … not yet. I do want to forgive, I do miss his warmth beside me. I do hope one day I crave him more than I hate the pain he has caused me … I want to feel his lips on mine again. I do" Ianto admitted and Jack moved from one foot to the other in the doorway, slowly reversing out before the two talking noticed him entering and he settled in one of the large arm chairs to consider what he had overheard.

His greatest fear was losing Ianto. And the babies of course but … Ianto. Elizabeth was right, he was everything. Gods he had fucked this up badly. His Da always told him he was impulsive. To have heard Ianto's pain and indecision hurt in such a deep way that Jack felt ill. He had hoped things were going to repair, that somehow they would be OK but now he saw that Ianto was terribly unhappy. And he knew it was his fault.

Jack rose and did something he never thought he would do.

He rang Gwen for advice.

Either she would say something useful or show him that she was still spiteful in the answer she gave, but might help him see the way forward. Either way.

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"You think?"

"Jack … I was beyond beastly, we all were to a degree. He came into this with all that money, I had no idea the wealth we gained with the bonding. The house is nice but you built it without our input, it feels like someone else's home. I know there is a lot of making up to do but ... if we are to ever survive as a hive we need to have not only safety but comfort." Gwen hesitated and smoothed her skirts as she considered what the doctors listening would like to hear "I've not seen him recently, is he hiding from me? Anwen says he is getting big."

"And tired, the children are calling you during his sleep time … he calls them Cat Naps. Doesn't that sound cute?" Jack's face changed as he gushed and Gwen saw the love in his face. She resisted the urge to grimace as she saw that she was in danger of not returning at all. Jack was considering her in the Hive too … gods.

"Jack. Tell him I am sorry, please tell him I want the group sessions for the betterment of the hive. Please, I am doing so much better. The Doctors say I am able to go to my parents now. Please!" she begged and Jack shrugged. "Sweetie, please? Come visit for a one-on-one session with me and Ianto? A chance for him to see I am well again?"

"The space sickness he experienced between planets. I don't know Gwen, it's not a good idea while he is with child to force it again. Gods, had I known he was with child I would not have forced it in the first place" Jack huffed. "I should have never listened to … well."

"Then we come there? A nearby house?" she begged, "Please. I miss the girls so much please Jack. As much security as you like … my babies. Please I miss their smell"

Jack sighed as he nodded knowing he would have to pay handsomely for this. Then he smiled softly, "Is your dad about pumpkin?"

Maybe he would not have to pay at all. After all, her dowry was not that impressive and with her no doubt wailing about Ianto's maybe the Great Gerard could foot the bill?

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DeeBeader … So if Ianto is seeded again and produces another boy, how does that affect the Hive he belongs to abd his standing in the community and Hive versus First Wife? Is there a first wife at all if another boy is produced in the same Hive she lives in? Who has rights to said child, the Hive or the Council? A fascinating community you've created here.

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If a wife has a boy after the First Prime has produced a child, she would move up to second wife. Elizabeth having a boy would tip Gwen down to the bottom …oops. Although the Hive has 'ownership' the council oversees the bondings and as I have said … wives are usually short listed by them. A First Prime's son would probably be promised to a high ranking family within a year of birth if a Tentative Promise was not already lodged.