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Mica began labouring that next evening, Owen concerned about her blood pressure and hovering as Bonny and Alice took over as midwives. Ianto wanted to be there but knew this was a delicate time for her, the first time and she deserved some dignity so he paced with Pip in his arms as they listened to her soft cries of pain from the next room, determined to at least be near.

"Uncle" she screamed, Ianto galvanised as he tore into the room and dropped Pip in the chair by the bed, moving to flank her with Michael who looked terrified and worn, his face streaked with tears.

"She doesn't want to come" Owen muttered, "We are trying to encourage her but … seems like she's stubborn."

Ianto reached down and placed his hands on the stomach and for the first time felt a soft tingle of something. The soul inside was screaming too, scared and confused at this sudden attack and he tried to soothe with thoughts of comfort and love, singing gently as his voice filled the room.

Micha relaxed, her sobbing dwindling away as his love washed over her and the baby. He leaned in "Come on now little love. Come meet the world, we are all waiting now."

"Next contraction, I want you to hold your breath and push like your life depended on it!" Alice demanded, Owen moving to check her and confirming she was still fully engaged and crowning. This baby had to come out now, she was gonna get stuck and they were too far along for a c-section.

Ianto turned and looked into Micha's eyes, "Look at me, listen to me. My darling sweet girl. Do you hear me?"

Alice glanced up with interest as Micha's breathing changed, watching as Ianto knelt with their noses almost touching, looking deep into Micha's gaze "Now. Push."

Micha screamed, the push the largest yet and the head came out with Owen whooping as Ianto gently whispered "Again."

Then Owen crowed "Shoulders out, here we go, Mikey!"

Michael rushed to catch his child, his face turning from fear to delight as the chubby little one entered the world and he cradled her with amazement, Owen expertly running his eyes over her and turning to nod to Ianto that she had all the fringes and toes they wanted.

Ianto moved back and Micha relaxed, panting now as she looked at him still and he said softly, "One more darling, gotta get that afterbirth out."

She complied and Bonny turned to Alice, "Why did we not think of that before? His hypnotising thing? I could have done with that my last bub taking so long to pop!"

Speaking of pops, Pip was struggling from the chair to the bed, Michael lowering the bundle slightly to let him examine the small offering and his little hands shook as he reached out to touch the face of the new born, his hope clear as he peered at her then sighed, sitting back with his hands in his lap.

Jack hovered in the doorway as Micha looked from the baby to her Uncle.

"It's not Nainny" Ianto said sadly to the little boy, "We both know it is not Nainny. We knew all along really, didn't we? Now we see, she is her own self, whoever she will be or hopefully once upon a time was. I do sense an old soul but …come on my darling. This is not a great shock. Come to me."

Pip held his arms up and Ianto scooped him up to croon and comfort, turning to head to Jack who accepted the child and left quickly, heading for the hot pools where the child always found comfort in the hot water.

Ianto found them there, Pip asleep in Jack's arms as Jack gently swayed him in the water.

"Is he OK?"

"Some tears, he really hoped it was her being stubborn" Jack sighed, "Bt it's not. Is it."

"No. Micha is a good girl, her blood close to mine but … no. I do sense an old soul in there but it is not her. She is a bony wee lass as Nainny would say. Micha and Michael are enamoured as they should be. Nainny coming back to them as their first child may have been a tad unfair as well. Their first. They deserve all the joy if that." As Ianto spoke little eyes slid open to look at him. Ianto knew Pip had been listening and he slid into the water, reaching out to stroke his face "And if there is one thing we have learnt it is that we will come again, again, again … there is an old soul in that baby. Who knows. Imagine how proud Nainny would have been to see her first great-great-grandchild by blood. Eh? You know this is a joyous thing. It is OK to be sad though. It is darling."

Pip nodded then smiled softly as he held out his hand.

Ianto kissed the palm and stroked the little back some more as he felt the baby accept this disappointment and let it go.

Ianto was right.

This was a joyous day.

Mother and baby doing well.