35
"Owen?" Jack called, stopping as Valentine's head popped up to grin at him.
"Hey Dad" Val called happily, "Owie is in the greenhouse, won't be long. We are looking at one of the flowers for its healing qualities."
"OK" Jack said slowly, "Is Milo about?"
"With Autumn, he is smitten with the new batch of fluffs. He would have been such a loving parental. I wish he would give in and adopt but he is still holding out for a surrogate" Val sighed, "Feather and he are such a sweet couple. I never thought I would be trying to encourage one of my kits to breed with someone other than their mate but I really wish they could embrace the possibility of a queen. Just for babies."
"Babies" Jack sighed "quite the problem."
"Hey Jack" Owen said as he skipped down the stairs, "Here we are fluffles. You get that cross-cut."
"Sure" Val grinned back, the affection thick in the air as Owen reached out to stroke a furry ear, then turn to Jack.
"What's up?"
"Koi."
Owen pulled a face, then glanced at Val. "Office"
"Koi retuned last night" Jack said as he sat and watched Owen fiddle with a piece of tat he really didn't need "He asked about her straight away, he is still enamoured. He is in his mid to late twenties I think, Ianto asked his age but I can clearly see his has grown up now."
Owen grunted as he fiddled some more.
"Rem was pleased to see him, they are as thick as thieves still so it would seem" Jack leaned back and let Owen panic quietly, "He also cleared up a few things that were confusing us, including the fact he did want kits. Was even willing to adopt to please her."
"What?" Owen looked up, "After that vile rant about not wanting to turn out like me? That whole 'you're a prick Dad' thing? He said loud and clear to everyone in the room including her, that he didn't want another version of us walking this earth destroying hopes and dreams."
"He was drunk" Jack reminded, "And so were you. That fight was one of many, you know his jealousy at the relationship you and Val have will never die. He was never medically inclined, Val was born that way. Catkind are. Koi resented Val from the moment he could breathe. Koi is a brilliant analyst, his mother's child in so many ways but he has his father's bastardry to him too. He knows how to be cruel, how to cut with that tongue. You know as well as I do the Harper tongue causes damage to all including the wielder."
"She made her choice" Owen said sullenly, "I stood back, I wanted to smack him but I stood back and I knew there would be no grandkids for me. I accepted that. Tosh has too. It hurt that she can't have anymore, he was a fucking miracle and to think, our only child and he is such a…such a…"
"Harper" Jack finished for him and Owen snorted.
"Well, he has a child" Jack said as he rose, watching Owen's fingers finally stall. "An orphan he saved even as it's family perished. He has taken it as his own and it raising it with a gentle love that is clearly Sato. Saddest part? He told Kaylee he would adopt. He would not risk her for the sake of a child and would adopt, pointed out Autumn as a possible source. Despite his fears at being just like you, he is a kind and loving parental who is Toshiko in every way when he is dealing with his child. Not an ounce of anger, you were a loving parental as well when he was small, shame you two clashed as he got those teenage hormones. Shame you couldn't see that. Like you said, Katylyn made her choice. She chose a Tom that would not adopt, wanted his own kit and has now impregnated her."
The piece of tat hit the table as Owen rose, his face changing to one of concern, "Are you sure? I sat them both down and explained the dangers due to her petite size, I advised against it. They agreed, shit are you sure?"
"Ianto is, and he is never wrong" Jack sighed, "Ianto knows everything. Yeah, she is in kit. Scared, confused and now looking at the man who was supposed to be the love of her life but failed her now being the wonderful living Tad she wanted him to be while the one she chose is too busy working all the hours the gods send instead of by her side. I don't think she has even told him. I don't know if this was his idea or hers. She is playing a dangerous game."
"Shit" Owen looked out the window, down on the hub floor where the Tom in question was walking with a file in his paw, calling out to his father-in-law and Val smiled as he walked up the steps of the autopsy bay to see what James had.
They looked like they were father and son, not in-laws and Owen knew the little girl he loved more than life had chosen to please everyone else. To please him as much as anyone.
"Where is Koi now?" he whispered.
"Where do you think he is" Jack snorted, "He's with Rem up to no good."
Both men nodded as they agreed that was not a good thing.