37

They were like a pack of wild animals, running around in small circles bumping into one another as they snarled and growled, Ianto and Jack watching with interest as little blue legs were visible from under one of the packing boxes currently traversing the front yard as she headed straight for Josh's box.

Once Ianto had explained to the children that bright sunlight was hurtful he had managed to contain them for several days, the other children joining the fun around the house until Rhys declared loudly while he picked up the third smashed vase that he might as well just shove the remaining ones over the children's heads and then bang them together.

It had taken Winkle less than half an hour to change that in her clever little mind into a game, the other adults now giggling soflty as they try to save all the Christmas decorations and other tat up in the crawl space between attic and room where the boxes had sat.

Jack hadn't even been aware there was this small crawl space but was amused his daughter had, her clever self had scoped out the whole house and knew damned well there were hidden passages and such within the house Ianto had built so if they were ever attacked the children could hide. He now knew why he never saw some. Entire bloody rooms he never even realised were there.

The house was a maze.

Jack loved it.

Impact.

"Shit" Jack grunted as two boxes tumbled and he squatted the check the legs, no blue so he stood again and looked to the left to find his little ones staining quietly holding hands with their boxes together so the joined hands were in shade.

No doubt in conversation.

Little buggers.

"Josh's bedroom" Ianto started to speak softly, "I am going to open it up again. It needs a good airing out and clean"

"How close is it to us?"

"Next door, a door between I have covered with boxes as it hurt so to see that door waiting for me to creep through the check… so many times I found myself staining in front of the empty bed as I had gone there in my sleep to check for my child lost to me." Ianto sighed and looked down, looking small for a moment so Jack stepped closer and let him have his heat.

"Sounds grand. Room for two?"

Ianto canted his head, "Yes. Clever. Both of them will love that idea, I wonder if two little beds or one big one. I get the impression that they will both end up squashed in one anyway with that nightly petting thing they do."

"They love one another, both revel in having someone to commune with" Jack grinned, "So alike. That blue streak has another"

"I noticed that too, considered and think they are bonding. So young. Maybe they will not partner sexually when grown but a special bond has developed none the less that I was worried about but… well … silly. Look how happy they are. They love, all that matters." Ianto smiled as Jack's face started to frown.

"What do you mean, you worried" he asked as he moved back a step and Ianto showed surprise at the physical act by tuning to face him.

"Cariad?"

"You think my daughter is not good enough for him? What, you don't want a hybrid?" he asked, his face now blank.

Ianto caught the anger and flared back, "I AM a hybrid you fucking twat, do not ever question my thoughts on my child and I will not question those on yours. Who do you think you are to defend her to me like I just insulted her. I worried that perhaps bonding so young it might make them too close, less communal with others. Those who bond young can withdraw from family life and become wraiths like those two in the attic. Sorry I thoughtlessly shared a thought with you, I will be more careful in future when it regards YOUR daughter"

Jack realized his mistake as he knew little of Chimera and he blinked with surprise as Ianto swung and stormed inside, his pleasure in watching the children now tainted as he slammed through to the kitchen where Rhys was dicing the meat for a stew.

Ianto stood with a look of thunder as he picked up a piece of meat and shoved it in his mouth, chewing as he stared out the window at the back yard, the scorch mark visible.

"You OK?" Rhys asked with alarm as another raw chunk was imbibed.

"No" came the snarled reply and Ianto headed out the back door into the bright sunlight as Rhys barked with alarm rushing after him with the umbrella.

Ianto stood looking at the scorched earth as Jack raced out to relieve Rhys of the umbrella and he stood holding it over Ianto who kicked at the earth with his foot.

"Sorry, that was a dickhead move" Jack said softly, "I feel so…protective of her. Both of them. I will kill for them."

Ianto squatted, ignoring Jack as he now poked at the ground. "This ash needs digging up. Some fresh soil and maybe a garden or something. I don't want the children walking over it, she …I mean… they are in the ground here and it is…. Unsettling."

"Ianto"

"I will let it go but do not ever think you know my mind" Ianto rise to look him in the eye and Jack saw the hurt, "Chimera constantly defend, constantly have to hide themselves from the world around them. I do not ever want to hide myself from you. Do not make me feel like I should tempter my comments."

"Sorry" Jack repeated, "I need to remember to take a beat instead of revving up. I know."

Ianto nodded and walked inside, the umbrella ignored again and Jack sighed as he let it drop and he closed it to follow Ianto in.

That had happened so easily, one missed thought, one misinterpreted comment and he had reverted to dickhead.

Gotta try harder Jax.

John lowered his gun and laid it across his legs a he tipped the chair back up on the walkway, watching Jack morosely walk back inside. The scope was flicked shut with his thumb.

He went back to watching the tree line with a soft sigh "Dickhead."