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Ianto had cuddled his big best boy then gone to the clinic where Imp was sitting happily in Dotty's lap talking excitedly. River sat nearby with an icepack on her face.

"River?" Ianto asked, focusing on the easiest one "That eye socket broken?"

"No, she's lucky. Just badly bruised, probably on a hard little Monkey skull while in the water" Owen answered as he looked up from Imp, "This is broken though."

"Bad?"

"Nah. Green fracture. He will live, no need to chop it off" Owen said as the child grinned "I am putting a soft splint on, will give you a couple more so when he has bathed you can swap them over and still have a spare while this one is getting a soak. This mud is going everywhere."

"You going to …ah…tend to the others?"

"Yeah, finishing up here with those I can still help then I will go do the paperwork" Owen said with obvious discomfort "where are we putting them?"

"The Mayoral Chambers can be their shrine for now. We will place them there … give everyone time to view and mourn before a service. First I need to talk to the families, see if they want that. I will go there now then collect this fella to take home for a bath."

Ianto kissed his son and nodded to Jack who stood to one side and they passed Walter as he stood over Curtis, watching their son drink lemonade. Thank the Gods for Sam who was being a star at home with the babies as well as Penny back home.

Ianto found the families at the Mayoral Chambers, sitting in the chairs with confused looks. Gwen was there and Ianto was glad she had jumped a ride home from work on one the of the choppers, her caring smile and soft hand patting helping to soothe.

"OK, I know you all have questions and need to vent but don't know quite what to do right now. As someone who has experienced loss I can tell you that it will get easier. It's OK to take a knee and breathe. I can get some beds brought in if you want to sleep in here, the babies will all be placed here on the table, unless you…" he stopped talking as they all finally spoke, all telling him they wanted him to go ahead, they needed him to lead them and he nodded knowing it was how it was going to be "If you want peace, my offices are going to be changed into rooms as well, beds and doors so you can shut out everyone and have time apart. In here you can be together. I need to take my family home and breathe too. I will be back later, OK?"

They all rose to thank him and he looked at the empty table, hating the fact it would soon hold five little souls.

This was a time to mourn.

After this was done?

Ianto was going to scream from the rooftops.