37
Ianto wanted to clear his head, finding himself spending more time out by his rocks these days and the sun was warm.
He leaned against a large boulder and closed his eyes, feeling the little one inside him flutter as he began his active time.
Ianto was so tired and the warm sunshine lolled him as his hips ached quietly in the background like white noise.
"There you are" Jack said softly, "Thought I would find you out here"
Ianto let his head roll to look at his mate with a soft smile, reaching for his hand and pulling him close.
The kiss was like fresh water in the desert.
"Hey" Ianto sighed happily, burrowing into Jack where the scent was so heady and soothing as he slid the hand under his shirt to sit on the bump.
Their son kicked against it and he felt Jack go still.
"He says hi Daddy" Ianto grinned into Jack's neck, nuzzling and kissing as he felt Jack's other arm tighten around him and the hand on bump slid down his trousers to tickle against his pubic hair, feeling the weight of bump.
More kicking ensured as their child reveled in the pressure of the hand.
"He likes that" Ianto huffed happily, "Little bugger is going nuts."
Jack grinned as he laughed softly, then Ianto felt him stiffen again, this time in warning.
"Hello sister" Ianto greeted as the Predator stepped into his line of sight.
"Are you well brother?"
"Yeah. Little fella is playing with Daddy, here!" Ianto reached out and hooked her hand, placing it next to Jack's before Jack had a chance to move away and Ianto felt the stuff body slowly relax as he realized they were in no danger.
"I feel him" she whimpered with awe, "So strong!"
Ianto leaned back enough to address her, "You're telling me!"
A guttural laugh from the Predator made Jack jump, then he laughed as well, more at himself than her, Ianto realized.
"We were talking about Gwen" Ianto told her, "She is quite insane. We agree that whatever she was doing in an effort to chase immortality, it has made her too altered to save."
"We concurred with that" she agreed, "I am sorry Ianto Jones. Your friend is now less than 40% human now, and it is irreparable. As time goes by, she will continue to assimilate until she is completely reborn. Unlike you, it will not be a good mix of DNAs."
"No" Jack sighed as he rubbed Ianto's shoulders, "I get that. I just feel sorry that it has come to this."
"If she gains the child, she gains enough DNA to splice another alien DNA to herself, probably by infecting the child directly first"
"Oh god" Ianto buried his face back in Jack's neck, "I feel sick."
"Side effect to my Brother's Heart" she said softly, "Your body still has a lot of work to do and the little one is making it harder for you as he saps energy as well."
"Wouldn't have it any other way" Ianto assured her, "I am so grateful for my life, our son. I will accept pain and lethargy for one more day with my Captain."
A hand reached for his cheek and Jack resisted the urge to bare his teeth as the Predator stroked Ianto's face gently.
The affection was evident and he knew she would never hurt him but it didn't stop Jack from wanting to pull him away with a soft snarl of ownership.
The hand that gently patted his shoulder let him know she saw that too.
"You must be vigilant" she warned, "Gwen Cooper is getting to the stage where she will start to die. She feels it and will do anything she can to achieve the nirvana she believes exists in the correct blend."
"It doesn't exist, though" Ianto answered, "Does it? She was never going to achieve what we have."
"No. Miracle Day as you call it set this in motion, the baby with Jack's DNA the catalyst that afforded my Brother's heart a home" she nodded, "This will never be replicated, never help her."
"We've all tried talking about it but Rhys is so hurt, his love for her has not died completely yet." Jack said as he looked towards the house, "He is forging a relationship with Andy but it is still new and fragile."
"And you brother" she said as she looked at Ianto, "Fragile too."
"Some days I feel like I might blow away on a gentle breeze" he smiled, "Others I feel like I could lift a car!"
My brother's DNA is creating havoc as your system develops and adjusts" she nodded as she started to move away, a small bag flicked in his direction and caught by Jack, "This will help with the belly pains, the stretching."
"For the stretch marks?" Jack opened a small jar and smelt it and was surprised at the spicy scent.
"For the little one's delight" she answered as she faded into the surrounding backyard.
"That is so cool!" Ianto sighed, "I wanna do that!"
Jack grinned as he kissed him knowing Ianto already possessed the finesse to pull off such a move.
Ianto was already an enigma.