36
Koi was laughing softly as he watched his child play with Mel and Germ. Bert had become Burp within half an hour of their arrival and how the little child was locked in Germ's embrace as they danced, Mel throwing petals over them as she danced about declaring them married.
"So" Ianto said softly as he settled next to his nephew, "Burp…damn it I'm doing it now, "Bert is the reason you came back?"
"I wanted to see her happy, to see it was alright" Koi nodded "Also…I wanted Bert to know the love of a clowder. Me and Rem have already talked about it. Funny, I thought it would be Autumn or you that I would give Hr to but… Rem has really grown up."
"Me or Autumn? Or Kaylee?" Ianto whispered, "Was this also to be a child for her, thinking she could not have any of her own?"
Koi snorted softly, "You always see right through me Uncle Squish."
Ianto looked at Koi for a while and then he looked away, "Koiko. You forget, I might be child-like sometimes but I am more than your average Grup."
"I know" Koi watched his child fall to the ground, laugher filling the section behind the house as the other Kats joined in.
"How long?"
"Uncle Doc is coming back for me in a few days" Koi said with obvious pain, rising to look at the children closer.
"A few days?" Ianto sighed, "Really? Oh Koi, what have you done."
"What I had to"
"Koi!"
The handsome man turned to look at his lovely Uncle and Ianto knew, he looked at him and knew, his heart breaking as he rose to gather him into his arms. They stood embracing as the world around them teemed with life.
.
.
.
Jack called out as he entered the house and he was surprised to get an armful of naughty boy, the onesie a silky one, "Daddy, I need cuddles."
Jack followed Ianto upstairs and settled in the bed with him, the little purring noses strange as Ianto burrowed into him. After a while it occurred to Jack that Ianto was seeking comfort, he was upset and he wondered what Koi had brought home with him.
Koi saved that little one" Ianto whispered after a while, "They were in a portion of mine that collapsed and he went in to get them out, gave the wee one his breathing mask and carried Hr out. Oh Jack, he breathed the poison, the same posing that killed Hr family, he breathed it in as he carried Hr to safety. The Doctor can't do anything. He has come home to leave Hr with family. He is going away to die where Hr can't see. He didn't come back to upset her at all. He came back for Hr."
Jack held Ianto tightly as he tried to comprehend what Ianto was saying.
"He's dying" Jack said with a sob, "Oh Gods, Owen and Tosh's only child and he's dying?"
"There is a place where he will be cared for, can die with dignity. Apparently it's a Catkind place where he has chosen to go and live his last days" Ianto was crying too, holding his love as they grieved, "He only has days before the effects can be seen and he wants little Burp to remember him with love, strong and proud."
"Do they know?"
"No one does, not even Rem. I saw it, I guessed with my kitty brain" Ianto was winding down sighing as he nuzzled Jack's neck, "I made him tell me. Nobody knows, he came back to see her happy and married, leave the child with a loving family and then go off and drift away."
"Shit" Jack huffed, "Is he going to tell them?"
"Owen will try to heal him, blame himself and make everyone miserable" Ianto rolled onto his back, "Tosh will keep asking why. He would rather just go and let them not care, he thinks they hate him and this way it will not matter. Can you imagine that? He thinks his parentals won't care if he just goes away and never comes back."
"They have to know" Jack said firmly, "They have to know, try to reconcile at least, if he is going they need to let him know they love him."
"Well now he has talked to Rem and is happy that she and James are together. He did consider giving Burp to her so they could have a child, imagine that."
"But Rem will take Hr" Jack smiled, "He had really grown up to be a lovely Kat."
"I am so proud of him" Ianto agreed, "But we can't tell them Cariad. What if Owen reacts like a Twat and alienates the poor boy more? Upsets Burp so he doesn't' even have a grandchild?"
"Oh shit" Jack sighed, "I don't know Tiger."
"Me neither Daddy" Ianto whimpered, "I just want to make it better."
"If the Doctor can't, then nobody can" Jack kissed his beloved and wiped his teary face, "You know that love. It's already done, he's already dying. He chose. He chose with a Sato heart…well, come on. A Harper one too… Owen would die for others too. Damn it. Stop crying, it makes my heart hurt and Bubba is wriggling like a wee tadpole in here."
Ianto smiled and rubbed Jack's belly, crooning as he knew Jack was right.
Koi was going to die one way or another.
But he was going to die loved whether he liked it or not!