38
The men arrived home with a lighter air about them and Ianto knew they had spoken, Owen taking Toshiko away to 'their' wing for a talk that Ianto knew would relieve her too.
Now.
"Cariad?" Ianto said after Jack had spent some time cuddling babies, "The ah … spare wing."
Jack looked up with raised eyebrows.
"One for me, one for Lizzy, one for Owen and Tosh. I suggest we clear out the fourth one and turn it into a huge child's area. After all, we have a few children now and I think if we open the rooms up into maybe a couple of rooms for guests and the end into one huge room for their space, might help keep our wings a bit less cluttered?"
Jack seemed to consider, Ianto knowing he had been feeling a bit silly about the tantrum now and then he nodded "Yeah. Totally clean it out. Like … a cleansing."
"The girls are too young to underside what their mother did, what happened. They will find comfort in being in her wing, even if we never have to call it that again. They have her photos and things in their rooms, Anwen with that bloody tiara. It will be their wing now" Ianto assured Jack, "It will help Tosh and Owen feel more settled as well … all the kids in the one area once large enough to play and run about. Just the little ones still in cribs by parentals."
"Yeah" Jack nodded again, offering Kit to Ianto as Jax started to fuss. "Hold on bossy pants!"
"Rhiannon is arriving soon" Ianto said after a couple of minutes, "A good guest area too."
"Yeah!" Jack lit up, "I like Rhys even if he seems a bit flustered at times. Not her first suitor right?"
"Johnny. What a twat. She took one look at him and told our father she would die if he forced the bonding. Then Rhys came along and … boom. Yeah. Nice family" Ianto smiled "The other wife and her kids are staying behind but Rhia and Rhys are bringing her two Mica and David."
"Ah … yes The male. He seems …ah …well fed" Jack grimaced, "And Mica younger … love still there even after the male was provided to end the need to keep going."
"Fat Cariad. We can say fat here in the safely of our home" Ianto giggled, "Yeah, but a lot of baby fat that will fade as he grows. Rhys was a fat child believe it or not."
They looked at one another and then the snorting started as they struggled not to laugh at the silliness of it. So much stress lately and now things were settling Ianto was rising to the top like any cream does. Then Jack considered "Actually something else occurred to me with everything happening and our Hive growing so fast. Transport. Both me and Owen go in different directions some days, both Hovers gone. You need one too."
Ianto canted his head as he frowned "But I have a driver and a Hover Cariad."
"I know … I don't mean the company one you call to collect you … I mean a family Hover like mine. One you fly" Jack clarified as Ianto frowned.
"Cariad, I am a Gentile. I can't own a Hover!" Ianto snorted.
"You are a Prime" Jack corrected, puling Ianto close so their foreheads touched "MY Prime."
Ianto felt his insides go gooey, "Oh Cariad. I like the way you say that .. .with those lips that belong to me. Say it again."
"MY Prime. Mine" Jack said again, this time letting a smile tug at the corners of the mouth Ianto was staring at intently.
"And your only" Ianto whispered, "Forever."
"Oh Tiger" Jack kissed him, revelling in the warmth of the man who now seemed to melt into his very bones. Bonded so tightly there might be no breath between them. Then Jack reluctantly drew back, "I will have a couple bring brought out for you to look at and test. I know you can fly, don't even pretend you can't. You were the last born to your hive and pampered by your mothers. Come on, you know you were allowed to fly, even the gardeners and staff fussed over you. Come on, you know they did."
Ianto smiled softly and nodded, admitting that he had been a loved child even if his father had been distant, as he was with all his wives and children. His mothers had revelled in him. He now sees that it was also reward for ending the need to procreate when there was no love in the bonding of the hive-mates. He could see that now, was saddened to know his mother was not loved. Love is grand. Wonderful even.
"What are you thinking?" Jack asked.
"That I love you" Ianto replied simply and Jack struggled to find the next breath as he looked into Ianto's eyes and saw the earnest affection flowing back there behind the mask. Always a mask out in the open, at least when they were in bed it fell away and Ianto's smile was heartbreakingly handsome.
"Well come on then, I need to change into better shoes if I am going out of doors" Ianto huffed and Jack found it so sweet that Ianto talked like that. Out of doors. Cute.
He rushed to get the polished shoes Ianto liked for outside and Ianto smiled over at Toshiko who was slowly walking down the hallway with Gem's hands in hers encouraging the baby to stagger along with wobbly stomps.
Lovely really.