38

"Who knew he had such hidden talents" Tosh said softly as she reached for her drink and Ianto grunted as he adjusted the little boy who was asleep on him.

Jack was standing on the chopper pad with Owen in front of him seated on a chair with a sheet around him as Jack cut his hair. Owen was still looking dubiously at Jack as Jack flicked the scissors with an almost bored look, Owen's cut being professional in appearance by the time he was finished.

"Dendy next?" Jack said as he flapped the sheet over the side and turned to look down at the deck below where he saw the little boy asleep on Ianto like a larger version of his princess who likes to sleep on her 'Jack Bed' the same way. "Awwwwww, poor wee man. Come on Tosh, want a trim?"

"I would love my split ends gone" she replied as she clambered up and Ianto watched Owen as he washed himself with the solar shower that drew water from the sea and then dry himself before he walked over to gently show infinite love and care as he rolled Dandy off Ianto and crooned softly while carrying the child down below.

Ianto rose and looked up at Jack as he finished trimming Tosh's swish for her and grinned, "Me next?"

"Awwww?" Jack whined "I love your hair longer, you are getting sun-kissed tips!"

"Cariad, stop talking about my tits, we are discussing hair!" Ianto said in a pompous voice that had Jack sniggering happily.

"I will cut it if you want but I do like running my fingers through it" Jack sighed as he saw Ianto's determination and Ianto climbed up, surprising Jack with a kiss instead of sitting down.

"Maybe next week" he whispered softly as he stroked Jack's cheek gently, "But when it starts to tickle, I tickle you."

"Deal" Jack grinned happily.

Ianto kissed him again and slid back below as Jack turned to look out to the horizon where Myfanwy as fishing, her silhouette pretty against the blue.

It was almost time to turn the corner as it were, to change course and it was evident in the cooler weather how much closer they were getting to the polar ice caps. The South Pole would stop them if they didn't turn anyway and he knew as much as Ianto hated being hot, he hated the cold as well.

New Zealand was mild. Gentle and soothing. A place of healing and they all needed that. Let the rest of the world fix what could be fixed, their hands would not really make the work any lighter and besides, he had earned some bloody rest.

Some happy.

Jack dropped the sheet over the side to the deck below and then gently dropped the chair after it and he smelt scones in the air, his grin widening as he knew Owen was making the sultana scones Dendy loved.

Who would have thought it, Owen so loving.

Jack was glad Ianto had talked to Owen about them staying together he had worried about that as well and knew Dendy loved Owen like a very big sibling.

A squawk had Jack looking back to watch Myfanwy coming towards them and he was relieved to see no food in her talons but she did have something of interest which she clutched as she landed awkwardly with one foot.

"What have you got there sweetie?" Jack crooned as he tried to see and she cocked her head, looking eerily like Ianto as she considered if she would show, then she opened a talon to show that she has a tortoise shell.

"Ahhh, a torty. Must have died a while ago, the shell is quite empty" Jack said as he peered at it, "Pretty. That one of your goodies is it love?"

She shuffled to the edge of the pad and shoved the shell into the corner here she had pecked a hole in the tool kit. Ianto had managed to save most of them as she tossed them out but some did go over the side. She had worked it out you see. That the box was attached to the boat and wouldn't fall off. Every now and then she would bring back something pretty and put it in her 'box' for later. She would then sit and peer at them with interest before settling for the night.

Seems she could count too.

Dendy took a piece of driftwood to pretend it was a gun and her screams of rage had them all running about until the little boy offered it back. Luckily she liked the wee man, saw him as a little chick and she forgave the trespass as chicks do take things sometimes.

"Poor old turtle" Jack said to himself as he headed inside leaving the big bird to her happy clacking at her hoard. Like a dragon more than a bird really, seems she was starting to show more personality these days and he finally saw why Ianto loved her so.

She was so innocent.

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Those of you who follow me and know where I live ... the draught declared by my government has broken with torrential downpours resulting in severe flooding in my region. I assure you that i may be a bit waterlogged but i am OK. My family is fine and we shall endure.