50

Ianto was hungry but nothing seemed to please him.

No sweeties, no cakes. Even the strawberries were chewed and spat out as Ianto whined that everything tasted funny.

Then it was Owen, walking past with some deep fried chips covered in vinegar that had Ianto struggling to rise from the nest, howling for them with his mouth watering.

"What is it? I want it Daddy!" Ianto howled and Jack sprung to appease the beast.

Now they sat, each blowing a chip so it would not burn his palate as he writhed in the bed, mewling for another. Chip after chip was fed to the Ted as he hummed, chewed and groaned with delight, the salty tartness just what he wanted.

This was a breakthrough and the sweet things were replaced with as much tart, salty and sour things as possible. Tosh had left the blowing huddle and returned with lemon cheesecake covered in sour cream. They all screwed up their noses as Ianto devoured it with moans of glee, telling her she was so clever. Then a burp and he patted his bump, crooning that bumpy was happy too.

"How long do we keep this up?" Owen asked softly, "This is the third lot of chips frying at the moment."

"Until he is full" Jack said confidently, reaching out to rub the bump as Ianto stretched and yawned.

"Still hungry Daddy" Ianto sighed with big imploring eyes, making Jack moan with physical pain for his love, rising and storming to the kitchen like he could fry them quicker just with his anger.

"Can I scan now?" Owen asked once Jack wasn't there to block him, "Can I see the baby?"

Ianto huffed as Owen slid down with the PDA, excitedly reaching out to wave it over the belly, but a strong arm was hooking him out of the nest and he spun with shock as Princess Fleur snarled in his face before sliding into the next beside her Crown Prince.

"Fuck" Owen spluttered.

"Language" two bears snarled and Owen looked up as Jack bustled back into the room and slowed as he saw the new nest mate, then waved the chips.

Now two bears happily opened their mouths for chips and Owen quipped that one more might make it a …..

He was shoved aside by determined Teddette and she slid into the huddle. Lex laughed softly as the two female bears bookended the prince, three mouths now begging for chips, like little chicks in a nest getting fed by the parentals with wriggly wormy chips.

"This is why it is called a nest" Lex explained, "They clump together and you become their feeders. Sweet really, the cubs do this too. So sweet when you have a whole clutch of babies, all sitting there hugging one another and tipping their heads back for food. Sweetlings."

He stepped forward and chose a chip, blowing and dipping it in tomato sauce for his mate, knowing Gemma preferred the taste of the tart tomato over the vinegar of the other two.

Tosh giggled as she was asked to join and was still protesting weakly as she was pulled in and Owen laughed as he fed her, leaning in for a kiss now and then.

It pleased him to think of his baby loved like this, the image of his little one cuddled with other babies all warm and loved, then toddlers laughing and sharing everything was a comfort. His own singular life had always been lonely.

His baby would never be lonely.

Owen grinned as he offered another chip.

His baby was loved already.

By so many.