50
Hope addressed the committee, telling them of her idea and they sat considering as she slid back into her seat with the first nerves showing as her hand slid into Jack's for comfort. His little girl, his daughter. His little love.
"I agree with Hope. We are spreading out topside but we need to focus on Stronghold. This is what will sustain us in the long winter months ahead. We need more permanent families down there, we had already considered this, time to make it a reality" Jack nodded, "I think we need to ask."
"Well, I think it's a good…ahhhh" Rhys' face changed as Alice entered, little Pip on her shoulder and he reached for him, crooning as he settled the baby who looked around with interest. "Lovely. Nice to cuddle, noce to give back. I really think we are both too old for another now."
"He seemed to be fussing for Anna, I wondered if he wanted to change of view. He likes it in here, remember last time he was alert for the whole meeting" she smiled and Ianto waved to the little one who blinked and seemed or drink in the faces.
He is so spritely for a little one" Kev smiled as he leaned in and stroked the hair on his little head, "Lovely fella, yeah? After this we will take you for a look at the sheep, some more lambs since last time."
The little mouth moved in a perfect O of delight and Kev grinned and he stroked his hair some more, "Such a lovely wee man. My woman will give me one like you, full of life and knowledge."
"Yes, but he will be wild" Ianto said distractedly, Kev looking over as Jack gasped.
"Really? A boy?" Jack gushed happily, "Oooooo. A friend for Pip."
Ianto looked up and grimaced, "Sorry. It slipped out."
"Even I haven't checked" Owen laughed, "But I trust Ianto's nose more than I trust my equipment."
"Well, soon we will all see" she puffed, her hands rubbing her belly that was now large, "Exciting times. It would be nice is we could cook them quicker like you brother, my poor body enduring nine months to the seven you managed to squeeze in."
"Well, the problem is a lot of us are squeezing others at the moment" someone laughed and they all roared with mirth as baby talk started, at least two more babies confirmed.
"Yes, another reason we have to start looking ahead, more of those numbers coming in than pyres being built" Ianto said, then looked at Pip and winked, "Especially the ones recycling."
Pip blinked back.
"Come on son" Jack rose, scooping the baby up, "I'm going to have a walk about down there, you can look at those lambs with me and Kev once that bum is seen to. Don't think I didn't smell that."
Pip looked scandalised as people laughed and Ianto snorted softly as he knew one day Jack would be sorry for making fun of the little 'power puffs' as Poppy always called them, those farts babies do when happy.
"Well, I might go soak me bones" Abner said as he rose, "There is a change in the air, think rain is coming."
"It is" Ianto agreed, "I smell it. I will lope around the Dome with the dogs, I have a conversation to have with them about the outer limits anyway. Then maybe see if Tosh is happy with the new family, before I join you in those pools."
As he left Leo turned to Logan, "I never know when he is being funny or not. I mean, he can't really talk to the dogs right?"
"Are ya taking the piss man?" Logan snorted softly, "You forget. Mate, what is he? Who do they worship? Dickhead."
Leo blinked, then laughed as he rose from the table and Patsy was waiting for him outside, the two walking together happily into the last of the sun.
Mathew and Robin rose to walk with Morris as they talked about the proposed change to Stronghold.
"I will talk to Patsy. I know we've not discussed separate homes but down there we could have that. She's my sister and I do love her but…well … I have my own oats to sew while I can" he said as they walked, "I don't want to be too far from her though. I did promise."
"Hopefully others will feel that way too. More room down there, some families have adult kids with them still, this might help with space." Morris agreed.
"Jack was longer with his preganancy than a woman" Logan said after a while, "Ianto was faster with that last little one, like he couldn't wait to be here."
"To be back" Kev said as he passed them with Tish in tow, his arm around her lovingly as she tried not to waddle "He probably didn't trust us to keep the place from falling apart."
Morris slowed and looked at Leo "What does he mean by that?"
Leo shrugged, "Sometimes only Ianto understands him. The next generation are already scary. I dedicate my time to trying to understand them, our generation is way beyond me now. I think it's more important to let the next ones have more space. He's always lived between the two, a big bloody kid like Jack."
"Maybe that's what he meant" Logan said after a while, "this is their world, we are just preparing it for them really."
"Then we better get it right" Morris said as he headed to Stronghold and then across to Fallback, those there waiting to hear the news.
Winter was closer than they thought after all this time.
Ianto was nervous.
