45
"Bennu"
Ianto accepted the photograph silently, looking down at the handsome man who had helped make him, the Bladesinger so handsome, so full of light.
"He would have loved you, loved this family" the Brig said softly, "To know that when he fell his spark didn't fail, he didn't blink away he merely became an ember for a while."
Ianto stared at the photo as the memory burned of that horrible dream and he looked at Jack where he sat on the floor with their son playing, "Cariad?"
Jack looked up with raised eyebrows as Ianto said softly, "Austin. I don't know if it is the right name now, it feels wrong now. As the spark grows he feels like a rounder name, not a steep one but a bouncy one. He feels that he will be funny and energetic, not still and moody like me. More like you."
"OK" Jack nodded happy to agree to anything that pleased his love, their unborn son already 'Bean' when he spoke to him anyway.
"I want to honour my parentals, I have my father's name. I would like my son to have my other parental's name. Bennu. Ben. I want to call the Bean the name of Bennu."
"Oh" the Brig said with open glee, his hands flapping in a way that was so Iantoish that Jack felt a little stir of affection for the man as he gushed at Ianto, "Really? Bennu? You would honour him? My love?"
"My father too" Ianto smiled, "He will be Bennu Harkness-Jones. Jack will choose the middle name but his first and last will be my parentals, the words between Jack's."
"Franklin was my father" Jack said softly, "Can you accept that?"
"Bennu Franklin Harkness-Jones" Ianto said softly as he felt it in his mouth, tasted the words and found them palatable. "Yes, I like that. Rounded and rich. Yes."
Jack didn't know why Ianto was suddenly changing a name he had been happy with but waking that morning to find him sitting in the keep with the Panther Plant looming over him like the grim reaper told him Ianto had a reason for it and who was he to argue when he liked this name better too.
"Hear that son? Your little brother will be called Bennu" Jack said as Caden leaned against him and looked up with such love.
"He's my baby too."
Yes love" Jack smiled, "And he will need you for a big brother because you are so clever and strong. You will teach him how to be a wonderful person just like you are."
"We will be strong together" Caden said with his little hand resting on top of Jack's and Jack felt his heart melt as he looked into the serious little face.
"Yes, of course you will be"
"Because we are warriors" Caden said as he tightened his grip and Jack felt a twinge of something as his son's gaze locked on him. It felt like he was a mouse being examined by a cat. "We are fighters and we win."
"Yes sweetling, we win every time" Ianto agreed calmly.
Caden turned to look at Ianto and Jack felt the tight band around his heart ease, making him take a deep breath and he laughed softly as he realised Caden had been doing it. He had somehow controlled Jack for a moment and he wondered how strong the little chick would be if this one could do that.
"Where is Alice?" Ianto suddenly asked, his face becoming one of fear as he half rose, his hand over his stomach as he went towards the door only to step aside as Mavis entered with question in her face, drinks and ice-cream on the trolley. Caden crowed happily as he accepted his vanilla one, preferring the dipping sauce Mavis had carefully carried for him.
"What?" she asked Ianto who was still hovering in the doorway.
"I couldn't see her" he said sullenly, "I didn't give her leave."
"She her own self" Mavis sniffed, "Stop acting like she fall off the edge of the building without you there to hold her hand. She strong, Willie was with her."
"I know" Ianto smiled, accepting the scolding as he knew it came from her heart, "I just worry."
"Dreams are not realities" she said as she moved towards the door again and came to rest in front of him, "Do not take your dreams as your future, for dreams fade away. Your future is bright sweetling."
"Thank you Mavis" Ianto sighed as he nodded, kissing her cheek.
She puffed her way out happily as Jack frowned "So you told her? You won't tell me but you told her?"
"Don't be stupid, I did not" Ianto snarled, suddenly annoyed, "The bloody flower talked. Never trust a plant with a secret, they puff everywhere"
"Puff?" Jack said with confusion as Ianto left the room then he rubbed his face and rose to follow.
"If these hormonal jags don't settle soon I will do a fair bit of puffing of my own" he muttered as he knew Ianto was heading for his little room of pretties under the world of dangerous things up here.
Still nesting.
