52

"Peta" Tosh enthused, "Like Peta-lee, One of Heidi's children. Did I get that right?"

"Heidi?" Tarn asked softly, "What's a Heidi?"

"Heidi was a girl who lived in the Alps with her goats and she fell in love with Peter. Their daughter was named Peta-lee, I'm sure of it."

"A series of novels" Tosh explained as she tried to find it on line.

Jack had helped Ianto to the sleeping quarters of the hub, concerned that he was not bouncing back.

"I'm just tired darling" Ianto assured him, his words slurring with the effort.

Jack looked to Owen and Martha for reassurance and was told the same thing.

He returned to the room and watched the rise and fall of his love's chest as he waited for the baby to be returned.

Tarn soon crept in with the little bundle cradled possessively to his chest and he softly kissed Jack's cheek as he handed PJ over, touching Jack's cheek as he whispered his undying promise to die to protect her.

Jack grinned as he watched Tarn flee the room in full blush, a quick glance back as he slid out past the doorframe showing a brilliant grin.

Ianto was right. He was a replica.

Jack sat back and looked at his wee pearl. His darling wee Pet.

She was the smallest of their children and he had thought RJ small.

"A bit early" Martha said softly and he jumped slightly, not even having heard her enter.

"But healthy?"

"Her lungs are developed, just." Martha sighed, "She's prem. I don't … for some reason Ianto couldn't carry her to full term. I think his body tried to speed up her development like it knew she needed help. She'll survive but she might be a little sickly at first."

Jack frowned as he considered this, knowing Ianto would somehow blame himself if she was ill.

"Worst case scenario?" he asked, looking up and watched a grimace.

"Oh Jack, just love her and she will …"

"He asked you a question" Ianto's voice was loud in the room and they turned to look at him with guilty faces.

"Her lungs are weak. She may develop asthma, defensively be susceptible to infections and … worst case scenario, she might be high risk for crib death" she said reluctantly.

Ianto lay still as he stared at her, then his eyes rolled to the little baby.

"We'll look after her" Jack assured him, "We'll monitor her within an inch of her life, literally. Mainframe can be used, we'll know if she burps, farts or sneezes. God forbid she forget to take a breath, we'll breathe for her."

Ianto reached for him, cuddling both him and baby as Jack settled in the bed with the baby between them.

"Look at her" Ianto sighed, "What a tiny little elf."

"She's perfect" Jack enthused, "Good things come in small packages. Just ask Owen, watch him look over at Tosh before he agrees."

Ianto kissed him and sighed again as he settled back in his arms.

Tarn crept in and Jack watched as he looked over Ianto's sleeping form, long delicate fingers twitching as he held back from taking the baby again.

"Be your turn soon" Jack said softly and Tarn blinked, then grinned.

"I want lots. I want a whole litter" Tarn whispered and Jack suddenly remembered that they have large families.

"Of course" Jack assured him, "We will love them all and they will be beautiful."

"I see how pretty your babies are, I want one too" Tarn sighed.

"This one needs a nappy change" Ianto muttered, "And I still want to sleep."

Tarn made a small happy sound as he accepted the wee bub and he moved to the changing table as he crooned.

Then came the unhappy noise as he opened it, followed by a "blurk" noise as he removed the nappy and the first poo, tar-like that stuck to the baby's bum was carefully wiped away with copious wet-wipes.

The two men giggled softly from the bed as they hoped that had curbed his enthusiasm for a while.