52

Some families had come forward wanting to move down below, their memories of the previous winter still strong enough to listen to Hope's concerns and heed them. Today Ianto and Jack were helping assign some rooms and little Pip was asleep in Ianto's front, the little front pack dark and warm with just his little legs swinging as he had pulled his arms in to clasp his hands together and snuggled into Ianto's chest. The sound of his Taddy's voice and his soothing heartbeat all he needed in this little cocoon of happiness.

"Will you stay with us this time?" Vic asked after a while, lowering the clipboard to look at him, "I know we pissed you off a few times and I know you like Shangri-la more."

"But the children need the others, it's not fair to shut them off" Jack answered for them both, "We will do both, like we do now. I worry about little Pip, he gets chesty with different temperatures. I would rather he stays secure and Anna likes Shangri-la so I know Ianto will be there most of the time but we will still spend time here in our quarters. We want to partake in celebrations."

"You know, no one should hold it against you if you do go into hibernation" Bonny added, her measuring tape getting a workout as she took measurements for furniture in the rooms so they could work our families that would fit.

"I'm a Wolfling, not a bear. That's for another story" Ianto laughed and a little foot jerked, making Ianto croon as he rubbed the little back and apologised for being too loud.

"Of all your bubs, he seems the most sensitive" Boomer noted, "the most delicate little fella."

"He is my last for a little while" Ianto agreed, "I want to focus on him more. The twins and Rose coming so close showed us we need more room to breathe between incoming madness. Besides, he is an old soul who likes to commune. He needs my attention more."

"Good, you know you are putting me to shame" Bonny teased, "Damn, I'm supposed to be the earth mother and there you are popping another one out here and me about to start the change. God he's lovely, I am so clucky now."

"No, you are far too young!" Ianto said with a frown.

"Honey, I am near fifty" she laughed, "Not too young at all. No, I think it's happening."

Ianto blinked and Jack knew, the bond so strong now that he felt it and swung to laugh, "No you aren't. You smell of hormones. Ianto thinks you've fallen with a late lifer."

"Bull shit!" Bonny spluttered, "Get fucked, no!"

"Language!" Boomer scolded.

"No, I mean … really?" her face showed her hope and Ianto nodded.

"You smell of baby, yeah" Ianto nodded, "I think you have one more to give."

"Holy….shoot" Boomer spluttered then swung to motion, "Go on. Get. Go see the mad doctor and get it confirmed before you clamber about down here in the damp."

"It is not damp!" Ianto was annoyed now, "This place is perfectly fine. Poppy put a lot of work into getting this pumped out and cleared away, the floors down and we check the moisture levels…"

Boomer was laughing, "Look at you bristling away with that tic on your chest. Calm down I'm teasing. I would never dare question Poppy's work here."

The little face peering out the side of the front pack was also fierce, his little eyebrows together as he glared out and Boomer knelt, "Awwww, we woke you? Sorry darling."

Pip considered and then poked his tongue out as Boomer gasped, then roared with mirth as he took the insult with good grace.

"Pippy!" Ianto scolded, "That's rude! You grumpy bugger!"

"awww he's alright" Boomer was smitten, as he was with all babies, "You know you are going to be a star, right? Yeah? You are gonna be such a big star."

Ianto rubbed the little back some more as Pip blinked and looked up at him and then he nodded and sat, settling so the baby could reach a nipple, undoing his shirt to let the little man feed.

"Such a natural thing" Boomer said with interest, "I watch you and don't see anything weird, who would have thought a man breastfeeding would seem so…normal."

Ianto sneered as he stroked Pip's head and crooned softly, then he whispered, "Share and share alike. Love is love and giving what you can is what is normal Boomer. A father who spends the night awake sitting up because his colicky baby needs to lay asleep in his chest is normal, a mama dancing up and down the hallways to try and get her baby to sleep… that is normal. This is normal too. I am lucky I still can, it is almost gone. I really thought I wouldn't have any."

"But you do?"

"For him, I would give my blood if it was needed" Ianto looked up, the raw affection on his face making him so handsome, "this is a future leader and saviour of our people. In a time of crisis, this will be one of those followed without question and as Wolfling, he will be powerful. More powerful than he ever was."

Boomer wondered at that but didn't question what he meant by 'was' as he looked at the little one now sitting back watching him silently.

Ianto was right.

An old soul and a clever one.

Boomer conned as he stroked his little head and Pip smiled politely.

He always liked Boomer.