14

Rhys and Sean followed Jack around the old style villa that was down the road from his own palce, looking at each room and nodding, discussing and giving feedback.

"Well … what do you think?" Jack finally asked turning to them.

"I think it's a lovely house, the room out back for children with a small playground already there … the attic and panic room … a lot of thought went into it. Once upon a time it was all the rage, now it has a lovely lived-in homey feel. Nice for a guest house' Sean nodded, looking around some more as Jack turned to Rhys.

Rhys nodded as he saw his cue and turned to Sean "Sean? I have a position open at my place of employment. Jack tells me you can fly a freighter."

"Yeah, ex-military. Flew the big rigs, maintenance as well as supply haulage" Sean turned to face him with interest "Any chance I cloud get a read?"

"Well … I can put in a word, if ya like. It would be a jumper, with me. And to others Convoy style. There and back within 24 hours." Rhys explained "Sometimes 12."

"Really? Not long haul? Jumps?"

"Some long haul, the longest I go for is three days though, those month long jumps do not please me so … I mean … when the jobs go on the board you can put your name down occasionally for a spot if ya like ... I don't"

"Wow. Sounds great" Sean grinned.

Jack looked around the house one more time then nodded to the agent "We'll take it. It will go in his name"

Sean looked up as Jack pointed at him and froze, his mouth falling open as he saw the gift on offer "Wait. Wait a goddamned minute…"

"you can pay us back" Jack said calmly, knowing the Jones Pride here "Each pay check … a bit at a time. You need this, your family needs this and Ianto is upset with our youngest being put out by your kids. The Hive grew too fast overnight and he is sulking … Kit is delicte. So … you are safe. Close yet in your own Hive, also means you can govern your family once more without feeling pushed in another's Hive. A shared Hive is not for everyone."

"This is …. It's too much and… wow. Ianto did fall on his feet"

"No." Jack said firmly now as he started to walk from the room, his home a mere two minute walk down the lane "I did. I found my soul and my spirit in that man. He is my fucking life and I do not like the way you make him feel small either. You can live here, share time and learn to appreciate your brother once more. From a distance."

Sean stood surprised by the anger shown and Rhys clapped his hand onto his shoulder "Don't take it personally. I want to lamp ya too. Not your fault … Ianto is precious to us mate. Very precious and his upset over little Kit being ill causes a ripple through all of us. You will learn … in time you will learn that he is the heart of this place. Once you are here in this house, asserting yourself and feeling like an Alpha should in his own Hive, you will not feel the need to flex all the time. Two Alphas live in that Hive already. Owen is …well … you have noticed he is not exactly an Alpha right? A complicated man. Why he stays. He needs their strength too. I have my own house with Rhia, works for us. I can enter their Hive while still maintaining my own identity. What you need too. What we all need."

"I had a good job, a fair house and five wives. Little Jen coming was a relief, I was terrified another wife was about to be foisted on me. Gods, now down to two wives. It's quite scary really." Sean whispered softly "This house would be perfect, no need for more children but room if more come. Room for both wives to have space … not live on top of one another bitching and moaning like they did, already I see them comfort one another and work together as they never did before."

"Rhia loves shopping, she did all the furniture shopping for our place. She knows all the bargain places, let your wives go with her to get his place ready. I will slip them some credits as a Christmas gift so they do not feel badly spending money on tat they like. We both know they will bring home some shit that is shiny."

Sean laughed "Seems my sister fell on her feet too."

"A grand woman, bonny and a thump like a horse kicking you" Rhys agreed good naturedly and Sean laughed as they walked outside to find Ianto looking down the lane at his own house, visible in the distance. "Aye, aye. Whatcha thinking there boyo?"

"A pathway between might be nice … easier for the children to race between houses. Also .. little pushbikes or go-carts for the older ones to move between the thee Hives. Keep us all close." Ianto said as he looked down at the ground, crouching to check the line of sight "A nice straight flow here. Some gravel … pavers maybe so there is no mad tracked about."

Ianto rose and started to pace out the distance between the houses, Rhys sighing as he motioned to Jack. "He's off."

"Yeah, came out to find him here, damned man knows everything. Kit?" Jack called softly and a little boy emerged from under a bush to look at Jack "Taddy is going."

Kit made a noise of alarm and raced after his Dam making meowing noises as Ianto passed to scoop him to a hip before resuming his walk, now singing softly.

As the Welsh song drifted back Sean closed his eyes, then Rhia's voice in the distance joined in. The songs their mothers used to sing remembered always in their hearts.

Yes.

This was home.