19

Jack was gone, four hours ago to be fair… OK. For hours and two minutes. OK? Fine. Not that Ianto was looking at the clock. Ok. Maybe he was. It's just that last time he went away for a 'little while' all hell broke loose and people died.

Kit had woken to a good mood for the day, a change in itself and he was currently on the floor with his siblings playing quietly. Not a single grizzle. He knew it would not last but for now…. The Chef slammed into the house, breathless and wide eyed breaking Ianto's chain of thought as he rose to meet him.

"Adham?"

"Strangers. A strange vessel broke atmo an hour ago … followed by several others around the planet. The last vid-com cast said there were no recognizable markings on them. We do not know who or what they are and … I apologize but… my wife is with child and…." He turned to gesture and a small woman scuttled into the room to stand behind him, clearly pregnant and afraid.

"Adham … of course you are welcome to seek ….ah… I need to see the latest reports for myself. Come … Elizabeth my love, will you watch the children for me? I promise I shall tell you all I learn but … I do not like …. Ah Rhiannon. Good, I want you and Mimi in here with us. OK?" Ianto turned as Rhiannon entered the house, Mica already running for the other children.

Ianto stood with the others watching the screen as the news came over, live footage as soldiers spewed from the belly of the space boats, flowing into the startled crowds and the first gunfire had Ianto jumping on the spot then swinging with wide eyes to look at the others in the room. He knew the markings, recognized them from his history books. Skirtii. A neighboring system of thugs and pirates.

"OK … first … Owen. I need you to run for Sean's house. Get them back here, I want everyone here in this house. NOW!" Ianto demanded, Owen moving without a second thought to comply as the Alpha barked an order, then Ianto turned to Rhiannon "You too. Go get what you need from your house, you are staying here as well. The security here is the best. This is the beginning. Just the beginning. Once they have order to the chaos they are causing they will want to explore. I want everyone here in my house."

Rhiannon turned and ran for her house, already compiling lists of what she needed to bring back. Ianto started to think harder and turned to Elizabeth who had entered the room when she realized something was happening "Sweetie?"

"Bad things going down my love. I want the children in their wing, no one outside and all accounted for" Ianto said in a gentler tone. "This is going to be a scary time but hopefully it is a short-lived attempted invasion that our military will fend off. In the meantime … we will act as if we are under siege. Right?"

"Right. Food" she said with the same calm "If we are locking the children's wing down we will need the food in there with them so there is no need to unlock."

"Yes. Adham and his wife will be in there with you. If anything happens, anyone enters the house you will not unlock. Not even if a blade is to my throat. You promise me … under threat of death…you do NOT unlock the wing" Ianto hissed as he held her against him for a moment then kissed her forehead "You keep those children safe."

"Yes husband" she sighed softly, her head against him. Then as he released her she added "anything else I need to know?"

"Yes. I want all the children in pink, frilly and clearly female" Ianto knew his mind was in overdrive but he needed to focus "ALL children are now female to the person looking. OK? Jax as in Jackie. Kit is Kitty. Toshiko …"

Toshiko cut him off "I understand. Skirtii. They might be forcefully recruiting. Coming to take the young males of the population. They have not done this in almost a hundred years. The strangles has cased chaos, in their outer colonies as well. If they do come, we will let them look through the door, keep them from actually interacting and they will see a sea of pink, hopefully move on."

Ianto nodded "I know it's overkill but … we will plan for the worst and hope for the best. Yes?"

"Measure twice, cut once" Owen said quietly as he returned and tood with Sean's family "What about me?"

"A doctor … you will be something they seek. We cannot have you here. We can't really send you away as they will find you so … we can only fib." Ianto shrugged "Are you ready to be a feeble man? I know it's asking a lot but … Toshiko must be my wife, as all the other women are. Adham and his wife are the only exceptions, I will claim religious persecution for them … if I am right these are Skirtii Fikolds. They not only respect religious restitutions they are reverent of those of cloth. Owen … you will be a priest. Here to watch over the children."

"You are thinking of a story here" Rhiannon knew her bother and saw something in his face as he considered.

"Kit is not going to like this .. not one little bit. I am sorry … Elizabeth … you will have your work cut out for you, he is going to tantrum like a trooper. Hopefully we can get it out of the way before they come, have him settled into a massive sulk."

"OK. I don't know what you are doing but I know you" she nodded "We will do our best. First. Prink clothing."

"Hide anything male. ANYTHING! TOYS TOO" Ianto yelled after them, then he started to stride for the main room and the portraits of the children, knowing these had to be changed out quickly as well.

No boys here.

Nope.

Ianto would defend.