28

Casey was a surprise.

Not only was she shorter than expected in Jack's mind, she was plump like Rhiannon. Sweet and her round face was open, shining with amusement and more than once he heard her speak to her twin sisters with open sarcasm and wit.

Ianto in the attitude there … a spitfire.

Her husband Oscar and his other wife Heather were fussing over Leanne, their only child who was tired and confused by all the bluster and noise. Ianto rushed to comfort as well, the couple watching with surprise as he gathered the girl up … six? Seven? And cuddled her, talking softly to her as he led her to the pictures and pointed out each child, saying their name and talking to the child about how much fun they were all going to have playing games and doing stuff as a large family.

An only child.

Ianto found that so sad, wondering how she got interaction and stimulation without another child to play with. He knew his sister was stubborn and he hoped quietly she was not deliberately withholding a child, not wanting the pain of it. She was coddled a bit by their mothers.

As the twins were auburn, she had dark hair like Rhiannon. Da's hair. His military stance as well as she watched the children play and pointed a finger "What is that?"

"A puzzle" Ianto stood and explained patiently to her what the mind game was and the purpose of it, the little one in his arms leaning her head against his as she decided she liked that kind man, even if he did bring her closer to the slappy mama. Ianto noted the child' soft smile for her and guessed his sister was a kind mama, her own mother had been slightly …. Stern sometimes.

"Hi-ho!"

"Koiko" Ianto smiled, placing the child on her feet in front of the little boy "Look Leanne, this is Koiko. He said Hi-ho, which is his way of saying hello. I do not know why he says it that way but he likes to. If you go with him, he will take you to the mat. Would you like to play with Anwen? She is almost your age and you have the same pretty dark hair."

Ianto watched her go as Casey sighed "Weedy isn't she."

"Perhaps sister, but she is all you have" Ianto replied sagely, her eyes flaring as he now knew she was holding out on a child so he added "I guess Oscar must marry again soon, with you seeming so… barren."

"That is cruel" she whispered.

Ianto hissed under his breath back at her "Yes it is … I do not know if he can afford another … maybe you should give them one to shut them up? With her being older … it would be spoilt I guess. If I am of a mind to share some balls… a son? Imagine the kudos for you."

He left her pondering that remark and Jack watched as Ianto walked the room, watching his siblings as a Tiger in a cage watches jackals in there with him. They really had no idea how much they alarmed him, upset him and clearly Jack could see they pissed him off with their lack of happiness.

Jack knew why.

They had lost so much, lost everything but themselves and were not happy with the lives they had been given. Well … not entirely true.

Bella's young Rachel was a giggle-monster with an insatiable sense of humour that was sending the others into giggles as well with seemingly no end, poking at them with caustic comments and then laughing happily as she flounced away. Jack could see himself in her tactic of poke and run. He found himself liking her the most of his nieces as Casey came to stand her him, her daughter now almost asleep in her arms.

"Excuse me there tall glass of cuteness. Where can I pop Leanne for a snooze?" she asked "Last night we were assigned beds by Rhiannon but I was so tired and we were all so fed up I don't think any of us took notice of the landmarks in this huge bloody place."

"Come with me Casey, I shall show you. Ianto put you in his old room … this way" Jack led her down the corridor to Ianto's wing and allowed her entry, the room that had been Ianto's was still opulent and the single bed made up near the large master was cute too. Ianto had even colour coded the bedding.

"Oh thank the gods. Yes, this is it. His room?"

Jack noted the two sets of things on the floor y the smaller bed and realised she was sleeping with her child, not sharing the large bed with the other two "He can assign separate rooms if you do not like sharing the bed. We did not know the dynamics when he thought of rooms … there are a couple more bedrooms in this wing if you want separation. Originally he had his own wing, me my own, Elizabeth her own and my other two wives had one each as well. Like … well … like a star configuration I guess with five separate areas. I seem to have moved Ianto into my wing without realising it, even as he would retreat here on occasion. I can be really annoying it seems. Especialy when he ws preggers and I was too hot! Soooo hot!"

She laughed softly as she slapped at him and he saw that she had blue/green eyes. Pretty and unique. She had been the baby Sean had held tightly to his chest as they ran. The one that was his favourite.

"Ianto had loved little Desiree and I know her death haunts him still" Jack said softly "Ianto loves you deeply too. Just the other night he and Sean were talking of the two of you on their knees eating from their plates with open affection. He fought so hard to save you all … the one that was lost to strangles I the aftermath…."

"Desire" Casey nodded "The only other one of Ianto's mother. Why he felt so badly that she died. Ofall of us, she was his only full blooded sister."

"Not that blood has anything to do with love" Jack smiled as she found herself smiling back ath wo she could see was a loving Alpha.

"Tell that to my sister Sophia's horrible sister wives an uncaring husband" she sighed, her face falling for a moment=become becoming bright once more "three siblings with their own hive and only one man to annoy them …and then … she came along. They thought they would be it .. three sisters clutching one man to share between them … they really thought they would make him happy and have the hive to themselves. Her coming along spoilt that and they never tire of excluding her, making her aware of the fact that she is not of their kind. We did warn her, marrying into another breed was not a good idea, now she finds she cannot give him offspring .. they use that against her too.."

"Why she would like to take one of my boys? To shut them up with an offering?" Jack asked calmly and to his surprise Casey laughed as she nodded her head, shaking a finger at him.

"Exactly. She wss a spoilt girl … always got what she wanted one way or another. Yes… she really thought you might hand one over. Funny she is the only one with her visa not getting approved to come here, isn't it?" she asked with twinkling eyes.

"Awwwww, yes shame" Jack grinned back.

Yes.

He likes this one a lot more than he thought he would.

She had a spark to her that was similar to Ianto's' hidden cheekiness, but she let it fly instead of holding it in like Ianto did.

He would mention to Ianto that she needed her own room with the child as she was clearly the wet-nurse here.

Family dynamics eh?