46

Pip was pensive as he watched Nelly sleep, one hand on her little back, the other clutching a small toy. Ianto settled to look at his boy as he waited to learn why he ws so quiet today. Maybe it was the attack, but he had agreed to it and now as they calmly moved towards the home base of the dissidents Pip had become withdrawn.

"I wonder about the future of our kind" Pip said after a while. "Hope and Dean … so … deadly. Rosie did not want to take part, fair enough but the Twins were really excited to watch through the bond. They want to hunt. To kill. Humans as well s Zs."

"Not the subject of the hunt … the hunt itself. Not everyone will be the same. Rosie was appalled, Shadow was curious but saw little in it to interest him. He was more detached … I think it is part of the DNA splicing my father did. Creating this super monster … he took from so many different things, swapping, splicing … removing … he wanted a super solider. A mass murderer that worked on command. He created something that didn't hear commands and killed too well to be contained." Ianto settled back "I know it was gruesome … but it was needed. I wish it could have been me, not them. That they never took a human life but … we both know that is something that will have to happen on occasion for the protection of the pack. Not just Zs are monsters. Not just us either."

Pip grunted as he considered, rubbing the little back as Nelly snuffled in her sleep.

"You worry about her? What she might be?" Ianto asked softly "Look .. I cannot comfort you there. It's not something I have any control over either… it will be what it will be. However, considering things as of late … the food replicator means we do not need to scavenge for food. With Jack in pup … yes and me … I started hunting again for the fresh blood as the replicators cannot synthesis that level of nutrition. Maybe the bloodlust comes from that? So long without the stimulation of fresh kill … the meat all cooked and presented … it was not just boring but also it was not enough … fresh kill brings out the monster. Maybe … maybe to keep the monster contained we need to let it out?"

"If you love something set it free?" Pip frowned and Ianto laughed softly as he ruffled his hair.

"Something like that. Allowing the pups to hunt, to kill and feel that thrill of the kill, the taste of blood from a still beating heart as the death throes splatter it in their throats … the Wolf in them craves that. If we go on small hunting parties now and then it will appease the beast within?" Ianto sighed and rubbed at his face "I don't know. It's all mere thought at the moment but … I know after each hunt I felt fulfilled like … like a sunny day after a stormy night."

"So… hunting once a week or so ... we will become stronger, more accomplished at killing and less likely to rip someone's head off in anger" Pip frowned as he nodded "Makes sense Tadda."

"I love you Pipperoony" Ianto crooned, pulling him in for a cuddle.

"Hey guys" Jack said as he walked over and unceremoniously dumped the baby into Ianto's lap "I gotta hit the head."

"The head of what?" Burn asked with interest from the floor where he was drawing "Why do you have to hit anyone's head?"

"Hit the head as in … take a pee" Jack laughed and his son snorted, then rose to follow him, like he had to now as well. Or check if he really meant that. Suspicious one of the twins.

Ianto was engrossed in his youngest pup, little Jackson looking up at him with his tiny lips pursed as if considering something. "Hello there Sonny. Aren't you gorgeous."

The face lit up, a tiny little supernova in Ianto's hands and Ianto gushed as he saw Jack in the tiny glee, legs kicking and although he was still so new Ianto would swear he was trying to make a noise.

"Awwwww, you are sooooo perfect. Look at you, my big boy. Yeah!" Ianto crooned "Are you having a nice day? Hmmmm? Bet it's so much more fun out here instead of listening through a wall eh?"

"You can say that again" Pip snorted "Drove me mad."

"Awwwww. Your little brother in here must be really jealous eh? You already out here and he has to wait?"

A tiny body stopped squirming as the baby stared at him, then little eyes slid to his belly and Ianto felt almost weepy with hormonal overload. "Yes Sonny … Well. Look at that, I'm calling you Sonny. What do you think Johnson will be shorted to eh?"

"Joss of course" Pip said absently as he examined the baby "He already decided that too. Quite stubborn and fixed in his thinking. Going to be Sooooo much like you. I remember when you were born, so tiny and so stern. Like it had all been some personal insult. Your Mama was both overjoyed and shocked at your tiny frown. You didn't cry."

"Really?" Ianto asked, this little pearl of information never offered before.

"Funny. I used to call you my Grand Man. Funny, you wound up being called Grandy by little Daisy. Nelly is calling you that in her head too."

"Bullshit. I'm not a Poppy?" Ianto asked with genuine surprise "I am … Grandy. Yes. OK, with so many grand things to love. I can accept that."

"No choice really, you were destined" Pip said as he turned away to draw the blanket up over his little love, finishing the conversation and Ianto snorted softly as his son filled his nappy with tiny grunts.

Grand.