48

They had touched down in a field of long grass far from anyone or anything, their scanning showing the only movement in the area to be some horses.

"We are not hunting them, are we?" Rosie asked with concern as she followed her family into the sunlight "They are pretty. I do not know if I can eat something so pretty."

"No darling. Pip would not like that either. No … we only kill what we need and there are other things out there for a meat source, like the rabbits I know are all though this long grass." Ianto assured her, pointing as a Predi took off like a bat to of hell, followed by Dean in Wolfling form "See? They may not even catch anything but it is good exercise and playing. Besides … I wanted a picnic."

"Me too" Rhys powered past pushing a hoverboard that sat a meter off the ground, covered with food. These things were a boon to find in one of the holds, once they were shown by Jack how to use them this one became Rhys' favourite within hours. Large, flat and wide, he could stack the entire meal on it, already plated up with extras on bowls … then float the entire thing to the table without incident. Jack didn't have the heart to tell him it used to transport bodies … Owen not pickig up on that use due to the different body structures of the previous pilots.

Owen was following with Frank and Toshiko, their children gone in the sea of madness as the twins and Pip remained with them. Dean and Hope were gone with the Predis and although it was unnerving to imagine what they were doing, Owen agreed that it was a good training exercise for them. And good clean playing for the children still so precious in their hearts.

He knew not a single rabbit would be caught either, those pet ones back at Holdfast ensuring the affection would be stronger than hunger. Espial with Rhys taking care of the latter problem.

"Food" Ianto called softly, settling on the ground then flopping back to lay looking up at the clouds, Jack grinning as he carefully followed suit with Sonny asleep on his chest. He resembled a limpet on his chest, limps floppy and little snoring so sweet. None of their other children had been such a snuffly little man and Ianto was constantly reasuring himself that it was not some medical issue causing the noises. Their son was just noisy. Like his Dad.

Ianto woke with a start, shocked to find he has drifted to sleep as everyone moved around him and he turned his head to find Jack watching him with raw affection on his face, one hand on their baby's back, the other on Ianto's stomach.

"Hey good looking"

"Cariad" Ianto smiled, then yawned and sat up rubbing his face. Then he looked around and frowned "Where is Dean?"

"One of the Predis will not come back, he has gone to fetch it" Hope explained, sitting with a chicken leg in her hand "The female. Such a cow that one. Always challenging the rules."

Ianto sighed, nodding as he rose and cast in the bond for his son, finding amusement as the creature had found a stream and was trying to attack the bubbling water. Ianto took a moment or two to enjoy the scene though his son's eyes and then he threw his head back and yodelled, a deep booming howl that echoed through the dale.

Everyone stopped and looked at him with shock as he acted in such an animalistic way but Jack grinned "Wow Holdfast. That was hawwwwwt."

The Predi came slamming through the grass, Dean in hot pursuit and they came to a halt at the picnic spot, Dean reaching for a chicken leg.

"Manners" Rhys growled, waving a wet towel at the child who blushed as he accepted it, washing his hands on it, then taking a chicken leg to flick back the at the Predi, then accepting another for himself.

"These replicators … they will go forever?" Hope asked pointing at the food on offer.

"We put something in them once, let it get the molecular structure… then we load it into the memory with the name of it then… essentially yes. We can call up whatever food we desire, if it's in the menu guide. Jack? Do they have a lifespan?" Toshiko turned to Jack.

"Well … I don't know love. They go off starlight. So … as long as we have a sun to touch the hull of the ship, the replicators and the vessel itself will continue to work. I have flown old beasts like this that were four…even five hundred years old. Rickety and falling apart but engines strong as ever." Jack considered "I have faith that if we do not blow it up somehow, it will be around for a very long time."

"Well … I miss Nainny's bread rolls she always did like donuts, rolled in the sugar and cinnamon. We need some of those to add to the menu" Rhys sighed.

"I know how to make those" Marley said out of nowhere, making Rhys gape "She showed me. I used to help roll them out and pinch off each one for her to roll. Stood beside her once a week. I can make some."

"I know I am a bit fixated, but I do love food" Rhys sighed happily "After me dear wife of course."

"OI!" Preston said with a frown "What about us kids?"

"Oh yeah .. sorry guys. We love all you kids too …well … Melina anyway." Rhys pointed to their youngest child as the others gaped. Then laughter broke out as they all agreed he was a terrible liar, unable to admit he loved them all. Ianto smiled as he watched Alice reach out to stroke her man's face, the one he truly loved the most as he reached for her too.

Their love still raw after all this time.