52
They set down near the homestead and again Winters found herself drawn to the man in the suit as he walked down the ramp behind his children, the Weevil no longer startling her as he walked hand in hand with one of the youths.
Dean? Was his name Dean? Dean and Frank.
"OH MY GOD" someone shouted and she swung, her hand reaching for her sidearm that she no longer had as a man exploded from the blackberry patch, racing past her to seize Ianto in a hug then draw back "No! No, you are fucking kidding me. I thought … I thought Jack just had one … oh hell. You are preggers too?"
"Just him pregnant" Jack said happily "Sonny here is very much born! I am so glad to see my …ah …. feet again."
"WOW!" the man dropped Ianto gently and raced to see the bundle in Jack's arms and Winters blinked "A baby? There was a baby with us…. Wait. Pregnant?"
"Jack and I have the ability to carry children … yes. Billy is adopted but the others … came from us." Ianto smiled at her then stepped into the mass of children that had swapped him out of nowhere with buckets of berries, now she was confused as many were calling him Uncle or even a couple of 'great-uncle' calls filtered out as he laughed and knelt for love.
"Ho there" Sean called, waving as Michael and Mica calmly walked towards them with their oldest child running hell for leather into the throng with glee, Ianto emerging with a little perfect dumpling in his arms.
Mimi, what are you feeding this child! She is at least forty…no… fifty?"
Daisy laughed as she slapped at him and said "Don't be silly G-G. I am seven now!"
"Ah. Right. My mistake little one" Ianto let her slide down.
"Welcome home Uncle" Micha said as she hugged him and Winters watched with interest.
"She calls him G-G because Marley and mine do. A lot of the kids have stopped with uncle and now say Grandy or Great-Grandy. G-G seems easier. You will learn, nicknames are a big thing here." Billy said as he stood watching "My tad is handsome isn't he? And Dad? Look at him, would not think he just had a baby with that swagger."
She turned to look at him and frowned "How old are you?"
Billy snorted "25. You working out the difference between me and Tad? I know. I actually look a little older don't I? Would you believe he is about … fifty? Fifty something? Dad on the other hand … I think he stopped counting after the first couple of hundred years."
She stared at him.
"Sergeant Winters from UNIT, you were told he was an enigma. The former leader of Torchwood 3. Did it never occur to you that he is not from around here?" his amusement clear as he eyeballed her "But Taddy? Ahhhhh…. You have NEVER met anything as enigmatic as him. Just … just pray you never call it out in anger. You seen the movies about the incredible hulk? Think that but with fur, not green skin."
"OK, I never know when you are bullshitting me but if you are Harkness' kid, I do not doubt it. Mind you, every item we retrieved from a crash site was deemed a sex toy by him and confiscated for testing purposes."
Billy roared with mirth, patting her shoulder then pointed "See that old woman watching everything? That's Mama Francine. If you get Mama's on side, you are golden. Piss in her pot? You will be in trouble."
"So your village… is close if they are all here" she asked, looking around then seeing the huge transports sitting there in broad daylight like it was no big deal. Vehicles. Like … real vehicles… military grade.
"Close. But this is not all of them. We are over a hundred now, and more than one village. Be careful the questions you ask there" Ianto said as he strode over to stand by her "This is your welcoming committee. Also your first set of judges. There is a process to getting in ... or out. Don't worry, getting the green light from us is the first step. The fact you are ex-UNIT will work for you as well. We always welcome those with an open mind, and then the boy. Less likely to turn you away with him."
"And what makes you think I would want to…." Her voice petered off as her son walked towards her with a bowl of something, his face shining with glee.
"Mama. Look, it's called icy cream. Look! And Chocolate. Melty!" he said with wonder "Isn't it cool? Well… cold really. How do they get it so cold?"
"A story for another day" Jack said firmly, passing the bundle he had been cuddling to Ianto and smiling down as he ruffled the boy's hair "Come on. Wanna see something really cool?"
The boy nodded.
Pip stood and whistled, the Predis appearing, lead by a large and happy Shadow, his black fur like a liquid spill moving towards through the grass to leap up at the last minute, transforming as he did so into a little naked toddler yelling "TA-DA!"
Ianto laughed as he scolded his child for being naked again and Shadow laughed, turning to transform once more to Wolfling form and running off again with the Predis.
Ianto glanced around and saw the faces of their pack who had never seen his little one in human form before, their joy at such a rare blessing not missed by Winters who looked at Ianto in question as her shock started to wear off.
"That is my son Shadow. Shy little one, prefers our other form more."
"Lycanthrope"
"No. Wolfing" Ianto grinned, his teeth elongating as she watched with wonder, his eyes glowing with a golden light "We are …. more."
"Christ" she said softly "Glad you like me then."
"Yes. I think I do"
