8

"Preggers" Jack repeated.

"Myf is cooking an egg, will soon lay it and will then incubate a baby dragon" Ianto nodded. "This happens only once every twenty years or so, for so many to fall at once is almost unheard of. Of course, it is the strong bond here that has caused it. A phenomenon that is known as Collective Heat."

"So. We have eight dragons… nine inclining Myf gonna hatch out babies. Three riders fallen the other five unable to fly either so … shit. We are tight. You can fly with Theo though, right?" Jack sad as he adjusted his trousers and looked in the mirror, catching Ianto's startled look. "What!"

"Well… I will have to stay near Myf. I will not be going anywhere. While these dragons are in a dangerous time, vulnerable from attack by other dragons they can see another weaker than them as a target of bullying. Some have even died from being pecked. I can't go anywhere" Ianto knew he was starting to sound panicked and stopped talking altogether, rubbing his hands on his pants.

"Well … I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't… OK. Wow. Do we need to get anything specialized for them?"

"Extra food. They will crave, have need for more as they create life. Extra bedding and quiet so… people visiting with their own flight guards will not be welcome. Skirmishes might occur and if there is a perceived threat the entire stables could react." Ianto smiled at Jack's reflection.

"So… it's a waiting game?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

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Ianto could do nothing except cuddle with his dragon, the children coming and going. Kellie was more ashamed than ever for her actions as she now saw how much she needed Ianto. Now he had withdrawn and let her do whatever she wanted, she found herself sitting next to her grandmother trying desperately to work a flower into a piece of stupid cloth.

She didn't understand what was happening, just that it involved the dragons and Taddy. It was something important and her own little dragon had been acting weird as a result. She knew if she just pulled her head in and acted a little nicer Taddy Ianto might forgive her for being a beast.

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"Hello Henry" Ianto said softly to the little dragon as it peeked around the stall, looking worried "you can come in."

The little dragon sniffled into the stall and bowed to Myfanwy politely, her nodding to let him know he ws OK. Ianto knew what this was. He was looking for somewhere to hide. The weird happenings out in the main stables were alarming for the yearlings and this one was especially touchy. Like his rider-to-be.

Ianto knew he was looking for a stall for himself. Also the reason why his daughter was acting more like his daughter again, this little one calming her and making her see that there was something other than herself to care about.

"If you go see Theo, there is a stall next to him that is free. He will welcome a friend for games" Ianto said softly, the little Blue nodding as he eagerly scuttled off and soon Ianto heard faint hooting of delight. Ah. They do know one another and are already compatible as friends. Ianto sighed as he knew he was giving in and letting her off lightly. Being a fellow rider, he knew how it would hurt her to deny her this stall. She was going to be a rider. There is no doubt of that. She was already bonding to this little male. Besides, he didn't have the strength to argue with Jack if Kellie started tantruming. He could only hope that she would behave more. He really didn't need this right now.

Jack wandered down to find his husband, finding the little Blue in the spare stall on Theo's side. He shot over to Ianto "hey.. another one?"

"That is the one Kellie is bonding with. He is afraid out there and wants to be closer to her. It's a spare stall. Myfanwy's offspring will stay with her until old enough to have a rider, and then go to the stall next to her. There are six stalls if we empty the tow full of extra tack." Ianto said as he stood login around the huge stables Jack had built for him "in twenty years or so this place could be pumping."

"Hang on … I never agreed to filling it with dragons. This was for your dragons." Jack frowned.

"They are all my dragons Cariad" Ianto laughed, leaning into him as he felt better now he had slept some "Come. I am hungry, are you? We will have a snack and maybe you can tell me about the new recruits I hear you yelling at out there. I there really one that falls over his own feet? His poor horse."

Jack felt something shift between them and decided to accept Ianto's decision here. After all, he was right. These were his dragons, this was his to do with as he pleased and Jack was glad to see Kellie was being allowed to share it.

He hoped for a thaw there as well.