26

Micha had gone down to her home with the flowers to place them in the perfect vase she knew she had saved for such an occasion leaving Ianto and Hope in the vehicle pool.

"Why did you take me?" she asked as she watched Ianto unpack the picnic basket.

"I needed you to feel it. You did right? In the bond, you felt her pain?"

"Yes. It was….horrible. Like a hole in your heart that grew with each breath. Horrible" she shuddered.

"And that is after all these years. She lost her brother before you were even born. Do you get that? Still, after all this time it hurts like that. That is what I feel for my sister too. Rhiannon, always in my thoughts. If you lost Dean out there … what do you think it would feel like?" he turned to face her "The virus was so new, prevalent and strong. People were falling around us, no one was safe and everything was so … crazy. Now is different. IT has mutated … evolved like we have I guess. The Zs are not as strong but they seem more resilient. We have time to consider, to assess. Back then we were just reacting and trying to survive. I almost died, your father suffered horribly as did I. I bled for this life, for your life. This is why I am so angry."

She nodded as she saw his reasoning "I am sorry Taddy. I didn't think … I mean … Dean is Wolfling. I thought he would be safe. I was cocky."

"Being self-assured is not a bad thing, it has done your father well in his bluffing his way across the universe to us but … some don't want reassurance. They want safety." He explained "You have to show vulnerability too or they will start to fear you as much as those things you protect them from. They are the monsters. Not us. We must strive to remember that."

She nodded as she considered "So … this trip Dad wants to bad?"

"Archie was an operative for the agency we worked for. It's not him … we are pretty sure he's gone. Torchwood house held a lot of tech that was deemed dangerous to mankind or too alien to be seen. His facility is deep underground with an old country estate sitting on top so everyone thinks it is just another toffy manor. Underground is so many things, even spaceship parts. Things you father collected for years. Things he placed there for safekeeping. Why he is breaking his neck to get there, not for Archie. For what Archie protected probably with his life."

"We will be a few days?"

"Try a week" Ianto sighed "We need to allow two days travel. A day of settling and breaking in as it will not be like knocking on the door, Tosh needs to come as the firewalls will be immense and the two of us working side by side will still take hours to bypass it. Then we need a couple of days to pilfer, then we shut it down and a couple of days back. Five…six. Best say seven so we can account for roadblocks or something"

Hope gaped "You've never been gone that long!"

"No. The pack has not been left unprotected for that long … I worry. I really worry. Leaving the pups, will they be safe? If there is an attack or something I will be too far away to defend. Marley is with child so she can't help. I can't leave you to defend it - you are too eager. You want to come with. I must leave Dean to defend if your father gives in to you, which we know he will. You don't think I worry? I love you, my beloved. My little pup … I will always worry. This is bigger than just me…or you. What about them?"

Hope sighed "The mantle is heavy. That's what you mean"

"Yes" Ianto slumped "It will always be that way. As Wolfling we will ALWAYS belong to them. Not them to us. We must protect. We must maintain and we must endure. No room for our wants, our dreams. If we find small moments its lovely but there are also times you are standing in a pool of shit so deep you need a snorkel."

Hope nodded as she picked up the basket "David. He was special?"

"He was a fat little fuck that resembled his father too much for me to bond with the way I bonded with Micha. She was perfect, a little blonde angel … like you." Ianto said as they walked and Hope felt the weight lift as she finally saw that the mantle was also shiny, polished with her Tadda's pride.

She had to train and endure.

She was a Wolfling and one day might have her own pack to watch over.

She hoped she would be half the leader her Tadda is.