35

Ianto sat watching as he drank from a thermos, most of the Bigs engaged in battle of some sort in the three makeshift wrestling rings created on the green. A lot of Grups were watching along with some Bigs but the Littles … sorry … Firsts were busy with their egg collecting and other such things befitting those who did not need to 'show their muscles' as they put it. Ianto knew the twins were behind this and secretly amused even as he thanked them for their leadership in keeping them from underfoot. Burn grunted as his sister Tum rolled her eyes and reminded him that they were SOOO annoying sometimes.

Billy was currently facing off against Liam in a show of strength as the others watched with wide eyes. Both men were evenly matched and it was more a show for the kids than a battle as their blows were less than half their possible strength. Even so, three wooden shields lay broken as well as a couple of broken spears. They were now down to knife play, the children's plastic knifes wielded as if they were real. People were calling out encouragement and Dean was hooting for his brother who was clearly holding his own without much effort.

Hope slid in to sit next to her Tad and watched for a while, her hand on his leg then she said softly "Solomon is waiting."

Ianto grunted, the little savage known for not holding back in the playground with many other kids wary of him now he was grown, and he glanced at her then answered with a question "Against whom?"

She shrugged as if considering then said sweetly "I thought Rosie might like a stretch."

"She is five and only comes to his waist"

"Yes. So he will be confident" she smiled and Ianto hid a grin at seeing Jack's crafty smile on their daughter's face.

"Set it up then darling."

She nodded and rose, heading to the newly vacated ring to their left, calling Solomon out and he ran with undisguised glee to accept the challenge, kneeling to show respect as is the way of a good warrior. He raised his head to see Hope leaving the ring and Rosie entering, her little floral dress skimming across the grass and he rose with anger "OI! I wanted a partner, not a game!"

Rosie was swift, her first fist catching him in the belly and he barked with pain as she fluidly moved around his hip to jab his lover back at the exact same height.

"A small Z would bite like that" Hope called out helpfully "Think of her as a little turned Z about to eat your nuts off."

The place erupted, all other matches forgotten as Rosie moved with the grace her lovely Taddy had given her and the viciousness her Dad had. Soon Solomon was gasping for air as she stood, not even breaking a sweat in her little pigtails and wide eyes.

"Do you yield?"

"No!" Solomon swung and this time she went high, waiting for him to swing down and catching his nose. He yelped as he fell back and she was on him, his head slammed back into the ground as she straddled his chest and leaned down to snarl in his face. She looked feral, wild and almost possessed as he struggled and cried out.

"You see?" Hope said, breaking the spell as her sister rose to run her hands down her skirts "That is the problem. If Mia had turned, would you have put her down? You see Sol? You must learn to detach from what you are fighting, it is you or them. They are the enemy. Even if they wear the face of a loved one, they are now the thing that will cause your demise."

Solomon turned to snarl at her "She is a baby and not turned. I cannot harm her."

"Who said you could?" Rosie asked softly "There is the problem too. You think me dainty. Fragile when I could break your forearm with one hand."

"A Z has strength that is equal to three or four humans of the same size" Jack was now talking "The only thing that we have that matches Zs are Wolfling. And a Weevil. Since you love the girls too much to harm them and we all know Dean will not fight a good friend … Frank has agreed to spar with you. Hand to hand. No weapons. I have faith in you Solly. But you have to prove it. If only to yourself. Frank will not be at half measure. Weevils do not understand the term. If you want to go one on one against one who can match a Z … to feel the sheer panic and fear in order to understand it and rationalise it … move past it, Frank is your man. Weevil. Fake Z. Monster. Frank? What do you want to be?"

"Bogeyman!" the Weevil snarled, coming to stand in the ring.

"Well … OK. Those of you who want to feel the strength of Frank come and wait your turn. But I warn you … anyone looses an eye or breaks a limb it is your own fault. He will not hold back." Jack said as he stepped out of the ring and Solomon crouched into an attacking stance.

Frank merely canted his head and waited.