5

Jack was the first to head for the Hover as the roaring at the base of the house drifted up. Ianto considered and followed, not surprised when Rhys and Owen did too. Ianto made sure the kids were in their wing and locked in securely just in case the lizard fucker was going to try something and then nodded to Jack who fired up the vehicle and fly out and down to land next to the smaller and clearly inferior one.

"Can I help you?" Jack asked as he exited the Hover and the Lizard Fucker tried to grab for him only to find Rhys in the way.

"My brother asked you a question ya bod!"

"Where is my wife?"

"Not where are my daughters? Interesting" Ianto canted his head as he stared him down "Your sister-wives rejected the bond and it was all lodged legally and correctly with the proper authorities. She is no longer your sister-wife. Did they not tell you that? I understand you not wanting to ask about the girls, both of them inferior and also rejected, the baby one week old and about to be left out to the elements. Tell me… how many daughters have you already rejected like this?" Ianto demanded "If Joy is your youngest I estimate at least three? Four? How many have been killed for being hatched the wrong sex?"

Jack felt himself go cold as Ianto spoke and he finally saw that Ianto must be right. Three fertile sister-wives and this kind can have a hatchling at least once a year, Joy is the youngest. Ianto was being politely conservative in his estimations. Oh god. The number of babies killed per annum might be three or four alright, not the entirety of Joy's little life. Did she know? Did she see those babies and one day they are just… gone?

"It is our culture!" he defended with his chin jutting out, his scales glimmering as he postured at them.

"And it is ours not to allow that. Let's just agree that my sister was not a good match, your wives did not like her and in the end Lust dies when Love cannot. Clearly your love for your wives is true… bar this one. It is done." Jack spoke calmly as he stepped in close to Ianto, watching the creature for any sign of violence.

"She took one of my men"

"He quit."

"Huh" he stared at Ianto and seemed to be waiting for something else.

Finally Owen said "Well? Let's say our two houses are completely happy with the way things went and you can now go home to happier sister-wives."

With a look of confusion… he did.

.

.

Jack stood looking in at the children as they all played with the little Forhitian girl laughing and dancing with them. Poor little bit. Joy. Called her something they could never let her be. A birth defect. Gods.

They had made the right choice, they had done the right thing and he knew this was a forever thing. The only problem was the woman now in the living room looking at the photos on the mantel while her man stood watching her with his hands clasping at her coat she had abandoned on a chair and he had scooped up.

"What is your name?" Rhys asked him.

"Tannr"

"Tanner?"

"Close enough" Tannr nodded.

"You followed her?" Rhys nodded in the direction of Sophia.

"Yes. Well… all of them. One of ours when newborn, without adults that know the correct things to do, will die. Your kind have tried to take our kind in many times but there are such subtle differences in us that…. That is does not work. The little one will need me and Joy." He explained softly "Little Joy is not enough and her growth would be stilted as well."

"Nothing to do with loving my sister-in-law?"

The creature blinked slowly and Rhys watched the lids move horizontally. Bloody unnerving.

"I do love her, always have. My Boss was a cruel man and she chose not to see it when it was not directed at her. But the other wives wore him down and now she seems glimpses of horrible. Not like she will… in time he will kill her like one of those babies and by our law is entitled to do so. No baby means a rejection. Had her sisters not cared that small ounce to do so, his ejection would have been more final."

Rhys looked over at Jack who was listening to one side then nodded to show he understood, and then he moved away.

"This building has five wings. One for Ianto, one for Elizabeth, one for Owen's family, one for the children's sleeping quarters and the other one that was for a sister-wife now gone has been changed into a play area for the children as well. We can change that. Ianto's family were here a few months back for a celebration so that wing still has the bedrooms set up. There are four bedrooms at the end of the children's play area. If you check you will also see extra security on that wing." Jack said without looking at him "choose one of the older children, they will gladly show you."

"We can stay?"

"That decision was made the moment my Tiger took you."

And it was so.

.

.

..

Sorry there were no postings yesterday. My 24 yr old niece wrote her car off the night before and almost wrote herself off too. 24 hours in the hospital with her as both her parents live in another city before I could come home and crash (pardon the pun). She had broken ribs, collapsed lung, several chipped vertebrae and a split kidney but she will be OK. Glass has cut her face but I do not think she will scar.

RL sometimes pulls me away. xxxx