11

"I don't want to!"

Nicolas was standing his tiny ground, all two years of him… almost anyway. OK… maybe more like… 20 months but for a Meatstick that is three or four years old, right?

"Sweetie… come on" Jack tried to cajole.

"No!"

"Nick, please use your words. Explain why?" Amilie asked.

"Ok… first, you are Emilie, then Amilie, now that was a girl in Dadda's tum but a boy out here!" the finger pointed at each thing like cursing it.

"I already told you, I like Amilie more. I am not an Emma, Amy is better when I am a grown up and commanding my own troops" she rolled her eyes "And clearly Uncle Owie made a mistake. Grayson is clearly a boy, shy and cheeky."

"But Tadda promised me a girlie!" came a roar of anger now, the little one beyond pissed.

"Well… I have a thought on that" Ianto said as he crouched low to become face to face with the totally bereft child. He had to think fast here, the boy was right after all.

Nick snuffled as he glared at him, and then said sullenly, "What!"

"I was talking to Grandy and while I was away I saw things called Dogs. These are a Sol3 companion animal that grows quite fierce and strong. Apparently they are for security. They can smell out explosives or weapons, drugs… and attack with their big teeth. Grandy said when they are too old to work or damaged in service, they are given away as pets within the collective. So expensive to grow, they are not expired. One is worth more than two Meatsticks put together, can you imagine that?" Ianto spoke softly, his hands reaching out for the child who felt so alone. His twin siblings had each other. He had only himself and he was a withheld child as a result.

"A… Dog?" came the small voice that was cuddled into his chest now, the child clearly more upset than angry. "I read about those."

"Yes. He promised when he comes to visit next, he will bring us some to look at and maybe choose one" Ianto crooned, feeling the child relax and let go of his tantrum. "I am sorry it's not the little sister you expected, sometimes life is weird like that."

"Too many changes, I don't like changes" a muffled voice muttered.

"I know. But a doggie would be a good one, right?"

"When?"

Ianto went to ask his father, knowing the bluff had been called.

.

.

There were six there, standing to attention like good dogs as a little Napoleon… ah… I mean… I sweet little boy examined each one closely, the other family members watching holding their breaths. Whitt turned to watch his son's face and saw amusement there, also something else. Interest. Ianto had been trained with these right? He had spent time with the k-9 units.

Finally the little one stopped stalking along and pointed to a huge black fuzzy thing that resembled a bear "I want him. I shall ride him and love him and he shall be mine!"

"She"

"Oh?" Nick swung to stare at the dog again and Ianto wondered if he had changed his mind, then the child clapped his hands "come on Janet. Let's go!"

The dog rumbled forward as the man holding the leash yelped and let it go "What the… how did you know that's her name?"

"Don't be silly. She sez so!" came the scoffed reply. "she looks like one, right?"

"I agree" Ianto nodded as he knew the little shit had checked their papers in the folder sent ahead like a little spy, then looked at the others closing in for a look at the dogs "Tad… what will happen to the others? They are all military right? Technically soldiers?"

"What happens to any soldier left behind I guess son. They will be placed in a care faculty" Whitt replied, then saw the gleam in his boy's eye "No. Sweetie… you can't…"

"I want the big goldy one!" Rhys said as Amilie squealed and clapped her hands with glee, running for it as her other siblings calmly chose a smaller one with curly fur. Everyone knows you don't argue with the Queen Bitch.

"Ianto, what do you know of…" Whitt's voice petered out as a little one rushed forward to stand before Ianto at attention with his little body shaking with excitement and the raw hope wafted off him. Ianto gave a hand motion showing he did know what to do, and he put it at ease.

"Look at that. A Terrier. These are so rare. Used for small spaces, infiltration and detection" Jack was on his knees reaching for the dog who sat stoically as it got patted. Then it looked at Jack with wide eyes. "Why is he looking at me like that?"

"I don't think he is used to affection" Ianto replied, watching Jack's face change as he scooped up the dog and cuddled it to him "Jack?"

"Mine."

"I guess adding a K-9 division is not a bad thing, now we are getting green. Maybe foot patrols can be better with a dog to flush out potential game or danger in the grass. We might have a use for them" Ianto said like he was just thinking about it.

All eyes were on him and those around him implored him silently.

Like there was a choice, Jack coddling his own little dog possessively.

You don't argue with The Devil's Fella either.

"OK?" Ianto shrugged and the place went wild.

Whitt knew where the net few intakes of retiring dogs could go now, and as he watched a couple of dog handlers stepped into the fray he knew he had lost a few more bodies to the Red Planet's gravitational pull. Nick was happy now, talking intently to his charge as she sat with a stoic look on her face.

Oh well.

You don't argue with The Devil Himself… or Old Nick as some call the devil sometimes. Seems Nick was set to go into the family business.