7

"But… why?"

"Jack… do you not have something else to ask other than that?" Owen demanded, getting tired of the questions about 'Meatstick' pregnancies. Jack knows they hate that word and he wished it could go into the cosmos and die.

"OK… sorry. Ah… so… Ianto will probably not have any sickness or hardship but I can expect cravings and temperature swings?"

"Hormones. Blasted things… yeah. Don't' worry… he knows what his body needs and is best to recognise the need for a cold shower… to bath… food… fluids or rest. Just know it might come on rapidly and he might get a bit demanding with the need to for to happen. Growing a spawn is a very hard and important task that we were bred to treat as any other task… to do it perfectly." Owen assured him.

"But I am not… one of you… it will be half Boeshanninan" Jack said diplomatically "Might that change things?"

"A possibility. You know… if it does, it might really piss him off. Ianto does not like change, he likes order and things done the way they are supposed to… by the book. Even if he wrote it" Owen chuckled softly "Look... don't sweat it. You are not alone, we all enjoy the experience."

Jack knew he was annoying the man so he moved away, going to his sister-in-law to ask her about it instead. His brother Gray was Boeshanninan, like him. Had her pregnancies with the little ones prior to Rhys been the same?

"No. David was textbook, Mica was not. I wondered if it was because of the sex of the baby but Amalie was different again. There are no perfect pregnancies and no prefect births, we know what to do, both male and female dams. For a man, it is harder as they cannot bounce back as quickly as a woman but in a day or two he will be back to fighting fit." She explained "Your main problem will be to resist trying to protect him. Being a male Dam, when the baby comes he is vulnerable. It is natural to feel that … those of us with a strong bond to him will want to portent and defend. We will be pains in the arse there."

"I want to be a good mate, a good partner. I know I am fumbling some things and he is being good about pretending that it doesn't matter but I do want to do the best I can for him" Jack sid as he fiddled with the books Owen had shoved at him earlier.

"Look… shadow him… do not smother him and at times… run from him if he is throwing something at you. There is no right or wrong thing. There will by cycles of want, need, desire, self loathing… it is normal. Just… be there." Rhiannon finally said with a sigh, "Now piss off. If you are annoying me this much he might kill you."

Jack left and wandered about until he found Amilie, the lithe creature was not throwing someone or even heartening with a knife for a change but dancing. Ah. Her gift from Poppa Whitt, a tiny music box. Jack stopped to enjoy the sight of her long limbs and that dancer's gait as she danced in the middle of the Mess Hall like an angel.

.

.

Ianto felt it.

Jack's joy filled the bond and Ianto closed his eyes to enjoy the delight in his mate. Not fussing, not stressed and not the least bit concerned for a moment about this incoming babe. Ah.

The little ones on the floor stopped arguing over a toy and closed their eyes, both sets of hands still gripping the toy as they listened to the bond and felt their father's joy.

"Amilie" Fury said softly.

His twin simply nodded and released the toy to go seek out their cousin/sister. After a moment, both twins were striding calmly along the corridor with Ianto following them slowly, the little matching jackets their Daddy go them for Christmas that made them look like little replicas of him were so damned cute too.

They entered to find her in full swing and Ianto reacted, dropping his coat to the floor to step over and seize her wrist, pulling her to him and Jacks' eyes widened as they started to dance together. It was the first time. It was magnificent.

Ianto threw her into the air and she landed like a cat, he swung low in a pivoting arc as she leapt over him and bounced off his back, his hand seizing her wrist in midair to yank her and make her fly again.

Everyone was transfixed as what they had always seen as fighting moves, as simply drills for combat were now shown to be the most fluid, delicate moves to the little music box playing on the table that she had opened before she had begun her dance.

Jack knew it was silly… I mean… how can you fall deeper in love with someone that already has you hooked to the depth of your soul? But standing there as Ianto moved and swung, the little bump flashing into display now and then… Jack fell even harder and knew that even the Devil can dance like a angel.

The applause was thunderous.

Ianto of course, stepped back so she could take the bow.