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John was interested in the small child, the baby that was so … so … Boeshanninan. He saw both men in the baby and was curious to see what sort of man he would grow into. Ianto was besotted as well, just on a more reserved level even as Jack still crowed like he had done it all by himself. Ianto was not more than convinced that the next one WOULD be Jack's to carry like he had offered.

It was on the third day that Ianto went to a drawer and removed a little box, opening it to retrieve a disc shaped pendant that he put on under his clothing. Jack noticed it and asked softly what it was.

"My mama's. I teethed on it, as she did once and her father did too. It's a family heirloom. When I was a toddler Mama gave it to me and I wore it up until the day of the Hunt. When the broadcast was over and my father was rampaging about I thought about things and saw the danger in having this. So I … hid it." Ianto showed Jack the little disc that ws actually a finely carved crest that did look a little like the Hunt symbols used. "It's old Boeshanninan. Why I could read it I think… they used at least five languages and this was one of them. If you take three of the symbols from the map and superimpose them… they sort of look like this, but not. Ya know? But it is so old, so pre-hunt. Da looked for it anyway, remembered it and tossed the place several times. Never found it."

"Where?"

"Hmmm?" Ianto hummed as he burped their son on his shoulder.

"Where did you hide it?"

"The one place he would never look. In his room" Ianto replied and then they both sniggered as Ianto told Jack of the time his father put his fist right through the wall on the stairs to the basement and Ianto had the inspiration to put it in the wall cavity before it was plastered up again. His father never thought about it.

Clever little bugger.

"You know… you have your mother's eyes. The pale lilac grey, not the bright blue of a Boeshanninan. Our son has my eyes. You seemed relived to see that" Jack said as the little boy in question burped and flopped back like he had run a marathon.

"A throwback to my mother's bloodline, same place as the necklace. Old Blood" Ianto shrugged.

"And one day Hunter will wear it, even if he does not know what it is. We will tell him about his lineage." Jack said, pulling Ianto in to whisper softly into his ear "I recognize a family crest when I see it. You family… your mother's family. They were of High Blood."

"Yeah. She chose Da… broke their hearts and they disowned her. I sometimes wonder what her life might have been with had she agreed to the arranged marriage instead of running off with Da" Ianto placed the baby in the crib and sat back to ponder "but then again… would I even be born? Would we have met? This miracle here… he would never have even sparked in the universe. Now that is a sorrowful thought."

"I was lost at the … would he have met… really? Let's not ever say that again, OK? The Gods were not cruel, they were precise. Sometimes… sometimes bad stuff has to happen to the good stuff can. Like a storm before the rainbow kinda shit" Jack said as he leaned in and kissed Ianto gently.

Both men watched the baby drift off to sleep and neither of them mentioned the necklace again… or why Ianto had chosen to place it on now.

For protection.

.

.

"So then I told him to go fuck himself" Max said with aplomb, Owen cackling at whatever story was being told by the little person that had Owen in stitches as per usual.

"Good morning Maxi… hey Owen. I heard Sunflower arrive in the night but was too tired to greet you sorry" Ianto said as he sat at the table and handed the sleeping baby to Max without a second thought and the man gleefully rushed to sit and gush over the newborn sweetling. Ianto was getting used to this baby thing. The week had gone quickly and it was nice to see them back again, their work in the city finished for the week.

"Yeah, turns out Toshi could sort that problem in a few days instead of the week we had sorted out… typical. Ya know, I sometimes think the Unit would die without us there to throw water bottles at them. I am sick of it … treated like a bloody servant." Owen muttered, "he's grown aleaady."

"So quit" Max said without looking up from the baby "Come live here… grow some of these things… live. Fuck them."

"Swear Jar" Jack said as he entered the kitchen and flopped in a chair "Hey Owen."

"But what would I do for a job?" Owen asked with a frown.

"Give tours of the dig sites?" Ian shrugged "Plenty of half arsed hunters and gawkers would love to take a horse ride along some old goat paths and get led up the garden path with bullshit stories of never happened Hunt stuff."

"Gawkers" Owen snorted. The name given to those who love to watch the Hunt and follow the accidents, mishaps and theories of the Hunt.

"Money to be made there. Hell... maybe even plant something stupid so someone 'finds' it and let them think they are clever" Max agreed as Owen's face lit up at the idea.

Then Owen frowned "But horses?"

"Maybe some of those four wheeled motorbikes or low two man hover bikes?" Ianto corrected gently "Then no need to shoot one if it breaks down."

Owen roared with mirth as everyone relaxed and Toshi nodded gratefully to them as she sat with coffees.

Yes.

Quitting the rat race for the Hunt Gawkers… could be fun.

The Hunt giving back?