11

She wasn't bit, most of the blood from her parentals and siblings that had perished. There was some bruising and a cut to her arm that Owen surmised was from the father swinging the axe these kind were known to use in battle. He had done all he could to protect them, his death only saving one.

"As a father, that is more than I did" Jack said sadly as he cuddled her against him.

Ianto entered and Owen looked surprised, "You Ok?"

"My skin is crawling and I want to smash something. Fine thank you" Ianto replied and Owen snorted with mirth at the droll face.

"I am calling her Winkle" Jack said as Ianto nodded, sitting to look at her and sigh again, "She's not bit. A knife wound Owen had sorted and mentally fragile but will be ok."

"In the end we all will be, right?" Ianto asked the child and Jack went to place her down, her whimper enough to stop that action and he settled her on his lap once more.

"Here we are little one" Andy plonked down a plate of fresh fruit, "Vegans, right?"

"Yes. They don't' eat meat. Well done" Ianto agreed as a little hand shot out to seize a berry and disappear.

"I need to think, um … not cow's milk. I think … maybe goats milk but … they have a particular palette … ah … horse. Misty has her foal still?" Ianto asked and Rhys answered as he entered the room, "Yeah, he's almost big enough to start weaning. Why?"

"Milk her, see if her milk agrees with little ….ah…Winkle. I think that is the closest. Will only need a few months before she is fully on solids" Ianto said as he rubbed at his face.

"You know a bit about them" Jack snorted.

"I read" Ianto said shortly, rising once more and Jack knew Ianto was fully aware of him and his exploits around the place. He sat for a while, then rose to follow, finding the large blue door slammed in his face.

"We don't go down there" Gwen said as she slid closer to look at the baby in Jack's arms, "He calls it his Lair. Sleeps down there sometimes. Well… most nights."

"In between saying hi to Lisa out there" Jack corrected and she frowned.

"We didn't know they were coming this close. I mean, he often walks about at night but he never said they were passing" she tickled the child gently, "You're about the same age little Josh was. No wonder he shied away."

"Josh?"

"Their son. Sweet little butterball, all fuzzy hair and lovely grabby hands" she smiled and then sighed, "We thought that would be an end to any babies in the house, he was only taking older ones. The four year old is the youngest but here we are. A little one again."

"He never said his son died as well" Jack frowned and she looked at him with surprise.

"Oh no, he didn't die. He turned, like his mother" she corrected, Jack rearing back with horror as he tried to remember if there were any small Others he had ever seen.

"What do they do with the little ones? I've never seen one" Jack frowned.

"Oh, we kill them if we can" Gwen sniffed, "Easier to shoot at. They must keep them hidden somewhere, maybe wherever they sleep during the day."

Jack had much to think about as he wandered out to the stables, not even considering the fact he still had the baby in his arms and he placed her in the big chair to watch the bank of screens as she cooed with interest, her eyes flicking from screen to screen as the livestock wandered about in the sun.

Ianto had ever mentioned a child.

He knew about Jack's loss but had never…. Why?

Ianto came to the evening meal and seemed fine again, glancing at the little one on Jack's knee with interest, finally allowing a soft smile as she reached out to touch her spoon to his plate and he pushed it closer so she might swipe some mash, smacking her lips.

"Gravy on that" Gwen said with horror.

"Not real, powdered stuff. Won't hurt her" Rhys said as he patted her arm, "She's curious. Will try lots of new things before settling for what is best. Her belly will tell her if it was not a good thing and she will learn, better that then we try to say no. She will only sneak it anyway. This way we see what she eats."

"You've learned so much" Ianto smiled at Rhys, "Yes. She needs to have some decisions or she will feel trapped. Blu-man-chu are kindly and peaceful. But they do like all the facts."

"So do I" Jack said and Ianto looked at him for a moment, then at Gwen with open anger.

"You told him about Josh?"

Owen froze as she flicked her hair, "He needed to know why you hate babies."

"I do not hate them. I fear for them" Ianto corrected her with a bristling glare.

"Well he knows now" she said and Owen leaned back as he wondered what version Gwen had told. The official one? Did she know the truth?

Ianto's face showed nothing, neither did Jack's.

So alike he could shoot them both.