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"In theory, it's a valid idea" Owen nodded, "However in practice it may not yield fruit."

"Owen stop that" Tosh scolded, "Talk plain, you know Ianto hates word flouncing in others as he is the only one here who can master it."

"I do not flounce young lady" Ianto frowned as she grinned.

"Oh come on, you are like an old lord swanking about whacking the whip against your boot while Jack whimpers at your feet eagerly waiting for the lashing and debauchery" Owen scoffed, Ianto's face changing for a moment in warning, Owen's grin slipping as he saw the anger hidden there. "Shit. You two are…. Serious?"

"I have chosen him as my mate" Ianto said with a soft bristling motion that startled most of them now, "Any who have reason to speak of my union speak now as I will not speak about this again. It's none of your Gorram business."

"Wow" Andy looked at Jack who was preening as he watched Ianto smoulder.

"Owen, Back to point please" John said with a sigh, "You know I hate using that word."

"OK" Owen clasped his hands together on the table, "It has merit. Granted. We didn't think of it as Ianto was also badly hurt, the pack almost tore him apart to get to them. He was in no condition to offer blood, he needed all we could give him."

"But now?"

"Now … if we want to view this as an experimental exploration I see no reason why we can't try something" Owen agreed, Ianto looking over at Jack as something occurred to him that he didn't voice. Since their coupling had started he had felt the shift, the slight change that was making him more assured and bossy. Jack. As Chimera he did imbibe of those he touched, Jack was feeding his greedy self and he was adjusting to the new DNA. He was gaining more confidence as a result and he wondered what else Jack had offered that might now assist his son.

Winkle appeared from under the table, her tiny face so sweet and Ianto found himself lifting her to his knee for a little cuddle. He was crooning as he asked if she was hungry and Jack smiled as he saw her light up, her hands clasping at his tunic as he rose to get her a snack.

So nurturing.

"What are you up to little princess" Ianto crooned as he wandered to the kitchen and opened the fridge, "look. Uncle Rhys and Uncle Andy left all that chicken. What a waste. Shame."

Little lips were smacking with glee and he lowered the entire plate to her knowing Blu-man-chu have huge appetites and she seized it with a soft whisper of thanks then took off. Ianto watched her head for the back of the house and knew she was probably heading for one of her tents to eat in peace, embarrassed when others saw how much she consumed.

"You feeding her again?" Jack asked as Ianto walked back to the table.

"She's a growing girl" Ianto defended and Jack smiled softly at the show of ownership in Ianto's stance.

"Did you find the chicken" Andy said as he and Rhys flipped through a book on gardening, apparently the blood conversation done and dusted "I grilled extra for her snack."

"Yes, thank you for that. She believes it is just leftovers. I hope she soon overcomes her shame at being hungry. She is not human, she is sad about that and tries to hide" Ianto sighed, "I hope she realises we are all different and wonderful in our own way.

"We can't all be as wonderful as you love" Jack gushed and everyone melted at the open show of affection in Jack's face as he reached out to touch Ianto who didn't pull away, instead sliding his hand closer for the clutch even as he snorted and called him a twat.

"I want to try it" Owen finally said, "Tomorrow? Tonight I will take some, give you the night and then in the morning take more? If we are gonna do this throw all we can at it, not just….Ianto I was not calling him an it, I was referring to the mutation."

Ianto's frown eased away and Jack hoped like hell it might work, it might give the little one more peace.

.

.

.

.

Joshua shifted in the cage as he smelt something approaching and he watched with silent curiosity as the little blue girl reached between the bars and placed a piece of chicken by his feet, then she sat under Taddy's chair to eat some too, her sharp little teeth glistening as she opened her mouth to display the several rows of teeth like a shark.

He watched her for a while, then hunger took over and he ate the chicken bones an all, revelling in the crunching.

She reached through again, three more times until they had eaten the plate full and she placed it down as he leaned in, her face against the bars. He licked her experimentally and found she tasted of the chicken all over her face. She giggled as she reached in through bars and stroked his face.

"Winkle" she pointed at herself.

"Josh" he grunted back, excited to make a friend.

"Taddy's coming" she whispered as she slunk away under the chair, pulling the blanket around it and he watched her until she became shadow, Taddy emerging with another plate of food, hesitating as he sniffed the air.

"Winkle?" he called softly, then chuffed, "Are you still hungry, I have another plate for Joshua."

She appeared and accepted it, again reaching between the bars to offer a piece to her new friend Joshua.

Ianto watched with interest as his son accepted her presence without aggression.

Maybe this would work?

Gods, please make it work.