40

Jack was laughing, large gawfs as he watched the children rampage. Winkle was sitting in a chair quietly drawing on the interior of the canvas and Ianto noted her eye for detail as the horse got some flowing mane from the sweeping pencil.

"I have some paints that might do better" he whispered and she swung to look at him with glee, following him inside where he went to a cupboard and produced some paints and brushes. "Here we go, just don't forget the horsies need grass to eat. Maybe some flowers to smell?"

Winkle hugged him and then ran back 'outside' where the Vampyre were quick to join, their artistic flare adding as they showed everyone a secret of the Vampyre world while adding clouds. Did you know they can float?

"Not for long and it takes a lot of concentration" Ianto nodded, "It's not easy."

"Show me" Jack begged, his hands clasped together like a small boy and Ianto felt a surge of affection seeing what an adorable child he must have been so with a roll of his eyes he stepped into the middle of the enclosure and breathed out, lifting his arms to rise slowly from the ground.

They gaped as he revolved in a small circle then came back down, laughing softly "Whew. I've not done that in years. Did you know we can fly like birds, only the powerful ones."

"You are powerful Father"

Ianto looked at the Chylde whose voices had been in unison and smiled, kneeling with a wink as he whispered, "Aren't we all."

Giggling as the little ones chose to be children for a moment or two, they joined the other kids in a game of jump rope, Andy showing he was quite good at it as Rhys crowed from the sidelines. Owen and Tosh held the ropes so others could play and it became over an hour of mirth.

John watched Ianto as he watched the children and he wondered, not for the first time, how long this one had walked this earth. Ianto slowly swivelled his head to look at him and John snorted as he also remembered their ability to pluck thoughts out of the air so he raised his hand and wriggled his fingers as Ianto smiled softly, turning back to the children to show John he was not annoyed with his thinking.

"Wanna do round-up with me?" Mace asked, startling John from his reverie and he looked up at the handsome cowboy complete with Stetson and grin.

"Sure, the Western Field?" John got up and was touched to find Mace had a hat for him too, a black one which John found ironically amusing. Baddies wore black. He liked that, the thought that he was a big of a rogue.

"Aren't we all" a voice whispered on the breeze and John laughed as he mounted his horse, looking back at the handsome Chimera who hadn't moved an inch.

As they rode a hover skimmed past, Jack at the controls with an almost bored look John knew was his mask to hide glee, the hover a fine old lady that Ianto had clearly spent a lot of time and money on over the years to modify for the task of mustering with the back bay roomy for little ones who had short legs and not much time to chase their mamas.

Jack brought the hover down to the dirt, the skirts billowing out like a lady swooning and more than one calf obediently clambered onboard as their mamas encouraged them with gentle pushes, amazing how these large dumb beasts can remember something like that.

Jack checked all three calves were there and let the hover inflate, the vessel rising as her skirts billowed and flounced then he began to move slowly back towards the homestead, the cows obediently following their young.

So simple.

John knew this must have taken Ianto weeks if not months to train them to do this and he was again taken with a strange silent genius of the man. He let his horse come along side the hover that moved slowly enough for a trot.

"Ianto hides, why do you think that is?"

"Her family had money, they sought them out after they eloped and make his life hell. They knew she is turned and have tried a few times to take the house" Jack explained, John's face showing his horror, "Yeah. They thought Josh gone too, I don't know if he will tell them or hide him from them for fear they will try to stake a claim."

"Shit"

"They've not been while I've been here but Owen says they come periodically, try to catch him out so I have a feeling he is on edge as it has been too long since the last visit, one may be imminent." Jack sighed as he leaned back in the seat, a little calf absently chewing on the brim of his hat, "Ianto has not shown himself, they think their beloved Lisa married a penniless orphan. They have no idea his hidden wealth or power."

"Well, if push comes to shove they might see ours too brother" John assured him, reaching out to pat the hover before letting his horse turn to catch a straggler off to port.

Jack settled back as he reconsidered his concerns.

John was right.

Ianto was not in this fight alone and if they came back they might be in for a surprise.

This was their home now and they will stand.