11

The baby was asleep with two very rapt Harkness men watching over him, the kids were at school showing everyone pictures of their new sibling and Ianto was painting the rotunda. It was white already so the ivy and rambling rose he was adding was so cute that he knew the shade cloth had to be white as well. Muslin cloth perhaps. Some white cane furniture inside it … maybe a slash of rose pink inside here and there. Some bean bags?

Ianto knew someone was behind him and he deliberately did not respond as he said "Careful. The dog will get you."

"She's asleep"

Ianto turned to look at Honour and then down at the dog and he sighed "damn. That's what you get when you pay your security in dog bones."

"I have your pocket knife" Honour said softly "I tried to return it a few times but you were not home."

"The baby was sickly while we sorted his formula out and I was spending time at the hospital with him" Ianto sighed, accepting the knife and slipping it into his pocket, "Thanks. My sister gave this to me. I had thought it gone."

"What happened up there… it was not right. The elders were not happy that you were treated like that … the youngsters were punished ya know"

"I guess" Ianto shrugged "Not my concern is it."

"Ianto … this has caused a rift. Sorry … rifts are rarely a good thing. They want to apologise, mend it. If it is possible, they want the waters clear." Humour said with a grimace.

"Well .. I am not welcome up there.. after that welcome I NEVER want to set foot up there again. But … they can come down and we can have a polite conversation" Ianto sighed "I guess so. If I am here … I do have a newborn now."

"How is… he?"

"Perfect."

"The girl's grandmother … she would like to see for herself .. the old woman is convinced there was something off with the entire thing. Someone set her grandchild up or something. We hope her seeing the baby will convince her there was no foul play."

"Like… a water sprite or woodland creature took advantage of the girl? This baby is a thing of the other worlds?" Ianto asked, amused now.

"Can we?"

"Tomorrow, this time. I will be in here doing some fluffing. I will have him in a basket for a peek. My partner will be here too because he will think you are coming to take him. Maybe his brother too. That's the rules. The more of you... the more of us." Ianto said firmly "Any silly business and that's it."

.

.

.

.

Rye was asleep, Jack sitting with Gray like stern bodyguards as the baby lay sleeping behind their chairs, their arms folded. Just needed matching sunglasses. Ianto saw them coming, slowly and loudly as they made sure to make noise.

"Greetings" Tuck called out "We come to talk!"

"Welcome" Ianto replied "I am prepared to listen."

This pleased them as they entered and chose seats, Ianto sitting next to Jack and placing a hand on his knee to calm him as he man seemed ready to snatch their child and run, even as he knew Ianto was right. They had to live next to these people, they could not risk a snatch-n-grab when they least expected it.

"Right. Coffee? Tea?" Ianto asked "Iced tea?"

He motioned at the set out refreshments, more than one noting the glasses and matching pitcher painted in roses that matched the ones he was painting on the building. Once that was done Ianto sat back and eyeballed the old woman who sat wringing her hands, her hair full of feathers, crystals and ribbons.

After a while he sighed and reached behind the two men, lifting up the small bundle and placing it in her arms. She looked down and made a small noise of shock.

"I named him Rhaeadr. It means Waterfall in the language of my people" Ianto said firmly "Rhaeadr Hopeful Harkness-Jones. Harkness for my partner here, Jones for me. When we officially bond we will make our names the one. So our son will have the same last name."

"He looks like Feifel" she whispers to another one "Look … those little cheeks."

"But he died before she … did he?" the other one replied "This cannot be his."

"Rhaeadr is premature. He would have been conceived on …. the full moon of February last." Ianto said calmly "Was he dead then?"

"No. No. He died… two weeks after the full. A hunting accident, his wife… she … it looks like him. He was getting into the young girls, stalking them. Remember, Flea and Hendry had to warn him about it. When they came back from the hunting trip without him we accused them of doing something to him, their baby sister crying that he had touched her" another hissed "surely not… he could not have got her alone…"

"Does not matter. She said she was raped. She said the baby was not from down here but you all beat her, threw her away and killed her. Might as well cut her throat with your own hand, throwing her over the falls like that. Now you have seen him, hand him back" Ianto reached for his son and that is when Rye decided to open his eyes and stare up at his Great-grandmother.

"His eyes" she said with wonder "Like water."

"They are the eyes of an old one" Tuck agreed "We seem to have made several mistakes here. Ianto… we… are sorry."

"Agreed" Ianto nodded "And I shall forgive. But you are right, this has changed things and I may forgive but I will not trust you again. Not that easily. Now please give me Rye"

"Rye" the old woman said slowly "Rye. Rye Whiskey was my Pa's favourite drop. Rye Whiskey Moonshine is our family's personal best."

"Well … he is my favourite drop" Jack said as he rose and lifted the baby from her arms, leaving them all in no doubt that the visit was over when he walked away into the house.