6

"So. We are all OK?" Jason asked as he watched his wife move around the kitchen with Rhys.

"Yes. All gone" Crypto confirmed, "Nothing to indicate what happened, what direction it came from or where we might be now."

"And when the next nest develops?" Scout asked.

"If and when one does … we cleanse it. We give ourselves a nice radius of comfort and we keep it clean. Anyone or anything moving is monitored and if necessary … cleared away" Ianto replied calmly.

"So clinical" Mica said as she walked over and yanked at the chair to join the meeting "Are we going to dig lots of holes as well? Or leave their stinking corpses to rot in the streets?"

Ianto blinked slowly as Jack started to laugh "Did you hear that Tiger? She has your sassy mouth. Ahh…. I love it. Stinking corpses"

"Mica … we used fire. If we come across humans that … we will bury them OK? You come first, at all costs." Ianto promised and she sniffed. He leaned closer "Darling. I buried Rhiannon. I cried for her and she was placed back in the keeping of the mother. OK?"

"OK" she said as she reached for a piece of fruit cake, biting into it to show she was done talking. Ianto leaned back knowing it was not over, the little one's mind sharp like his and remembering those scary first days. She still needed to know things, understand.

So did he.

"Well … we have new members and you had told us of lots of bright shiny things in that village. All you brought back were little skinny kids in need of food and a bath" Rhys poked at Ianto gently "Way to get a guy's hopes up."

Ianto laughed as he accepted the good natured ribbing, looking out into the other room where the two little ones still cling to one another, even as they silently examined toys. They needed a lot of work, Gwen moving to sit with them and talk softly, encouraging a smile from the little girl. The toddler was almost asleep in Tosh's arms.

Poor babans.

They were safe here.

In the shadows.

And his light.

As if hearing the boy looked up, into Ianto's gaze and gave a soft smile as he saw the handsome man who had saved them looking at him with such a warmth that he felt safe.

"What are you thinking?" Jack gave the standard question.

"That a sleepover in the TV room tonight might be a nice idea. That they might want to be near us without seeming clingy. They can make their own space then while still being close" Ianto said softly, watching Jack consider then nod his agreement.

Soon they had the cinema arranged for an evening of food, fun and sleeping, even Scout getting into it as he snuggled with the children pretending he was one. Ianto knew that they would warm to his cousin and soon be amazed at his 'big' ways. They would settle. Still no names but that would come too.

Ianto watched Gwen settle to watch over the children and knew she was a good Mama Bear, the Papa Bear in the kitchen making sure there would be plenty of food that was NOT red meat. Not until the children trusted that it was safe.

Tosh seemed enamoured with the little boy, his wide eyes drinking things in as he clung to her like a little monkey and as Owen moved to cover them both with a rug and croon Ianto knew that one had a home as well.

He just had to keep them safe.

They had to get through this and believe there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Beyond the shadows where the bad things stir …

There is light.

.

.

..

So ends this segment. Any ideas for back stories and names?