49
Ianto needed to pee.
Jack was fast asleep, the whole house was asleep except for Bubba who thought his Taddy's bladder was a trampoline.
Ianto sighed as he rolled out, glad Anwen had been too hot and was on the little day bed nearby.
He had suggested a 'sleepover' to her saying he needed cuddles to fall asleep while Uncle Jack was still busy and the gratitude in Andy's face was worth it.
He padded through the house careful not to turn any lights on and hesitated as he heard the unmistakable noises of lovemaking, canting his head at the two male groans emanating from the back bedroom.
Good.
About bloody time.
Ianto padded back to bed with a grin and cold feet that had Jack whining in his sleep as he pulled Ianto closer.
Rhys couldn't believe that he was doing this, making love to a man.
Not just any man, Andy.
They had spent the evening in the healing pools, having learnt that one of the rocks Maddy had dropped in was some sort of crystal that not only eased Andy's pain, it seemed to make Andy feel stronger.
It had been during the rub down that the first move had been made as Andy grabbed Rhys who was leaning over and kissed him.
"Steady on mate" Rhys had laughed softly and Andy had grinned up at him.
"Wee Bit is sleeping with Ianto, we have the bedroom to ourselves" Andy whispered, "I would like a proper rub down."
Rhys knew what is had cost Andy to be so brazen, his blush rivalling one of Ianto's and it had filled him with affection as he lifted Andy and carried him to bed.
Now he was in his arms, Andy practically engulfing him and it felt so much more than anything with Gwen ever had. Rhys now understood that he had settled for her.
With her.
This was what love felt like.
God it was grand!
Ianto lay in the bed wondering if things were OK out in the world, stressing and worrying as only he can and Rhiannon came back into his thoughts. He made a mental note to ask Tosh for an update, she might be able to find recent school photos or something. He would like to see how the kids were.
He sighed and rolled onto his side, feeling Jack scuttling in to spoon him from behind.
Suddenly he was annoyed, wanting some space so he rose again.
"What now!" Jack sighed softly.
"Can't sleep, heebie-jeebies" Ianto muttered, walking out to find Mardlenia standing in the living room looking at the bookshelf with interest.
"They help focus the mind, or let it wander" Ianto said as he slumped into the large chair.
"Your back is hurting?" she asked.
"No, just feeling grumpy" Ianto replied, "Feel quite good actually."
"How can I help brother?"
"Tell me about your world, your people" Ianto finally said, "I want to know about Rumtuck."
She lowered herself onto the high table and began to talk.
Sunsets, strange creatures that were pets, family members, hunts, wars and games the two played. As Ianto listened he felt himself easing, relaxing into the chair and he was soon laughing softly as she told him how Rumtuck had made a 'meat helmet' of a large prey and had scared their parental so much that he had almost killed him before recognising the feet underneath the carcass.
"I can see Jack doing that" Ianto laughed, "I must remember in case this one does it. With two influences like that, I am doomed to be punked by my own child."
"Punked."
"Startled, made a game of, spooked" Ianto frowned, "Like …a game."
"Punked. Like ….Boo?"
"Yes Maddy love" Ianto smiled, "To fake someone out or trick them is to punk them."
"I see" she nodded, "We like to learn things like that. To learn the ways of the world you are ….occupying? This makes it easier to see the difference between an attack and simple communication."
"Well, don't go down the main street on a Friday night if the footy has been on, a friendly head butt will help your perspective no end!" Ianto snorted with mirth.
"Hey" Rex entered and slid into a chair, "I can't sleep and was lying there trying to think of a reason to disrupt the place, then I heard you. I have the wobbles."
"Heebie-jeebies" Maddy replied with a hand raised, a finger pointing at Ianto.
"Yes. We have different manes for things that are really the same thing. A feeling of unease, a weirdness in the air" Rex said calmly, taking Ianto's lead in explaining things. "When I was in training we have a young man who kept tapping on wood when he said things he thought was funny. Always gave me a weird feeling. I told him to stop and he laughed. One day he did it while we were on an exercise and set of an incendiary. It was supposed to be a smoke bomb but he hit the table so hard that it exploded. Took his face right off."
"Ew" Ianto huffed.
"I think a person should trust their instincts" Rex shrugged, "It told me to get away from her, to run. Glad I did."
"We have extensive training but also believe that our inner voice is as important as that of our past trainers" Maddy nodded, "We believe that our ancestors speak to us in times of quiet or danger, to warn us."
"I like that idea" Ianto yawned as he rose to return to bed, "That those I have loved, those who have given me life watch over me."
"Don't worry little brother" she said softly as he padded off, "Rumtuck is with you."
Rex was left with the Predator and for some strange reason he didn't mind.
She started to talk again of their weaponry and he became more focused as he realised she was showing him something that might protect and preserve.
She handed him a piece of equipment and was pleased to see his confidence.
She had found her next pupil just in time.
Her little brother needed a sparring partner once the Bug was here.
This one might do.