50

Ianto felt a twinge in his lower back, groaning softly as he rolled to an upright position on the edge of the bed.

Jack had let him sleep in and he was grumpier still, knowing his routine would be all up the whoop now!

He rose and felt another, sharper pain that had him grunt with surprise as his knees gave out and he sat back down.

"Ow" He rubbed his side and frowned as he felt the pain sliding around and wondered if the baby had toenails or something.

Anwen was in her little bed and she blinked up at him, "Uncle?"

"Go get Aunty Martha for me would you baby?" he asked softly, "Uncle had a sore bit."

"OK" she shot of with her little socks sliding about on the wooden floor, Martha soon returning with her.

"I have a pain when I try to stand" he explained, "It's weird."

She nodded and scanned where he was pointing, looking intently at the screen before leaning back.

"Looks like you are badly bruised, when you finally fell asleep the baby must have gotten active and you didn't wake or roll to accommodate the kicking." She explained, "Your kidney is inflamed."

"Oh joy" he sighed.

"Bed rest" she declared as she rose and he yelped with horror at the mere thought of it.

"Ianto, we knew it might come to this" she sighed, "I'm sorry but that time is here. It is too soon for the wee man to join us, we need to cook him as long as we can. That means keeping the oven in good condition."

Ianto poked out his tongue and slumped as he glared at her.

"I wanted fresh air" he griped, then yelped as he was hoisted into the air and Maddy de-cloaked as she carried him past those eating breakfast.

"Babe? You going walkies?" Jack asked dryly.

"Little Brother had been declared damaged and is to rest." Maddy told him, "As he needs the light I shall be his legs."

"Oh god" Ianto wailed, "Does this mean you will wipe my arse as well?"

"Ah. Humour" she said as she gently placed him in the outside nest, "You are quite … angry."

"Sorry" he grumped, "I do not like being fussed on."

"Tough" Jack said as he walked over and offered some bacon, "You need to rest. You WILL rest."

Ianto nodded and pouted as he refused the bacon and Maddy looked at it with interest. She took a piece and examined it, placing it in her mouth and everyone watched as she chewed, her mandibles quivering.

"What is it?"

"Bacon" Jack said, "Er. Pig. Oink. Oink."

"Ah" she nodded, "I wondered why you kept them like cattle. I like meat."

"Me too" Ianto snorted, "And my wee Bug sure does."

She crooned as she patted the bump and pointed at the plate, "Eat."

"Woof" Ianto huffed as he took a piece and shoved it in his mouth, then betrayed himself by humming.

"So stubborn" she scolded, "So much like Rumtuck. Naughty."

"I agree with that" Jack laughed as he settled and held out the plate again.

"Buggers the lot of ya" Ianto muttered as he snatched another piece and shoved it in.

"Rex is a good learner" Maddy said after a few moments peace, only broken by Ianto's hums, "I think he is worthy of training. He can protect and endure. With the right training he might be worthy to battle your blade in mock combat."

Ianto nodded as he accepted a milkshake, "He is tall. A good match."

"You will be stronger" she said with confidence, "But you will hold back."

"OK" Ianto snorted as Jack rose and walked inside to get a coffee.

Although it annoyed Ianto, he told Jack it was OK to drink it around him still. Ironically the taste was not appealing, but the smell still was.

"Maddy? Tell me more of Rumtuck?"

She started a story of his first battle, the way he had dressed, the armour he had chosen and the prey had been an Alien. She had watched with pride as he had cut it's mandible mouth off, the scream almost enough to startle him but he had been strong, he had driven his spear into its shiny head, the splatter hitting his hand and he bore a small scar from that attack with pride for the rest of his life.

Ianto nodded and looked at his own hand, the faint blemish explained.

He had seen it when he had first woken that day in the morgue, thinking it was a bruise but ut had never gone away.

Not completely.

A small teardrop between thumb and finger.

It was Rumtuck.