51

Ianto was awake again.

Middle of the fucking night and WIDE AWAKE. He sighed as he padded about trying not to wake anyone, then decided the weight was too much, heading down to the healing pool.

He pulled off his t-shirt that was too snug anyway and slid into the forever warm water, groaning as the baby weight seemed to vanish.

It was bliss.

Ianto sighed softly, his head lolled back as he felt the healing water lapping against the baby's bump.

Ianto opened his eyes and wondered at the acoustics in the cavern-like room, so he opened his mouth and began to sing. Time after Time boomed off the walls and was ethereal as he let his voice drop then lift again, serenading his baby to sleep. When a hand slid around the bump he was half asleep and sighed softly as he was gathered into a hug, his head lolling into a strong shoulder as he was cradled in the water, now safe to fall asleep without fear of sliding under.

Mardlenia nursed him in her arms like a newborn, watching his eyelashes flatter against his cheeks and remembered her own little brother, so fragile and dainty when a young bug, how he grew strong and powerful like a good warrior.

She started to hum, a haunting melody as she caressed his face and shoulders, sending loving thoughts, powerful thoughts.

"Is he OK?"

She looked up to find Jack in the doorway, a stricken look on his face as he rushed to climb in, clothes and all and she laughed softly, telling him to undress first as he would be told off otherwise.

"Yeah, you are probably right" he huffed, undressing down to his boxers, then sliding into the water where she gently handed Ianto over.

"The bug is becoming too heavy" she said softly, "he needs to spend more time in the healing pools, the weight is becoming a problem, even our kind can find it burdensome towards the end."

"Towards the end?" Jack looked up at her with interest, "So he is almost there?"

"Soon, another few weeks of your time" she nodded, "these last days will be hardest as he finds heat, cold, touch, smell …everything unbearable. He may lash out or become morose. We call it the Time of Pressure. His body will adjust, a birthing canal with begin to form in preparation."

"You think that will happen?" Jack asked, "I was worried about the birth. Thought he may have to be cut from him."

"I do not think so" she shook her head as she brushed her hand across Ianot's forehead, "Bug is smaller than we usually have, human in almost every way."

"Almost" Jack repeated.

"Stronger, faster and perhaps advanced to a pure earthling counterpart, also I believe he will have a tendency to fight, not flee but any offspring between you would have that feature anyway, I suppose"

Jack smiled and crooned as Ianto mumbled and shifted in his arms, "Sorry baby, are we disturbing you?"

She rose from the water and bid her leave, letting the room return to silence, save for the gentle lapping of water as Jack gently moved Ianto through it.

"She gone?" Ianto slurred.

"Yeah baby"

Ianto hummed and cuddled in more, hugging Jack's neck as he fell asleep again and Jack settled for a long wait, happy to turn into a prune if need be, whatever helped his poor love.

The tantrum earlier the day before had been epic, yelling, cursing and slamming that had everyone looking shocked.

Jack has entered the bedroom to find chaos.

Clothes strewn about and a teary mate telling him nothing fitted anymore, punctuated with shoes hitting the wall. Jack had rushed out with Rhys riding shotgun, returning with XXL sizes that had the tears stopping and sniffling as Jack demanded a fashion parade, sitting in the little chair jauntily with his arms folded.

Ianto had modelled the huge clothing as everyone clapped and wolf whistled at him, finally drawing a grin as he started popping a hip and getting a bit of swagger on.

This was so hard on him, Jack felt so responsible and so damned helpless to ease such a difficult time. He remembered his own pregnancies, sad little babes all born too soon and unable to sustain life for more than a few moments in his hands, dying like a candle flame flickering, then fading away.

Ianto would prevail.

He held to that with both hands, as his women had given him children once upon a time, he knew Ianto would give him a strong lusty lunged child as well. Earth was such good stock, the original bloodlines that he knew was diluted in his own bloodstream.

"Daddy loves his little warrior" Jack crooned, stroking the bump and was rewarded with movement, making him grin like a madman, he then sang a few lullabies, his hand tracking a small foot as it lazily slid around in the stomach it called home.

For now.