13
Ianto was surprised to see a Kelpie he did not know entering his house like he had a right to be there. He smelt different, telling Ianto this was not Welsh… something else. He remained seated with Jack who was sitting with his feet in Ianto's lap enjoying a foot massage from his love.
"Well now" the man said slowly, the woman following him a little more hesitant as she looked around the living room "I am here to see your leader."
Ianto blinked slowly, turning to what her as she moved with a stalking motion like….ah… like a cat. "Are you a Caoránach?"
She turned to look at him with surprise.
"What is that?" Jack asked sleepily.
"Our Irish cousins are large cat-like creatures called Caoránach in folklore" Ianto said gently he rubbed "I have never met one but I know mother was fond of one she used to play with as a child. They would transform to wood sprites and dance in the woods."
"I would like to see you as a wood sprite" Jack sighed.
"My wings are too demanding for a smaller creature like that Cariad. Turning into a raven or dove is hard… a little fairy or wood sprite might be too hard. Besides, the Mara might be annoyed if we did it here. It's an Irish's dirt kinda thing." Ianto explained.
"Ah."
"You. You say you are in charge of this clan?" the man demanded.
"I am the Alpha" Ianto said going to rise but then hesitated upon seeing as Ophelia enter the room, then he settled back as she headed over to stand by the little boy who was asleep in another chair, her eyes warning the man to stay back.
"And that is your woman?"
"That is my brother's woman. The man here in my lap is my mate, the cherubs in his stomach proof of tht" Ianto replied sagely, the man looking at Jack and stepping back with alarm as he felt the sparks within.
"A man… pregnant… how…"
"I do not have to explain myself to you Hawthaw." Ianto sighed "I know you now. Took a moment to go though my memoires… you were younger when we met, I was but a child. Your father wore that huge ring."
"Ah. I know you now… right. Sean?"
"No… my man is Sean." Ophelia answered "That is Icarus."
"Ianto. I prefer Ianto" Ianto said softly, rising from the sofa as jack lifted his feet to let him "what do you want?"
"We want a clan meeting. Things are changing, there has been a shift in the ethos, some of our elders have renewed and we think we need to re-establish links" he said, then added "I prefer Thaw."
"OK… Thaw. That was my fault I think … I found the fourth element and renewed, then renewed those around me. I feel that maybe I bled into the ley-lines that ran with it" Ianto admitted "I have woken."
Thaw stared at him like he was about to call him out then he huffed softly "OK. Well… that explains the Weres walking around with Kelpies lit it is no big deal. I thought THOSE poor cousins were never…. What."
"First of all, Weres are not related to us as you full know, secondly the one behind you is as un-amused by your poor choice of joke as I am" Ianto informed him solemnly and Thaw spun with alarm to find… nothing.
He blinked.
He slowly turned back to Ianto and then burst out laughing, "I remember you now. Oh gods. You did that to me all the time! My grandmother… you used to see her coming with her rolling pin… all the time. Caught me out like an idiot. I remember you Ick… Ianto."
"Nice save" Ianto giggled.
"Wow… I am impressed then" he laughed as he looked over at the little one asleep, the he frowned looking over at Jack "How…"
"I am an alien from the 51st century born on a plant called Boeshane" Jack said calmly.
Thaw stared at him.
"The Doctor's Companion they say to watch your daughters around… your sons around... you mother and father… wife… yourself…" Ianto said, then laughed "Well… my handsome man."
"So it's true. Torchwood affiliated… I did hear that your Cardiff lot were different to the London mad ones." Thaw looked at Jack again "really? Two?"
"Yeah twins, and the Cardiff Torchwood Is different. I am Captain Jack Harkness, the leader of it" Jack smiled from the sofa, "Was a captive alien at first… see how times change? The patient in charge of the asylum. Of course… on maternity leave until these little beasts are settled into a routine.. you know… I am looking forward to it so much. My little fiends. I can see them now up to no good."
With us as parents they are bound to be little buggers… but the intelligence level will be off the chart too… so sneak y about it" Ianto grinned "I can't wait either Cariad."
Thaw nodded as he looked around and then said "so we meet here in your patch I think. Time the others saw that we can coexist with Weres and all get along. Don't know about inviting the Mara though. Creepy little things."
"Best not… they don't like anything where they are not the centre of attention" Ianto agreed.
Little shits too.