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Chapter 20 Going home

The yacht turned out to be every bit as luxurious as one would expect of a leisure vessel. It had a large sitting room with soft furniture and dining area, all in bright colours. There were three bedrooms, though Jack insisted on calling those quarters. Each room held a large bed and a built in bookcase. The rooms weren't all that big, but they were very luxurious and the space was well used. There was a bathroom and toilet in the hall. There was also a pleasure room; again Jack's term for it. It contained a Jacuzzi large enough for four people, a minibar and a lounge area. With the push of a button the entire room would be lit from above by a giant solarium, allowing the occupants to work on their tan. The yacht did of course also have more purely functional rooms, such as the engine room and a kitchen.

They put Rea's body in a small, but empty, storage room and activated the room's stasis field. She would be perfectly preserved there until she could be buried on Hallow IV. Jack and Ianto claimed the first bedroom, Xarion the second, which left the room next to the bathroom to Orion and Warwyn.

Warwyn looked around the small bedroom. It had never seen such luxury on a ship before. It was used to old ships and banged up workman's ships, going out to the mining fields or doing the deep space long freighter hauls. None of those were ever leisure full or glamorous. Orion smiled affectionately at it and carefully put an arm around it. It smiled softly back at him, before venturing into the room and putting down the armful of belongings they had brought. It slid a hand along the smooth surface of the cupboard door in the bookcase.

Orion came over and put his arms around its waist from behind, being careful of the wings, and it leaned into his embrace. He bent slightly and placed a kiss on its cheek and it turned within his arms to face him.

"This is nice." It said.

"Which part? The room or the hug?" Orion said with a smile and hugged it slightly tighter. Warwyn smiled mischievously.

"Both." Orion grinned, so like his father, and kissed it. Their bond flared alive and both their heart rates picked up the pace. Finally they broke the kiss and came up for air. Orion put his forehead against Warwyn's as they gasped, trying to regain control. The intensity of their touches and kisses were increasing with each passing day. They both knew it was only a matter of time before there would be no turning back. It was a bit daunting, for both of them. They were both injured and Warwyn in particular was very young. It was difficult enough going through puberty without having the mating dynamics playing into it as well. They could both sense the pheromones flooding the room and the resulting physical response in Orion and by extension in Warwyn. It was like a chain reaction between them. Warwyn's pheromones would excite Orion, who in return would send his own pheromones back. His reaction would be felt through the bond, thus increasing Warwyn's response and adding more pheromones. Warwyn let out a small whimper and kissed Orion again.

"Orion, Warwyn, have either of you seen…" Ianto stopped dead in his tracks as he stood in the door way to the kids' room. They were locked in a searing kiss and completely oblivious to his presence. After taking a moment to recover his senses, he tried again.

"Hrmph hmmm." He cleared his throat loudly. No response.

"Orion! Warwyn!" Still no reaction. On the contrary, their kissing seemed to get more heated and he was sure he just saw Warwyn groping Orion's arse. His eyes widened and he would have spluttered, had he had a chance to. Instead he found himself being gently pulled away from door way, as Xarion softly closed the door on the kids.

"Leave them be. It is only natural." He said. Ianto stared at him. "They will consummate the bond soon. That is the way it is supposed to be. There is no way and no reason for you to prevent it." Ianto stared at him still.

"But they are children!" he finally managed to splutter.

"Orion is almost a man already and Warwyn will become an adult soon enough." Xarion smiled wistfully. "Children grow up, Ianto. With our kind it happens faster than yours. You cannot hold back nature. I know it's difficult, but soon you will have to let Orion go." Inside Ianto's heart skipped a beat in fear and pain. The thought of his little boy leaving home was just too painful to contemplate.

"But we only just got him back." He whispered, without realising he had spoken aloud. Xarion heard him though. He sent him a sympathetic smile.

"I know." Ianto looked at the closed door to the kids' room, imagining what might be taking place in there. A part of him was happy that his son had met his mate and they were happy together. But another part of him wanted to keep his son as a little boy, who would cuddle up to them on the sofa, who would ask a million questions and who would chase after weevils that had hurt his Daddy. He knew it was inevitable. Children grow up. But oh, how he wished they would have had more time together. Orion had been ill for a long time and he had been missing in action for even longer. He had been so changed when they found him again. He was so much older and responsible now. It just seemed like they had missed out on so much.

"If it is any consolation to you, I know exactly how you feel." Ianto snapped his head up to look at him. Xarion smiled with a peculiar look in his eyes. "My bondmate and I have three children. All of them have grown and left home. Our second born got sick and was hospitalised for half her childhood. We had only just gotten her home, when she decided to leave for special schooling on the other side of the world. It was there that she met her mate. Soon after they were bonded and she never returned home other than to visit." His voice was full of a soft longing that made Ianto look at him more closely.

"How did you cope?" he asked. He was surprised, since he had never heard mention of Xarion's home life and the man seemed quite young. But then again, he thought, he himself was too young to have an adolescent son. That wacky way Saluvians grew older could make any one crazy. Xarion smiled.

"We had another child, a boy. He still lives at home, even though he's grown up now. He goes to school nearby. My bondmate is expecting a fourth child right now." The man's pride was obvious and made Ianto smile.

"Congratulations." Xarion beamed at him.

"Thanks."

"Hmm, somehow I don't think that would be an option for us, though. I can't see Jack agreeing to that." Ianto said, only half joking. Xarion nodded.

"What am I not agreeing to?" Jack asked, walking down the hall toward them with a big smile on his face. Ianto blushed a little and cursed himself for doing so.

"I suggested you have another child after Orion leaves home." Xarion said matter of factly. Jack's expression was priceless.

"Wha… wh… ! well… wh… why?" he managed. Even Ianto felt the sides of his mouth curl up in a grin at the man's flustered expression.

"Well, you are getting married, are you not?" Xarion asked teasingly.

"Well, yes. But…"

"Then what's the problem?" Jack opened and closed his mouth without sound coming out. "As I understand it, you Jack are a carrier and therefore able to conceive and carry a child to term. And there is also the option of adoption. You could also find a female donor and surrogate among our people. So it is not as if you do not have the options."

"Yes, but…" Jack looked from Xarion to Ianto a few times. Finally settling on Ianto. "Ianto, I…" Ianto smiled at him. It wasn't as if he wanted more children. At least not right now. Maybe in some years down the line, they could think about it. Torchwood didn't leave much room to raise a family and certainly wasn't any place for a child. They had gotten lucky with Orion. If he had been fully human they wouldn't have been able to cope.

"It's okay, cariad. We're fine as we are." Jack breathed a sigh of relief and broke into huge grin.

"Thank goodness. You had me frightened there for a moment." Ianto rolled his eyes good-naturedly, knowing it was expected of him.

"Come on, let's find the kitchen and see if there is some coffee there."

xxXxx

The journey to Hallow IV was generally a pleasant one. After the talk with Xarion, Ianto began to relax a little around the kids. He was still a little uncomfortable with them displaying their obvious affection for each other, but he knew better than to interfere with it. He had confided in Jack as to why he felt that way and Jack had been very understanding because of it. He too felt sad about Orion growing up, but felt confident it wouldn't mean estrangement with them. As he told Ianto, Orion was too attached to the both of them and the others back home to just abandon them. He also didn't have a problem with the growing sexuality the kids displayed. But that hardly came as a surprise, Jack being Jack after all.

Jack took it upon himself to have a much overdue conversation with his son – and his mate. He found Orion and Warwyn in the living room, playing a game on a console they had scrounged up from somewhere. They had been complete embarrassed and red faced when he had talked to them about sex, recounting several of the more interesting experiences of his own, including the one with the three Barollian females and their tentacles. In the end Orion had cut him off and quite pointedly told his Daddy, that one didn't sleep in the room next to his parents and have Owen as a bonus uncle - and not learn a thing or two about sex. Then Warwyn had followed the statement by reminding Jack that they both had the ability to absorb the information they needed and sex was a natural part of that. Thus reassured Jack left them to do as they pleased and went in search of his own mate.

He found Ianto in the pleasure room, soaking in the Jacuzzi with the solarium light on. He smiled. The young Welshman was naked, glistening with suntan oil and gorgeous, as he sat with his eyes closed, his head leaning back and his arms spread out along the edge of the Jacuzzi. He quickly walked over and kneeled down beside him. The man slowly opened his eyes and a soft smile spread on his face as he saw his fiancée. Jack swooped in and kissed him with a passion. Ianto startled a bit, but soon joined in. One of them opened their mouth and soon their tongues were battling for dominance. A wet arm moved up to grope Jack's back, making his shirt wet. He never noticed, as he was too busy groping the wet body back and putting his sleeve covered arm in the water. Moments later he found himself being pulled into the warm water, the spray splashing all over the floor.

He laughed loudly and kissed his Ianto with fervour. He hurriedly unzipped his coverall and with Ianto's help got it peeled off. It landed with a wet squelch on the floor somewhere. His underwear, shoes and socks soon followed. One of his shoes landed in an empty punch bowl and the other on a sunpad. As soon as he was naked Ianto began groping every available part of him. He broke the kiss to attack Ianto's neck and earlobe. Ianto moaned deeply. Jack knew every centimetre of him and knew precisely how to make the man turn to jelly.

Lemon removed due to the sites censorship on any stories containing adult themes written by adults for adults.

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Gradually they returned to their senses and Jack slid out, making Ianto moan. He sat him self down next to him and Ianto cuddled up to him, leaning his head on his shoulder.

"I've missed this." Ianto muttered and stifled a yawn. Jack kissed him on the hair and smiled.

"Me too." They sat together for a long while, enjoying the company and the afterglow. In the end they had to get out and get cleaned up. It was almost time for dinner.

xxXxx

It took only a few days for them reach Hallow IV. Xarion had insisted they only made a few Jumps a day, since the humans were not used to it and the kids were injured. Prolonging the journey would give them all time to adjust to what lay ahead.

Xarion was in the pilot seat, communicating with the outpost at the edge of the system. They needed clearance to enter the system or they would be shot down. He was rather hard pressed, trying to get through the commandant's stubborn refusal. It turned out their leisure yacht wasn't Lartorc's but one he had stolen from a prominent dignitary and said person was demanding that they be thrown in jail for the theft. In the end Xarion had to use the clout of the Fourth House to be allowed entry into the system. A representative from the Fourth House and a squad of guards would meet them at the space port.

They were all clustered into the small control room, so they could stare out of the window and see the planet. It looked very much like Earth, all blue and green and beautiful. When they broke through the atmosphere and approached the sacred city of Travesty, they understood Rea's awestruck fascination with it. The place was spectacular and breathtakingly beautiful. It had the elegance and clean design of the Egyptian temples and the grandeur of ancient Rome, but combined with a love and respect for nature that was uniquely Saluvian/Micurii'an.

When they landed and stepped onto the tarmac, both Orion and Warwyn gasped and fell to their knees. The adults rushed to help them. They too could feel something, a presence, like a powerful being all around them. The children being more sensitive to it were feeling quite overwhelmed. Xarion immediately guided them in how to overcome the feeling through breathing exercises. He reminded them, that the planet was alive and well tended to and that was why it had such a strong presence.

Ianto was kneeling by Warwyn's side, when he noticed something out of the corner of his eyes. He looked up and saw the promised delegation standing there observing them quietly, as if this was an every day occurrence. Maybe it was Ianto mused. They had people arriving every day from all over. Surely there were other sensitives among them. He alerted the others to their presence, and Xarion stood and greeted them in the local language. Ianto got the feeling it was a very formal, some what stuffy greeting. There was something about the delegate's facial expression that he didn't like. The man looked like he had swallowed a lemon. Xarion turned to them.

"This is Master Junai of the Fourth House. He worked closely with Rea." The man, Junai, frowned disapprovingly when hearing her name spoken without the proper title in front of it. "Master, this is Mistress Rea's family: her grandson Orion, his mate Warwyn, Orion's fathers Captain Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones." The man jerked a little upon hearing Orion's name, but was otherwise unmoved. Until:

"Orion?" he asked. Orion looked at him more closely and nodded. Warwyn held his hand and looked at the strange man with some apprehension. "I wish to offer my condolences. Your grandmother was a dear friend and a valued colleague of mine. She will be missed." Orion nodded solemnly, his eyes tearing up. Warwyn squeezed his hand in comfort and sent consolation along their bond. To the other's Junai said:

"I understand you caught the man who did it?"

Xarion bowed. "It was Ianto and Warwyn who finished him off, after Orion fought him to the brink of death." The man looked at them. A sharp considering look appeared in his eyes.

"I shall look forward to hearing the full story. For now, we shall make arrangements for the funeral and have the family summoned." Xarion nodded. "You will be given guest rooms at the Fourth House. I expect you, Xarion, will wish to return to your mate? She is most anxious to see you." This time the man actually smiled for the first time.

"Yes Master. I would." Xarion seemed understandably pleased at the prospect of seeing his pregnant mate again soon.

"If you would show the guards to Mistress Rea's body?"

"Of course, Master." He bowed deeply and waved for the guards to follow him back on board the ship.

"If you'll follow me?" Master Junai said to the humans and the two youths.

xxXxx

They stayed on Hallow IV for eight days. The funeral was held on the sixth day, at what was apparently a family plot on the hill top funeral grounds high above the city. Her body was laid to rest on a funeral pyre and when the sun sank down over the horizon the pyre was lit. The fire could be seen all over the city. A single drum beat a steady tune as the watched the fire burn throughout the night. Hundreds of people had come to watch and pay their respects. As dawn came and fire reduced to low smouldering embers, the drum beat suddenly stopped. The sound of the sudden silence was so eerie that it brought Goosebumps on their skin.

Then a hauntingly beautiful voice sounded strong and clear. It was a woman's voice, thought it took a while to spot were she was standing next to the drum. She sang the first half of the traditional mourner's song alone; then the rest of the people joined her on the chorus. Again the human visitors got Goosebumps. It was very moving, and yet very dignified. It allowed people to cry openly without shame or ridicule. When the fire had completely died the ashes were gathered in a ceremonial bowl. A person in ceremonial robes took it and walked to each of the family members in turn. Each person took a handful of the ashes and went to the promontory on the hill and scattered the ashes before the wind. Orion didn't hesitate when it was his turn. He held Warwyn's hand as they both took a handful and together sent Rea's remains back into nature.

xxXxx

During their stay Xarion had made them sleep each night under a healing field. A group of healers from the First House, also known as the House of compassion, had stayed with them in their room and formed a healing circle while they slept. As a result they were now both healed of their injuries. Warwyn had finally been able to loose the wings, a fact that was announced to the world, when it flopped down with a loud "Aaaaaahhhhh!" on its back for the first time since that fatal flight.

They had spent their days sightseeing and meeting family members. Orion finally got to meet his remaining siblings. He had two sisters and a brother. They were all older than him, though the youngest sister had only just turned an adult and had yet to find her mate. The other two had mates and children of their own. His sister had a son and his brother had a son and a daughter. He was very pleased to learn that he had a growing family and that they wanted to get to know him better. They also got to meet Xarion's family. Ianto in particular had an instant rapport with Maral, Xarion's mate. She was a young and very friendly person; the kind that everybody instantly likes and gets along with. It was impossible to be angry or sad when in her presence, because she would create such a jolly atmosphere.

They were sad to leave all of their new acquaintances behind, but they had been away from home for too long. Earth was calling to them.

So it was with great joy that they hitched a ride on a Saluvian ship going to Earth to bring supplies and fresh crew to the frigate in orbit out by Jupiter. Once there the ships captain organised a piloted shuttle to bring them to Earth and home to Cardiff.

When they approached Mars Jack used the communications system to call the Hub. To say that Toshiko was ecstatic to hear from them would be an understatement. Their ears were still ringing from her loud scream when they approached the Moon. The cloaking device was active, so they couldn't be detected by anyone on the Earth. Once again they gathered around the windows to see the world they loved so much. Orion hugged Warwyn with one arm, infecting Warwyn with his excitement. It too couldn't wait to go to home.

They landed on a field near West Hill Wood where the SUV was waiting to pick them up. Gwen was sitting in the driver's seat with her feet dangling out of the open door. She had heard the engine noise, but hadn't been able to see the shuttle due to the camouflage. So she was scanning the field with her eyes, waiting to see anything out of the ordinary. There was a gust of wind and the dirt was blown up in a huge dust cloud some two hundred meters away. Then the sound disappeared. In the distance she could see a door opening floating in the middle of nothing and out stepped a very familiar figure in a greatcoat. She hopped out of the SUV, waved in their direction and pressed the comm.

"The eagle has landed."