3

They left the stock grazing and rode the short distance to the top of the ravine to look down over the town, lights visible as people moved about in the main street.

"They have power" Scout said.

"No" Jack corrected gently, "They have batteries. Looks like they are doing their own recon. They are not being covert so they must be the main group we have problems with"

"Damn it" Ianto sighed, "But it does show they are not looking for us. I suggest we go home and put a big fucking line though this place. I know there are things down there we need but I would rather travel further in the other direction and hope that there is not another group of fucktards that way in the far township."

Jack wanted to say something but could see Ianto was waiting for it and the nervousness told Jack he was expecting something negative so after a while, when he was sure they were far from the township he started to sing 'Home on the Range' with an exaggerated drawl which has Scout sniggering and then joining in.

Once they had grown quiet Jack let his horse wander closer to Ianto's and he reached out to tap his foot against Ianto's "Hey… I might have kissed him but I never wanted to bed him. I want to bed you. You ... I want to be with you. I might have followed him like a puppy dog…Ianto, I want to walk beside you as a wolf might his bond mate. Do you hear me? I do not see him. I not think him. I see you and you are exotic, sexy and incredibly fuckable. I think that you are like…like…the enhanced version of my childhood wish for a mate."

"A wish?"

"When I was little I used to make wishes when I threw my reed doll offerings to the fire, back when I thought such things were real" Jack snorted, "I would make little dolls as sacrifices. I wished for a bond mate that was the same size, same strength but kinder. Even then I knew I would be cruel sometimes. I wished that he or she would be forgiving, loving and would be the one wiling to provide me with a child."

"You don't want to provide?" Ianto was interested now.

"As a little one I saw my mother give birth to Gray. I saw her fear, pain and the blood. It scared the shit out of me. Learning that males can do that…the idea that my baby would come from my penis gave me nightmares where it would explode and weird things that as an adult I know is not true. The birth canal is created and such but… it still freaks me out. Besides… I did try in the end." Jack sighed and then grimaced, "I lost it. Was almost full term so… I held him in my hands and wept. Never wanted to suffer that disappointment and failure again."

"I am sorry Jack" Ianto was touched that Jack was sharing such an intimate and sad thing, Scout listening along with Crypto silently, their own thoughts on the matter swirling.

"I have fathered children, have been a shit father too" Jack continued, "My daughter Alice…she …well. she's gone now but her and her son Stephen were all I had left. I knew as soon as it went tits up that they were gone. Londoners. I accepted it. Now… Mica is everything I love about little girls. Their sass, their giggles and wide eyes. I wanted a son and he was the only one that I got. Every baby I seeded to another has been female. Like … a punishment maybe for failing to carry. I know it's silly but I can't help but wonder if it is like that."

"I didn't want to either, she was a shock I assure you" Ianto sighed, "I was not sure if I could even do it. Silly... Had no choice did I."

Jack laughed and nodded as he felt things ease, "Ianto, I have feelings for you. I mean… real ones that are deep. I want this to go somewhere, even if it's just a 'for now' thing for you. OK?"

"But you would like it to be a 'for some while' sort of thing?" Ianto glanced at him as did Scout as Crypto snorted and lopped ahead again, knowing the answer.

"I would love a 'forever' kind of thing but I will settle for another warm night against you" Jack admitted as he looked up at the stars.

"Good" Ianto said so softly it was a whisper in the back of Jack's mind, "Good, yes….good. Because I am a forever kind of guy."

Ianto kicked his horse and moved after Scout as Jack grinned so wide he wondered if his teeth were showing in the moonlight.

Sounded like the best plan they had come up with yet.

Yep.