44

"Cariad, I am heading for Shangri La" Ianto said calmly after the evening meal that was in the shared room. Jack nodded and resumed his conversation with Owen then stalled out and glanced at his husband's retreating back.

"Is everything OK?" Owen asked.

"Yeah, we are just… heading out. The kids are all set for the stargazing thing right?" Jack asked, turning to face Alice and Marley who both nodded happily "we might be off the grid tonight. You kids all OK?"

The kids all waved absently and he took off at a slow trot, trying not to show his excitement.

He knew what was happening. It was time. He was about to be a Daddy… again.

They moved along quietly, Ianto letting Jack drive the transporters along the tunnel and as they stepped into the 'other' there was a feeling of lightness. The Mara were there, well aware and one of them looked familiar, a knotted napkin in its head like a weird pirate bandana.

Ianto felt lighter, stronger and excited for the new arrival, her voice so quiet is was more like a breeze in the middle of a hurricane. Ianto knew she would be different. Not like Jackson who was full Wolfling. She seemed more ethereal. The Mara had a mischievous touch here, he was sure of it.

Ianto felt little pain, her arrival sort of anticipated and as Jack held her up to the dawn's first light, Ianto knew he had nothing to fear with this newling. She was strong, her eyes wide open and her mouth a thin line of Jones Disapproval. Jack was besotted. After having twins and 'not' twins it was also nice to have just the one. One little blossom to water and watch grow.

Ianto settled back and started to drift off to sleep, leaving Jack to sing softly to his princess.

"Selene. Selene Jelly Bean" Jack crooned happily, settling in an armchair to hold his little daughter in his arms, reveling in her round face, large eyes and sweet Cupid 's bow mouth. Like all their children, she was unique. He was stroking her cheek as he watched her with wide-eyed love when he felt it.

A warmth washing over him like a hot shower on a cold winter morning.

His daughter sent him his first gift of loving thoughts.

Oh wow.

She is strong.

.

.

They returned to find everyone having breakfast and it was Pip who first felt the bond changing as they entered the Great Room. He rose from his chair with haste, rushing to Ianto, then past him to find Jack had the little bundle against his chest.

"Show me… come on... show me" he demanded, his hands grabbing at the little one and he laid her on the breakfast table amongst the pancakes to gasp with glee "Oh look at her. Solid. Strong. Oh yes, she will be a force to be reckoned with. Oh yes… Mother! Come look."

Nelly squealed in a childish way, her hands jazz hands around her face as she rushed to look at the little piece of perfection. Then the entire place exploded at it finally sank in that Ianto had given birth.

Ianto accepted the praise with good grace, only slipping out once Jack was sure he was Ok and was now offering the baby for cuddles, guaranteed to make everyone forget the Dam who was now heading for the above home where he knew Jackson was waiting for him.

"Hello son" Ianto said softly as he settled on a chair to watch his little one calmly destroying a gun only to remake it.

"hello Taddy" the boy answered, looking up at him as his paws moved like fluffy hands, his startlingly blue eyes like lasers into his soul.

"What is your boggle?"

The boy snorted at the question, then sat back "so many people now."

"So many humans" Ianto corrected "well, we are going on that recon. If you come on the long hauler you can technically be the one to protect your baby sister as I will be breastfeeding and maybe… maybe... you could… help with the…"

Jackson was already on his feet, squealing as he dropped the now perfectly rebuilt gun on the coffee table. "I can come? What about your age limit?"

"Dad's age limit?" Ianto corrected "He still does not understand that age is limitless, time is forever and nothing is what it appears to be. Jackson, my sweetheart. My sweet boy… we both know you are far more adult than some of your other siblings. In a battle I know you would be by my side, almost as large and just as strong."

"Then I can come… so Selly is coming too?"

"Oh god, you've already given her a nickname?" Ianto groaned "Oh god."

"She is Selene but she is also something else. Selly is it for now but will not be it once she gets more confident. She is still feeling things out. I think her nickname… once she settles into herself… will be something fierce. Not a human name at all." He assured his father.

"She is more than human, but you all are!" Ianto argued good-naturedly "you are all mine."

"And as you know, she is more than yours or ours." The boy laughed, his sharp teeth shining in the bright light of the sun through the window "she is more. She belongs to the wilds. The wind, the sunlight, the flowers… she is of light."

Mara.

Yes.

Why the Paradox had been so easy to do. Why the Mara had been present there too.

Of course.

And deep down, Ianto had always known.