65

Jack had landed the Valiant with ease as they returned at the agreed time and place and the 'great unloading' had begun. After the two nights away and hard work to load her to the gunnels, the ship was ready to release her load. Well… Owen was.

Cheers and clapping as Owen drove out and down the ramp in the Transporter, his face one of pure delight as he waved out the driver's side window. As more and more things appeared that were damned fabulous, the double-decker bus that was carefully driven down the ramp by Rhys drew silence, more than one Grup softly sighing as Yesteryear came home.

More and more things like a VW beetle full of Barbie dolls, a little miniature train that was clearly a children's ride that had mouths dropping and more cheering as pineapples and bananas were carried out by the box load as well.

Ianto walked quietly down the ramp with his little girl sniggled in his arms, making a show of taking her somewhere quiet when really he was seeking the one who would not lie about the things that had gone on while he was away. Pip did not leave anything out, his eyes wide as he described the way the Snarl moved and those trying to break into the cabin, and Ianto sighed, rubbing at his face as he heard not only the awe and wonder, but the desire under the surface. Ianto could literally taste the glee in Pip's voice as he told him that they would like to place more security in that area and monitoring devices to watch the Shitheads… and the Snarl.

"Well, you need to go talk with Stan and Kev. We have returned with not only more night vision gear but some more infrared and motion detection cameras. Also some alien tech that can create a false image if we need to cloak a building or something. If you can place them without detection, along with some motion sensors that let us know any movement around the edges… they I will agree to that. But nothing more, the snap is coming, I can feel it in the air and I do not want anyone caught out." Ianto warned.

"Seriously?" Pip gasped, taking off and leaving Ianto in the room alone… well… with his little one who seemed to pout at him like she did not approve wither. Ianto grinned at her, picking her up to kiss her gently.

"You're right" he finally said "winter s coming and we need to get ready, everything else can wait. Maybe they will all freeze to death eh? Let's think positively."

"Snarlcicles? Zombicicles? Hmm?"

She grinned.

Awwwww.

.

.

There was a stunned silence as the evening meal was paid out on the huge table, the food on display clearly something some had never seen before and others had missed terribly. They praised the Replicator even as Jack warned them that this was to going to be an everyday thing, the machine was ancient, alien and needed to be treated with some respect.

Ianto had resurfaced and settled in his usual chair by the fire, soon joined by Jessica who had her chocolate ice cream. She tucked her feet up under herself in the chair as she watched Ianto bottle feed the baby before letting one o the others snatch her away to bathe and fuss over like he had been the one hoarding someone else's child.

"So, the old 'it takes a village' thing is really taken to heart here" she finally said.

"Oh honey, you have no idea" Ianto replied with a silly voice and she laughed softly as he returned his gaze to the flames.

"A lot of changes happening around here. I get the feeling everyone is used to the grass suddenly being blue and the sky purple or something" she pointed out. "The fact I've tried not to react too much seems to have been a point in my favor. So, it's usual to be unusual?"

"The only constant thing around here is the fact everything changes" Ianto shrugged, then laughed and added "and Jack. Jack never changes."

"And you?"

"As changeable as the weather" Ianto rolled his eyes as he laughed as she agreed that he did transform like flipping a switch. He was such a jokester and so sweet that it was hard to compare this man with the monster thing she had seen. The kids too… they were all so different.

"I know things have been a bit weird, your arrival here only momentary before this madness and recon and such but… winter is coming and when it arrives we have to hunker down" Ianto smiled, then he canted his head to stare at her in a strange way "You've not seen the Stronghold yet, have you."

"That what?"

"It's not in the Welcome Pack because it's not something we let people know about unless they are staying and integrating into out madness. But I had a feeling about you… I really had a feeling about you and Stan." Ianto laughed "Tomorrow bright and early. Meet me by the staircase in the main hallway. I will blow your fucking mind."

"Seriously? More? I might start losing brain matter through my ears if you load anything else onto me" she said with mock severity and he laughed.

Oh she had no idea.