39

Ianto was ready to admit it was more than hormones as he simmered, his daughter showing off her already fading damage to those who were there for the morning Yoga session.

"Well, you are one tough chick" the Sherriff grinned, "Lord, you gave them the what for I bet."

"Are you kidding?" John laughed as he accepted his Mate's arms around him from behind, "this girl is a diamond in every sense of the word."

Ianto had tuned them out, looking for something to break or…ah. He walked over to the things leaning against the corner of the porch, things taken from in the front entranceway cupboards while they were being painted and amongst them the gift the Sheriff had brought him for the little Kai. Not everyone would bring a blade for a baby but the gift of metallurgy was still alive as Ianto looked at the broad sword the man had lovingly created and probably had stored away sadly knowing it was not something most would like. The dragon freshly carved into the simple wooden handle that was then bound with woven leather above it for the hands was running around the hilt where it met the blade like the dragon was trying to clamber into the wound it would create. Ianto had seen the beauty of it immediately and had been touched, was now touched even more as he saw the weight would be a good thing to throw about in an effort to ease his tense muscles.

Jack was outside with little Kai asleep in his shoulder, his hand patting the little back as the other cupped the wee bottom and he glanced over as his beloved stalked pasty in black yoga pants and nothing else, losing his train of thought and the midsentence stall had everyone turning to see Ianto reach the middle of the yard, plant his feet and raise the sword to hip level.

"Shit" John breathed softly.

Ianto began to dance, swinging the blade low like someone's feet were the target, his own knees buckling as he went down and then swung on a knee as he brought the other one up to rise, the sword now at decapitating height as he snarled, swung and continued a slow pirouette of doom.

"I made that" the sheriff said proudly as Ianto got the feel and measure of the metal, finding it a good balance, then he began to really let loose, his Welsh blood boiling as he roared and started to swing his wrist, the blade cutting the air in a helicopter blade motion above his head, swinging down in front to knick the grass and up again as Ianto swing behind himself and followed with his body, like the handle was the centre of the universe and he merely in its gravitational pull.

Ianto swung and moved, his hips gyrating as he showed himself to be the centre all the time, the huge blade a mere plaything as his anger slowly bled down the blade and into the sunshine where it dissipated leaving him gasping with the blade in the dirt as he knelt holding the handle and centring himself once more.

Clapping.

He looked up, surprised and then horrified that they had seen it but he saw Jack's look of pride and hoped it meant he hadn't made a fool of himself, as always thinking himself less than his true worth. Jack knew, walking over as Ianto rose and puling him in, their bodies cocooning the sleeping tyke as they kissed and Jack whispered, "That was HAWT"

Ianto snorted, shoving at Jack and then lifting the sword, "I like this!"

The sheriff would tell everyone, days worth of story to tell others as he wandered about town to show the footage he had caught on his cell phone, the handsome Adonis working the air like a god.

Anwen turned to Kara, "Ok. Come on admit it. Even you have to see your Tad is scary."

"Not to me" Kara snorted as she chose a gun and began to break it down in the blanket the two women were sitting on, "Taddy will never be scary to me. To others? Well…I admit he is deadly. Not just a show. Something he taught me at a young age. Do not fear the dog that barks. Fear the one who does not, for he does not need to appear more than he is, he knows the radius of his chain and you are within it."

Anwen glanced over as her own parentals, Rhys manning the BBQ as Gwen stood there gesturing as she argued with him about how long he was searing each side of the steak and sighed, "I used to think she was scary too."

"You kidding?" Jack flopped onto the blanket and let his daughter seize the baby with glee, "She can be scary as shit. Did you know she sold me out? Tied me up and gave me to the enemy to protect you once."

They gaped.

"It's OK though, I didn't mind. I'm the one that showed her to think that way" Jack stood and brushed off his jeans as he prepared to leave his son with the other member of the family who would die for his little self, "and at the end of the day…you are still here Annie."

He went off to see if his love was under the water yet, all neekid and stuff.

Anwen turned to Kara, "She wouldn't do that."

"Yeah, she did" Kara said softly, "Miracle Day. She did. I read about that, the Family wanted him in return for you. Apparently she never blinked. Neither did he. He chose to go willingly."

Anwen gaped.

"Don't be harsh. You know…for this little one here I would give anything" Kara shrugged as she cuddled the bub "and he's right. We are still here…the Family? Long since ash."

Anwen nodded glancing at her mother again and finding she was now standing stock still like she knew what they were talking about, then she smiled over at her and her teeth gleamed.

Anwen knew they were right.

Her Mama loved her enough to sacrifice everything.