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Ianto wasn't even trying to hide his interest as the vehicles came to a halt and he remained leaning against the grillwork of the SUV as Jack strode to the edge of the bubble and nodded, letting it drop to step forward.

""Captain Jack Harkness" he said calmly and one looked at him with a grimace.

"Javic Thane, we know who you are."

"Ah. No. You know who I once was, big difference" Jack grimed happily as he swung to present his back, "Come on then this little window will close soon. I hope no one is stationed around the other side to slip in while the dome is down, you know we can create a door right? Embarrassing slamming into the glass barrier"

Ianto was still silently watching, finally standing up to his full height as one of the 'guests' slowed their stride to look him up and down. The plain black clothing that was reminiscent of UNIT along with the single side arm made him appear simple security and Jack had been tickled pink as he had asked if he was one of those bodyguards that did cavity searches. He looked ominous yet … vanilla.

Nice to know Ianto could still hide in plain sight, eh?

They moved to the waiting vehicles and headed to the picnic set up and waiting, Kev standing quietly to one side with the Sheriff, their looks of concentration marred by the three large wolves sitting near the table with their heads moving in unison to watch as the vehicles pulled up and doors opened.

"Honey, I'm home" Jack yelled, grinning as he bounced around the vehicle and the reply was a deep booming laugh as the Big rose from where he had been sitting behind some bushes, "Ah. There you are. You OK there buddy?"

As Jack grinned up at the huge man the Big Foot reached down to gently touch his head in a show of affection then turn to the gaping newcomers.

"Borig, fucktards. Fucktards, Borig. He's a Big" Jack said conversationally, "There are a lot of them and they all have big feet, if ya know what I mean. His dad Clyde is a close friend, my son's godfather. A big job that."

Jack then laughed at his own joke as Kev slid closer, "Captain. My children tell me we are secure in the water."

"Thanks bud" Jack nodded then watched Kev walk to the water's edge, then side in transforming as he went. More silent stares from those now groping for chairs.

"Hey Dad" Kara approached with the little Kai in her arms and the silence was now deafening as they watched her hand the baby to Jack who crooned softly, "And here is the cause of all the fun. Kai. This is my son, the future."

They all leaned forward as the little one blinked at them and then gave a gummy smile. Jack smiled as well, "And the Dragon? He's the one behind you all with the big fucking sword."

Thy swung at the same time as Ianto, the one nearest Jack getting a front row seat as the sword cut through throats like a knife through butter. John crowed from the other side of the table, his own Katana in his hand as he watched Ianto come to life, the snarl on his face animalistic.

"You see, they made a mistake" Jack said calmly to the panting woman who was still unscathed bar the viscera on her clothing, "They thought Kai was the danger. You see … he's not. We are. Kai can do anything he wants, be anyone he wants. Because of our power, our strength and bloodlust this little sweetling will never wonder if he is safe, will never fear the bogeyman."

"You know why?" John asked, liking this game, "It took me ages to work it out myself. All the planning, all the training, those ancient tomes of warning … that old prophecy that the Dragon has the Key to rule the Verse?"

She swallowed as she looked up at John, "Do you get it yet?"

"The Key…not the Kai. Ianto is the Dragon, he is the key to it all. Do you get it? He just lured you all in and you were all right here in front of him, like he was smoke." John grinned, "Kara is his daughter, Kai his son. You have been trying to grab them thinking they are the key. Neither of them are, they are the ..well…. cream on top."

John leaned in as Ianto casually wiped the blade of the sword with a napkin, "you see? Ianto is an enigma capable of anything, everything for these children. As long as they are under threat so are you and the real question here is only one he can answer.'

"And you know what the question is?" John asked softly.

"Do you want to live?" Ianto's voice sounded for the first time and she felt her innards fail her, his deep chocolate voice resonating through her very core as he stared at her, "For I hold life and death in my hand."

He lifted the sword and looked at it, "This."

She looked at it and finally saw what had been there all along, right under her nose as he placed the top of the blade against the earth, the handle visible. She looked at the stone glinting in the round top of the handle, the pommel held a red stone polished and gleaming.

You see … when he retrieved the USB stick from the bathroom of his ruined house he had hesitated….remember? Slid the lid of the container into his pocket along with the USB. Never wondered why he would keep such a thing? With it's tacky silver paint…with the little red crystal that served as the handle? So plastic and fake? Right? Huh?

She finally saw that she had no hope of winning this and she looked at the young man who would forever be this handsome, virile and dangerous. She had seen this sword before, had knelt before it many times.

Oh yes.

She reverently whispered it as she slid from the chair to kneel before the Boss himself "The Keystone."