37

Owen watched the monitor until Ianto made a soft growling noise and he then reluctantly put the image on the vid-screen for all of them to see. The foetus was clearly visible, a little baby with finger, toes and…ahem.

"I knew it!" Jack said happily, "Another little boy. Oh wow, you said it might be. Oh now I have…"

"Cariad, if you are about to say one of each I will cut your throat" Ianto said calmly as he looked at Caden playing at his feet.

"No love" Jack assured him, not alarmed or unsettled as he knew Ianto was still upset and looking for any fight, "I was going to say, now I have to hurry that extension on the top level; for our own quarters then the baby can have our central room. If we build up, an entire level with the hover pads on top it will still work, even a rooftop garden?"

"Oh" Ianto said softly, "Sorry Cariad, that was rude."

"No sweetheart, that was protective" Jack reached out to rub his knee, "I love your heart and your backbone. Especially that little dimpled part where…"

"Stop it!" Ianto scolded softly, his face red as he placed his hand over Jack's.

"Well, I don't know much but I know that is a healthy looking little fella, looks a bit more advanced than first thought. Looks like this one is growing quicker, maybe due to the enhancements? Wow, looks healthy and a good size." Owen said as he examined his screen, "Ianto's long fingers."

"Well now, look at that" the Brig said softly, his hands clutched in his lap as he leaned forward, "such great imagery. You can see little eyelashes."

"Wow" Jack sighed happily, "What do you think Mavis?"

The bug had been standing silently at the back of the room and as her name was mentioned she rushed forward to examine the picture more closely, clicking excitedly.

Ianto laughed softly, "Yes, most definitely a little squish bean."

"You speak bug" the Brig said as he swung to face Ianto.

"Not very well, I can understand them but am not quite fluent. They seem to understand me though" Ianto nodded, "Such a wonderfully clever race, so funny too."

Mavis crooned as she told him she though he was clever and funny too.

Jack watched Ianto start to glow with excitement as he watched the one inside him move, grow and become.

"Jack?" Ianto said softly, "The bubba, I mean…I don't want it on another level to us, not when it is a wee chick. Caden stayed with us until his second birthday, I don't like the idea."

"What would you like then" Jack asked calmly, not wanting to upset Ianto.

"This new level sounds ideal, make it a full length of one wall, over Alice's wing I think so we can have the mountain views. Our room one end and the other end can be the nursery. Our old room can be for Mavis and her young. They live in the children's rooms anyway, might as well divide the rooms up for them." Ianto explained, "If we make the roof of the new section the hover pads then the entire length of Caden's wing would be flat level and we could turn it into a garden and maybe that infinity pool you dream about. Imagine, out own little retreat so the children can mess up the courtyard without me having a Dergolt as Alice puts it."

"Oooo" Jack looked into the distance as he imagined, "decking and some pathways, yeah. What a great idea. Simply let the middle level go to the children, humanoid and bug. Yes, Mavis is the head housekeeper, she should be on the main levels."

Mavis was frozen in place as she listened, her mandibles pinched together and Ianto turned to look at her, "What do you think? That new mate of yours that is so shy he turns white and scuttles off when I approach, could he survive the light up here?"

Mavis could only nod, her joy making her mute.

"Well, sorted. I will talk to the contractors today, some kitset rooms can be lifted and placed by the Transporters and hovers, I really like this idea, each section growing smaller to allow the light in. Also, means it will be finished before the wee one is here, a big room, an attached nursery, bathroom and wardrobe. I have ideas flowing" Jack was rising from his chair with his hands fluttering as he talked, "I see colour, light and air. Oh Pete, I have to take notes. I understand your list thing now."

Jack rushed off with a pen and pad, Mavis following to suggest things he might not realise a youngling needs as Ianto laughed softly, turning to his father. "Now he is preoccupied with pleasing me, you will sort this man will you?"

"Now we have a target we will proceed swiftly, in fact while we have been sitting here I believe Yvonne had begun the procedure, dear?" he turned to look at her and she had the good grace to blush as she held up the PDA she had been tapping quietly.

"Um, oops?" she said with a grin, "Yes. I am assembling a cleaner team and we will simply purge the building of him and his…stupidity. We are confident that this will be the last link in the chain to find the rest of the missing cuckoos and we can then proceed with hearings and formal decisions about the future of said babies."

Ianto nodded, "I want to be part of the debate process please, I feel I need to be a voice for these babies."

"Oh course son" the Brig said, revelling in the title he was now able to use freely, "I will insist the Jones Family have a say, after all the bloodline alone demands a seat at that table."

Ianto nodded as his hands traced a little foot.

The future in the palm of his hand.