20
They touched down on the large interspace vessel and were taken directly to Agency lodgings on Old Earth for quarantine and debriefing while border securities remained in place. This would now be the time for Green Card status to begin. Hopefully.
The new digs were lovely. Ianto wanted that bed but knew he was dirty smelly and really wanted clean clothes as well. Thank Pete Jack had thought to get his bag. So thoughtful.
"Excuse me? Mister Harkness? Mister Jones?" A voice called outside the door to their berthage and Jack opened it to let two suits in.
"It's Harkness-Jones now, we have joined our names out of respect for one another" Ianto said calmly as he sat with the baby in his lap, "Please take a seat."
"Sorry, Harkness-Jones" the man said softly as he sat and keyed something into the tablet, "I am Mister Grimes and this is my partner Ms Haverts. We are here about baby Caden."
"Ah Thank Pete" Ianto sighed with relief, "Tell me, did you find his family name?"
"It was Vertish" the woman spoke softly and Ianto frowned at the weird terminology.
"Was?"
"The only family still available are in the outlying settlements along the border planets" she explained and Ianto tightened his hold on the baby with horror, turning to Jack who leaned forward.
"So what happens now" Jack asked as he gently placed a hand on Ianto's knee, "sending him out there is a death sentence."
"Yes, Judge Barnes already thought about that when he placed your name in the birth announcements. You are the interim guardians of this wee one and the family are happy to sign him over permanently, given the lovely family unit you made on Vid-com."
Ianto blinked, then turned to Jack, "Really? I don't … I mean…really?"
"Where do we sign" Jack demanded, "Now. As soon as possible. I want it finalised before we are released to Old Earth Status if possible so we step into our home as a family. Caden Harkness-Jones."
"What was the name of the planet that was destroyed?" Ianto asked softly "All those people."
"Blaidd" the woman said softly, "It means…"
"Wolf" Ianto replied with shock, "A welsh settlement? No. Oh no, no. No wonder she thought I was her husband with my Welsh accent."
"Well, that is so sad" Jack sighed as he leaned back and moved his hand to Ianto's shoulders, gripping the back of his neck in a similar way to he had seen Ianto grab at it when stressed and Ianto leaned into the touch.
"Should have known. A name like Caden." Ianto said softly as he looked down at the sleeping newborn. "Poor Stormborne boy"
"Stormborne" Jack said with wonder, "I love it. That's his middle name, strong and powerful. As well as a testament to his arrival. Caden Stormborne Harkness-Jones."
"A bit of a mouthful" Ianto said as he looked at Jack, then canted his head, "Well…if you like it. I guess. Stormborne. Yes, does sound quite old and noble. OK."
"Well, that's sorted" the man nodded, "Right. Congratulations on your union and your family unit."
"Right, now we will let your family in, they are quite impatient" the woman smiled and Ianto hoped it was impolite that he couldn't remember their names, the shock still thrumming.
Jack watched them leave and rose to greet his siblings only to have someone enter he didn't know. The man was thin, tall and immaculate and his wife…obviously as she wore a matching suit … were looking directly as the one holding the baby currently rising with alarm on his face as he turned to…flee?
"Ifan" the man snapped, "Do not walk away from your mother and I!"
Ianto turned on his heel, the baby held against him as he looked at someone he never wished to share air with, "I have nothing to say to you, nothing I wish to hear from you either. If you do not leave you force me to take our son and daughter to another room!"
Alice had slid from the bed and she grasped Ianto's coat with wide eyes flicking from the new people to her father and Jack felt indignation at their rudeness when he knew his own loving family were waiting.
"Get out, my husband has been quite clear in his need for space" Jack snapped, making them both jump at the authoritative tone.
"Husband?" the woman whispered with wide eyes.
"Son?" the man blustered.
Jack turned to the door and roared "SECURITY!"
"I beg your pardon" the man said with open horror at even the suggestion that he could be removed and then the security stormed in.
"Yes Captain Harkness-Jones, how may we serve you?" one said.
"These …people are not welcome" Jack waved a hand at them dismissively, "Please remove them and my husband would like a fresh decanter of water please."
"Right you two move it!" the guard barked and Ianto's mother spluttered at Ianto.
"Goodbye" Ianto said softy, "And do not ever call me Ifan again. I am Ianto like GrandTad."
"Your grandfather is not likely to care!" his father scoffed "You are not exactly…gerkkk."
The guard had lost patience and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, yanking him from the room as Ianto snorted into the baby's wee body trying to stifle a laugh.
He had never seen his parental manhandled like that.
The look when his head raised to look at Jack was a level of adoration Jack hadn't expected and quite frankly he wished he had decked his father for him now.
By Pete his smile was blinding.