4

Jason and Julie were grateful, eager to please and more than excited to find the school was as fortified as they had hoped.

"So … the two Js" Owen snorted as he watched them, "You both from here?"

"Yeah, we basically grew up here, this was our only real home" Jason nodded happily, "going home during the holidays sucked, being with Norms."

"Norm?"

"Norms. Normal people" Julie clarified, "Being here … it … you feel stronger."

"When the circle gets smaller, the vision get clearer" Ianto said as he entered and gracefully folded into a chair, "strength comes from loyalty, not numbers. Being around other like-powered people gave you a…. well … clarity… something that hones your thoughts and measures the responses. I do not know if this school was deliberately built on a ley-line or it is a simple case of there always being something here, even before it was a school … probably a Mage's Cottage or something but it is definitely a place of power."

"The little one, she is yours" Julie said more as a statement than a question and Jack answered before Ianto could.

"Yes, she is ours"

Ianto smiled softly at him and settled some more, letting Jack take the conversation as he let his mind wander. He knew others might be trying to reach them, others who knew the dangers but also knew the reward if the school still stood. They could not leave, this had to be a beacon of hope for those still coming, those who might still need safe harbour and that decided he rose.

"Tiger?"

"Just going to check out the other rooms, we have new family members Cariad" Ianto said softly, "They can't stay in the living room. They will need their own space"

Owen was the one who followed him out of the room and down the hallway "Ianto? What's up?"

"They will not be the last, others might still be trying to get here to safety" Ianto said as he walked slower for Owen's small legs, "I want to make sure we have several rooms fully kited out in case we get more survivors."

"We might" Owen agreed sagely, "After all … this place would sort of call to others from here, right?"

"Especially now" Ianto agreed, then slowed, turning his head, "Do you hear that?"

"The hum?" Owen asked distractedly as he picked up a book off a pile outside a door and Ianto smiled.

"Yes. A hum. How long have you been hearing it?"

"Ah … an hour or so?" he screwed up his face as he considered, "Might have been from the explosion or something."

"No, its them arriving. Pulling more energy into the collective" Ianto explained, "Like a hive. We hum in the cosmos."

"Can Crawlers hear it?" Owen asked, still not getting what Ianto was pointing out and in the end Ianto stepped forward, placing a hand in Owen's shoulder and it was instantaneous. Owen's mouth fell open, the sound intensified to become music and the warmth from Ianto's hand filled him from his toes to the top of his head.

Ianto released him.

"What the fuck was that?"

"Magic" Ianto said calmly, "Owen. You really don't know do you. Really, so unloved and packed away from things you never knew."

"Knew what?"

"That you belong here too brother" Ianto smiled as he reached out again, this time the feeling welcome as Owen moved closer to him, "Owen. You have a drop of us in you. Somewhere in the past bloodlines, you connect. There are enough of us now, we are feeding enough into the hive for the sound to reach you. Why you look around for a radio or something, you hear whispers. Thoughts in the air. Us."

Owen gaped some more.

"Bullshit" he finally spluttered as Ianto laughed and embraced him.

"I knew there was a reason I didn't shoot you" Ianto crooned, "Some reason I resisted the urge a few times."

"Oi!" Owen blustered then grinned as he felt the overwhelming affection wash over him, his knees buckling as Ianto held him and rocked him gently. Owen was unaware that he was weeping, the overload of affection more than he could take and Ianto pulled him into the nearest room where they found somewhere to sit and cuddle.

"I love you" Ianto whispered, "My little prickface. Love you."

Owen laughed shakily as he wiped his eyes and took a few cleansing breaths.

"Shit" he finally gasped, sitting back as Ianto moved to let him have space. His need for him to withdraw and unruffle his feathers evident.

"I will go check the next room, how about you check this one for power sockets and such" Ianto said as he rose and left the little man to his pondering. Owen will need time to consider things, Ianto would give it to him.

Mica was waiting outside the door and she slid her hand into Ianto's walking with him to help.

Owen sat for a while rubbing his hands on his knees and thinking.

Family

Home

Hive

Yeah.

Cool