63
A group came and stood waiting for entrance to be granted. Zane walked out with Anwen, hand in hand and took a moment to stare at them. They made a cute little couple with matching outfits, their hair so clean and styled as their shiny shoes gleamed in the morning light.
"Him"
"Her" Answer agreed to another.
"And Him" Zane said, then hesitated, looking through them to point out a woman near the back "And her."
"Oh yes, I saw her too" Anwen nodded as she agreed with her partner "I like her."
"Right" Gwen said calmly as she stood behind the kids "Two men, two women. Names?"
"I am Chief…"
"No." Gwen cut him off "You are simply you in here. No titles, no bloody power… first name so the kids know what to call you."
"Oh. Rowan."
"Nice and you?"
"Derrek"
"I am… Julia."
The fourth member to be chosen, the one near the back stood there with wide eyes, spluttering "Donna. I… I was here just to provide…"
"Yes" both children said at once "We like her."
"Right then. Come on, you four only" Gwen motioned, and they shot though the gates as the others milled around. As the gates clanged shut Gwen turned to face the through the wire and said "Well? Fuck off then. We will let you know when they are done."
"Well, I never" one of the rejected women blustered with annoyance.
Gwen laughed as she let the childrne lead the four into the compound and she did what Ianto told her would be the best thing to do. She shut up and simply… watched over them. One hand on the stun gun attached to her belt.
The intent clear.
"I love how shiny your shoes are" Donna blurted "Mine scuff so easily."
"Taddy Ianto polishes them" Anwen said conversationally as they walked "he abhors scruffy shoes too."
"Taddy Ianto, he sounds nice" Donna agreed, the other three listening intently as Donna started a natural flow with the child, none of them noticing the other children who had started to follow them.
"OK. Here is good" Zane suddenly said swinging to face them, then look past them "Are we all here?"
"YES"
The four jumped, turning to find all the children standing quietly behind them, all in the same outlifts same hairstyles and same intense stare.
Maybe the scariest part were the ones on the outer limit of the group, the adults in plain black clothing with calm faces, hands on the shoulders of some of the children in a protective way. Ianto was there with them, his face calm even as he seemed to be staring straight through them.
"Oh! Mister Harkness-Jones!" Donna gushed, seemingly unaffected by the tension in the air "Their shoes. I must say… I wish I could do such a stellar job."
"I melt the polish."
"Excuse me?"
"I use a lighter to melt the top of the polish, so it is liquid, a much more even finish" Ianto elaborated and she grinned as she agreed that was clever.
"My Grandy taught me that" Ianto smiled back then cleared his throat "Well… the man who cared for me."
"My Grandpa taught me how to fart in my armpit" she replied, "You know... with your hard? I guess it's apples and oranges isn't it?"
Ianto stared t her, then the children all started to giggle softly as he no doubt showed them his thoughts on what she meant. Finally, he smiled "Well. They like that idea. Pity… I might get a little fed up with all the armpit farting I am about to witness for a few days until the novelty wears off."
"Oh dear, I should warn you then… it never really wears off. I still think it's funny" she said happily and the children giggled some more, one stepping forward to hold out her hand. Donna looked at her, then Ianto.
"She doesn't talk much. Shy. She wants to hold hands and walk with you to the breakfast table. We are about to eat" Ianto explained "She wants to sit with you."
"OH, lovely. What's your name love? I'm Donna."
"Molly."
"Oh. I had a friend in school called that. She was ever so much fun. Mind you… we DID get caught hiding in the medical room cupboard when it was PE… I hate PE" Donna started to talk as she was led off and the other three finally came out of their shocked stupor, racing after her.
"I like her" Zane said to his Tad as Jack came over as well, kneeling to address their son.
"And the other three sport?"
"No. They are too… grownup. They lost their… magic." Zane frowned as he struggled to find the words when he lived in a world where they only needed to feel things together "Their minds are… tight. Chaotic and… angry. She is like us. Free, happy and open."
"And I think our liaison with the outside world has been chosen." Ianto agreed, watching as their son raced after the group, slipping in with the others to walk with them.
"To be honest, I like her too" Jack admitted as they rose to watch the kids disappear into the Feeding Room, the mess hall renamed by the kids.
"Hmmm" Ianto agreed.
Donna seemed like a good person.