43
In the six months since they went into hiding in their little Paradiso (as Owen had named it… god help us but the cowboy is strong in this nutter) the babies grew beyond the expected eight month olds they should be.
At eight months, they were closer to eighteen month olds, already walking and trying gobbledy gook talk that only Ianto seems to understand. It is unnerving to see them all go quiet to 'commune' but at the same time, everyone was relieved that UNIT seemed to have calmed down as well, their futile attempts to find them fruitless.
Then finally, what Ianto had bane waiting for.
Rhiannon.
Johnny and Rhiannon sitting with hands clasped together, begging for help to find their 'kidnapped' babies. She's still alive. She is still OK.
"Hey! Side note in the reports" Toshiko called out as Ianto watched the short news item again "there is some sort of conference happening in Cardiff, Lost Kids. They intend taking Johnny and Rhiannon there to speak publicly, a chance to show your photos about as they are sure you are sticking close to home."
Ianto moved over to look at her screen and hum softly, his fingers scratching at his beard. In the six months since they had gone into stasis Ianto had not shaved. He had, reluctantly, not even trimmed and he looked like he belonged behind a ship's wheel on the high seas. The long curls flicking around his collar also pushed towards the pirate life.
Jack thought he looked gorgeous and was not afraid to tell him…. Or show him at any given opportunity, also telling him that he hoped he was the one to shave him when he was done with whatever this next step was. Whatever… yes. Jack had not asked, Ianto had not expanded and everyone was comfortable with that.
"Is it time?" Martha asked as she struggled with Mickey, her five month pregnant body heavier than usual so she won, grinning at him as she ate the candy bar with open malice.
"You know, you guys joining us was very fortuitous, I need someone to watch the kids because I really need Tosh and Owen for this to work" Ianto said as he glanced over at Francine who had a baby in her arms. I don't know which one but it was wearing blue. It didn't matter, they were all her bubbas.
"You have a plan all sorted?" Owen asked, then laughed out loud like it was a huge joke.
Of course he had a plan.
Dickhead.
.
.
Ianto exited his home to step out into the street where the others were waiting. As he stepped down into the dirt street the voices faded away to stare. Ianto stared back "What!"
"Holy fuck Ianto… I would fuck you in a heartbeat if me missus and your fella were not likely to castrate me for it" Owen said with awe.
Ianto was wearing black skin-tight denim jeans, black boots, a black button up shirt that was half rolled up to his elbows and a black vest that was flapping open. Add the hair and the beard… he looked totally bohemian, like he was about to roll a cigarette between his fingers without looking at them, and then shag someone assent the wall. Judging from the way Jack was panting, he wanted it to be him alright.
Ianto grinned, letting the mask fall and he was recognizable once more, the team clapping with awe at the amazing look.
Ianto frowned "What?"
Now laughter filled the township.
.
.
The man walking the cobbles had a yuppie style coffee mug on his hands, his head held high and the slow swagger of someone who hears music on the wind. He was Zen. He moved around the other people like they were not there, only stopping to acknowledge an elderly lady as he nodded and gave her the right of way.
"Thank you young man"
"Bussed Be Mother"
He continued on his way with a light step, a head full noise and a face that looked bored with the entire fucking world.
He had this.
.
.
Rhiannon and Johnny were sitting in the room they had been assigned at the venue, Johnny glaring at their handler "I gotta pee."
"Seriously?" the man asked "you just did before we left to come here."
I have a nervous bladder, fucking sue me!" Johnny snarled back and the man nodded, moving to stand closer to Rhiannon.
"If you are not back within five minutes… your missus looses a finger."
"For fucksake, you think that will make me bladder any happier if you make me arse wanna go to?" Johnny grumbled as he entered the bathroom and closed the door, taking a deep shuddering breath before moving to the toilet.
He had started peeing when he looked up and straight into the eyes of his brother-in-law who was leaning against the wall, a hand on the toilet cistern "Hey Fuckface."
Johnny now really did have to sit down too.
.
.
Johnny opened the toilet door and shot into the room "A rat, there was a fucking rat in there!"
Rhiannon reacted like he had told her it was a nuclear warhead, shrieking as she clambered onto the sofa and waved her hands around her ankles. A little known fact was tht this larger than life woman full of vim and vigor had one Achilles heel… rodents.
Their handler sighed a he sauntered into the room to check and the silencer at the back of his head was not even felt… I don't the bullet it lustily spat into his brain was either.
Ianto stood there with no feeling of remorse at all, the comment about his sister's finger had been heard and Ianto had responded to the threat.
He wandered out into the room "Sissy, get down from there ya divvy."
She gaped at him and then looked at her husband as her face changed, so Ianto added "Lamp him one later, once we are safe Missus Slap Arse"
With sobbing laugher she launched herself him, knowing she was going to be OK. She was going to hold her children again.
Ianto was here for her.