13

Ianto was laughing as he lifted the plate of food, offering it to one of the other men helping at the tables as the children laughed in the distance, the screams changing as he frowned, watching the man's face change too. He slowly turned to see what the man was looking at and saw the huge monster throwing itself at the forcefield surrounding the colony.

It all happened in slow motion.

Lisa screamed as she dropped the kite she had been untangling, running for their son as Ianto started to run as well.

There was time.

He had to believe there was time.

The Hererbdon was moving fast though, the children scattering and forgetting the drills they had done so many times. And Jayden… he was not running. He had hold of his best friend Jason who was laying in the fetal position on the ground, and he was trying to get him to run with him.

There was no more time.

Jayden threw himself over his friend, covering his head as he cried out for Ianto. Ianto screamed as the Hererbdon opened it's jaws and in those last moments he did what he could for his son, throwing love into the bond. Even as he threw all his rage at the animal who was now savaging the two little bodies like a Pitbull with a chihuahua.

Finally, Ianto was close enough for his power to reach the thing, he stopped running even as others ran past him. It was too late. Both children were dead, the bond snapped in his heart. Finally, as it continued to run … he was close enough.

Ianto took a deep breath and screamed, his arms thrown wide as the monster finally looked in his direction, it's jaw dripping with blood. His son's blood. He thought of Lucas's little face as he held that cooling baby in his hands, he thought of Jayden moving in his belly, the birth and the first time he held him, his own little face so identical to his brother's. Laughter of his sweetling he would never hear again.

The joy of finally getting it right.

Ianto roared.

As he crouched now, his hands claws as he ripped at the grass, the monster made a shuddering back step, then as people watched on with horror… it simply… imploded.

It's skull crushed into itself, an eyeball popping out of the socket, even as the shoulder blades snapped and slammed together, the chest cavity slamming into a thin line. Like two inviable tanks had met head on with it as the filling to their grill sandwich… the monster began to vomit blood, the gush of it coming from it's mouth, nose, eyes… ears… Ianto roared again, and it crumpled like paper.

It burned.

Finally, he stopped, too spent to argue anymore as hands helped him to the ground.

Lisa was screaming, her voice breaking as she screamed their son's name again and again.

But it all faded away.

Ianto was empty.

.

.

Jack was aware of Ianto being still in the bed… so still that he was not even breathing, and he was about to turn the light on when Ianto spoke "My first born was called Lucas."

"Lisa's?"

"Yes. Lucas. He was so small, so perfect and so… dead. She was so destroyed by it that she said she didn't want to try again. She blamed herself even though it was not her fault. So, her brother offered his jizz knowing my ability to carry. With a turkey baster we created Jayden. After only two tries. All while keeping it quiet from the others as we were still in space flight from the home planets to the colony." Ianto stooped talking, then snorted softly in the darkness "No idea the madness when they realized I was with child. I was accused of being unfaithful, she was called a cock… it was insane. Then he was born. I waited for that cry, felt it was not about to happen and was prepared for a second child to be jettisoned out of the airlock… and he cried."

"So that's why they reacted like that at the meeting?"

"No. When Jayden was killed, I showed myself. They fear me. Fear my power." Ianto rolled to face him and his hand was then on Jack's cheek, gently stroking his face "I am vicious."

"I did wonder… Lucas… Jayden… the two boys… you sometimes think of them as one child" Jack kissed the hand.

"I sort of do. Both sparks of promise… I sometimes wonder if Jayden was Lucas reborn. Silly I know, but they were identical. I mean… down to the little ear folded on the left side." Ianto leaned in to kiss him now "So… I mean… I am going to be a little stupid when this one arrives, my need to make sure it is perfect. I fear I will compare again."

"This thing with Alice…"

"I think, given the reactions when they were reminded of my temper, Alice has nothing to worry about now" Ianto laughed, flopping back.

"You took us into your home, into your heart and we cause such disharmony when you seem to be fighting for calm and…."

"You can't have sunshine without a little rain sometimes" Ianto whispered "For the calm… there must be a storm. I was born in a storm, it suits me."

"Oooooo… deep."

"Read it on a greeting card or something."

They both giggled softly.

.

.

Down the hall Alice was also thinking about things instead of sleeping.

Would it be another boy? Would Stephen feel pushed out? Would she? Will she be able to care for the baby like a mama? She wanted to. She really wanted to be a good big sister.

Or a girl? Would she become Daddy's little girl? What did that mean for her? Alice chewed on all of this then made the decision to accept what came. After all… she had gained Ianto as a parental too. She was better off this time, the affection he showed do her, like a real parental, was more than her own mother had given her.

Any child they have will not be better or more. Ianto would not do her like that. She knew that. He was already calling her HIS daughter and standing there in her name.

Alice felt that if it was another girl she would not be competition, rather she would be someone to shelter and protect.

Like Ianto was protecting her.

Right?

.

.

Ianto was humming softly as his Son's second Death Day came and went, determined not to dwell on it, not to let it define him in this moment, not when a new life was almost here. He was finished his first trimester, into the second one now.

Jayden would have been five. Lucas would have been six a mere two weeks before Jayden's death day. It had been Dex's birthday; the little boy had been three that day and it had been his party. The loss of his friend something he never spoke of, but Martha confided that in the night, he sometimes whimpered Jayden's name.

Ianto entered the house, newly built and looking so new and clean. He had held out the Gerfil and let the child scream lustily for the rare cat-like rodent thing that was all the go on this planet, like a rabbit/cat/rat/crazed nutta thing with bright blue fur.

Jayden had wanted one. They all had. Dex was beside himself as he cuddled the soft little thing and Ianto had assured the horrified parents that a hutch and food was in the hover outside.

"I wanna call him JJ" the little boy said softly "My new best friend."

"You know… Jayden would have thought that was a cool name" Ianto assured the boy "And he would have been soooo jelly.

The kid giggled at the word for jealous the two boys had used, usually when scoffing at the random child trying to join the exclusive Jones Bond.

"Thank you" Martha said as she hugged him "So expensive."

"Well, when it breeds my little Bubba can have one I guess."

Breeds" Mickey said with a snort "Nope on that one!"

Ianto just grinned knowing those things were more prolific than rabbits on Old Earth… and twice as easily impregnated …. No matter how careful you were.

This planet seems to be great for conception.