22

"Good morning, everyone" Ianto called out as he entered the room and those in there lit up, rising to welcome him and demand to know where he had been for the last few days. It was the handsome man coming behind him that had them falling silent.

"I thought it was time you met Jack, my feckless partner. Jack, this is the Baby & Me Group I have been coming to for the last three months" Ianto said as he chose a seat, then opened his coat and let the place go wild.

Jack watched men and women become gushing idiots, the little one Ianto placed on the table in font of him being fussed over with such affection, even some clapping with glee. Then, to his immense delight, they broke into a welcome song that was co cute.

"So, you are the famous Jack" a voice said, and Jack turned to find a handsome man standing nearby. He grinned and pointed to a pretty blonde girl who was heavily pregnant "That's my Ella. We are due in the next week or so. She was so scared she might go early and miss this. Ianto has been such a lovely help, so calming and with experience having a baby already, he has made it seem like something less than a monstrous thing. And now he's done it again."

"Well, add to that I was a total arsehat who was not home when he needed me, he had her all by himself" Jack said, and the place grew silent.

Ianto grimaced internally and sent a soft scold to Jack, then said out loud "He makes it sound like as storm was raging, and I was trapped in a cave or something. It was not like that. She decided to come and that was that. I was not afraid, it was not horrible and in fact… the moments after her arial, just the two of us in the water greeting one another… the most precious moments of my life."

Awwwww. Everyone forgave Jack, the feeling of it washing over him as the room shifted again. Jack saw the power of Ianto, his ability to change a room's mindset and knew this man was more powerful than he would likely ever let on. And he had just thrown him another bone.

Felt nice to be on the right side.

Then another baby that was a couple of weeks old was produced and Jack found himself holding him, gushing along with everyone else and he saw the support network in the group, one he should have been a part of and he knew he had more than dropped the ball. He had run it over with an industrial hover then set it on fire for good measure.

"Don't be so hard on yourself" Isnot said softly as he stood back, watching their daughter get passed around gently "We both learned something and have a lot more to learn about one another, ourselves and this co-existence."

"Co-existence. I really hope we can be more than just that" Jack sighed "Did I really fuck it up that bad?"

"Let's just troy to more forward with some positive thoughts and clear determination not to fuck up again… yeah?"

"Yeah" Jack turned and kissed him, not caring about the cat calling and laughter as Ianto blushed.

For the first time since Astra's birth, Ianto let Jack be the Alpha and it felt nice to be back there again, even if he now knew he had to work hard to keep the spot. And Ianto was more than capable of being the one at the top without him.

Jack vowed to try harder.

.

.

"Well Alice, why not hare with your father what you told me" the councillor said in that calm, deep sweetness that seemed to rankle Jack.

It was her power. To be persuasive and Ianto knew Jack was instructively against that one, his own power as an Alpha developed to see dangers and a Persuader is a danger to his offspring. They both knew that, why she was careful not to make eye contact as Jack metered his annoyance.

"Well… when Mum left I … I did wonder if I could find her. Follow he and she might take me with her" Alcie squirmed in the chair as Jack hid his surprise "And… I did find her at a café near my school a few months later. I thought… I thought she had come to see me. Like a secret meeting or something. You know, to tell me she missed me or something but as I started to run towards her this man came out of the store and… it wasn't him. You know. HIM. It was another one and he kissed her right there in the street like they… and I … was so confused. She didn't see me. I don't know… why he was with him."

Ianto did not peak, this was not his place to and he let Jack know it softly in their mind, telling him to at least respond.

"Well… I did suspect there was more than one. I … sort of thought she might have a back-up to her back-up. Maybe once she left with HIM she saw that she did not love him… rather the idea of him. Like… a really good movie you heard about from everyone and really wanted to see for yourself and as you watch it you're like… is this it?" Jack tried valiantly to explain things "Your mother… I don't think she was happy with anything really. Ater her father died; she was so sad. I think, she was trying to find someone who made her feel the way he did and there was no one. Not like a father."

Alice looked over at Ianto who had been silent "Ianto? Do you think so too?"

"I did not know your mother. I only know you kids, and your father. All I know is that I would never leave you. I would fight for you and… that is just the way I am. Who knows. Your mother's powers were strong, and I think… given her residual energy on the box… she did love you very much but, she saw herself as separate. Some do. Some Mutants think they are in this… ah… bubble of power that is unique to them. I think that separation made it harder for her to bond and … well… feel connected. I have bonded to you all, but my bubble is large and can fit you all inside it. You are all loved and protected by me. I think… maybe your mother's bubble was too small."

The councillor stared at him with shock as he shrugged and added "So, it is important to learn to grow your bubble so it can hold those dear to you. That way, you don't forget them. Even if this planet was on fire, I would come for you. I swear."

She smiled, her entire face lighting up "Even through fire?"

"Well… maybe a little fire… around the edges. Definitely smoke. Yah" he winked, and she giggled, throwing herself at him, then apologizing as she remembered he was still sore form the womb shift.

"That's OK. Cuddle always makes things better and so… how could you hurt me, hmm? Besides, I am almost back to full strength. Astra will soon be on a bottle too, then look out. I will strut again." He winked and she laughed, snuggling against him.

"I like it in your bubble. You have a nice bubble."

Ianto shot a warning glace at Jack who had started to open his month and Jack added carefully "I like it here too. Let's strengthen it and make it OUR bubble."

Fen finally spoke from the other chair where he had been curled up with a book "I don't care. I am already in the bubble thing. No one ever learned how to cut my crusts, Ianto always does. I know he loves me."

They all laughed as the baby snuffled in Jack's arms.

They were all aorkgin at this, it was going to be OK.