13

Jack knew something had happened, just not what and as no one would tell him he had to assume it was something to do with the little one in his arms. Star. Strangely, he hoped that was it and it was not his newling in his belly that was the problem somehow.

Ianto was stilted in his movement and it was when John entered the house and quietly settled at the table, glancing across at Jack with a look of… apology? Why that? Jack now knew it was not just the Judoon baby… it was his too.

Jack was now insulted even without knowing why.

Gabriel slid into the room and leaned against the table "Johnty. We go Arch?"

"No kiddo. Not today. But your Uncle Archie IS going to come see you at some point" John smiled "Tomorrow the assault course opens and he will come to see you try it out."

Gabriel seemed to consider, then turned to Ianto "Stary come look too?"

"The baby?" Ianto was surprised by the question "Ah, I don't know if an assault course is a place for a baby love."

"Judoon. She born to fight."

John sniggered softly as he pointed at the little pup "He's right. Sooner she sees the madness, the sooner she will embrace it."

"And what if we rise her to be a pacifist?" Jack asked with a pompous look, cuddling the baby close.

Everyone loked at him, then burst out laughing.

Silly bugger.

Judoon.

.

.

Still, Jack did not know so he went to someone who might and might actually tell him.

"Ah. Ianto has not talked about it?"

"No." Jack sighed "He is too angry."

Alice grimaced and Jack knew it was bad. She sighed "Everyone knows because it was done in public with an audience."

"This does not sound good."

"Rhiannon. I don't know if it was baby brain or what but… she tore strips off Ianto for not being happier about her newling, said she found male pregnancy gross and the baby Judoon sort of embarrassing. It was horrible. He stood there and took it, then he said something others could not hear and stalked off. I think she's toast right now. I mean… she is the result of male bonding, right? Is she that dense?"

"Wow. She went nuclear?"

"With a side of Napalm."

"Shit. So the baby…"

"Babies. Plural. She thinks you stole her thunder and wanted an apology. I mean… I sounds like it was the other way around to me but she can't seem to see that. Ianto was clearly insulted and hurt" Alice drummed her fingers "He did ask if it was his fault for not raising her right, for her to act like this."

"Ah shit."

"Yeah."

Now he knew and did not feel the slightest bit better about it.

.

.

Jack stood with the baby in the front pack watching his son decimate the assault course followed by three other SKs and some Blumanchu children who were just being dicks for the hell of it. He felt like all eyes were on him, like Rhianon's words had sullied the air around him or something and it angered him to know she had hurt Ianto. Must have hurt him deeply for the staid silence that had enveloped him.

Then he saw her coming and stiffened, looking for a way to escape before she saw him but too late, she did and changed course to head directly towards him. His hands instinctively going to the baby, holding her close as he stood taller, ready to defend himself.

"Hi Jack. I guess Tee told you that my baby brain got away from me, and I said some horrid things I didn't mean only for him to get uppity" she began, clearly gaslighting was the best way to go huh? "I mean, I w trying to speak my truth and it all came out wrong. That never happened to you?"

Jack felt a spark of anger. How dare she try to pass this off "No. I can honestly say I have never accidentally insulted my parental, my siblings or a different race of people all in one foul swoop while in public. Let's not forget my own birth. Maybe I am defective?"

She blinked.

"Your father had NOT told me what you said, others did. He is still too hurt to even say the words out loud let alone watch their effect on my heart to hear them. You know how soft he can be. But I have been told by others how you hurt him. What his face looked like, how he seemed to deflate from your words like daggers cutting down a balloon. Don't worry Rhia… I know you hate the babies. It's OK. You never have to interact with any of them, we will not even give them the Jones name if ya like. Shame we already did it with Gabriel but you know… it is a common name, maybe they won't associate him with you in the future. Not when you act like you don't know him anyway."

"See? Things taken wrong" she huffed.

"No. No they weren't. Maybe you said them wrong but the intent was clearly heard." Jack was now righteously angry too "And if you can not get over the fact your father grew you in his stomach and loved you from the spark of your beginnings like I do with the one now in my own gut… well… sucks to be you. Ew. Better go home and wash yourself with lye soap or something. God… you came from a man's arse. Ewwwwww."

Jack didn't know where that had come from but as he walked away from the gaping woman he felt lighter.

Baby brain… right?

Oops?

Cow.