16

Ianto was in bed, curled up like a cat and Jack took a moment to look at his long lashes as they moved against his cheeks, so long. So sweet. He wondered if their child would have those lashes, that little nose, those cheekbones, or would there be more Harkness in there?

He slid in behind to spoon him and as he reached around to cuddle in he felt something in Ianto's arms, sitting up to look over his shoulder into the most brilliantly blue …. Harkness… eyes.

Jack felt the bed fall away beenath him like the entire world had dropped several feet, his stomach did a weird rolling thing as he stared as his daughter, there in silent welcome.

"Well… shit." Jack whispered. "Hello."

She pouted her lips, those full Harkness lips under a pert little button nose and those clearly Harkness cheekbones. Oh goddess on a Gerbil… she was gorgeous. Oh gods… she was perfect.

Jack was grinning as he crooned softly, reaching out to touch her cheek and finally she smiled, a little gummy smile that made her entire face glow. Ahhhhhhh.

Then it hit him what he was looking at. Who he was looking at.

"Ianto? Are you OK darling?" he asked softly.

"Hmmmm. Tired. Shut up. Sweeping."

"Sweeping?"

"Sleeping ya fucking numpty!"

"Oh my Goddess… in front of the baby" Jack gasped with fake horror, then started to giggle "And you had her all on your own? Oh man… Owen is gonna be pissed he missed this one. All that training."

"Little fucker was with you, being all he-man stomping the boundaries out there" Ianto muttered then shifted to let Jack see his face and see there was no anger there "But did you have fun?"

"And you're OK?"

"Cariad, I am an ex-slave. We are used to pain, it was something easily sectioned out to focus on the incoming little poppet. Do you see her eyes? Your eyes."

"Yeah… I am so glad she has your nose. I wanted her to have your nose, does that sound silly? Only Rane is so much like you and… I wanted to see some of you in this one too." Jack sighed softly "so pale, she's like milk. We could call her milky? No… Snow? No… wait… it's there somewhere."

"You think so much sometimes for someone who acts impulsively like he does not think at all. I think the words you want are Lily white…. So… Lily? OK." Ianto sighed, reaching up to cup his face "Your brain is so overdriven it's a wonder I don't smell smoke sometimes. It is what it is. The Gods decide these things, long before we are even a part of the story. And sometimes it's not that sucky, ya know? Sometimes… it' just right."

"And sometimes…" Jack leaned in to kiss him gently "It's super."

Ianto giggled as he gently shoved at Jack and settled once more, both men settling to adore their new life.

.

.

The next morning they headed down for breakfast like nothing was different, the large robes Ianto had been wearing lately to hide the baby bump still in use, the bump a little different now though.

Ianto settled in his usual chair and hummed softly, looking at the display of food and hopeful that now the little beast was out, he could finally fit some real food. "Cariad… that glazed donut with cream in it… sooo naughty."

Jack placed it on the plate then added a club sandwich he knew Ianto had noticed as well, then he settled back to watch the food porn on display as Ianto chowed down, humming and groaning, then a squeak as a dob of cream fell from the donut onto the bump.

"Oh gods, our little one not even half a day old and you're already feeding her solids?" Jack laughed reaching out to scoop the cream up and peek into the folds of clothing that seemed endless. "You OK in there Lily? Hmmm? My little Lily Bum?"

"She's fine" Ianto replied as he reached for another delicacy and Jack folded the clothing back so it recovered the baby then he patted the bump lovingly as Ianto added "She's dead to the world right?"

"Yeah." Jack sighed happily.

"All my kids sleep like that… you could drive a herd of cattle through the room and three would not stir. Lisa used to joke that wood sprites might come and snatch them away and they would never know. Those from her more of the light sleepers" Ianto smiled reaching out to touch Jack's face "Happy?"

"Are you kidding? Don't' be silly… I am beyond happy. Wow. She s so tiny but perfect. You and I make a good-looking baby" Jack said happily "And I can't wait for the world to meet her."

"Not yet, you know how I am. About three days before I let her become part of the pass the parcel game aroid here!" Ianto said with a stern finger wag. "Besides, the dragons come first. And my errant son no doubt down in the kitchen eating with Cookie spoiling the boys."

"Excuse me… is… I mean… is there a baby in there?" the queen asked with open shock.

"Don't be silly woman, you know he's preggers" came the huffed reply of Jack's father and then the giggling from Jack started as her face changed to one of consternation.

"Goodness Mama, you look just like Ianto. He gives me that look sometimes" Jack spluttered around his food.

"Because you share your father's gears in the brain box" Ianto muttered, making the entire table snigger. Then finally he leaned back to open the clothing slightly so her face was visible "This is out little Lily Mae. She came in the small hours of this morning."

"Oh my word"

Yes… she is a word.

Perfect.