17
"My god, you are with child" came the first response to Jack everywhere he went and he was clearly loving the effect it had on people. Some stepping back, some rushing forward but the standing still and gaping was his favourite.
Ianto had shaken his head and left him to it, Tam and Sam staying with Jack to watch the responses to the obvious male pregnancy that might better prepare them in time for when their own showed. Of course having handsome matching bodyguards like them didn't hurt either, Jack so proud to tell everyone who asked that the twins were his boys.
Their grins confirming it with the obvious Harkness teeth.
No, Ianto chose to take Rhiannon with him as he scoured the area and found the township to be clean, welcoming and as far as he could tell, no hidden agenda. They were poor but not overly so, their ability to provide clear. The local wildlife was plentiful and edible, the land fertile.
Little Annabelle also kept up with her Great Grandfather, her hand in his as he used her gleaning ability with open abandon, listening to conversations, taking in the thoughts behind the comments and even the other children who stopped to talk to Annabelle got their minds inspected quietly. By that afternoon Ianto had many answers, many more questions and a clear feeling that this was the one.
"Right… what's it to be!" Rhys demanded as they settled in the Ready Room, his eyes sliding between the two men who would have the words, even if the other spoke all at once. Finally it was John spoke, surprising everyone but the two men who had already talked to him.
"I feel it is solid and we can flourish here." He said confidently.
"Tiger?" Jack turned to the one who had let John speak first, as is his way.
"The indigenous life is not all welcoming, there are some dangerous beasts beyond the reaches of this colony. Owen will need to form some friendships with the local healers as I think they use some of the native plants as remedies to poisons and bites." Ianto began, watching Owen nod and take notes "Also, tech. They are more advanced than they let on. They have a vessel inside the large red building. I feel that it no longer goes, they used it to get here and it limped the last few days… no full shielding left and it is burnt out. They use it as their fall-back shelter. Something happens on a yearly basis that scares the little ones. There are drills for it… once a year they hide in the vessel until it passes so… a migration or something?"
"I can ask around about that one" Alice said softly as she nodded her ability to coerce known to those who nodded as well. A trait she now knew cam form the one who sucked in his cheeks as he pretended not to be pleased that his cheekbones popped.
"The area they propose to give us is not far from them. I get the feeling that this valley is protected, that some of the larger more dangerous creatures do not come this way… something tot do with the river that runs through it like a vein, the lifeline. Before anyone decides to go explore the rest of the planet, I suggest asking a few friendlier and older members about the danger out there. Mayb seem to be asking for a guide? Something called the 'outer reach' exists where something lives that they are patricianly afraid of, again… it stays there, they stay here."
"Wow, you got a lot in one afternoon" Margie snorted at her uncle, glancing at John who gave his daughter a hand motion to shut up. It was noticed by Ianto who took a moment to study the face on the woman and decide she was not Jack's. She had too much of a … soft look to her. One of the old women nearby seemed to be her mother. Hmmm. So, John's children aged as well.
"They will take us to the designated area first thing in the morning. I will sit out the evening meal and welcoming ceremony if you all don't mind. I want a quiet night in to be well rested. I will need my wits about me tomorrow if we are to learn the hidden pitfalls that they do not tell us." Ianto lied, knowing Jack was exhausted and would insist on going on inro the evening for face value. "Me and Jack will eat in our quarters and go over some points."
"Is that what you call it now?" Owen snorted.
"You're right. I will stay with you, so they can blame me. That way they will not know you have need to recharge" Jack said gallantly, giving a hidden word of thanks to Ianto for being considerate to his condition.
Besides… Baby was ready and if they cajole just right she might come tonight.
If anyone can persuade a baby to come it is Ianto, he had about an eighty percent success rate for this and Jack wanted the bloody thing out… I mean.. to meet his princess.
.
.
Sam and Tam had gone to the evening party with their respective partners and the stir was amazing, no one really even noticing the lack of Ianto and Jack.
Jack lay in the tub of water, the warmth in his very bones as Ianto hummed and stroked the bare belly. The movement was still astounding to Jack, the moment when the baby decides and moves, like… for the first time it stops being your baby and becomes another little being.
He let the snap.
"She's coming" he whispered, and Ianto nodded having felt the child's decision as well and both men waited, Jack labouring as the birth canal opened, the little one forced her way out and looked up at Ianto with something akin to a scold.
Of course she scolded him for ever wondering if it was his child in here.
She was the spitting image of him.
Down to the glower.
Ianto was smitten.