16

The next couple of weeks were quiet, Christmas filling the place with brightness and glitter…. Oh god the glitter. Eve Ianto had to admit (to Jack in the safety of their bed) that it was a monster that he had lost control of, Jack's soft laugher as he kissed him and whispered that it didn't really mater… the monsters down here are all lovely, which did seem to help.

It was Christmas Eve tomorrow, Ianto now making last minute tweaks that made him feel like a bit of a Motel Manager sniffing at the flower arrangements. This was when a whisper in the back of his mind told him that maybe… maybe he had to move faster.

Ianto started to run.

.

.

Hope was in the Family Room arguing with Solomon who had removed one of the Christmas Centerpieces to place down his own creation he wanted for his area, the goat skull full of twigs and a tall red candle was, in her opinion, a fire hazard. Everyone was laughing, the place full of people and warmth.

Ianto entered just in time to catch the first look of confusion on her face before her hands moved to her stomach and she uttered those immortal words of a woman in labor "Oh shit that hurt."

Everyone froze, except Ianto who moved towards her with a serious gaze, intent on grabbing her before Jack….

Noticed.

Too late.

Jake was on his feet, his hands flapping around his head as he roared for someone to boil some hot water, he was also trying to shoo the kids out of the room like she might have it there on the table... you know… field trauma style. Hope of course stood there watching him with mild amusement, mixed with annoyance.

Really?

"Daddy? Are you OK?" she finally asked.

"Jack, calm down Cariad you will…" Ianto stopped talking as Jack slammed into the doorframe for the kitchen, bouncing back to land on his back on the floor, out cold. Everyone gaped as Ianto sighed softly and plucked him up, flinging his limp body over one shoulder. "Can you walk sweetie? I can carry you both."

"Did he really just run into the doorframe and knock himself out Taddy?" she asked with a slightly hysterical giggle.

"Yep."

"I don't think I've ever seen Daddy panic about anything" she giggled some more as she waddled towards the door and that was when Frank scooped her up and she yelped with surprise, then clung to him as she knew he was not going to drop her.

"Where are we going?" she asked as she saw him heading for the vehicle he liked the most, the steering wheel huge for his clawed hands.

"Shangri-La?" Ianto offered "wanna be there love?"

"Sounds nice" she answered, then she got to see Ifan panic as well, his yodel for his father as he ran off down the tunnel making her frown softly as she muttered what a twat he was sometimes. "Look at him, not even using a vehicle… gods... he runs like a girl."

"Well, that is his father's DNA" Ianto said calmly and she giggled some more.

They drove calmly towards Shangri-La, the only giveaway that Frank was slightly perturbed was the low hum of distress. She reached out to place her hand over his on the gear stick, calling him a little as she whispered that she was a Wolfling and would be OK.

Gonna be a piece of cake.

Dean had gone for others and the pack was waiting along with Toshiko and Owen, his eyes wide and his skin pale. Ianto did not have to ask, surmising that Poppy had simply picked him up and run with him much like Ianto had with Jack, freaking him out as he had only ever ridden on Ianto's back.

And let's not forget his horse thing.

"Owen? Did one of my children kidnap you?" he asked, trying not to let the amusement bleed into the words.

"Did you know Johnson can fly?" Owen hissed "And… and we … we flew. Jackson and Johnson sort of… whoooosh."

"You were not flying. They were running fast and it felt like they were not touching the ground but that was just an illusion" Ianto assured him "they cannot fly in these tunnels… we need sky for that."

Owen stood there with narrowed eyes staring at Ianto before he said softly "Fucker. Like you can fly!"

"Exactly" Ianto slapped his arm and then motioned for him to follow their children who had already stepped into the other realm.

"Flying… how stupid" Owen repeated with a snort now like it was Ianto who had said it first, sure Ianto was a bullshitter and Toshiko sighed, shaking her head as she carried the doctor's bag they all knew he wouldn't need.

As they neared the cottage she stopped, doubling over to groan softly and Jack woke at the same time, struggling from Ianto's shoulder to run for her "Oh… oh… my baby is having a baby. Help her for the love of the gods. My poor baby girl!"

"Daddy… daddy… stop" she was laughing, tears streaming down her cheeks as she slapped at him "stop. You are…. So… fucking… funny."

"Sweetie, I now you don't know what you are saying because of the pain but you must try to be careful with your words, little ears coming out to join us ya know" Jack was gushing, his hands in his hair as he tried to stop himself from grabbing at her again.

"Jack, get the door" Ianto gave him something to do and Jack ran for the house, then Ianto realized a flaw and yelled "Cariad, look out for the….. steps."

Jack tripped on the bottom step and slammed into the porch, out cold again.

"Oh for the love of chocolate and puppies" Ianto sighed.

Hope had to stop again, screaming with mirth as her fingernails dug into the arms of those either side of her, their yowls of pain joining her in noise.

But the twins are tough.

And excited to meet their newling too.