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The c-section was coincidentally planned for the anniversary of their first date (it was seen as a blessing and Ianto repleted it internally to himself) and as both men waited by Donna's head giving her encouragement the babies were brought into the world.
The little girl came first, all goopy and full of noise. Jack gathered her into his arms and stood there completely unsure what to do as he stared at the little one who he knew instantly would rule his every waking moment for the rest of his life. Then he gently wiped some goop off her hair to see that it was already soft curls. Not like Steven's at all. Oh… Ianto's hair.
"Babe?" Jack said softly "Look."
"wanna thump while holding our daughter?" Ianto asked as he continued to look at Donna with nothing but love in his expression.
"Sorry Tiger" Jack grinned, clearly not the least bit put out.
"OK... here comes the little slugger…. Wow… look how long those limbs are. Ianto, he has your long body too" Owen gushed as he lifted the boy out and Ianto accepted him with more decorum than Jack ever could.
"She looks so cute" Jack continued to gush "She looks like Rose, right? Awwwww… she's looking around. So aware."
"She doesn't look like a Jennifer or Jenny. I don't know" Jack was muttering softly "she looks like a… Stella or a little fairy like… like a… Grace or a Serenity or… or…"
"Angel" Ianto said softly "Like an Angel?"
"YES!" Jack gushed "Angel. An Angel. Or… Eden?"
"I like that. Eden. Eden Donna Harkness Jones" Ianto agreed and Donna gasped with delight as she heard the acknowledgment her daughter would carry forever.
"And the little guy?" Jack looked over "Does he fit any of the names we had picked out?"
"Well… he doesn't really suit much… he's so little and monkey-like" Ianto frowned as both Jac and Donna gasped with horror, then Ianto laughed softly "Kidding. He's cuter than a kitten, for sure. Kitt. How about Kitson, Kitty for short?"
"Kitson Owen Harkness Jones" Jack said softly, Owen now preening as he was included in the names.
"I like it" Ianto agreed "So… welcome Kit and Eden."
"Yeah" Jack choked out "Welcome my children."
.
.
Steven was excited, Alice trying to act like she wasn't as well but not hiding it all that well as the babies entered the house, c till carrying the little girl. This time Eden was in her little bright pink car capsule, Kit following with Ianto carrying him in a purple one to match. Not blue, his son would decide for himself what colour he wanted. As for Eden… well… not worth arguing with Jack on that madness.
"Oh wow" Rose gushed, her and Colin looking down at the little girl who was asleep, like a little China doll in the cascade of lace and pink ribbons.
Kit was awake, silent and drinking things in, Steven looking down at him as he whispered to him what a brave little boy he was but his big brother would take care of things now and it was safe here.
Colin asked to take a picture of each one to send his Dad, if that was alright and even as Jack seemed to hesitate, Ianto nodded. Then thrust the little boy at Jack "He wants his Daddy."
Jack lit up, proudly letting Colin take the photo and as Colin sent them off Toshiko asked Ianto quietly why he had agreed to that.
"Colin's dad is a powerful man and if he is smitten with these two, they are blessed. Once the gang get their cuddles in, they will protect them too. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but underground crime… raises blessed ones." He answered as she rolled her eyes.
"So, Owen got a middle name?" she asked leaning against him, poking at him.
"Look, sorry. You just are not weird enough to warrant a middle name" Ianto said dreamily and she laughed as she accepted a cuddle from him, seeing Alice finally reach into the capsule to gather the little girl into her arms to sit and look at intently at her tiny face.
"So, what now?" Gray asked as he sought a cuddle of his nephew.
"Now… we are shattered and will have a quiet day of rest, letting them settle in" Ianto answered sitting to pull Steven into his lap and kiss him as he reassured him that he was still special.
And, this is where we leave them for now.
Full of love, hope and a new start.
Albeit a shaky one.
But we are all on shaky ground really.
It's not about being scared… it's about moving forward anyway.
Thanks for reading.