6

"Never heard of him"

"Well, sniff around, he is clever enough to hide his child and niece by somehow having their births listed as a month before the Re-Gifting Day. I take it his wife must have been Gifted because that little man… ah…. London?... knew something was up with me." Jack said and watched something cross Andy's face as he said the child's name which he knew was not quite right. Clearly Andy knew too. Jack saw the shift in his face for a moment before he looked away.

"Andy?"

"Well… I thought you said his niece was showing signs so… maybe she said something to the little boy and he just thinks he is. I mean… if the Tad isn't, maybe the boy is so low on the spectrum it doesn't matter? After all, only one parental with the Gift does not make a powerful child." Andy shrugged. "If the kids are real close it might be like a game or something."

"Why Andy Davidson, that's the most you've said in a single sentence in the entire time I've known you!" Gwen laughed "Christ. Did ya hear him."

"He's right though" Owen said as he slumped in his chair "We have bigger fish to fry. And Cooper… don't scoff when you are only a five your own damn self."

Everyone laughed as the two friends shared a look.

They had to protect Ianto.

And Lisbon.

Christ, how the hell did Jack smell out their best and strongest friend like that.

Neither of them liked it.

.

.

Their birthdays had arrived, Ianto watching from the sidelines as his son and niece enjoyed the amazing party that he and his siter had managed to ramp up with the help of uncle Andy and Uncle Owen who seemed to be enjoying the game center as much as the kids, Toshiko calmly watching from the sidelines along with the other real adults.

"So, Owen tells me the Captain sniffed you out" she said softly, making Ianto grunt with annoyance and make a face she knew well. She giggled. "You are such an old fuddy duddy sometimes."

"Only sometimes? Christ, am I slipping?"

More giggling. Then she sighed "Oh god, looks like Kiko is going to have another go at Lisbon."

"I don't know… your son is such a cutey" Ianto laughed as they watched Toshiko's little boy swing at his friend and Lisbon reacted by…. Not being there.

"Fuck." Owen said softly.

"Damn it… I told him not to… fuck" Ianto huffed as his son showed his gift.

"I know… Kiko showed his in the bloody supermarket the other day" Toshko said with annoyance "Lifted a pellet of water battles clean out of the way with one hand because he could see the bananas. I almost shat meself. Only the fact no one else was in the aisle that I didn't throttle him."

Ianto nodded silently, recalling the harrowing ordeal that Toshiko had endured during childbirth. The underground bunker had been a sanctuary, providing the critical care that ensured her survival. In contrast, the memory of Lisa's tragic death during premature labour lingered painfully. She had fallen from a stepladder while preparing the nursery, her waters breaking as labour advanced swiftly. Lisa died in Ianto's arms, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the heavy price they had paid for their son's survival.

Toshiko had almost died, as had many others in the underground systems but the medical crews on standby with the knowledge and equipment to deal with the same thing that killed Lisa meant the survival of almost all of those who listened to the warning. Even if many didn't. This was the turning point, the moment they realized the Dragon was speaking truth.

Owen had sensed a premonition that day, Ianto's repetitive murmurs of "it's coming" resonating deeply within him. There was an eerie calmness in Ianto, a resignation that suggested he had foreseen this heart-wrenching event but understood its inevitability.

Shaking off the solemn memories, Ianto turned to Toshiko and screwed up his face.

"So, what now?" Toshiko watched him intently, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Ianto sighed, a resigned shrug accompanying his words. "I know the Captain has always been intrigued by me. Now that he has finally seen me, I can't shake off this feeling of uncertainty. He hasn't connected the dots between me and the Dragon just yet, but I fear it's only a matter of time. A casual slip of the tongue, a familiar gesture, even the way I move could give me away."

"That's why I suggested the face modification program," she replied.

"I didn't want to look like a caricature of a dragon!" Ianto growled softly, watching his son zip past, a loud scream of joy trailing behind him.

The ominous feeling of impending doom lingered, heavy in the air.

.

.

"Well, maybe" Jack frowned as he looked at the silhouette of the Dragon "But there will be some push back."

"I know, but I realized how terrifying this will be for the kids. They will be nine, a mere three years away. If we start doing this now, when the anniversary date comes, they will not be afraid. They will think it is just another drill or something. We can make it fun, like a camping trip with games and treats. We have time to help them assimilate to the possibility of a week or more underground, turning the experience into an adventure rather than a dreaded necessity."

"We have three years, like you said" Jack frowned as he stared at the figure, the sudden cant of the head… he looked…

"Well, it's up to you" came the sudden interruption like he could feel Jack staring at him.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked, now confused by the strange response.

But the screen simply faded away, as always this guy seemed to ghost.