15

They walked for half an hour then took a break, Rhys nervously looking back each time to make sure Gwen was not following them somehow. Ianto shared his concern but also could not 'see' what she was up to so let it go. Kathy was also Heddlu and was proving a good team member, taking the rear guard with a calmness that seemed to soothe the kids.

They started moving again, this time faster as Ianto felt something happening in the air above them and he wanted to put distance between them and whatever was happening within the city limits. Whatever it was, it felt… bad.

It was two hours later and a lot of grumpy kid grumblings that Ianto stopped and looked to his left.

Then pivoted and walked to a door with purpose.

Everyone watched as he pushed it open and stepped out into a wooded rea.

"What…whoa. Is this parkland?" Andy asked as he stepped out and looked around with interest.

"Yeah, a little private estate on the outskirts of town" Ianto replied as he confidently strode across the lawn, even as everyone else looked up at the sky with trepidation.

But they had faith in him.

So, they followed.

.

.

It was a lovely old house, a manor more like. Not cold and damp, but airy and light. Huge windows and lots of brightness. The walls were pale buttercup yellow with white accents and here and there was a splash of orange, pumpkin or a deep burnt vermilion. Pretty.

"This was me Grandmother's place, sorry about the horrid colours" Ianto said as he walked into the kitchen where a woman made a noise of shock and horror, physically retreating from him. "Hello Dorris."

"Mister Jones, oh my lord… where did you come from" she squealed still sliding around the kitchen island away from him, the fear so obvious. Clearly, she knew him well.

"I came from the same place I always come from. I came from the Star Lords" ianto said in a strange voice and she paused then a small giggle escaped as she relaxed, then nodded.

It had been a rouse?

Jack turned to Ianto who explained "If I was ever here against my will, forced to show this place I would tell her I came from my mother's womb. Saying Star Lords tells her I am safe, we are safe."

"Your sister has been in touch" she said without preamble "Her and the boy were scooped up like you said they might be, were assessed and found to be non-Gifted then released. Her feckless fella… well… non-gifted is a generous term for him as he is the one who tried to shop them!"

"Like I said he would."

"Why it all worked like you said it would, she is back home and David back with his mates and at school while the Feckless one is now on the outs with everyone and looking to settle in with that barmaid with the big tits."

Jack grinned as he asked "So, what name will you come up with for me then?"

She looked at him with confusion, then at Ianto and reared back as she saw them together "No. Sweetie. You found your Scottish Beau?"

Silence.

"Yeeesss, my lineage is Scottish, Boeshanian by birth" Jack said softly "Boeshanian… A Boe."

Funny, she always thought beau as in romantic partner, now she saw that Ianto had been saying Boe. She laughed at her own silliness and Ianto grinned knowing what her mind had finally clicked together.

"You told her you would meet me?" Jack asked.

"Yes. My Boe. I never saw your face, but I smelt you, felt you. Dreamed of your coat. Always" Ianto whispered softly "I feel things in my waters, but you… I felt you in my bones."

Jake did not answer that, no need when a kiss might suffice.

"Hey, Dadda, put poor Taddy Into down. I wanna let a horsie!" Alice said as she wandered past with a chicken under an arm, the other kids following with chickens of their own and Uncle Andy with the rooster that loked extremely confused by his predicament.

"Best not to ask" Rhys said after considering for a moment.

"This place is awesome, why have we never been here?" Owen asked.

"This is my Secret Garden. I always kept it apart from everything and everyone. There was a reason" Ianto answered him.

"This time." Owen guessed.

"Yes. No one knows about this place. I knew the time would come when I had to run. This place… this is where I was conceived actually. That first time, the first visit." Ianto admitted "I always knew it had to come full circle and… here we are."

"So… how long can we stay here?" Jack asked.

"As long as we want. I own this place, there are enough supplies to last about a bloody year and really… the longer we stay quiet and away from everything, the better our chances of not being found when they do the sweeps."

"Sweeps?"

"When the humans sweep the land seeking any mutants left and kill them all" Ianto said calmly like it was no big deal, still looking inf the refrigerator for the cheese, removing it to turn and slice, then pausing as he saw the face staring at him.

"Oh right… I didn't tell you? Yeah. Humans decided that if there are no mutants, they won't come back. Since, they wanted us all to die when they sent the pulses but… well. They want to blame someone really and we are it."

"Well… fuck!" Rhys huffed looking out the window at the kids all playing outside, chasing the now free chickens.

"If we had been stupid enough to go home we might be."

Fuck.