Disclaimer: Don't own them but like to come up with answers to situations that start as 'what if....?' this is one of them.

Warning: AU, Profanity, Shounen Ai, Violence, Aghast, and all that other good stuff.

Pairings: 1X2 and eventual 3X4

a/n: lol, ok here's the next part! Sorry if it's been a long wait =0)I'd just like to take to the time thank everyone who reviewed and added this to their alerts! I really appreciate all the feedback I get from you guys! Any who, let's get on with chappie shall we? Enjoy!

It's the Climb

Part 10

The sun rose slowly from it's hiding place behind the mountains and forest in the distance, bright amethyst orbs watching it's progression into the sky. Hearing a slight groan as the light crept into the room, a lithe form turned from it's observation to lock eyes with slightly groggy cobalt ones surveying him intently. " Good morning, love." Duo grinned, as he made his way back over to the bed, crawling back into his lover's open arms, and snuggling against his warm body.

"Morning," Heero mumbled, closing his eyes again now that he had his braided fey back into his arms, and attempting to go back to sleep. But like always, sleep evaded him now that he had woken up, memories of the night before flashing in his mind. He groaned, and threw an arm over his eyes, only to lift it as he felt Duo shift on the bed. " Duo?"

He sat up slightly on his elbows, and watched his boyfriend leaned over the edge of the bed, reaching over for something on the dresser. He looked down as Duo pressed his mother's diary of sorts onto his lap. Heero's gaze softened as his fingers lightly traced over the worn leather fabric, embroidered with an intricate weaving design. "The ball's in your court love." Duo spoke softly, and Heero wasn't the least bit surprised that he knew he was thinking over the events from the night before.

He just nodded mutely, not very sure what to say. His temper subsided somewhat, he closed his eyes and thought for a bit. Yes, it was like a slap to his face that Odin and Emily had concealed this little…-ok- HUGE tidbit about his life from him...but his father did see him like he always wanted right? It's just...Heero hadn't had known that his was. He didn't leave him like they had led him to believe. So maybe...it wasn't that bad? Maybe… they could start over?

Memories of the night before progressed, and Heero groaned as he remembered his last parting words to his.... father and Emily. " Love?" Feeling Duo's soft, warm fingers caressing his cheek with the lightest of touches, Heero grabbed the boy who held his heart, and snuggled into the crook of his neck. " I said something I shouldn't have before I left. And now..." Duo felt a small smile tug at his lips, shaking his head softly. His Heero...always ready to shoot the gun first and ask questions later. " You want to take it back?" He felt Heero give a small nod, and pulled slightly away so he could look into Heero's piercing blue eyes. " Listen to me. I don't care what the hell you said to them. Odin's your old man, he'll forgive you. I just know it! I mean, you didn't even punch him this time." Duo smiled as Heero gave a little chuckle, and nodded approvingly.

"And speaking of old men... I've got a bone to pick with Howard! I can't believe he never told me that he could have been your surrogate father! I mean sheesh! We could have been related!" Duo frowned, and Heero laughed shaking his head. " No we wouldn't, he's your adoptive father Duo. The worse it could've been is that we would've ended up as step brothers." Heero laughed some more as Duo shivered at the thought, and made a face, before turning over and getting dressed.

"Let's go get some grub. I'm hungry Hee-chan." Heero nodded, his eyes sparkling, as he got up and got dressed, his eyes never leaving his energetic love. In a few minutes, the pair was dressed and made their way from the tree house to the main house, racing on their brilliant mares as they chatted about nothing in particular. After bringing out a block of hay for Shinigami and Wing, and securing them near their usual spots under the great oak tree, the pair made their into the house and to the kitchen.

"Well, after breakfast we could go over to old Howie's place. That guy as been bugging the hell out of me, asking when you're coming over to visit and all! Sheesh...and now we have something to-"Duo stopped in his tracks, as they entered the door way to the kitchen. There sitting at the table was Trowa and Odin, looking as though in a slightly intense conversation, Auntie Em over by her usual spot at the stove, cooking. Green eyes looked up simultaneously as Duo gulped, wondering whether he should back out now and take Heero with him before he saw who was in there, or just move and let him decide for himself. The decision was out of his hands, as Heero walked right into his backside. " Duo?"

Heero step sided him and stopped dead in his tracks. Odin and Heero's eyes met and after a tense moment, emerald gave way to steely cobalt . Duo inwardly groaned as he spied Heero's clenching fists, and was surprised when they unclenched, and Heero spoke. "Good morning." Duo blinked, and watched as Heero nodded to the Barton men, before sitting down and turning toward him. Coming out of his stupor, Duo smiled and waved a greeting to all present before sitting down beside Heero.

"Morning boys." Emily said softly, walking over with two heaping plates of food held in trembling hands. As she neared the table, Heero and Duo swiftly took the plates before something could happen, and gave her warm smiles, Heero smiling a bit longer before tucking in himself. Hands clasped to her chest, Emily beamed at Odin, who responded with a small smile of his own, before turning and preparing two more plates for their other guests.

The mood was somewhat less intense as Quatre and Wufei wandered into the kitchen, and the group chatted about what to do for the day. It was decided that they'd head into town and visit the vet clinic before coming back home for lunch then on to clean out the stables which was over due for the pooper scooper. Heero watched as Odin made to get up, his step somewhat faltering as he walked past the doorway and onto the stairs. As Trowa made to get up and help, Heero was already out of his seat and walking after Odin, leaving the boy to only blink before giving a small smile and sitting back down in his seat. Everyone said nothing, but identical smiles were plastered on their lips in understanding.

Odin glanced over his shoulder as he felt a light tug on his elbow, his eyes widening as they fell upon Heero standing slightly beside him from behind, a light blush on his cheeks, staring at the wall. " Just...let me help you up." Odin's wrinkled eyes crinkled even more, before nodding and patting Heero on the head like he did when he was younger. Prussian blue met emerald and softened when he had not been rejected. He stepped up to get on the same step as Odin and nudged him slightly to get him to move his arm so he could loop it with his own, before leading the way slowly upstairs.

By the time Heero had gotten Odin up the stairs and into his own bed, he had broken out into a sweat. After going into the bathroom and wetting a washcloth, he returned and placed it upon the old man's forehead, settling on the edge of the bed and watching as Odin's chest rose and fell slightly faster than normal, his eyes squeezed shut.

"I'm...sorry." Odin opened his eyes a bit, confusion in his green orbs. " About what I said last night. I- I didn't mean to say those things to you. I'm sorry." Heero hung his head, and Odin couldn't help but smile at the gesture he had seen so often when the boys had been much younger. "It's fine. I understand... I would have done the same." Heero looked up at smiling emerald orbs, and felt a rueful tug at his lips.

There was a moments silence in which neither men knew what to say, before Odin gently lifted a finger toward the desk in the other room beyond the open doorway. " In the first drawer, there's a bound scrap book, bring it to me?" Heero nodded and got up, crossing the open doorways and opening the said drawer, pulling out a slim book, the intricate designs the same as his mother's journal. Ignoring to hopeful lift in his chest, Heero walked calmly back into the room and handed the book to Odin. He sat back into the chair as Odin absently stroked the designs on the outside of the cover, before his eyes snapped wide open and he pushed the object into Heero's hands.

"Take it. It's yours." Heero felt the tears threatening to spill out of his eyes, but he bit his lip and nodded, watching as Odin smiled before closing his eyes. " It's not going to be long now is it?" Heero whispered as he quietly made his way to the doorway. Odin merely nodded, before his shallow breathing evened out, telling Heero that he had fallen asleep. With a small sad smile, he made his way back down stairs, the album clutched under his arm.

xxXXxx

By the time the guys were done shoving out the manure out of the stables, they had all returned to the house sweaty and shirtless, heading straight up to their rooms to shower, and feeling much refreshed heading back down to wait in the living room for dinner.

"We should have another boys night out!" Duo exclaimed, settling in his seat quite snug against Heero's side. The others turned to the braided cowboy's excited expression, and weary grins on their face. "Doesn't that expression normally apply to women, Maxwell?" Wufei snorted, causing the others to chuckle as well.

" Who cares who it applies to Fei Fei!" Duo dismissed, the snickering of the others not dampening his mood. " We should go out all of these nights while you're still here! You guys aren't going to be here that much longer yanno?" Heero felt his body stiffen at his violet lover's words, but lucky the others were busy planning their guys night out to notice. A frown appeared upon his features, as he mentally brought up when Wufei, Quatre, and him were supposed to leave back for the city...which was in four days. He mentally cringed, and didn't realize he was grimacing until he felt a hand on his cheek and Duo's worried whisper. " Heero?"

He blinked, and looked down, noting that they were now alone in the sitting room, and wondering just how long he had been spacing out. " Sorry love, you were saying?" Duo made a tsking sound, and Heero sighed, wiping the expression from his face with his hand, before giving Duo an apologetic smile. "Just have some things on my mind...."

" Like going back to the city in a few days?" Duo raised an eyebrow and sighed at Heero's startled expression at getting caught. " Hee-chan.... don't think about it ok? Let's just enjoy these next few days together." Duo gave him a smile and Heero felt the corners of his lips tug a little. He could see that the thought of him leaving made Duo sad too, and just the fact that he was trying not to let it bother him in lieu of ruining the rest of his stay, made Heero push all thoughts of it out of his head. Duo was right, he should just enjoy their time with one another ." Ok." He leaned over and kissed his braided lover, each time their kisses becoming more hot and heavy, until they were both left panting for breath. Heero took a shuddering breath, and blinked, wondering how he had gone from sitting next to his love to laying on top of him on the couch, his arms on either side of Duo's head. Duo merely smiled up at him, as they put their foreheads together, and stared into each others eyes.

" I love you." Duo whispered, his breath tickling Heero's lips so that he not only heard the words but also felt them too. " Love you too." Heero breathed, their heads snapping up at the sound of someone clearing their throat, to seeing Quatre standing at the doorway.

"I came to tell you dinner was ready, but it looks like you already started on your dessert." The blonde raised an amused eyebrow at the slight flush on the two's faces, before Heero got up and reached for Duo's hand to help him up. They followed the blonde doctor into the kitchen, eager to fill their stomachs with Auntie Em's delicious cooking.

XxXXxx

Sipping on his first drink of the night, Heero couldn't help but be a little amused at his surroundings. Never would he had thought he would be back at the same club he had once frequented with Duo so many moons ago. It seemed as though it had been a long time since then, the club not having served alcohol back then, and the strobe lights streaming neon colors around the place were definitely new. It was enough to make someone slip into a seizure...at least if someone did Quatre was there to administer some quick remedy. Catching a certain blonde all dressed up in leather and mesh, dancing with his own braided lover, Heero snorted, shaking his head as he thought of Quatre remedying someone in that outfit.

Feeling a push on his shoulder, Heero glanced to his left, and raised an eyebrow as his Chinese friend who just stared at something on the dance floor, raising his glass in a gesture meant for Heero to look. " Trouble?" He took a sip and watched as Heero froze, the feeling of deja vu creeping up on him, as a figure from the past made their way toward his unsuspecting boyfriend. He downed his shot and got up, giving a short nod to Wufei as he left, another as he passed Trowa who was making his way back to the table with more drinks. " Something up?" The tall Southern boy asked, slipping into the vacated seat after placing the drinks on the table. Wufei shrugged and raised his cup once more in the direction of interest, his ebony eyes taking in everything around him, easily able to pick up the signs of an oncoming fight if the situation arose.

"Hey Quat! Your man got us some drinks! Let's go thank him." Giving the blonde a wink in which a saucy smile was returned, Duo turned and gasped as he ran smack dab into another person. "Oops. Sorry, buddy." He made to move aside, but as the person's hand grabbed his wrist, he looked up and opened his mouth in horror. "Duo." It was Alex, the guy who had tried to feel Duo up all those years ago. Reflexively, Duo looked down to his hand and was relieved to see he had recovered after Heero had sent him yowling out of the club. "Alex." He gave him a small smile and made to move past him, but was stopped when Alex's hand tightened around his wrist.

"Alex...what're-"

"Dance with me Duo?" Alex's light brown eyes locked with violet orbs and raising Duo's hand to his lips, as the braided boy tried to wrench his wrist free from his grasp. "No, I'm tired actually. But thanks for asking-owww." Alex's grip had tightened painfully, Duo gasping as a jolt of lightening pierced up his arm. Duo frantically tried to remember all the self defense moves he had seen from those kung fu movies he had watched, before another jolt had him clenching his teeth, and deciding to just screw it and aim a knee kick to the goods. Before he could even left his leg, he watched as a hand shot out from behind the tall man holding him prisoner and grip his shoulder, twirling his captor around, and surprising him enough that he let go of Duo's rapidly bruising wrist.

Duo rubbed his wrist and watched as Alex's face paled as he came face to face with a less than pleased Heero Yuy, his mouth a thin line, his eyes set to arctic cold. "Y-y-yuy?" Alex whimpered, taking a step back. "W-w-what are you doing here? I thought you left?"

"Vacation." Heero answered curtly, matching Alex step for step coming forward as he retreated. " But that's besides the point." Heero glanced at Duo and spotting the bruises on his wrist, let out a snarl of anger, his glare becoming even more heat with ice. " Care to explain what makes you think you can just lay a hand on my boyfriend and mark his body as you please?" His voice was dangerously low, and by then Heero had backed the offender into a corner. To anyone, it would've looked like he was just talking to him. " I-i-i-..." Alex gulped and whimpered. " Can't? Well... it's not going to happen again now is it? Because I think we both know what could happen to you if you even think about hurting a single hair on his head don't we?" He watched as Alex nodded frozenly, and knowing he had gotten his message across, made to walk away, before thinking better of it, and slamming his face into the wood wall of the club, the wood splitting upon impact. Heero smirked as Alex flinched and slumped down to the ground. Yup. The message had gotten across.

He smiled as he returned to the table, slipping next to Duo and wrapping his arms around him, nuzzling into his ear. " Heero, you didn't hurt him.... did you?" Heero pulled back and shook his head, his smile only growing. " I gave him a warning, like I promised." Duo gave him an approving nod and kissed his cheek, before the pair tuned back into the conversation with the others, Heero feeling especially light as the night wore on.

It was almost three the next morning when the guys decided to call it a night. Walking back from the club, since they had walked to get there, they were all laughing and talking when Wufei, who was in the front suddenly stopped, the others bumping into his back.

"Wu-wu?" Duo asked drunkenly, his arms coming up and draping over the slightly stunned Chinese business man. "Fire." He said softly, as the others caught up and looked at him confusedly. "Wha-"

"FIRE!!!" Wufei bellowed, his arm thrown out to point to a puff of black air steadily rising into the starry blue sky. Four heads snapped up, eyes widening, the sight instantly sobering the young men from their drunken state. Cobalt eyes trailed from the smoke back to the ground, his heart thudding painfully as he realized just where the smoke was coming from.

"Shit!" He broke into a run. " Wha-? Heero?!" Heero glanced behind to find that Duo was right on his heels, Trowa, Quatre, and Wufei not far behind. "It's coming from home." He watched as Duo's eyes widened, his pace picking up until he was neck and neck with Heero, before pulling up just an inch a head of them. The braided man reached out and grabbed his lovers closest hand, squeezing it almost painfully, the pair now breaking out into a full on sprint down the dusty road.

Turning into their curb, the pair gasped, panting as they took in the scene. " Heero! The horses!" Duo shouted, running over to the blazing stable. The others caught up, and found the pair standing quite still in front of the burning stable, the whines of the horses still trapped in the inferno almost deafening. "Heero..?" Wufei asked, but all he got was a finger pointing up. There a top the stable was a flag, flapping lazily in the gentle breeze, the words ' WHO'S WARNING WHO?' written clearly in bold red over white cloth. It was Trowa's cry that broke the spell. " The horses! Quick! We need to get them out of there!" Snapping out of his mindless rage, Heero clenched his teeth, and nodded, joining everyone in scrambling to get the fire under control. There was hell to pay, no doubt about that. And Heero knew just who to look for.

a/n: again sorry for the really long wait... i've been busy and stuff =( i promise to try not to make it too long before i update again...thought idk. this chapter felt like it was lacking when i wrote it...maybe cause i kept having to write bit by bit? idk. lol. thanks for reading =)