AN: Yay! Chapter 9! I'm so glad that you have stuck with me for so long. I do apologize greatly for the long wait for these next chapters. Life kept happening and I'm sure all of you know how that goes. I recently had a death in the family as well so I'm still dealing with that. So, if this chapter seems really dark then that's probably why. Also, my surgery was post-poned for Oct. 3, so yeah next week is it. I'm have my whole upper jaw reconfigured… They told me that my jaw will be wired shut for three weeks! Yikes! So in theory I should be able to do plenty of writing in that time… well in theory any way. I'll do my best. On that note, I hope this chapter will be enough to hold you over until I am back in action. Enjoy everyone!

Two Beds and A Coffee Machine Chapter 10

To each his own….

Heero paced the room rapidly, glancing once more at the clock on the wall. Duo had said they would meet in one hour and yet it was nearing two with no sign of the braided man. He was really getting worried and was thinking of leaving to find him when there was a sudden abrupt knocking on the door.

He stopped his pacing and turned to the door, "Enter!" he bellowed. He tensed as the door knob turned, knowing already that it was not Duo. Duo would never knock, he would just burst into the room like he owned it.

The door opened up revealing the one person he had no desire to see, Wufei. They both stood staring at one another for several tense moments before Wufei spoke up. "Heero, I would have a word with you." He stated calmly chin raised in silent defiance.

Heero growled and took up a more ready fighting stance, legs shoulder-width apart arms at the ready. "So talk!" he growled out not willing to show any trust in the Chinese man.

Wufei sighed in irritation then moved further into the room in order to close the door behind him. He stood directly in front of the door, facing Heero, arms crossed over his chest. "Alright, fine. I just came to inform you that I will be leaving tomorrow, with Duo".

His words hit Heero like a punch to the gut and he physically reeled back from them. "Excuse me, but did you just say you were leaving with Duo?" he asked

Wufei gave a slight smirk. "I did say just that".

"What makes you think he'll agree to that?"

"He already has. I would also like to inform you that we will be renewing our vows and would love to have you there for the ceremony. This time I will be sure to turn the certificate in right away." He stated with an air of finality and possessiveness.

Heero's jaw tightened as he resisted the urge to punch Wufei once more. "I don't believe you! Duo would never agree to that!"

Wufei gave a soft chuckle before turning back to the door and opening it to leave. "That just shows what you know about Duo. " He started to walk out the door but stopped mid-stride to leave Heero with one more biting remark, "Maybe if you had paid more attention to him during the war you would know him better. Be expecting your invitation in the mail." With that being said he closed the door behind him leaving Heero alone once more.

Meanwhile Duo was sitting alone in his room mind whirling in insane circles. Wufei had come to him at the time he was meant to see Heero and had informed him that he was not to talk to the guys before he left. So, basically he was not even allowed to say goodbye.

He started to pace his room, wearing circles into the carpet in the process. Part of him was wondering why he was allowing Wufei to control him so completely, the other part was convincing him that he was doing all of this for his kids.

That was it, it was all for the kids. He would do anything for them, so if that meant 18 years of servitude to Wufei then so-be-it. He could handle it, he'd been through much worse after all. His thoughts came to a halt as he plopped down on his borrowed bed. He looked around the room he had called his own for the past few weeks and wanted to weep for how far he had fallen.

He was busy wallowing in his misery when he was startled out of his thoughts by a knock to his door. "Duo? Are you in there? I need to talk to you!"

He started to panic as Heero's urgent voice wafted through the door, quickly remembering what Wufei had told him. He didn't know whether to answer Heero, or ignore him by pretending he wasn't there. In the end Heero chose for him by just walking in uninvited.

"Duo?" he questioned before his eyes fell on Duo's still form in the dim light. He rushed over to the bed and quickly pulled Duo into a rough hug. "Please," he begged, "Please tell me its not true!"

Duo didn't return the hug he just turned his head away, "You shouldn't be here…" he whispered trying fruitlessly to push the bigger man away.

"I wont let you go!" Heero growled out tightening his hold around Duo.

Hearing Heero like this almost made Duo cry, he didn't want to go back with Wufei, he didn't want to live a lie any more. He also didn't know what to do about it. Heero represented everything he wanted, and everything he couldn't have. He choked back a sob, unable to handle it anymore. "You don't have a choice Heero, you have to let me go."

"Why?! Why would you even consider going back to him after the way he treated you!?" Heero exclaimed pushing Duo back to arms-length to look him in the face. Duo couldn't meet his eyes and opted to look over his shoulder. "By that reasoning one would wonder why I should even be your friend after the way you treated me. Hell, you beat on me too Heero, several times actually…"

"Gah! You cannot be serious right now! What I did during the war was for the greater good! Not because I was drunk! The only times I 'beat on you' as you so put it was when it was absolutely necessary." Heero's grip on Duo's arms tightened dangerously as he talked.

"Heero… You're hurting me right now. Do you think you could loosen up on that grip just a bit?" Duo winced to emphasize his point.

Heero quickly released him and stood up, horror showing clearly on his face. He looked from Duo to his hands and back again at Duo, unsure of what he should do. "I'm sorry Duo… I didn't mean… God! I'm no better than he is!"

Duo wanted to comfort him, to tell him that he was so much better than that. But he forced himself to stay silent. It was better this way, he was going to leave anyway. This was really for the best. It really was… So why was he crying? Why was his heart breaking at the thought of going back to Wufei. He'd lived with Wufei for nearly ten years… if he did it that long what was another ten?

Heero released him completely and stepped back from the bed. "I'm sorry… I didn't—I mean—why—Please don't cry. I will leave if it makes you feel better. I'll do anything to get that wretched look off your face."

He didn't know what to do anymore. He couldn't lose his kids and that's just what Wufei was promising if he didn't return with him, and yet the thought of going back to that unhappy house was very nearly just as unbearable.

"Please!" he cried reaching out and grabbing Heero's shirt and pulling him back to the bed forcing them to be merely inches apart. "Please don't let him take my children! No matter what happens promise me you will protect them!"

Heero looked startled and unsure of what to do as Duo buried his head into his chest, hands fisting into his shirt. "Shhh Duo, no one is going to take your children. Why would you even think that?" he reassured the braided man gently while stroking one hand down his hair in an attempt to bring comfort.

Tear filled violet eyes met with Heero's concerned blues before a shaky voice rattled out, "Don't you see? That's why I'm going back. If I don't I could lose my kids… I don't know what to do! He's right, he has more legal rights to them than I ever will… I could never forgive myself if I lost them…"

Heero's eyes widened in a sort of disbelieving comprehension as he finally realized what had happened. He wrapped his arms around Duo in a tight hug as his mind worked quickly to come up with a plan. "Don't worry Duo. We will figure this out. No matter what happens, I will not let Wufei take you or the kids away from here. I promise you, this time I will protect you, you and your kids." He emphasized his words with a soft kiss to the top of Duo's head before releasing him. "I'm going to go find Quatre, if anyone can get you out of this mess it will be him. Don't worry, we'll figure it out. In the meantime, don't let Wufei know that you told me anything. Just keep leading him to believe you are really leaving tomorrow." He stood up and walked to the door but stopped right before he opened it, turned to look back at Duo once before whispering a quick, "mission accepted". With that he opened the door and hastily exited the quickly darkening room.

Wufei growled with infuriation. How could Duo not understand, after all he had done for him. How did he not realize that he was just trying to do the right thing. This was justice after all. He had helped to father two children and so should be there to raise them. He certainly wasn't going to give up his parental rights just because Duo had lost faith in him. The other man needed to learn that when things broke, you had to fix them, not throw them away; and if he had to go to the extreme to make him see that, then so be it. This would work! He would not be the odd man out again! Heero had missed out on his chance and Wufei would be damned if he would let him get another.

He was the one that had comforted Duo. He was the one that had helped him create a family. He was the one that had sheltered him and kept him safe these past ten years. And he was the one that had fallen in love with Duo first. Heero would not have him! He clenched his fists together as the anger and jealously over rode his senses and before he realized what he was doing, his fist was through the wall.

Realizing that he was only upsetting himself further, he decided he needed to calm himself down. The first idea that came to his head was to go and visit Duo, it had been some hours and Wufei knew the braided man needed constant supervision. He couldn't leave him alone for too long or he might get ideas, might forget who it is he belongs to. He walked out the bedroom door and down the hall and made it to Duo's room just as Heero was exiting.

"Yuy." Was all he said in greeting as his eyes narrowed to angry slits. 'What the hell was he doing in Duo's room?!' "What do you think you are doing?" he spat.

Heero just glared, "I was just wanting to talk to Duo, but he seems to be asleep so I'm leaving. Is that alright with you? Or should I ask for your permission next time?"

Wufei gave a smirk, "Yes, that is exactly what you should do." he stated, chin raised in superiority.

Heero growled, "Not gonna happen, Chang! I don't care what you think, Duo is my friend and now that Quatre and I have him back in our lives we are not going to let him disappear again!"

Wufei's head flew back as a rough laugh escaped him. "Don't make me laugh! You? Friends? Ha! Good one Yuy. Now if you will excuse me, I have not seen my lover in some weeks and feel the need to replenish myself of him." Before Heero could respond Wufei quickly opened Duo's door and walked inside leaving an irate and frustrated Heero behind.

Heero ground his teeth together before quickly stalking away. There was no time to waste, he had to find Quatre as quickly as possible and update him on the situation.

To be Continued!

Ok I have to stop here as I have a crap ton of stuff to do. I hope you enjoyed these last two chapters! R&R please!

-Tsuzuki-nyo