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've had exams and all that aghast that comes with the end of the year and all. 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 11

Clear aquamarine orbs watched as the owner cautiously approached a kneeling figure at the base of an old tree, making enough noise to let the tall Southern boy of his presence as he came up behind him.

"Trowa." Quatre placed a gentle hand on the taller boy's shoulder, his eyes widening as the kneeling man looked up, his eyes red and his cheeks tear stained. " Oh, Trowa." The blonde sighed, as he stared into the auburn cowboy's emerald eyes, clouded with grief and confusion.

"Why Quatre?" Trowa's usually soft, sure voice came out all choked and crackly. "The horses...why? It... it could've reached the house. My parents..." He closed his eyes and Quatre's worry only increased as the auburn haired cowboy clenched his fists tightly, his bones popping. " The fire could've got to them They could've...died." The words came out hushed, and Quatre could only tighten his own grip on Trowa's shoulder, causing him to look up and gasp at the intense emotion he found in Quatre's aquamarine orbs. " It's not your fault Trowa. Don't even start trying to blame yourself... "

"It's that bastard, Alex, that's to blame Tro." The pair looked up to find a slightly somber Duo walking toward them, his footstep casting silent shadows in the grass, not making a sound, not even the usual crunch of green blade beneath his feet. He stopped in front of the pair, his head cocking to the side,briefly surveying the blonde who was obviously comforting his childhood friend. " He deserves everything he has coming to him..." Duo paused as though thinking of whether he should continue, before deciding what the hay, adding thoughtfully, " After Hee-chan and Wu-man are done with him... he'll be sorry for even thinking about fuckin around with us again."

Trowa only nodded solemnly, before wiping his face with his sleeve, and stood up, taking Quatre's hand and softly replacing it within his own, giving it a tight squeeze before turning back to what was left of the barn. "Going to...bury the rest of the young ones."And with a shake of his head, his expression was calmed and he walked off. Only five of the horses in the whole barn had survived.

Duo and Quatre stared at him for a bit, before Duo turned and began to climb up the crickety steps up the tree trunk, cursing as a plank fell out from under his weight. " Aw, shit! Fuck...oh well. Looks like I'll just have to patch this shit up." He looked over his shoulder and seeing that Quatre was still on the ground, raised an eyebrow. " Hey, Q! Are you gonna stay down there staring at my ass all day, or are you gonna come up?" The braided cowboy laughed as the blonde doctor sputtered before putting on a cute determined pout and made his way to the steps, eying the aged wood planks with some curiosity, before slowly making his way up. " Atta boy, Q! Careful of the missing step now!" With another joyous laugh, Duo continued the climb and before long he made it to the top, giving a large grunt as he pushed the trap door open and pulled himself up, on knee up on the tree house floor, the other swinging idly through the door, violet orbs watching with amusement as the blonde followed at a more leisurely pace.

Quatre meanwhile, was taking his time, his trek pausing every now and then as he took in the tree top. He marveled at the seemingly intricate webs of wooden planks and rope that laid about the tree, making little paths unto every branch to perch on, all the way to the top, in all directions. It was all very fascinating, that he didn't notice when he made it to the trap door, until he ran smack dab into Duo's foot.

"Omph."

"Oops! Sorry." Duo hastily offered his hand down to the blonde who accepted it with a grateful smile, his eyes widening in curiosity as he stepped into the tree house. His eyes trailed over the room, taking in the pictures scattered all over walls, some of the three boys from their younger years, some of their favorite bands and such, others just stickers. A shelf with who its and what its caught his attention next, he walked over and placed his hands on his knees, surveying the items with great interest. A silver flute lay along with little plastic figurines of zoo animals, and circus performers lay under a sign with the name Trowa neatly written. A little acrobatic clown hanging on a rope through his wooden hands between two stick poles stood out, causing Quatre to delicately pick it up. He squeezed the little toy, gasping in surprise and delight as the little toy lifted up on the rope and flipped. He set it down and looked over his shoulder, seeing Duo sitting on the widow perch, and walking over to him.

"Oh wow." The blonde sighed, taking in the sight of the scene of the whole back yard, miles of golden wheat stretching out what seemed like forever, mountains in the background, a vast blue sky that seemed to never end complete with a white cloud here and there.

"Amazing, is it?"

Quatre could only nod, taking in the view of the scene one more time, before turning to continue his perusing of the room, taking a step, before his foot made a crunching noise. "Hm?" Eyebrow raised, Quatre picked up his foot, seeing a small scrape of white beneath his foot. He bent down and picked it up, the thickness of the paper telling him it was a picture. He turned it over, and gasped."Freya!" Duo turned his head toward the blonde, his eyes taking in the object in his hand. " Q?"

"Duo, why do you have a picture of my sister here?" Duo walked over and glanced at the picture, his eyes widening. " Freya? You mean...the person that..that...Heero's mom keeps talking about in her journal is your sister?" Quatre merely nodded, and Duo smacked his head in exasperation. Looking at the woman in the picture, he wondered how he didn't piece it together before. Nearly all of the Winner heirs were doctors, medicine one of the many fields Winner Enterprises dominated in over the last fifty years. And the resemblance between the lady in the picture and Quatre was striking. The woman, Freya, had sandy blonde hair, a slim but tall stature, and a striking smile that just screamed Winner. Yup, there was no doubt about it.

"Wow Quat, what a small world." Duo shook his head, and gave him a small smile, before walking over and plopping down on one of the bean bag chairs. Quatre followed, his eyes looking back at the picture. " Heero's mother? This is...her?" Duo nodded and Quatre was in awe. Heero looked a bit like her, the shape of his eyes and the high cheek bones, but for the most part, he had gotten his looks from Mr. Barton , from his tousled hair, his stern eyes, and his built features.

"Wait until Heero finds out your sister knew his mother." Duo grinned, knowing Heero would probably probe the blonde for answers about his mother and the relationship between the Arab doctor. " Guess we'll just have to wait until him and Wufei come back."

"When do you think that'll be?" Duo shrugged noncommittally, but frowned slightly. "Whenever they're done with their business with Alex, I guess." The blonde looked alarmed, and Duo tried to smile reassuringly at the doctor. " Don't worry man. They can handle themselves, and I'm sure they won't do anything rash." At least I hope not

xxXXxx

Alex Dashwood was a lot of things. He was good looking. He was charming. He was smart, having graduated top 10 in his class. He had many women and men alike that would have loved to be in his presence if just for a few minutes. Most of all he was successful, having had taken over his family's race track since he was fresh out of school. He was filthy rich, pleased with the knowledge that he could have anything and anyone he wanted if not with his looks, charm, and wit, then with a quick flash his card. Anyone... except Duo Maxwell.

Since high school, Alex had taken to Duo, as had many of their classmates, if not the whole school while they had attended. Duo just had this air around him, his friendliness, able to befriend everyone and anyone, regardless of their social status, albeit from the jocks right down to the loners at the bottom of the food chain. He had smarts, graduating third in his class. He had the looks, by god did have the looks, having been the subject of many people's wet fantasies, even guys who were straighter than a ruler, though they never admitted it.

So naturally, Alex thought himself a perfect match for the charismatic violet eyed boy and made to stake his claim, until none other than his rival, Heero Yuy beat him to the punch and claimed the braided boy for himself. It was something Alex was still bitter about. He had been delighted when he found out Yuy had taken off for the city, but try as he might Duo dodged all his advances. And now out of the blue, the Japanese boy decided to just show up and ruin everything!

Looking over the track as the horses got ready behind the gates, Alex smirked, thinking of the damage he caused Yuy and his family. He made sure only his top goons had gone in, giving them explicit instructions not to leave behind anything that could incriminate him later, along with his little message. Throwing the last of his cigarette over the railing, he pushed off with his foot and without so much of a backward glance, headed down the dimly lit hall, not noticing the two shadows that were following him.

He took a right, through a steel door and down a more narrow hall, his foot steps echoing loudly in the deserted hall. Getting the feeling he was being watched, Alex glanced behind him and gulped a she caught a large shadow dart into a corner right behind. He spun around, his eyes darting about the seemingly empty hall. He shook his head, and laughed in spite of himself. He was just being paranoid!

He scoffed at himself before turning around, his eyes taking in a pair of ghostly cobalt orbs, before his vision turns black.

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