Category: Angst, AU

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4

Rating: R (?)

Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat.

Notes: This takes place in a world of my own making, where things can and are twisted into strange things. So what doesn't seem possible is. There are M/M relationships in this fic (I'm very much a 1x2/3x4 fan.) so if boys being together (and I do mean together) bothers you don't read.

Twisted Fates Part Eight

By SilverLady

Duo ran his hand across his forehead as he sat down at the small kitchen table, pushing his bangs back out of his face.

"Dada?" a tiny voice said.

Duo smiled as he looked over at his son. Ken was staring at him, a curious expression on his little face. "It hot in here, isn't it?"

"Da?" Ken blinked at Duo, then smiled and shook his fork at him. The string of baby gabber that he sent Duo's way made Duo blink.

Smiling, Duo leaned over and ran his fingers through Ken's hair. Except for his eyes, which were the same shade of blue-violet as Duo's, Ken was the spitting image of his father. So much so that Duo ached when he looked at him.

The two year old smiled and proceeded to throw his toast at Duo. "Da!"

Duo shook his head as he stood and scooped Ken out his high chair. "I think someone needs a bath."

"NO!" Ken shrieked, grabbing a large hank of Duo's hair with one chubby hand. "No baf."

Duo winced as he carefully pried Ken's hand out of his hair. "They didn't mention that having long hair was going to be a problem."

Walking slowly, Duo headed up the stairs to the bathroom. Adrianna hadn't been joking when she said Old Man Virgil had known what he had been doing when he'd built the house. Somehow he'd managed to put in running water and had put the bathrooms inside the house. Definitely nice in the middle of winter, when the winds were howling. It also meant Duo didn't have to get water for baths, a good thing with an active curious two year old.

When the bath was finished Duo took Ken into the master bedroom. "How about a nap?" he asked, setting the little boy on the bed.

"No." Ken started crawling across the bed, flashing his bare butt at Duo.

Duo smiled weakly. No had become Ken's favorite word lately. Duo wasn't sure if he just liked saying it or if he really meant it.

Reaching out, he snagged a tiny foot. "At least let me get you dressed." Duo sighed and ran his fingers through his hair again. "Although it seems awfully warm in here to me."

Ken giggled as he wiggled in Duo's grasp. "No, Da. Go."

Duo smiled as he deftly flipped the boy over and began to tickle him. Peals of happy laughter filled the room as Ken wiggled in Duo's grasp. After several minutes of play, Duo had managed to get the boy into a diaper and a shirt, though he was evading the pants for the moment. "Now, how about that nap?"

"No. Go."

Duo sighed. "How about if Daddy lays down with you?" I could use a nap.

The little boy watched as Duo stretched out on the bed. "Da?"

Duo patted the spot next to him. "Come lay down with Daddy."

Slowly Ken crawled up the bed and settle in the spot. "Seeep?"

Duo laughed softly. "Yeah. Seep."

Ken patted Duo's cheek. "Seep." With that he lay down next to Duo and closed his eyes. A minute later he opened them again. "Seep, Da."

Duo smiled, but obediently closed his eyes.

"Duo?" Adrianna called out as she entered the house. Silence met her call.

Adrianna frowned. Something wasn't right. The house was too quiet. If she had learned one thing about Duo, he was rarely quiet. There was usually some kind of noise in the house, even if it was only the sounds of Duo talking to himself.

This silence was almost deafening. It was as if no one was there, but Adrianna was pretty certain Duo was home. His horse was in the barn, as was the rest of the animals, and he hadn't said anything about going anywhere.

"Duo, where are you?"

Again silence was her only answer.

After checking the kitchen and finding the remains of the meal, she headed upstairs.

Pausing at the door to the master bedroom, she finally heard some noise. It was Ken's voice. But there was no answer from Duo.

Frowning again, she pushed open the door and walked into the room. "Duo?"

Ken looked up at her from across Duo's still body. "Dada?" There was a note of confusion in the little boy's voice. He carefully patted Duo's cheek. "Dada seep?"

Almost holding her breath, Adrianna moved across the room, dreading what she might find. When she reached Duo's side, she was relieved to see his chest rising and falling as he breathed. Laying her hand on his cheek she soon discovered the reason for his lack of reaction. He was burning up with fever.

"Da?" Ken looked at her, not understanding why his Daddy wouldn't wake up.

Adrianna smiled at the little boy. "It's all right, honey. Daddy's sick." Very sick. She reached for Ken. "Let's go get some cool water to help Daddy feel better."

Ken reached up and wrapped his arms around Adrianna's neck. "Dada, sic."

"Yes, Daddy's sick." Turning, she carried the little boy out of the room, frowning to herself. What happened? Duo didn't seem ill the other day when I was here. She looked down at Ken. "I hope you haven't got it too."

Adrianna sighed as she sat down in the chair. She barely blinked as a mug of hot soup was placed on the table in front of her.

It had been nearly a week since she had found Duo unconscious from the fever. He still showed no signs of wakening. In fact, the fever was just now beginning to ease.

"How is he?" Michael asked as he sat down across from her. He'd come as soon as he had heard about Duo's illness, offering to tend to the house and animals while Adrianna tended Duo. Miss Lily, a widow who lived by herself in town, had also come to lend a hand.

"A little better. I think his fever is finally starting to come down." She rested her head on her hands. "Hopefully he's over the worst of it."

"Good. I know you've been worried." Michael was quiet for a moment. "Will he be all right?"

Adrianna looked at him oddly for a minute. "I hope so. It's still a bit too soon to tell though. I'm just glad Ken didn't catch it."

Michael nodded. He knew that as serious as the fever was, it would have likely killed the little boy. "How much longer until you know for certain?"

"If he continues to improve he should be over the worst of it in the next few days."

"So for now?"

"We wait. And keep doing what we've been doing."

At that moment, Miss Lily bustled into the room carrying a load of wash. She shook her head at the two figures seated at the table. When are those two knuckleheads gonna quit beating around the bush and admit how they feel?

Duo moaned as he struggled up from the depths of sleep. He ached all over. "Where?"

He felt cool fingers across his forehead. "Shh. Don't try and talk."

"Adri?"

"Yes, its me. You need to be still. You've been very sick."

"Long?" Duo croaked, his throat aching from the effort.

"Two and a half weeks." Adrianna carefully placed a cloth on Duo's forehead. "You're still not well. You have to rest."

"Ken?"

"Is sleeping."

Duo sighed. At least it didn't sound as if Ken had gotten sick as well. Then Duo realized something wasn't right. "Dre?"

Adrianna frowned a little at the shortening of her name. Duo was the only one she let get away with it. "You need to be quiet and rest." She pulled the covers up around Duo's neck. "It's the only way you're going to get better."

Duo grabbed her hand with a surprisingly strong grip. "Dre." Duo's voice was stronger now. "Why are the lights out?"

Adrianna frowned, glancing towards the window, where the sunlight was streaming in. "It's daytime. You don't need the lights during the day."

Duo turned his head from side to side, his eyes wide open. "I can't see," he finally whispered. "Oh, god I can't see."

Adrianna immediately grabbed Duo's head, turning him to look at her. She made note of the fact that Duo's eyes didn't react to the change in light. As she moved her hand past his face, his eyes remained focused straight ahead.

Slowly she lowered her hand. "Duo,"

"What's wrong with me?"

"The fever. It must have damaged your sight somehow."

"Will it get better?"

She looked at him for a minute. "I don't know." She suddenly stood up. "I'm sorry," she whispered, before turning and running out the door.

Duo listened to her retreating footsteps before sagging back against the pillows. "Oh, Dre it's not your fault."

It was some time later before footsteps announced the arrival of someone. "Dre?"

"No, it me. Michael."

Duo frowned. "Where's Adrianna?"

"Asleep. She's exhausted. She's been up taking care of you."

"Oh, I didn't…."

"Damn it," Michael suddenly exploded. "Did you have to make her cry?"

Duo blinked in surprise. "I…."

"It's enough that she worries herself half sick over you. Now she's blaming herself for your sight. Saying if she had been a better healer this would have never happened. How could you say that? Don't you care at all about her?"

Not as much as you do. "Michael."

Michael wasn't paying any attention. "It's not as if she didn't do everything she could. She did. She was up night and day, keeping you cool, trying to bring the fever down, giving you all kinds of medicines and herbs. And you thank her by saying she didn't do enough. You….:

"Michael!" Duo winced as his throat protested the sound it had been forced to produce.

Michael spun around to stare at Duo. "What?"

"I never said…. any of that." Duo whispered hoarsely.

Michael blinked. "You didn't?"

"No. I know she did what she could. Not her fault. Just happened."

"Then why?"

"Too hard on herself. All ways takes the blame. She's not miracle worker. Can't fix everything. Tries though."

Michael sagged down on the side of the bed. "I thought."

"Jump to conclusions?"

Michael rubbed his face. "Yeah, I guess I did." He looked over at Duo. "I'm sorry about that."

Duo smiled. "No prob. Just make her understand. Not her fault."

Michael could tell that Duo was growing exhausted from the effort. "You'd best get some sleep or she'll have my hide."

Duo smiled as he closed his eyes. "True."

Michael turned to leave the room.

"Michael?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Caring about her. She needs someone."

Michael blinked at Duo. "I thought… you and her "

Duo shook his head. "Not like that. Just friends. I still love Ken's father." Duo smiled weakly. "If I liked girls like that then…."

Michael stared at Duo. He'd never really thought about what Duo's orientation might be. He'd never even considered that Duo might not even think of Adrianna in a man/woman way. "Oh."

"So kay." Duo's head sagged to one side as he fell asleep.

Michael stood for a moment before slipping from the room.