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 Ten
By SilverLady
Duo sighed as he leaned his head against the back of the sofa and listened to the wind howling past the house. The sound promised a vicious storm, much like the one he'd been caught in when Ken was born. He hoped it wasn't an omen to something happening.
He sighed again as he rested his hand on the swell of his abdomen. Adrianna had thought he was crazy to go through with this pregnancy, but Duo found that he simply couldn't abort it. The child wasn't to blame for what had happened and he couldn't destroy it for that reason alone.
He did understand Adrianna's concern, though. How would he be able to live with a child that was a constant reminder of what had happened? He had finally decided that he would always remember what had happened, child or not. And he believed he could still love any child of his body, no matter how it had been conceived or who the father was.
"Daddy?"
Duo turned his head at the sound of Ken's voice. "What's wrong?"
"It's gettin' dark, Daddy. I'm hungry."
Duo smiled at the tone he heard in Ken's voice. It was amazing, sometimes, just how much he could understand about his son just from how he talked. He had wondered how well he could handle raising a son he couldn't see, but things had turned out all right in the end.
"Give me a minute and I'll make you some dinner."
He felt the sofa give a little as Ken climbed up beside him. "Are you okay?"
Duo smiled again. "I'm fine, just a little tired."
Ken carefully patted Duo's stomach. "Is the baby sleepin'?"
"Yes." Duo had debated a long time over whether to tell Ken about his pregnancy, but in the end had decided it would be best if Ken know as much as he could understand. That way it would give him time to get used to the idea.
"Maybe you should be sleepin' too."
Duo laughed softly. "I thought you were hungry."
"I am."
"Then how about if we...."
The loud banging on the front door was so unexpected that Duo nearly jumped right off the couch.
"Daddy!" Ken cried in surprise, wrapping his arms around him.
Duo froze. Maybe it had just been the wind, knocking something against the house.
Just as Duo began to relax the banging came again, this time louder and more urgent.
"Ken, go upstairs. Now."
"But Daddy..."
"Do it. For me."
A deep sigh was heard, and then Ken reluctantly headed for the stairs. He was scared though, remembering the last time this had happened. He didn't want anyone hurting his daddy again.
Slowly and almost reluctantly, Duo moved towards the door. He, too, remembered the last time unexpected visitors showed up at his home.
"Who's there?" he called through the door.
"Please, sir. I am in need of your assistance."
Duo opened the door a little, hoping he wasn't making a mistake and cursing the men that made him so damn cautious.
"What's the problem?"
"I apologize for disturbing you. I am Wufei Chang. My friends and I were traveling through this area but became lost in the storm. Would it be possible for us to shelter in your barn for the night? We will not disturb you."
Duo frowned, listening to the sounds of the storm whirling around the house. He didn't hear anyone else nearby. "Where are they?"
"Not far behind. I rode ahead to see if I could secure shelter. Please..."
Duo began to shake his head. There was no way he would let anyone shelter in his barn in this kind of weather.
Wufei, misunderstanding Duo's response, drew himself up and glared. "We are honest men. We will not steal..."
"That's not it," Duo interrupted. "It's too cold to be sleeping in the barn. There's plenty of room in the house. Fetch your friends and bring them here."
Wufei stood there for a moment. "Thank you," he finally said. With a quick bow he turned and hurried off the porch.
Duo waited for the sounds of the man's horse, then closed the door and headed for the living room. It will be the best place for them for the night. The fireplace will keep it warm and there's enough room on the floor for them to sleep.
"Ken!"
There was a thud over his head and then the sound of running feet.
"Daddy?"
"Bring me all the spare bed blankets and pillows."
"Why?"
"We have guests coming. Travelers that became lost in the storm. I told them they could shelter here until the storm lets up. So bring everything down to the living room."
"Daddy?"
Duo could hear the worry in his son's voice. Sometime I wonder who's the parent and who's the kid in this family. "It will be all right."
There was silence for a minute, before he heard Ken turn and head down the hall. "And let them in the door when they come!" he called up the stairs as he headed for the kitchen. He'd get something hot for them to eat.
*****
Trowa Barton braced himself as yet another fierce gust of wind threatened to throw him off his horse. Trying to stay in the saddle while keeping a hold of his companion's limp form was becoming more and more difficult. He was getting colder by the minute and his hands had long since gone numb.
"How much farther?" he called to Wufei, who was riding just ahead of him. Wufei had his own hands full, trying to keep the fourth member of their small party upright on his horse.
"Just a bit more. We should see lights soon."
Trowa hoped so. He didn't want to think what this storm was doing to the health of the precious bundle he held in his arms. The fever that racked the small body had come on suddenly, last night, and had become worse as the day progressed.
Just when he was about to ask Wufei again as to how much longer, a house suddenly loomed up out of the storm. The warm light shining from the windows was a welcome sight. It promised safety and protection.
Now if only we can find a healer.
*****
Duo bustled around the kitchen, getting a pot of soup on and making biscuits. He wasn't sure how many people there would be and hoped he had enough food.
Just then he heard someone at the front door. After a moment, the door opened and he could hear his son talking.
"My daddy said you're supposed to go in the living room and sit by the fire."
Duo didn't hear a reply, but he did hear several sets of footsteps, one set sounding decidedly odd.
A few minutes later he heard Ken again. "He's in the kitchen making supper."
The sounds of footsteps approaching the kitchen followed the statement.
"Excuse me." It was the man from before.
"Duo."
"What?"
"Duo. That's my name. Duo Maxwell. I didn't have the chance to introduce myself before. You can put your horses in the barn, there's plenty of room."
Wufei blinked. "Is there a healer nearby? Two of my companions are in need of one."
Duo frowned. "What's wrong?"
"One is very ill and the other has seriously injured his leg. I must get a healer."
Duo sighed. He knew Adrianna would come over, even in this storm. "Adrianna lives near hear. She's the local healer."
"Thank you. How do I get there?"
"Just follow the path to the east."
"Thank you. I..."
"Take my horse."
"Pardon me?"
"Take my horse. He's fresh and he knows the path. It'll be much safer than riding your own."
"I couldn't..."
"You will, if you want to make it to Adrianna's and back in one piece. An exhausted horse isn't a safe one. Plus there are lots of holes and roots that you won't know about. It would be too easy for your horse to fall and injure himself and you. Take my horse."
Wufei sighed, knowing the other man spoke wisely. "Very well. I'll..."
"Put your horses up," Duo interrupted. "Then come back in and get something to eat. You'll feel better with something warm in your belly."
"There isn't..."
"There is always time. That's one of the first things you learn out here. I don't think a few minutes will make a difference to your friends. If it does, it's already to late."
Wufei raked a hand through his hair. He had a feeling that winning an argument with this young man would be like pushing a rock uphill.
Just then the wind knocked something against the side of the house with a loud bang. "I'd best tend to the horses." He turned to leave the room.
"I meant it about the food!" Duo called after him.
*****
As soon as Adrianna had arrived she had taken over, asking their host, who Trowa had learned was called Duo, if she could move one of the two injured men into the small den so that she could more easily examine him. A quick agreement and Trowa found his small companion carefully transferred to the couch in the den. She had assured him that he would be moved back into the much warmer living room when she was done.
Trowa stood quietly, watching as the young woman carefully examined her patient. He couldn't believe someone so young could be a full-fledged healer.
Adrianna smiled, making note of the hovering man behind her. Oh, to most it wouldn't look like he was hovering, but Adrianna knew all about this kind of man. The worried but not looking like it type. "What's his name?"
"Quatre."
"And you are?"
"What does that matter?"
"I like to know who I am addressing."
Trowa blinked. "Trowa."
Adrianna nodded again. "I was told he has been complaining about his stomach bothering him. How long has that been going on?"
"About a week."
"Is there a time of the day when it is worse?"
"In the morning. But he didn't feel like eating much at any time."
"When did the fever start?"
"Last night."
Adrianna nodded as she carefully opened one eye to look at the pupil. "Has he been conscious since then?"
"Not really. He lapses in and out, but he doesn't seem to aware of anything."
Adriana listened carefully to the sounds of the young man's breathing. She was relieved to find that the blonde's temperature wasn't as high as she first feared. Probably the lack of food caused by the upset stomach had weakened him enough that the fever had hit him harder than usual. She really didn't want a repeat of two years ago.
"The best thing to do is to keep him as comfortable as possible and try and keep the fever down. I've got a tea I'll have Duo make that should settle his stomach and help him feel better. Plus I'll give him some medicine to help fight off the fever."
As she talked she ran her hands lightly over Quatre's belly. Frowning she paused for a moment. There was something odd here. Carefully she slid the boy's shirt up and examined him more closely. "Do you know anything about his family?" she asked suddenly.
Trowa was surprised by the question. "A little."
"Was any of his family from Vameria?"
"I believe his grandmother on his mother's side was. Why?"
Adrianna nodded as she placed her hands once more on Quatre's stomach and closed her eyes. "How long have you two been lovers?"
Trowa stood staring at her with his mouth hanging open. "How?"
"Healers' secret."
"What does that matter?"
"It might help explain his upset stomach."
"I thought..."
"The fever is not a product of the upset stomach nor is it the other way around. I think that the fact he's been having trouble eating weakened him enough that the fever was able to get a grip on him, though."
"I'm clean." Trowa protested. He would never risk Quatre.
"I never said you weren't. I just wanted to know how long you two have been in an intimate relationship."
Trowa sighed. "Two years."
"He's normally bottom?"
Trowa nearly choked. "How?"
"Or do you prefer to be bottom?"
"He is." Trowa was starting to feel the blush rising in his cheeks at the healer's blunt questions.
Adrianna nodded as she turned to look at Trowa. Maybe fate had a hand in this.
"Have you ever heard of the Sucar? Or has he ever mentioned anything?"
"No. Why?"
"The Sucar are a small group of unusual men descended from the King Hasim of Vameria. Your host, Duo, can tell you all about them, since he is one himself." She smiled slightly. "Actually the odds of meeting two Sucar in a life time are rather high. They are an rare occurrence."
"Meaning?"
"All Sucars are Vamerian,
but not all Vamerians are Sucars."
"And this has what to do with Quatre being sick?"
"It's very simple. The nausea should go away in a few weeks.
The cause of the nausea will take a while longer."
Trowa was growing worried. "What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing too serious. He's just pregnant."
Trowa could only stare at her with his mouth open.
*****
Duo was carefully dishing up bowls of soup to take to his guests when he heard the sounds of footsteps. Adrianna, he realized, recognizing her step.
"Hungry?"
"Is that your answer to everything?"
"Just about."
Adrianna shook her head as she walked over to the counter. "I need to be getting home. Michael will be worried."
"Are they all right?"
"You might want to talk to the one young man, the one who's sick."
"Why?"
"He's pregnant."
Duo smiled. "Bet that came as a shock."
"Oh, he doesn't know yet. He's still asleep. But it sure shook up his lover."
"I bet. And the other?"
"Infection in his right leg. I cleaned it up, but he'll have to stay off it for a while. It's been injured before and he's aggravated it badly. He's lucky he won't lose the leg."
Duo nodded. He knew how nasty infections could be.
Adrianna looked at Duo for a minute. "Duo."
Duo heard the seriousness in her voice. "Yeah?"
"The man." She paused. "His name is Heero Yuy."
Duo carefully set the bowl on the counter. Then he bowed his head forward and clenched his fist. Why now?
