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 Fourteen

By SilverLady

Heero was still glaring angrily at the closed door fifteen minutes later when there was a knock on the door. "What?" he snapped.

Trowa slowly opened the door and entered the room. "Hello to you too, Mr. Sunshine."

Heero crossed his arms across his chest and frowned. "When are we leaving?"

Trowa blinked as he walked over to the bed. "Bored already?"

"The accommodations leave something to be desired."

Trowa sighed as he sat down in the chair next to the bed. "I don't know what your problem is. Everything seems fine to me. And actually, I wanted to talk to you about when we should leave."

"Now?"

"No." Trowa sighed. "Actually, I'd rather we stayed here for awhile. I found out something about Quatre last night and I'd rather we not go traipsing through the wilds for now."

Heero glared. "Wufei said he had the flu. Big deal. He'll be fine in a few days."

Trowa looked at the angry young man. Exactly what is it about this place that has you so riled? "It's more than that." Trowa took a deep breath. He was still having trouble believing what he had learned. "Quatre is.... pregnant."

Heero stared at him. "Pull the other one."

"I'm serious. Apparently there is more to his dear grandmother Marina's family than she let on."

"Meaning?"

"That there are some Vamerians that are a little bit different than the rest. They are decedents of the King Hasim and his consort, Sucar. They have an altered anatomy that allows them to conceive and bear children. Quatre is pregnant, with my baby. He didn't even know it was possible. Apparently it wasn't something that was shared with him. I'd rather he not travel right now, not in his condition. In fact, if I can persuade him, I'd rather he stay right here until after the baby is born. The healer here is familiar with the condition, as is our host. Their knowledge would be extremely valuable."

"And how do they know about this?"

"Because our host, Duo, is one himself. He has a five year old son and is five months pregnant with his second child."

Heero stared at Trowa for a minute. "Five year old?"

"Yes. His name is Ken. I'm surprised you haven't met him."

Heero gritted his teeth. "I have," he ground out. That damn bastard. I'll wring his neck with his own braid.

*****

Quatre sat quietly, watching as Duo moved with practiced ease from stove to counter to cabinets. He had been so bored sitting up in that bed staring at the walls that he had begged to be allowed to come downstairs for a while. At first Trowa had said no, but when Quatre had looked up at him with wide pleading eyes, Trowa had immediately caved in.

"How do you do it?"

Duo paused in the middle of stirring. "Do what?"

"Everything. Run a home, take care of your son, make sure there's enough to eat."

Duo smiled slightly. "I pray a lot. And cross my fingers."

"I mean it. You look so.... comfortable."

Duo turned his head to where he knew Quatre was sitting. "Don't tell me you think guys shouldn't be in the kitchen."

"No. That's not it. It's just." Quatre paused for a minute. "Ken said something to me. He said that your eyes don't work anymore. He means you're blind, right?"

"Yes."

"But to watch you, I would have never guessed it."

"That's because I know where everything is. As long as everything is put where it belongs I don't have too many troubles."

"But you cook like an old pro."

"Believe me, living out here makes you very self-sufficient very fast. It also helps when you have good neighbors. They spent a lot of time showing how to take of this place when I first moved in."

"But how do you know what jar to pull out? They all look alike to me."

"They're labeled."

"But how?"

Duo smiled. "Bill Grendal came up with a way for me to label things so that I could still read them. And he came up with a way to write things down for me as well. He's been translating the cookbook the women gave me right after I got here." He sighed. "I owe him a lot."

Quatre blinked. "How long have you lived here?"

"Five years."

Quatre could only stare at the boy. "Where are you from?"

"Shadar."

Quatre was surprised. "Why did you leave?"

"Because it was time for me to go. The guy I was in love with got married to some woman. He figured I would just happily go along with him, but I couldn't. And I could bear to stay and watch him marry this woman."

"Was he in love with her?"

"That was the kicker. He wasn't. He was just marrying her because it was what his family expected him to do."

"Oh."

"Plus, I found out about that time that I was pregnant. At first I considered telling him, but I knew it wouldn't change anything and might have just made things worse. I didn't want to raise my child on the streets, so I left to find something better." Duo smiled slightly. "I did."

"I don't mean to pry, but where did you get the money to buy this place? It is yours, right?"

"It's mine. The house and about a hundred and fifty acres of land. The place had been abandoned for years and the town just wanted to sell it, mostly for back taxes. Of course, most people around here don't have that kind of money so it just sat here."

"I would think that was a bit of money."

Duo nodded. "I never thought I could buy this place. I had some jewelry of my mother's that I had hidden away after she died. I sold it all and used the money to buy this place. It wasn't easy, but I like to think she would be glad that I had a decent place to call home and that she made it possible."

Quatre smiled. "I'm sure she is."

Duo sighed and turned back towards the sink. Suddenly he paused and put his hand to his side.

"Are you okay?" Quatre asked worriedly.

"Fine. Just a twinge. Baby's getting a bit restless."

"Must be weird."

"Sometimes. And yet it's kinda nice at the same time. You'll understand when you start feeling your baby move. There's no feeling like it. Course, sometimes he picks just the wrong moment or wrong place and you damn near wet yourself. And it always seems to be stretch and exercise time at two in the morning."

"Thanks for the warning."

"At least you have Trowa. I'm sure he'll be a big help."

"You went through your pregnancy with Ken alone."

"Yeah." Duo rested his hands on the edge of the sink. "Damn near got us both killed too."

"How?"

"I went into labor on the side of a mountain in a storm a lot like this one. If Adrianna hadn't found me, we both would have died."

Quatre looked at him. "Why isn't this baby's father involved?"

"He's dead."

"I'm sorry."

Duo turned his head slightly. "I'm not."

Quatre gasped at his statement. "What?"

Duo turned around. "Cold as it sounds, I'm not sorry he's dead. It's more than the bastard deserves, which ever one it was."

"What?"

"I'm not really sure who this baby's father is. You have your choice of about eight men." Duo closed his eyes. "A group of bandits running from the law showed up one day. They tore the house up and stole some things."

Quatre put his hand to his mouth. "They raped you?" he whispered.

"Yes. I couldn't fight that many and I didn't want them to find out about Ken. I was afraid of what they would do to him. All he knows is that the bad men hurt me. He doesn't know exactly what that hurt entails and I don't plan on telling him."

"But you're keeping the baby?"

Duo nodded. "I thought a long time about it, but in the end I decided that it wasn't the baby's fault and it wasn't my fault that it happened. And I'd like to believe I'm strong enough to love a child of my body, irregardless of how he or she was conceived."

"Then you are a stronger man than me."

Duo ran his hand through his bangs. "Sometimes I wonder."

"Quatre Raberba Winner. I thought you said half an hour." Trowa's voice came from the doorway, causing both men to jump.

Quatre put his hand to his chest. "Trowa! You scared me." He blinked at his lover as Trowa strolled across the room. "And I've just been sitting here talking to Duo. I haven't done anything else, have I Duo?"

"Nope. He hasn't helped me one little bit."

"Duo!"

Trowa smirked as he picked Quatre up. "It's time for your medicine."

"I am perfectly capable of walking," Quatre stated indignantly.

"Indulge me."

Quatre sighed and looked at Duo. "And you think I've got it good."

Duo laughed. "I'll trade you."

Trowa glanced over at the braided man. "I'll carry you upstairs later."

"Promise."

"On my honor. Let me get this one to bed and then I'll be back."

"I'll be waiting."

Trowa laughed softly as he headed out the door.

Duo sighed as he turned back to his cooking. I just would rather it be Heero.