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 Sixteen B
By SilverLady
Trowa stood quietly, leaning against the doorway and watching the figure sitting on the couch. The scene that he had walked in yesterday still bothered him and he felt it was time to get to the bottom of it. Especially since Quatre had sensed that there was something wrong between Duo and Heero and he had fretted about it the night before and again this morning. Trowa didn't want anything upsetting his small lover. Not in his condition.
Heero continued to glare at the fire. He knew that Trowa was watching him, but he wasn't in the mood to talk. His mind was in turmoil as he turned over the things he had learned and reviewed them again and again. But no matter what way he looked nothing changed. He had been a stupid, hard-headed fool that had chased away and probably lost the one person in the world that had actually cared for him, not who his stepfather was and not for what he might be able to get him. That because of his stupid actions then and his cruel words now, not only would he never have the chance to find a bit of happiness with Duo, but he'd also lost any chance of getting to know the son he'd never known about. The son he had often dreamed about, in the long lonely days without Duo by his side. Because he knew that Duo would fight him every time he tried to even talk with the boy, protecting their son with a fierceness that Heero knew he couldn't win against. And it was his own damn fault for making Duo feel the need to be so protective.
If only he had thought before he'd opened his big mouth and stuck his foot in it.
Trowa sighed. It was becoming apparent that he was going to have to start this conversation. Frowning slightly he moved across the room and sat down next to Heero.
"What's going on?"
Heero didn't even look at him. "What?"
"Between you and our host. The tension is so thick you can see it and it's starting to upset Quatre."
Heero glanced over at Trowa, a quizzical look on his face.
"You know how sensitive Quatre can be to others emotions. And this pregnancy seems to have made that sensitivity more pronounced. He knew there was something wrong when I went up stairs last night to get him for dinner."
Heero arched an eyebrow. He'd never heard Trowa say so many words at one time. Obviously Trowa's concern for Quatre was making him talkative.
Trowa continued to watch. "So what's the story?"
Heero turned back to the fire. "I knew him."
"When?"
"Before."
Trowa puffed out a breath. And Quatre thinks it's hard to get me talking. "Before when?"
"Before I was married. I met him in the park. He was sitting under my tree." Heero closed his eyes as he remembered that first meeting. "He didn't care who I was and he wasn't impressed. He was the first person who had ever treated me like a normal human not someone who could get him something."
"You became friends?"
"Friends and so much more."
"He was the one who were looking for."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I told him I was getting married. Actually he heard about it from the gossipers in town and confronted me about it. I told him it wouldn't change anything. He disagreed. The next morning he was gone."
Trowa stared at Heero as the pieces fell into place. "You're Ken's father."
"Yes."
"So what's the problem?"
"I was a stupid ass. I made myself out to be the injured
one. I accused him of a lot of things because I was hurt and I wanted to hurt
him back. I succeeded just fine. So fine, it probably cost me any chance of
getting him back."
"You're in love with him."
"I never stopped. I just expected him to fit himself into my idea of the perfect companion. I never took how he might feel about it into consideration. I acted like the stuck-up royal ass he once called me."
"Have you told him that?"
"Why? It won't make any difference. He hates me now."
"You never know unless you try. Swallowing your pride and admitting you were wrong might be a good......"
Suddenly there was the slamming of a door and the sound of running footsteps. Before either man could react a hurtling body flung itself into the room and into Trowa's lap. "You gotta help my Daddy," Ken wailed as he clung to Trowa.
Trowa rubbed his hand across the upset boy's back. "What's wrong?"
"It's my Daddy. He's in the barn. He told me to get you. And to get Adrianna. He's hurt. Something's wrong with my Daddy."
Trowa rose to he feet. "Wufei is upstairs. Tell him to go and fetch Adrianna. I'll help your father. Where is he exactly?"
Ken sniffed as he looked at Trowa. "In the back of the barn where we keep all the extra vegetables."
"All right." Trowa set the boy down. "Go."
The boy quickly scampered up the stairs.
"Is there anything I can do?" Heero's voice was low and pained sounding.
Trowa turned to find him trying to stand. "Don't get in the way. I'll go see what is wrong." Ignoring Heero's glare he turned and left the room.
*****
Duo struggled to remain conscious as yet another gut wrenching pain ripped through him. He hoped that Ken had found help and that they would get here soon.
Suddenly hands were on his shoulders and a soothing voice slid through the pain. "Duo. I'm here. What's wrong?"
"The baby," he gasped. "Something is wrong with the baby. It hurts so bad."
Slowly the hands on his shoulders slid down his body to run across his abdomen. "Wufei has gone for Adrianna. Everything is going to be fine."
Duo grasped for Trowa's wrist. "Don't lie to me. Everything is not fine. I can...." He broke off as another pain tore through him. His body arched against the pain as he tried to keep from screaming. It felt as if he was being ripped in half
Before the pain had completely passed he felt his body being lifted from the floor. Strong arms wrapped around him as Trowa carried him from the barn and into the house.
He vaguely heard voices asking what was wrong, but his mind was too fogged to follow the conversation that went on around him. After what seemed like an eternity of pain he felt soft hands on him and Adrianna's gentle voice telling him that she was there and that she would help. All he could do was beg her to make the pain go away.
After a minute there was the blessed prick of the needle and the mind numbing relief it brought.
*****
Quatre sat quietly, looking around the room at his companions. It had seemed like days instead of hours since they had gathered here to wait and worry.
He had been a little surprised when both Heero and Wufei had joined Trowa and himself to wait for news from Adrianna. Wufei had rarely let himself become involved in others and Heero hadn't seemed to care too much for their host. So their obvious concern confused Quatre.
And what had amazed him the most was the fact that, not only had Ken crawled up in Heero's lap for comfort, Heero had let him do so. He hadn't believed Heero was capable of being so caring, especially to a little boy he barely knew. But he had quieted the boy he had begun crying in earnest, holding him and telling him that everything would be okay now that Adrianna was here to take care of his Daddy. That, no, he didn't know what was wrong but he was sure that Adrianna was more that capable of helping. After all, she had been able to help him with his leg, hadn't she?
Even now he was gently stroking the boy's hair, soothing him with soft words, even thought the boy had fallen into an exhausted sleep almost an hour ago.
Just then the door opened and Adrianna entered slowly. There was an air of exhaustion and sadness about her.
Trowa and Wufei came to their feet as she walked over and sat down in the one empty chair.
"Duo?" Quatre's quiet voice asked fearfully.
Adrianna looked up. "He's going to be all right. It was a little iffy for a while but I finally got him stabilized."
"And the baby?" Surprisingly it was Heero that asked the question.
Adrianna looked over at him, a brief hint of surprised flashing in her eyes as she took in the scene. "The baby was stillborn. There was nothing I could do to save him."
"Him?"
"Yes, the baby was a boy."
"What happened?" Trowa asked worriedly.
"I don't know for certain yet. I would say that there was something wrong with the baby that caused Duo's body to abort the pregnancy; it's possible the baby was already dead. I'll know more in a little while, once I've had a chance to more thoroughly examine the body."
Quatre closed his eyes. He couldn't imagine how horrible it must be to lose your child. Unconsciously he pressed his hand against his own stomach, as if protecting the tiny life sheltered within.
"But Duo will be okay?" Heero asked softly.
"Yes. He's going to be laid up for at least a week or two while his body recovers from the ordeal. And it will probably take much longer for him to recover emotionally." Adrianna knew that Duo was going to take the loss pretty hard, which was why she was determined to find out exactly what had happened. She wanted to be able to reassure Duo that it wasn't anything he had done or not done that had caused this to happen.
"Should someone be with him?"
"Keeping a check on him would be a good idea, to make sure he doesn't try anything stupid, like getting out of bed. I've given him a sedative that should keep him asleep for at least another six hours and I'll leave some more medicine to give him if he has trouble sleeping. I would recommend that Ken be on hand when he wakes up. He's going to want to know where he is and if he's okay."
"Is there anything else we can do?" Quatre asked.
"Just be there. Let him know he's not alone and it wasn't his fault. Let him mourn. But don't let him sink too low."
Quatre nodded. "We will."
"How much longer will you be staying?"
"At least until after Quatre's child is born," Heero stated, causing the others to look at him in surprise. They all had thought Heero was anxious to leave.
Adrianna nodded, understanding the silent message in Heero's eyes. Duo was going to need all the help he could get to get past this. In some ways it was much worse than the rape that had caused all of this to begin with. She was glad to see that maybe, just maybe, Duo's wish was finally going to come true.
"That's good. He'll be much better off if you can help him around here as much as possible. The less he has to worry about the better. Just don't let him lock himself up and not do anything."
"We won't." There was a hint of firm determination in Heero's voice.
Quatre blinked at the unexpected behavior of his stepbrother. What in the world is going on with him?
Trowa glanced over at Heero as well. I hope this works out. For all three of you.
Wufei just sat there with his mouth hanging open. What did he just get us into?
