Disclaimers: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. Merely borrowing them for a little torture.

Warnings: Shounen-ai (because I suck at yaoi) , major A.U, some OOC I think, probably future mpreg

Fates and Choices

Part 6: Of Miracles and Oak Trees

Quatre was a natural worrier, and has been tagged more than once as a mother hen by Trowa, Wufei and sometimes in a rare fit of frustration, his tribe chief, Heero. He was a Healer and it was normal for him to worry and had a need to nurture things. Oft times, his concern for certain things, or for certain people had been brushed off by Trowa as excessive but this time, his tall mate agreed with him.

Duo was not well.

It had been almost two months since Duo moved out of Heero's dwelling to stay by himself out in the Forest. There had been a blessed period of peace during that time but it had only served to enhance the violet eyed Shifter's pain. There had been nothing to do and therefore left more time for him to worry and reflect and wallow in guilt.

I will never set foot into this dwelling again until I can bear you children, was Duo's parting words to his mate. It had sealed his fate. He would never be with his handsome tribe chief ever again. It made him want to weep in pain. Duo remembered the pain those dark blue eyes at that announcement.

Duo hugged himself, remembering how the proud leader of the eastern Shifter had held onto him tightly, begging him not to leave, ensuring that, while it was his duplicity, he was loved and no one would blame him for trying to help a brother. That last night of passion before he left, the almost desperation in Heero's embrace. He had wanted so much to stay, but it wouldn't be fair to his mate. Heero needed an heir, deserved one.

"You are my mate, I will never have another," Heero had yelled desperately at his departing back the morning after a selfless night of passion.

With almost two months past, Duo was beginning to believe that no one actually hated him within this tribe. While there some unhappiness that the tribe chief may have to give his position to a relative and not to his heir, for the most part, the tribe had been forgiving and had been willing to accept a Healer for the tribe chief's mate. That had only deepened Duo guilt. He didn't deserve their kindness. He didn't deserve Heero.

"You shouldn't be out here," Quatre said, quietly, coming from behind the despondent violet eyed Healer. "You don't look at all well."

Duo managed a rueful smile before lowering his eyes to the ground. He had been constantly depressed these past few weeks, not eating, and not sleeping well. His condition was starkly apparent to Quatre and others of the tribe, especially Heero who had come more than once to rail at him about taking care of himself, or at least, let Quatre.

"I'm fine," he told the blond Healer tiredly.

Quatre hunkered down next to his friend and place a palm against the other Healer's forehead, checking for a fever. Duo flinched at the contact.

"I'm fine," he insisted.

"No, you are not," Quatre hissed. "You have lost so much weight, you have dark circles under your eyes and I know you have been getting tired easily. You are not taking care of yourself. Why don't you move in with us? Trowa has asked me to ask you."

"I don't deserve your kindness, Quatre," Duo turned away from the blond and leaned back against the rough bark of the tree he had been resting under.

Duo learned that day that an annoyed Quatre was not a gentle Quatre.

The small Healer grabbed Duo's shirt and hauled him up with surprising strength. "I don't care what you do or don't deserve. You are a member of my tribe. By the Ancient's command, I have a duty as Healer to care for those in my tribe and those under the tribe's territory. By not letting me take care of you, you are making me amiss in my duties. I don't care if you think you are a failure, but I won't let you make me into one. Do. You. Hear. Me?"

Hear him? Quatre was practically blasting those words into Duo's face. He would have to in an eye of a storm for the violet eyed Healer to miss a single word the other Healer said.

Duo quirked a tired grin. "Yes, Master," he said, softly with amusement.

"Come home with me?" Quatre asked, wide eyed aqua eyes pleading silently.

Duo winced. No one in the entire tribe could combat Quatre's wide eyed pleading look. It could somehow guilt you into doing almost anything. "I will go back to your dwelling with you. But I have no more home."

The blond Healer winced at that, but nodded his agreement. The next hour saw Duo being excessively mothered by the tribe's leading Healer. Duo felt like an interloper within the Healer's dwelling. It was a private place for him and his mate and he felt like he was intruding on that. Duo knew he was not well, not sick precisely, but not altogether there. He had done what Quatre had asked him to, taken herbs; ate good food, slept well but the fatigue continued. There were times when he couldn't even stay up for lunch without a nap after breakfast, sometimes he wasn't even awake enough for breakfast. Quatre couldn't Heal what he couldn't understand and as far as the small Healer could see, there was nothing physically wrong with his friend. And he couldn't heal depression. That would have to be solved between his leader and his beautiful mate.

One morning two weeks after Quatre had thrown Duo's butt into his dwelling found the two of them having a late breakfast.

"I think they should be done soon," Quatre said, worriedly. There had been some human activity along the border. They appeared to be hunting the unicorns and a party had been sent out to chase the humans away.

Duo yawned. "Don't worry about Trowa, Quat. He can take care of himself. Besides, there's Hee…" He trailed off. "There are people looking after him."

The blond nodded, still nervously twisting his hands. He studied Duo carefully, concern creased on his brow. The long haired Shifter was tired again and it was barely noon. The signs of fatigue had gone with the extra care Quatre had given, but his friend still tire so easily. More than that, over the fast few weeks, it almost seemed that Duo had somehow grown even more attractive. His eyes seemed brighter and the silky texture of his chestnut hair seemed more pronounced. Even the other tribe members had commented on the wonderful appearance of their leader's mate. While in all appearance Duo seemed to be glowing with health, he still wasn't able to do much without exhaustion over taking him. That worried Quatre. Nothing he did seemed to be working to restore his friend's exuberance.

"You need a nap if we are going to go out later," Quatre announced, going round the table and pulling the other Healer to his feet.

"Don't want a stinking nap," Duo complained petulantly, but unable to stifle a huge yawn.

Quatre smiled. "You need one." He tucked Duo into bed and the other Healer was asleep before the blond left the room.

XXxxXX

Quatre calm down Duo threw the thought irritably.

Trowa's dying Quatre keened. I can feel him leaving me. I can't…

Two wolves ran like the wind toward the site of the carnage. News came in early that while the humans have been successfully driven away, there had been many Shifters injured in the process. And some were dying. The Forest was sustaining their lives, but the hurt inflicted to the Forest was making it difficult for it to keep the Shifters alive. The Healers had to Heal the Forest before the Forest could Heal the Shifters.

Duo swallowed when he first saw the remnants of the battle field. His senses told him that the land was in pain and crying out. Blood was splattered everywhere and so were the bodies of moaning human and Shifters alike. The bodies of the humans would be absorbed by the Forest once they Healed it, but the Shifters would heal with the Forest. If the Healers make it in time. No one could Heal death in a Shifter. Even Duo couldn't do it, and he had tried once, only to nearly kill himself in that endeavour.

"Duo," Heero was holding his mate's elbow, supporting him. "Are you all right?"

When had Heero come so close to him? "I'm fine," Duo pushed his mate's hand away. "I have work to do," he said, turning away, not before hungry violet eyes devouring his love, ensuring that Heero was not hurt in any way. He felt more than saw Quatre's mourning over a fallen figure.

"Trowa?" Duo asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.

Heero nodded sadly. "He was gone before we could do anything. He fought bravely."

Suddenly, the cloying stench of blood and death became too much and the braided Healer lurch away, heaving the contents of his stomach. Heero was there as well, stroking his back gently, supporting him as he dry heaved for a few minutes before his stomach announced it was done. He straightened slowly, swaying on his feet and collapsed into Heero's waiting arms.

"Damn it, Duo, you are still sick," Heero snapped, worried.

Duo could probably imagine the ashen face looking at Heero's but he pushed his way out of the embrace he had dreamed of for months. "I'm fine. I have to see Quatre." After making sure his legs were going to obey him, the braided Healer hurried over to the blond who was still sobbing over his mate's body, Heero following closely behind.

"Quat," Duo laid a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder.

Quatre lifted tearful eyes at Duo, a resolve burning hotly behind aqua eyes. "I can't live without him, Duo. I can't.." He seemed to fade away from reality as Duo felt a raw power being gathered around the smaller blond.

You can't Heal death, Quatre Duo told him, horrified.

I can and I will, I must. Please, Duo, help me. I'm nothing without him The raw pain in that exchange decided for Duo.

Together

Two Healers of astounding power, a single resolve, a single prayer raised to the Ancient. Heero was thrown back by the sheer power emitted by the two as the glow about them encompassed the entire clearing. It was so bright it was almost painful too watch.

Yes.

A bare whisper in the air, a soft answer from something… someone. Then silence. Heero opened his eyes and gasped. His eyes clashed with Wufei's, the Healer's elected protector, who had finally managed to catch up with the two Healers. The land was cleansed. The blood was gone, the Forest was healed and Trowa…..

Trowa was holding onto a sobbing Quatre, whispering words of comfort.

"They Healed death," Wufei muttered, awed.

Heero could only nod silently, his eyes latching hungrily onto his mate's form.

Duo fell onto his knees the moment the swirl of power ended. In the midst of all that, he was almost certain he heard the Ancient answering their prayers, lending her power for them to Heal Trowa, to bring him back from the Dark Lands. His mind swirled dizzily for a moment before it registered Quatre sobbing into Trowa's chest and was being soothed by the once dead Shifter.

"We… we… did it," Duo smiled tiredly at the relieved blond.

"Thank you," Quatre turned in his mate's embrace, gratitude plain on his sweet face. "By the Ancient, thank you."

Duo suddenly found himself with an armful of happy blond and he blushed. "You helped as well," he managed before his air was squeezed out of him by a stronger Trowa as well.

"The Ancient answered your call, I felt her. Not mine," Quatre scrubbed his tears away and stood with the help of Trowa. He could hear a low awed murmur from the clearing, an indication of the tribe finally realising what the two of them had done.

Duo ducked his head, not wanting to answer. He was once again the centre of attention, something he had strove hard to avoid the past few months.

"Let's go home," Trowa smiled, arms still wrapped possessively around the smaller blond's who seemed to be swaying from fatigue. The two Healers had expended a large amount of energy that day. The tall Shifter's green eyes caught his leader's and with a small motion of his head, brought Heero over. "Help your mate up. He's been exhausted."

Heero jerked himself forcefully out of the daze he was in and stepped closer to his beautiful mate. "Duo?" He asked tentatively. His mate was still kneeling, and horribly still.

Something was wrong.

A cry burst involuntarily from Duo as a sharp pain lanced across his stomach. He clutched at it doubling over painfully, his breath coming in short painful pants. He felt arms around him and heard a blur of concerned voices. He tilted his head back to meet the worried ones of his mate and felt the grey edges of a faint threatening. A sharper pain pierced his belly, and a screamed came this time along with a warm trickle made its way down his thighs. He looked down, shocked to see blood flowing from in between his legs and his battle with consciousness was lost.

Quatre pushed himself away from his mate to kneel before Duo, tightly held by his mate.

"Duo, what's wrong?" But Quatre could see his friend was too far gone to hear him.

"What's wrong with him?" Heero growled, almost frightened. "He was fine a moment ago."

"Why is he in pain?" Trowa knelt next to his Healer mate while Wufei kept the concerned crowd away, letting Quatre do his job.

Just then, Duo screamed and looked down before falling limp. Twin gasps filled the air as both the Healer and Heero saw the blood.

"He wasn't injured. He wasn't, I would have known," Heero rocked his mate unconsciously. "Don't leave me, don't leave me."

"Heero, stop that," Quatre order and laid his hand over Duo's stomach, still protectively cradled by his arms, even in unconsciousness. A warm glow surrounded the Healer's hand as he probed with his power for the source of his friend's discomfort. "What the…." Quatre gasped, eyed widening impossibly. "Oh Ancient, how did this happen?"

"What's wrong?" Heero demanded harshly, fearful eyes on his Healer.

"We need to get Duo back to the village as fast as we can. He's losing the baby," Quatre told him, sending a small tendril of power into his friend, trying to get the unborn child within stabilised enough for the trip back to the village.

"THE WHAT?" Came a chorus of shocked voices.

tbc….

I already said, no point guessing what is going to happen. So, shall Duo lose the baby or not?

Quatre: Not on my watch!

Tsu: Uh, sorry to tell you, but you're not in control here.

Quatre: And you are?

Tsu: Uh… DUH.

Duo: Hey, aren't you going to even ask me?

Tsu and Quatre: Go back to sleep.

Duo: Without me there won't be a story!

Tsu and Quatre: Wanna bet?

Duo: mumbles