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 7: Of Conditions and Reconciliations

"Why is he still unconscious?" Heero asked Quatre, dark blue eyes almost begging for an explanation. The tribe chief had one hand firmly wrapped around the prone Healer's braid and another gripping his limp hand.

Quatre shook his head tiredly, leaning against his mate's side for support while Wufei hovered by the door to their leader's dwelling, trying to keep curious and concerned villagers out. "I don't know, Heero. But I do know that the baby is no longer in any danger. However, I think he shouldn't carry out anymore Healing until it is born."

Baby, Heero thought amazed. How can that be? Healers weren't capable of siring or bearing children. While they did have the normal sexual equipment, it was not for reasons of procreation and they didn't have any part of a bearer, which meant a womb and a delicate opening beneath the twin sacs where the baby would emerge.

He released Duo's hand to place his own gently over his lean muscled stomach. There was life beneath his hand, life that he created with his beautiful, selfless mate. He has yet to understand what was going on, but he was willing to wait now.

I will never set foot into this dwelling again until I can bear you children.

That was what Duo told him all those months ago and Heero had respected that. But three nights ago, when they had came back bloodied and tired, the blue eyed Shifter had insisted, no demanded his mate to be placed within his dwelling, instead of at the Healer's communal dwelling where all the injured were treated. He had waited all those long nights to have his mate curled up in his bed and he wasn't going to wait a second longer, now that all the conditions had been met.

It had been a harrowing trip back to the Shifter's village. The unicorns had offered their services as beasts of burden for the slender, violet eyed Healer, something that a proud unicorn would never do in any other case. They had insisted that only Duo be placed on one of a mare's back, while the rest would go on foot, but made an exception for Qautre to support and treat the unconscious Healer. Apparently, even the unicorns agreed the Healing of death was carried out by Duo and not Quatre, and they were in awe of him. Added to that, a Healer who was able to bear a child. That was something akin to a miracle.

The party of Shifters had been a slow trek home with the unicorns as a guard of honour. Quatre had managed to stop the bleeding a few short hours after it started but kept his Healing energy placed on the braided Healer's lower belly, stabilising the unborn child. The tiny spark of life fluttered, instinctively knowing the blond's desire to help it and its bearer. When they reached the village, the first group of Shifters had returned from the battle, and the entire village had been informed of their leader's mate's impending pregnancy.

Now, three days later, Duo was still unconscious and the entire village was on tenterhooks.

A low moan from the bed caught the attention of all in the room as they tensed. There was a tightening around the braided man's eyes as he stirred from three days of sleep.

"Love," Heero urged. "That's it, open your eyes for me. Let me see your beautiful eyes." He brushed Duo's cheek achingly, smoothing stray strands of chestnut gold hair from heartbreakingly beautiful face, willing his mate to just look at him once more.

Quatre had rushed to the side of the bed at the first sound of his friend and laid the back of his hand against Duo's forehead, brushing away his messy bangs. It was still cool and dry, thank the Ancient. "Wake up, Duo," he patted the side of his friend's face gently. "Come on now, wake up."

" 'M up," Duo muttered drowsily, eyes still closed. "Tired," he complained, bringing pleased and relieved smiles from everyone in the dwelling. A complaining Duo was a healthy Duo.

"I know, love, but I need to know you are all right. Please look at me," Heero continued softly.

"H'ro?" Duo's eyes opened a slit.

"Yes, love," Heero smiled for the first time in weeks. "I'm here."

"Thirsty."

Quatre poured a small amount of water into a cup and handed it to Heero with a warning of, "Not too much."

Heero nodded and lifted his mate slightly, pressing the cup to chapped lips. He watched as his mate greedily slurp down the proffered moisture before taking the cup away. "Slow down, love."

Duo frowned. "Thirsty… tired…" Then he was gone.

"Quatre?" Heero's eyes swung to the blond Healer's silently pleading for confirmation that his mate was going to be all right.

"Let him sleep, I think he needs it. The Healing did take a lot out of him," Quatre yawned widely, letting his own exhaustion take him over now he knew his friend was going to be all right. He felt the warm presence of his mate behind him. Ever since Trowa's brush with death, or rather his headlong plunge into it, the couple had constantly touched each other, as if to ensure that the other was still alive, that they would not be alone. And they had Duo Maxwell to thank for it.

"I think you should get some rest yourself," Heero ordered. "I will send someone to get you if anything happens."

"Little one," Trowa queried. At his mate's nod, the tall Shifter picked the Healer up and headed towards their own dwelling.

Once the two of them were settled, Quatre found himself too charged to actually fall asleep.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Trowa asked.

Quatre buried his face into his mate's chest, shuddering, but keeping a lid on the tears the threatened. There was no reason for tears now, Trowa was alive and in his arms. No reason for tears at all. Needed to be strong, Duo needed him to be strong. Damn it, he had been strong for three days now.

"Let it out, little one, I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere," Trowa soothed, rubbing the blond's back and Quatre just let go, his fear pouring from his heart, washing away the pain of seeing his mate broken and bleeding on the ground.

It was a while before he came back to himself and in a fury of need lunged at his lover and proceeded to kiss him deeply, his hunger and desire echoing in every movement of his lips.

"I need you, Trowa," he gasped under the playful assault of his mate's wondrous hands. "I need to know you didn't die. I need….." Whatever he wanted to say was quickly forgotten as his mate showed him, more than once that he was indeed very much alive.

Long sated moments later, the two lay in tangle of naked limbs, trying to find their bearings again.

"I never knew you could be so wild, little one," Trowa rumbled in amusement, wincing slightly at the scratches on his back.

The blond blushed to the roots of his hair. "I just… needed to know…" He was silenced with a tender kiss.

"I didn't say I didn't enjoy it, love." Trowa pressed his mate's head against his chest, letting the blond hear the steady beating of his heart, to show his mate that he was indeed very much alive. "How is it that Duo's pregnant?"

Quatre stopped tracing circles in Trowa's chest and tilted his head back to meet his mate's green eyes. "I wish I knew. I was told it was impossible."

Trowa caught the wistfulness in Quatre's tone. He knew his mate wanted for them to have a baby, but circumstances had denied them that luxury. He hadn't mind the fact that Quatre was a Healer and would not be able to give him children. He had mated with Quatre because of the kind and beautiful person that he was, and not for the reason of providing children. He had known how awful Heero had felt when Duo had walked out of their home when the braided man was exposed as a Healer. But as tribe chief, he knew his responsibilities to ensure the continuation and the peace of the tribe. Just handing his position over to another would possibly spark an internal war, which was something to be avoided at all costs. After all, there was enough unrest within the eastern area of the Forest for a tribe war to worsen the situation.

"Are you…" Quatre began hesitantly. "You know, about children, do you… regret?"

Trowa's arms tightened almost painfully. "Never, little one, never. Besides," he quipped. "If was so desperate for children, I would have mated with a brood mare. I think one of those unicorns were looking at me funny"

Hearing his mate laugh uproariously, Trowa knew everything would be well. "Sleep," he coaxed. "You need your strength and I know you will need all of it explaining this little situation to Duo."

Quatre winced at the thought but was unable to stifle a yawn. He nodded as drowsiness overtook him and settled to sleep for the first time in three days.

XXxxXX

Duo finally woke up the next morning. It was confusing as hell and he was absolutely starving. Then he remembered the pain in his stomach and the blood. He tried to move his hand but found it trapped in tanned ones.

Heero, his brain translated. Sleeping Heero.

Heero's bed, his mind recognised.

Heero's dwelling.

What in all that was holy was he doing here? He had sworn he would never set foot into Heero's dwelling ever again. Who had the arrogance to do this? Duo tried to yank his hand away but was shocked to find how weak he felt. He couldn't even sit up on his own. The covering at the entrance was pulled back to revealed Quatre, who almost shrieked in delight at finding his friend lucid.

"Duo!" Quatre yelled, happily, startling the sleeping Heero awake.

Violet clashed with cobalt as the mated couple stared at each other for a long second before looking away.

"How are you feeling?" Quatre asked, motioning for Heero to help his mate sit up, while the Healer busied himself rearranging pillows behind Duo for his comfort.

Heero felt his mate's body tense at his touch then relaxed instinctively, moulding his body against the other Shifter's. The tribe chief was reluctant to let go of his mate and finally stepped back to let Quatre check Duo.

"Tired. What happened?" Duo asked, blushing when his stomach rumbled loudly. He rubbed it with a smile. "Apparently starving as well."

"That's normal in your condition," Quatre's smile widened into a delighted grin.

"What condition?" Duo asked, confused.

The Healer stood abruptly, and left the dwelling, mentioning something about food.

"What condition?" Duo asked Heero.

Heero bit his lip indecisively. It was not his place to tell his mate something like this, when he couldn't explain it as well as a Healer can. Damn Quatre for leaving him alone. He sat down on the bed next to his mate, pleased to see Duo didn't flinch as he normally did. "What do you remember from that night?"

"How long was I out?" Duo wanted to know. That night sounded an eternity ago.

"Today's the fourth day since the battle."

Duo felt his jaw hanging open. "Four…." He stuttered. "I.. I remember Trowa and Quatre, helping them…. Heal death," he trailed off, brilliant violet eyes shining with wonder. "Did I really do that?" He looked to his mate for confirmation.

The other Shifter smiled proudly at his mate. "Trowa's alive because of you."

"Quatre," Duo shook his head, correcting Heero. "It was Quatre's desire, not mine."

"Quatre believes it was your power that did it. The Ancient answered your call, not his." Unable to resist, Heero reached out and brushed a thumb over Duo's silken jaw.

Brows furrowed in thought, the braided Healer was distracted enough not to slap his mate's hand away but instead turn into that gesture. "I don't really remember, it was so confusing. Too much power." He shook his head. "Is Trowa really all right?" He asked, worriedly.

Heero frowned as if pained, but a small smile creased his lips. "If the screams of pleasure that echoed across the village last night was any indication, I believe Trowa is more than all right." His eyes warmed as a slow blush crept up his mate's fair cheeks, giving him a healthy complexion which was much more favourable that the pasty white face he currently had on.

His mate sighed, relaxing more fully against the pillows. "Then after that, my stomach hurt. More than hurt, I thought someone was pushing a hot poker into it. I was bleeding…" His eyes flew to Heero's face, watching the tense look there. "Is… is something wrong with me? Am… am I dying?"

"Oh, stop being so melodramatic," Quatre chirped, carrying a bowl that smelled like broth and smiled when he heard Duo's stomach gurgle again.

"What happened to me?" Duo insisted as he watched his friend pass the steaming bowl and a spoon to his mate, who proceeded to feed him a small spoonful. "I can eat myself." Though he wasn't quite so sure of that, seeing how his hand was shaking.

Heero raised pleading eyes. "Please," he choked out. "Just indulge me? Let me do this?"

His heart turning over painfully, Duo nodded, understanding Heero's need to do something for him. He was never able to deny Heero anything when he looked like that. He sipped the soup carefully and before long, Heero couldn't feed it to him fast enough. He felt hollow inside and guessed he hadn't been eating for the past three days. What was wrong with him? What had happened? The pain was long gone but the memory of it was still strong. It had been intense; coming to him in waves right after the Healing was completed. And the bleeding.

Why would he be bleeding from there? He didn't have anything to bleed from in that particular area… except….

His eyes widened. No, it was impossible. If it was true, it would be a freaking miracle. If it were true.

"Heero," Duo called out, refusing the next spoonful of broth. "Why did you bring me here?" He waved his hand, indication the tribe chief's dwelling. "I thought I told you…"

"You will not set foot in my dwelling until you can bear me a child," Heero rattled out, as if committing that line to memory.

"Yes…" Duo prompted.

"And the conditions have been met," Heero stated flatly.

"Meaning?" Duo pressed.

He was met with utter silence, uncomfortable silence.

"What are you telling me?" Duo burst out exasperated. "That I was pregnant by some twisted fate?" He hazarded a guess. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. With all that bleeding, even by some miracle he was pregnant, he would have lost the baby by now and the loss was overwhelming. To be able to be with Heero again, that hope dashed. To sleep on their bed again, that hope dashed. To finally give Heero an heir, another hope dashed.

Heero placed his palm against the flat of Duo's stomach. "Is, love, you still are." He could keep a goofy grin from making an appearance.

Duo gasped softly, eyes travelling down his still flat stomach and the calloused hand on it. His own edged hesitantly over his mate's hand, and laced their fingers together. "How?" He raised his eyes to Quatre, who seemed to have some trouble keeping his emotions in check. Hell, the blond Healer was close to bawling his eyes out.

"I don't know. But I just realised your fatigue and increased appetite and even your improved appearance were all symptoms of pregnancy. It just didn't hit me since Healers don't have that capability," Quatre sounded a little sad towards the end.

"You are freaking right we don't." Duo exclaimed, more than a little panicky. "What the hell am I supposed to do? I was not made for this, I don't…"

"Damn it, Duo, breathe," Quatre ordered, seeing his friend close to hyperventilating. "We'll get through this. The baby is fine. In fact, it seems to understand what I was doing to keep him safe, that night, when you started bleeding."

"I… I…" Duo felt himself shaking with fatigue and was instantly lowered carefully back onto the bed.

"You need to rest now," Quatre tapped the end of his friend's nose. "Even I need to rest." He stretched, yawning widely. "We will talk about this when you are stronger," he promised, drawing the covers firmly around the drowsy Shifter.

Duo nodded, holding on to that promise and let himself drift, Heero's warm hand tightly clenched in his own. It was almost as if he had found other half of himself again, and the gaping loss within his soul had been filled. He was safe and love once more and nothing was going to take that away. Instinctively, his free hand settled protectively over his abdomen, as is guarding the fragile life within before resting, as Quatre advised.

tbc…