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 14: Of Siblings and Revelations

"Stop it!" Duo called out, walking to stand beside Heero as the crowd parted for him. Wufei was following closely behind, dark storms brewing

"Duo!" Zechs called out, delighted at seeing his cousin once after such a long departure and hugged him affectionately. Behind him, his tribe had fallen to a stunned silence.

Duo smiled, gaining pleasure from the joy his cousin showed at seeing him again. At least someone was happy to see him. He held his tall cousin close as his widened girth would allow before releasing him. He edged close Heero, holding onto his hand and turned to face the man who had caused him such fear and pain during his years of growing up.

"Duo," Zechs began, eyes riveted on his cousin's obviously pregnant figure. "They sure feed you well here, don't they?" A small smiled played about his lips.

"What?" Duo tore his gaze from his father to stare in shock at his cousin, who appeared pretty shocked as well. He followed his cousin's ice blue eyes and realised what the previous tribe was so amazed about. He had forgotten about his little miracle son, being used to the fact that this tribe knew he was pregnant. He raised his eyes and met the gentle wonder in his father's.

"I have things to tell you," Treize said, and, Duo could almost lie to himself, tenderly.

"What could you possibly tell me that I would be interested in listening to?" Duo challenged, unable to keep the quaver of fear out of his tone. He felt the grip on his hand tightened and some of the fear drained at knowing Heero was close by. He felt the presence of his friends hovered in a protective circle behind him, easing his fear even further. Heero was right, this was his home and nothing would tear him away from it, father or not.

Treize smiled at his son. "The truth."

The two tribes were still separated as they sat in the communal dwelling and shooting daggers at each other. As was required, no chairs were brought in to signify that all were equal in the eyes of the Ancient but a few pillows were carted in to ensure Duo was comfortably settled next to Heero. Quatre sat next to Duo, the Healer keeping a close eye on his friend, getting ready to call a halt to all of this if he noticed the long haired Healer showed any signs of being upset. The panic attack Duo had a few days ago was still fresh in his mind and not something he wanted to go through again for a long while. His mate and Wufei sat next to Heero, the two strongest warriors supporting their leader.

Heero could feel a slight shiver coming from his mate as they sat on the ground, Duo squeezed as close as possible, as if needing assurance. Feeling frustratingly helpless to stop Duo's fear, Heero threw an arm around Duo's slender shoulders and pulled him closer. He was not normally demonstrative to those outside his tribe but to hell with it all, his mate needed him and he wasn't going to be prissy about it. Damn Treize and his tribe to hell.

"So tell us the truth," Heero snapped, wanting this entire ordeal to be over for Duo and kicking Treize out of their village.

Treize remained calm, not in the least upset with Heero's or his entire tribe's hostility. He knew what his son was capable of and what a fragile child Duo used to be. "We came to visit you, and not Solo as you thought," he began, speaking directly to Duo, who was still cringing under the steady gaze. Regret stabbed at him, knowing how badly Duo had been ruined.

"You knew Duo was the one who was mated to me and not your elder son?" Heero answered Treize when Duo remained stubbornly silent, though his eyes were trained on his mate.

Treize nodded. "That's the other reason we came here today, to apologise to you for misleading you," he told Heero. "Have you ever wondered why I would arrange for Solo to be mated to you? He was after all my heir."

That got a reaction from Duo, who raised surprised violet eyes to Heero's exchanging a look of slight confusion. "He's right, I never thought about that. Solo was my father's heir. Why would he arrange a mating with you?" He spoke softly, only for Heero's ears.

"Because I never arranged it," Treize said, judging Duo's reaction.

Violet and cobalt eyes stared at him in surprised shock.

"I see you don't believe me," Treize smiled gently. "Solo have the ability to bear children, which would serve him well as my heir anyway. Why would I be sending him away?"

"You have Zechs," Duo spoke directly to his father for the first time.

Zechs barked a laugh. "Like I would welcome that responsibility."

Duo chuckled. He remembered his father grooming Zechs to be tribe chief when they were younger, having decided to pass Solo over, which was another sore point from Duo's childhood. He also remembered his older cousin protesting to him at night about wanting to run away and join a human circus. He had almost carried out that threat when Duo found him on his way out of the Forest with nothing more than the clothes on his back. It had taken Duo almost half a day to convince Zechs to return to the village and speak to his father. Treize had relented shortly after that and Solo was acknowledged as his heir. To this day, Duo was still impressed with his cousin's daring at disobeying his father and then standing up to his father for it. He was also more than a little stunned at his father's calm acceptance of defiance from his cousin.

"Then who?" Heero asked, angrily. Someone had purposely set this mating up, knowing Duo would have to step into his brother's place and take the retribution to come.

Treize sighed sadly. "Solo has always been a jealous person. He was resentful that I loved Duo more than I did him. This would have effectively ruined Duo, don't you think?"

"No!" Duo exploded. "Solo loves me, you are saying he set this up?" His breath was coming in painful pants. No, the confused swirl of his mind told him, Solo would never do that to him, Solo loved him. He was the only person that protected him from his father, took all the abuse Treize could dish out and survived, just for him. For Duo. Treize was lying, trying to get in between them, again. Lies. "LIES!" He yelled at his father. "Stop lying!"

"Heero!" Quatre barked, rubbing his hand up and down Duo's back, trying to calm the panicked Shifter. "Stop this," he ordered.

Ignoring his guests, Heero gathered Duo in his arms and decided to take him back to their dwelling. Before turning away, he levelled one look at Treize that plainly said 'This conversation is not over. Stay.' and focused his attention on his mate, Quatre trailing close behind.

"He's lying, Heero, I know he is," Duo pleaded, not sure if he was trying to convince Heero or himself. No matter what vile acts his father had carried out on Solo's person, he had never lied. It was almost like a personal code of honour for him. But his father was saying that Solo had betrayed him? That his brother was jealous of him?

"I'll be the judge of that," Heero told Duo shortly. He gentled his tone. "I want you to stay here until I get this settled." He waved Quatre over. "He stays here," he pinned his Healer with a glare. "If I find him outside, I'm holding you responsible."

Quatre gulped audibly, nodding. He had never seen Heero this angered before. Of course, no one had played his friend for a fool before. "I'll take care of him. You deal with them," he motioned with a slight tilt of his head. He watched as Heero underwent a transformation from avenging angel to puppy dog as he gently kissed his mate and spoke in soft tones to him, reassuring him that he would make everything all right again. Then his glare returned and he stalked out purposefully.

The Healer picked up a small packet of herbs and mixed it in water. He carried it back to the bed, where Duo was curled up. His friend no longer seemed as panicked, but Quatre felt a deep pain suffused the other Healer. He rubbed his chest feeling the pain Duo must be going through.

"Duo, drink this," Quatre helped Duo into a sitting position and lifted the cup to the other's lips.

"My brother would never betray me!" Duo said, forcefully, dry eyed, willing Quatre to believe in his conviction.

Quatre nodded. "Heero will get to the bottom of this. This is something to help you relax," he coaxed, raising the cup again.

"Solo loves me," Duo insisted, searching aqua eyes.

Quatre nodded again. "I believe you, Duo."

Duo reluctantly drank from the cup and settled back onto the pillows, trying not to think. His son gave him a gentle poke, reminding him, besides his brother, there were others that loved him as well.

XXxxXX

Heero was in no mood of fruitless conversations. His mate was once again upset and damned close to a panic attack. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. He stomped into the communal dwelling yelling, "I want to know what the hell is going on and I want answers."

Treize stared calmly at the raging Shifter and nodded, waving his hand, he motioned for his tribe to leave them. "I want to speak to you private, Heero Yuy. And I want you to trust my word as another tribe chief that I would never tell a lie."

Heero stared at the ginger haired Shifter indecisively, but Duo had told him once, his code of trying never to lie came directly from his father's personal code of honour. Although his warrior instincts were sharpened, Heero couldn't find anything about Treize that told the other Shifter that he could be lying. Heero nodded. For now, he would trust. Listen to whatever story there was and decide later. Giving his own tribe the order to leave, Heero settle down opposite Treize.

"I will tell you first, I am willing to keep an open mind, but if I even suspect you of lying to me…" Heero left the threat hanging.

Treize stiffened. "I do not lie!" He stressed, affronted at the mere implication.

Heero nodded again. "Fine."

Silence reigned as Heero watch Treize struggling to explain. After a while, Heero decided his was at patience end. He wanted very much to return to Duo and comfort him than to sit around watching the other man struggle with words.

"I think I've had enough," Heero said, getting up but was halted by Treize's glare.

The other man sighed. "Fine. I'm just not sure where to start."

"At the beginning then," Heero supplied, though sounding as if he didn't really care, and if he was honest with himself, he really didn't. Duo was priority now and if Treize need some coddling he can go the hell back to his tribe.

"Do you know why his name is Maxwell?" Treize asked, quietly, staring into the small fire in the middle of the dwelling.

This should be good, Heero thought, thinking about Duo's version of the story. "You didn't want Duo to be named after your family but take your bearer's."

The other Shifter smiled sadly. "I named Duo after my mate. He died when Duo was very young. I wanted him to have something left in this world. I loved him very much."

Heero frowned in confusion. He tried to ascertain if Treize was lying, but there didn't seem to be any indication of it. "So you name his son after him? He's the bearer it was his right to take the baby and name him. To name a child after a sire would be an honour. That's all."

Treize shook his head slowly. "No, Duo's my baby. They both are"

"What?"

Silently, the tribe chief pulled his shirt down, exposing his right shoulder, showing Heero the tattoo of the oak. "My mate always wanted a son that was a Healer. The day the Ancient chose Duo, I formally named him a Maxwell. He was my gift to him. You noticed that Duo looked nothing like me." He waited for Heero's stunned nod before continuing. "He is the splitting image of my mate. I see my love every time I look at my son." He smiled sadly. "I never mated again after him and because of my sorrow, he was never brought up again, not by anyone in the tribe. Because of this, the facts that he was the bearer and not me could be twisted just to hurt Duo. For that I'm truly regretful."

"But that doesn't explain you hurting Duo's brother." Heero tried to still the random thought that ran rampant. His Duo was an honour, not a castaway. Then why did his brother told him such malignant lies?

"Solo," Treize's features darkened. "Solo was my first born. While I do love him, I will not protect him. Solo has always been jealous of his brother. Duo was our pride and joy, and while my mate was still alive, he could protect him from Solo's more disturbing attentions."

"Explain," Heero said, curtly.

"Duo was two and still wobbly on his feet. Solo purposely pulled the carpeting from beneath his brother's feet. My younger son had a large gash on his forehead and he was unconscious for days."

"Are you trying to tell me Solo is the one that has been trying to kill my mate?" Heero was incredulous.

Treize snorted slightly. "Solo had been feeding lies to Duo since he was a child, building a fear for me that nothing can breach. I think from your anger, you have seen that evidence."

Heero could only nod dazedly, his mind going over the mindless panic Duo had when hearing his father's arrival.

"Solo had tried to kill Duo countless times, thinking without his brother, I would be more proud of him. Most of the attempts are during a Healer's journey to the battle site. Broken legs, sprained wrists, concussions…" Treize's eyes narrowed at the dark memory.

Heero lunged up from his seat and began pacing restlessly. He knew his instincts were right. Someone had been trying to hurt Duo ever since he got here. He just passed it off as Duo's recklessness and carelessness, and they had stopped after a while, so he put it out of his head. This was more serious, and if Treize was correct, the threat to his mate's life was still very real and very close by.

"Why didn't you stop Solo?" Heero rounded on Treize, fear pounding incessantly in his heart. The thought of losing Duo was… No, Heero could never picture it. The day Duo died would mark the tribe chief's demise as well.

"Why did you think I punished him?" Treize said, defensively.

"The lashings," Heero said, lost in thought. "Then why did you send him here?"

Treize exhaled harshly. "You aren't paying attention. I didn't send him over here. He did it all by himself."

"It is a theory of mine that Solo set this up for you to kill Duo when you found out who he was," Zechs said from the entrance, walking in without invitation.

Heero was too troubled to take up the issue at this blatant disregard of his orders. "He gave me his ceremonial knife."

Twin gasps were heard. "Damn Solo, he knew Duo would be honourable enough to do this," Zechs growled.

Heero was rubbing his temples, trying to ease the ache there. "Is this person so cunning to do all this? The next thing you'll be telling me that the sudden upsurge problems around the Eastern area." He continued pacing but stopped when he saw the looks exchanged between the other two? "You have to be kidding me!"

"From my sources," Zechs informed Heero heavily. "There has been a strange mystical creature stirring up uneasiness for Shifters."

"Strange?" Heero echoed.

"Stranger, no one has seen that trouble maker before. I suspect it is Solo's Shifted form. I had sent some of my warriors out to intercept Solo. He's been on the run since, hence your temporary peace."

Heero sat down abruptly, his mind swirling. Some was going to kill his mate, some was going to take his family away. Rage exploded within him and the Forest rippled with Heero anger.

He will protect his mate if it was the last thing he did.

tbc…