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, mpreg (mentioned, implied, so on)

Reflections of the Past

Part 2

Three years later.

"The Ancient is very much like you and me," Duo explained carefully to a small group of young Healers in training.

"How?" A bright little child piped up.

Duo smiled at the innocence shining in those warm brown eyes. "She has a life, like you, has eyes, a mouth and…" A chorus of groans met him at pointing out such an obvious fact and Duo quickly smothered a laugh by coughing.

"Have you seen her?" Another voice asked, obviously excited. "Was she beautiful?"

They had been too young when Duo had met the Ancient for the first time but stories have been passed from parent to child, especially on that was aspiring to be a Healer. Duo had been disturbed by the amount of hero worship directed at him. Over the years, he had been horrified to note the many braids that had grown within the tribe.

"Very," Duo told them simply.

There was a collective sound of awe. Even at this young age, they understood the honour of meeting the Ancient. They also knew five others, of which one was their lead Healer, had also been one of the party that met with Ancient for their age mate Odin's Choosing.

"She's a girl right?"

Duo nodded, watching their expression carefully. Although they were barely out of toddlers, they understood the differences between boys and girls, men and women. One didn't grow up amongst nature and some of the most provocative looking elves in the Forest and not know about girls. They just didn't really understand how girls worked within the scheme of things in nature, since amongst their race, they were particularly redundant. As Healers, they were taught the anatomy of a female in the event they needed to assist the other mystical creatures in any other way, but Duo knew they found it difficult to imagine a female that looked like themselves, a human. If Duo hadn't spent most of his younger days amongst Howard, he knew he would have had this problem as well.

"Did you see her the last time?"

The last time they had visited the oak for a Choosing. For his nephew's Choosing. Zechs finally caught Wufei after almost a year and half of relentless courting. While Duo had been sure they would mate right after the initial fervour of Odin's arrival had died down, Wufei had instead turned up his nose at Zechs after he was sure the blonde Shifter was safe and that he wasn't going to die from his injuries. Heero and Duo had spent an enormous amount of time running between dwellings; further ruffling annoyed feathers and soothing upset emotions. Heero had done the ruffling while Duo had done the soothing.

Finally about a year ago, Zechs' cajoling had finally paid off and Wufei deigned, with a slight arrogant sniff, to be the mate of the future tribe chief of the Western Shifters. Heero and Duo had never been more relieved. The newly mated couple had provided more entertainment than Duo was comfortable within the tribe and he was sure the younger children had learned a few choice curses daily from either of them. He knew Odin had been threatened more than once with a mouth washing with harsh soap for cheekily repeating a particular painful promise Wufei made to Zechs regarding his 'burgeoning manhood'. Heero had thrown both of them into the creek after that and warned them never to repeat such a thing in front of his child ever again.

That had worked and soon Duo, as a Healer, Heero had reasoned, damn him, was busy explaining to their child, who was then almost two, that Uncle Wufei wasn't really hurting Uncle Zechs and that's where children came from. Odin had asked in an adorable slur of baby talk if children came from people screaming in a room, causing his 'Papa' to flame the most interesting shade of red. The little boy had been told to ask his 'Father' if he had further questions.

A few weeks later, Zechs had shyly admitted that he thought he was pregnant and eight and a half months down the road, a healthy baby was delivered by Duo's own hand. In time, they took the child for Choosing but ever since that time with Odin, Duo had never seen the Ancient. She had probably been reborn and living with her new parents.

"No, she is probably with her parents," Duo tried to explain as he noted he was met with perplexed gazes. "She is like you and me, she lives and she dies."

"Why?"

Duo sighed, knowing Odin was going through the 'why' phase as well. He bit off a 'just because' that had become both Heero and his defence against a 'why' asking terror on wobbly feet. "Because she needs to regenerate herself like all other souls. We Heal the body, but the only way a soul can Heal is to live and die and be reborn again. Understand?"

There were confused looks, but it was more of uncertain nods all round. The children were twitching as if ants had crawled into the seat of their pants and Duo knew their attention span was at its end.

"Okay, children, that's all for today."

In a flash and multitude of giggles, the children vanished into thin air. Duo shook his head smiling as he got up to join his family as well. The world swirled sickeningly around him as he got to his feet and he grabbed the back of the chair for support.

"Whoa," he muttered, plopping into the chair again. He buried his head into the palm of his hand and took slow long breaths. He couldn't believe his head was still giving him problems after three weeks. He had been out of a Healing after the warriors had eliminated the threat. Unfortunately, one of the goblins, unbeknownst to the warriors came from behind and hit Duo over the head with his club. It had been the braided Healer's quick reflexes and Trowa's frightening rage that saved Duo from a potentially fatal head injury. As it was, Quatre had diagnosed him with a bad concussion and since Duo refused to be Healed for something 'so minor', he had been observed carefully there after.

Heero had been irate at Duo for getting hurt, but there was nothing that could be done with his stubborn love.

As soon as Duo was sure his head wasn't going to spin off to places unknown, he tried a vertical position again and found himself steady on his feet. He sighed with relief and went in search of his family. He greeted his tribe members with a courteous nod but made no move to stop and speak with them as was his custom at any other time. None of them halted his progress either, knowing that their Healer was hunting one son and one mate for some time alone. While peace had been welcome, it was also extremely fragile and it fractured soon after their visit to the oak for Odin's Choosing. Everything was as it was before, and every moment Duo could find with his family was precious and treasured.

"Chang Wufei," came an irate yell that could only be the cultured tones of his cousin, Zechs. "Get your fire breathing ass back here!"

A red gold dragon zipped past Duo, and disappeared to the other side of the village. Recognising Wufei's favoured Shifted form, Duo smiled, knowing that this could only mean one thing; the mighty warrior was running away from diaper duty for his new son, Anarian.

True enough, a familiar blond head poked out of Wufei's dwelling, frosty blue eyes scanning the clearing for a sign of a golden tail or crimson body. Seeing nothing, he snorted in irritation and Duo could pick up a muttered, "Coward dragon," before ducking into the entrance again.

Duo stifled a smile at the thought of the mighty Wufei brought to heel by a child no longer than his forearm. He wondered what would Heero say to that, if his mate could get enough breath into his lungs after laughing so much. He Shifted his senses a little and scented something. He turned once he got the exit of the village following his nose into a small grassy field next to the river. Under the shade of a tree, a huge white wolf curled up, nose to tail asleep while not too far away, a tiny panther cub stalked slowly towards the wolf. Duo felt his pulse quicken, the cub was not experienced enough to get close enough to pounce on the sleeping wolf and true enough, before the panther got within five feet of the wolf, a dark blue eye peeked open. In a flash, the wolf leapt at the cub, bowling him over. The panther let out a mewl of distress as the wolf buried his nose into his exposed belly, his teeth flashing in the late afternoon sun.

Quickly divesting himself of his clothes, Duo concentrated, and Shifted, his human form blurring moments before a sleek black panther with stunning violet eyes took his place. He stalked purposefully toward the wolf, his muscles rippling with each step and a low menacing growl starting deep inside his throat. The wolf looked up, his eyes narrowing at the new intruder in his domain and he backed away from the little cub, snarling a challenge to the cat. The cub didn't seem to realise the danger and flipped itself upright, bounding for the larger cat. Duo braced the muscles in his hind legs and leapt gracefully, knocking into the wolf. Both beasts snarled and growled as they rolled into the grass. Teeth snapping at each other, clawing at each other, when suddenly, both forms blurred and two naked Shifters rolled around in the grass laughing until their sides threatened to split.

Heero loomed over his mate, his cobalt blues sparkling with suppressed glee. "Attack me, will you?" He jeered, drinking in Duo's well muscled chest and lean stomach. He couldn't believe his mate wasn't a warrior with a delectable physique like that.

"Bully the cub, will you?" Duo returned, running his hand down the sides of Heero's bare chest.

Shivering at the contact, Heero leaned down and fused their mouths together in a long, sweet kiss. By the time they ended it, both were panting for breath as passion darkened their eyes. The chief stared at Duo's love swollen lips and thought to claim them once more until a small bundle of energy squirmed his way in between them.

The little panther cub who was their son, batted Duo with one soft paw and proceeded to wash his mother's face with a wet, raspy pink tongue. That effectively helped to bring both parents back to their lust-filled senses. Heero sighed regretfully, and went to get their clothes. Duo sat up and picked up Odin, who seemed content staying in a Shifted panther form, one of his favourites. The Healer had also adopted that as his more often used forms after the Ancient joked about her looking good with a tail. The first time he had gone on a run with Heero in that form, his mate had ended up ravishing him silly, exercise be damn. Actually, it had been another form of exercise, only more pleasurable. From then on, the panther had become his favourite form in replacement of the wolf he used so often in the past. It seemed there was something about that long, dark, swishing tail of a panther that drove Heero off the edge.

Odin captured his mother's knuckle and gnawed playfully, causing Duo to tap warningly on the boisterous cub's nose. "Play nice, Odin." Duo continued to stroke the little cub's head, tweaking his tail teasingly.

"Here," Heero came back fully dressed and threw Duo his clothes. "Put it on before Odin chews off something vital." He quirked a grin at the cub, who was playing in the small prison of Duo's crossed legs.

Duo blushed and quickly put on his signature black shirt and pants before returning to spend a little more time with his family. He much preferred Shifting without clothes on and knew Heero did as well, but when they were travelling as part of a group, it just didn't do to appear naked when the situation required them to Shift back into human form. When he returned, Heero had somehow coaxed Odin to Shift into a small wolf cub and was now involved in a romp with him.

He leaned against the bark of a tree and quietly observed Odin. He grew more and more to be like his father everyday. Odin had Heero's mop of messy warm brown hair and his piercing blue eyes, but currently tempered by childish glee. The older tribe members had told Duo this was how Heero looked when he was around Odin's age. In fact, Odin didn't resemble Duo at all, except for the way he tilted his head and the brilliance of his smile.

Odin Yuy was also a precocious child and had learned earlier on to speak. He could express himself quite well when it came to demanding something he wanted but Duo had tried, along with Heero not to spoil him, which the rest of the tribe was more than happy to do it for them. Odin was considered their miracle baby, born of a Healer favoured by the Ancient herself. His life was still his to choose, his shoulder empty not because he was a sire but because he still wasn't old enough to choose for himself. Heero and Duo had done their best to expose him to all three parts of the Shifter's life but Odin had found it all a game still.

Well, he was young yet. He had the entire future ahead of him.

tbc…

Thanks guys for all your reviews, but things have been winding down for me… so updating maybe slowed. Love you guys for being so patient with me.