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 4

Heero pulled Duo closer, ghosting kisses along his mate's temple and jaw. "You always make perfect sense." Then his tone turned stern. "However, I think you should meet your father."

"Why?" The betrayal was obvious in Duo's anguished tone.

Two fingers came under Duo's chin and he was forced to meet Heero's calm but determined gaze. "You have to face your fears, unfounded as they are." The last part was added in to remind Duo of his father's love for him.

"You think it's a good idea too?" Duo swallowed, feeling the familiar nausea swamping him again. Fortunately for him, there wasn't anything left to come back up.

"I don't think anything that upsets you this much is a 'good idea', but it is necessary. I don't want this stain on your life forever. Besides, if it wasn't for Treize giving us information about your…" Heero bit the rest of lamely, knowing this was the last thing Duo wanted to hear. "We would have had more trouble than we did. Call it a belated thank you?"

Duo stared at Heero silently for a while, unsure of what to think, what to say. "Can… can I be alone for a while?"

Heero shook his head, resigned. "Don't stay out here too long. I don't want you getting sick." Reluctantly, he left Duo to his solitude.

I'm already sick, Duo thought, sick with an unreasonable terror. Despite his resistance, he knew Heero was right. He had to at least build some sort of relationship with his father. He imagined Odin fearing him the same way he feared Treize and it made him even sicker. Taking a deep breath, Duo made up his mind. Building bridges would be a good past time.

He nodded resolutely to himself and turned to follow Heero back to their dwelling. Suddenly, the world tilted under his feet yet again and quick reflexes saved him from falling on his face. Taking a while to regain his bearings, Duo surreptitiously looked around, making sure no one saw his stumble. He had his friends worried enough as it was, he didn't need them to worry about a silly thing like a dizzy spell that was probably the side effect of the concussion. He knew dizzy spells lasted long after the headaches faded in most cases.

Unknown to him, from a dark corner, contemplative aquamarine eyes observed him.

~*~

"Trowa," Quatre began, changing into his nightshirt as they prepared for bed that night. "I want to follow Duo to visit his father."

The auburn haired Shifter lifted an eyebrow at his mate's sudden announcement. "That was unexpected." He stretched out on their bed and eyed Quatre carefully. "Why this decision?" He knew his mate never did anything without thinking it over and over a few times. Quatre was nothing if not thorough.

"Because he is my friend, and I should be there to give him the support he needs in a stressful situation," Quatre answered evenly, but the blush dusting his pale cheeks were a dead giveaway of his blatant lie. "Well, that's part of the reason," he qualified sulkily, recognising the knowing look in Trowa's expression. He should have known he could never pull anything on his mate. They had known each other much too long for that to happen.

Trowa smiled indulgently at the blond. "And the other?"

Quatre frowned worriedly, climbing in next to the tall Shifter, pulling the covers over both of them. "I think he's still suffering from that blow to the head."

"What happened?" Trowa asked, sharing his mate's concern. He raised himself on one elbow, tracing patterns on the blond Healer's chest.

"I saw him stumble went he bolted out of the dwelling this evening. He is clearly still having dizzy spells."

"That's not normal, right?"

Quatre shook his head. "Not as far as I know. If he would just let me Heal him."

Trowa snorted. "You know how that stubborn ass thinks. The tribe before himself, that's how it has always been."

"That's why I want to be with him. I hope you understand," Quatre asked uncertainly. Ever since Trowa's brush with death three years ago, he had been most reluctant to be far from him. Duo had given both of them a new lease on life and they were forever grateful. That's why the two of them were willing to go great lengths to ensure Duo's safety and happiness.

"Funny you should say that," Trowa had on an odd smile. "Heero cornered me a while ago to accompany him. With the children around, he seems more worried than normal."

The smile from Quatre was like the sun rising as he threw his arms around Trowa and kissed him enthusiastically. "Thank you!" He subsided abruptly. "Now, I just have to convince Duo."

And that, they both knew, would be an achievement of the century.

~*~

Wufei was trying very hard to keep Anarian still while he change the little one's diaper while his amused mate stretched out on the bed, silently laughing at him.

"What is so funny?" He sniped at the blond.

"You, dragon," Zechs let out a small chuckle as he unfolded himself and walked over to help the rather helpless warrior.

Between the two of them, they managed to get the baby clean and dry and demanding his next meal. Soon Anarian was snuggled against his mother, getting his little tummy filled.

"Can you travel with him so young?" That was Wufei's first concern, his family's safety.

Zechs shrugged. "I can get him to Shift."

There was a bond between the child and the bearer that allows the bearer to control the child's abilities. When travelling was necessary, the mother can cause the baby to Shift into a form that would be easy for him to carry. This bond would fade when the baby learned to Shift on his own.

"Besides, I think Heero is more concerned than you about the children," Zechs added.

"Will it be alright?" Wufei asked, completely unbalanced. He was about to meet the man he had almost castrated and soon he would have to move to his tribe.

The tall blond got the baby settled and joined his younger mate, trying to soothe his fears. "Treize understood, honestly, he did. Solo was a devious little shit and slippery as hell. Think of how long he had Duo fooled, and he is one of the most level headed people I have ever met."

"He's technically your father, my father-in-law," Wufei chewed his lower lip, a sign Zechs recognised as nervousness, a sign that his dragon never showed outside their dwelling. "I nearly ripped his head off. Hell, I was actually anticipating it."

Zechs gazed deep into obsidian depths. "Your parents, they hurt you didn't they?"

Wufei flinched and looked away. "I didn't fear them as Duo did Treize, but yes, they did." He released a shaky breath. "They made me feel inconsequential, that nothing I ever did was good enough for them. They had to make me the perfect warrior. I wasn't allowed friends and if Heero hadn't knocked me on my ass that first day we sparred, I seriously doubt I would have friends now." He was trying to get as close to Zechs as possible, trying to dispel the loneliness of his childhood.

His mate held him tightly, unsure of what to do to comfort him. He understood now why Wufei felt such a connection with his cousin. He probably felt Duo was as isolated as he was, which was true to some level. Whereas Wufei's isolation was brought on by his parents, Duo's was self inflicted.

"Heero became everything to me," Wufei continued quietly and Zechs was careful remain as unobtrusive as possible, knowing that one false move would cause his mate to hide behind his gruff shell again. "Although we hated each other in the beginning, we eventually fell in love. When my parents got killed, it was him that anchored me, along with Trowa and Quatre. They became my family, my life."

"Why didn't you and Heero mate?" Zechs ventured softly, rubbing Wufei's tense shoulder muscles.

Wufei snorted. "His parents died, and that was the end of our dream. While his father was chief, we could entertain the idea that we can live happily ever after, and if he had been anyone other than heir, it would have been possible." He shrugged. "When they died, Heero was elevated in status and he had more to think about than us. The peace of the tribe was more important and we drifted apart. Then he had…" A true grin finally surfaced. "Well, we had to think of getting him a mate, preferably one that can provide him with an heir. We were told stories of how disappointed Heero's parents were that the Ancient didn't Choose him to be a bearer of Shifters."

"Guess that worked out," Zechs whispered, pressing a kiss on top of Wufei's dark hair. For us both, he thought silently. For us four, he amended.

"Yes," Wufei agreed.

Zechs was beginning to understand Wufei a little better and why he always seemed so stiff and proper. Then at the odd time, he became this gruff, sarcastic person that sparred endless with Zechs. Mr Gruff was as true to the real Wufei as he could allow himself to get.

"I love you, dragon."

"I know."

"And?" Zechs prompted.

Wufei tilted his back his head to look at his mate with a definite glint of something in his eyes. "And you really suck at changing diapers as well."

"Dragon…" Zechs' tone escalated with annoyance but even he was he was not impervious to the mischievousness there.

"You stupid ass, of course I love you," Wufei grinned. "I wouldn't have allowed myself to get caught if I didn't."

~*~

Preparations were made for the small party to depart to the west. It was carefully planned so as to not exceed the number of Shifters Treize had brought to the east previously. Heero had laid down specific instructions to Ramdar, the most experienced warrior in their entire tribe, on the care and protection of his village and area of responsibility. He had gone on and on and on until Ramdar, in a fit of exasperation observed that he probably had more experience than a little whelping who just inherited the position less than six years ago. That succeed in doing two things; one: to shut Heero Yuy up and two: to cause Heero Yuy to turn ten shades of red. The embarrassed chief stalked away muttering under his breath.

He found his mate checking his son over and packing a small bundle of clothes for Odin, who was sure to get them dirty within a few minutes of putting on clean ones. Though his son may be a spitting image of him, Odin had Duo's capacity for getting into mischief. Instead of meting out the punishment that was due to the cheeky little boy, Odin only need to flash his father Duo's grin and Heero found himself caving to his charm. He wondered how many would be fighting for his son's hand in the future.

He found his smile fading when he took in his mate exhaustion. Duo had become pale and gaunt over the past week. Although he had tried to hide it from Heero, the tribe chief knew his mate was constantly suffering anxiety attacks that stemmed from their trip to visit his father. Heero wondered why Treize always provoked this reaction from his mate, especially now that there was nothing to fear. No matter how he wanted to take away Duo's pain, his mate had refused to let him in, not pushing him away but hiding behind that damnable mask he used so often.

"Duo, love," Heero laid a hand on Duo's shoulder, regretting it when his Healer-mate jumped. "Sorry, heart fire," he tucked Duo's head under his chin. His use of the pet name was deliberate, reminding Duo of their close bond.

"It's alright, heart fire," Duo replied, understanding Heero's intention. "I just need to get my head straight."

"I know this thing is taking a toll on you," Heero stifled a smile as Duo stiffened. He wasn't sure to be insulted or amused. Did Duo see him as that oblivious? "If it wasn't for your own good, I would have called this damned thing off a long time ago."

Duo turned away. "Tell me again how getting so nervous that puking my guts out has become a daily affair, sorry, hourly affair can be classed as 'good for me'?" He muttered in a tone that can only be described as extremely peevish.

"You didn't tell me it was that bad," Heero accused softly.

Duo shrugged. "Can we leave soon? I want to get this over with as soon as possible," he said, plaintively then smiled down as Odin came bouncing over to them.

The little boy hung onto Duo's pant legs, grinning up at his embracing parents. "Let's go!" Odin was wiggling in anticipation of what would be an adventure for him. Heero wished he had his son's energy.

"Demanding, isn't he?" Heero gave his mate a quick kiss before striding off to prepare for their departure. He couldn't help but feel that there was more wrong with Duo than his mate let on.

tbc…