.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 5

If a predator were to follow the Shifter group, it would be extremely confused. There had to be about had to be at least three different large predators within the group and a few birds of prey along with some large animals as well. There was definitely a panther amongst the group, two lynxes, three wolves, one dragon, two hawks, two condors, a few horses and a smattering of other animal forms.

The speed of travel had been greatly reduced due to the young ones that needed to be carried. Normally, they travelled in a pack of similar forms but since they weren't in dire need to get where they wanted to go, the whole trip had taken on the feel of a holiday.

Heero kept a close eye on his mate. He had seen Duo stumble a few times during their three days away from the village. It was definitely more than panic attacks now but when he had confronted Duo with it, as usual, the longhaired Healer had brushed it off as fatigue and other numerous afflictions that he probably plucked out of the air, but were totally harmless. Quatre had been stubbornly silent about it as well, and Heero knew his lead Healer knew something about it.

The panther was loping with ease while carrying a loudly protesting cub in between his mouth. The protesting mews could be heard a mile away as Odin complained bitterly at being carried like a baby, which was what Zechs was doing with Anarian, who hung silently in between the strong jaws of the lynx.

*He may look like me, but he sure has your temperament* Heero teased lightly.

*Shut up! You want to carry a mouthful of wriggling cub while running?* Duo's irritation to his mate's teasing was clear.

Heero wisely backed off, knowing not to push Duo further. His mate had been getting extremely irritable about everything lately. But it was usually targeted at Heero. When they stopped for a brief rest period, Odin immediately went to one of the younger warriors that came along to sulk. Brinan and Odin had formed some sort of bond and the young warrior had elected himself the little heir's protector. Odin's body was still too little for him to Shift into something larger and a panther cub couldn't run very fast or far. Of course, that didn't stop the boy from wanting to do it. He was a big boy now, he could do anything.

"…tell me what's wrong," Heero heard Quatre speaking to Duo who was slumped against a rock, his head buried in his hands.

Heero had to keep a tight lid on his instincts to rush to Duo's side and demand to be told what's wrong. He had known something was wrong. Why did he ignore what his eyes were telling him?

"Nothing," came a muffled reply.

Quatre hissed in irritation, but his expression was obscured. "Don't give me that Duo Maxwell. Fine, so you're having some problems keeping food inside you. I've seen that reaction before. But your dizzy spells are new… I think about four weeks or so? After you got brained by a certain troll?"

Duo's head came up in shock. "You knew?"

Quatre laughed. "Don't you know how closely you are watched all the time? Especially when you get hurt and refuse treatment."

"I was doing alright before," Duo muttered. "It just came back." He sighed. "Don't let Heero know."

"You mean he would have cancelled the whole damn trip if he found out you were still injured?" Trowa spoke from behind Duo, causing him to jump in surprise.

"Damn," Duo complained, holding a hand over his heart. "I should hang some bells on you or something."

Trowa smiled and joined Quatre in front of Duo.

"You told him?" Duo stared accusingly at Quatre.

"He's not blind either," Quatre defended. "I'm sure Heero has seen the times you nearly buried your nose into the forest ground."

Duo looked worried. "You don't think so?"

Trowa sighed heavily. "Why are you doing this now?"

"Because..." Duo started, sounding horribly lost, horribly vulnerable. "Because Heero wanted to make things better for me. He knew I was getting sick thinking about my father and he looked so lost, not knowing how to make me feel better. I just wanted to let him make things better for me."

"And that couldn't wait?" Trowa and Quatre exchanged an exasperated look.

Duo shrugged. "I'm alright, really I am."

"Sure you are," Quatre said in the most sarcastic tone he could dredge up. "Besides that fact that you can't stomach food after thinking about meeting your father, even after three years and your head is spinning like a top. You can't walk straight most of the time, making things worse when Odin wants to be let down most of the time. How's my diagnosis so far?"

"Are you going to help me keep this from Heero?" Duo asked, worrying his braid nervously.

Heero felt like yanking that chestnut length off his mate's head. He cannot believe Duo's intention of keeping his injury from him. He had been livid when he found Duo unconscious with a serious concussion. Headaches and dizzy spells seemed to have faded after a few weeks, or at least, that was what Duo led Heero to believe. Apparently, his mate was still having some problems with his equilibrium. If Heero had his way, they would turn back and he would have Duo tucked into their own bed until he was sure Duo was well. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to take Quatre to task for keeping something this vital from him Trowa would probably rip his head off for it. He was nothing if not protective of his blond angel.

"He's going to find out," Trowa warned.

Duo leaned his head against the rock, his eyes fluttering shut. He was a mask of weariness. "I'll deal with it then," he told them, exhaling heavily.

Heero, knowing how his mate felt about seeming weak in front of him, swallowed the desire to just hold him. He wished he had thought a little more thoroughly before rushing off to try and 'make things better' for Duo. If only he had looked past his own nose to see exactly how sick his mate was. He took one step toward Duo when the call to continue the journey was called. He muffled a growl of annoyance as the three of them shot to their feet. He watched as Duo swayed visibly while Trowa caught hold of his arm, holding him until he found his feet again, making Heero feel even worse about the entire situation.

The trio walked towards the main party and Heero watched as Duo approached their son, who was still sulking next to Brinan. The young warrior stood and bowed in almost reverence to Duo. Heero nearly laughed at the disgruntled expression on his mate's face. Duo, bless him humble soul, still wasn't used to the fact the tribe saw him as somewhat of a miracle.

"Alright, your choice," Duo hunkered in front of Odin, who had his little arms crossed in front of him.

Odin directed a glare at Duo so like Heero's own that the chief saw his mate fighting a grin. "I can run," he insisted.

"Yes, you can," Duo agreed. "When you are older."

"I am old enough!"

"Odin," Heero growled a warning, matching his son glare for glare.

The little boy finally sighed and his form blurred, melting in that of a wolf cub.

"I guess that means you don't want me to carry you," Duo smiled at Heero, rolling his eyes in exasperation. He, too, Shifted into his chosen form and waited patiently for Heero.

The snowy white wolf trotted over to the cub and gingerly picked him up. With the cub, Heero let the others take the lead while he stayed close with Duo. Something told him his mate would need assistance before long.

~*~

"Are you well?" Zechs called out, scaring the living daylights out of Duo.

The said Healer continued to dry heave for a few moments more before straightening, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "No, I'm not," he let out a shuddering breath. "Why can't I get my head straight? Why can't I stop being afraid?" He arms came around, hugging himself tightly.

"Oh, Duo," Zechs said sympathetically, giving his cousin a hug. "Solo really did a number on you, didn't he?"

"I feel like an idiot."

"Heero's worried. Hell, everyone is worried. They can see something is wrong but you won't allow us to help you."

"There's nothing to be done," Duo muttered, pushing away from Zechs. The world tilted dangerously and a moan was torn involuntarily his throat. He slumped into Zechs' arm. "I don't…" He swallowed as he felt his stomach protesting again. "I… " His world went dark.

"Duo?" Zechs shook the prone body in his arms in alarm. "What's wrong?" Alarm changed to terror as he took in Duo's ashen face and gaunt features. Something that was wrong for a long time was making itself known. He hefted the smaller body into his arms with ease and rushed towards the one person he could think of to help Duo.

Quatre.

He bellowed that name, bringing every Shifter to attention before he could get a hundred feet at their camp site.

"By the Ancient," Quatre breathed, rushing towards Zechs, recognising Duo in his arms. "What happened?"

Zechs swept past them and laid Duo carefully by the fire, not liking the way his cousin was shivering. Odin edged closer to his mother, but Brinan held him back, letting Quatre have some space to examine their chief's mate. The tall blond immediately headed for Heero, who was approaching his mate in a dead run.

"How the hell can you not know something is wrong with your own mate?" Zechs immediately snarled. "You take him out when he needs a Healer's attention in the middle of the Forest. What are you thinking?"

Heero flinched at the accusation, his cobalt eyes hardening. "Who was the one who set him off in the first place? He was doing fine until you brought up that thrice damned name. Then he got sick!" The two strong willed individuals faced off, their fists clenched until their knuckles were white.

"You didn't know until recently he was still having problems with the concussion, did you? And you dare judge me?" Zechs said, his tone cold.

Wufei and Trowa looked ready to leap in between the two if it went to blows. Wufei's gaze wandered over to Quatre and saw him bent over Duo, who appeared to be stirring slightly. There was a warm glow along Quatre's hand that was usually present when he was Healing. He felt a jolt of relief. If anyone could help Duo, it would be the blond Healer.

Duo groaned, feeling something pounding painfully in between his eyes. He pried open his lids and saw an amused Quatre staring down at him. "What happened to me?" He struggled to sit up as Quatre came around to help him.

The showdown was pre-empted as Heero rushed to Duo's side, taking up position behind him. He settled his mate against him, trying to bite down a lump of guilt that somehow this was his fault, as Zechs had said.

Duo saw Odin, his eyes wide with fright and clutching at Brinan. Opening his arms, Odin accepted the invitation and threw himself into Duo's welcoming embrace, burying his face into his mother's strong chest. A soft sob was heard from the distraught child as Duo hurried to sooth the tears from his son. Heero's arm came from behind to stroke Odin's mop of messy brown hair, comforting the child as well.

"Papa's fine," Duo whispered. He felt extremely guilty when he saw the fear resonate in everyone's expression that night. Maybe he should have said something? Well, fear from almost everyone. Quatre looked like he was about to burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?" Heero snarled, not at all please with his Healer making light of the situation.

"Well, looks like our fears about your head injury was completely unfounded," the blond said, trying so hard to stifle a smile and failing miserably.

Duo frowned. "Then why am I still getting that damn dizzy feeling all the time?" He managed a smile for Odin who had calmed and now rested against him, a thumb in his mouth, sucking contentedly.

"Odin," Quatre directed his next question to Duo's son, who looked up at him with wide trusting eyes. "Did your parents promise you something for your next birthing day present? Or did you want something from them?"

Both the tribe chief and his mate frowned in confusion at the sudden change in topic and Heero was getting mightily annoyed with his Healer. From the expression of his warriors behind the blond, he could see they were also getting impatient. They wanted to know what was wrong with Duo and Quatre's topic change was confusing as hell.

Odin brightened immediately, removing his thumb from his mouth, nodding enthusiastically. "I wanted a baby brother for my birthing day." Then his expression dimmed. "Papa says to see first." He looked faintly disappointed that he parents weren't able to give him something that simple.

Quatre raised aquamarine orbs to the meet the blushing Duo, who apparently understood what the whole problem was, finally. "Well," he told the little boy. "I think if you ask real politely, you will be getting your present."

Odin grinned happily.

"And…" Quatre continued, grinning openly now at Heero's pole axed expression and Duo's horrified one. "If you ask even nicer, they might give you two." He looked up just in time to see Duo's eyes rolled into the back of his head, fainting dead away.

tbc…

Sorry for the delay… but have been kinda uninspired… Tell you what… you review and I get the next one out in a few days??