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 19

"He's not my Papa!" Odin pouted, resolutely turning away from Duo and burying his face into Quatre's shoulder.

Duo didn't know how he would feel. He hadn't even considered that he had a son, carrying one at the moment didn't count, at least in his mind it didn't. Still, he didn't want Odin to hate him. He took a step toward the little boy, trying hard not to let his heart twist in pain at the real fear in Odin's expression. What had he done to cause the young toddler so much fear? Oh God, was he one of those child abuser types?

"Hi, my name is… Duo," he tested the name on his tongue, feeling rather foolish to be introducing himself to his… son. He felt, rather than saw the sharp intake of breath from those around him at using his (?) name. He still wasn't entirely sure if he was doing the right thing, but Duo sounded about right. "I guess I'm supposed to be your daddy, right?" Ouch, that sounded even worse but apparently it worked when the little boy twisted around slightly to peer suspiciously at him.

"What's a daddy?' Odin asked, directing a question to Heero.

Heero looked to Duo, silently asking him for help.

"Well, daddies are like Papas," Duo started to explain, but halted when he noticed the hardening of the boy's blue eyes.

"You are not my Papa," Odin stressed, his tone cold enough to put out a raging fever. The boy turned and tugged at Quatre's sleeve. "'Tre, take me home. I don't like it here." He buried his face into Quatre's neck, resolutely ignoring the person he wished more than anything in the world to hug him and kiss him goodnight.

Duo stared at Quatre's and Trowa's retreating back with something akin to physical pain within him. Was he such a horrible person that one little boy refused to be touched by him, or refuse to look at him? Was Duo Maxwell such a repulsive being? Was he better off as Keiran Walker? He turned to look at Heero, his normally brilliant orbs dulled with hurt.

"D… Did I use to hit him?" He asked uncertainly. "Is that why he hates me?"

Heero's eyes widened with shock. "Of course not!" He blurted, shocked. "You have never hit Odin, or even physically threaten him in anyway."

Duo turned away from him. "But you can't deny the fact that he hates me. You saw it. He has the coldest eyes when he looked at me. Is Duo Maxwell so evil?"

"No, love, never," Heero turned his mate around, cupping Duo's cheek with a gentle hand. He was finally unable to bear the thought of his mate thinking he was a bad person. "You are the kindest, most selfless person I ever had the honour to meet. Everyone who knows you loves you to pieces, Odin included."

Duo searched Heero's eyes intently and found nothing but sincerity and honesty within them. There was more within him and they made him feel, odd. He had the sensation of drowning within deep cobalt pools while he leaned in closer. He saw Heero making the same move, inching nearer to him. Duo's lids flutter close as his lips parted slightly, tilting his head back in preparation for a kiss from the… What? Duo jumped out of Heero's arms with startled yelp. What had he almost done?

"I'm sorry, Duo," Heero backed away, leaving at least three feet of space between them. "I didn't mean to take any liberties with you."

The doctor hardly heard the contrite apology, he was trying to still his furiously beating heart. A slow flush crept up his cheeks, colouring them a healthy red. He almost kissed a man! The fact that this man claimed that he was his husband made if a hundred times more weird to Duo. But, God, Heero was a good looking man. If Duo wanted to be brutally honest with himself, Heero's smile, his touch, and basically his everything else went straight to his groin. It was times like these he was glad that he needed larger size pants, they basically hid everything, including embarrassing excitement to unseemly attractions. He didn't know what to say to Heero and wished fervently for a distraction.

And it came, in the form of a furiously growling stomach. He must remember to give a prayer of thanks to whoever that answered the call a while ago as was able to turn back to Heero, the slight pinking of his cheeks blamed for other things besides the rather painful stiffness in between his thighs at the moment. Damn it, when will he remember that he wasn't one of these Shifter things, he was a man, and men do not go for other men. At least, those he were acquainted with.

"Hungry?" Heero asked solicitously.

Duo shrugged. "Maybe you would want to show me this little village?" The little village that a bunch of men living out their fantasy as mythical creatures of the Forbidden Forest. Maybe they were the ones that were spreading the rumours of the dangers within this piece of heaven. It just didn't seem right that they were the only ones that are allowed to enjoy the beauty of this place. The winds he felt in his early visit came no longer, maybe it was his imagination. No, definitely his imagination.

Heero nodded. "And get you some lunch maybe?" His smile was a little strained. "You are eating for two, no three."

Maybe that was the wrong thing to say. Duo really didn't want to be reminded of his little situation right now. Amazed as he was at his present condition and awed by the life growing within him, he was also well aware that in most cases he would have been considered not only a medical miracle but a freak as well. A rather large freak, he thought rather ruefully, looking down at his rapidly expanding waistline. He wondered yet again why he hadn't freaked out as he did last night. He had a freaking person, no, two freaking people moving around inside his body. If that didn't spark out a full blown panic attack, he doubted he would at anything else.

So immersed in his thoughts he was that Duo didn't realise that they had entered the village. His gaped at it slack jawed. This wasn't a village, it had the makings of a decent size town. There wasn't any fencing that encircled the village, but a boulder marked the entrance. There were two sentries at the designated entrance who inclined their head respectfully Heero and a deeper bow at Duo.

"Why are they doing that?" Duo asked, passing through the twin sentries.

"You are a Healer."

"I'm a doctor?" Duo frowned a little. Of course, doctors saved lives and deserved a small amount of respect, but it was more than respect he saw in them.

"You are a Doctor," Heero tested out the unfamiliar word. "One that can bear children."

Duo barked a sarcastic laugh, rubbing at his protesting stomach. He really wanted some food, or at least, the babies are demanding for it. He didn't want to think how odd that sounded as well. "So even here pregnant men are something of a circus side show?" He knew he was acting like a country bumpkin, staring at the almost complex structures that dotted the rather large space. The houses, or whatever structures they wanted to call them was an odd mixture of wood and stone. While the village itself was cleared of trees, it was more like the trees made way for the village then these Shifter people cutting them down. Where their feet stepped, Duo was almost certain that there wasn't any signs of burgeoning life, be it plant nor insect, but the surrounding area teemed with it. It was as if the Forest itself mysteriously helped these people set up their home.

"You speak in a language I don't understand," Heero complained, sounding a little peevish. "I meant you probably don't remember, but there are three different types of Shifters here."

"Three?"

Heero nodded, smiling indulgently at his mate's obvious interest in his surroundings instead of what he was saying. Duo's excitement and amazement was clear as he tried to see everything at once. Heero doubt he even saw the oddly respectful looks everyone was giving him, or the joy that he was returned to them. "There are three, the Healers, the child bearer and the sires."

Duo continued to nod distractedly, looking over his shoulder distractedly and sniffing in the air. "I smell food." He turned abruptly, letting his nose guide his way. Hunger was a very good motivation as he walked as if hypnotised to one of the houses and poked his head inside one of them.

Wufei turned abruptly, surprised at the intrusion. His glare softened when he saw Duo's questing head. "Keiran? Got lost?"

"Duo, at least you guys don't feel so uncomfortable with it," Duo muttered, still looking for something. "I smell food."

Zechs walked out of a room, holding a small wriggling bundle. Duo saw him exchange a silent look with his mate but right now, the smells were just too enticing.

"Duo came for lunch, Zechs," Wufei waved Duo in, who completely missed the stress the dark haired man placed on his name.

Duo had never felt this hollow before. He felt like he hadn't eaten for days and happily entered, plopping himself gracelessly on a chair before a table. A soft clearing of throat told him that Heero was not too far behind. At Wufei's gesture, he began to eat with great gusto, much to the amusement of those around him. He decided to ignore them in favour of the wondrous spread before him. The food was odd, vaguely familiar though he couldn't place where he had tried it before but it was the best thing he had tasted in a long time. Even better than Dorothy's cooking. At that thought, he lost some of his gnawing hunger as he thought of his sister. Once again, he pondered on Dorothy's reasons.

"Heero, come in," Zechs invited, seating himself opposite Duo, bouncing the baby on his lap. "Lunch?"

Heero shook his negative, but thanked Zechs graciously. "I already had some with Odin earlier. Where is he by the way?"

At the mere mention of his son, Duo's appetite fled completely as he placed the eating utensil down on the table tops, worrying his lower lip uncertainly. His hand lowered unconsciously to cradle his swelled midsection, his eyes trained on the table top. After a long moment of silence, Duo looked up to find concern stares on him. He fixed a smile on his face and made to pick up his eating knife again.

"Odin has requested to stay with us," Zechs coughed uncomfortably.

"What?" Heero exploded, incense. Duo could see Heero was extremely angry with his son, more to the fact that Odin had hurt Duo.

"Heero, it's alright," Duo said, looking down, his hunger pretty sated. "He probably needs some time to get used to me again. Or whoever you think I am."

"It's more than that, Duo Maxwell," a low voice came from the door.

Duo whipped his head around and stared at the old man walking through the door. "Who are you?"

"He's Gee, previously your teacher," Wufei reminded him gently.

"Odin realises that there isn't not much of his Papa left inside you," Gee advanced on Duo and for some reason, Duo found himself totally afraid of this man, edging closer to Heero for protection.

"I don't understand," Duo professed, his voice shaking. What was this unreasonable fear he felt. His pulse rate went up and cold sweat sprang out all over his body. He stared at Gee, who was still advancing on him, though not threateningly. Something snapped within him and sprang to his feet. Without even thinking about it, he was cuddled up to Heero's side in an instant. The dark haired man curled his arm protectively around Duo's shoulder, glaring at Gee.

Heero didn't know what set Duo off, Gee wasn't all that scary. The Healer didn't even come up to his chest but his mate was trembling with fear as he stared at the smaller Shifter. So far, Duo had stayed as far as possible from him but this seeking protection warmed Heero and he wondered if his love's memory was slowly returning.

"Good, you are afraid of me," Gee smiled, much to Heero's annoyance. "You should be."

"Heero," Duo whimpered, pressing his face into the crook of Heero neck. His mate couldn't press himself close enough and the trembling increased.

Heero couldn't understand it, from the stories he had gleaned from the other tribe members about Duo's past, his mate got on fine with Gee and there had been respect between both parties. There was nothing said about his mate fearing this Shifter. In fact, they were portrayed more as friendly rivals. It appeared that Zechs was just as confused as he was.

"Don't think you can hide from me," Gee's tone was definitely menacing now. Another step forward. "I will finish this time."

"Please, Heero, no, make him go away," Duo begged softly, his pregnant belly pressing against Heero's side. The dark haired Shifter could feel the restless movements of his unborn children, almost as if sensing Duo's fear.

"Gee," Heero barked. "Leave, now!" He had failed his mate once. He wasn't about to ever again. He would protect Duo from everything that he feared, even if it was a wrinkly old Shifter. However, he reminded himself that this wasn't one Shifter to trifle with. Gee knew how to counter sorcery and that talent wasn't come by naturally. This person bears looking into. He would speak to Wufei and the others about this.

"You are very wily, aren't you?" Gee acknowledge, turning to leave. "They can't protect you for long, Duo. You will meet me someday, unescorted."

Heero tensed at the threat, a low growl starting at the base of his throat. No one, no one, threatened his mate and got away it.

"Gee, stay away before you get killed," Zechs ordered, highly disgusted. He really didn't want to lose his lead Healer to an enraged Heero. Being torn to shreds wasn't a good way to die.

Gee inclined his head at his chief and made a graceful exit. At the entrance, he turned to look at Duo once more, a smile of triumph on his lips.

I'll get you, he mouthed.

tbc…