Disclaimer: Neither Annie nor Tsu own GW ... if we did it would have been a very different thing. . .
Warning: Mpreg, shounen ai, OOC ness, innuendoes and deceit
"Where are you taking me?" The healer squealed from her position thrown over Trowa's shoulder. "Unhand me, you uncouth barbarian."
"Trowa," Quatre called out cautiously, keeping up easily with the prince.
"Tro. . . Trowa?" The braided woman squeaked. "Prince Trowa?" Trowa grunted and shifted the struggling woman over his shoulder. He had started out the evening as a fool and had gradually descended rank until now he was a barbarian.
Trowa looked banefully at Quatre before responding, "Yes, my name is Trowa, and I know others with the same name."
"Let me go, cretin!" Sally pounded ineffectually on Trowa's broad back.
"Would you stop that woman!" Trowa roared, finally losing his temper after walking with her on his back for hours. "We are only bringing you because it is an emergency, so stop arguing and be thankful that I'm not dragging you along with a rope!"
"I can walk, you flaming idiot! You don't have to carry me like a sack of sugar."
"I wouldn't want to lose time, we've been gone long enough. Besides we are almost there now."
Quatre stood far, far away, feeling rather intimidated by this person. He was never so glad as now that he preferred men – not that there was anything wrong with woman. . .
Quatre looked at her, catching her eyes, "Please don't be angry, I'm very worried about. . .our friend. He's been sick for awhile, so excuse our drastic measures." Quatre had these gigantic, pathetic orb of eyes that when displayed right could make the most cold-hearted of men melt.
And most women as well (with the exception of his sister/ brother).
The doctor looked at him and sighed, "Well, what's your name?"
Quatre smiled slightly, "I am Quatre. . . and you are?"
"Sally - Sally Poe." She shifted on Trowa's back and then kneed the human prince in the chest, "And exactly who are you, if not Prince Trowa?"
Trowa sighed, wincing at the pain. For someone so slight, she sure knew how to use her knee. He was just glad she wasn't on her feet and didn't see him as an assailant. "I'm just one of the many sons named in honour of the prince." Trowa smiled, "You can call me Bob."
Sally kicked him again, harder for his cheek. "Are we there yet?"
Quatre pointed timidly at the looming shack just on the horizon. "We are here."
Sally grinned, "Wonderful, you can let me down now." Trowa looked at her and then slowly lowered her down.
"That's the Prince's hunting lodge!" Sally exclaimed. Then she leveled a glare at Trowa. "Thank you. . .Bob."
Trowa smiled and then picked up the pace, leading the way. Quatre stayed back and talked to Sally quietly. When they reached the door, Trowa paused. The two whispering behind him smacked directly into his back. Trowa turned and said to Quatre, "Should we warn him?"
Quatre bit his lip, "No, I'd rather not. He's probably sleeping anyway."
Sally looked back and forth at both of them and rolled her eyes, "Who is this guy? Royalty? Geez. . ." She opened the door and walked into the lodge. She instantly saw a small lump in the middle of the vast bed and a pale, sweaty face peeking out from under the covers. She reacted immediately and went straight to him. She placed a hand on his forehead and then turned to the other two men who had filed in behind her. "Get me some cold water and then start boiling some more."
Quatre and Trowa stared at each other. They thought boiling water was only required during the birth. . . "He's not giving birth now is he?" Quatre blurted, his eyes going wide.
Sally looked at him in disbelief, "No, I want you to boil some water and then make chicken broth for him to eat." She shook her head.
Quatre blushed to the tips of his ears. "Oh. . .okay." He grabbed Trowa by the collar and dragged him out. "Let's make some chicken broth."
Duo began mumbling something and slowly opened his eyes. He looked blearily at Sally a moment before sliding back in the bed surprised and sitting up. "Whoa, hello. Who are you?"
Sally smiled softly. "My name is Sally Poe and I am going to find out what is wrong with you." She said her face seemed just a bit amused. "You've lost a lot of weight." Duo nodded numbly, taken off-balance by her sudden appearance.
Realizing what she said too late, Duo opened his mouth to deny it, but realized it was a futile effort. He sighed, "So what do you think is wrong with me."
Not missing a beat, Sally responded, "I think you're pregnant."
Duo nodded, "Oh, shit. . . Father'll kill. . ." he trailed off, pulling the covers over his head. Suddenly, her words sunk in and his head popped back up, "Wait a minute! I'm a guy now!"
Sally's face went from curious to smug, "Oh, in that case. . ." She let it trail off and instead grabbed a wet cloth and sopped it on Duo's forehead.
Duo moved it aside and looked at her in panic, "Wait, why do you think I'm pregnant?" his chest was heaving in panic and he had begun to shiver.
Sally began to tick the symptoms off her fingers. "Nausea, unable to stomach certain foods and smells, exhaustion, despite weight loss you have problems with the fit of your clothes aren't you?"
Duo nodded mechanically, though the tight clothes part wasn't entirely true. "If you weren't a man, you would definitely be pregnant."
Duo looked at her in fright, "What if I'm only. . . part. . . like. . ." Duo stopped, "Can you get pregnant your first time?"
Sally giggled softly behind her hand. "Another legend. Of course you can get pregnant your first time." Then she frowned. "But you are a man. You can't be pregnant."
Duo rolled his eyes. "That's what I've been trying to tell you,"
Sally eyed him suspiciously, "You don't really sound entirely certain of that." She leaned down so she was about three inches from his face, "There's nothing you're not telling me, is there?"
The elf stilled, staring at the healer in surprise. "Well, I'm really quite interested in pulling you into my warm bed and doing unspeakable things to your body."
Sally leapt back and made a small offended noise in the back of her throat. Duo clasped his hand over his mouth. "Please, I'm sorry, forget I said anything,"
Sally looked at him and asked suspiciously, "Is this an elf thing?"
Duo's eyes popped out of his head, "No! We don't start asking random people into our beds."
Sally laughed a little, "I meant men getting pregnant."
"Uh..." Duo's mind worked furiously and said the only thing that came to mind. "Yeah. . . But, but, I can't go back to the elven settlement now. I'm. . . I'm. . ." He choked and was unable to finish.
Sally sat on the edge of the bed and patted Duo's hand, "I wouldn't worry about it, if your family is there, they will understand."
Duo winced, "I can't make them understand." Duo shook his head, wondering frantically how he was going to explain that his family would never understand how he was changed from a princess to the princess' murderer and the prince's kidnapper and now – a male elf by all appearances – pregnant.
This was not looking good.
Sally wore a soft and reassuring grin, "In the end, your family will accept you back."
Not if they don't know who I am, Duo's mind screamed, but he didn't say it aloud. Sally stood up and went to open a window, the room smelled. . . stale. Duo sat up straighter and felt his stomach begin to curl and twist in an unpleasant and familiar way. His face paled and he threw himself out of the bed and headed for the chamber pot that had become his best friend lately. As he lost all of the apple he had eaten an hour ago, Sally's hand began rubbing his back until he was through.
Collapsing to his knees, he panted on the floor until his legs stopped shaking. "Sally?" He looked at her beseechingly, "Can you make me stop throwing up? I eat because I am starving, but then I throw up because I ate."
Sally smiled, "Don't worry, it should go away as your pregnancy progresses, though it is rather severe. Trowa and Quatre are boiling some water for chicken broth. You should be able to hold that down." Sally looked around, "Speaking of which, where did they go?" The healer stood and helped Duo stand up and get to the bed. "Stay here, I'm going to go look for them."
She returned not long after and said to Duo, "Where would they go to boil water?"
Duo looked at her puzzled face and burst out laughing, "They probably couldn't figure out how to and went to the castle for the boiled water!"
XxXxX
It wasn't long after that that Sally left for the village again, after being sworn to silence by a beleaguered Duo. The elf lay in bed, his mind whirling in confusion. Sure, he was once a woman, sure he knew was capable of reproducing at some point in his life; but he saw the mirror, heck, he actually touched himself. He was certain that he was completely male... right?
The witch's spell had been perfect... right?
The more he thought of it, the more confused he became. He had to get some answers. Since his stomach decided to give him a little rest, at least until tomorrow morning, he slid carefully out of bed. Duo shrugged on a pair of clothes and grabbed a dagger as he headed out. He needed to go visit a witch.
It wasn't that long of a walk but Duo felt himself tiring before he was halfway there, the only thing that kept him going was his desire to know what was happening and his anger at her. This was her fault after all – and that bloody human Heero's – it was his fault as much as hers.
He marched up to the door and burst in rudely, uncaring. He had some answers and a score to settle. "Witch! Where the hell are you?" He yelled.
There was a pause before a blonde head peered out from a nearby room blearily. "What are you doing here?"
"I have a question for you, and it seems like you are the only one who can tell me for certain." Duo saw a head appear from one of the two doors. He gaped at the witch. She was wearing a plain cotton nightshirt, with some green mud-like goop plastered all over her face. She really was an ugly witch!
"Wh-what are you wearing?" Duo asked in horror as he took a step away from her.
The witch gasped, realizing her unruly appearance and ran back into her room. There was loud sounds of thumping and thudding from within, and a lot of swearing. Duo could have heard her yell at someone about not warning her. She returned, this time in a bit more attractive dress and a clear face. Duo almost laughed, she was almost pathetic.
"Why are you here?" She demanded, her hands on her hips.
It was then the burning anger that sustained Duo exploded into epic proportions, "Why am I here? You dare act annoyed and offended that I am here, when you have completely altered my life? You probably don't even know what you're doing, do you? I think you screwed up, because there are a few things wrong here!" He continued on in that strain for quite a while, walking around her room, knocking things over, screaming and yelling at the witch about her lying and her incompetent nature, about how she managed – even now – to torture her and make him so ill to the point a healer would think he was pregnant.
"What?" Relena screeched loudly, and in perfect chorus with Duo.
"I'm a man now, I can't get pregnant!" Duo yelled. "Right?" Duo needed the reassurance, because he wasn't really sure of anything anymore.
"He's a man now, he can't get pregnant!" Relena chorused in counterpoint.
Duo paused, "Who are you talking to?"
The witch winced when she heard a familiarly evil cackle fill her ears and her mouth starting to move at its own volition. "I never said that all my spells were perfect, in fact few of them turn out completely as planned. I just didn't make you entirely into a man." She smiled, "So yes, you can be pregnant."
Duo gasped, stumbling back even as the witch started screeching wildly again. He was getting a damn headache. Why couldn't the witch decide on her reaction? One moment she was calmly explaining things the next she was ranting about him stealing someone from her.
You stupid stone! You planned this! Relena shrieked silently at the onyx.
No, you screwed up by your own talented self. The dragon gloated.
Duo looked at her and gave her look that plainly said he thought she was completely insane. Relena didn't notice, for she was apparently absorbed in her own thoughts now - her face changing expressions quickly - and all of them were unpleasant. He decided then it was that angered witches were a dangerous thing and slowly backed out of the cottage. The two inhabitants of the house didn't even notice Duo's departure.
You cheated! Relena accused.
So did you, casting such a spell. I merely didn't correct your awesome mistake.
I'm not going to let her win so easily! Relena finally decided after a long silence.
What are you going to do? Dragon asked, the tiniest bit of caution in his voice.
Relena smiled and said aloud - as if to give her idea more backing, "Heero doesn't know that baby is his, out of the goodness of my heart, I will tell him that the elf is deceiving him and that he should have nothing more to do with him."
Dragon laughed, You think he will believe that? That elf is now male after all, would the duke believe a man carrying his child?
"I can always say that this elf came to me for a spell to trap Heero. And that it isn't a baby at all, but a demon that would devour him once it is born. The only way to vanquish this demon would be for Heero himself to kill it."
You could, but I could also arrange for it that you never speak again, if you were to try something so stupid.
Relena growled at the stone but did not respond. She would find a way, and there was nothing the dragon could do about it.
XxXxX
Trowa was in a fix, and he wasn't sure how to react. His cousin, his cousin, spoiled a woman, not just any woman, an elf woman – an elf princess no less – and got her pregnant! Well, him, but still. . .
There wasn't any place for this poor elf to go either, and it was because of his wondrous cousin. Trowa sighed in disgust, and to think he used to look up to him. Trowa was a prince, he could solve his kingdom's problems, prevent or win wars, mollify the worst of rioters and fight against the best of them, but he couldn't figure out his own problems.
It didn't help that Quatre was also pissed as hell at him. Heero had taken advantage of his precious sister.
Trowa was heading with a rather fervent intensity towards nowhere when he was plowed into by the exact person he didn't want to see. "Trowa," Heero began in excitement, "there were reports of an elf in a small village about three hours south of here."
Trowa looked at Heero and suddenly, all the pent up anger and frustration burst and Trowa grabbed Heero by the collar and threw him against the wall. The whole corridor got quiet and then everyone in it found an excuse to leave. "No need to look anymore Heero, I know where your elf is," Trowa growled.
Heero looked rather confused and then delighted, "Where?"
"I don't think you deserve to know," Trowa said, struggling not to kill his ex-favorite cousin. He let Heero go and walked away, heading for the stairs and his room. He was supposed to be heading to the lodge again, but he didn't think he could cope with it yet. He was feeling guilty for something he hadn't even done! Heero was following close behind though.
"Trowa? Wait, why can't you tell me." Heero's face set and he quickly placed himself in front of Trowa. The prince didn't move, just met Heero's glare eye for eye. This was the glare that earned Heero his position in the army as spy and assassin, this was the glare that Heero used to be. Now Heero was a crazy elf-obsessed man. Trowa used to be afraid of that glare, but he wasn't anymore.
"Because you're a good-for-nothing asshole," Trowa threw a punch at Heero.
Heero ducked, the punch still clipped his ear, he swooped back up and jammed his fist into Trowa's stomach. "Explain."
"Go to hell!"
Heero pulled Trowa's collar into a tight fist and began cutting off his cousin's air. "Explain."
Trowa's eyes narrowed and he choked out, "You have no idea whats going on, do you?" His face was turning bright red very quickly.
"How should I know when my own family comes in and suddenly decides to attack me?" Heero pushed Trowa away.
"She's been right under your nose the whole time and you haven't even figured it out, damned if I'll tell you where she is now."
Heero's expression cleared and an almost hungry expression came over him. "You found her!" He breathed. He grabbed his cousin again, this time by the shoulders. "Where is she? Where did you put her?"
"Somewhere safe, from you." Trowa spat at Heero.
"She's important to me, you know that. Why can't you tell me? She is to be my duchess!" Heero asked incredulously.
Trowa laughed, "What makes you think she wants to be your duchess?"
Heero paused, "We - I - Well, she doesn't have much choice considering what we did."
That incensed Trowa even more. "How could you do that to an innocent! She was a virgin before you put your ugly, dirty hands on her!"
Heero pulled back, "It wasn't my intentions to do that, it just. . . happened." Heero growled. "And that is why I want to make an honest woman. . .elf out of her!"
Trowa sighed, "Now you can't fix it can you." Then he laughed, "An honest woman . . ." He shook his head, he repeated "woman. . ." Trowa looked at Heero, "When did you decide that you were going to pursue her?"
"I- That is - after - thats not important. Where is she?"
Trowa decided enough was enough and turned on his heels, ignoring Heero's question, walking away, leaving Heero alone.
Heero stood there, watching the retreating figure of his cousin. How come Trowa knew of Elle and he didn't. Trowa wasn't even looking for her, well not without Heero around, and he had found her!
Come to think of it, nearly two months ago, soon after he first met Elle, he had seen Trowa with her in the castle, in the front foyer. Trowa had said she was staying at his. . . hunting lodge.
Heero stood. If Elle was as near as Trowa's hunting lodge – and that was a rather big if – he could kill himself. Fifteen minutes away and he had been looking in the woods and in distant villages. He had assumed she had been ashamed by what had happened on that day seven weeks ago; could he have been wrong? What other reason could she have for hiding from him.
Heero stood and swiftly took off his obnoxious velvet cloak that he had to wear to court today. He went to his room and grabbed his work clothes, tight pants and a well-fitted shirt. He grabbed his sword, so as to appear more noble and took off, heading straight for the lodge.
XxXxX
Duo ran a finger across his tight waist line, he had been losing weight quite rapidly but his waist line was stubbornly remaining where it was. It hadn't started to expand really yet, but it would.
Sighing, he turned away and began doing his hair, waiting for his lunch. As much as he hated to admit it, he wasn't able to take in enough nutrition to do anything remotely productive. Often he would sleep the day away and wake up for meals only. Quatre was usually here, but occasionally he would leave again to go back to the clan and remind them of his safety. They were under the impression that he was tirelessly searching for Duoviele, princess of Silvermyst.
Duo yawned, today was one of those days, which meant that he was on his own. He pulled up a stool by the fire and began stoking the embers and encouraging them to life. He then grabbed a slice of bread with butter on it and began nibbling at it.
A low 'thud', 'thud', 'thud' came from the door. Duo froze, unwilling to open it for anybody. Quatre and Trowa both would walk right in and Sally had to return home and was being brought back by Trowa in a week. (It was like having a set of nannies.)
Duo decided that if he pretended to be asleep, no one would care. He dashed over to the bed and slid under the covers, making his face look as peaceful as possible. As soon as he had settled, the door creaked open. Whoever was here though, had quiet footsteps, Duo could barely hear them.
Duo heard a sharp intake of breath right above him and frantically tried to place the 'gasp' he knew he recognized it. . .
"Goodness, Elle, whats wrong?" Duo's body felt as if it had been dropped quickly into a jar of ice and then completely frozen.
Duo began sweating nervously, despite the cold chill engulfing his limbs. His stomach wrenched and he fought it down.
He really didn't need this right now, especially when he felt so utterly sick. He really didn't want Heero to come here. Who told him? How did he know?
A soft hand touched his temple as it pushed away a loose strand of hair. Duo nearly flinched away. This was all his fault, what made him think that he deserved to touch him? "Leave me alone," he snapped at Heero. "You did this!"
Heero jumped back, surprised,. "What? Did what?"
Duo sat himself up as best he could, using the pillows for support, "This, everything!"
He fell back on the bed tiredly, suddenly wondering if whatever he was saying actually would make any sense or if he should even bother. A pregnant male – like Heero would believe that. Heero seemed far too traditional and crap to even pretend for a moment that 'he' was pregnant, let alone that he used to be a girl.
Duo looked up at him and saw the confusion in Heero's eyes. Heero probably thought he was talking to his beloved Elle. Ha! Duo rolled over, and grimaced at the sudden movement. Please don't let his stomach embarrass him in front of the person responsible for it all.
It was bad enough as it was he was an unwed mother – a mother who was now really a man. He couldn't go home now especially, any chance of explaining the spell was gone now. Elves never got pregnant without an honourable mating. Quatre was lucky, his tryst would not produce a bastard heir. Their father would have Duo's head for this and a lot more.
Heero touched his shoulder gently and Duo sat up angrily again, "Stop touching me!" He yelled, but even as he did he knew that he had gone too far, he tried to get out of bed towards his faithful chamber pot, but Heero decided to 'help' by steadying him with his hands. Shock registered on his face he realized that it was Duo and not his sister, Elle that he was helping.
"Are you alright?" Heero asked, genuine concern colouring his tone. He didn't particularly like the insane elf but he was sick and that changed everything. He bore no malice against someone ill.
The elf shook his head and tried to slide away from him, but Heero held onto him to tightly and Duo couldn't help it, all the contents of his stomach came out, all over Heero. In a panicked moment, Heero brought Duo the chamberpot where he dry-retched a few times.
"I'm sorry," Duo mumbled much later, tucked up in bed once more, and a cold cloth slapped over his head. He was beginning to hate that stupid cloth. But there was nice scene to behold. Heero had taken off his soiled clothings and found some of Quatre's shirts. Right now it was hanging off him, unbuttoned. While Duo was currently male at the moment, he still knew how to enjoy a superb physique. He had been a she-elf once.
Heero smiled weakly, "It's alright." Duo wondered if he would have liked Heero if he hadn't. . . ya know impregnated him and changed his gender. He seemed like an alright sort of guy.
"How long have you been sick?" Heero asked, breaking the silence.
"Uhm, for a while now," He grinned, "Its not really as bad as it looks, you caught me at a bad time." He chuckled a bit and pondered the feeling of the cool cloth dripping into his ear.
"You should go to a healer to have yourself looked at." Heero took a deep breath, "After all, it wouldn't do to worry your sister."
Duo froze at the mention of his 'other self' and waited for any reaction from Heero. The human was staring at him curiously, perhaps even a little more than avidly. It was as if he was trying to fish for information. Damn, Heero was helping him because of 'Elle'. Duo pulled the wet cloth off his eyes.
"My sister knows whats wrong, so she isn't worried." Duo said pointedly, watching Heero's face.
Heero's face didn't show much of a reaction, but he did ask, "Surely if you've been sick for so long. . ."
Duo put the cloth back over his eyes and smiled tightly, "Nothing that won't pass with time."
His hand wandered toward his stomach, brushing it lightly under the covers. He knew he should be panicking right now. He knew he should be trying to draw a sword and skewering Heero but he also knew that the baby wouldn't really appreciate Duo killing his father. Why did Duo manage to accept such ridiculous circumstances so easily? Shouldn't he be almost hysterical right now? He was male and carrying a child.
Of course he had been female for so long, that the idea wasn't completely foreign to him. It was just sort of something in the back of his mind that someday she would probably have children, it just stopped being a foreseeable reality when . .. well, she became a he. He was turning soft and it was all this baby's fault. And the baby wasn't even born yet. Soon he would be sitting in a rocking chair knitting baby booties! Argh!
"Are you alright?" Heero inched closer, staring at Duo in alarm.
"Wha...?" Duo blinked.
Heero shrugged, looking a little relieved. "You were staring off into space with the oddest smile on your face. I thought you went insane for a moment there."
The human got a pillow in the face. "Excuse me!"
"Says the elf who stuck feathers in his hair!" Heero responded.
"Those were special circumstances, that you couldn't understand if you wanted to!" Duo said defensively, sitting up.
"Really? Try me?" Heero challenged. Duo briefly toyed with the idea of telling him, then changed his mind. What good would it do anyway, all he would end up doing would be saying some naughty comment.
They were both distracted from the conversation by the opening of the door, "Duo? Are you alrii . . ." The couple stared, once again shocked by the sight of the two of them together.
"Crap! Heero found out that Duo has a fetish for licking toes!" Quatre exclaimed.
Duo groaned and slapped the cloth over his eyes again.
Damn curse.
XxXxX
Annie: Toes. . . Blech. . . shivers We've got like. . . two more chapters written – i just have to edit them . . . It's really exciting to write them – not quite as exciting to edit! Ya know? glomps all reviewers
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