Through The Vortex
Chapter 23
Home Again, Home Again, Giggity Jog.

Two weeks after Trowa's initial visit, Quatre sought me out in my bedroom after arriving home from the office. He knocked on my bedroom door and entered at the sound of my grunt. Sitting cross legged on the bed, I turned down the volume on the TV and glanced up with a smile from the game I'd been playing on the laptop. "Hey, Quat. How was work?"

"Fine," he answered, moving into the room. "Do you have a minute to talk?"

I turned off my computer and gave my friend my full attention as he sat on the edge of my bed. "Sure, what's up?"

A nervous smile grew on the blond's face. "Trowa wants to come home, and I want him back, Duo."

I almost burst with happiness for them, and my smile must have shown how I felt because I could feel facial muscles stretching that hadn't used in a while. "That's great! Really, I knew you guys could work it out."

"Yes, you did." Quatre's smile matched mine. "Thank you for your support, Duo. It means so much to me."

"Ah... it was nothing." I dismissed my part in their getting back together. Sure, I'd pushed and prodded during those few times that Quatre seemed reluctant to forgive Trowa as well as himself for the gross misunderstanding that had caused their breakup, but they were the ones to actually do all the work at patching things up.

"Yes, it was something," my friend insisted. "But now we have another problem."

I sighed, knowing what was coming. "Me," I said. "It's no problem, Quat. If you'll just help me find an apartment, I'll..."

"No!" Quatre said firmly. "You're not going anywhere. What can you possibly be thinking to suggest something like that?"

I reached behind me to rub the ache in the lower part of my back, and awkwardly twisted in order to reach it properly while still looking at my friend. "Well, I'm kind of in the way for a second honeymoon, don't ya think?"

"Duo." There was a hint of a reprimand in Quatre's tone. "I want you here where I can help you. I insist... No, I demand that you get any idea of leaving here out of your twisted little mind. Do you understand?"

"Okay, okay," I laughed, letting some of the tension in my shoulders ease. "So what's the problem then?"

"I want to tell Trowa about your condition."

"No way," I snapped back. "Trowa and Heero are thick as thieves. He'll tell him."

"I trust him not to, Duo. You can get your own promise from him before we tell him, but he wants to move back this weekend and we can't hide your condition from him if he's living here in the house with us."

Both mine and Quatre's eyes looked down at my bulging belly and I soothed my hands over it. "They're really active tonight," I said quietly, thinking things over while feeling comforted by the movement within me. "Wanna feel?"

"Yes," Quatre answered quickly. He moved closer so he could place his two hands on my taunt abdomen after I removed my hands to give him room. After a moment, Quatre's eyes widened while feeling a rolling movement. With eyes filled with wonder he looked up at me. "Does it hurt?"

"No. It can be uncomfortable, especially if one of them gets under a rib or pushes on my bladder. But it's sort of cool, Quat, to feel life growing within me."

"Would you believe me if I told you that I think I envy you, Duo? I don't know if I could ever do what you're doing, but I'm in awe of it." The two of us shared a smile as my friend's hands continued to rest on my distended belly for several more moments before he pulled back.

I felt torn, not knowing what to do about the upcoming predicament. "I don't want to blow your chance at getting back with Trowa, Quat. But do you really think he'll keep this from Heero?"

"Maybe you should tell Heero yourself," he suggested.

"No!" I shook my head, then paused to collect myself before sadly adding, "He made it pretty damn clear that he's done with me, and I really can't blame him. It's probably better this way." I wondered how many times I'd said that, out loud and to myself. I think I was trying to convince myself. "If you can get Trowa to swear he'll not tell anyone, especially Heero, you can give him what I've written so far. It explains everything, at least all that I know about the AU."

"Thank you, Duo." Quatre reached over and hugged me. "You won't regret this."

I patted him on the back then turned to my bedside table and picked up a folder I had sitting on top. Out of it I pulled one of the stapled, hundred and five pages that detailed every moment of my time in Erith. Quatre accepted the copy with all due respect.

"You can read it first, if you like, then have Trowa give you his word he won't speak of it to anyone before you give it to him," I told him. With Trowa back in his life, he hadn't been able to do his regular proof-reading. I was feeling a bit anxious about what Trowa was going to think about everything that had happened to me after reading my transcript. I'd also realized that I was asking Trowa to do the same thing for me that he had asked of Heero: to keep a secret. It didn't sit very well with me, but I didn't see any other choice. "Tell me what he thinks about all of this, all right?"

Quatre gave me an amused smile. "Before or after he passes out when he finds out you're pregnant with twins."

"After, of course," I answered, and we both enjoyed a good laugh - thinking about Trowa's reaction - before it was time for us to think about what to have for dinner.

Friday night came and so did Trowa. Later that evening, as Quatre saw Trowa to the door, he gave him the transcript after he'd agreed to keep the contents of what was written a secret, even from his closest friends. Trowa carried it back to his hotel room to read. Saturday morning came with no word from him, and the day seemed to drag intolerably on until that evening. Quatre didn't say anything but I could tell he was worried that Trowa hadn't called.

I withdrew into myself, brooding. I had an overpowering sense that, once again, I was going to be rejected by someone I cared about. Added to that, I thought that I might have messed up my friends' chance for happiness. I had second thoughts about having given Trowa my transcript and most of the details of my life on Erith. The last thing I wanted was for any of my friends to think of me as a freak, and by his continued silence, that's exactly what I was coming to believe Trowa was thinking about me after he read not only about my pregnancy, but about the Corrective Center as well as my affairs with Herron and Tradell. His prolonged delay in responding to my story brought out my worst fears.

Sunday morning, just after eight a.m., the doorbell rang. Quatre was up and working on breakfast so he answered it and was pleased, if not surprised, to see Trowa standing there. I got out of bed at the sound of the bell and walked to the top of the staircase to see the tall, lean man standing just outside the front door with three large suitcases surrounding his feet with the transcript of my life on Erith clutched tightly in his hand. "Is it true or just one of Duo's hoaxes?" he asked.

"It's true," Quatre answered. "Come in and we'll talk." Stepping back, he gave Trowa enough room to bring in his luggage and set them down in the foyer. "Duo's still asleep," the blond added, keeping his voice low. "Let's go into the kitchen so we can talk without disturbing him."

I returned to my bedroom and dressed as quickly as I could manage. I didn't doubt that Trowa would have some questions and that I should probably be the one to answer them. I took the time to brush out my hair, and paused for a moment and that simple task caused me to once again miss Mueller. He'd always taken such pleasure in brushing my hair until it was tangle free and shining. For some odd reason, remembering him and my time on Erith left me wanting to leave my hair free of its braid. I'd worn it loose it often enough on Erith that if felt more natural to wear it that way than it had ever been before. Creeping down the stairs in my sweat pants, long-sleeve t-shirt and socks, I made no sound as I approached the kitchen. I heard the whistle of the tea kettle and paused when I heard Quatre's speaking.

"Everything you read there is true, Trowa. Duo's edited some of the more private parts, but you get the gist that he was involved with Duwan's two lovers, more out of necessity and loneliness than anything else."

"And he's really pregnant?" Trowa asked, incredulous.

"Yes."

"Twins?"

Quatre chuckled. "Welcome home." From where I stood, the sounds coming from the kitchen that let me know the other two men were kissing, and it brought a smile to my face.

"I missed you so much." Trowa's whisper was easily carried out of the kitchen and to the place where I was standing.

"And I missed you. I know I've said it before, but I'm sorry," Quatre answered.

"No more apologies," Trowa said, and some more kissing sounds ensued. "We agreed to start over, a fresh slate, right?"

"Um hum," Quatre hummed. "I'm just glad you're back."

I was feeling like a voyeur even though I wasn't even looking at the two love birds, so I decided it was time to make my appearance. "So is this what I can expect every time I walk into a room occupied by you two?" I asked in an amused tone. The two men kissing ceased immediately and turned to face me. Trowa's jaw promptly dropped and his green eyes looked like they were going to pop right out of his head as they focused on my protruding belly. "Holy shit!" he whispered. Even though he'd learned from the transcript of my condition, I suspected that some part of his rational brain didn't truly comprehend the truth of my words. Seeing, in my case, was truly believing.

I could feel my face flush under his unrelenting gaze and put a protective hand over my belly. "Um... welcome home, Trowa," I said, suddenly feeling unsure of myself under his wide-eyed stare.

Quatre, standing at Trowa's side, gave his lover a gentle push, and woodenly the taller man moved towards me, his green eyes not moving from my belly. He stopped directly in front of me, and I felt momentarily intimated by his height.

"Can I touch it... or them?" Trowa asked, obviously fascinated by my condition.

"You move pretty fast for a person not properly introduced," I said, not looking up at my tall friend. I was trying to tease him but I came off sounding insecure. I looked around Trowa's body to search out Quatre for his help.

The blond saw my discomfort and nodded as he stepped forward. "Then let's make the introductions," Quatre said, coming to stand by my side. "Trowa, meet Duo's babies, a boy and a girl." He took his lover's calloused hands and placed them on my T-shirt covered belly. "Babies," Quat continued. "Meet your Uncle Trowa. Together we're going to work hard to ensure that you and your dad are well taken care of."

"Yes," Trowa agreed, and I finally looked up to ascertain his expression. The usually unflappable man seeming to be in a daze, maybe even in shock as he let his hands move over the protrusion. Then slowly, his green eyes rose to meet mine. "You're a walking, talking miracle, Duo. You know that, don't you? That you were transported to another world, came to be in the condition you're in now and actually made it back here again can be called nothing else but a miracle. If I didn't trust what I'm seeing and feeling, I'd never have believed it." He gently and awkwardly leaned over and tried to hug me.

I returned the brief embrace, and over Trowa's shoulder I could see Quatre's pleased smile. Stepping back, I felt the need to give credit to the person who deserved it. "Heero's the real miracle worker. He's the one we should give credit to for bringing me back. I'm grateful to him, and that's the one thing you can tell him, Tro, the next time you talk to him."

Trowa stepped back and looked into my face, studying my expression which was bound to show how much I missed my former lover.

"He's asked about you," Trowa said suddenly, probably trying to make me feel better. "He's concerned that you haven't been seen by anyone other than the four of us since you returned. I told him you were well, but not ready to venture out after your experience. I don't know how much longer that excuse will sound plausible."

With a sigh and a shrug of my left shoulder I said, "Don't worry. We just have to put him off until I have these two, then I plan on moving somewhere else, changing my name and all that. Problem solved."

"Duo." Quatre stepped in, clearly unhappy. "Nothing has been decided. You're going to need help with two small newborns."

"The longer I stay the more suspicious everyone will become. How will we explain two infants in your home? If I move, I can make up an excuse, like we discussed already."

"Heero can probably track you down no matter where you go or how you try to hide yourself," Trowa calmly stated.

"Then we'll tell him I've fallen in love with someone else. I'm pretty sure he'll leave me alone after that."

The room fell silent as each of us thought about my suggestion, knowing it would probably be the only thing that would put Heero off, that is if he ever decided to check up on me. But at what price? Heero would most likely be hurt, even though we weren't together anymore. We had a past where promises had been whispered in the dark about forever, and those pillow-talk promises remained with me, haunting me nightly. Looking up at the other two men, it was clear from the expression on their faces that they didn't like my idea. Hell, I didn't really like it either, but I knew it would probably work.

"Listen," I began. "I don't think we'll have to worry about that. Heero's pissed off enough at me that he hasn't attempted to contact me since the night I told him about Herron and Tradell."

"Don't you think honesty would be better?" Trowa asked, frowning. "Whatever happened to your motto of never telling a lie?"

Walking slowly to the table and pulling out a chair, I eased myself down, pulling my loose hair over my shoulder before looking up to my two friends and sadly admitted, "Everyone lies, whether out right or by omission. Why should I be any different?" Silence filled the kitchen for a moment. Each of us reflecting on our own past omissions and the speculation that come from them that had affected our relationships.

The room suddenly felt oppressive, the air heavy with guilt. "This is all my fault," Trowa confessed. "If I'd been up front with Quatre about my addiction, you and Heero wouldn't have become involved in my secret, making the both of you suspect us of infidelity. I'm sorry, Duo. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Quatre slipped his hand into Trowa's, giving it a squeeze to show his support and appreciation for wanting to right a wrong we were all probably responsible for.

I shook my head. "I was the one who was unfaithful, but that's all water under the bridge now. I've got to focus on the future now, to provide a home for my kids. If you'll just help me with that, I'll be forever grateful."

"Of course we'll help, Duo," Quatre assured me, his expression one of sincerity. "How about we start by feeding you? What do you feel like eating this morning?"

And so the week began with Trowa settling comfortably into his former home, bedroom and life once again. He'd contacted the Preventers before coming into town and was reinstated into the local office and his old position without a blink. He was scheduled to start work one week following his return home.

Sally Chang came by the next weekend. Since she worked during the week, she felt it more inconspicuous if she dropped by each Sunday while Wufei took the baby in her stroller for his weekly run through the park. Neither he nor anyone at Preventers was the wiser for her professional visits, so my secret was kept intact.

When she came, she brought with her a two week dose of the female hormones that she felt came as close as possible to the medication I'd been given on Erith. I'd run out of what I'd had in the case the previous day. She'd inquired about the injector, which I told her was a painless syringe. Excitement lit up her eyes a moment before she asked me if I thought I could figure out how it worked. If I could do that, we could patent it, and she convinced me that we would make enough money to keep me comfortable for the rest of my life. Her excitement was contagious. If I could duplicate the injector, I would be able to stay home with my kids and raise them myself. It was enough of an incentive that I couldn't resist giving it a go. Besides, it gave me something to do with my spare time, especially since I'd finished writing my account of Erith, Trowa returned to work at the Preventers and Quatre continued to work for his family's corporation. I now had something new to occupy my hands and mind while I waited for my kids to be born.

TBC