Chapter Thirteen
Sally kicked the men out of the room while she preformed the procedure (despite Wufei's protests to stay close). They sat anxiously awaiting the outcome in the living room.
"What if it doesn't work?" Trowa asked in a low voice.
Wufei turned to him with fire in his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Trowa looked calmly up at him. "Just that. What if it doesn't work?" He stood and faced the Chinese man. "I know that Sally can save Quatre. I'm not worried about that." He said then he walked away and stared at a point on the floor. "What if the embryo's don't make it?"
"They have to…" Duo said darkly.
The others turned to him with confusion as the God of Death reared it's ugly head. The braided man chuckled darkly and glanced at his friends. "I found out…just before this whole thing started…that because of all the fighting I did…and all the blows to the stomach area…" He shook his head, trailing off.
"You can't have children…" Heero finished.
Duo chuckled again and shook his head. "Yeah…sucks don't it?"
Trowa frowned and Wufei bowed his head. Heero glanced at Relena and then walked over to him. "I'm sorry, Duo." He said softly.
Duo shrugged him off and stepped away. "Eh, it's alright. I got over it." He turned back and stared at Quatre's door. "I just…hope Sally can save them…" He said softly and then chuckled, but his voice sounded weak. "It would be nice to be able to raise a kid…"
Heero opened his mouth to speak when the door to Quatre's room opened. Wufei was in front of it before the others could blink as Sally stepped out with a smile.
"Well?" He demanded.
"Quatre's fine. He's just resting." She said happily.
"And…the baby's?" Duo asked, his voice almost chocked.
Sally smiled even wider. "The transplant did wonderfully. They're in the incubator now." He smile faltered only slightly as she sat down. "I don't know how well they'll grow. And you'll have to keep a constant watch on them. But they seem healthy. They should be alright." She stood again and ushered her men out. "I'll come back once a month to check on them and on Quatre. Until he's completely healed, you should keep him from doing any physical activity." She glanced at Duo. "And yes, that includes chores."
Duo's face fell and he pouted. Now he would have to do Quatre's chores too. Sally left the house and Wufei was immediately by Quatre's side. The others walked in slowly while Wufei settled himself next to the blond man as he slept.
Inside the incubator, they could see two small embryo's, one in the left tube said "CHANG/WINNER" and the right tube said "MAXWELL/BARTON". Duo couldn't hide the smile that appeared on his face as he approached the one with his name above it. He carefully touched the glass, as though in awe of what he found inside.
"This is incredible…" He muttered.
Trowa moved closer to him to get a better look and nodded. "Yes…" He muttered. A child with Duo…this is…a dream come true…Trowa thought and couldn't hide his excitement.
Heero watched the embryo's and then placed a protective hand on Relena's belly. "So that's what it looks like." He muttered to her.
She smiled and nodded. "I guess so…"
Wufei glanced up from Quatre to look at the embryo with his name above it. He stared intently at the small creature for a long moment, his face expressionless.
"It's amazing isn't it?"
He looked down and saw Quatre looking at the baby as well. He smiled and glanced up at Wufei. "We're having…a baby together."
Wufei smiled and chuckled. "Yes…" He leaned down and kissed Quatre very softly. "We are." He said and turned to look back at the baby.
Duo smiled as he watched Wufei and Quatre. He was glad they were happy together. I guess this really is a perfect situation for them…He thought. Then he frowned, turning to look at his own child. How could he raise a kid with Trowa when he was in love with Catherine? Boy…that's gonna be awkward…He thought. He glanced to Trowa out of the corner of his eye and felt a wave of nausea come over him. How was he gonna tell one of his closest friends that he was dating his sister? Well…now I have to do it…He sighed inwardly. But how…? Trowa was a good friend of his, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt him. He knew that Catherine meant the world to Trowa and not just any man was going to be good enough for her. Especially not the God of Death…He frowned. He reached out and touched the glass again with a small smile.
"Don't worry, little guy. I'll figure something out…" He whispered to the fetus.
The weeks past steadily with the guys taking turns watching the incubator; well, everyone but Heero. He wouldn't take his eyes off of Relena, much to her annoyance ("I'm not made of glass, Heero!"). The stay at the "beach house", as Duo so affectionately called it, was quiet. Reigo seemed to have completely disappeared, and that was what frightened the pilots. Relena was two months ahead of the incubator, and when she was growing close to labor, Heero had started to grow more anxious, but no one knew why. He would always sit on the couch and stare at the bedroom door where Relena stayed most of the time. It wasn't until Duo asked him what was wrong that he actually spoke.
He turned to the braided man and sighed. "I'm…going to be a father…" He said half-heartedly.
Duo smirked and nodded. "Yeah. You're just realizing that?" He chucked and to his surprise, Heero nodded.
The stoic ex-Gundam pilot turned to stare at the door again and sighed. "I guess I never really focused on it…I just kept thinking about Relena and keeping her safe…" He turned back to Duo with a worried expression, something that was uncharacteristic of Heero "Perfect Solider" Yuy. "What if I'm not a good father?" He asked.
Duo's face warmed and he smiled. "I'm sure you will be, Hee-chan. Every new father starts out with zero experience and they end up fine." He placed a comforting hand on Heero's shoulder. "Besides, you're the Perfect Solider. Just think of this as one more mission." He winked.
"One more mission…" Heero mumbled and turned back to the bedroom door. "I…think I can do that."
Duo smiled. "You better!" He chuckled and leaned back against the couch. "Besides, you have Relena to help you. You guys are in this together." He added. Unlike a certain someone I know…He thought gloomily.
As though reading his mind, Heero turned and looked at Duo. "And you don't...How are you doing?" He asked.
Duo raised a brow for a second then smirked. "As well as can be expected." He shrugged. "To be honest, it's a little odd. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad my genes are gonna live on. But this isn't exactly the situation I was hoping for."
Heero nodded. "I wish I could say I understand…but…"
Duo shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Hee-chan. You have your own kid to worry about. No since in adding mine." He smirked.
Giggling could be heard coming from Wufei and Quatre's room and Duo smirked. "At least they're getting along good." He said happily.
Heero smirked and nodded. "Yes. I can hear them all the way on the other side of the room." He shook his head.
Duo laughed. "I'm surprised you can hear anything over Relena's shouts." He laughed causing Heero to blush a bright red.
Duo only laughed harder. He loved making the Perfect Solider blush.
As Relena's due date came and went, Heero found himself in a nervous panic. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?" He kept asking. "No, Heero, Baby's are late sometimes. It's normal." Was the answer he got every time. The day Relena went into Labor, a full week late, Heero was a mess. He wanted to be by her side, but he was terrified that Reigo would try something. He kept wandering in and out of their bedroom. Every time he left, Sally would scream at him to get back inside and Relena would throw something. Duo and Trowa finally had enough and blocked the door with the couch and two chairs so he couldn't leave. The labor lasted for a solid 12 hours before the four men heard crying coming from the room.
Duo jumped up to pull the couch away from the door just as Sally turned the handle. She stepped out with a tired smile on her face.
"Well!" Duo gasped with excitement.
"What is it?" Trowa asked.
Sally smiled. "A beautiful baby boy." She said and collapsed on the couch. "Eight pounds, Four Ounces and about twenty inches long." She explained as she rested her head on the pillows.
Duo and Quatre exchanged giddy smiles while Wufei chuckled and Trowa smiled. A few minutes later, Heero emerged carrying a very small bundle wrapped in blankets. He had a dazed expression on his face, as though he couldn't believe what had just happened. He looked up at his friends and presented the baby.
Quatre and Duo squealed and jumped around like school girls upon seeing the small face. He had a small bush of very dark hair on the top of his head and a small sharp nose.
"Just like his Daddy." Duo chuckled.
Heero blushed and looked down at his son with a soft smile. "I…guess so…"
"What's his name Heero?" Quatre asked.
Heero glanced back at Relena through the open door, who nodded tiredly. He turned back to his friends and smiled. "Odin. Odin Yuy." He said in a small voice.
"Yuy? But, what about the press?" Duo asked, shocked.
"Let me handle the press." Sally said standing up. "That baby deserves to hold his true father's name." She smiled and waved good bye to Relena and the guys, who were still swarming around the baby.
Things around the small house got more exciting after Odin was born. He seemed to take more after his mother than they thought because he screamed constantly. None of the guys ever got any sleep and Duo was beginning to miss the sounds of Quatre and Wufei. At least they tried to be quiet…he grumbled. However, thoughts of Odin began to wane from the braided pilots mind as the birth of his own baby grew nearer. Although he wasn't really sure how it would work, since it was in a tube, but he was nervous just the same.At month three, Sally had placed black sheaths around the tubes so the pilots couldn't find out the sex. She wanted it to be a surprise just like Heero and Relena.
He and Trowa hadn't spoken about what would happen once the baby was born. Though many conversations had been started, none held any form of conclusion. Quatre and Wufei, on the other hand, had already picked out names for their baby.
"Katrina Mei Chang for a girl and Fei Raber Chang for a boy." Quatre proclaimed proudly.
"Chang, huh? I know who wears the pants in your relationship." Duo teased.
Quatre blushed furiously and Wufei glared at him. He wrapped his arms around the smaller man. "Why don't we hyphenate? Winner-Chang?"
Quatre smiled and shook his head. "Chang-Winner. Duo's right. You do wear the pants." He giggled causing Wufei to blush.
Duo wanted to talk things over with Trowa, but he felt awkward around the man. He knew he had to tell him about him and Catherine before it was too late, but how could he just come out and tell him something like that? He didn't even know if she still wanted him. It had been 11 months since he had seen her and he wasn't even sure if they're relationship was real or not.
When the morning came for the baby's to be born, all four men were a wreak. Heero and Relena sat back, out of the way, with Odin while the men and Sally scrambled around, preparing for the arrival of the babies.
"How can we raise three baby's in this tiny house?" Quatre asked, slightly panicked.
"We can't chance moving you. Not yet. It's not safe." Sally argued.
"But this is unacceptable!" Wufei complained, earning him a glare from Sally.
"You'll have to put up with it, Chang." She growled back and stalked into the bedroom with the incubators.
The extraction didn't take near as long as Relena's labor, and soon Sally was emerging with two baby's in her arms. Quatre was standing near the couch, but when he saw the baby's he collapsed onto the cushions. Wufei walked behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder for support. Duo had a similar reaction, but he was already sitting and Trowa stood near but seemed almost afraid to approach Duo. Sally smiled and walked over to Quatre and Wufei.
"Congratulations. It's a girl!" She smiled and handed the small baby over to them. "Seven pounds, four ounces and nineteen inches long."
Quatre looked down at the baby in his arms and a tear fell down his cheek. Wufei held him close as they gazed at the small blond child with a warm smile on his face.
"Hello there…Katrina Mei…" Quatre said softly.
Sally smiled and walked over to Duo and Trowa. "And Congratulations to you." She held the baby out and Duo jumped up to take it. "We've got another girl." She winked. "Also seven pounds, but only two ounces and 16 inches long."
Duo felt himself tear up and he quickly looked down at the baby, removing the fabric covering her face. She was so small and pink that Duo was afraid he could crush her. He almost laughed for joy as he bounced her gently in his arms.
"Wow…a daughter…" He muttered. He turned to look at Trowa, who seemed afraid to approach. He chuckled and walked over to him. "She won't bite." Then he laughed. "Not yet anyway." He winked.
Trowa smirked and looked down at her. "She's…beautiful…" He said. She was mostly bald with a few wisps of soft brown hair on the top of her head with a small heart-shaped face.
Duo looked up to meet Trowa's eyes and he sighed. Well, Maxwell…it's now or never…He thought. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a large explosion outside.
Everyone turned towards the sound as manic laughter could be heard. Suddenly the blast door blew down and a shadowy figure stood in the cloud of dust.
"Huzzah! The baby's are born!" The figure said in a dark and sinister voice. "My turn…"
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YAY! Chapter 13 is done! Excited yet? Yes, I know. Cliffhanger! It's okay, things will be resolved in the next chapter. Yes, that's right, the next chapter is the final chapter, which means it'll be very long…hope no one minds.
I'm glad everyone is enjoying the story. Thanks to LastxExile and Rachael07 for your reviews. I appreciate it a lot! Well, that's it for me. Happy Reading!
