Disclaimer: I do not own GW (do I really have to say that?)

Thanks to my reviewers!

Chapter 20

Heero had been back for two days. No one except the occupants of the Winner mansion knew. Content to keep it that way for now, Duo had strongly protested telling Relena. However, Heero insisted. He needed to tell her things, share some information. Duo refused to let Heero out of the house and despite the fact that Duo was 8 months pregnant and his mobility was severely limited, he insisted on delivering the message himself. A visit by Quatre or Trowa would draw notice. Not many people knew who Duo was, but he still had his pass that Heero had given him so that he could visit if necessary. He could use it now.

It was simple to get through the doors with nothing more than a brief check of his bag. Duo hadn't expected to be detained in the interrogation room, however. The door wasn't locked, he could leave whenever he wanted, but he would only be able to go outside.

He wasn't kept waiting long, and at least they didn't send a stranger. When Wufei walked in, Duo noticed how tired he seemed. He had deep circles under his eyes, but his movements weren't slowed at all. It made sense, without Heero, Relena had been down one bodyguard/ head of security.

Duo sighed in relief. He could deal with Wufei, "Wufei, I need to speak with Relena. It's urgent."

"You'll have to tell me instead." No emotion. Duo recognized that face – Heero wore it all the time.

Heero hadn't said to not tell Wufei specifically, he had just said tell no one but Relena. "I'm sorry, I have to tell Relena."

"I can't allow that."

"Come on Wufei, you know me! Why not?"

Wufei took in a deep breath and sat down. "I can't trust your actions around her."

Duo felt frustration building up inside of him. He was strangely elated that he could be angry again, but at the same time, this was just keeping him from going home. "What?"

Wufei stood again and began pacing. "I know what it's like to lose a spouse. When my wife was killed, all I wanted to do was to kill the people responsible. Common sense had no place in my vengeance." Duo was stunned. In a few short sentences, Wufei had revealed more than Duo had ever suspected lurked beneath the Asian man's stoic exterior. "Normally, I would not consider you a threat to Relena, but I am no longer sure."

Duo pushed aside his annoyance at being dismissed as 'not a threat' and looked at Wufei. Heero may have been specific about telling no one else, but he had trusted Duo to do this task, which meant he would have to trust Duo's judgment.

"Heero isn't dead, Wufei." Duo expected Wufei to gasp, act surprised, something. His expression didn't change. Wufei rolled his eyes so quickly Duo almost didn't catch it. Almost.

"Does Quatre know you are here." Wufei headed for the phone, picked it up and began dialing.

Duo rose, "Yes, he knows I'm here. He also knows that Heero is alive. There is news that I have to report to Relena personally." Wufei was ignoring him and instead was listening on the other line.

"Winner? Yes, Duo is here and he is–" There was a long pause. "You are absolutely certain?" He nodded and without saying another word hung up the phone. Wufei leveled Duo with a stare, probably meant to intimidate Duo.

"I will let you see Relena, on the condition you wear handcuffs in."

Duo tried not to, but he couldn't help it, he laughed. "Seriously, Wufei? Have you looked at me lately? First off, I'm not sure you could cuff me around the front and you sure as hell aren't doing it around the back. Search me for weapons if you have to but nothing else. I won't hurt her." Duo saw Wufei's struggle between hearing what Duo had to say and his need for control over Relena's safety. Finally, his shoulders sagged and he opened the door, indicating Duo should follow him.

Wufei entered Relena's office before Duo. He whispered something to her and she quickly dismissed the people in the room. Then Wufei ushered Duo in.

"Duo!" Relena called, coming forward, arms outstretched. "Should you be here? Is everything okay?" She wrapped her arms around Duo briefly and then pulled back, examining Duo's face. She smiled tightly, "I actually expected to hear from you sooner. . ."

Duo raised an eyebrow. Relena stepped back and offered Duo a seat. Duo took it gratefully and tried to sit straight as possible. She looked extremely nervous and Duo gave her a brief, encouraging smile.

"So," Relena began brightly, "How are the babies?"

"Uh, they are fine. Big." Duo wasn't sure how to introduce the topic. Would Relena be upset that Heero hadn't come on his own to see her?

"Listen, Relena –"

"I'm sorry!" Relena interrupted.

Momentarily startled, Duo looked at her. He saw tears in her eyes. He tried to understand, what had she done? "Wait - what?"

"I'm sorry about Heero. It was my fault he was killed and I. . ." She trailed off. She was taking deep breaths and dabbing at her eyes.

"No! No, don't be sorry Relena. It wasn't your fault. There is nothing to apologize over." Duo smiled, a bright energetic smile. "Heero's not dead."

Relena focused on him more intently, "What did you say?" Duo nodded. "Are you, that is, how do you know?" She gave Wufei a worried look. He nodded and pointed towards Duo, redirecting her attention.

"Listen, Heero isn't dead. He survived, somehow and he came back to me." Relena's face was expressionless, Duo paused in case she wanted to ask something, but she just stared at him. "One of the people involved in the attacks was dissatisfied with how things were going and took revenge by saving Heero." Relena did not look as if she believed Duo, so Duo went through the story, filling in as many details as he could up to the morning Heero returned. Duo didn't mention Heero's night time visits.

"Anyway, he isn't willing to return from the dead just yet. He feels that doing so would compromise his safety and that of his rescuer's. So he sent me to pass on some information." Duo reached around for the bag he had brought with him. As he reached into, Wufei stepped in front of Relena, shielding her.

"Relax! They checked this bag at the door." Duo grinned. "It's some information Heero has been tracking." Duo pulled it out, "He has locations for where some of the people are working from. However, after Heero was caught and. . ." Duo paused, "Anyway, they moved, split up. They felt it was too dangerous to be all together."

Duo opened up a map that Heero had marked notes on, "He's found some commonalities in the locations that he has identified." Duo added a list on top of the map, "The main thing is there is always a large, abandoned warehouse about ten miles away from their meeting place."

Wufei had moved in closer and began going over the sheets Duo was pulling out. "This is good! We can use this."

Duo smiled smugly and leaned back. Relena perused the document and then stood up again. She walked over to Duo, hugged him from behind and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

Duo stood, "Now, I have a husband to return to, do not try to contact Heero. If something comes up, it needs to go through Quatre Winner or Trowa. . . It is best if you pretend he is still dead. Which will be difficult for you, but he isn't recovered yet. Please don't put any more pressure on him." Relena nodded, but Duo could see that Wufei wanted to argue. Rather than allowing himself to pulled into such a conversation, Duo opened the door and left, smiling in satisfaction.

XxXxX

In the car, on the way home, Duo smiled happily. Heero would recuperate better now, knowing Relena had the information he had gathered. As long as Duo could keep Heero convinced that it was the best choice for him. Hopefully, there would be no need to leave the house any time soon.

Duo squirmed in his seat. His stomach was pinching. When he had been walking around, it wasn't as noticeable, but in the car, with nothing to do but anticipate seeing Heero again, it was feeling uncomfortable. Duo began massaging the large expanse of his stomach, hoping the twins would resettle and he could feel comfortable.

Unfortunately the ride was a long one; fortunately, Quatre had lent him a large sedan to travel in. Duo generally went for something more compact, but he couldn't really fit in them any longer. Shoving a jacket behind the small of his back, Duo slid to the side and carefully lifted his legs onto the seat. He leaned back and closed his eyes. A nap now would mean he could stay awake longer later, and suddenly he wanted all his time to be filled with his family and friends. He hadn't realized how distant he had let them become.

A tight cramp woke Duo from his nap, he moved his legs off the seat and leaned forward, rubbing his stomach again. He was concerned. It was still far too early for him to have the babies. Duo tried to relax, and looked out the window. His nap was perfectly timed. They were pulling up to the Winner mansion now.

Duo wrestled with his seatbelt to remove it and as he did he felt another tight pain. Panic bloomed in his chest. It was too early. 7 weeks too early. He reached for the door handle, but the door opened for him. There was Quatre, with a hand out to help him down, for Quatre knew Duo hated to be helped by someone who was paid to do it.

Before Duo could descend from the car, Quatre saw the look on Duo's face. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. . ." Duo winced again.

"Duo, are you. . . ?"

Worried, Duo nodded. He pulled himself out of the car. "Maybe, but it is too early. I need to see Heero." The pain wasn't overwhelming, like he remembered it to be, but then again, it had taken a long time for the pains to get that strong before. With Quatre's help he made it inside. Quatre's house was annoyingly large, so instead of looking for Heero, Duo just called his name.

When he heard approaching footsteps, he headed for the nearest seat and sat down, a look of intense concentration on his face. He was waiting to see if he felt anything else.

"Duo, is something wrong?" Heero put his hand on Duo's shoulder.

Duo shrugged, "Maybe, I don't know. I think we need to call the doctor." Duo frowned. He didn't want to overreact, but if he waited to long or something was wrong, that would be bad too.

"Talk to me, Duo. Tell me what is happening." Heero sat next to Duo and rubbed a hand on Duo's stomach.

"Earlier, my stomach felt kind of, I don't know, tight. And now, I've felt some stronger. . . cramps, I guess." Duo sighed deeply. "But it's too early for the twins..." Duo frowned, his hand catching Heero's and holding it. Heero nodded and pulled out his phone. He called the doctor and Duo listened to him explain to Dr. Croats, but he didn't chime in.

Another unexpected pinching pain made Duo frown. And Duo heard Heero tell the doctor they were coming in right now. Feeling worried and helpless, Duo let himself be swept back into the car as they headed out to meet the doctor.

Tsutsuku

~Annie