Category: Angst, AU Pairings: 1x2, 3x4 Rating: R (?) Disclaimer: Standard. You know them all by now so I won't bore you with a repeat. Archive: anyone who wants it Notes: This takes place in a world of my own making, where things can and are twisted into strange things. So what doesn�t seem possible is. There are M/M relationships in this fic (I'm very much a 1x2/3x4 fan.) so if boys being together (and I do mean together) bothers you don't read. Twisted Fates Prologue By SilverLady The wind howled through the rocks as the rain beat down on the hunched figure walking slowly up the trail. Now and then the figure would stumble on a slippery rock, but would manage to remain upright and moving. Duo shuddered as the wind blew another spat of rain through his clothes. Damn, I should have stayed in Deran. Stupid, stupid, stupid.  Ignoring the pain that lanced through him, he pulled his travel worn cloak tighter around him and kept moving. He knew that if he didn�t find some kind of shelter soon, this storm would be the death of him. He hadn�t quite understood the feeling inside him that had urged him to move on, instead of staying in Deran as he had originally intended. He�d figured that the large town would be a good place to hole up for a month or so, until he was ready to travel again. But he�d felt restless and uneasy from the moment he�d entered the town. Something in the valley beyond seemed to be calling and finally he�d given into its call. Now he was regretting that decision. The storm had come up suddenly and seemed to be going worse with each step he took. And if the storm wasn�t bad enough, the pains had started again, this time in earnest. He knew that the time was now, that this wasn�t just practice this time. Please, let me find something. Anything. I don�t want to die out here alone. After stumbling for what seemed like the hundredth time, Duo was ready to simply lie down on the ground and sleep. He was so tired and it hurt so bad. He really didn�t think he had the energy to keep going. It was taking all of his concentration to simply stay upright. Just as he was ready to give up, he spotted a cluster of rocks off to his right. Moving carefully across the rough terrain, he made his way to them. They would hopefully provide some protection from the storm. To his great relief, the rocks had fallen in such a manner that they formed a small cave at their base. He eased himself into the small shelter. Leaning back against the rocks, he relaxed slightly. He knew he wasn�t out of danger yet. There was still too much of a chance of him dying on this lonely mountain. As yet another pain tightened the muscles of his body, he closed his eyes. �I�m sorry,� he whispered. Unbidden, a face rose in his mind. A man with eyes of dark blue and wild brown hair. Heero. He could never really hate the proud man for what he�d done. He just wished that things could have been different.   I wish you were here now. I need you so much. Duo smiled a little as he remembered the first time he�d met Heero Yuy.    Twisted Fates Part One The sun was shining down through the trees, sparkling off the water of the slow moving stream in dancing spots of light. The wind stirred the treetops now and then and the soft sound of birds singing filled the air. Duo Maxwell sighed as he laid in the grass, looking up through the branches of the huge, old tree he was lying under. He liked coming here, to get away from the hell that was his life and just enjoy the peace and quiet for a while. Times like this didn�t happen very often in his daily life, so he savored them when they did. Duo was so absorbed in enjoying the soft sounds of nature that he didn�t hear the approaching figure. �What the hell are you doing here?!� An angry voice broke into Duo�s thoughts, jerking him back to reality. Lazily, he turned his head slightly to look at the figure looming over him. He would guess the young man to be a few years older than his own fifteen, with dark brown hair that seemed to defy taming and flashing dark blue eyes. The best way Duo could think of to describe the young man�s body was� solid. He had broad shoulders that tapered down in a slender waist. He was muscular, but not overly so. Very nice. Duo had long ago accepted that he found boys much more interesting to look at than girls. It was just the way he was and he saw no reason to change it. �I asked you a question,� the dark-haired boy snapped. �Are you stupid or something?� Duo continued to watch. �I would think what I was doing would be perfectly obvious.� �This is my spot.� Duo tilted his head backward, looking at the trunk of the tree behind him. �I don�t see any name here. Seems you�re mistaken. This is a public park,� The only one in this city. �I can be here if I want.� The man crossed his arms across his chest. �This is my spot,� he repeated stubbornly. Heero Yuy could not believe that someone was actually sitting in his private place. It was the one place in the entire city he could come to and be alone when his stepfather was being an ass. Which he was today. Duo crossed his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. �There�s plenty of room.� �Do you know who I am?� �No. And I don�t care. This is the first time in weeks I�ve managed to get out here. I�ll leave when I�m ready and not before.� �I am Heero Yuy.� Duo could hear the haughty tone in which the name was given. �And I�m Duo Maxwell.� Heero was getting angrier by the minute. �I would think even you would know who I am.� Actually Duo knew exactly whom Heero Yuy was, but he wasn�t going to let that make any difference.  I got here first. I�ll be damned if I�m going to let any high and mighty rich boy make me leave. Just cause he was lucky enough to be born to money don�t mean he can boss me around. �And that�s supposed to impress me because?� Heero sputtered angrily. He�d never met anyone who didn�t immediately start fawning over him, because of who he was and who his family was. Duo smiled to himself. It was nice to get one over on the rich sometimes. He rarely had that opportunity. He was usually on his knees in front of them. Heero continued to glare at the young man for several minutes, but it made no impact on him. Finally, with an angry exhalation, Heero flopped to the ground next to Duo. �You�re an ass,� he informed Duo. �Thank you,� Duo replied. He had a feeling it was about time someone didn�t bow down to the young Lord. Silence reined for several minutes. Duo noticed that, slowly, the anger and tension that radiated from the man next to him dissipated. Finally Heero sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees. He turned his head slightly to study the body next to him. The long braid of hair would cause most people to automatically assume that the figure was female, but the tight, form fitting black pants belied that. There was no doubt, to anyone who bothered to look, that this person was very male. The dark shirt that he wore was somewhat loose, only hinting at the form it covered. Heero frowned slightly. There was something odd about the way the boy dressed, but it wasn�t something that he could immediately put his finger on. Maybe it was the contrast between the loose shirt and very tight pants. Or maybe it was the unusually dark color of the clothing. He wasn�t sure. �You aren�t impressed at all, are you?� �Do you want me to be?� Heero was surprised at the question. He hadn�t really thought about it like that before. He was used to people practically falling over themselves to make an impression with him. So he said nothing, not completely sure what the answer was. Duo finally looked over at him. �Sometimes talking to a disinterested party helps put things in perspective.� �Are you disinterested?� �Why should I care about the trials and tribulations of the rich and bored? I have plenty of things to deal with of my own.� �Why do you think I�m bored?� �When you got up this morning, I bet you did the same thing you do every morning. Shoved the latest wench out of your bed, got your manservant to bring you breakfast, went for an early ride and got into an argument about some silly little thing with your stepfather.� Heero winced. The boy had hit painfully close to the mark. �I didn�t shove any woman out of my bed,� he protested. �Probably because she had the sense to already be gone.� �You have a very bad attitude towards the nobility, don�t you?� �Probably. It�s not that you have something I don�t. It�s the fact that you lord it over us. It�s the fact that you sit around, bitching and complaining about how horrible your lives are, when you have no idea what hard is. You don�t have to worry about where your next meal is coming from or how you�re going to pay for it. You don�t have to worry about whether or not you�re even going to have a place to sleep that night. Believe me, your worst problem is nothing compared to what the rest of us poor peons have to deal with every day. Hell, the only hard thing you have to really worry about is your prick.� Heero blinked, hearing the underlying despair in the other boy�s voice. Maybe his argument with his stepfather this morning over the purchase of a new horse had been a bit petty. But still, his life was far from easy. Before he could form any kind of retort though, Duo suddenly sat up. �Damn! It�s getting late.� Scrambling to his feet, Duo began to brush the leaves and grass from his clothing. �Where are you going?� Heero demanded. A strange looked passed across Duo�s face. It was gone in an instant, though, replaced by an odd smile.  �To work. We poor people do that, you know.� Heero glared. �I know that.� �Good. I�ve got to be going. Enjoy your pout.� With that, Duo turned and darted away. �I�m not pouting!� Heero shouted after him. A soft laugh echoed back at him. Heero crossed his arms across his chest. �I�m not. Men do not pout. They sulk.� Twisted Fates Part Two Duo sighed as he leaned his head back against the rock. If someone had told him then that first angry encounter would lead not only to a friendship but something much more, he would have laughed himself sick. He certainly had never thought he�d go and fall in love with the angry young man. �Are you here again?� the angry voice intruded on Duo�s thought, again. �I was hoping you�d quit coming here.� Duo barely stirred. �What ever gave you that idea?� �You haven�t been here in the past two weeks.� There was a soft thud as Heero flopped down next to Duo�s prone body. �Yeah, well, unlike you I have to try and make a living. I�ve been too busy to get out here.� There are a lot of single men traveling this time of year. �You don�t like me, do you?� �It�s not you, really. It�s what you are that I don�t like.� �Why not?� �Because your kind are what killed my parents.� Heero blinked in surprise. �I highly doubt that.� �Oh, not directly. But the actions they took caused my parents� deaths nonetheless. Or rather the lack of actions.� �Elaborate.� �They died in one of the epidemics that sweep through the city from time to time. If the people higher up had seen to the distribution of the medicine, they wouldn�t have died.� �Maybe there wasn�t one.� �There was. I remember my father trying to buy some when my mother got sick. He didn�t have enough money.� Heero was quiet for a moment. �But one time�.� �It�s all the time,� Duo snapped, sitting up to glare at Heero. �It�s a great way to thin out the unwanted portion of the population. Over three thousand people died in the last one. All because they didn�t have the money to buy the medicine. If the Council had seen to the distribution of the medicine, a lot fewer people would have died.� �The Council does what it can.� �Bullshit. If one noble came to them needing help, they�d fall all over themselves seeing to the problem. But if you don�t have money you don�t count.� Heero stared off across the stream. �What do you do for a living?� Duo winced at the question. It wasn�t something he liked about himself. �Anything I can to make money. At least enough to live on.� �Where do you live?� �Anywhere I can find a place to sleep.� Heero looked at Duo in shock. �You live on the streets.� �Not literally.� �Don�t you have a home?� �I lost that when I lost my parents.� �There are places�.� �The street are better than any one those places. Glorified slave camps are all they are.� �That�s not true. They provide jobs for those who�..� �You ever been to one of those places? Don�t talk about what you don�t know. They may pretty it up for the delicate sensibilities of the nobles, but it still ain�t no better that a slave camp. Long hours with little pay. And most of the time you end up owing so much to the company that you never get out.� �What do you want me to do about it?� Duo laughed. �You? I doubt if there is anything you could or would do.� Just then there was the rustle of leaves as someone approached the spot. Duo was instantly on his feet, ready to flee. A man dressed in the uniform of the Red Guard stepped out from behind the tree. �Lord Heero, I found you.� Heero�s face went blank and hard. �Obviously.� �You are needed back at the Palace. Your stepfather has called a meeting of the Council.� Heero closed his eyes for a minute. �And where is my stepbrother?� �He had another fight with his Lordship. Nobody knows where he went.� Duo said nothing as he slipped away. Guess things aren�t too rosy in the house of the Lord. Twisted Fates Part Three A cold wind was blowing through the trees as Duo walked up to the stream. Most of the leaves had fallen from the trees and now lay broken and forgotten on the ground. It was how Duo felt at times. Especially today. He sighed as he sank to the ground, pulling his knees up to his chest and hugging them tightly. Why does it still hurt so much? Burying his face in the hollow of his legs, he struggled to hold the tears back. It was growing dark when Heero approached his place. He needed a few minutes in the quiet solitude to gather his thoughts. He froze when he realized there was already some one sitting under the tree. Who? He relaxed when he recognized the long braid of hair trailing down the figure�s back. Why can�t he find someplace else to go? Heero huffed angrily as he walked over to where Duo was sitting. He did notice that Duo seemed to be curled up on himself, not in his usual sprawled position. �Why are you here today?� Heero demanded as he sat down. Duo didn�t even look at him. If fact, he didn�t even acknowledge his presence. Heero frowned. Something was definitely wrong here. After several minutes of silence from the braided boy Heero was growing a little worried. He hadn�t admitted it, even to himself, but he found the boy�s ceaseless chatter comforting. Here was someone who was willing to talk to him as an equal, not as someone who could get something for him. Silence from the boy was�. Wrong. �What�s the matter?� Heero finally asked, turning to look at Duo. �Nothing,� came the muffled reply. Heero could hear the tears in Duo�s voice, tears he was obviously fighting. �I believe you told me once it helps sometimes to talk to a disinterested party.� Duo looked up at him, his eyes sad and red-rimmed. �It�s nothing,� he choked out. Heero reached over and brushed a finger across Duo�s cheek. �You�ve been crying.� Duo jerked his head away. �No,� he denied vehemently, scrubbing at his eyes with his fist. �Boys don�t cry.� �Then you�ve got something in your eyes, because they�re watering badly.� Duo blinked at Heero in surprise. �You really want to know.� �I wouldn�t have asked if I didn�t.� Duo stared off into the growing darkness. �Today is the day my mother died,� he whispered softly. Heero looked at him for a minute. �I�m sorry,� he finally said. �Did you go and visit her grave?� He knew that it was a tradition in this city to make a pilgrimage to the gravesite of loved ones on the date of their deaths, to pay respect and to remember. �She doesn�t have one. Neither does my father. We didn�t have the money to pay for a grave. They were taken away and burned.� Duo buried his head back in his arms. �Like unwanted trash.� Heero was quiet for several minutes. It seemed wrong that Duo had no way to honor his parents� memories. Suddenly he rose to his feet and ran off. Duo sighed as he listened to Heero�s retreating footsteps. He wasn�t really surprised that he left so abruptly. It wasn�t as if he cared about him or his problems. It took Heero nearly half an hour to find the things he needed and return to the park. He was relieved to see Duo still sitting where he�d left him. With a slight huff he sat down next to Duo. �Here,� he said, shoving a package roughly at Duo. Duo looked down at it. �What?� �Open it.� Slowly Duo opened the package. Inside was what appeared to be a small boat with two candles placed in it. �What?� he asked again. �In my country there is a day each year when we remember those who have passed on. We light candles and float them down the river, to honor and to remember. Since you have no place to visit your parents, I figured this would be a good way for you to do the same.� Duo looked down at the small boat in his hands, then at Heero. Slowly a smile crossed his face. �Thank you.� Heero nodded briskly. �Everyone needs a way to honor their family.� With that he produced a small box of matches and handed them to Duo. �It�s only right that you light the candles.� Duo took the matches with a hand that trembled slightly. After carefully striking one he light the first candle. �James Andrew Maxwell,� he whispered, remembering the large boisterous man that had been his father. He�d always felt safe with him, feeling that his father�s large hands and larger heart could keep everything bad away. He remembered the smell of smoke that surrounded his father when he came home from working the forge and the way he would laugh as he threw his son up into the air as a greeting. He also remember the gentle way he would stroke his mother�s hair with a soft look in his eyes. And he remembered the shattered man who had watched as his beloved wife slipped away from him. �I love you, Dad and I miss you. Be happy with Mom.� Then he lit the second candle. �Angelina Catherine Maxwell,� he said, an image of a golden haired delicate woman rising in his mind. His mother had always seemed so fragile to him, with her slender hands and gentle voice. He remember her telling him stories as she brushed his hair or firmly admonishing him for his misdemeanors. He could still hear her as she taught him about letters and numbers, determined that her son would get the education she felt he deserved. And he remembered her softly whispered goodbye, the final words he�d ever heard her say. Slowly he bowed his head and let the tears fall. It had been so long and yet he still ached for missing them. Carefully he set the boat into the water and watched as it floated down the small creek. �Until we meet again someday.� He didn�t even move when he felt the firm hand that came to rest on his shoulder. He stood for what seemed like forever, watching as the little boat with it�s softly glowing candles disappeared into the night. Finally he looked at Heero. �Thank you,� he said softly. Heero nodded. �It was my honor.� Duo cocked his head to one side and smiled slightly. �Don�t worry. I won�t tell.� Heero shook his head but said nothing. Twisted Fates Part Four �Come on, your lordship.� Phandal Hermor, one of the guardsmen Heero commanded, stood in the doorway to a tavern. �Just one more.� Heero shook his head, but followed the man into the tavern. His guardsmen had decided they were going to celebrate Heero�s twenty first birthday by dragging him to every drinking establishment in the city. With a sigh he sat down at the table. He�d lost count of how many of these dark stale places he been in. Though he actually enjoyed spending time with his men, something he would never admit, he wished they�d picked better places. Resigned to his fate, he looked around the room, wondering what anyone did in these places but get drunk. �Hey, boy,� a loud drunken voice bellowed from a table nearby. �Com� here.� Heero frowned as a figure in a cloak appeared out of the crowded and stopped before the man. �I�ll geve ya three coin,� the man announced, slapping said coin on the table. �But it had betta be good.� Suddenly the figure flipped back the hood of its cloak. Heero gasped slightly as he recognized the long braid of hair. What is Duo doing here? And what is that man paying him to do? Slowly Duo sank to his knees in front of the man. Heero watched in shock as Duo undid the front of the man�s pants and drew his cock out. Running his hand up and down it in a slow steady motion, Duo coaxed it to full hardness. When the man was moaning and thrusting his hips forward, Duo slowly slid forward until he was touching the thick organ with his mouth. Then, to Heero�s stunned disbelief, Duo proceeded to give the man a blow job, in front of anyone who chose to watch. Duo was definitely very talented with his mouth. After only a couple of minutes the man came, groaning his enjoyment as he shot his seed deep down Duo�s throat. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Duo stood back up and took the coin from the table. With out a word he turned and melted back into the crowd. He�d never seen Heero watching him. Heero sat in silence for long minutes, still not believing what he�d seen. This was what Duo did for a living? Sucked men�s cocks for money. He�s nothing but a damn whore. Heero slowly grew angrier the more he thought about what he�d seen. Finally he rose to his feet. �I�m going. I have something to take care of.� Marcus Jerdan looked at him. �Just thought of it?� �Yeah. I�ll see you back at the castle. Thanks for the interesting evening.� �Anytime.� Heero headed straight for the park and the tree. With every step he took he grew angrier at the long-haired boy. He didn�t even wonder about the anger or why the scene he had witnessed made him so angry. He just knew he was so damn mad at Duo at that moment. Mad enough to wait as long as necessary for him to show up. For good or bad, though, Duo was already there when he arrived. Duo turned around in surprise as Heero approached. �Hey, birthday boy. I figured you�d be at some fancy ball or�.� Heero reached out and angrily grabbed Duo�s shoulders. �What the hell were you thinking?! What the hell were you doing?!� he yelled, shaking Duo with every word. Duo looked at Heero in shook. �What�s got your knickers in a twist?� he mangaged to get out. Heero growled again and shoved Duo to the ground. �I saw what you were doing tonight!� he shouted. �You�re nothing but a damn whore!� Duo�s eyes grew flat and cold as he jumped to his feet. �Don�t you go judging me, mister high and mighty. I do what I have to.� �You sucked that man off, in front of the entire tavern.� �So? He paid me.� �Don�t you have any pride at all?� �Pride don�t fill you damn belly! I told you I do what I have to to survive!� �But giving men blow jobs? That�s sick and stupid! You don�t know what kind of dieses they might have!� �It�s still safer then stealing. Hell has nothing on the jails in this town! And I don�t let them fuck me!� �And that�s supposed to make it all right?!� Duo spun around. �I don�t know what your problem is. I am what I am and I make my the best that I can. I don�t have a rich family and a fancy place to live. This is all I have. This is my life and if you don�t like it you don�t have to have anything to do with it. Go back to your high tower and leave me alone.� Heero moved forward and grabbed Duo. Spinning him around he glared at him. �Why didn�t you tell me before? Why keep it a big secret?� �Because.� Duo glared back at Heero. �And what difference does it make to you any way? I�m just some guy you talk to now and then.� Heero looked at Duo for a minute, a strange look crossing his face. Why was he so mad about what he�d seen Duo doing? Was it really so bad? Suddenly Heero grabbed Duo�s face with his hands, hauling him forward and pressing his lips to Duo�s. Duo stood in shook for a moment. He�s kissing me. With a sigh, Duo sagged against Heero and returned the kiss. Soon their tongues were sparring with each other as they struggled to dominate the kiss.  Finally, with another soft sigh, Duo surrendered to Heero, letting his tongue slid into his mouth and probe the wet cavern. With a growl, Heero tightened his grip. Pressing his suddenly aching groin against Duo, he was pleased to find Duo just as hard. Moaning softly, Heero slid his hands down Duo�s back to his hips, grinding their groins together. Slowly the two sank to their knees, mouths still locked together. With a deft move, Heero had Duo flat on his back and was covering him with his own body. Duo moaned at the feel of Heero�s body pressed against him. Groaning he arched his back, pressing himself even closer. Finally Heero pulled away, gasping for breath as he looked down at the boy beneath him. With a shaking hand he reached up to push Duo�s bangs out of his face. �Duo?� Duo groaned as he rocked his hips against Heero�s. �Don�t stop now.� �If I don�t stop now, I won�t stop at all,� Heero ground out, trying to ignore the tight feeling in his groin. Duo panted softly and grabbed at Heero�s buttocks, pulling him down into the cradle of his hips. �Please, take me,� he groaned. Heero struggled to keep him mind from fogging over with passion. Duo felt so good beneath him. Was this why he had gotten so angry? Because he wanted the long haired beauty for himself and the thought of Duo with other men had made him jealous? �Duo? Do you know what you�re saying? We have to stop this now.� �Don�t you want me?� Duo whimpered softly. Heero groaned again. �God, yes. I do. But�� �Then please, do it. It�s what I want. It�s what I�ve always wanted from you. That�s why�� �That�s why what?� �That�s why I didn�t tell you.� With a soft sigh, Heero lowered his lips to Duo�s. �Last chance,� he whispered. Duo looked up at him, a strange look deep in his eyes. �First chance,� he replied, pressing himself into Heero�s embrace. Twisted Fates Part Five Duo smiled as he slipped out of the small apartment. He hoped he could get the things he needed and get back before Heero came. Today was the sixth month anniversary of their first night together and Duo wanted to make it special. He�d planned on going to the market and getting the things he needed to make dinner for Heero. Heero had bought the small place a month after they had become lovers. He�d tried on several occasions to persuade Duo to stay at the place, but Duo had resisited. There was something about living in a place bought by his lover that bothered Duo. So they just used it as a private place to meet. �Hey, Duo,� Jordan said as Duo came up to his shop. �Can I get you anything today?� Duo looked over Jordan choice of fruits and vegetables. �I�ll take three of those potatoes, a half a pound of the beans and four of your best apples.� Jordan smiled as he bagged up Duo�s order. �Special dinner?� �Yeah.� Duo smiled as he accepted his things. �Good luck.� �Thanks.� Duo stepped into the butcher�s, the last stop on his list. He was hoping he had enough money left to get a nice piece of meat for the dinner. Glancing around the shop, he made note of the large number of people already waiting. With a sigh he made his way over to get a number. Leaning against the wall, he listened to the conversations going on around him. �Did you hear the news?� �What news?� �I heard Lord Heero is to be married. The bride-to-be was supposed to be arriving today and there�s going to be a big ball to welcome here tonight.� Duo almost dropped his purchases. No. That�s not true. Heero�s coming to be with me tonight. He�s not getting married. He would have told me. �I heard Lord Heero is getting married.� �His stepfather arranged the whole thing. The castle is just a buzz with the news. They�ve been planning for the bride�s arrival for the past few weeks.� �Is it true that Lord Heero�s bride is arriving today?� Duo suddenly turned and fled from the shop, trying to block out the sounds of the voices and the horrible news they told. Not noticing the shouts of anger as he bumped into people, Duo ran back to the apartment. It was growing late before the door opened and Heero stepped into the room. Duo sat curled up near the fireplace, the rest of the room dark. He�d been sitting there since his return from the market, waiting for Heero to come. �Duo?� �It�s late.� �I know. I�m sorry. I couldn�t get away any sooner.� �Is it true?� �Is what true?� Heero went to wrap his arms around Duo, but Duo flinched away. Duo looked at Heero with confused eyes. �That you�re getting married.� Heero frowned. �Where did you hear that?� �It was all the talk at the butcher�s. Is it true?� Heero shrugged his shoulder. �Yes.� He made another attempt to gather Duo in his arms, but again Duo evaded him. Springing to his feet, Duo walked over to the window. Wrapping his arms around himself, he looked out into the night. �How long have you known about this?� Heero looked at Duo in confusion. He didn�t understand what was bothering him. �About a month.� Duo flinched at his words. �And when were you going to tell me?� Heero moved towards Duo. �It wasn�t important.� Duo turned to look at Heero. �You�re getting married, but it�s not important.� �It�s not going to change anything between us.� Duo shook his head. �It changes everything. Why are you doing this to us?� �My stepfather wants me to marry her. It�s no big deal.� �This is your stepfathers idea?� Heero stopped in front of Duo. �Yes. It�s just a typical arranged marriage. It doesn�t change how I feel about you.� Duo closed his eyes. Heero just wasn�t getting it. �I can�t�� Heero place a hand on Duo�s cheek. �I found this little house out in the country. I want you to move out there. You�ll like it and�� Duo looked up at Heero. �You don�t understand. I can�t do this. I can�t stand here and smile as you marry someone else. It�s not right. I won�t be the other �woman�.� Heero frowned. �I don�t see where there�s a problem. I don�t love her. I�m just going to marry her.� �And sleep with her.� �Of course. There are supposed to be children from this union. That�s one of the main reasons for getting married.� �To ensure the bloodline.� Heero nodded, please that Duo was beginning to understand. �Yes.� �And I�m supposed to sit around and wait for you to decide you need a good fuck.� Heero frowned at Duo�s course language. �Of course not.� He ran his hand along Duo�s side. �I love you. I want to be with you.� �But only when you can get away.� Heero looked at Duo. There was only one way to explain things to Duo. With a sigh he leaned forward and kissed him. Duo sighed and melted against Heero. All it too was one kiss and Duo would do just about anything for Heero. Duo looked down at Heero�s sleeping form. Fighting back the tears he carefully place the note he�d written where he knew Heero would find it. �Goodbye,� he whispered softly. �I love you. Enough to let you go. It wouldn�t be fair to any of us if I stay. No matter what the reason for your wedding, you owe you fidelity to your wife.� With a sad sigh, Duo turned and slipped away. Twisted Fates Part Six Duo bit back the moan of pain as he leaned back against the rocks. He had heard Heero had been furious and had practically torn the city apart looking for him. But when Duo didn�t want to be found, even Heero couldn�t find him. He�d left the day of Heero�s wedding, unable to bear the thought of his love marrying someone else. He had decided to find somewhere far away from Shadar to live, someplace where he could start over. He had retrieved the small box of jewels that had been his mother�s from their hiding place and had brought them with him. Hopefully it would be enough to give him a new start. Now it looked as if it wouldn�t make any difference. He was going to die out here in this storm, alone and forgotten. Maybe someday someone would find his body and wonder what had happened. With a sigh Duo closed his eyes and waited for the end. �Hey. Wake up.� Duo groaned at the insistant shaking. If freezing to death wasn�t enough, someone was going to shake him as well. �Come on. You can�t stay here. You�ve got to get up.� Slowly Duo opened his eyes. To his surprise he found himself staring into a pair of green eyes. That was all he could see of the person standing over him. The rest of the figure was bundled up against the cold. �Who,� he croaked, his throat raw. �Can you stand? My wagon just outside. It�s a good thing my dog found you. You would have been dead otherwise.� With the stranger�s help, Duo managed to get to his feet. �Who are you?� he whispered. �My name is Adrianna. I�m the healer for the town of Hamar.� Duo whimpered slightly as the girl helped him to the wagon. �It will be all right. I�ll get you back to my place in a jiff.� Duo sighed as he let Adrianna help into the wagon. Maybe things would turn out all right after all. Adrianna frowned as she helped the man she�d found into the house. He was very lucky that she had found him. She had wondered what had possessed her to take that route home. This was obviously the answer. �Here, sit by the fire. And take that cloak off, it�s soaked.� Turning she bustled over the large cabinet where she stored her herbs and medicines. Gathering what she needed she returned to where she�d left Duo. She frowned when she found him still sitting where she�d left him. �I told you to take off that cloak.� She knelt down beside him, noting the odd way he was sitting. He had his arms wrapped tightly around himself. �What�s wrong?� Duo looked at her with pain filled eyes. �Hurts,� he whispered. With quick efficiency, Adrianna removed the soaked cloak from Duo�s body. The sight that met her eyes made her pause, if only for a moment. The shirt he wore did little to conceal the swollen state of his abdomen. �A Sucar,� she whispered. Duo looked at the healer and nodded. �I�m�� He stopped as yet another pain ripped through him. Adrianna was suddenly briskly efficient. �You�re in labor, aren�t you?� Duo managed a nod. �How long?� �I don�t know.� Adrianna helped him to his feet. �Let�s get you more comfortable and get these clothes off of you. Are you early?� Duo was surprised at how easily the woman had handled the news. �I wasn�t figuring on this happening for another two weeks.� �Not too early then. Good.� She smiled reassuringly. �It will be just fine.� Duo groaned as another contraction tightened the muscles of his swollen abdomen. �I hope so.� Duo sighed and leaned back against the pillows. He was exhausted and his entire body hurt. He said nothing as he watched Adrianna on the other side of the room. �My�� Adrianna smiled as she turned to look at Duo. In her arms was a tiny bundle of wrapped blankets that effectively cover the tiny wailing form within. �Your son is fine.� She moved across the room to place the baby in Duo�s arms. Duo smiled down at his crying son. �You made it after all.� Carefully he brushed a shaking finger across the soft cheek. Adrianna sat down on the edge of the bed. �A good healthy little boy. You should be proud.� Duo looked at her. �I am.� �What are you going to call him?� Duo looked back at his son. �James. James Kentaro Maxwell.� �That�s a good name.� Adrianna frowned. �What about the father?� Duo looked sad. �He doesn�t know. I left before I found out.� �Why?� �He�s married.� Duo saw the shock in Adrianna�s eyes. �He wasn�t married when�. I left him before he got married.� �Oh. I didn�t mean to pry.� �It�s all right.� Duo shifted the tiny baby in his arms. �I think he�s hungry.� Adrianna nodded. �I�ll see what I can find.� Duo watched her leave, then shifted his son in his arms, carefully freeing one tiny arm from its confines. The baby turned his head towards Duo�s chest, instinctively searching for a source of food. Duo chuckled softly. �Sorry you won�t�.� He gasped as the baby found and latched onto his nipple. �What?� The baby began making contented sounds as he continued to suckle. Duo could only stare down at his son in shock. He was� Carefully he pulled the baby away and looked at himself. Ken, for that was how he already thought of his son, began crying and waving his little arm around. To Duo�s amazement, a single bead of white colored liquid oozed from his swollen nipple. With a happy sigh, he let Ken return to his nursing. �I didn�t� know he was that through,� he whispered. Adrianna paused as she walked back into the room. She�s found what she was looking for. But it was apparent that Duo had already made the discovery on his own. That Sucarian males were capable of nursing their own children. She smiled at the picture the two made. She had no doubt that Duo was going to make an excellent parent for the tiny baby he held in his arms.

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