"The Meaning of
Life"
Written By: SkyLark
Pairings: 1x2x1
Warnings: AU, Neko, male pregnancy, sap, angst
Rating: R
Betaed by ShenLong Deb *hugs*
Archives: http://www.gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com/gw/SkyLark/gwSkyLark.htm
and http://www.mizunoamy.bravepages.com/skylark/skylarkfics.html
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing, or its characters.
I just love playing with them.
Third fic in the Neko series
"The Meaning of Life"
As soon as Duo began to slump forward, Heero's arms
were around him before he could hit the ground. Nearly falling over
from the sudden lurch forward, he steadied himself to the sound of
startled gasps and cries from their friends. Frantic, he looked up
to the braided woman running toward them with a desperate, "Sally!"
Treize and Howard hurried to the scene as they helped the artist carefully
lower the unconscious neko onto his back on the floor.
Quickly checking what vitals that she could without
her equipment, Sally felt safe enough to move her patient from the
room. Meeting the concerned eyes of her medical team, she advised,
"I have a hand stretcher in my car. We have to get him out of
here."
"I'll take you there," Wufei offered while removing the
keys from the pockets of his slacks. Not needing to be told twice,
Solo, Treize and Howard followed his heels as they ran from the room.
Silently grateful that James was with her parents, Lady Une bit her
lip and quickly stepped into her husband's place around Duo. Kneeling
beside her friend as Noin and Zechs did the same across from her,
she asked, "Is there anything that I can do?"
Nodding, Sally finally had a clear enough head to know what needed
to be done. She turned to the art professor and requested, "I
could use a few cold presses. Could you please ask the staff if there
are towels that we can use that you can wet?"
Happy to have a way to help, Lady Une nodded firmly back, "I'm
on it." As she hurried to her feet, she found Relena and Dorothy
looking to her with a need in their eyes for something to do. Smiling
reassuringly, she told them, "Come on." The girls sighed
quietly in relief before running out into the hall right behind her.
Rubbing his worried bride's back, Trent suggested, "I'll make
sure that the others have a clear way back inside. No doubt the press
outside is going to be wondering what's going on."
Quickly spinning to face him, Trowa replied, "I'll go, too."
Hastily offering their own assistance, Andrew, and Carson sprang up. Together,
they rushed outside the room while closing the door after them.
Tears filling his eyes, little Danny was looking around from one face
to the other in a panic. Quickly, Jena fell to her knees before
him and hugged him tightly. Purring softly, she suggested, "Duo
is in good hands, sweetie. Why don't we head outside so your brother
can have some space?"
A small mew escaping him, the boy wiped his eyes and sniffled, "O...
kay." Cassie bit her lip against her own tears as Jena rose with
Danny in her arms. Lightly brushing down the child's arm,
she whispered reassuring words on their way into the hall.
That left Heero, Noin, Zechs, Danielle and Sally to hover closely
around the neko.
When Duo's closed eyes winced in pain with a small whimper, the artist
squeezed his hand and brushed back the damp bangs gently. "I'm
here," he whispered brokenly as small tears formed in his eyes.
He nearly came undone when those tall, furry ears twitched in
his direction as a sign that he was heard.
Biting back a sob, Noin clung to her husband and buried her head in
his chest. "Is it the baby?" the tall man asked hesitantly,
knowing that everyone present was concerned over the same thing. Heero
swallowed roughly and closed his eyes in preparation for the answer.
Desperately wishing that she could tell them more, Sally shook
her head, frowning, "I'm sorry, but I just won't know until
I can do a thorough enough examination of him of Howard's. Whatever
it is, I promise that we'll do everything we can to keep you son
and the baby safe."
Understanding the inconvenience of not having the tools needed,
Zechs nodded to her and tightened his hold around his trembling wife
with one arm while rubbing his son's arm with his free hand. Lady
Une and the girls returned at that moment with damp, white towels.
With a smile of appreciation, Sally accepted the offerings and pressed
the cool fabrics over Duo's brow and at either side of his neck. Moments
later, Wufei, Howard and Treize arrived with the hand stretcher.
Dropping it beside the neko, they all bent at the waist
to hold onto an appendage. Along with Heero and Zechs, they carefully
lifted him onto the flat bed.
Snugly strapping her patient onto the stretcher, the braided doctor
waited until she knew he was secure before telling the young men around,
"All right. We'll take him to lay in the back of my car. Heero,
you stay with him back there until we get to Howard's."
"On three, then," the old man called while he and Heero
gripped a handle at either side of Duo's head. Zechs and Treize took
the handles at his feet and Solo took the far end on his own. "One.
Two. Three." Having to use little effort, the four lifted the
stretcher and made their way for the door.
Danielle, Noin and the other young women took the lead to shield the
prone neko from anyone trying to catch a glimpse of what was going
on.
All was clear until they stepped out for the front steps
of the massive building. Outside, the scene was very much like what
it had been that morning with swarms of press and observers covering
the tall stairway.
This time, however, Trowa, Trent, Carson and Andrew had seen
to it that there were guards clearing a path. Completely ignoring
the shouting and camera flashes, the four men carrying Duo carefully
made their way down to the street where Sally's car was running in
wait.
Some reporters could be heard yelling, "Can anyone comment to
what happened?" Others asked for word from Heero on how he was
holding up. Still others were more concerned with what this would
mean for the verdict.
To the flashing of dozens of cameras, Trent reached his wife as she
reached the bottom of the stairs. Danielle kissed her son's head and
told him, "We'll keep the media back. You stay with Duo. Trent
and I will follow you as soon as we can."
Heero nodded and focused back on his lover as he and the others carefully
slid him onto the long back seat. All but jumping in after him, he
shielded himself from the onlookers. Wufei shut the door after his
friend before hurrying to take the wheel while Sally got into the
passenger seat.
The remaining members of their group all ran for the parking lot to
get to their own vehicles as the young doctor sped away with a police
escort for Howard's residence.
Only somewhat relieved that her family was off, Danielle glared heatedly
to the reporters that were reaching for their cell phones. In a loud voice,
she shouted, "Can I have your attention, please?" A hush
fell over the crowd and microphones were pointed in the lawyer's direction
so that their cameras could pick up her words.
"I do not believe that the Supreme Justices would be very thrilled
to learn that my client's health and safety may be put in danger due
to any undue stress caused by violating his privacy!" the red-head
warned. "Should any one follow us, or try to find us for a statement,
I promise you that you will wish you hadn't!"
Eyes wide, those with cell phones in their hands quickly closed and
hid them from sight. Several people around swallowed roughly as they
looked away.
"That should do the trick," Trent smirked to his bride.
"Let's go." Turning on her heels, Danielle ran along with
him for their own car. With the fear of what may befall them if they
followed, the reporters and their camera crews stayed back.
At the front of the line of vehicles heading for Howard's place, Sally
looked over her shoulder to check on her passengers. Still conscious,
Duo's pale face concerned her. Seated at his head, Heero continued
to whisper reassurances and squeezed his partner's hand while
dabbing one of the wet cloths over his sweat-beaded brow.
"I don't know a great deal about pregnancies," she muttered
nervously as she looked back ahead. "It's one of the few areas
that I do not have much experience in. We need someone that will know
if the baby is in distress."
Peering out of the corner of his eye, Wufei suggested calmly, "It
was agreed by Heero and Duo that Hilde could be involved. No time
like the present to give her a call and bring her up to speed on this."
Her eyes widening, his lover whispered, "Yes. That's right."
Taking up her cell phone, she dialed a number and only waited two
rings for the call to be picked up.
Before the person answering could speak, she requested, "Cassie,
please contact Hilde and tell her that we need her assistance right
away. Do you know where Howard lives that you can give her the directions?"
Without hesitating, the neko replied, "Sure thing. I'll take
care of it." Quickly murmuring 'thanks,' Sally closed her cell
phone and peered back over her shoulder.
The neko's ears were twitching with every softly spoken word from
Heero as a sign that he was still somewhat aware of his surroundings.
A good sign, so long as he was not feeling a great deal of pain.
"He's going to be fine," Wufei told her softly, bringing
her to meet the eye watching her. "Just focus on whatever it
is you need to do when we get to the house."
Smiling in appreciation, the braided woman squeezed his shoulder and
peered back ahead. Up until then, it had been hard to look past the
fact that her friend and his child needed her. Wufei was
right, she needed to focus on the solution and not the problem as
she would for anyone else under her care.
Even still, it felt like a small eternity before Howard's residence
finally came into view.
* * * *
Hilde pulled into the long driveway where a spot had been kept free
for her at the front. Quickly removing her medical bag from the passenger
seat, she all but leapt from the car and threw the door closed behind
her.
On her way to the front door, her mind continued to reel over the
information Cassie had rushed through when she called moments ago.
"Duo. Pregnant. Collapsed. At Howard's. Here's the address,"
were the things that stood out the most in the frantic relay of information.
The details could be worried about later. Right now, all that Hilde
was worried about was looking at an ultrasound to see the condition
of the baby.
Just as she reached the door, it opened to her as Solo appeared in
the entrance. Urgency in his eyes, he waved to her, "This way."
Turning, he led the way down the hallway past rooms filled with people
until they reached the closed door at the end.
From the corner of her eye, the young obstetrician noticed a distraught
Heero sitting in a chair with his friends and family hovering close
in one crowded room.
A couple of loud knocks were all the waning Solo gave before opening
the room and stepping aside so Hilde could enter. Biting his lip,
he remained out in the hall and closed the door behind her.
Sighing deeply in relief at the sight of the familiar doctor
from their hospital making her way to the table where Duo lay,
Treize greeted kindly, "Thank you for coming on such short notice,
Hilde. You were going to be advised of this under better circumstances,
but Heero and Duo entrusted the care of their child to you. So, you
were the only one we felt comfortable in calling here."
"Well, I am very honored," Doctor Schbeiker grinned.
Pleased that the ultrasound machine was already hooked
up, she quickly went through her medical bag and removed a long tube.
“Can you please put that on while I get the rest of my things
ready?” she asked. Taking the tube, Sally unbuttoned Duo’s
shit and placed the jelly on his abdomen.
Paddle in hand, Hilde turned on the machine beside the
table. Once the screen was up, she placed the paddle to her friend’s
stomach. “Let’s see what we have here,” she muttered.
As the image of the uterus came into view, she inquired, “Has
there been anything in the tests you were able to run that explained
why he lost consciousness?”
Howard ran a hand through his thin, white hair and sighed,
“His electrolytes were pretty haywire by the time we got here.
No doubt the stress of the last few days had a greater effect on him
than he ever realized. The pregnancy on top of it all certainly did
not help. We were able to stabilize him while using a low sedative
for his nervous system to sort itself out.”
Smiling sadly, Hilde commented, “Most expectant
mothers don’t realize the toll pregnancy puts on them. Poor thing
just burnt himself out.” Clearly seeing what she was dealing
with, she blinked in surprise. “I thought that Cassie said he
was in the middle of his second month.”
Treize frowned and leaned close to peer at the screen,
though he truly knew little of what he was looking for. “You
think he is further along than that?” he inquired.
Pointing to the screen, the obstetrician observed aloud,
“All appears to be fine with the pregnancy for a parent closing
in on their fourth month.” While the others blinked in shock,
she gasped along with the tall doctor peering over her shoulder. “And
it looks like there is another surprise,” she announced with
a wide smile.
Quickly, Sally and Howard gathered before the screen.
As soon as their eyes fell on the image before them, their own eyes
widened.
* * * *
Heero was about at his wit’s end by the time Howard
entered the living room. Springing from the chair before anyone else
knew their old friend had stepped in, he all but shouted, “How
is Duo?! And the baby?!”
The closest to him, the scientist gently patted the
artist’s shoulder and smiled comfortingly, “They’re
fine, kid. He should be waking pretty soon.” Everyone piling
in closely sighed a deep breath of relief as shoulders sagged and
brows were wiped.
Clearing his throat, Howard leaned in and told the expectant
father quietly, “You may want to come with us, though. We have
a bit of information we need to share with the two of you before anyone
else.”
His cobalt eyes blinking in confusion, Heero tilted
his head slightly. Almost hesitant, he nodded and followed the old
man down the hallway to the closed off room.
Once the door was opened to him, the artist fended off
a sharp sob at the sight of his waking lover on the examination table.
When those heavy-lidded violet eyes fell on him, he cried, “Duo!”
In a nearby corner, Sally, Treize and Hilde gave the couple a moment
to get their bearings together after their scare.
Slowly but surely recalling his last thoughts as his
partner wrapped his arms around him, the neko came around with a startled
gasp. Wide-eyed, he returned the embrace weakly with a whimpered,
“Heero. Oh, God, the baby.” Tears began to roll down his
cheeks on their own accord as his body trembled.
At that, Sally stepped in and placed a hand on Duo’s
back. “The baby is fine,” she soothed. “Just relax,
sweetie. No need to cause more stress on your body.”
Nearly instantly, the neko’s form fell loosely
in Heero’s arms with a sigh and broken whisper of thanks knowing
the baby was all right. As he pulled back, the artist sat Duo up so
he could lean against him. Keeping his arms around the smaller boy’s
shoulders, he kissed his temple with a soft, “Love you. Please
don’t scare me like that again.”
The neko let out a soft, hiccuped laugh while resting
his braided head on a shoulder. “Sorry. Love you, too,”
he replied in little more than a breath.
Finally really taking in his surroundings, Duo recognized
Howard’s observation room. When his gaze settled on one of the
new faces, he raised his head and greeted, “Hilde.”
Chuckling softly, the young woman stepped up to embrace
both of her friends with an arm. “Good to see you both,”
she said. Pulling back, she smirked, “I wish it could have been
under better circumstances, but it’s better than nothing.”
Heero rubbed his partner’s back while looking from
one face to the other. “There was something that you needed to
tell us before anyone else,” he stated. Much as he would have
loved to catch up more, the wellbeing of his family came first.
Understanding his urgency, Hilde’s smile grew as
she responded, “It would appear as though the bit of feline DNA
that is a part of a neko’s makeup is having a few unexpected
effects on this pregnancy.”
“Besides the fact that I am pregnant at all?”
Duo snickered in good humor, his tail slowly wrapping around his abdomen
protectively. His friends all shared in his quiet laughter over the
comment.
The obstetrician grinned, “Well, yes. One of those
effects would be what your ultrasound showed us.” Removing some
printed images, she handed them over to her patient. “I believe
that you would be able to make out what has piqued our interest.”
Small frowns on their faces, the expectant parents leaned
close together while overlooking the first picture. Recognizing the
outlines of the uterus, they were able to make out the details of
what was inside.
It did not take long for them to see what they were
supposed to see as they both straightened with wide eyes at the same
time. “My God,” Heero breathed while a hand reached up to
cover his slack mouth.
His violet eyes glued to the image, Duo whispered in
awe, “T-Triplets?”
TBC
chapter 15
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