"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"

Though the drugs were helping his pain, they did nothing to cloud Duo's maternal instincts once that first baby cry filled the air.

Quick and efficient as she was in patching him up, Hilde was still moving too slow for his liking. He wanted to see and hold his little ones so badly it was killing him.

Heero remained by his husband's side. When the door opened, he looked up to see Sally and Cassie returning with their babies without after weighing and measuring them. Torn between watching them and his lover, he switched his gaze back and forth.

Placing the last stitch in place, the doctor sighed, "There." Along with Treize, she removed the curtain from her patient's middle before removing their mask and hair caps. "I can imagine how anxious you both are to see your little ones," she grinned.

"Yes, please", Heero requested as he took off his own mask and cap before removing the one from his lover's head to free his braid.

Treize smirked at how the neko's wide violet eyes were glued on the babies, not paying any mind to what was being said to him. Easily adjusting the bed, he raised the top half so his friend could sit up a bit.

First to head over was Sally carrying a pink blanket with a tiny head bearing red hair and tiny brown cat ears peeking out.

Smiling down on the child, she told the new parents, "Shannon, here, is four pounds and seventeen and a quarter inches long." Slowly and carefully, she handed the infant over to Duo's waiting arms.

As though he had carried a baby all his life, the neko easily took his daughter and held her close while Heero leaned down for a better look.

Blinking, the infant looked up to her parents with deep blue eyes. Her mouth opening in a wide yawn, that came out as a part sigh and part mew, she looked perfectly at peace when her 'mother' began to purr soothingly.

Tears falling from his eyes, Duo pressed the tip of his nose to the tiny one and breathed, "H-hi, Shannon."

One of the furry ears twitched while her eyes fought to stay open as the cat-eared boy kissed her head. Raising a hand instead of trusting his voice, Heero smiled lovingly through his tears as he waved to the baby before leaning in to kiss her head.

Cassie headed for the artist with the cat-eared bundle in her arms.

Passing the blue blanket over to him, she grinned widely, "Odin is the biggest one at four pounds, seven ounces and seventeen and a half inches long." Duo continued his soft purring as he watched his husband cradle their son with practiced skill.

Odin's tiny face gazed up to his father, wide-eyed and open-mouthed in a look of complete awe.

His blue eyes shimmering in the light, the infant's ears twitched when Heero chuckled deeply, "You look exactly how I feel right now." Everyone in the room laughed and snickered in amusement.

The dark-haired child calmed before letting out the cry he would have let out before he recognized that voice. A tear falling from his cheek, the artist leaned in to kiss the top of his son's head and held him out for Duo to do the same.

Back with the last infant in her pink blanket, Sally announced, "Last but not least, the smallest of the bunch. Hope is just shy of seventeen inches. She is three pounds, nine ounces. Each baby is a healthy size for a triplet."

Freeing an arm, Duo accepted the last of his litter without any difficulty. Her head of mouse-brown hair bearing normal human ears, the infant mewed in curiosity.

As soon as that high-pitched voice filled the air, Hope's siblings chimed in as though they were conversing to one another.

Heero and Duo's heads fell back as they laughed over the chorus. Shaking their heads in amusement, their friends chuckled as they stepped back to watch the new family become acquainted with one another at last.

* * * *

By the time the birth certificates were drawn up for that September 29th mid-afternoon, every one of the couple's new friends were at the hospital to meet the latest additions to their extended family.

Each little one was dressed in the knit one-pieces that Noin had knitted for them- Hope in the yellow, Odin in the light green and Shannon in the purple set. Behind the glass that protected the private nursery, a small mob of visitors crowded together for a look at the infants lying in their monitored beds.

"Oh, they are just too cute for words," Relena cooed excitedly as she waved to the babies. Everyone around her nodded in agreement. "They're so tiny." Stoic as he usually was, even Wufei couldn't help the wide smile on his face as he looked into the nursery.

Sighing in content, Noin smiled wistfully. Leaning against her husband as he held Danny up, she asked quietly, "So, how does it feel to be a grandfather now, Dad?"

Zech smirked and freed an arm to wrap it around her waist. "Pretty damn good, Mom," he answered just as softly. Beside them, Danielle stood with Trent's wrapped around her from behind looking equally proud grandparents as they watched the infants.

When the door inside the nursery opened, hands and tails waved happily as the new parents entered. The neko sat in a wheelchair pushed by his husband wearing a light green medical gown for his planned overnight stay.

Spotting their audience, the couple smiled widely in greeting and waved back.

Turning towards the others, Quatre announced, "Good. Now we can decorate Duo's room before they get back." Not needing to be told twice, the lot gathered up their offerings and disappeared while the grandparents and Danny remained behind.

A proud smile on his face and his tail swaying slowly behind him, the little neko beamed, "I'm gonna be a great uncle to them."

"Yes, you will be," Noin snickered along with the others as she leaned in to kiss his cheek. After another moment, the new grandparents walked off to allow their sons a chance to bond some more with their little ones alone.

Lying on his stomach, Odin's blue eyes drifted closed as Duo rubbed his back gently.

A quiet purr rumbling in the infant's chest, he drifted off into a peaceful sleep after his strange day. Smiling as he kept an eye on his son, the neko breathed, "I just still can't believe that we're actually parents."

Across from him, Heero's own smile grew when Shannon gripped onto one of his fingers with her whole, tiny hand. Fully alert and curious, her tail moved to-and-fro.

In the next crib, Hope was fighting to stay awake as she purred and nuzzled her head into her father's hand. "I know," the artist whispered back. "It's pretty amazing."

Their vigil went on for over an hour as they switched places to have some time with all of the little ones.

Yawning widely, Duo leaned his head between Shannon and Hope's crib. Slowly rising from his seat beside Odin, Heero smirked and moved to his husband. Gently kissing the top of his braided head, the artist urged, "Come on, love. All of the kits are sound asleep and you need your rest, too."

Part of him wanting to put up a fight but too worn out to try, the neko sagged in his wheelchair and relented with a mumbled, "'kay." His husband just snickered and pushed the wheelchair for the door. Glancing over his shoulder, the artist whispered, "Good night."

Duo was nearly asleep when they reached his decorated room. All around, there were balloons, ribbons, wrapped gifts and a variety of bouquets in vases. The sight truly was something to behold as the neko chuckled quietly to himself.

Carefully cradling his husband in his arms, Heero lowered him onto his hospital bed and tucked him in snugly. Kissing the braided teenager's lips, he breathed, "I love you, little mother. Sleep well. "

His violet eyes completely closing despite his struggle, the neko smiled, "Love you too, dad." It was only a matter of seconds before his breath evened, purring out of him with each exhale to end his hectic day.

Satisfied that all was well with his family, the artist smiled to himself and quietly slipped from the room.

* * * *

Too tired to drive from the hospital, Heero's parents drove him back to his home and spent the night to see he got back to his family the next morning.

But, before allowing himself to fall asleep, the studying artist used the left over paints he had used in the babies' room to write out each of their names on the scrolls on the wall above their cribs. Using the same colors as their kitted outfits, he carefully etched each letter.

As he stepped back to appraise his work, he let out a sigh and ran a hand through his unruly hair. Exhausted but happy, he smiled in anticipation of having his family home.

Danielle appeared in the doorway and smiled proudly, "You did a beautiful job in here, Heero."

"Thanks, mom," her son grinned as he embraced her. Looking back at the three cribs, his mind ran with many new thoughts and fears.

One such fear that he had managed to keep at bay crept back up on him. Frowning deeply as he continued to stare at the room, he asked, "Do you think I'll make a good father?"

Gently squeezing his shoulder, Danielle reassured, "Of course you will be. No parent is perfect, but you do the very best that you can." Smirking, she shrugged, "If I can make a turn around from my mistakes, that must make you feel better."

Heero chuckled along with her and shook his head. Looking back over to his mother, he kissed her cheek and replied sincerely, "Thank you." The side of his mouth curling up, he commented, "And you were a much better mother than you give yourself credit for. I never could have asked for a better parent."

Blinking her widened cobalt eyes, the lawyer grinned widely. Unable to trust her voice, she simply wrapped her son up in another tight hug to show her appreciation of that heart-warming sentiment.

Shortly thereafter, the artist finally decided to head to bed for the night. Fatigued physically, emotionally and mentally from the day, he fell into a deep sleep the moment he all but collapsed into bed.

* * * *

During lunch the following afternoon, Hilde and Howard stepped into Duo's room. Sitting up in his bed, the neko cradled Hope in one arm while holding the bottle she was suckling in the other. Beside his bed, Heero was feeding Shannon likewise as Danielle took care of Odin.

Lightly clearing her throat when their eyes fell on her, the obstetrician shrugged to her patient, "I do apologize for our interrupting, but we need to discuss something very private with you and Heero."

On that cue, Noin and Zechs rose from their own seats at the foot of the bed to each take one of the little ones from the new parents so that the babies could still eat. Rising from her seat with Odin, Danielle bowed her head in understanding to the doctor and scientist as she and her friends quietly excused themselves.

Howard sighed as he sat on the edge of Duo's bed. Tail swishing behind him, the patient grinned, "So, what's going on?" Protectively, Heero slid closer to his husband's side to twine the fingers of their hands together.

"Well, my boy," the old man began, "we are to that time to discuss whether or not you wish to stay as you are, or take the serum that will correct your makeup."

Chewing on the inside of his cheek, the neko's mind was already mulling over his options. He knew that this was going to come. And whatever he decided, best to make that call as soon as possible.

It only made sense that the topic be brought into the open at that moment.

His violet eyes falling on the artist, Duo silently asked for his opinion. Snickering, Heero shook his head, "Don't look at me. This is your decision." With a tight squeeze from his hand, he
reassured, "Whatever you decide, you have my complete support."

Strengthened by that, the cat-eared boy silently pondered over his options and weighed the pros and cons with each. After a long pause, he really thought on his gut decision, and felt confident in it.

A smile tugging his lips, he nodded firmly, "I know what I want to do."

* * * *

Over the course of the next two days, Duo and the babies stayed at the hospital under secured privacy for regular monitoring on their progress.

Considering the fact that there never was a male to give birth before, overseeing how well they were faring was the highest priority as far as Treize, Sally, Howard and Hilde were concerned.

During that time, Odin and Hope's eyes took on their 'mother's' shade of violet while Shannon's remained a deep blue like their father's.

Never one to like constant probing, the braided neko was elated when he was finally told that he could return home with Heero and their babies.

Carefully gathering up their precious bundles in the nursery, they lay them in a special, wheeled infant stroller that had been provided. The moment they were set down on their stomachs, the three little ones latched onto each other and settled down to sleep.

Watching Odin grip onto Shannon's tail and Shannon holding onto Hope's melted the couple. It was an early look to how the trio was going to rely on each other through their lives.

At long last, the infants were brought into their home and settled into their cribs.

Once the spinning mobiles were turned on to play their soft music, Heero and Duo stood back in the doorway. Wrapping his arms around his husband's waist from behind, the artist rested his head on a shoulder. "It's good to have you home," he told him softly.

The neko leaned back, wrapping his tail around their linked arms and purred deeply, "Missed you, too, 'Ro." Bending his head, he kissed his partner's lips tenderly.

Hand-in-hand, they stepped back to close the door partially and headed to their room just across the hallway.

Sighing deeply, Duo shed his top and lay himself down on his back to stare at the ceiling. "Thank you for backing my decision to just have my body go back to normal," he said.

Lightly running a finger over his c-section scar that would remain as a constant reminder of his ordeal, he commented, "As much as I love the fact that we were able to have babies, I don't think I can go through another pregnancy like that again."

Shuddering, he shook his head, "Between the morning sickness and about a dozen different pains- I give women a ton of credit for going through all of that."

Heero lay on his side next to his husband and smirked, "Of course. Like I said, it's your body and I completely understand your reasoning."

Shrugging, the artist added, "We had never counted on having a family of our own before, so I think that three children are more than plenty for us." Leaning in, he kissed the cat-eared teenager soundly. "And I couldn't be prouder of how well you handled everything," he grinned.

Purring a quiet chuckle, the neko curled up close to his lover and replied, "Thanks, dad." As the artist wrapped him closely, Duo's eyes drifted closed while he muttered, "I missed this." An affirmative hummed in his tall ear.

Their peaceful little moment was broken with the sound of three high-pitched cries and mews. Slowly looking to one another, the couple laughed in being reminded of some of the new routines they would have to get adjusted to.

Life was going to be very different for them...

...But it was going to be beautiful.

END

chapter: Epilogue

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