Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return them a whole lot happier. I do own the plot line and any other characters that appear here that are not in the Gundam Wing Universe; please do not take them without permission. Written for pleasure not profit.

 

Warnings: Angst, sap, fluff, violence, Mpreg.

 

Rating: NC 17

 

Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, HxOC

 

Summary: Sequel to Chimaera. Life in the Yuy-Maxwell household has undergone some big changes when Duo brings Keitaro home from the hospital. Hilde's wedding is approaching and the guys find there's more to this baby business than they thought. Struggling to raise a child, work at Preventer and keep the home happy is certainly a trial for both guys. Add an assassin's threats to prominent government officials' lives and both men find their lives are suddenly changed. Just how far will one go to protect the ones he loves?

 

Dedication: To all my lovely readers out there who enjoyed Chimaera and have since begged, threatened, pleaded, bribed and blackmailed me for a sequel. ^_^

 

 

"Family Ties"

 

January. 2007 ShenLong

 

Chapter 3

 

The trip back from town was relatively quiet. Heero was thinking about how best to explain his windfall to Duo. Duo was contemplating all sorts of ideas as to how Heero had suddenly come into money. Hilde was simply tired from all the effort of shopping and Keitaro was sleeping peacefully as babies do.

 

Once they made it back to the manor, Heero parked the car and assisted Hilde gathering up the packages she'd bought and carrying them into the house. Duo undid the various buckles and straps that held Keitaro safely in the baby seat. Lifting the infant out, Duo couldn't help but give the seat a glare. Whilst it might hold his son securely and protect him whilst driving, Duo still couldn't bring himself to forgive the demonic seat for all the trouble it had caused them when trying to install the damn thing! He was sure Trowa and Quatre still carried the battle scars and Heero was certainly wary around the buckles.

 

With the baby cuddled close against his chest, Duo grabbed the bag containing all the baby things and headed indoors. Keitaro needed a diaper change, bath and a bottle. Heero's news on his windfall would have to wait for a bit.

 

Hilde carted some of the packages to her room, Heero following with the bulk of the purchases and depositing them on the bed. "I'm going to help Duo with Keitaro," he announced and disappeared before Hilde could get a chance to ask him anything.

 

Duo had Keitaro lying in the bassinet while he fetched the items needed for the bathing the infant, setting them all up on the small table beside the plastic bath. Keitaro slept in the cot in their room at night, but during the day he usually stayed in the nursery. The majority of the baby's things were in the nursery too, other than the change table, some diapers and other bits and pieces.

 

The babe gurgled to himself, eyes focusing on different things around him. Not that he could see a great deal from inside the bassinet. His arms waved, little legs gave a few kicks and caused more gurgles to leave his throat.

 

Entering the nursery, Heero spotted Duo with the plastic bath in hand disappearing through the door to the bathroom. With his partner filling up the baby bath, Heero walked over to the bassinet and lifted his son out. "You want a bath, Keitaro?" Heero asked as he rocked the infant in his arms.

 

Keitaro blew bubbles through his mouth.

 

"I think you do need a bath," Heero continued, his lips smiling at the baby's antics. Carefully, Heero lay the baby down again and proceeded to remove the infant's clothing. The diaper was wet, not dirty, much to Heero's relief and he left it sitting under the child while he waited for Duo to return with the baby bath.

 

Duo smiled as he stepped back into the nursery, bath in his hands. He set the bath down on the table and checked the temperature again. It was nice and warm on his elbow. "You want to bath him or would you like me to do it?" Duo asked.

 

"I'll wash him if you like," Heero replied.

 

"Everything's ready then." Duo stepped back out of the way and let his husband take the floor.

 

Heero picked the naked infant up and carried him over to the bath where he proceeded to gently lower the baby into the water.

 

"You might want to-" Duo's words were cut off.

 

The warning was too late. As soon as Keitaro's bottom hit the warm water he began to pee. The stream rose in the air and sprayed over Heero's chest and face

 

"Shit!"

 

"-put a wash cloth over his groin," Duo finished with a snicker.

 

"You could have warned me," Heero growled as he tried to keep a hand on the child and wipe at his face.

 

"I tried," Duo chuckled. "Here, let me." Duo grabbed the wash cloth, dipped it in the water and wiped Heero's face off. "I'll just go rinse this while you get started."

 

Heero shook his head and looked at the baby. "Thanks a lot, sunshine," he mock growled.

 

Keitaro kicked his legs in the water.

 

"Here." Duo handed the wash cloth back to Heero and stood back to watch the fun.

 

"Slippery little thing, isn't he?" Heero commented as he washed the baby's skin. There was only a small amount of baby soap in the water but it still made things interesting for Heero. Keitaro wasn't like the 'doll' Nurse Brown had them practice with. The doll didn't move - Keitaro did. Heero continuously had to remind himself to be careful, constantly checking the baby and making sure he wasn't holding the infant too tight.

 

"I think he's done now." Duo's voice cut into Hero's concentration.

 

"Ah, right." Now Heero faced an entirely new dilemma. How the heck was he supposed to get this slippery, squirming bundle out of the bath and onto the towel without dropping him?

 

"Keep your hand under his shoulders, grasp his arm and then slip your hand underneath his legs," Duo explained as he watched his partner in amusement. Heero hadn't bathed Keitaro yet, Duo usually did it while Heero got their dinner. Duo was all for his partner bathing the child though and wasn't about to interfere, not unless Heero asked him to.

 

"Right." Heero moved his hand a little further under the babe and took a firm hold of Keitaro's arm. His other hand slid underneath and raised the child's bottom and legs. Managing to get the baby out of the water and onto the towel without causing any distress to either himself or the infant had Heero smiling broadly. "Nothing to it," he said smugly.

 

"Now you need to dry him, powder him and then put on a clean diaper and clothes."

 

// Shit! Knew I'd forgotten something, // Heero thought to himself.

 

"Remember to be gentle and pat the skin."

 

"Hai." Heero began to dry off his son, patting the wet skin dry. Once he was satisfied that Keitaro was as dry as he was going to be, Heero reached for the baby powder. He twisted the cap and began to shake.

 

"Not too… *cough*, *cough* much, Heero," Duo managed to get out as Heero shook the tin and a cloud of talcum powder began to rise.

 

"Sorry." Heero put down the tin and waved a hand around, clearing the mini cloud away. He looked down.

 

Keitaro gurgled and then coughed, blinking his eyes. A generous amount of powder sat on his belly, his eyes peeking out from a white film over his face.

 

"Shit. Sorry, Keitaro," Heero apologized as he grabbed the corner of the towel and tried to wipe the talcum dust from the baby's face.

 

"Here, try this," Duo said and passed over the wash cloth.

 

"Arigato." Heero took the cloth and wiped the baby clean, Duo removing as much of the powder as he could from the child's belly.

 

"You don't need a lot, Heero."

 

"I can see that," Heero huffed and then patted the baby's face dry before smoothing the talcum powder over the warm skin.

 

Seeing his husband seemed to have things under control again, at least for the moment, Duo passed over a diaper.

 

"Thanks." Heero settled the diaper underneath Keitaro and began to pin it into place. He was very careful with the pins, slipping his fingers under the cloth so as not to stick the baby with a pin. Didn't mean he missed his own fingers though. "Ow!" Heero finished putting the second pin in and then sucked on his finger.

 

A small singlet was handed over, Heero looking at it and then figuring out how it went onto the child. With his mind full of minding his strength, Heero managed to get the singlet on Keitaro with a minimum of fuss. When Duo handed him the jump suit, his eyes widened considerably, especially when he took in all the press studs on the thing. "Does it have instructions?"

 

Laughing hard, Duo shook his head. "No, it doesn't, Heero. It's not that hard to figure out. Here." Duo proceeded to show Heero exactly how the jump suit went on the baby.

 

"Aa," Heero grunted. He'd only ever had to open up the press studs to change Keitaro, Duo usually taking charge of dressing the infant. He soon managed though and with Duo's patient instruction, he wrestled the baby's limbs into the suit, Keitaro having a lot of fun waving his arms and legs around, not wanting to cooperate at all and simply enjoying the 'game'.

 

With the baby finally dressed, Heero picked him up and cuddled him close, placing a kiss to the cheek and smiling at his son.

 

Keitaro gazed back, then screwed his face up and gave a grunt. His little face went a shade of red before relaxing back to its normal state. A rather strong smell began to waft around Heero.

 

"I don't believe it! I've just bathed you and put on a fresh diaper and you have to go and fill it?!" Heero exclaimed.

 

"Never mind, daddy. It's all part of the joy of children," Duo said as he patted Heero on the shoulder. "I'm going to empty the bath out and then start warming up a bottle." With a snicker, Duo left his partner behind, bewildered and holding a desperately needing to be changed Keitaro.

 

"Thanks. Thanks a lot, little mother," Heero sighed and then set to work.

 

* * *

 

Once Keitaro was changed again, fed and settled down to sleep, Heero joined Duo and Hilde in the kitchen for their own dinner. Hilde had started cooking whilst the pair tended to their son. Duo had assisted while Heero had finished feeding Keitaro. With the baby now safely sleeping in his cot and dinner eaten, Heero knew he had no escape, it was time to come clean regarding his windfall.

 

Hilde carried the tray with their mugs of coffee through to the lounge room and set it on the small table. Heero and Duo took their respective mugs and reclined back in their seats. After a couple of minute's silence, Duo couldn't stand it any more.

 

"Okay, Yuy, spill."

 

Heero sighed and stared into his mug for a moment.

 

"I'd like to know what's going on too," Hilde chipped in. "There's no way that watch could have been the price I paid. There's something else going on and I want to know what. You didn't threaten the jewelry store owner, did you? 'Cause if that's what happened I think Mark had better start looking for a new best man as you'll be in the lock up for a while. If you're lucky you might just get out in time for Keitaro's twenty-first."

 

Heero turned and gave the woman a condescending look. At least he hoped it was condescending. Clearing his throat he began to speak. "No, I did not hold up the store, Hilde. I merely chipped in the difference between what you had and the total price of the watch."

 

"Eh? Why? And where did you suddenly get money from that you can throw it around like that? Babies aren't cheap, even I know that, Heero, and all your spare cash would be going into Keitaro."

 

"I wanted to do something to say thank you for all you've done for me. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have my adorable husband and my beautiful son. I made mistakes, did things I'm not proud of, but you; you, Hilde, you gave me a chance, advised me when I asked and gave me a kick in the pants when I needed it. I owe a great deal of my current happiness to you and this was the only way I could to say thank you." Heero lowered his head, a tinge of pink appearing on his cheeks.

 

"You could have just said the words 'thank you', you know. You didn't have to do this." Hilde looked like she was about to burst into tears.

 

"I know I didn't have to, I wanted to," Heero replied quietly.

 

"Aw, shit. Now you're gonna make me cry," Hilde sniffed.

 

"Fucking weather," Barney chirped from his perch by the sofa.

 

"Barney! That's enough!" scolded Duo.

 

"Pretty boy. Give us a kiss." Barney cocked his head to the side and regarded Duo with a beady eye.

 

"I swear..." Duo began.

 

"I think it was your swearing that widened Barney's vocabulary in the first place," Hilde snickered.

 

"Fuck off," Barney squawked.

 

"Barney!" Hilde warned. "One of these days you're going to go too far and end up being Duo's lunch."

 

Barney ruffled his feathers and flew from his perch to Duo's shoulder. He snuggled up to Duo's ear and pecked lightly at the lobe. "Pretty boy."

 

"Don't even think about it. Sucking up won't get you off the hook, Barney," Duo chuckled. The pecking at his ear lobe tickled.

 

"Polly want a cracker?" Barney chirruped.

 

Hilde laughed. "He's a real character, isn't he?"

 

"Too smart for his own good," Duo growled. He noticed a smirk on Heero's face and quickly focused his mind back on their original topic. "I don't know what you're smiling for, Heero. You still have some explaining to do."

 

// Damn!// Heero thought they'd forgotten all about his little windfall, looked like he was wrong.

 

"That's right, Heero. I'm curious too. I know it's none of my business and I'll leave if you would prefer to talk to Duo alone about this," Hilde said quietly.

 

"No, it's fine, Hilde." Heero took a deep breath, trying to order his thoughts and decide where to begin. "I don't know a lot about it myself," Heero began, "Only what Une has told me so I can't give you a lot of detail."

 

"Just tell us what you know, Heero," Duo coaxed.

 

"Okay. Une spoke to me whilst we were in the hospital. You'd just had Keitaro and I was, well, I was recovering from the surgery. She had a group of Preventer agents on assignment on L1, no, I don't know what the assignment was and I didn't ask either."

 

Duo knew there was no point in questioning that any further, Preventer assignments were strictly confidential. If you weren't on that particular assignment then you didn't have access to any information regarding it. A safety issue amongst other things. Should an agent happen to get into trouble in the wrong place you couldn't tell what you didn't know.

 

"Suffice to say that during the course of their investigations on L1 they came across some interesting paperwork. I gather that in part the assignment was something to do with smuggling of records, files, papers and other sensitive information. Anyway, when they had concluded the investigation and all the information had been presented at the debriefing, Une called me and asked to speak with me in private. That was the day before we were discharged."

 

"Ah." Duo remembered something about Heero disappearing for a while and when he'd returned he'd been a little quiet. Duo had thought it had been to do with having his wounds checked or something along the medical line and hadn't questioned his partner. Now he was wishing he had.

 

"It seems that amongst some pf the files and documents that had been recovered, there was one pertaining to Doctor J and myself…"

 

"Oh?" Duo's eyes narrowed. While Doctor G wasn't at the top of his most favorite person list for all that had happened to Duo, Doctor J was even further down that list - actually he was six foot under the list and that was pretty close to the truth. J hadn't survived the explosion and the last battle with the Libra, hell, it had been a miracle that G had. Duo felt like he'd been cheated though, he'd wanted nothing more than to kill J himself for half the shit he'd put Heero through.

 

Heero took a deep breath. "It was J's last will and testament. After reading through what was presumed to be all the paperwork, J had obviously felt some form of remorse for his actions towards me and as a way to try and make amends he'd left me everything he owned."

 

"But J's lab, wasn't that destroyed during the war?" Hilde asked.

 

"Hai. The main lab and the smaller labs J had scattered about throughout the colonies have all been destroyed, whether on purpose or not."

 

"Then…" Duo didn't get any further as Heero held up his hand to silence his lover.

 

"All the visible signs, personal effects, notes pertaining to research, Operation Meteor and so on were all destroyed. As far as anyone knew all traces of J and his work had been eliminated, leaving me essentially with nothing to inherit. However, there was a file tucked away, scrambled if you will and the clue that there was a hidden file was in the wording of J's testament. No-one else would have found the clue. I cracked the clue and it led me to this file. It was this file that contained J's real will and it was heavily encrypted. I recognized the encryption though, J had used it a few times, but there were a few additions to the code. Une asked me to hack it if I could as the file only stated it was J's will and in order to access any further information you had to get through all the passwords, encrypted data and so on."

 

"And I take it you did that?" Hilde asked in awe. Heero's computer skills always left her with goose bumps.

 

"Hai, I did." Heero looked thoughtful for a moment.

 

"Well?!" Duo demanded.

 

Heero gave him an amused smile. "As it happened, J had known all his work would most likely be lost or destroyed and he was okay with that, but he did want to make up with me and by hiding this file he knew only I would be able to access it and therefore claim what he'd wanted me to have."

 

"This is worse than a soap opera episode, Heero," Hilde grumbled.

 

"Once the file opened it revealed several bank accounts, hidden away all over the earth sphere. J had left me his entire fortune."

 

"Well shit!" Duo looked a little pale for a moment, then he turned his eyes to meet Heero's. "If I may ask, just how much did he leave you?"

 

"Heero?"

 

Heero switched his attention to Hilde who had called his name.

 

"I think you and Duo need to discuss this alone. This isn't any of my business so I'll head on up to take my shower and go to bed. I'll see you both in the morning, okay?" Hilde stood up and collected the coffee cups.

 

"Thanks, Hilde," Heero said quietly. He didn't have a problem with Hilde staying and listening to the rest of the conversation, but as she said, it really wasn't her business and he appreciated her leaving them alone.

 

Once Hilde had departed, Duo rounded on his husband. "Okay, Heero. J left you his money, I can deal with that. Personally, all the money in the world couldn't make up for what he put you through, but I appreciate he did try to make up for what he did. So, how much did he leave you?"

 

Giving his lover a shy look from underneath his bangs, Heero spoke. "I'm not completely sure yet. There's still a couple of accounts that haven't been located at this stage. We're not as well off as Quatre, but we are very comfortable, in fact, neither one of us needs to work again if we don't want to."

 

Duo's jaw went a little slack.

 

"Currently the total from the bank accounts that we have found is around five or six million credits."

 

"Fuck!" Duo looked like he was about to faint and Heero debated whether to fetch the smelling salts or not. "That's a shit load of cash, Heero!"

 

"I know. Now you see why I wanted to pay the difference on that watch for Hilde. All my life, Duo, I've taken. Taken lives, stolen information, taken innocence; now I want to give something back."

 

Duo snuggled up to his husband and placed a tender kiss to those lips he knew better than his own. "Heero, I think that's wonderful."

 

Heero gave a relieved sigh. He hadn't been too sure of how Duo would take the news.

 

"Even though you say we have enough to retire on, I'd like to keep working," Duo mused.

 

"Me too," Heero replied.

 

"Just promise me one thing?"

 

"Anything, little mother."

 

"Don't go blowing it all on gifts for other people, keep some aside for us?"

 

"I wasn't planning on spending it all. After all, you're my husband and we both have a say in this. I made a vow to share everything that I am with you, Duo, and that means everything."

 

Duo chuckled lightly. "Yeah. Just like that old saying: 'What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine also'."

 

"Eh?"

 

"You heard me," Duo snickered.

 

"I thought the saying was: 'What's yours is mine and what's mine is yours'."

 

"I prefer my version."

 

"Quit while you're behind, quit while you're behind," Barney chirped.

 

Heero sighed. He would never beat his partner in a verbal battle - ever.

 

~ * ~

 

tbc....