Claiming Duo Maxwell Part 11a
Christmas Day 1
Duo stretched as he woke sleepy from his wonderful dream. The large double bed was cold and the other side empty. Duo shivered under the covers and wrapped them round himself tighter.
There was a soft knock from outside his bedroom door and he sat up, pulling the blankets with him.
"Come in."
"I brought you breakfast." The door opened to reveal Quatre holding a tray filled with a full English Breakfast. Quatre was still dressed in his nighttime boxers but wore a pale blue nightgown over the top.
Duo wasn't sure why the Winner family had the tradition of an English breakfast on Christmas Morning but it was a tradition after all and Duo kept to it.
Quatre had brought along two breakfasts and joined Duo under the covers.
"What did you do turn the heating off it here?" Quatre muttered as Duo took the tray of him so he could get in the bed.
"It's normally hot in here but due to the fact I have to sleep alone it's always cold."
"You're getting soft Duo." Quatre laughed and the two brothers began to eat. It was unlike Duo to eat so early in the morning but it was Christmas and Duo was going to need all the energy he could get.
They eat in silence and once they had finished Duo settled back down and Quatre leaned down on to Duo, his head resting on Duo's chest and his arms around Duo's middle. Duo placed his own arms round Quatre holding his brother's warm body close.
"Missing Trowa?" Duo asked softly.
"Yeah." Quatre whispered back and Duo bent down, his lips brushed against Quatre's forehead.
"You'll see him tomorrow."
"We're quite lucky really."
Duo nodded.
"We've both found our soul mates."
Duo laughed at this.
"How long have you and Trowa been together, nearly four years is it?"
"Five years on my birthday and I have you to thank for getting us together!"
"No biggie. If it wasn't for that stupid bet, Heero and I would of never get together!"
"Speaking of which where is he?"
"He's gone to say Merry Christmas to Lena and Dot. He'll be back soon."
Quatre smiled into Duo's flat smooth chest and kissed it gently.
"I love you Duo, you know that right?"
"I love you too Quatre." Duo replied and he lent back, his head rested against the pillow. He smiled, yes he did love Quatre, not in the same way he loved Heero but in the way brothers are meant to love each other. If it hadn't of been for Quatre that day he would of died. And together him and Quatre fell asleep.
*Flashback*
"Hey get back here brat!!!!!"
The small boy laughed and he smirked back over his shoulder as he ran forward. Of course if he was looking backwards he was running blindly forward and he ran bang straight into someone.
A blond boy stared at the chestnut longed hair boy laying on the ground before him.
"I'm so sorry. Please I didn't mean..."
"Get him!"
The boy's head snapped up and he growled at the other boy.
"Outta my way!" He pushed the blond aside and hurried off limping.
The boy watched him go.
"Quatre?" A tall man placed his hand on his son's shoulder.
"I think I hurt that boy. He bumped into me and when he ran away he was limping." Quatre said softly and he turned his large chibi eyes to his father.
"He'll be alright. Just leave it be."
Just as those words left his mouth there was a loud scream and Quatre tugged away from his father's grip and raced in the direction the boy had ran. Loud footsteps behind him told him his father was following.
In the grip of some rather fat men was the small boy that had run into Quatre early.
"Lemme go!" The boy screamed trying to kick the men but having no effect.
"You are a thief and we only have one way of dealing with thieves!" One of the men sneered his eyes running over the trapped boy.
"Let him go." Quatre's father stepped forward.
"This is none of your business Old Man." One glared at Mr. Winner but he stood calmly.
"I'm making it my business." He said coolly. "Put the boy down."
"He stole from us. We're taken back what is ours."
"What did he steal?"
"A loaf of bread and some apples."
Mr. Winner dug into his pockets and pulled out a handful of loose change. He threw it at the men.
"There is your money. Let him go."
With no other reason to keep hold of the boy they let him fall onto the ground and they walked off after kicking the fallen boy again.
"Steal from us again and it will be the last time you do."
Quatre hurried forward and tried to help the wheezing boy up but he was pushed away. The boy was far stronger than he looked. He lifted his head and glared at Quatre with burning violet eyes. "I didn't need your help."
"From our point of view it looked like you did."
"Well, your point of view is wrong." He pushed himself to his feet and tried to walk away but his legs gave way beneath him.
"Let us help you." Quatre plead as the boy sat there in the dirt breathing heavily.
"So you can take me back there? Fuck off."
Mr. Winner strolled forward and pulled the boy up roughly.
"No body talks to my son that way. If you don't want our help fine." Mr. Winner threw the boy back into the dirt and turned on his heels. "Come Quatre."
The blond boy gave the boy one last lingering look and turned to follow his father when he heard a coughing sound. He turned round to see the boy on all fours coughing up blood onto the floor.
"Father!"
The boy didn't protest as Mr. Winner gathered him in his arms and took him to a hospital.
*End flashback*
Duo and Quatre woke a few hours later when two little children came running in shouting,
"He's been! He's been!"
After shooing the two hyperactive kids out Duo turned to Quatre.
"If you hadn't been there that day when we first met back on L2, I would have been dead in 12 hours."
Quatre slipped out of bed.
"Yeah, good thing we were there huh? I better go get dressed."
Quatre left and Duo sat down on the bed.
*Flashback*
"Will he be ok Doctor?" Mr. Winner asked staring at the boy on the bed.
"It's hard to say. I doubt he will live through the night."
But the boy against all odds did.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Quatre Raberba Winner."
"Long name ain't it?" The boy laughed.
"What's your name?"
"Duo. Duo Maxwell."
"Bit of a weird one isn't it?"
"Quatre, time for you to leave."
"K papa. Bye Duo."
As Quatre left the room the violet-eyed boy sat up in bed.
"Am I gonna die? Cause I'm not scared off Death." Duo asked Mr. Winner.
"Why aren't you scared of Death?"
"I have nothing to live for."
"Well, how about I give you something to live for?"
And he did.
*Flashback*
A week later Duo was on a shuttle going to Earth with Quatre and his father to start a new life.
*End flashback*
Duo raised a hand to his heart. He could feel the steady beat of it and he smiled. "So much for a short life." He smirked as if he was smirking at Shinigami himself.
"What are you doing?"
Duo turned to the door and smiled at his lover.
"Bout to get dressed."
"Hurry up then or I'll open your presents for you!"
Duo grabbed a pillow and threw it at Heero who ducked and ran off laughing.
Duo's smile suddenly vanished and a long forgotten pain clutched at his heart.
It had been ten years since Duo had last felt like this, he coughed and raised his hand to his mouth and coughed some more. Lucky there wasn't any trace of blood on his hand and he took a few deep breaths.
Last time that had happened he had been told he would die in 12 hours, last time he hadn't had anything to live for.
Although there was no sign of blood on his hand Duo could still taste it in his mouth and he headed into the bathroom and washed his mouth and throat out. He spat the water in to the sink, sighing in relief when no blood came up.
"What's wrong with me? The doctors told me that I was cured. Maybe my body is just reaction to the line of thoughts." Shaking his head Duo quickly washed himself and pulled some clean clothes on and headed downstairs.
* * *
"What took you so long?" Quatre asked when Duo finally showed up in the large living room.
"I needed a bath." Duo lied and he crossed over and sat down beside Heero's legs.
"Can we open them now Mummy?" Kasper asked and at a nod from his mother all the young kids jumped in and started pulling out presents for everyone.
Duo watched the whole thing with half closed eyes. He felt so tried even though he had just had a really long and good night sleep. He coughed again, his chest heaved as if there was something stuck and he couldn't get it out of his throat. He could feel Heero's prussian eyes on him and he looked up and smiled.
"Are you alright?" Heero asked.
Duo nodded. "I'm fine."
"Duo, Duo, Duo!!!" Midde screamed and she hurried to him holding out a small box.
"For me?"
She nodded and Duo took the box off her. Everyone turned to look at him as he carefully opened the small box and pulled the lid off.
"Keys?"
"Read the note." Mrs. Winner smiled at her son and Duo picked the note up that laid beneath the keys.
"These will be very useful once you have gotten your license through the post. Well done on passing your test." Duo looked up with bright shining eyes. "You got me a motorcycle!?"
"Yes."
All thoughts of his past and the illness he had once had flew out of his mind as he raced across the room and hugged his mother tightly and then his father.
"Now go sit down, you can have a go on it later."
"Where is it?" Duo asked puzzled as to how his parents could keep something like this from him.
"Hidden. Quatre will show you later, now go sit down."
For a long while the two lovers sat side-by-side watching the Winner family exchange gifts. Duo whispered into Heero.
"I've got your real present upstairs. I'll show you tonight." As Kasper came forward and handed Heero his gift from Duo.
Heero eyed the present scared as to what it is. He opened it carefully and his eyes widen at the black object in the box.
Quatre and Duo both burst out laughing and Heero glared at Duo.
"What are you saying about me?" He asked the two brothers.
"I thought you could use it when you're at university away from me." Duo said sweetly.
"A Dildo?"
Duo just kissed Heero's hand. "You're welcome."
Heero shook his head and the present giving continued until Heero stood up and moved to the centre of the room.
The room fell silently and the whole of the Winner family fixed their gaze upon Heero.
"I was told not to mention any thing about this but I wanted it to be perfect and I wanted to do it when he is around the people he loves. And I need to ask his father as well."
Heero turned to Duo and waved him over. A little confused Duo joined his lover centre stage and Heero took his hand and got down on to one knee. Duo, who was looking away and blushing, didn't notice Heero's position or Heero reach into his pocket and pulled out a small black jewellery box.
"Duo Maxwell?"
Duo looked at Heero who raised the box and flipped the box open.
"Will you marry me?"
TBC...
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