The Meaning of Life Part 15
Suddenly feeling light-headed again, Duo leaned heavier against Heero as he stared at the image before him. While the details were not there to make out the gender, it was perfectly clear that where the main embryo had been, there were three growing fetuses inside of him.
Just beginning to take a real shape, the forms were starting to show signs of heads and appendages growing.
No wonder his body was acting up so much. When Hilde snickered, the neko realized that he had spoken that comment aloud. "One baby alone would have had an impact enough," the obstetrician smirked. "But three on top of the stress that you're dealing with certainly was enough to send your system off tilt."
Cobalt eyes still on the image in his partner's hand, all Heero could whisper was, "Triplets." Looking closer, he smiled lovingly on the shot of his children. A sudden thought ran through his mind as he frowned in confusion. Turning to Sally, he stated, "I did not think that they would be this developed just over a month."
"Ah," the braided doctor nodded. "Very good. And that is the very thing that also spurned our interest. It appears that because of the DNA structure in Duo consists of a cat's makeup, the progression of the pregnancy is moving along a few weeks more rapidly than a normal human pregnancy."
Instantly, concern and fear filled the couple's eyes and Howard raised a hand while reassuring, "All looks to be well with the babies' developments. The circumstances may be unusual, but the progression is going on normally in the adjustment to those elements."
When his friends blinked in confusion, Treize translated with a grin, "In other words, for a neko, everything is moving along just as it should. We'll just be dealing with a much shorter pregnancy than the nine months we had expected in the beginning."
Swallowing roughly, Duo asked, "How much shorter?"
Hilde chewed on the inside of her cheek before answering, "We honestly don't know. And since you're the first male neko to ever be pregnant, we are really shooting in the dark here. Right now, it looks as though the growth is about twice as fast as a standard pregnancy. Whether it stays that way or not, we will have to keep monitoring you to know for certain. Not to mention that we need to keep track on what the growth of three little ones inside of you will play in your own health."
Never one to like being under a microscope, the braided teenager accepted whatever came if it meant that his babies would be safe. With a firm nod, he accepted, "All right."
Raising a hand, Heero inquired, "Let's just say that there is no slow down in the babies' growth. We could be looking at the babies being born in five or six months, then?"
"If things move on as they are, that would be the longest wait for them," Sally responded. "So you could very well be looking at a late October or mid-November delivery." Their eyes widening, the couple turned to each other in shock.
After a long pause, the artist smirked, "Looks like we better put a rush on the start of our house." His head still swimming with all of this new information, Duo could only let out a small snort at that.
Folding his arms, Howard broke the moment by half-heartedly glaring at his cat-eared friend. "Now," he began in a stern tone, "As far as your collapse, your electrolytes were off the chart. I know that this trial has been stressful, but how well have you been eating and resting these last few days?"
Duo flinched, tall ears and tail sagging a bit as he admitted, "Not... very well. I could have been better."
Pleased that the boy was at least honest, the old man patted his head with a warm, "Well, let's take this as a lesson learned. You are going to be going through a great deal these next few months, so there is no need to make it more difficult by not taking care of yourself."
Speaking up, Hilde suggested, "My recommendation would be that as soon as this hearing is over tomorrow, you take at least a week of not doing much of anything. I am not demanding bed rest at the moment, but you should take it easy. Plenty of rest and good, healthy meals from this point on." Both Sally and Treize nodded their heads in agreement of the diagnosis.
One of the few things the neko liked less than examinations was 'taking it easy'. There was just so much to do. But, he understood and accepted what was being asked of him. In the end, it was all for the best for his steadily growing family.
Arms and tail wrapped around his waist, Duo grinned, "Okay. I'll relax when this is all over." Satisfied by that, the medical team smiled.
"Then on that note, we'll give you both some time alone whilst we inform the others what is going on," Treize stated. Tilting his head, he added, "So long as that is all right with the both of you?"
Happy to finally get a moment to themselves, the couple eagerly handed the explanation task to their friends. As worried as the lot still waiting had been, they needed to be told that all was fine.
Offering winks and small waves, the scientist and doctors headed from the room. The last to step out, Howard closed the door after him.
Quickly spinning to face his lover, Duo exclaimed, "Triplets, Heero! We have a litter!" Throwing his arms around the laughing artist's neck, he clung on tightly while Heero wrapped him up in return.
When they pulled away, the beaming parents-to-be smiled as they paged through the images of the trio. "This means three times the feedings," Heero acknowledged.
"Three times the diaper changes," the neko chuckled deeply.
Slightly wincing, the Japanese youth thought aloud, "Three times the crying in the middle of the night."
Duo sighed as he lowered the pictures in his hands. Glowing, he purred quietly, "Three times the hugs and kisses."
Unable to help the wide smile on his own face, Heero whispered, "Yea." Lightly wrapping his arms around his lover's waist, he rested his head on his shoulder with a soft, "It's going to be great."
Humming, the the cat-eared boy leaned back against his partner. Kissing his cheek, Duo replied, "Yea. It will be."
* * * * * *
As soon as the couple stepped into the living room to reunite with their friends and family, Duo's first order of business was to kneel at Danny's side and hug him. Getting over the last of his relieved sniffles, the little boy returned the embrace.
Their tails twining together, the braided neko whispered, "Sorry that I scared you back there, pal." Pulling back, Danny just gave him a smile and nodded as his big brother rubbed the top of his head.
Noin and Zechs quickly moved in to embrace their son, unable to really trust their voices at that moment, so immense was their relief. Danielle and Trent joined Heero with small grins of excitement over the news of the multiple babies. Finally, they all had something to celebrate for a time.
Their band of friends that had been gathered took their leave along with the nekos, returning to the Yuy-Clark residence to spend the night there. It had been agreed upon by all that the couple needed to take in the latest news with their families. They could always get caught up later.
Looking over the ultrasound images that Duo had proudly handed over, Noin gasped and beamed. "My goodness," she whispered. "You know, all of this was so hard to comprehend until you actually see it." Zechs chuckled beside her as he peered over her shoulder to see their grandchildren.
With a few pictures in their own possession, Danielle and Trent shook her heads in awe. "One baby under these circumstances was a miracle enough... but three... it's incredible," the red-haired lawyer commented quietly. Snickering, she turned towards Noin and told her, "We're going to be getting a lot of calls for help looking after these little ones."
"I'm looking forward to it," the former maid giggled. Winking at her husband, she commented, "It'll be good practice for when we have a baby of our own."
Zechs smirked, "By the time that happens, Duo will be a seasoned pro that you'll be looking to for advice." Noin laughed, knowing the truth of that. "It will be nice that our children will have their cousins to grow up with." All around, heads nodded at that sentiment.
His face nearly splitting with a wide smile, Danny looked up to his brother and raised a finger. "So now you have to come up with three names," he informed in a serious tone.
Duo folded his arms as his tail swished behind him with an amused, "Oh, don't worry. We won't forget. In fact, we'll make sure that the names we do pick get your approval first." He glanced from the corner of his violet eye to his smiling lover. Heero winked to him with a grin in silent acceptance of that idea.
Gasping, the boy shouted excitedly, "Really?!" He opened his arms as his brother nodded. Hugging his brother's neck when he was hoisted up, the little neko's prior fears were completely forgotten in light of his newfound excitement. A purr rumbling in his chest, he promised, "I'll make sure they're real good names!"
Heero wrapped an arm around his partner's shoulders and chuckled, "Yes, you will. We wouldn't trust that role to anyone else." Beaming all over again, Danny reached over to wrap his arms around the artist's neck in appreciation.
With a deep breath, Trent frowned, "As much as I hate to break this up, we really should head back home. "We have an early day tomorrow, so we better try and get as much rest tonight as we can."
On that cue, Howard and Hilde peered into the room as the last two of their friends that remained.
Medical bag in hand, the obstetrician frowned, "I wish that I could be there at the hearing, myself, but I am on call with the office. Besides that, my sudden appearance in your support camp the day after your collapse would not be a good idea. If a reporter was curious enough, they could look back into my background and figure out my line of work."
"Good point," Heero winced. "The last thing we need is something for the media to build another story around." There was no argument there from anyone else in the room.
Nodding firmly, Hilde handed out a business card to the expectant grandparents. "If any of you have any further questions or concerns, don't hesitate to call me." She gently patted her friends' backs on her way for the door, telling them, "You already have my number, so be sure to get a hold of me if anything changes before our next meeting in a couple of weeks."
Duo and Heero smiled gratefully and waved the young woman off as they and their families thanked her and wished her a good night before she disappeared. From there, the group moved to embrace and offer their words of appreciation to Howard before they left his residence.
Curled up together in the back seat of the Merquise vehicle, Heero and Duo continued to page through the ultrasound images of the babies. Bright grins on their faces, they discussed their latest news quietly the whole trip home.
"So after tomorrow, you're going to be sure and follow the doctors' orders to take it easy, right?" the artist smirked as he pulled his lover closer. Lightly brushing back the long bangs that were shielding the violet eyes turning up towards him, he warned, "Don't think that I won't take matters into my own hands if you go pushing yourself over the next couple of weeks."
His braided head shaking, Duo chuckled, "Don't worry, Dad. I promise I'll be good." Satisfied with that, Heero kissed his brow before lowering his cheek between his partner's tall, furry ears.
Physically and mentally drained from their adventurous day, they fell asleep before they reached their home.
* * * * * *
It was like déjà vu all over again the following morning as Duo was surrounded by his loved ones on the way up the stairs of the Supreme Justices' court. Once again surrounded by reporters and cameramen, the neko had an easier time blocking out the sights and sounds while keeping his head lowered.
Some of the shouted questions included how long the defense lawyers thought it would be before a verdict was reached. Others inquired what the verdict may be. Still more journalists yelled out to hear from Duo how he was feeling and the reason for his collapse.
Finally, back inside the large building, the small army made its way into the sealed off waiting room. Danielle and Trent hurried off for a requested meeting with the Justices to discuss the health of their client and if he was up to waiting out their decision.
Once it was made clear that all was well, the judges closed off their meeting quarters to resume their deliberation.
The first two hours that followed ticked by slowly. Card and board games were played to occupy the mind and the time. Moving even slower, the third hour drew out even longer. Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like days at the start of an eternity.
Finally, well into the fourth hour, the bailiff peeked his head into the room to announce that the decision had been made and court was resuming.
A swarm of butterflies flitting around in his stomach, Duo bit his lip and accepted all of the hugs and kisses from his supporters before they headed out to return to their benches. The last to leave, Heero kissed his lover soundly. "Love you," he whispered.
Smiling, the neko replied in kind with a soft purr, "Love you, too." Reluctantly, the artist turned and headed from the room.
"Deep breath," Danielle urged soothingly when she and her husband were alone with their client. Gently rubbing the teenager's back, she kept a warm grin on her face until his tense shoulders eased.
Only when Duo announced that he was ready did his lawyers turn on their heels and lead the way out into the hallway. Swallowing roughly, he kept his head slightly downward as to not pay attention to his surroundings when they entered the courtroom. Sounds of muttering all around made his ears twitch in the directions of the sources.
Septum was quietly whistling to himself as he sat at his table, something that he did when he was nervous. Two of the few that knew that little detail of the man, Danielle and Trent smiled to each other. If prosecutor was showing signs of tension, then that meant he was just as uncertain of the outcome than they were.
If nothing else, it was good to see Septum squirm for a change.
Careful to not do the same, the defense team remained poised and unreadable as they took their own seats. Looking over his shoulder, Duo sought out the grinning faces on him and took what relief from that he could.
Biting his lip, the neko made his tail slip between the cracks in the short railing to reach Heero and wrap around his wrist. Gently taking it in his hand, the artist mouthed, 'I love you' to his lover with a warm smile.
At the sound of the door at the front of the room opening, everyone looked up as the bailiff stepped out. "All rise," the dark-skinned man bellowed, his voice once again echoing off the walls.
There was a loud shuffling sound as the large crowd stood at attention. Single-file, the Justices left their chambers to move for their respective podiums at the sound of the bailiff stating, "The honorable Supreme Justices of the Earth and Colonies presiding."
Last to reach his place at the middle pillar, Justice Harris focused on the large audience filling the lower and upper sections and informed, "We are going to simply get to the point of the matter. If the defense and prosecution will remain standing for the verdict, everyone else may be seated." He along with his fellow Justices took their seats as the audience did the same.
His throat constricting, Duo had to make a couple attempts at swallowing before he could get it down. To his right, his lawyers kept their heads high in readiness for the verdict. Arms folded behind his back, Septum took a deep breath.
"First of all," Harris began while turning to face the neko, "We are all relieved that you are faring well today, Mister Maxwell. Your being here today after your scare is more than commendable." And at that, the prosecutor's shoulders sagged a bit in defeat. Blinking his wide violet eyes, the braided teenager smiled and nodded firmly in appreciation.
That said, Justice Harris took up his gavel and cleared his throat. "This was a very difficult matter for those of us on this panel," he informed. "We had put ourselves into this position by not looking at every angle the first time we met under these circumstances. Now, we are up against a rock and a hard place with the life of another in the balance of it all, and for that we are truly sorry."
Instantly, Duo's ears and tails drooped deeply at those words. Having heard similar disclaimers in his days of early practice, he knew what was coming and the world moved slowly as he turned numb. Everything around him faded away as the white-haired man raised his gavel as though he were moving in molasses.
Vaguely, he heard the man announce, "We of the High Court Supreme Justices hereby deem the motion for a neko to marry, or join with a normal human denied."
Against the sound of startled cries, cheers, shouts and moans, the gavel was slammed down onto its base to echo off the walls.
TBC...
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