Deciding to tell the others turned out to be far easier than actually telling them. Hariel thought after talking it through with Heero it would be easy. After all he had gone through it before. Plus, he had the support of Heero himself.

Unfortunately, his courage kept failing him and he put the issue further and further back. Heero kept shooting him glances whenever he knew Hariel was about to tell one of the others, waiting for the moment. But it kept passing.

Finally, one evening at dinner Heero squeezed his knee comfortingly. Then he turned to the rest and spoke the words Hariel both needed and feared.

"Hariel and I need to speak with you." He told the others.

Quatre set his utensils down neatly on his plate. Giving his entire focus. Wufei looked up from his meal and laid his utensils next to his plate. Trowa had been taking a drink but he put his glass down and looked to them. And Duo looked up, not releasing his utensils but paying attention to the conversation all the same.

Hariel straightened under the combined gaze and took a deep breath. He could do this. They were friends. And if one of them did not want to be his mate then he could always find another. Mates weren't set in stone.

"What is it?" Quatre asked.

Hariel took a quick drink of water before speaking.

"A couple of months ago I went to speak to Liam. I wanted to know why I wasn't getting pregnant yet. Liam told me that sometimes Valkierions need more than one mate to be balanced enough to get pregnant. We did a ritual to see how many mates I need to get pregnant and how many I need to balance."

"There's a difference?" Wufei asked.

"He can get pregnant and still not be completely balanced." Heero explained

"Balancing only affects magic levels and accessibility."

"I need to mates to get pregnant and ten mates to balance." Hariel finished.

"We talked that night and decided Hariel needs to be balanced." Heero contributed.

"So Heero asked if anyone called out to my Valkierion side."

"One of us does?" Quatre asked.

"Actually, you all do, along with two members of the Alliance and two refugees from Britain. If you don't want to be mates I can understand…"

Heero placed a hand on Hariel's shoulder.

"It is your choice to join our mate ship. Unlike other creatures in the magical world Valkierion's don't have destined mates. Only people that call out to them."

"What are the mate ship dynamics?" Quatre asked.

Hariel frowned slightly. There were many possible answers to that question, depending upon the mate ship in question. So, he decided to answer the best he could.

"First mates are first protector. When there is only the one they take all spots in the, hierarchy? all the duties the mates instinctively fill. But when there are more than one mates then they hold off the attackers and command the others. It's why finding a first mate is so hard and someone who isn't first mate material can be a later mate.

"Second mates are the ones who get the rest of the clan out if there are any attacks. They tend to be stealthy and once sure the non-fighters in the clan are safe will return and ambush the enemy.

"Third mates are strategists. They can turn the situation to the favor of the clan. While the fourth mate tends to be the healer of the clan. And the fifth mate are protectors purely."

"What's the difference of being purely protector and the first and second mate?" Quatre asked.

"What about the rest of the dominants? What are their roles in the mate ship?" Duo asked.

"When you told us your mates you said you have ten mates but you only listed nine." Trowa said.

"Purely protectors don't just defend physically. They defend the clan through words and wit as well. If one of the clans gets in trouble with the law the fifth mate will most often act as lawyer. If a fledgling is being bullied the fifth mate will negotiate.

"Most Valkeirion's only have up to five mates. But the few records that a Valkeirion has over ten mates indicate that after the fifth mate the sixth mate will be another purely protector but of lesser degree than the fifth mate and on all the way down to the tenth mate being a lesser version of the first mate. The first five mates must mate in order, but once those bonds have set any following mates will slide into according bonds."

"What?" Duo asked.

"After the first five mates are bonded the next to bond may not be the sixth mate but the tenth one." Hariel tried again.

"As for the last mate. I don't know who it is. No one calls to me other than those I have mentioned. Which isn't to say I may not run into them tomorrow.

Another aspect of the mate ship is the decision for the other dominants to be involved. Some mate ships don't allow it, because the dominants are to dominant and would kill each other to prove dominance. But other mate ships are able to. The other dominants pairing off occasionally. It all depends on the mate ship and the dominants involved."

By the time the discussion was over it was getting late. Hariel had to be in work early the next day to meet with Triezze. Triezze may be his stepfather, but when it came to work he was first and foremost Hariel's boss. Work and personal business did not mix with the two and both were happy with the arrangement.

He excused himself from the others. He did not expect an answer so quickly. It was a lot to take in and a lot to handle. He would not pressure them, he just hoped the news did not affect their interactions with him if any of them didn't want to mate with him.

Hariel stared down at the file Triezze had given him. He knew that handing this over to the healer/doctor would have been extremely difficult. It showed that he truly did not want work and their personal lives to mix. But it also meant that he was walking a very fine line. France was far too close to Britain for comfort. Not to mention the fact that many of them agreed with their neighbors.

Looking up at the man he raised an eyebrow.

"There was an emergency on L2 that Doctor Poe had to rush off to last week. Her last report was that she couldn't leave for at least another week. No one else is qualified enough to aid them and if we wait the casualties would greatly increase. It's not ideal, but it's the best we can do for right now."

Hariel knew he was right. He had taken two separate sets of oaths for his career. Just because he wasn't even twenty-five didn't mean he wasn't qualified. But it was a large risk. And yet to help these people was far more important for him.

"The file says there will be a team?" he asked.

"It's far too dangerous to send you alone. Not just for obvious reasons, but also because there is a chance the culprits might return." Hariel nodded and shut the folder.

"Who will my protectors be?" he asked. He hoped it wouldn't be agent Dyksen but also knew he could not complain if it was.

"Agent Dyksen, Maxwell and Barton."

Hariel nodded and stood. He wasn't happy Dyksen was going, but the other two he didn't mind. Hariel didn't understand how Dyksen was still alive, his brain seemed quite small and how he ever rose in the ranks was beyond him. He still sought to get into Hariel's good graces and tried on several accounts to bring tension between Hariel's and Heero's relationship. Though he wasn't sure about Duo and Trowa. Did they want anything to do with him after last night's conversation?

"I'll get the supplies I'll need right away and leave instructions for the rest. I'll meet the others in the entrance." He replied nodding to his boss in respect.

Getting everything ready didn't take long and he found himself at the reception desk waiting for Dyksen. Of course, Duo and Trowa had been as quick as him. Both had smiled at him when they met up and he had relaxed It seemed they would not hold the conversation from last night over him. That did not mean they wanted to be his mates though.

After five minutes Hariel was becoming annoyed. If it wasn't for the fact he knew Duo was more comfortable in a supporting role and that Trowa was chosen mainly for his medical knowledge he would have suggested leaving. There were dying agents and innocents who needed their help. Unfortunately, he would be in a lot of trouble and the risk didn't out way the need. Yet.

When the agent finally arrived, he sent a glare at Duo and Trowa muttering about imbeciles keeping him waiting. Hariel clenched his fists and counted to ten to try to calm down. Already he was getting a headache.

The trip to their destination was arduous. Dyksen attempted a couple of times to isolate Hariel. Uncomfortable with the pushy agent Hariel sought refuge with Duo or Trowa. Finally, Duo had Hariel sit in a corner and sat on his free side. Trowa sat across from them. Blocking the insufferable agent.

"You should rest. You'll need it." Trowa stated.

Knowing the older man was right Hariel closed his eyes and dozed lightly. He did not trust Agent Dyksen enough to fall completely asleep.

They landed and Hariel was moving. There had been a series of events that ended with one of the Preventer bases in turmoil. How an accident occurring in an explosion that demolished half the building and starting a fire that destroyed half the remaining structure was beyond him. And honestly, he did not have the time to ponder such questions.

Hariel was the only doctor on site as the explosion had taken place in the medical wing. All the medical staff assigned to this base were either dead or severely injured. In fact, only three of the medical staff were alive as they were on the edge of the explosion.

Duo and Trowa immediately jumped to work, cordoning off a med bay and sifting through the debris for survivors. Hariel fell into his role as healer. Once the two other teams of four that Triezze called to their aid arrived Trowa and a woman who admitted to some medical knowledge joined Hariel as his assistants. Hariel did not care or pay attention to the last member of their team. He had far more important things to do then coddle the imbecile.

Agent Dyksen did not enjoy the lack of attention. He attempted to enter the med bay by insisting he was hurt. When his attempts to force his way into Hariel's presence lost an agent and nearly a second Hariel had enough. He asked the agents who were helping to locate the injured and patrolling the base to keep Dyksen out of the tent.

"Even if you have to lock him up." Hariel insisted.

"His whining about bruises and pushing at me has lost an agent and nearly killed a second. Unless you all want them all to die I suggest you keep him out at all costs."

In the end they locked the nuisance up. Hariel got a lot more done and soon the first week was over. Sally Poe arrived to take a turn while Hariel got some needed rest.

Hariel had only taken catnaps for the past week due to the severity of the injured and the amount. With Trowa's and the second agents help he managed some rest at least. Still, once Sally arrived he slept for two days.

Waking up early the third morning Hariel washed and dressed. Duo surprised him by arriving with some food.

"Ya should eat." He pressed.

Hariel smiled at his old friend and began eating. Duo leant back and filled Hariel in on the goings ons. They would stay for a couple more weeks before replacements would come in and they would return home. Hariel couldn't wait, he missed his husband. The only thing that appeased Hariel's Valkeirion nature was the fact Duo and Trowa were possible mates.

After eating Hariel returned to the Med bay. He and Sally agreed that he would work during the day while she worked at night. The older doctor waved and went to bed.

Hariel's routine of work and sleep was interrupted at the end of their second week when Duo joined him for dinner. Duo was oddly quiet until the meal was done. He met Hariel's eyes and Hariel knew.

"You want to be my mate?"

He had meant it as a statement, but it came out as a question. Duo smiled crookedly.

"You have ta ask?"

Hariel supposed he didn't. He knew Duo had, had feelings for him since before his wedding to Heero. He had wondered though if Duo would agree since Hariel essentially chose Heero over him. Did the braided man not feel angry over it?

As if sensing his thoughts Duo spoke.

"I wanted you as mine for years. Even when you told me Heero was your first mate. I knew nothing could come of it, I didn't expect anything too. But that didn't change my feelings for you."

Duo seemed to struggle, but Hariel didn't need any more words. He knew what Duo meant and he accepted it. Besides, he had kind of hoped Duo would approach him. Duo had resonated most strongly as Hariel's second.

Where Heero was strong and fierce Duo was wild and passionate. Their mating was a frenzy of emotions that built until he was tipping over the edge and losing coherency. He slumpt against his second mate when it was over. Sated and luxuriating in the arms that held him firm.

The last week past and Hariel's team returned home. Unfortunately, they did not go straight to their home. They needed to address the issue of Agent Dyksen.

"Agent Dyksen says you kept him waiting until you were late. That you isolated him on the way to the base. And that when he sought medical aid he was denied and held prisoner." Triezze said mildly. He had each one gives their version of the story.

"He was over five minutes late to the meeting point. On the way there he refused to respect me and kept trying to force himself in my personal space after multiple tellings off. He wouldn't respect the rules of the Med bay and as a result I lost one agent and nearly another."

Hariel wasn't entirely blaming the Agent. He had a lot of guilt to go through with himself. However, he had been trained to work through it. What kind of Healer/doctor would he be if he did not mourn the deaths of the patients he could not help?

"After the second matter when all he had was a splinter that he could have easily dealt with I had the others keep him away. I didn't have the time or resources to attend to him with so many lives on the line and two field medics."

Trieze listened silently before having them leave.

"We will be looking into the explosion and Agent Dyksen's actions. Until then you three have the time off."

The manor was empty when they arrived. Trowa smiled and disappeared. The evening before they returned home he had told Hariel that he too would join the courtship if acceptable. But Hariel and Trowa both knew Trowa was not third mate. If he agreed to it Quatre would be third and Trowa would be fourth.

Duo pulled Hariel to the braided man's room. Hariel smiled and sank into the passion his second mate offered. He was not balanced, but he knew with Duo's acceptance he could get pregnant. The hope once more rekindled inside of him as he relished Duo's wild and nearly frantic overtures.

I know I've switched Quatre and Trowa, but this is the way the fic wanted to be written. Still, other than the order and duties the numbers don't really play a huge part. I am currently working on chapter nineteen: hopefully soon I'll be past the rush for mates and we can get down to the war and the rest of the story. I am always grateful for any ideas you may have, even if I don't use it in this story. I never know what may be said that would give me inspiration.

Disclaimor:

I don't own Harry Potter or Gundam Wing. I'm not looking to make money. I write this for fun.

Review Replies:

Wolfawaken;

Yes Hariel learned about mates, but only the bare basics. Creature mating habits differ, so they only give an overview and expect the parents to go into depths. It's kind of like the sex education schools give, clinical and scientific. Unfortunately Lily is learning alongside Hariel at times, neither knew about the balance. Thank you for your review and question.

Lover of Emotions:

Thank you for your review, I appreciate your thoughts on Hariel's mates. Despite it not turning out the way you suggested I hope you continue to read and review.