"I am NOT a marsupial, Doctor!" Garak fumed defensively.

"But you have a-" Julian attempted, but was cut short when Garak held up his hand.

Garak had managed to contain his anger already and replied simply, "Pouch, yes," as if it were as natural a part of someone’s anatomy as ears.

"That serves the same purpose as a marsupial’s pouch…" Julian continued off of Garak’s confirmation.

"Not precisely," Garak said suppressing a grin. His anger had luckily converted to amusement at his husband’s obvious shock.

"Then what is its function?" Julian asked slightly irritated, beginning to suspect that Garak was taking some delight in all this.

"It incubates the egg," Garak divulged. His mirth was starting to calm a bit because of the seriousness of the issue at hand.

"Egg?" Julian asked incredulously.

"Cardassians ARE reptilian you know," Garak reminded.

"Well, some reptilian species give birth to live young."

"As do we. The birth doesn’t actually occur until the child bursts forth from the shell and exits the pouch."

"Why are both a shell AND pouch needed?"

"If the egg exits the pouch for any reason the fetus can develop on it’s own. After the second trimester there are no side effects to this provided the egg is kept well incubated. It can exit the pouch after the first trimester technically but it would be much smaller than a normal sized child would be when it was born and there is a much higher risk for defects."

"How long is each trimesters then?"

"Each one lasts approximately 4 months."

Julian raised an eyebrow at this. The vast differences in physiology between their two species continued to both surprise and intrigue him. "Life on ancient Cardassia must have been extremely hard for your species to develop like this," he said, finally starting to grasp a hold of what was really going on.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Captain, we're picking up a Cardassian Keldon class ship on long range sensors!" Worf said.

"Onscreen," Captain Sisko ordered.

A foreboding image of a large Cardassian ship appeared on the screen, escorted by a small fleet of Hedeki scout ships. The Hedeki class ship often reminded Sisko of some kind of odd Stingray-like space creature, except the back looked more like a giant pincher. It was most likely designed that way to evoke fear in the enemy. He would never admit it, but it certainly did that to an extent at least. The Keldon itself was a sight to behold. The most powerful known class of ship that Cardassia has. This ship must carry someone of importance, especially with such a large escort- there must be at least half a dozen Hedekis surrounding it.

"We're being hailed," Worf informed, as the image on the view screen changed to the interior of the ship.

"My name is Gul Ocett," the woman on the screen said, making it seem more like a command than a statement.

"Captain-" Sisko started.

"Benjamin Sisko," Ocett finished with a smile that made Sisko shudder inwardly.

"What can I do for you, Gul?" Sisko asked diplomatically, suppressing his growing apprehension. At least it wasn't Dukat.

Ocett’s smile grew slightly to one of amusement as she replied, "The question is, what can I do for you Captain."

A slightly confused look briefly appeared on Sisko's face, but he masked it. What is she up to, he wondered? "Perhaps you'd like to dock and we can speak in person?"

"A very gracious invitation, Captain. I shall accept."

"Very well, you're cleared for docking at bay 3."

 

Ocett gave Sisko a curt nod and cut the transmission.

"O'Brien, Worf, you’re with me." Sisko ordered and all three stepped into the turbolift.

"Docking Ring," Sisko ordered and the turbolift lurched into motion. "Are you ever going to get this thing fixed?" Sisko asked in an annoyed tone.

"I have the food replicators on the command deck to fix, one of the holosuites in Quarks is acting up again, and the power is out on an entire level of the habitat ring. Nothing ever works correctly on this damn station. Bloody Cardassian technology."

"Chief, we're going to greet one of those 'Bloody Cardassians' right now. I expect you to treat our guest with respect."

"Of course, Sir," O'Brien said dutifully. "But uh- she’s not an easy one to deal with."

"You know her?"

"We ran into her ship once when we served on the Enterprise," O’Brien informed as he indicated Worf.

"Tell me everything," Sisko ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian gave Garak a look betraying his anxiety. "Perhaps that’s why the males in your species are able to get pregnant…Why didn’t you warn me about this, Elim? Pregnancies must be planned for in advance! Preventative measures need to be taken so that you can plan for a family and be adequately prepared, not have it suddenly dropped on you like this!"

"I assure you, doctor, had I thought it even REMOTELY possible I would indeed have taken such precautions."

Julian stared at his husband in slight bewilderment.

"Ours is the first known case of an inter-species male Cardassian pregnancy," Garak expanded.

Julian sighed and sat down on the couch giving Garak a slight nod of acceptance, "All right. So explain to me, how does conception occur?"

Garak couldn’t help but grin at the question, "Well, unlike with females, there is no menstruation involved. The eggs lay dormant in a sac inside our bodies until needed. When a male Cardassian has a male lover he simply takes a yearly injection to ensure that the hormone needed to release those eggs isn’t produced."

When he saw Julian nod, he continued, "When a male becomes sufficiently aroused, the hormone is produced and it stimulates the egg’s release so that fertilization can occur. After that, the fetus makes it’s way to the pouch much like it would the woman’s uterus."

Julian listened intently, fascinated.

"So the body just absorbs the egg if it isn’t fertilized?"

"Yes. The pouch itself isn’t even detectable until the hormones activate because of the developing child. Then it starts expanding to accommodate."

"So it’s a soft shell, I would take it?" Julian said rubbing his brow in an attempt to ease his oncoming headache.

"Yes, but it hardens when exposed to air- another safety precaution for if the egg should exit the pouch. It grows in size as the child does, until the last trimester. Multiple births are not uncommon."

Julian’s face turned ghostly white for the second time in an hour. "How many are we talking about here, Garak?"

"I suggest we go down to the infirmary and find that out."

Julian nodded and they exited their quarters hurriedly.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Welcome to Deep Space Nine," Sisko said graciously when Ocett and her aides stepped onto the station. "This is Miles O'Brien, chief of operations, and Lieutenant Commander Worf, strategic operations officer."

Ocett gave the three a disapproving glare at their lack of formal dress.

Sisko felt her glare, and guessed correctly. "Had we been aware of your arrival, we would have prepared a more formal greeting, Gul."

"A formal announcement of our arrival was not possible."

"I understand," Sisko said hiding his growing curiosity. "Mr. Worf will show you to your quarters, and after you're settled we can meet in the wardroom."

"I am familiar with the station Captain, an escort is not necessary," Ocett said, testing the level of trust Sisko was willing to put in her.

"Very well. Just send me a COMM. when you're ready to meet with me."

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak was unable to hide the feeling of complete shock when he spotted Ocett and her aides stroll proudly across the Promenade, as if it was still the middle of the Bajoran Occupation. They headed towards the infirmary.

"Garak? What is it?" Julian asked turning around to see what had his husband in such a state.

Ocett entered the infirmary, leaving her aides standing guard outside. "Why if it isn't Garak the exile," Ocett said with a sadistic grin.

"Ocett! I didn't thi-" Garak blurted before he had recovered.

"So, how has the Federation’s newest puppet been doing?" Ocett asked amusedly.

"Your career must not be going very well if Central Command is sending you on a mission to this garbage heap," Garak observed ignoring her question.

"Garbage heap!" Julian shouted indignantly.

"And of course, you brought your pet dogs with you," Garak added, indicating her aides.

Julian watched, unsure of how to react.

"But I still have missions, unlike you, Garak."

"Being a clothier has its own rewards. But by the looks of you, the years have not sat very well."

"At least I don't look like a vole."

"Really!" Garak said as if his feathers had been ruffled. "I expected something more intellectual than that from you."

"You're not worthy of anything more than the title 'vole', Garak. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have duties to attend to," Ocett said and stalked off, followed closely by her two aides.

"Well," Garak said rising from the bio-bed. "I had better get to the shop. I have a lot of orders to fill and I simply must get started." Garak headed out, leaving a very confused Julian behind.

"But Garak," Julian called after his husband’s shrinking back "What about the triplets?" The only response he received was Garak's silent retreat. ‘What's going on?’ he wondered. ‘Who is this Ocett, and what does she want with my husband?’

Julian stalked off to find out the answers.

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak entered his shop and went to the computer console. After tapping a few buttons and scanning through some information briefly, he exited and locked his shop, stalking off down the corridor.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian arrived at Garak’s shop, finding it dark and locked tight. He was just about to head off in search of his husband and the curious Cardassian visitor to the station, when a pregnant Bajoran woman collapsed. He immediately went to lend some aide.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ocett and her aides headed directly to Ops to get the meeting with Sisko over with. She declined a meeting with the entire senior staff, saying that the information she had to share was for him alone.

Ocett sat across from Sisko in his office with an aide on each side of her. She had to force back a feeling of revulsion at a Terran sitting in what should be Dukat's office - not that she had any fondness for Dukat. On the contrary, she despised those who put themselves above the State. If Dukat had been a better leader, he would not have lost this station at all…and to think, he lost it twice. If she had been the Prefect instead of him, the Occupation would have gone quite differently…

The silence was starting to get to Sisko and he picked up his baseball and started tossing it back and forth absently. ‘What does this woman want, and why is she remaining so quiet? Perhaps she is trying to test my patience…or maybe trying to convince herself to reveal the information she has to me.’

"Would you like a glass of Kanar?" Sisko asked politely. "I try to keep a bottle or two around here usually."

Ocett gave him a slight nod of acceptance, glad she had been shaken out of her thoughts by his voice. When he handed her the glass of Kanar, she started her speech.

"We are very pleased that relations between our peoples have improved to the point in which our species feel free to intermarry," Ocett said referring to Garak and Julian’s marriage.

‘Oh, I’m sure that you’re about as pleased about that as I am about the time Cassidy burnt my peppers,’ Sisko thought and tightened his lips so he could keep himself from grinning. When the moment had passed, he placed his glass of Kanar down in front of him and responded, "We always like to keep an open mind."

Ocett smiled at this remark and said, "That’s very good Captain, because that’s exactly what we’re asking for here. We’re interested in taking further measures to help ease diplomatic relations, and help alleviate racial prejudices on both sides."

Sisko gave the female Gul a skeptical look, but nodded for her to go on.

"So, we would like to extend an invitation to initiate an exchange program somewhat like the one you had with the Klingons. Except with students so that no subterfuge would be expected on either side."

"You want us to send a child to Cardassia?" Sisko asked, surprised.

"As would we, a Cardassian child to Earth."

"True," Sisko conceded. "I’ll have to discuss this matter with Starfleet Command."

Ocett nodded acceptance and rose from her chair. "We will be around enjoying the hospitality of your station- that is, unless we are unwelcome?" Ocett said with definite challenge in her voice.

"You’re welcome to stay as long as you like," Sisko said, forcing a smile as he walked Ocett to the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian left the pregnant Bajoran woman in sickbay in the capable hands of nurse Jabara, after checking her over to insure that she was not in serious danger. ‘Damned medical emergencies,’ Julian inwardly complained. ‘Gods knows what that Cardassian Gul and Garak had been up together all this time. He knew there was only once place his husband could be and that was wherever she happened to be.

"Computer, how many Cardassian life signs are on the station?"

"Four."

"And where are they located?"

"Habitat ring, section 19 Alpha, level 1."

~~~~~~~~~~

"It took you long enough to get here," Garak said when Ocett entered her assigned quarters. Her aides were standing guard outside her door.

Ocett hid her smile that Garak was there and chose to ignore him. She had hoped he was still adept enough to discover where she was staying and that he'd be there waiting for her, but she wasn't about to admit or show that to him. She poured herself a glass of Kanar from the bottle that had been left there to welcome her and sat down across the room from Garak, continuing to ignore him.

"I just love one-sided conversations," Garak said rising from his seat to pour himself a glass of the Kanar.

"It seems you've put on a few pounds, tailor," Ocett said to Garak as he poured his drink. "Getting fat and lazy like the Terrans?"

"At least I don't smell like a Klingon," Garak returned.

Ocett sneered at his comment, thinking the only thing worse than both the Terrans and the Bajorans was the Klingons, and Garak knew she thought that. She rose from her seat and walked over to his position to face him. "You have the manners of a gettle!" she snapped.

"And your hair looks like a family of voles uses it to nest in!"

Ocett took a step closer to him and replied, "Your fashion sense would make a Klingon seem like he's well dressed!"

Garak also took a step closer, and then decided to end the tirade. "You always were a very interesting friend. my dear," Garak said and held out his hand, palm out, towards her.

"As were you," she responded, placing her hand on his.

"Ah-ah-ah Garak," Ocett said in a slightly reprimanding tone as she noticed Garak about to take a sip of his drink, "Let me have the glass."

Garak look down at his glass involuntarily, just then realizing he could no longer drink Kanar. He sighed and handed it over without a word.

"It took me so long to get here because I had to convince the Council that it was in our best interest to simply study your, ah…condition here and not bring you back to Cardassia."

"I don’t know which to find more surprising my dear, the fact that you told the Council in the first place, that you convinced them not to let me return, or that you didn’t simply send the items I requested on a transport."

"A male inter-species Cardassian pregnancy is bigger than just you or me! It’s a major scientific discovery! And you should know, the State always comes first."

"If more people followed that belief, perhaps Cardassia wouldn’t be in quite as bad a state as it is," Garak commented dryly. He wasn’t surprised in the least that she had figured out it was he who needed the items in question.

Ocett chose to ignore that little insight. "I convinced them to allow me to come here to study you for many reasons. For one thing, I did not wish to place you in the position of having to choose between your husband and your people. Two, you know you could never have a real life there, not by returning for this reason. You’d be nothing more than a scientific experiment and would you wish your child to grow up like that?"

"No, you’re right, of course, Malyn," Garak sighed. "I could never leave Julian and could not consider asking him to come with me. Even if he did, you’re right, none of us would have any kind of a life there." Knowing that did nothing to lessen the hopeless feeling that had settled into the center of his being. He might not be as unyieldingly loyal to the State as Ocett was, but that didn’t mean he loved Cardassia any less for it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian rounded the corner, and prepared himself for a possible confrontation. He had guessed Ocett’s guards would be standing outside the door and would need to be taken down. He highly doubted they willingly would let him in.

"I need to see Garak," Julian stated cordially as he approached. "I know he’s in there," he added when he got no response.

"Gul Ocett does not wish to be disturbed," one of the guards explained diminutively.

"We’ll tell her you stopped by," the other added with a slight sneer

Julian quickly launched an attack by slamming his foot into the closest guard’s groin.

As the first guard crumpled to a heap on the floor, the second broke into a charge. Julian spun around in a circle and kicked him in the forehead which, combined with the redirected force of the guard’s charge, knocked him out cold.

The first had just regained his footing when the knowledgeable doctor lunged forward and belted him in the side of the head with his hands clasped together. He fell to the floor for a second time.

Julian stepped over the bodies and caught his breath before saying, "Computer, override door locking mechanism- authorization Bashir alpha 2."

~~~~~~~~~~

Ocett and Garak cut their conversation short when they heard noise outside in the corridor. The door opened moments later, revealing Doctor Bashir standing over the bodies of Ocett’s two guards. He looked as if he could take on half the Cardassian Union single-handed.

"Garak!" Julian said swiftly entering the room. "What’s going on?"

Garak raised an eyeridge and smiled very slightly, taking delight in Julian’s aggressiveness on his behalf. "Julian, this is a good friend of the family, Malyn Ocett," Garak said motioning towards Ocett. "Malyn, this is my husband- Doctor Julian Bashir," he said with a smirk.

Julian narrowed his eyes slightly. "You could have just said that in the first place."

"She didn’t give me much of a chance to introduce her the first time, and we hadn’t seen each other in some time- she may not have wanted our association to be revealed."

Ocett gave Garak a look of surprise at his openness.

Julian nodded acceptance at that, and gave Ocett an apologetic look. "It’s uh- a pleasure to meet you," he said extending his hand, only then realizing the deep red blood of one of Ocett’s guards stained it. "Maybe I should go check on them?" he inquired of Ocett as he pulled his hand back.

"No, doctor, I’ll do so myself," she replied and went into the corridor leaving them alone.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I wish you’d be more open with me," Julian said sternly, attempting in vain to wipe the blood off his hands.

"Out, out, damn spot," Garak couldn’t resist saying, remembering the line from Macbeth.

Julian’s eyes grew wide and he looked back towards the door feeling guilty. He looked back at Garak; the jealousy toward Ocett, and guilt for attacking two innocent people welled up inside him and he exploded. "It’s NOT funny, Garak! I could have… I could have KILLED them! And I may have, depending on how hard I hit them." Julian ranted on, fuming the whole time. "Why did you lie to me? You said you were going to your shop! I just knew you had gone to see her. Well, she can’t have you, do you hear me! You are MINE!"

"Are you quite finished?" Garak inquired evenly.

"I have not even begun," Julian said and launched himself at Garak, knocking him down onto the floor. Julian crushed Garak’s lips with his own, his anger, guilt, and jealousy turning to lust and a desire to possess his lover. He had never been filled with such powerful emotions before and he could not control them. He crushed Garak’s lips with his own, giving him a bruising kiss, while attempting to keep him pinned to the floor.

Garak pulled away from Julian, attempting to regain control of the situation. His will to resist lessened as his passion mounted. He found himself desiring to be possessed totally by his love.

‘His love for me has driven him to this’, Garak somehow managed to reason through all the heat and lust they drove each other too. ‘He is, and always shall be, a little bit Cardassian because of me, and I shall always be a little bit human because of him,’ Garak realized, finally giving up the struggle- allowing himself to be possessed.

After their thirst for each other was quenched they held each other and Garak looked into the eyes of his husband and said simply, "I am yours."

Julian slowly cascaded back down to earth. Had it not been for his husband holding him in a crushing embrace, he would have rushed out of the room at top speed. What had possibly gotten into him? He had let his base instinctual feelings control him totally…and it terrified him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak lay on the bed, silent, brooding, awaiting Julian’s exit from the shower. His husband’s actions were perfectly understandable. He couldn’t begin to understand why Julian was even upset, let alone know how to console him. The answers lay in the difference between human and Cardassian ideals.

Human ideals were a puzzle that he didn’t always understand. He knew, at least, that his Julian normally always stuck to the ideals he believed in. This time though, he had gone against them so badly that he was having a hard time dealing with it all.

It wasn’t like he had much opportunity throughout his life to learn how to go about being consoling. The Obsidian Order had no reason or desire to teach such things, and that was never something his father was even capable of. His failure in this was yet another thing that set them apart- a mark to remind him of just how different their species were.

‘If I give him what he feels he took from me, perhaps he’ll realize he did nothing wrong,’ Garak finally decided. The normally impeccably neat tailor rose from the bed, stripping his clothing, leaving it in a trail in his haste to reach the shower.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian’s arms lay against the shower wall and his head pressed against them, as if trying to hide, even from himself. Water beaded and ran in little streams down his naked body, but the erotic image was subverted by the shame imbibed in his being.

He broke his oath as a doctor.

‘Do no harm – except when you allow your anger to rule you…is that what you swore, Jules’, he imagined his father saying.

He attacked two officers who were only doing their duty.

‘Good thing you took those self defense classes I insisted on, Jules! Otherwise you wouldn’t have stood a chance, genetic enhancements or no,’ Richard Bashir said.

He forcefully took his own husband.

‘My precious Jules, who’d have thought,’ an imaginary Amsha Bashir cried. ‘Maybe they messed something up with the enhancements?’

I endangered the lives of my unborn children.

‘He doesn’t think much of his parents, why should he think anything of his children?’ Amsha sniffed.

Julian slipped deeper into self-loathing than when he first found out he was genetically enhanced. He didn’t feel the icy water pelting him and making his body go numb.

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak stepped into the shower stall, surprised that Julian either hadn’t noticed him or had ignored him. His husband flinched when he touched his shoulder, but that was his only reaction. He decided not to be daunted and placed his other hand on Julian’s other shoulder and started giving him a massage. His deep concerns for his husband’s wellbeing made him fail to notice the water’s frigid temperature.

Julian’s shoulders tensed, not allowing himself to take pleasure in the hands touching and massaging him. He attempted to pull away when they slid down his back and then around and up his chest.

Garak leaned close to Julian, their skin touching slightly. He leaned down and placed a loving kiss on the side of his husband’s face just near the mouth.

"Garak," Julian said, so softly the pounding water nearly drowned him out.

"My dear," Garak said holding Julian close to him, their faces pressed together. "You acted in the manner a Cardassian husband should. Don’t expect my reactions to things to follow your own ideals."

"But I-"

"Did nothing wrong. You calculated the amount of force needed to render them unconscious, there was no lasting damage. And they’re not pressing charges. The babies are fine, and…well, a little bit of rough sex never hurt anyone."

"Garak!" Julian exclaimed, embarrassed.

"You can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy taking me like that."

"D-did you- err…enjoy it?"

Garak raised an eyeridge, "I think that should have been quite apparent."

"But still! There’s no excuse for the things I did! Regardless of whether or not they’re acceptable by Cardassian standards, they’re not by human ones!"

"Rage consumes the best of us, my dear. You normally keep yourself so controlled that it really is a wonder you don’t lose yourself more often."

"But what will the captain think?"

"It needn’t even be reported. As I said, the officers aren’t pressing charges, so nothing would be done about it regardless."

Julian still was not convinced.

"If you can overlook the things I did in my past, then how can you not overlook this slight wrong you yourself have done?"

Julian sighed, defeated.

"Besides," Garak said with a grin, "If you didn’t forgive yourself, how could you enjoy this?" As he spoke he slipped his hands down from Julian’s chest to his abdomen and gently fondled him.

"Garak!" Julian exclaimed in protest. "Now’s not the time to…to…" Julian trailed off as he started to become aroused.

"Now, my dear, is the perfect time," Garak countered seductively.

~~~~~~~~~~

"It’s been two weeks, Elim, we’ve got to tell everyone soon. No offense but you’re- well, you know…"

"Getting fat?"

"NO! You’ve just…gained a few pounds is all. We should tell people before they start to notice. It’s not a matter of it being their business or not. I realize it might be embarrassing…but…you’re not…ashamed, are you?"

"No, no, it’s not that."

"Then what is it?"

Garak sighed and looked at his husband. "I’m just not sure I wish to be a father."

"It’s a little late for that now, isn’t it? You should have thought of that before you decided not to tell me of the possibility of all this, no matter how remote those possibilities seemed."

"I’m sorry."

"So am I," Julian said crossly.

"How do you feel about all this?" Garak asked with a heavy sigh.

"I was excited about it. I’ve always wanted to be a father- I never dreamed I’d have the chance, though. In the long run, most people get tired of having to share me with my work. That’s why no one stuck around for longer than a few months. I’m not the playboy people always thought I was. I longed for a partner- a family…you gave that to me," Julian told his husband, tears threatening to spill from his large brown eyes. "Please don’t take that away from me now."

The look hammered straight to Garak’s heart and soon Julian’s emotions were mirrored in his own eyes. "My dearest, what a fool I’ve been…how could I ever have thought such a thing?" He took his husband into his arms and they held each other close for a long moment.

Julian pulled slightly away so Garak’s body wouldn’t muffle his voice. "It’s natural for someone to be scared when having their first child. It’s a lifetime commitment that was suddenly thrust on us. We can’t expect to immediately be prepared for it."

Garak started to perk up a bit, but remained silent.

"There’s a lot of literature in the infirmary, and some holo-programs and other things on Planned Parenthood. We should do them together. If you need someone to talk to, I’m sure any of our friends would be willing to help. Dax, Miles, and Captain Sisko are all parents. Well, at least Jadzia used to be. You could always ask Worf for advice," Julian said the last with a large grin.

"Fine. I’ll talk to Worf and you talk to Rom. That would ensure our children grow up well adjusted," Garak replied, getting into the humor of things.

Julian laughed and added, "That’s a frightening thought- Worf and Rom!"

They laughed together long and hard, finally able to open up and discuss their plans for the future.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Perhaps an automated message would be best?" Julian suggested.

"What about a holo-program with an explanation- able to answer a few expected questions?" Garak inquired.

"That’d get us out of it nicely," Julian agreed with a grin. "And it’d give them time to adjust to the idea before saying anything to us."

"Yes, good point."

~~~~~~~~~~

Several heads in Quarks turned to watch the entire senior staff of DS9 minus Doctor Bashir, followed by Keiko O’Brien, Odo, and Quark enter one of the holosuites. Quark slipped the datarod into the computer. The grid of the holosuite changed into a comfortable looking room filled with couches, chairs, and a table. Upon the table were several different kinds of beverages and glasses. They were obviously supposed to sit down and relax.

"Please be seated," a holographic Garak said invitingly, moments after it and a holographic doctor appeared.

"We have some- uh rather interesting news for you, and we felt it would be easiest-err most informative to explain to you this way," Holo-Julian said.

Most had a perplexed look on their face as they took their seats, awaiting the discovery of the couple’s news.

"What could they possibly want to tell us like this?" Kira wondered aloud.

"Please, don’t talk until we’re finished. Then we can answer any questions you might have," Holo-Garak said.

"Cardassians-" Holo-Julian started.

"That’s me," Holo-Garak interrupted.

"Male Cardassians," Holo-Julian started over.

"That’s me also," Holo-Garak interrupted again.

"Do you want to do this?" Holo-Julian asked irritably.

"By no means, besides, you’re the doctor."

"Then be quiet!"

"Well, really, doctor. No need to be like that!"

Everyone but Worf sniggered.

"A long time ago, on ancient Cardassia," Holo-Julian started, ignoring Holo-Garak’s quip.

"A long, long time ago, on ancient Cardassia," Holo-Garak started singing.

"Gaaarrraaakkk!" Holo-Julian shouted, as everyone but the unmoving Klingon erupted with laughter. "How are we supposed to get anything accomplished if you keep doing that?"

"Doing what, doctor?" Holo-Garak asked feigning innocence, extremely unconvincingly.

"Life was rather harsh," Holo-Julian continued, ignoring Holo-Garak again.

"How droll, it sounds like you’re reading them some report. Wake me when you’re through."

"Good! If you go to sleep, maybe I can get an entire SENTENCE out!" Holo-Julian fumed turning a color that closely resembled the fire engines of Ancient Earth, steam puffing out his ears.

The room echoed with laughter and Worf’s growl of annoyance.

"Be careful doctor, or you’ll turn so red you’ll explode- we’re only holograms remember."

Holo-Julian sobered up and ignored Holo-Garak again "And in such harsh times, species develop rather interesting survival methods."

"‘Survival methods’, that’s an interesting thing to call it."

"Well, what would you call it?"

"Mating, sex, intercourse, coition, copulation, make love...those are some pleasant enough ones. Screwing, fucking, bonk, bang, shag, hump, those are rather crude, but will also do. Some rather odd terms are, a roll in the hay, have it away, have if off, piece of ass, make out, do it, lie with, bed, have a go at it, get it on. Really…all those colorful phrases and terms your species has and all you come up with is a sterile "survival methods"."

Holo-Julian’s face turned an unnatural shade of red again, this time with embarrassment.

"It’s a good thing the real Julian doesn’t turn that red," Dax said with a laugh.

"One of which is the ability of the male of the species to bear young," Holo-Julian continued desperately.

"We do not have bear young, doctor. Bears are native to Earth, mammalian, in-humanoid, covered with fur-"

"That’s it! Sit DOWN Garak! NOW! One more WORD from you and I’ll have the REAL Julian erase your program!"

"You wouldn’t dare!"

"Try me!"

Holo-Garak mumbled, but obligingly sat down.

"I wish they would get on with it," the stoic Klingon said.

"Oh, come on, Worf this is hilarious!" Dax said happily.

Holo-Julian started again, "Until now though, no male Cardassian has ever been impregnated by a member of another species."

"That’s right! Step RIGHT up folks! See the ONE! The ONLY!!! MALE Cardassian in the Galaxy IMPREGNATED by a HUMAN!!!" Holo-Garak said as he stood and swooped around the room showing himself off.

Holo-Julian rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder why I married him."

Their audience was stunned into silence, and Holo-Julian proceeded to explain the particulars of Garak’s pregnancy.

 

After the holoprogram shut itself off, the witnesses were still in stunned silence.

"Uh, I have some repairs to do on the Defiant’s power relay," O’Brien said, quickly thinking of an excuse to leave. He collected Keiko and they exited the holosuite without another word.

"I’d better get to Ops," Kira said, making her own excuse and leaving.

Quark left quickly without a word, eager to make some profit with the info he had just learned, and Odo, ever suspicious, followed him immediately.

"Come, Jadzia," Worf commanded.

"Worf! We can’t just leave!"

"That is exactly what we MUST do!" he exclaimed taking her hand and dragging her with him. She followed, but gave him a penetrating stare to let him know she WOULD talk to him about it later.

 

Sisko sighed, watching all his officers make their excuses and flee the holosuite. ‘Those poor boys sure have a lot of obstacles to overcome, more than any deserves,’ he reflected. ‘Through all our advancements in technology and in supposed acceptance of other species, prejudice always seems to survive.’

With Garak and Julian’s relationship, though, there were so many different levels one could be prejudiced about, it gave them more problems than any ten people deserved, let alone the two of them. Some didn’t like Garak because he’s Cardassian. Some didn’t like him because they suspected he was a spy. Some didn’t like the doctor because of his enhancements. Some simply didn’t like the idea of two men together.

They had a lot to overcome to be accepted and Sisko was determined to help them gain that acceptance. They deserved happiness and a quality home life as much as anyone and he saw it as his duty to help them achieve that.

Still though, perhaps everyone will react better after the shock has worn off. No one knew it was even possible… and besides…who didn’t love a cute, cuddly baby? But three at once! They would definitely need all the help they could get.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next evening, Julian and Garak’s friends and acquaintances were all gathered at a table in Quark’s at Sisko’s request.

"Now listen, people, I don’t know what your problems are, but Julian and Garak have been through enough in their relationship without having to deal with their friends backing out on them now when they need their support," Sisko said sternly.

All remained silent, but nearly everyone wore a guilty look.

"Julian and Garak have as much right to have children as anyone else on this station; it’s unfair to limit them just because they’re both male- or because one is a Cardassian," he continued.

"Worf- when you and Jadzia got married, Julian was with you on the path to Kalhia- what honor is there in not being there for him when he needs you?" the captain asked.

Worf looked sullen and spoke after a few moments pondering, "You are right Captain. I acted dishonorably."

"And you old man-"

"I fully support them, Benjamin. Worf is the one who dragged me out of there."

He nodded acceptance and turned to Quark. "And Quark, if you have even ONE betting pool over all this-"

"I’ll have you in my brig!" Odo finished. "Don’t worry, Captain, Julian and Garak both have my full support."

Quark held up his hands as if to ward off an attack, "I had never even thought of such a thing, Captain."

Odo humphed.

"Chief," Sisko said, moving on.

"Yes, Sir?" O’Brien said guiltily.

"I can’t begin to count the times that Julian was there for you...I’m sure Keiko’s probably already reminded you of each and every one of them herself," he guessed.

Keiko nodded a confirmation.

"I understand, Captain. I was just in shock, that’s all."

"Very well then. And you, Major, it’s time you lay your prejudices aside and realize that Garak and Julian belong together and deserve happiness. Now, if you’ll excuse me, people, I must get to Ops," Sisko said and stalked out of Quark’s.

Everyone felt like they were in the middle of a level 1 emergency, and commands had just been issued. They got up quickly and left, compelled to carry out their strange orders.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Miles shifted uncomfortably in front of Garak’s tailor shop, needing to, but not wanting to, go in. He finally decided to get it over with and stepped through the door.

"Chief, what a surprise! Have any more sk- err kilts for me to mend?"

"That’s why I’m here, in a manner of speaking. I did say, after all, that I’d tell you more about the wearing of the plaid," Miles informed, shifting back and forth from one foot to the other in obvious discomfort. "Here you go," he said as he held two datapadds out toward Garak. "One has a rough history of Ireland and the other has information on the clothing throughout history and the different clan seals."

Garak knew that it was much more than the sharing of information previously promised. It was a gift of acceptance, a gift of self, perhaps even a gesture of friendship. He didn’t know whether it was the surprise or perhaps because of the increased hormonal level his body produced to sustain the babies, but he found it hard to prevent his eyes from misting over. He gave his husband’s friend a soft, warm smile and took the datapadds gently out of his grasp. "Thank you, Chief, I’m sure I’ll find it fascinating and will have a new appreciation for your culture."

"Right," Miles responded nervously. "Well, I hope you enjoy it. And congratulations again! If you need any paternal advice…well. I’m...Here for you," he finished awkwardly; glad he finally had that out.

Garak’s smile nearly split his face and he thanked O’Brien as the engineer beat a hasty retreat. He found himself humming happily while working on the trousers a customer had ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Chief’s visit hadn’t been the only one. Throughout the day everyone who had viewed the holoprogram had stopped by the infirmary and Garak’s shop to offer their congratulations and support. Quark had made short work of spreading the news, and the entire station was abuzz with talk of pregnant male Cardassians.

~~~~~~~~~~

The months passed quickly. Ocett had been left behind to study Garak’s case. The Federation council had approved of her presence there as a science officer and as a diplomat "in good faith", but had not agreed to the exchange program. She didn’t bother keeping her aides with her. After all, they hadn’t done any good against one single Federation doctor. What good were they? They had returned to the ship demoted and shamefaced, but determined to prove their worth to her once more. Ocett was one of the few Guls who inspired total loyalty in her officers.

"I think we’re going to have to develop a stronger hormonal augmenter," Julian informed Ocett during one of Garak’s routine exams. "His tostrogen level is too low."

 

"There’s still plenty of time for that left, doctor," Ocett countered. "We’re only just halfway through the second trimester. If it’s not risen on its own by the end of the second trimester, then we can raise it."

"That’s another thing- we’re not sure how long the trimesters will be, the babies are half human, after all. Maybe the pregnancy will only last 9 months."

"I’ve already calculated that possibility, doctor. So far, the pregnancy is going exactly as expected for a male Cardassian of Garak’s age."

"Perhaps, but I, for one, am not willing to assume that ‘so far’ is going to be forever!"

Ocett glared at him, narrowing her eyes, "You should control your tone, doctor."

"Me control my tone? What about you! You’ve been talking as if I were several levels beneath you since you got here!"

Ocett sneered at him and looked at Garak, "Of all species, Garak, a Terran? They are so-"

"Infuriating?" Garak supplied.

"Yes!" Ocett exclaimed smiling broadly.

Julian’s jaw hit the floor, surprised at his husband taking her side.

Garak looked over at Julian, "Well, you are infuriating at times, my dear. You are, however, correct in this situation. It’s not safe to assume such things."

"Very well then, Garak," Ocett conceded. "But you know what that means- you will have to use more control longer than the standard."

"Use more control?" Julian inquired.

"As the hormone levels peak during the third trimester so does the protective instinct. More aggressive tendencies rise to the surface, and are harder to suppress- especially when threatened or in unfamiliar surroundings."

"Perhaps when we develop the stronger augmenter, we can include agents that will help him to suppress that," the doctor suggested.

"Perhaps," Ocett said, raising an eyeridge. "But it hasn’t been accomplished yet on Cardassia," she said in warning.

~~~~~~~~~~

"What was all that about this morning anyway, Garak?" Julian asked when they were finally in their quarters alone.

"You do know how Cardassians flirt, don’t you, dear?" Garak inquired.

"Of course…by arguing. What’s that got to do with- oh," Julian said, realization finally dawning on him. "She was…being complimenarty?"

Garak nodded happily at his protégé’s deduction.

"Wait- let me help you with that! It’s too heavy," Julian said objecting to Garak’s attempt to get a large stack of plates out- the good china Julian’s mother sent as a wedding present. When the plates were gently taken from his hands, Garak went to go retrieve something else they’d need for dinner (they were having a dinner party in celebration of their first anniversary combined with a baby shower).

"Garak! I’ll get that- just GIVE me a moment! You know you shouldn’t be lifting things!" Julian exclaimed in exasperation.

"Being pregnant does not make me an invalid," Garak said simply, attempting to remain calm.

"Please- let’s not start this now… we have a lot to do to get ready for the party! We still have to make sure Quark’s got the food prepared. And that Nog and Jake were able to get all the decorations up- they had the banner upside down the last time I looked. And some of the presents are arriving on a transport today and will need to be taken to Vic’s with the others. And-"

The sudden pressure of his husband’s body pressed against his cut off Julian’s words. Their lips met hungrily and they passionately consumed each other’s mouths, the party preparations and everything else outside the universe of their two bodies, forgotten.

Garak’s hands slid down Julian’s back, over the curves of his butt squeezing gently. Slowly he moved his hands around to the front, groping his husband’s prize possessively.

"Oh, Elim," Julian called with passion, "It’s been too long."

Garak broke off their kiss and took a step back. "Unfortunately we do have a lot of preparations to make as you have already claimed," he said with a large grin and quickly exited their quarters.

"Elim! You bastard!" Julian called out to the closed door, but he couldn’t help but grin. He stuck his head out of the door and shouted, "Paybacks are a bitch!" Right in Captain Sisko’s face.

"I’ll keep that in mind," Sisko said with a large grin.

Julian’s golden hue quickly turned scarlet, and he swore he could hear a faint Cardassian chuckle from around the corner.

"I’ve come to see if I could be of any help?"

The doctor’s only response was a series of odd squeaks, the only sound he could manage, as he pointed down the hall toward the direction Garak had gone.

Sisko glanced back over his shoulder briefly and shrugged when he saw nothing. "May I come in?"

"Of- Of course sir!" Julian said, finally recovering his voice.

"What can I help you with?"

"Well, the dishes need to be taken to Vic’s still- mother told me specifically they are not to be transported. She’s convinced it does something to the quality," Julian explained rolling his eyes.

"How are your parents? Understandable that she couldn’t come to the wedding, what with it all happening so quickly…but I’m surprised she’s not here, especially today of all days."

Julian sighed, not able to bring himself to admit the answer to the captain’s question.

"What is it? Have you had another falling out?"

"It’s not that…I…well…we don’t contact each other often you know…never have. So I’ve not actually told her that-"

"She HAS to know you’re married!"

"Well yes, that she does know at least. It’s just that...Well…"

"You never told her Garak is expecting?"

Julian nodded glumly. "At first I just put it off… it’s a hard thing to explain to someone you know. And then I kept remembering what they…. What they had done to me…and I got to thinking how I don’t want that to happen to my children…how I don’t want them near my children. I don’t want to run the risk that they’ll try to put them through the same thing they did me. I’ll love and accept my own children no matter what problems they have, and if they can’t do the same, then I don’t want them around!" Julian nearly fumed the last point, only able to keep his emotions in check since it was Sisko he was talking to.

"I can definitely understand your point, doctor," Sisko said as he helped Julian gather the things still needed for the party. "But don’t you think they’ve learned from their past mistakes? They know how much all this has upset you, what it’s done to your relationship. Do you think they’d want to run the risk of losing you totally- or losing their grandchildren completely?"

"That’s true…"

"Besides, they’re going to find out eventually, anyway. Wouldn’t you rather it come from you?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak rang the bell to Ocett’s quarters, glad, not for the first time, that he had some Cardassian company. At least she was able to understand how infuriating humans, especially his human, could be.

She let him in and they chatted about old times as they usually did. Over the many occasions they had talked about her ‘visit’ with the Enterprise during the archeological study, and her work in the First Order afterwards. They talked about the civilian government and the Detapa council. Garak even talked to her about Tain, though he didn’t reveal who Mila was. She would occasionally hint at his work with the resistance but never pushed the matter, and he was quite adept at skirting issues such as that.

"-I would live, kill or be killed to serve the State. Cardassia is more than I will ever be." Ocett said, snapping Garak totally out of his pondering.

"You really are the epitome of the noble Cardassian."

"Are you insulting me?"

Garak looked a bit startled, "Oh no, my dear, I was just thinking of something that Julian always has said regarding Cardassian literature."

"What would that be?"

"He says that Cardassians are so blinded by loyalty to the State that they often forget why they were ever so loyal in the first place- that they don’t see the times when the state itself needs to change."

"And you think this is one of those times?"

"Not me, of course, I’m a loyal Cardassian."

Ocett grinned, "You? The ‘loyal’ exiled Cardassian?"

"Now you’re insulting me."

"OK then, Garak tell me what else Julian has said."

"He says that the state is so power hungry it’s handed its people over to its worst enemies freely, that this blind loyalty has been its own downfall."

"Funny, I thought it was this war we’re in," Ocett said with an unreadable expression.

"Exactly, if Cardassia hadn’t joined the Dominion, then Cardassians would be running Cardassia, not Jem’Hadar, Vorta, Changelings, and Breen."

"If we hadn’t joined the Dominion," Ocett said quietly, "Cardassia would be run by Klingons."

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian paced nervously just inside the entrance to his and Garak’s quarters. The party started in less than half an hour and Garak still was not back yet. He had long since gotten angry and was just about to leave without his husband when the subject of his thoughts walked through the door looking so sullen that all his anger immediately melted away.

Julian walked up to his husband and put his arms around him. He laid his head on Garak’s shoulder, and Garak returned the embrace eagerly, saying not a single word.

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak had luckily managed to shove the conversation with Ocett to the back of his mind, and at least enjoy their party. The back of the room was filled with a huge buffet containing many different selections of food. On each side of it were tables, overflowing with presents. One table had packages in various shades of pinks and blues, the baby shower table. The other had elegantly wrapped presents, but nothing close to the sheer volume of things stacked on the baby table.

"At least you don’t do anything half way," Miles said walking up to the parents-to-be. "That’s the way it should be done- just have ‘em all at once and get it over with."

"Oh no, Chief, we’re going to try for six next time," Garak said convincingly.

"Six!"

"Yes," Julian said in agreement. "We eventually want an even dozen."

The chief’s eyes grew large and he fled toward Keiko, asking if she minded that he apply for a transfer.

They heard Odo humph behind them, unconvinced, and they howled with laughter.

"I think even I’d put in for a transfer if there were a dozen little ones like the two of you running around!" Dax chirped amusedly as she approached the happy couple with her gift. "I know it’s not time for this yet, but I just couldn’t wait," she explained.

"Thank you, Commander!" Garak responded and took the small package from her.

"What is it?" Julian asked excited, attempting to grab the package from his husband’s hands.

"Tsk, tsk," Garak said and held the package way out of Julian’s reach. He started the slow process of taking the paper and ribbon off without tearing it.

"Come on! Hurry up!" Julian said, wiggling in his chair nervous with anticipation.

"Savor the moment my dear, after all, a doctor with no patience, has no patients." Garak replied simply and continued his unhurried task.

Julian shook his head, amused, a large grin covering his face.

Garak finally got the package opened and stared at it for a moment before reading the label aloud, "Trojans? Ah… I see…I believe this is yours, Julian," he said with a grin and handed the box over to his husband.

"It’s- um, a little late for this isn’t it, Jadzia?" Julian asked, trying desperately to hide his embarrassment.

She grinned, a large wicked smile and said, "You should definitely prepare ahead, Julian…if you haven’t learned that by now then you’ll definitely need those," she added, indicating the box. "Or else you really will end up with a dozen children!"

"Well, can I help it if Garak is extremely fertile?" Julian said in embarrassed defense. His already flushed face turned an even darker shade of red, coming close to the false shade of his holographic self.

 

Everyone ate, chatted, and enjoyed each other’s fellowship, each taking their turn making a joke at the expectant couple’s expense. Neither was upset by it. They knew it was all in good humor, and that everyone needed such a respite from the war. Even with the non-aggression treaty, there still always loomed the threat that at any moment the war would be back on.

Ocett sat near Captain Sisko and they chatted casually, though guardedly. They had slowly learned to respect each other, but Julian noticed that Garak hadn’t said a word to her all evening.

 

As the meal started winding down Vic took the stage for the evenings entertainment. "Warm welcomes to everyone here tonight! We’re all here to celebrate both the union of the most interesting couple in the galaxy and the upcoming additions to their family!"

Vic took the microphone out of its stand, walked down to Garak and Julian’s table and started singing:

 

It had to be you,
It had to be you

 

Julian looked over at Garak and gave him a small, happy smile.

 

I wandered around

And finally found

The somebody who

 

Garak let go some of his inhibitions and returned the smile.

 

Could make me be true
Could make me be blue

 

Julian placed his hand on top of Garak’s.

 

 

And even be glad
Just to be sad

Thinking of you

 

Garak turned his hand around and clasped Julian’s hand tight.

Some others I've seen

Might never be mean

 

Julian leaned closer to his husband and placed his head on his shoulder.

 

Might never be cross
Or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do

 

Garak put his other arm around Julian’s shoulders.

 

For nobody else

Gave me a thrill

 

Julian lifted his head and sought out Garak’s lips.

 

With all your faults
I love you still

 

Garak closed his eyes, feeling only the moment, and obligingly gave his husband a kiss.

 

 

It had to be you
Wonderful you

It had to be you

 

The two kissed each other with all the love and passion that was in their hearts.

 

 

Some others I've seen

Might never be mean

Might never be cross
Or try to be boss
But they wouldn't do

For nobody else

Gave me a thrill

With all your faults
I love you still

It had to be you
Wonderful you

It had to be you

 

As the song ended so did their kiss, but they still held on to each other tight.

 

"Let’s all give a round of applause for the happy couple!" Vic requested jovially.

 

 

 

All of the presents unwrapped, their friends and hosts thanked for everything, Garak and Julian returned to their quarters, happy and content.

~~~~~~~~~~

"My boys!" Amsha Bashir said excitedly, wishing she could reach right through the view screen and give them both a great big hug. Her surprise at seeing them hadn’t quite worn off yet, but she still didn’t fail to notice… "Elim! Son…you’ve put on a few pounds, dear, haven’t you?"

Julian’s face flushed and Garak blanched slightly, surprised she would come right out and say such a thing.

‘At least I know where he got his tendency to put his foot in his mouth,’ Garak though amusedly.

"That’s why we’re calling actually," Julian said awkwardly.

She gave them a look of surprise. "Surely you’d be better at dieting tips than me, Jules?" She inquired rhetorically. "I’ve added some myself since Richard went to the penal settlement," she said guiltily and patted her stomach.

"Mrs. Bashir-" Garak started.

"Please, if you won’t call me mother at least call me Amsha."

"Mother," Garak said, feeling very out of sorts. "We’d like you to come for a visit."

Julian gave Garak a stunned look, but quickly hid it giving his mother a warm smile. "Uh- Yes, please."

She didn’t need to be asked twice. "Great! I’ll be there as soon as I can! I only wish Richard could come. He would if he could, you know dears. Ah well, he’ll be out soon enough."

"We look forward to it, mother," Garak said with a smile.

"As do I," she returned. Making it seem like an afterthought as she ended the transmission, Amsha added, "Oh, and boys… thank you for not waiting until after they’re born to invite me. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this…"

~~~~~~~~~~

Amsha, Julian, and Garak sat down at a table in the back of Quark’s for their dinner after getting her settled in to the guestroom in their quarters.

"I suppose living on spaceships and starbases is all right, but I could never get used to the replicated food," Amsha said. "It might look like an apple, some might even think it smelled and tasted like an apple, but it wouldn’t truly be an apple. It’s like paintings; it takes a truly talented artist to be able to capture the ‘life’ of a subject properly. These mass produced machines that make food just appear before you aren’t artists."

Julian looked closely into his mother’s eyes, as if he in doing so could look down into her soul. "Maybe now you can understand how I feel, mother. I am the apple that people look on as not being real; something unnatural, less."

"Is- that how you look on yourself?" Garak asked.

"Sometimes," Julian responded solemnly.

"Oh Jules! I never- I think, perhaps I do understand what you mean now…I only hope you come to understand our reasons one day, even if you don’t agree with them."

"I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to do that… But I do know that I need to forgive you. Not doing so is eating away at me. And I think I’ve finally come to accept that you’d never hurt me- or my children."

"Infirmary to Doctor Bashir!" Nurse Jabara’s voice said over the doctor’s combadge.

"Bashir here, go ahead."

"Sorry to disturb you, doctor, but there’s been an accident."

"I’ll be right there," he informed as he stood. "A doctor’s work is never done," he said to Garak and Amsha with a frustrated smile and headed off to the infirmary.

~~~~~~~~~~

As Bashir approached the infirmary, loud shouts made it obvious that whatever the emergency was, it had something to do with a certain Cardassian and her Klingon nemesis on the station…. Smelling blood, the doctor glanced down at the carpet, seeing pink and deep red blood splattered here and there in a trail leading to the bio-beds.

Julian sighed, exasperated. "What is it this time?" he asked and picked up a medical tricorder and started examining his patients.

"Doctor - " nurse Jabara attempted.

"Did she breathe at you wrong, General?" the doctor asked in anger, running the device over him.

"Doctor - " Jabara attempted again.

"If either of you would agree to let any of the other doctors or nurses treat you it’d be different."

"Doctor - "

"And you, ‘madam ambassador’," he continued, not noticing Jabara, running his scan over Ocett.

"Doctor - " Jabara said, becoming a bit annoyed.

" - need to realize that your diplomatic attitude-" Julian set the tricorder down and picked up a dermal regenerator.

"Doctor - " Jabara said a bit more forcefully.

" - should extend to the Klingons-" the doctor started running the tricorder over the worst of Martok’s wounds.

"Doctor!" Jabara said finally raising her voice several decibels.

" - as well as Federation citizens," he added, switching over to Ocett and running the regenerator over her wounds.

"Doctor!" Jabara said even more loudly.

"We’re allies, in case you hadn’t noticed." Bashir finished his speech and in healing them so he set the instrument down.

Jabara stomped off.

Martok looked about ready to leap out at Julian, but Ocett merely smirked at him and said, "Doctor, the next time we decided to test the merits of Cardassian versus Klingon exercise programs, we’ll be sure to do so when you’re on duty."

"Exercise?"

"Yes doctor, exercise." Martok said in an aggressive warning tone.

"You got this blood all over my infirmary for a bit of sport?"

"We’re warriors," Martok explained. "We do not expect you to understand."

Jabara came back into the room and thrust an auditory regenerator in Julian’s hand. "Here doctor, run this on yourself!" she said forcefully and stomped back out of the room.

"What are you talking about," he called after her as Ocett and Martok burst into laughter. "I can hear just fine!"

~~~~~~~~~~

When Julian left his mother and husband alone in Quark’s they sat quietly solemn for several moments. Finally Amsha broke the silence.

"There are times when I wonder if he will ever accept us," she said sadly, referring to herself and her husband.

"I often used to wonder that very thing of myself, mother," Garak said softly, straining to keep his admission from sounding as forced as it felt to reveal. "Julian is a very forgiving and loving person when given the chance. Since you will be here for awhile, perhaps he will get the chance to forgive you. It’s not so easy to hold on to a grudge when confronted with it every day."

"Perhaps you’re right," she said perking up a bit. "He has had many years to grow and mature since he was a boy and lived with us."

The interpersonal conversation had been hard for him, especially since he and Amsha were virtually strangers, but he knew it was an important step forward for all of them.

"So only three more months to go now?"

"Six actually, Cardassian pregnancies last a full year, though since the babies are half human it may be three months. We won’t really know for sure until the time approaches."

"Twelve months! I remember when I carried Jules, I thought that last month would never end."

"How was it you found out? I regret that we waited so long to attempt to tell you."

"You don’t need to apologize, son. I can guess what Jules was thinking…I heard rumors, of course. And when I saw you on the screen- I knew it was true. Though- I do not understand how it’s possible…"

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak and Amsha talked extensively about Cardassian pregnancy, and before too long Julian returned.

"Have you already eaten?" Julian asked as he sat down.

"No, we were waiting for you, my dear," Garak explained.

Julian leaned over and gave him a peck on the lips. "That’s very sweet of you…both of you," he added and gave his mother a kiss of her own. Both of his loved ones beamed happily at him as he returned to his seat. "Your friend Ocett seems to make friends easily… especially with those in high places."

"Oh?" Garak said a bit surprised. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, at our party she was so involved with talking to Captain Sisko she didn’t speak to us hardly at all. And just now, in the infirmary, she and Martok were there after an apparently rough test of the virtues of Klingon versus Cardassian fighting styles. Although they referred to it as ‘exercise programs’. They walked off together too."

Garak’s smile disappeared as he contemplated what Ocett could possibly be up to. "It’s only natural for someone in her position to seek out those of the highest rank for acquaintances." He should have known that she was there for more reason than to simply help and study him.

"Perhaps, but I think it was more than that, Elim," Julian insisted.

"Well, she did tell the Federation she came to help alleviate racial prejudices," Garak explained. "Perhaps she’s just fulfilling the obligations of her cover story."

"She really came here to help you?" Amsha inquired.

"That and to study our unique case." ‘What really happened between her and Martok?’ Garak wondered.

"Why wouldn’t she just tell the Federation that?" Amsha asked.

"Why tell the truth when a lie will better serve you?" Garak explained. He had already started to suspect she came there to discover his actions with the resistance, possibly to uncover more of its members. But what had that to do with Sisko and Martok?

"Surely Captain Sisko must be told?"

"I’m sure the captain knows very well, mother," Julian responded. "He’s probably cautiously trying to find out her real reasons himself."

‘She possibly was attempting to drive a wedge between the Klingons and the Federation, or perhaps even trying to establish relations with the Klingon Empire,’ Garak contemplated.

"My dears, I’m sure you’re reading too much into it. She probably just made up a story to protect her association with me, since I am in exile." Ocett was no fool. It would be tricky business trying to figure out what all her intentions were.

Julian wasn’t convinced, but he let it drop, not particularly wanting to have the conversation in front of his mother anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, in their quarters, Amsha, Julian, and Garak were attempting to get the babies’ room set up.

"These kids already have enough toys for all of the Bajoran War Orphans twice over," Garak said exasperated, as he attempted to arrange them all in the toy box and on the shelves.

"At least we don’t have to buy any," Julian countered.

"Right, like you’ve even been able to resist buying a single item that struck your interest any time we’re out shopping."

"Well…"

"Explain to me, my dear, why is it they need a plush Cardassian doll? I didn’t see any human dolls as I was putting things on the shelves earlier."

"But it’s so cute!"

"He’s just excited, Elim," Amsha explained. "As are you, otherwise you wouldn’t have made their clothing so far in advance."

"Hmm?" Julian asked. "How much did you make?"

"Only enough to last for the first several years," Garak said simply, as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary.

"I can see it now… they’re going to need an entire room just to fit all their clothing in, let alone their toys," Julian said in amusement.

Just as Garak was about to protest, the chime on their door rang.

"I’ll get it," Amsha said, and headed to the door. She pressed the keypad, and the door swished open revealing Gul Ocett. "Oh," Amsha said and pulled back, slightly surprised. "You must be Elim’s friend Ocett?"

Ocett pursed her lips, thinking. It would not be wise to dismiss their friendship in front of the Federation or Klingons since she was there to supposedly help improve relations… She just had to continue to convince Cardassia that she was not truly friendly with Garak. It was hard knowing she was deceiving the State in such a manner. The State was not impervious to flaw though. They had wronged Garak when they exiled him here, just as they had been wrong to throw themselves into the arms of the Dominion.

Her thoughts collected, Ocett flashed Amsha a pleasant smile and gave a slight nod only a moment after the door had opened. "I am here to deliver this," she informed raising the large box she held up slightly.

Amsha stepped aside so that Ocett could enter the quarters. "Is it for the babies’ room? It’s right this way," she said heading off towards the bedroom without awaiting a response.

‘How trusting some Terrans are,’ Ocett pondered. "Right then," she said. "I’ll just leave this bomb right here in the doorway and take my leave," she said amusedly and headed off after Amsha. She smiled, remembering a quip she had made in the past towards the Klingon Captain Nu’Daq and Captain Picard- ‘As far as we know it might just be a recipe for biscuits.’

"Setting off bombs in the entryway, are we dear?" Garak asked and took the box Ocett was holding out towards him.

"Only over-trusting ones," Ocett responded.

"What?" Julian asked, knowing he had missed something, yet again. His confusion was forgotten when he saw Garak’s stunned face peering into the now open box. "What is it, Elim?" he asked closing the gap between them.

Garak pulled a device that looked quite a bit like a small computer console out of the box. "Three!" Garak exclaimed. "I cannot believe it!"

"What is it?"

"A personal computer," Ocett explained. "Designed for those who have children who cannot make use of the traditional State-provided educational institutions. It has many years worth of lessons built into it."

"It must have been very expensive," Julian said in bewilderment.

"Quite," Garak agreed. "And not easily obtained." He had attempted to procure one himself but had been unable to do so. The asking price for a single unit had been well out of his league when he had managed to find someone willing to sell him one.

Ocett waved off their unspoken thanks. "It was nothing - a trivial thing. No Cardassian child should go without the benefits of a good education."

‘What was Ocett playing at?’ Garak wondered. ‘Even she wouldn’t be willing to part with so much latinum solely to find him out.’ "Well, it isn’t a trivial thing to us, my friend, nor to our children," Garak informed her.

"That’s right!" Julian said, happy to be able to finally dismiss his earlier suspicions of her. "Thank you very much!" he said excitedly and gave her a warm embrace.

Ocett, taken aback by Terran gesture, returned the embrace awkwardly. "I would have given them to you at your celebration, however, they had not yet arrived."

Perhaps that was why she had avoided speaking to us, Julian guessed. "No explanation needed," he said warmly.

‘Nor would the state part with such valued equipment for such a purpose knowingly,’ Garak added mentally. ‘These units cost over 500 bars of latinum apiece.’ "Where shall we put them?" he said, giving them an agreeable smile.

Garak could only conclude that she had purchased them out of true friendship. He found that to be a rather disturbing conclusion – that he was suddenly so willing to place that much trust in someone. He still felt she was up to something more than she seemed to be, though, and he was determined to figure out what that was.

They went to work installing the consoles in different walls of the room – that way the children would be separated when they operated them.

~~~~~~~~~~

Garak grimaced as he tried to suppress the sudden pains that wracked his body as the eggs in his pouch shifted. It took all his concentration to keep himself on his feet and his face as plain as possible. He did not hear the others speaking to him.

Julian rushed up to Garak when he failed to answer, worried about his husband’s sudden rigidness and quiet. He helped him to a rocking chair they had placed in the babies’ room to help lull the children to sleep after they’re born.

No longer having to support himself, Garak was able to relax and focus his concentration on suppressing the pain with light meditation and practiced breathing techniques. He sat back against the chair, his head back and eyes closed, looking even more vulnerable than when he slept.

Julian knelt by his mate’s side, offering his comfort and support.

"Is there nothing you can give him, Jules?" Amsha inquired.

"Unfortunately not. Standard pain medication has adverse effects on Cardassian physiology during pregnancy. The unborn child is highly susceptible to addiction to the drugs until after they’re born," Julian answered as he placed a hand possessively on his husband’s expanding stomach. He began rubbing gently, hoping that might make a difference.

"What about Cardassian medications?"

"The possible effects are an unknown quantity on the Ter- Human half as well, and the fetuses are too valuable to take such a risk," Ocett answered.

"I’ve been through much worse," Garak told them, trying to wave off their concerns as the worst of the pain started to ebb. He attempted to stand, but he was too drained to unwedge his expanded body from the chair. He had somehow gotten himself stuck. They hadn’t bothered taking his larger size into account when they chose the chair because it wasn’t going to be used until after the birth.

Garak ceased attempting to get up, embarrassed. He glanced quickly between the three faces gazing at him. Feeling vulnerable and scared, he was unable to read if they had realized he was stuck. He’d much rather just sit there than admit to that in front of Ocett. As they crowded in, still concerned for his comfort during the painful experience, Garak began to panic. His claustrophobia kicked in and he burst into tears, unable to contain himself after all his extreme mood swings.

Amsha quickly headed out of the room dragging a shocked Ocett after her, and Julian quickly embraced Garak as best he could from their odd positions. He started kissing away the tears and murmuring how much he loved him in between. After a few moments Garak couldn’t help but smile at his cute and loving husband.

Julian carefully separated his beloved from the chair and led him to their bedroom. Amsha was bustling about in the kitchen area and Ocett had apparently left.

Julian helped ease Garak down into the bed, not wanting to cause him any more pain. He lay down beside him, snuggling up close. They fell asleep together with Julian’s hand on Garak’s stomach.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ocett mentally looked back at Garak wedged in the rocking chair as she headed to her own quarters, not sure whether to feel pity, amusement, or contempt. It must be some Terran hormone that caused the outburst, she decided. The thoughts of a former Obsidian Order operative bursting into tears at all, let alone in front of so many was sickening to say the least.

As Terrans go, the doctor was acceptable, but to marry one? He was quite skilled in his field, by both human and Cardassian standards, and his dedication to his work was commendable – she would not deny she had some level of admiration for him, but he was still a Terran.

As an associate and verbal sparring partner, Garak and the Doctor were well matched. She might even be willing to accept them as bed partners – many Cardassians had concubines, during the Occupation especially. But to marry outside the species was just wrong.

It went against the Cardassian traditional view of family. Garak would not be in exile if he hadn’t shown that his own standards were different and more important to him than traditional Cardassians, though, so she shouldn’t have been surprised. Even if she did hold him in a bit of contempt for it, she did understand. Besides, their friendship had been born out of something far more important to uphold than something like this. This was trivial by comparison. Regardless, if she showed any distrust or hesitance to accept now, she’d never be able to get any information out of him.

This Garak was a far cry from the Garak she had befriended all those years ago, the Garak who had killed her husband so that she wouldn’t have to do it. She contacted Tain himself and asked him for one of his most trusted agents to do a job for her. When Garak arrived, they found themselves becoming reluctant friends as they made their plans for the assassination. Her husband was the Legate Faldek, high up in the Cardassian military and government at the time. She had caught him conspiring with the Federation behind the state’s back giving them strategic information about their side of the border. If she had brought this matter to light publicly, he would have found a way to turn the tables on her and make it look like she had been the one responsible and not him. And she could not bring herself to kill him; he was her husband – family. You didn’t kill your own.

She wasn’t sure how having him killed was any easier, but it was. Knowing she had not been the one to plunge the knife into his body, so to speak, made the nightmares she constantly faced after they had committed their dark act easier to manage.

His knowledge of how her husband had truly met his fate would seem to give him some powers over her, but it didn’t. He had realized at the time the necessity of killing Faldek. If the Order hadn’t, she would be dead instead of him for just asking such a thing of them. With Tain out of the picture, the only ones who knew about it were she and Garak. And they both had destroyed all evidence as they carried out their plan. Besides, if he said something, he was the one who actually did the killing – an offense that would bring about an end to his exile in a way that he certainly would not wish. Now that he had a husband and family, death would not be a welcome end.

Another reason he had always kept their secret safely hidden was that a high-ranking military officer was always a valuable ally. That was true as much now as it was then. In the past, he had always contacted her regarding Cardassian political matters and the like. She had always freely told him what she could and a little more than that at times, after some persuasion. Since Cardassia had joined the Dominion, however, she had ceased all communication with him until recently. She was not willing to put herself at risk like that for his sake. He had indirectly put in a request to her for certain items, though. Items that one would need when expecting a child. It hadn’t been hard to figure out whom the items were for, even if this was something for the history books.

The situation availed many opportunities. Being the first one to study a male Cardassian interspecies pregnancy, a chance to get some inside information on the enemy, obtain information about the resistance from Garak if possible, and a chance to hear opposing views on the Dominion. They constantly rammed Dominion propaganda down your throat on Cardassia, and even if you were in the fleet on border patrol. She hadn’t liked the Dominion from day one, but it wasn’t her decision to make. It was her job to serve and protect Cardassia, not dictate policy and govern.

It had all happened so long ago that her secret coming to light wasn’t a serious concern to her. She only recalled it because it was a reminder of why she felt she had to just accept Garak’s choices in mates.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian awoke before Garak, as usual. He could never sleep too many hours at a time. He was just so used to being woken up at odd hours and rushing to the infirmary. And also, like usual, he was wide-awake the moment his eyes opened. Another result of having to rush out the door to the infirmary at odd hours. Still, he enjoyed just lying in bed, watching Elim sleeping. He was so used to hearing the practiced shallow breathing of a light sleep that it was almost startling when Garak started lapsing into a near hibernation-like sleep as the pregnancy progressed.

Poor Garak, Julian reflected. How many times a night he was up and down running to the bathroom night after night. Or woke because his skin itched maddeningly where the scales were flaking off, at the point where the pouch started expanding.

He recalled one evening when they had Keiko and Miles over for dinner and Garak had started to itch. They were right in the middle of the meal, so Garak valiantly attempted to ignore it. That only seems to make it get worse though, Garak had said. His skin had itched so badly that it almost felt as if it were moving around on his body and driving little knives into him as it went. It grew and grew in intensity until he finally leaped up from the table, startling everyone, and ripped his shirt off. Then he fled to the bedroom, extremely embarrassed. To say Miles had been shocked was an understatement. Julian grinned widely and shook his head.

Garak had finally managed to find a material that at least didn’t intensify his itching, and he had made sheets and bedclothes out of it. Julian just wished it hadn’t reminded him so much of burlap. If anyone saw their sheets, they’d seem extremely strange - half the odd burlap-esque material and the other half silk. How any species could consider such a strange material comfortable was beyond him. For some reason though, silk caused Garak’s itching to be magnified tenfold and the ‘burlap’ eased it.

Julian leaned down and gave Garak a soft peck on the lips and headed off to take his morning shower. He wished Elim had been awake so he could have that talk he wanted to. Last night he had just wanted Garak to relax since he had been so upset. He’d have to return home for lunch and catch him then. He had to try and explain how the human hormones created by the children were affecting him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Julian entered the infirmary and was immediately accosted by the nurse on duty. "There’s been an accident on level one, section nineteen alpha, of the habitat ring. They’re beaming the injured here momentarily."

"What happened?" Julian asked. That’s where Gul Ocett’s quarters were!

"I’m not sure, Sir. Ops simply said there had been an accident and to prepare for possible causalities."

The doctor quickly issued orders and the infirmary was bustling with activity. The staff prepared equipment they might possibly need in a life-threatening emergency.

 

Gul Ocett was beamed in moments later, and Doctor Bashir immediately started to treat her. He knew that he was the only one there qualified to administer treatment, and she had previously stated she would only accept medical aid from him.

Upon first inspection, she had some cuts and abrasions, but nothing too serious. The medical tricorder showed some skin lacerations on her back caused by her body armor. Apparently, some force had caused her to fly across the room and hit a wall or some other surface.

With the assistance of a nurse, he hefted the unconscious Ocett’s armor off and removed her undershirt. He started healing the skin on her back with the dermal regenerator. She started to wake up moments later, but he hastily instructed her not to sit up. It had only taken him a few minutes to finish her back so she quickly dressed before he continued on to her face.

Everyone’s wounds had been superficial, a nurse reported to him. But what had caused them? An explosion?

Sisko walked into the room. "We’re not sure exactly what happened yet, Constable Odo is investigating the possibility of a bomb. So far, all we know is there was an explosion. If it was a bomb, then the culprit either implemented his plan very poorly because no one was seriously injured or killed, or it was done precisely as intended and was carefully executed. Has anyone on this station threatened you in any way since you’ve been here, Gul?"

"Not as such, but then they would be a fool to do so, albeit a brave fool."

Sisko couldn’t help but grin at her audacity. "Well, we know at least that the explosion came from your quarters. Most likely you were the one being targeted. Constable Odo will question you himself when he’s through searching your room – no, none of your personal belongings are being searched at this time. We’re only looking around the computer console where the explosion took place."

As if on cue, Odo appeared beside them in the infirmary. "Captain, may I see you for a moment?"

"Is it about this incident?"

"Yes."

"Then I’m sure you can share any information you have right here, it does concern the Gul."

"Very well," Odo said, obviously not in approval of the decision. He looked at Doctor Bashir and hesitated.

"I have other patients to attend, anyway," the doctor said, leaving the three alone.

"We found this device hidden in the wall panel beside the computer console," Odo said, holding the object in question up for their inspection.

Ocett took a close look at the small device; a glimmer of recognition briefly flickered in her eyes before she could suppress it.

"What is it?" Captain Sisko asked of them, not failing to notice Ocett’s recognition.

"It’s definitely Cardassian technology," Odo informed. "There are symbols on it in Kardasi – a model number, I think."

"What is it?" Sisko repeated, this time, though, directing the question to Ocett.

She did not answer.

"I understand your hesitancy to give away information about your technology, but in this case, it’s necessary. Someone is trying to kill you!"

Ocett’s stern refusal started to diminish somewhat. ‘I must be loyal to the State, even if it means having to investigate this matter on my own,’ she though, ‘and yet…what if the state itself is trying to kill me? Impossible!’ she decided. ‘I have never been anything but a loyal Cardassian in service of my people.’

"Fine. We’ll just have to ask Mr. Garak, and get the Chief and Dax to have a look at it. We’ll figure it out – on our own," Sisko said, stressing the last three words heavily.

"Captain," Ocett said, stopping him before he and Odo left. She finally decided they’d figure it out in time, anyway, so she might as well just tell them and get help in her investigation. "Perhaps I should just divulge this information directly to your engineering staff?"

"I’ll call a meeting in the wardroom."

"Very well," Ocett consented.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ocett sat at one end of the long table in the wardroom, Sisko sat across from her at the other end, and the rest of the senior staff was interspersed on either side between them. Before speaking, she looked closely at every one of them, making sure to lock eyes with them, as if their thoughts were written there for her to read. When she finally did speak, her audience listened with rapt attention, inadvertently drawn to the shock of her voice after the long silence.

"This device," she said, indicating the small object, "is Cardassian in origin, as the Constable has informed. Its an extremely rare device, which would seem to suggest that it’s owner is also Cardassian. I disagree with that point, however. I feel that the one who planted it wishes me to think the Union is attempting to assassinate me. For what purpose I do not yet know."

"But what is it?" Chief O’Brien asked.

"It’s a micro-replicator," Ocett answered.

"I’ve never heard of such a thing," Doctor Bashir blurted.

Ocett smiled slightly, but did not respond.

"So how did it cause the explosion?" Captain Sisko inquired.

"When they’re built, they’re not yet programmed with information on what to replicate. That’s only installed in them upon purchase. This person apparently wanted to replicate a bomb."

"How does it work?" Dax asked.

"When an order is placed, the information is fed to a dozen or a half dozen micro-replicators, depending on how much the customer is willing to pay, and how fast they want the job accomplished," Ocett replied.

"But we only found one," Odo objected. "Are they so easily destroyed?"

"In this case, however," Ocett said, continuing, "since only one was discovered it is would seem likely that any others were destroyed. I doubt that possibility, as the explosion wasn’t powerful enough to cause me much damage, and I was right next to it. The next likely possibility is that the person in question did not have enough resources to obtain more than one."

"And it just replicates things bit by bit…I see…But how long would it take to replicate something as complex as a bomb?" O’Brien asked.

"It depends on the sophistication of this particular model, however, it should take in the least, six months, perhaps longer. This one evidently went off prematurely, perhaps before the bomb itself was fully charged," Ocett answered.

"But where does it get its power from?" Dax asked.

"It’s designed to tap into ship or station systems. Not compatible with every alien technology perhaps, but as this is a Cardassian station, interface would be no problem," Ocett said.

"Excuse me!" Kira said indignantly. "This is a Bajoran station!"

Ocett gave her a superior smile. "It may be ran by Bajor and the Federation, my dear, but it will always be a Cardassian station. All you have to do is look around you at the beautiful architecture and the soothing shades of the walls."

Sisko could tell that Kira was about ready to explode, so he cut her off before she could utter a syllable. "Yes, Gul, we understand your point. In the future, for the sake of peace, let’s please just say either it has Cardassian technology or is Cardassian in design."

"As you wish, Captain," Ocett said, inclining her head diplomatically, which infuriated Kira even further.

"How is the device put into use?" Dax inquired, trying to refocus everyone on the problem at hand.

"In this case the panel was probably removed and the device installed not long after I was assigned to those quarters. Then it was activated and it began its task of replicating pieces of the bomb," Ocett answered.

"But what if you weren’t even in the room when it went off?" Bashir asked.

"It probably is able to detect Cardassian life signs?" O’Brien suggested.

"Not just Cardassian, but my life signs specifically. The culprit had to be able to get close enough to me to program my own life signs into the micro-replicator’s programming so it could tell the bomb what, or whom in this case, to look for," Ocett explained.

"Ingenious," Dax exclaimed, obviously impressed.

"Indeed," Ocett agreed.

"What a diabolical way to assassinate someone!" Bashir pronounced. "Who could possibly remember all the possible suspects from six months previous to the incident, especially if the suspect happened to be someone you only saw a small glimpse of, perhaps someone you used to know…" Bashir began speculating.

"Odo, make a record of all the people who were on the station just prior to, and just after, Gul Ocett’s arrival. Have her help you go through it. Narrow it down as much as possible, we need a suspect list," Sisko ordered.

Odo nodded.

"Chief, Dax, see if the two of you can hack into the micro-replicator’s programming. Try and find out who programmed it. Have Gul Ocett help you with that if you need. If she’s too busy with the constable get Mr. Garak if he’s up to the task," Sisko commanded.

They both nodded their confirmation.

"Doctor," Sisko started to say.

"Yes," Bashir inquired quickly, eager to help.

Sisko smiled slightly at the doctor’s enthusiasm, "Use that enhanced intellect of yours to come up with some alternate theories as to why this happened. The Gul’s theory is a sound one, but it leaves a lot of unanswered questions such as why it was done and what the culprit’s motivations were. If you can answer those questions, or think of an alternate theory, it could lead us to the criminal faster."

"Yes sir," Bashir said, on this rare occasion actually thankful for his enhancements.

"Major, I’ll be with Dax and O’Brien if you need me, you have Ops."

"But sir!" Kira started to object.

"You have your orders, Major!" Sisko informed. The fact that Kira and Ocett did not get along well was just starting to hit Quark’s rumor mill. Sisko didn’t believe for a second that Kira would even consider going to the extreme of assassinating her, but it still wouldn't look good for even a remote suspect to head up an investigation. He just regretted that not allowing her to do so would most likely drive an even further wedge between them.

"You have your orders, people, dismissed!" Sisko said sternly when no one made any move to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~

"I’m so glad you feel good enough to get some of your tailoring work done," Amsha said to Garak as they strolled casually towards Garak’s shop.

"I’ve had to take too much time off already. I’m starting to wonder if I’ll ever get caught up on my work - especially with all the Bajoran festivals this time of year. Every participant wishes to outdo the other, and they all get the bright idea of having a Cardassian-designed gown."

"You’ll catch up," Amsha said, smiling kindly. "I can help you, with anything simple anyway."

Garak paused, slumping, undignified, against the wall. "Did you get tired so easily when you were carrying Julian? I do something simple like get up out of a chair and I’m exhausted!"

"Quite so, worse in fact. I took naps every so often during the day."

"Oh, I do that, too," Garak said, slightly embarrassed.

"The morning sickness was the worst, and using the bathroom so much."

"Up every hour of the night, sometimes twice an hour, for either one or the other," Garak concurred.

"And I had to have the environmental controls set way down. Poor Richard had to wear sweaters and a winter coat around the house."

"That, fortunately, is perhaps the one blessed thing about being pregnant. I’m finally warm enough!" Garak said merrily, and hefted his sizeable body off the wall.

Amsha smiled over at her alien son as they headed off towards the Promenade again.

As they neared the Replimat, Garak switched directions and headed there. "You don’t mind if we stop here on the way, do you?"

Amsha shook her head no, smiling knowingly.

"I’m hungry constantly," he explained. "And I find myself eating the strangest things."

"Like what?" Amsha asked, taking a seat without getting anything for herself. They had just eaten before leaving the Garak/Bashir quarters.

"Well, the night before you arrived, I had fried chicken, pumpkin pie with Yamok sauce, and red leaf tea."

"Yamok Sauce?" Amsha asked, hesitant.

"Cardassian condiment."

"Of course," Amsha said, nodding her head.

Garak sat down across from Amsha and started squirting ketchup into his Sem’Hal stew, not noticing his dining companion’s grimace.

Garak took a large gulp of the root beer he had ordered, and, realizing what he was drinking, sat it back down with a great deal of trepidation. Garak recalled a conversation between himself and Quark.

 

 

"Might I trouble you for a glass of Kanar?" Garak asked sitting down at the bar in Quark’s.

"Help yourself, it’s on the house," Quark answered, getting a bottle and glass and placing them in front of Garak.

Garak gave Quark a slightly surprised look. "How uncharacteristically generous of you."

"I’m in an uncharacteristic mood. Besides, I got 80 cases of the stuff sitting in my stockroom, and the way things are going, I’m never unloading another bottle of the stuff unless it’s to you."

"How thoughtless of me not to consider the effects the destruction of my homeworld would have on your business. These must be trying times for you. Be brave!"

"I should have listened to my cousin Gaila. He said to me, Quark, I’ve got one word for you – weapons. No one ever went broke selling weapons. But did I take his advice? No… and why not? Because I’m a people person. I like interacting with my customers – like you and I are doing right now. Talking to each other, getting to know one another."

"I can see the attraction, for you."

"But if you’re dealing in weapons, buyers aren’t interested in casual conversation. They just want their merchandise, no questions asked. It’s so impersonal."

"Your charms would be wasted."

"Exactly. So now Gaila owns his own moon. I’m staring into the abyss, and the worst part of it is my only hope of salvation is - the Federation." Quark had a look of contempt on his face when he said the last few words.

"I know precisely how you feel," Garak said, a serious look on his face. He took the last swallow from his glass of Kanar.

Quark reached down under the bar and retrieved a pitcher. He started pouring a dark liquid into a glass as he said, "I want you to try something for me, take a sip of this."

"What is it?"

"It’s a human drink. It’s called root beer."

"I don’t know," Garak said, pulling his head back slightly, a look of disgust on his face.

"Come on, aren’t you just a little bit curious?"

Garak sighed audibly and took a drink of the root beer.

"What do you think?"

"It's vile!"

"I know. It's so bubbly, and cloy, and happy."

"Just like the Federation!"

"And you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it."

"It's insidious."

"Just like the Federation."

"Do you think they’ll be able to save us?"

"I hope so."

 

 

‘What depths I have descended to’, Garak realized, unsure quite how he felt about that.

"What is it, son?" Amsha asked, taking note of the sullen look on the Cardassian face of her son-in-law.

"If I had known that I’d wind up living in exile, pregnant, married to a human, and eating human cuisine I would have been quite disgusted with myself."

"And now?"

"I’m ‘happy’… which disgusts me even worse," he said, shocked by his honesty and openness. ‘It must be these human hormones,’ he assured himself.

Amsha gave him a sad look. "It must be hard to maintain your identity among so many aliens, each with different values and cultures."

"It changes you…and you don’t realize it until it’s too late."

"Change is inevitable among any people and species that survive. Those who do not are the ones that die out. Look where your own people’s unwillingness to change has led them."

Garak reflected for a moment on her words before speaking. "It’s just these human hormones the babies produce, my system isn’t used to it."

"You’re afraid you’re losing yourself in all this?"

"I suppose that’s part of it," Garak admitted.

"Well, that’s only natural. Every pregnant wo- person goes through some level of that."

"Humans."

"Yes, well, like it or not, part of you is human now, until those three are born."

"Oh…. It’s too late to change back now...much too late for that…I have a human spouse, and my children will be half human, no…part of me will always be human now…" Garak said feeling both happiness and contempt at the concept at the same time.

~~~~~~~~~~

~To Be Continued~

 

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