Disclaimer: Sisko is not mine. Star Trek is not mine. Bajor is not mine. They are Paramount's.
For, so swiftly it flew, the sight
She was old. 97, to be exact. Her white hair was like a cotton ball around her head. To her great-granddaughter (who called her "Grandma"), she was sweet and playful. But around adults, there was a hint of bitterness, resentment for the world. But the first thing Sisko noticed about her was how much she looked like Kasidy.
"Lila." He shook her hand, and then hugged her.
"You look just like your mother." He told her.
She smiled.
"That's funny. She always told me how much I look like you."
His family had come to see him at his hotel room in three groups. First, Ceri and Cara and Bopha, and they're son Vert. Then Fatima and Dev'r. This was the last, Zare and Kio, and their daughter Wena, and Lila, who lived with them since Wena was born and joked that they inherited her unwittingly.
Wena was a beautiful little girl. She was only four years old, and he could tell by her greeting that she was creative, too. She seemed to be nothing but eyes. Large, pretty, brown eyes.
"M'yow." She said.
"Did you just meow?"
"Well, what do you expect a kitty-cat to say?"
"Oh. I'm sorry; I didn't realize you were a cat. I thought you were a girl."
"I'm a girl cat."
"Today," said Kio, "She's a cat, tomorrow she's a fish, next week she's a princess."
"You must be very imaginative." He said, and Wena grinned widely and sincerely.
"Did you really go with the prophets?" She asked.
He was a little surprised, not by the question, but by the fact that no one had asked it yet.
"Yes, I went with the prophets."
"What was it like?"
This, he had not been expecting, and did not know what to say. It had been like being aware of everything that had happened, and that will happen, could or could have happened. It was like being one with the universe. But, there were no words to describe it. It was so pure and simple that no explanation could satisfy him.
"It was like being able to see all the shades of grey."
There was silence.
"It's hard to explain." He said quietly.
"No," said Lila. "I understand."
She looked to the others, then back to Sisko, then to the others again.
"Could we have some time alone?" She asked the room. Then she spoke to Benjamin directly.
"There's a lot I'd like to talk about."
"Of course." Said Zare, shuffling his wife and child out.
But, the minute the door shut, an awkward silence arose.
"I'm sorry." Sisko said.
"For what?"
"For not being there, not being with you, not being your father."
"You had to be the Emissary."
"It could have waited. I should have been a father first. And I'm sorry."
"There's no need to be sorry. I had a wonderful childhood. I have a wonderful life."
Another silence.
"Tell me about Perdu." Sisko broke the silence again.
She inhaled deeply.
"He was wonderful. The most wonderful person in the world. He was the perfect husband, the perfect father to Fatima."
"Were you close with Jake?"
"Oh, yes. Of course, he had a family of his own, but he always made time for mom and me. He would cook for everyone on Saturday nights, us and Seana, and the twins, and whoever else. Mom and I would help."
"That sounds like fun."
"Great fun! Do you cook?"
Sisko laughed.
"Do I cook? Do I cook? I taught Jake-o everything he knew about cooking!"
"We should cook together sometime."
"Yes, definitely. Next Saturday?"
"It's a date."
