2367: Terok Nor

UNEXPECTED NEWS

"Corat..." Keela began slowly.

He turned away from his work and shifted his position slightly as she came to sit on the chair with him. "Yes, Keela?" he asked her, his tone of voice cautious and slightly expectant.

She smiled and massaged his shoulders from behind. "I'm not entirely sure how to tell you this..." she muttered, her tone dropping slightly.

"What do you mean?" He asked her, curious and a little nervous. He kissed her cheek.

She shivered at the feel of his cold lips on her warm face. "You're not going to like this..."

"You are speaking in riddles," he said bluntly, scanning her beautiful face for a sign as to what exactly she was talking about. "I have a ton of work to get through."

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and sighed. "I'm... pregnant," she said, coming right out with it.

"You're... What?!" he demanded, his face contorting with confusion and frustration.

She stroked his face. "I... I think," she said, stumbling over her words significantly. "I mean... I don't know, really." She breathed out in exasperation.

"How sure are you?!" He demanded, shaking his head in disbelief. "I didn't think this would happen."

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"Will you please be more definitive?!" he yelled at her.

She looked at him in disbelief and terror and rushed off the seat, starting away from him. He grabbed her arm before she could make much distance between the two of them.

"I'm sorry," he apologised quickly, bringing her back toward him. "How sure are you?" He held her firmly.

She sighed, knowing that she couldn't resist his steadfast grip. "Pretty sure."

He gave her a disapproving and frustrated look.

She waved her hands in submission. "Ok," she said, sighing. "Very sure."

He brought his hands up to his head and rubbed his temples with vigorous frustration. "How could this happen!"

"How?" she repeated. "Is that a serious question?" She rolled her eyes, slightly amused.

He shook his head and gave her a dismissive gesture as images of their time spent together flashed through his mind. He was just nervous. "You're sure?" he asked again, just be certain.

She nodded and sighed wearily. "Yes, Corat. I am sure."

He shook his head and walked away a little, before turning back.

"You're angry with me, right?" she asked him worriedly.

He sighed and turned back around to face her. He studied her beautiful face, with bright blue eyes which were starting to be blemished by flecks of tears and worry. That changed his mind. "No," he said quietly. "I am not angry with you. I am angry with myself."

"Don't be," she whispered, coming closer to him.

"Why should I not? This is my fault. I shouldn't have pushed you," he muttered, tracing her jawline with his fingertip.

"I wanted this, Corat."

"I didn't even think a child between the two of us was possible," he pondered aloud. He'd heard of offspring being successively produced between many different species: Klingon, Andorian, Vulcan, Romulan, Bajoran. Never between a Human and a Cardassian, though.

Keela shrugged. The science of it was hardly the foremost thing on her mind. She wondered what was going through Damar's brain. She wondered whether or not Damar had a good understanding of the compatibility between humans and Cardassians. "You wanted this child?"

He shuddered at the sound of that. "No." he said defiantly. "No... I don't know." The certainty faded from his voice.

"We don't know a lot."

He seemed to almost get the joke. "I appreciate your look on the humour of this situation," he said firmly. "But this is serious, Keela."

"I know that," she said exasperatedly. She stood on her toes and touched her lips to his. "But... I love you."

He kissed her and held her close. He didn't believe what was happening. "This... What will I tell Dukat?" he asked her.

"The truth," she told him softly. She rubbed the nape of his neck comfortingly.

"The Gul will not want to hear this truth," Damar answered blandly. He knew Dukat too well.

She kissed him on the lips again and held his face. "I love you, Corat. Surely Dukat cannot argue with love."

He nodded slowly and went back to sit at is computer work station.

She turned away from him "If you don't want this baby, then-"

He cut her off, putting a cold finger to her lips. "I do not know if this is the right time, Keela. I could get called back to Cardassia or Bajor at any time. It is hardly the right environment to raise a child on." He turned his head and caught her lips with his. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, until she was sat on his lap. "But... I didn't say I didn't want the child for certain," Damar added.