Dukat had pulled himself out of bed and headed to headquarters for another day of meetings. No one told him that ruling Cardassia meant he would be spend his days listening to people droning on and on about the most insignificant things. He had more important things to worry about, like dealing with the new Federation Ambassador, however it bloody was. Unfortunately, he had an email from Raina saying she didn't get the rule of the Ambassador and wouldn't be returning to Cardassia for at least another week. It was then he started to believe that she had moved on from him. She probably found a nicer, younger, handsome Human who was well liked by everyone and could understand why Raina picked him. He could hear all the negative comments from her friends about why she went for Dukat in the first place. He did his best to love her and a way that she deserved, but it wasn't good enough for them. They could even be open about their relationship due to the judgements that would be thrown at Raina.
Every night he dreamt that she lay next to him, but the previous night it felt very real. He could smell the floral scent of her hair, hear her breathing and the feel of skin on his. But it was just another dream.
When he got to Headquarters, his advisors greeted him. "Has the Ambassador arrived?"
His aides desperately tried to hide their smiles and shared looks between each other. "The Ambassador is in your office." One told him.
He walked to his office, expecting some know it all, middle aged man with an inflated sense of self-importance. Only, that wasn't what he got. There was a beautiful human woman sitting in his chair, giving him the most mischievous grin. "So, are you our new Ambassador?" He asked, smirking but still so hopeful.
"Yes, I am." She drawled out. "We will be working together very closely."
"We'll have to have daily meetings."
"Oh yes. I might even be naked for some of those."
"Can I you kiss you or is it grievously unprofessional of me?"
"That'll will have to come last." She grinned. "We need to discuss an issue you left me with before I left to gallivant around the galaxy."
"Oh." He was intrigued by the smile on her face and it wasn't until she stood up that he understood why.
"It appears….." She started as she moved around the desk to stand before him. "…I took two little pieces of you with me when I left."
Dukat watched her, mesmerized as she took his hands and placed them on her swollen stomach. The life within moved excitedly as it were responding his touch. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked as he bent down to kiss her stomach.
"I knew you'd be worried about us." She smiled, running her fingers through his hair. "I took me a long time to accept that this pregnancy was going well, and I couldn't put you through losing two more daughters in case it did go wrong." She admitted.
He understood her reason for keeping it quiet and she was right, he would worry himself sick about them. He had no more words to say and the overwhelming need to kiss her got too strong to ignore. In a second his lips were on hers, devouring her like a hungry man. His arms felt so light once he was able to hold her again, her body flush against his as they kissed away seven painful months of separation. Then the realisation hit him; she really was in bed with him last night. "You were home last night."
"I was, but I had to get to work." She smirked.
"You deceived me." He growled, but there was humour behind it.
"Such a naughty Ambassador." She teased. "Will you punish me later?"
"I could just bend you over the desk now?"
Raina laughed. "Sweetheart, my back wont cope with that."
He watched as she stretched her back, moving to take a seat. It was her first day on the job and already he planned to whisk her home and lavish her with all the adoration she deserved. But he was the top dog on Cardassia, so he could do what he wanted. "I've got something to show you. If we are to have more children, then we need more space."
Raina found herself blindfolded and in a shuttle. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
After a short flight, Dukat helped her from the shuttle and led her up gravel path before stopping her and removing the blindfold. She gasped at the sight before her. "Skrain….it's beautiful." She gave him a long, lingering kiss before she moved as quick as she could to the front door.
The inside was even better, and she could immediately imagine the children running around and causing chaos. A large entrance hall greeted her first. A door to the left hid a large kitchen and dining room big enough to entertain. A door to the right hid a sitting room, with a small, more cosy room led from that. There was a sunroom, a gym and a home office big enough for two.
Arms wrapped around her and caressed her stomach. "So what do you think?"
She wrapped her hands around his and leant backwards into him. "I'm home."
"Do you remember what you said when I asked what annoyed you most about being on ships/stations?"
Raina thought about it and then her answer hit the front of her mind. She turned in his arms and cradled his face in her hands. "You got me a bath?"
"No." He smirked at the disappointment on her face. "I got you a really big bath."
With those words, she run upstairs as first as she could. In the master bedroom, there was a bathroom joined on with a huge bath, immediately noting it was big enough for two. She didn't wait long before she was filling the bath up with water, thrilled to know that it was a quick fill bath.
She slipped herself into the soothing hot water, feeling her achy back ease with the heat. She smiled at Dukat when he entered the bathroom carrying a tray and setting down bedside her on a small table next to the bath. "Are you planning to join me?"
He stripped off and climbed into the bath with her, sitting at the other end. "They're moving." He leant over to rub her stomach and give it a gentle kiss.
"They do that a lot." She sighed happily. "So, I have another news."
"Oh? Good or bad?"
"My father is coming to visit."
Dukat winced. "Bad."
Raina kicked his leg under the water. "Shhh. He was accepting of us and he's delighted with this pregnancy. Don't worry, he won't hurt you. He'll just interrogate you for an hour or two."
"I'm glad you find it funny."
"Shut up, sexy man." She glanced down at him, catching sight of his hardened length underneath the water. "Oooo, hard at the sight of my naked pregnant body. It'd be a shame to waste such a beautiful thing." She teased.
"Feel free to jump on."
That exactly what Raina was planning to do. She manoeuvred herself over to him and straddled his lap. "I missed your Cho'Ch. Only so much my fingers can do."
He held her close as she rode his length hard. Neither were going to last long after such a long time without sex. Raina came first with Dukat following not long after. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too."
"Marry me." He pressed her hand into his chest, above his heart.
She nodded, giving him a tender kiss. "I need to confess something first."
"What?" He shifted uncomfortably, fearing it was something he didn't want to hear.
"I had a few sessions with the ships Counsellor about my past and my resulting control and trust issues. She felt that I slept with Cardassians to relive the rape, in a way to try and control it." Tears slipped down her face as guilt ate at her. "I told her about you and how I felt a shift in what I wanted from you. I need to confess that I wanted to hurt you, but I couldn't because you were different than what I expected you to be. My issues weren't about control, it was about hurting you. That's why I tried to push you away so much and I asked you that awful question about your Bajoran mistresses." She pressed her forehead into his chest, fully sobbing. "Please forgive me. I'm so sorry."
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her protectively. He hated that she was still in so much pain after so long but all he could do was support her through the pain. "I love you, Raina. The only pain I've felt is being apart from you."
"I had to be honest with you." She stopped herself. "I lied to you; I have read your mind."
Voices downstairs disturbed the couple, knowing Yva had arrived with the children. Dukat got out of the bath and dressed quickly. "You should get some rest. I'll send the children up and my mother."
Raina dressed in light clothing and climbed into the most luxurious bed she'd ever laid in. She heard an excited sequel from Talyn and three sets of rushed footsteps running up the stairs. She braced herself for the incoming onslaught. The three children burst into the room and immediately launched themselves on to her. "Hey, hey. Steady on, your sisters are in here." She laughed at the confused faces, so she pulled back the covers to show them her baby bump. "If you poke it, they'll kick back at you."
All three took turns to illicit kicks out of the two girls. "Does it hurt?" Talyn asked.
"No, just a bit uncomfortable. So, my dad is coming visit because he wants to meet his grandchildren. You up for that?"
"Is he nice?" Jacen asked.
Raina laughed. "He's the best and he is so excited to meet you. And, he wants to assess a potential Starfleet Cadet."
Mekor gave her a crushing hug. "I just need a sponsor."
"Honey, you are the grandchild of a Starfleet Admiral. Refusing you would be against the code."
"What happens if we can't find the incubator?" Talyn looked close to tears. "Father says they won't recognise you as our mother without her permission."
"Don't worry." She reassured them all. "You are my babies and it will happen, with or without her."