AN: Here's another piece to this one.

I use * to indicate telepathic communication.

I hope you enjoy! If you do, please do let me know!

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* "Are you ready, Imzadi?" Lwaxana sent the thought to Odo as she held onto their toddler's hand.

* "I'm ready, Beloved. Do you wish for me to tell you what I am?"

Lwaxana smiled to herself.

* "No," she responded. "If Veta needs my help, I'd like to be as surprised as he is."

* "Very well," Odo responded. "I'll be keeping a proverbial eye on both of you."

"Alright, Veta," Lwaxana said to their toddler. "Are you ready? Are you ready to find Papa? Go on—go find Papa! Mama's right here, Little One, go find Papa. I'll be right here. Go find Papa!"

Veta grinned at her, displaying his few well-grown teeth, and toddled off in the direction where she steered him to search for his father.

Mr. Homn was just beyond her field of sight, somewhat tucked back in some of the holodeck's foliage so that he could also keep an eye on Veta without drawing too much of the toddler's attention. The whole family enjoyed hide-and-seek—and they all considered Mr. Homn to be an essential part of their family—so they all played together, each taking different roles at different times. Lwaxana was tired, but Veta was independent enough that he could toddle around on the path they'd programmed for him and touch items in search of his papa, especially with Lwaxana at one end of the holodeck-produced path and Mr. Homn at the other.

Veta crawled some and he toddled other times. He took his time, but nobody was in any kind of hurry. The play was intended to tire him out a bit, but also to simply entertain them all as they enjoyed family time together.

"Papa!" Veta would announce, and then he would touch anything that caught his interest. If the item he touched was the form that Odo had taken, then Odo would restore himself to the version of himself that Veta most related to "Papa," and he would cuddle Veta and congratulate the boy on how smart he was. Then, he would send Veta back to either Lwaxana or Mr. Homn, and he would choose another shape for Veta to find among the holodeck flora and fauna.

Sometimes, they would change the program to allow for more objects that wouldn't seem out of place.

"You're so clever, Little One!" Lwaxana encouraged, each time that Veta looked back to her for reassurance and support. "You're doing so well! Find Papa! You can do it! Find Papa!"

* "Is he getting tired and frustrated, Beloved?" Odo asked Lwaxana telepathically. She smiled at his concern over their little one.

* "He's fine. He's having fun," Lwaxana assured Odo.

"Mother."

Lwaxana turned her attention away from Veta, knowing that one of his other guardians would take over, and smiled at Deanna as she walked confidently to where Lwaxana was sitting.

"Little One," Lwaxana said. "I didn't expect to see you until later."

Deanna sighed dramatically. Lwaxana felt a wave of negativity from her daughter that sincerely made her feel a touch nauseous, and she immediately raised her mental shields against Deanna, blocking her out empathically and telepathically. Deanna must have sensed that she'd been blocked, because she quirked an eyebrow before she simply frowned at Lwaxana.

Lwaxana put on the best smile she could, but the one wave of emotion had already made her feel a little more tired than she had been and not entirely well.

"Mother—what are you doing?" Deanna asked.

Lwaxana smiled.

"Why—we're playing hide and seek," Lwaxana said. "You see, Little One, Odo chooses something that he can mimic. He becomes the item, and then we search for him. Veta is searching for him now."

"I don't mean the game, Mother," Deanna said. Lwaxana could sense her irritation even while protecting herself.

Lwaxana laughed to herself, not feeling the sensation of humor at all.

"Well, then I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, Deanna." She sighed. "Do sit down, Deanna, if you have something you'd like to discuss. I don't care for you hovering over me like that."

"And the reason you don't stand up is because you can't, in your condition, Mother?" Deanna asked, but she moved to sit down.

Lwaxana laughed and patted her belly.

"I can stand perfectly well, Deanna," she said. "The reason that I don't is because I'm relaxing. Why—when the twins are both in their…their gooiest form, I can move about without hardly any physical proof of my pregnancy. Now—when they're both in their Betazoid form, that can be a bit more cumbersome."

"Their gooiest form, Mother? You mean a liquid state?" Deanna asked.

Lwaxana shrugged a shoulder and helped herself to a little of the lunch that she'd brought for the time she spent here. She offered the basket to Deanna, but her daughter clearly had something on her mind that wasn't sharing food with Lwaxana.

"Well, if they're anything like their father, which they must be, it's really more of a goo, Deanna, and less of a liquid," Lwaxana said. "It's really beside the point, though, isn't it? Unless, of course, that's what you've come here to discuss. What did you come here to discuss?"

"I'm worried about you, Mother," Deanna said. "I understand that having Veta was a mistake…"

"An unexpected blessing," Lwaxana corrected quickly, recoiling slightly from the word "mistake," in regards to her baby.

"But now this? At your age, Mother?"

"I assume you're talking about the twins? I assure you that it's acceptable at my age. Why—Doctor Crusher has even done research and there's a very good chance we could do this again, if I wanted."

"Betazoid pregnancies are difficult," Deanna said. "And deliveries are very difficult. Isn't that what you're always telling me?"

"Well—yes," Lwaxana said. "They have their demands, certainly."

"And yet—you're going to have…gooey twins, Mother?" Deanna asked.

Lwaxana felt herself bristle slightly, but then she willed herself to relax. She felt her little ones shifting. Now, she knew what it felt like when they changed shape. They both rolled into their Betazoid forms, lending some credence to what Crusher had said. Perhaps they felt threatened or, at the very least, felt Lwaxana's discomfort. Lwaxana felt full when they'd taken their solid shape.

"Deanna—this isn't the first you've heard of your siblings," Lwaxana said, struggling to keep even some semblance of a smile. "Maybe you had better express exactly what you mean, Dear."

"You don't know what to expect, Mother," Deanna said. "I passed by Dr. Crusher's office and—I overheard part of a report she was giving about this situation. You don't know what to expect…you have no idea."

"Well, so much for confidentiality," Lwaxana said. She sighed and rolled her eyes at Deanna's expression. "I don't," Lwaxana agreed. "I didn't know what to expect when I was first carrying a Human and Betazoid hybrid, either. Or, really, my second, for that matter. Every baby is different. And then, of course, there was the first Tavnian and Betazoid hybrid that anyone has seen so far…" Lwaxana laughed to herself. "I guess you could say that I'm something of a trendsetter."

"Could you be serious, Mother?" Deanna asked.

"I understand that you're distressed, Deanna," Lwaxana said. "What I don't know is what you want me to do about it."

"I don't suppose there's anything to do," Deanna said with a sigh. "I'm only concerned about you, Mother. I'm concerned that you seem to have spent very little time thinking about the implications of your choices, yet you spend an inordinate amount of time worried about my relationship with Riker and our potential family. You have a great deal to be concerned with in your own life, Mother."

Lwaxana laughed to herself. She shrugged her shoulders.

"You're right," Lwaxana said.

Deanna snatched backward slightly, as though Lwaxana had struck her.

"I'm sorry—did you say that I'm right?" Deanna asked.

"You are absolutely right, Little One—Deanna," Lwaxana said. "Look—if I've been too overbearing or involved, it's because, well…I lost your father so early in our marriage. I wanted so much more time with him. But—it was over. In the blink of an eye. So many things have been over in the blink of an eye. I guess—I wanted you to marry, Deanna, while you could still enjoy so many years with your Rider—or whoever it was that you finally decided to marry. I wanted you to enjoy having a family. Now, though, well…you're right. I've got the chance to practically start over. With Veta and the twins, I'm practically having a second family—a second chance. Oh—and my Odo. I don't want to miss a moment with him, Deanna. You're quite independent, as you're always telling me, and you're right. I ought to leave you to live your life as you see fit. I suppose—for the longest time, you were my only Little One. You were my…everything. And I shouldn't have made you into that, but I'm not nearly as independent as you are. I never have been. I've always enjoyed having someone to fuss over…someone to fuss over me." Lwaxana smiled and shrugged. "Odo enjoys that. We're good for each other. And with Veta, and now with the twins…I've got my hands full, as you recognize. Oh—Deanna—I do hope that you'll choose to spend time with us when we're here, but…you're right. I shouldn't try to tie you down or control your life. I shouldn't be so involved. I've got other things I should be worried about."

Deanna stared at Lwaxana for a moment, and Lwaxana stared back. She considered opening her mind to her daughter—to anyone, since she was blocked, entirely, from her surroundings—but she decided against it for the moment. She decided to protect herself and her energy as much as she could.

"I can handle my own life, Mother," Deanna said. Lwaxana noted that there sounded to be a touch less confidence there than there had been.

"I know you can," Lwaxana assured her. "Oh—but I do still hope you'll choose to let me be a part of it, Deanna. I do love you so."

"Of course…" Deanna said, somewhat stammering out the words. "I love you, too, Mother…you know I do."

Lwaxana smiled.

"Wonderful," she said. "Then, it's settled."

"But—what about this?" Deanna asked.

"What about what, Dear?"

"You don't know what you're getting into," Deanna said. "You have no idea what might happen. You don't even know what the twins you're carrying are…"

"Don't be silly," Lwaxana said. "They're babies. And that's all that matters. They're Betazoid-Changeling hybrids. That's all."

"Nobody knows what that is," Deanna said. "Nobody knows what that means. We don't even know what a Changeling really is, Mother."

"Well—that's part of what Doctor Crusher is figuring out," Lwaxana said. "Besides—it's all part of the adventure of life. Oh—they'll be little darlings. You'll see. I may not know everything about them, Deanna, but I know enough. I can feel them. We're connected. I can feel their spirits." She winked at Deanna. "They're perfect little ones…you'll see when they're born."

"I hope so, Mother," Deanna said.

"Don't worry so much, Deanna," Lwaxana offered. "It isn't good for your health. Now—is there anything you'd like to tell me about your Rider fellow?"

"Riker, Mother," Deanna said.

Lwaxana knew that, of course, but she liked to change the subject. Now, Deanna wasn't as concerned about the twins as she had been.

"No," Deanna said with a sigh. "And—really, I have to get back to work."

"Dinner? In our quarters? You can ask your…Riker. If you'd like. If you're too busy, of course, I understand…I don't expect you to change how you live your life for me."

Deanna made a face.

"I'll see what I can do. Mother…"

"Yes, Deanna?"

"Please…take care of yourself?"

Lwaxana smiled at her and leaned toward her. Deanna met her, and Lwaxana placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead. For all her independence, she didn't fight Lwaxana over the affection.

"I'm perfectly fine, Deanna—and I have the most wonderful people looking out for me. That includes you."

Deanna left, and Lwaxana gave her time to exit the holodeck before opening her mind again. She felt the sensations of the world rushing back into her mind. It was like taking in a deep breath, except she did so mentally.

She felt Odo approaching her.

She had forgotten everything around her. She had forgotten that Mr. Homn and Odo were watching over Veta while he played. She'd forgotten that they were both, in their way, watching over her while she talked to Deanna. She was comfortable enough in their silent support and protection, that she could close herself off and forget it.

Odo smoothly changed his shape to change his position. He came to rest, still holding Veta, beside Lwaxana. Veta, unbothered by his father's changing, soothed himself by stroking Odo's face and hair, always amused when Odo shifted slightly beneath his fingers.

Odo rested a hand on Lwaxana's shoulder.

"Are you OK, Beloved?" He asked.

Lwaxana smiled at him.

"I'm fine," she said. "Deanna is growing up, but…she's supposed to do that. And—I still have plenty to keep me occupied. I'm still needed."

"I will always need you," Odo assured her.

She smiled at him, again, and accepted Veta when he reached for her and called out for her, happy to be in his mother's arms, still.

"Oh—Odo—I'm always going to need you," she said.

"And you shall have me," he said. "Lwaxana…do you regret our little ones? You can be honest with me."

"Open your mind, Odo. All the way. Feel me—so you'll know that I'm sincere. Can you feel that?"

He smiled his best smile and nodded.

"I feel you," he said.

"Then, you'll feel that I have never regretted a thing, Odo. Not when it comes to you and our life together."

"I love you, Lwaxana."

"And I, you," she assured him. She drew in a breath and released it. "Odo—I'm a bit tired. Do you think…?"

"Let's go to our quarters," he said. "You can nap while I entertain Veta until he gets tired and ready for a nap of his own. Come—my beloved."

He offered a hand out to help Lwaxana to her feet, and she took it, always amazed at the strength he showed her—strength of all kinds.