AN: This is just for fun. I was really feeling like visiting with these two. This story can be read alone, but it will be enhanced by reading my others.
I own nothing from Star Trek.
I hope you enjoy! If you do enjoy, please do let me know!
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Odo couldn't keep himself from smiling, and he didn't bother to try. The buggy was specially made for Nol and Nayara—two of their little safe boxes mounted as part of the carriage—and Odo was taking them out, for the very first time, alone.
In his company, as well, was Veta, but Veta had agreed to ride in a carrier that Odo fashioned for him.
Nol and Nayara were currently in their Betazoid forms. They were dressed, so as to not be indecent in those forms, in little holiday themed clothing that Odo had replicated for them.
He assumed that, as time went on, they would learn to fashion clothing for themselves, much like he did, no matter their form, but only time would tell what abilities the two little half-Changelings might develop. For now, they were still quite new to the world—all things considered—and their abilities were limited in any form.
Chief Miles O'Brien had fashioned the little buggy so that Odo and Lwaxana could take the little ones around the station without as much effort as carrying them in-arms required.
Taking his little ones out for a trip on the promenade made Odo feel like the proudest Papa that he imagined there ever was.
"We must get your Mommy a present," Odo informed all three of his children at once, as he began their little trip to the stores. He could replicate something, of course, but there was something about the idea of making a purchase and having it wrapped in pretty paper for Lwaxana that thrilled Odo.
Odo had heard the phrase "to love with every fiber of one's being," but he had never imagined he might actually feel that sensation. Still, he did. He felt it with such a strong resonance that his whole body practically vibrated in the presence of his beloved wife. Sometimes, when he was alone, he would say her name, simply to say it and to hear it. She had once said that his name was lyrical—Odo—and he felt that hers most certainly was. The very sound of her name made Odo happy.
And, through Lwaxana Troi, his beloved wife, Odo had found all the other good things that he had never imagined that a Changeling like him could have.
Lwaxana had given him a name—Odo Troi. She had made him respect his name, too. His name had once meant nothing. In sharing her last name, though, Odo felt that his whole name had changed. He would never be nothing again. Now, he would always be Odo Troi—beloved husband of Lwaxana Troi.
Lwaxana had made Odo a lover and a husband. Despite their occasional problems, which Lwaxana assured him all married couples had from time to time, Lwaxana told him he was the best husband, and she always praised his attempts to please her, always pleasing him immensely in every way that he could ever request.
Lwaxana had made Odo a Papa. She had happily given him three children. Veta wasn't his biological son, of course, but what did biology really matter? He loved Veta, and Veta loved him. That was all that really mattered. Nol and Nayara, their twins, were Odo's biological children, but he was careful not to make any grand distinction between them in Veta's presence.
Lwaxana had made him one of three. He was no longer the only Changeling in the world. And, if all went well, the future would see more Changelings in their lives. When Lwaxana recovered fully from the birth of the twins, they planned to talk about the future of their remaining frozen embryos. For now, though, Odo was happier with his family than he imagined any family-man ever could be.
It was almost time for Christmas. The religious meaning behind the holiday really held little importance or interest for Odo, but the holiday itself fascinated him. There were holofilms and holonovels dedicated to the holiday. There were special decorations and traditions. Everything he'd heard or seen about it said that it was a beautiful family holiday, and Odo hadn't ever really had any family celebrations.
Odo wanted family celebrations and traditions, and he'd presented that idea to Lwaxana as soon as places on the station had started to decorate for the great many holidays that all fell around this time. Lwaxana had been thrilled, and she'd suggested they take a little of each celebration—anything that fascinated them—to create their very own, special, family celebrations.
They would start their own traditions.
Lwaxana was out, now, getting pampered. Odo had suggested she get a massage, a facial, and several other things he'd seen advertised on the station. He'd purchased what they called a "package" for her from his credits, and she'd showered him with affection and a great deal of kisses that had made him vibrate for nearly a quarter of an hour with more happiness than he could practically stand all at once. He hadn't imagined such a little thing would be so very wonderful to Lwaxana, but she had declared him the greatest husband in the world, and he'd heard her going along the corridors telling those she encountered about how thoughtful her husband was.
And, now, Odo wanted to buy her a gift, since such an act seemed customary for Christmas and nearly every other tradition he'd studied in preparation for their own celebrations.
"These are my children," Odo offered, nodding his head at the first person he passed by who was obviously trying to get a look at Nol and Nayara. He stopped to let her look into their boxes, and he happily accepted her smile after she looked over both twins and Veta.
"They're twins," he offered to the next person who tried to see them. "Veta is not a twin, but he is my oldest son."
"Odo—what are you doing?"
Odo stopped when Quark came out to greet him.
"I don't have time for your nonsense today, Quark," Odo said. "I am off duty. I have my children with me, and I'm going to buy Lwaxana a Christmas present."
"Buying a present?" Quark asked, falling in step beside Odo.
"And not from you," Odo said quickly.
"Now—just listen, Odo," Quark said. "I have some things the little woman would love!"
"I don't want your contraband," Odo said. "Or anything ridiculous. This is Lwaxana's first Christmas gift from me, and it has to be perfect. Just like Lwaxana."
He added the last part as he stopped in front of a display of offerings from one of the stores. The display declared their merchandise would make the perfect gift, but Odo wasn't so sure. He frowned at the display and swayed, rocking Veta, when the child started to complain about something. He retrieved Veta's frog with the ridiculously long legs, which he always treasured, from where he'd placed it in the buggy, and he offered it to him.
"None of that seems right for Lwaxana," Odo mused, more to himself than anyone else, but he had Quark's attention.
"That's because it's not," Quark said. "I have some lovely jewelry that…uh…I acquired from a dealer who came in from Ravnon II a few weeks ago. They're lovely, unique pieces, Odo…just like your beautiful bride is unique."
Odo frowned at Quark.
"I ought to confiscate your inventory, Quark," Odo said. "I'm sure we'd find out that your dealer wasn't exactly honest."
"It's all very much legal," Quark said. "I assure you. You want to go back? Have a look at it?"
"I don't want to just give Lwaxana some jewelry," Odo said. "Lwaxana has so many jewels. She needs something truly special. Leave me alone, Quark…I have to find something perfect."
It wasn't easy to shake Quark, but eventually Odo did. He stopped by another store, studying their offerings. Sweets for the sweet person in your life. Odo frowned at the display, and paused long enough to lift Nol and try to comfort him over whatever had made him start to fuss. Several people passed by to stare, at least momentarily, and Odo informed them that Nol was his son and, since he was quite small, he often needed things—including comfort—while on long walks to buy Christmas presents.
Chief O'Brien ran into Odo, and asked him about the buggy. It was good quality, and the twins were safe in it, even if they should choose to take their Changeling shape, though they rarely did that unless they were entirely comfortable. Odo praised him for his construction of the item, and he basked a little in the light of the praise.
He was also happy to offer a few suggestions for a gift, but none of them were quite right.
Finally, certain that he wasn't going to find something today, and knowing that Lwaxana would soon return to their quarters and the twins would be wanting the milk that she would have for them, Odo returned to his home on the station, feeling slight defeated.
"Oh! Husband! There you are! Oh—and there are Mommy's little babies! Where have you been? Did you have fun? You'll have to tell me all about it!"
Odo was happy to see Lwaxana. He was happy to hear her voice. Her happiness was almost contagious. And Veta, the moment he saw his mother, was thrilled. Odo helped him out of the carrier he'd created for him and restored his shape before beginning to take Nol and Nayara from their boxes and transfer them to the little rolling boxes they moved around their quarters.
"Oh! Mommy loves you! Were you a big boy? Where did you go with Papa?" Lwaxana was asking Veta. He happily told her about their trip, and even though he didn't remember why they'd gone out, he remembered the important things like who they had seen and the fact that there had been a train at one of the displays. "Oh that's wonderful! That's a wonderful day!" Lwaxana proclaimed, making sure that Veta knew how impressive his story was. Veta beamed from her attention, and Odo felt himself quiver in response.
Lwaxana sat Veta next to her on the couch and she collected one of their twins first, and then the other. Without forcing the little things to make a fuss before giving them what they would need and desire, she went about arranging them so that they could feed.
Odo looked on, until she finally looked at him with the broad, happy smile that she seemed to wear a great deal of the time in his presence, whether or not he really deserved it.
Her smile fell.
"Odo—whatever's the matter?" She asked, furrowing her brow. She could have answered that for herself, but he could sense that she had her mental shields up, blocking their telepathic link. She sometimes did that to have a bit of rest, since she could be quite drained from the input of everyone's feelings and thoughts.
"It's nothing, Beloved," he offered.
She renewed her smile, but this time it was the soft one she gave him. It made him feel warm and loved whenever she offered it to him. He ached to wrap around her, at that moment, and to fully embrace her. Even with her mind closed off to him, she knew him well enough to sense what he wanted. She gestured with her head toward the couch next to her and bit her lip, still smiling softly at him.
"Come here," she said. "Sit with me? Hold me while I feed the babies?"
Odo came quickly and sat beside her. Veta, noticing that there was affection about to take place, and enjoying affection as much as any other member of their little family, quickly crawled into Odo's lap. Lwaxana leaned slightly into Odo, and he put his arm around her so that she wouldn't feel the need to disturb the twins who were positioned in such a way that one fit under each of her arms and were supported by a special pillow that she wrapped around herself. Odo, luckily, was able to change his shape to make none of that an impediment to his ability to hold her.
Lwaxana sighed a happy, satisfied sigh. She closed her eyes and clearly relaxed. Odo, was able to turn to see her, despite the fact that such a move would have been impossible for anyone else. Nobody else could have made her a pillow, either, to make her more comfortable while she did the hard work of feeding their little ones.
"Now," she said. "Isn't that nice?"
Odo relaxed into her, drawing some of her energy—just enough to enjoy her, but not enough to exhaust her too much.
"Very nice," he agreed. "There is nothing nicer than being with you, Wife."
She smiled and hummed, pleased with his words.
"There's nothing nicer than being with you, Husband," she said. "Although—that little surprise you had for me today was very nice. Oh—Odo—they treated me like a queen! It really was wonderful. Why…I haven't relaxed like that in…oh, I don't know how long."
Odo smiled. He felt a rush of happiness pulse through his body. He enjoyed the vibration of it.
"I will tell them you deserve it more often, Beloved," Odo said.
"You spoil me, Odo," Lwaxana said.
"Is that a bad thing?" Odo asked.
"No," Lwaxana said. "It's a wonderful thing. But some might say it's bad. There are plenty of men out there who don't spoil their wives…you know? They don't do wonderful things for them like send them to the spa while they watch the children…and make them comfortable pillows to relax when they're home."
"There are plenty of men who don't have you for a wife," Odo said, sincerely. "I imagine that might make all the difference."
Lwaxana laughed quietly.
"There are plenty of wives that are better than me, Odo," Lwaxana said. "I'm sure of it."
"I am not at all convinced," Odo countered. "But, for that matter, I could argue that there are plenty of husbands that are far better than me."
"Not in all the four quadrants," Lwaxana responded—and Odo believed she was sincere. It made him happy, but it also made him sad.
"There are a great many husbands who would know enough to know what would be an appropriate Christmas gift for their wives," Odo offered.
"What?" Lwaxana asked, turning her face to face him and opening her eyes, unbothered by his manipulations of his shape.
"I looked for a present to buy for you," Odo said. "It's an important part of all the traditions we've considered for our family."
Lwaxana sat up, her attention drawn at least partially to their little ones, for a moment, as they seemed to require some adjustment from her.
"A gift? Well—if it's a necessary part of tradition, then…I'm sure there are gifts to be found on the station, Odo. The replicator works well, too."
"I cannot offer you the gifts on the station, Lwaxana," Odo said. "And I'm quite at a loss for what to replicate."
Lwaxana looked confused and, perhaps, a touch distressed.
"Well…I…I don't know, Odo. Some flowers or…a lovely perfume? I know—a dress. Something you think is particularly alluring. And I'll wear it for you, Husband."
"Those things aren't special," Odo complained.
"Oh," Lwaxana said. She thought about it a moment longer. "Well—I know, then. A piece of jewelry. A ring or a necklace. Something I can wear to…to represent our marriage, Odo. Something I can have with me, always, to show that…that I'm your wife, and you're my husband. Those things are common in many cultures."
"A piece of jewelry is such a simple thing," Odo said. "And you do have a great deal of jewelry, Lwaxana."
"But I don't have anything from you," Lwaxana said. "Well—Husband—what do you want to give me?"
"Therein lies the problem," Odo said. "Nothing seems…sufficient."
Lwaxana laughed at that, as though he'd told a joke, but she quickly got her laughter under control when she realized that he wasn't laughing.
"What do you mean, Odo?" Lwaxana asked.
"What can I possibly give you that could compare with everything you've given me?" Odo asked. He frowned at her when she frowned. Her eyes were dancing as she looked at his face, studying him. He couldn't feel her touching him with her mind. She hadn't opened her mind to him yet. She was leaving it up to him to say what he meant. "You are my beloved wife."
She smiled.
"And you're my beloved husband," she said.
"You have given me…a name," Odo said.
Lwaxana laughed.
"And I would have taken yours, Odo…if it would have made you happy, even though I do love the Betazoid traditions."
"I had no name to give," Odo said.
"And so, it worked out perfectly," Lwaxana said. "What good fortune for us!"
"You have made me a home," Odo said. "I never had a home…not the way that people described it. Yet, everywhere I go with you, Lwaxana, feels like home to me. You are my home."
"And you are mine," Lwaxana said. "Oh—there's no place that I'd rather be, alone, than anywhere with you. I feel so safe with you. So protected. I sleep like I haven't slept in decades."
"You gave me a family," Odo said. "Veta. The twins. We've talked about our embryos that Dr. Crusher is keeping safe. I have all of that through you."
"You gave me Veta," Lwaxana said. "You wouldn't let Jeyal take him. You protected both of us. And Odo—Nol and Nayara? They wouldn't exist without you. Our embryos? Why—they're just as much a product of you as they are of me. I always wanted a big family, Odo, but I couldn't have that alone. You are giving me what I've always dreamed of having."
Odo felt the understanding of it all run down over him, almost like it flowed from the top of him to the very bottom. Lwaxana smiled. Her mind was closed to him, but still she seemed able to read him and understand him.
"And, on top of all of that, you have given me the greatest husband that I could ever ask for," Lwaxana said. "The best Papa for my children. You give me love, and acceptance, and understanding. Odo—if you never give me another gift, you will have still given me the world."
"That's exactly how I feel about you," Odo said.
"Because you love me, and I love you," Lwaxana said. "And that's how it should be. Here—help me with Nol, would you?"
Odo took their son, and the little one slipped into his Changeling form or, as Lwaxana teasingly called it, his gooey form, as he dozed off, satisfied from his feeding. Odo quickly changed shape to accommodate him entirely. Lwaxana focused her attention for a moment on Nayara, and Odo encouraged Veta to make sure that his admiration of his brother included only gentle touching.
When everyone seemed at least temporarily settled, Lwaxana sat back with a sigh and Odo offered her a piece of himself to use as a pillow. He enjoyed her touch, in whatever manner, so he didn't mind.
"I don't understand," he said. "If we both feel that we don't need more than what we have, then why are the gifts so important? They seem to be crucial to the celebrations."
"I guess some people don't have everything they need," Lwaxana said. "Some people are never satisfied. Of course—the gifts are also trinkets. They're symbolic of your desire to give something. A sort of recognition of the importance of that person in your life."
"So, they really don't matter?" Odo asked.
"Everyone loves to receive gifts," Lwaxana said. "Just like the picture I gave you for when I'm not here, because you said you ached to see my face when I was gone, and the beautiful clip you picked out for my natural hair, so I wouldn't feel so plain and ordinary when you'd prefer me to leave my wigs off around our home. But—that's all it is, another gift to show kindness and appreciation. The only difference is that those are given when we feel like it. This is a special day that's designated for the gift-giving."
"So—I cannot choose the wrong gift?" Odo asked. "I cannot disappoint you?"
Lwaxana laughed.
"I suppose you could give me something I don't need," Lwaxana said. "Or don't want. But—well—Odo…knowing that it's coming from you, and knowing how much you don't want to disappoint me? I think I'd love anything you gave me."
"What would you like most?" Odo asked.
Lwaxana smiled.
"Anything that makes you think of me," Lwaxana said. "Anything that you'd like for me to have."
"Then, I would give you everything, Imzadi" Odo said.
Lwaxana leaned and kissed him. He closed his eyes and savored it, shifting enough to make it easy for her to prolong the kiss without hurting her neck. When the kiss broke, she studied his face for a moment.
"Well," she said, "you'll have to be more creative than that, because I already got that the day that you made me your wife, Imzadi." She hummed and raised her eyebrows at him. "But—while you think about it, you could give me the gift of helping me give the little ones their bath. And then, maybe we could all watch a holofilm together?"
Odo smiled.
"Only if you agree to get more comfortable, Lwaxana. Take off your wig…and your make up? Let me see the clip you like so much that I gave you?"
Lwaxana nodded.
"That can be arranged," she said. "Anything to make you happy."
"Everything you do makes me happy," Odo confessed. He rose, gathering up Nol and making a pocket for Nayara. He accepted her so that Lwaxana could easily get up and convince Veta to come with them to the bathroom for baths.
Maybe, Odo decided, the perfect gift wasn't anything he could ever find at a store. Maybe the perfect gift was simply the life they shared, together, each and every day. Whatever he wrapped in pretty paper for Lwaxana would be nice, as would be anything that he received from her, but they would both know that it didn't matter—not really.
They already had all their greatest treasures.