Title:Haunted
Fandom:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Characters:Kira/Odo
Prompt:02. Ghost
Word Count:582
Rating:PG
Summary:The first night with the new changeling baby has Odo being contemplative about the past. Odo's take on recent events.
Disclaimer:I do not own DS9 or its characters.


Odo sat by the platform, fixed in place. It had been an hour and a half since he and Kira had taken the baby changeling back to their quarters. He had thought that Captain Sisko would have had more to say, but all he did was nod, smile and state that he'd like a weekly report. Odo was quite aware that Kira believed the captain's ease was attributed to the fact that unlike the first time he had attempted to raise a changeling child, he had was not a solid. And this time the baby wasn't sick.


And that was the very thought that kept him rooted to the bench, in the living room, watching the baby spread over the luminescent round counter top of the dais. He had lowered the light and flooded the counter top with a warm vibration and it seemed to be holding the baby's interest quite well. It had danced and reached out, like a liquid hill towards he and Kira as the temperature changed. Kira had laughed and even become a little teary eyed. But, Odo had kept silent.

He couldn't shake the thought, as he looked at his perfectly healthy child, of his first baby. He was quite sure that others would have not even considered the first one an offspring. But, to himself, Odo always had. He had never experienced such selfless joy and sorrow as he had those few days. It didn't even have a name. Already Kira was suggesting names. He could tell she was excited. He was too. But, part of him was waiting for that ugly blue to start creeping into the baby's clear healthy brown color and for it's morphogenic matrix to begin failing. That thought had paralyzed him. It had been two years, but his first child was with him, hanging over him like a ghost.

“Baby's still dancing I see,” a delighted voice said.

Odo looked up to see Kira hugging herself in a red night down. She smiled at him, her dark eyes looking even more radiant in the low light. “The fluctuating temperature keeps things interesting. I wonder when it's going to tucker itself out.”

“Really? Is that what you're thinking about?” asked lightly, but one look into her eyes and Odo knew she probing. It was gentle and loving, but a probe nonetheless.

Odo grunted and shrugged. He sighed. He had to tell her; she wouldn't be able to let it go. “It feels as if the first baby is here why me. I keep seeing it....”

“Of course you do,” Kira replied warmly as she sat down next to him. She tucked her nightgown underneath her. “It became apart of you remember? It gave you back your ability to change. And when you link with the new baby, it'll be a part of it as well.” Kira smiled serenely.

Odo leaned back. “I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess, not all ghosts have to be bad...”

Kira laughed. “What?”

“Er... Nothing.” It will live on, Odo thought. The first time that night. He smiled. “Take my hand,” he said quickly to Kira. Kira complied, looking hesitant as she did. “I want you to be a part of this as much as you can.” Odo sighed as he felt himself unlock. The rigid form gave way to cool amber liquid. Next to him, Kira gazed on in wonder. Odo pooled himself onto the counter, becoming one with the baby as he did.