Why is mpreg among the most scorned of fan fiction tropes? It shouldn’t be. Seems kind of gynophobic and transphobic to me, and we should probably write more of it. Anyway, hope you like it.
“I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m the other father of Garak’s baby,” said Julian, frowning into his springwine.
Jadzia and Miles exchanged glances.
“You are awfully invested in his care,” Miles ventured.
“Miles, I’m his doctor. Of course I’m invested in his care. I care about all my patients.”
“We know you do, Julian.” Jadzia placed a reassuring hand on Julian’s arm. “But you don’t insist on meeting your other patients for lunch every day to make sure they’re eating properly.”
“Well, it’s a very complicated pregnancy.”
“And you didn’t sleep on our sofa three nights out of four when Keiko and Kira were pregnant with Yoshi.”
“Miles, he’s all alone and he’s my friend…”
“And you’re the only one Garak will allow to touch his bump,” said Jadzia. “I asked and he said no, and Morn’s lucky he still has his hand.”
“Well, again, I’m his doctor, and Morn should know better than to touch anyone without asking first. Especially Garak.”
“Julian,” said Miles, “I saw you talking to Garak’s belly outside the shop yesterday.”
Julian blushed. “I was saying goodbye to Garak.”
Miles snorted. “You bloody were not, unless you’ve started talking to him in baby talk.”
“Well, it’s good for them to hear different voices. It develops their brains.”
“Okay. You’re the doctor.” Miles popped a sand pea into his mouth. “I’m just saying that you seem more excited about this pregnancy than Garak is.”
“No, he’s excited too! And he’s my friend, of course I’m excited.”
Miles frowned. “Julian, don’t take this the wrong way, but you weren’t nearly this excited about Yoshi.” Miles held up a hand. “And that’s fine! You were a good friend and doctor and we didn’t expect you to be!”
“It’s just,” Jadzia paused, “Julian, I don’t know what Garak said to you, but are you hoping…is there any chance at all this could be your baby?”
Julian gaped.
“I just mean, you and Garak had a thing for a while. We wondered if you’d rekindled it recently, and that maybe there was a small possibility…or that you were holding out hope…maybe subconsciously?” Jadzia, uncharacteristically, was at a loss for words.
“Julian, the reason everyone thinks you’re the other father is because you’re acting like you’re the other father,” Miles interjected.
“Yes,” said Jadzia, throwing a grateful look at Miles. “we were just concerned.”
Julian stood up, shocked. “Thank you, Jadzia, Miles. You’ve…given me something to think about. I’ve got to go meet Garak now.” He turned to go, then turned back. “But it’s definitely not my baby. I can tell you that for certain.”
“Ohhhhhhh! She’s Bajoran! Well, half. Soooooo she really isn’t your baby.” Rom peeped into the blanket that shielded the sleeping newborn’s tiny half-Cardassian eyes from the bright station lighting.
“That’s what I kept telling people,” said Julian. He knew he should be annoyed, but he was just too delighted to care. The baby was perfect in every way, and just to be in her presence gave him an immense sense of peace.
“I-i-it doesn’t matter. She’s adorable,” said Rom. A goofy grin spread over his face. “And she smells so good. I remember when Nog was this small.”
“So who’s the father?” said Quark. “I know, I know, Garak’s the father. Who’s the Bajoran who knocked him up?”
“Brother!” Rom was horrified. “That’s inappropriate! You can’t say things like that in front of her!”
“Yes, Quark,” said Julian, his voice full of ice. He would have stood up angrily too, if not for the baby. “That is inappropriate. And I wouldn’t tell you even if I knew.”
“Yo-o-ou don’t know who the father is?” Rom scratched his head and looked impressed. “Hew-mons are so open-minded.”
“Well, it’s really none of my business, is it?” said Julian, readjusting the blanket so the baby would be more comfortable.
“I guess not. Bu-u-ut I don’t think most Ferengi would be this happy about their partner having a baby with a stranger.”
Julian didn’t even come close to dropping the baby, but a lesser man might have. “Rom. Garak is not my partner. We haven’t been together in a long time. He’s just a good friend who’s raising a child alone. I’m sure you can understand how I’d want to be there for him.”
“Ohhhhh, I’m sorry, Doctor!” Rom’s eyes widened. “I shouuuldn’t have assumed. It’s just…you’re out alone with Garak’s baby.”
“And?”
“She-e-e’s two days old. When Nog was a newborn the only person we’d let take him anywhere was Moogie.”
“They wouldn’t even let me take him for a walk,” said Quark. “As If I’d sell my only nephew!”
“It’s just, I-I-I’d have thought Garak would be…more protective. He must really trust you.”
“Well, he needed some rest. He said it was fine if I took her on the Promenade…”
“E-e-exactly. He won’t even let you tell us her name. Do you think he’d let anyone else take her out of his sight?”
“No. I…guess not.”
The baby began to fuss. Julian rocked her a little, but it was no use. Soon she was wailing at the top of her lungs.
“Shhhhh, shhhhh. Are you hungry, sweetheart? Let’s take you home to Yadik.” He gathered the tiny baby and her many things and left the bar.
“Brother, do-o-o you think Doctor Bashir has some Bajoran blood?”
“I don’t know, Rom. Why do you ask?”
“Because…if that’s not his baby, I’ll bite my left ear.”
“There‘s no need for vulgarity,” Quark scolded. “But I’ll bite mine too.”
“And who is this precious little bunny?” Sisko, grinning from ear to ear, was already halfway around the desk when Julian and the baby entered the office. He reached out. “May I?”
“This is Masya Garak,” said Julian proudly, passing the baby to Sisko, who proceeded to babble and make kissy faces at her.
“Masya? That’s a Bajoran name,” said Kira, who was half-sat on the desk, craning her neck and waiting her turn to hold the baby.
Julian shrugged. “Garak said it was a solid Service-class name on Cardassia. I guess he wanted something to reflect both sides of her heritage.”
“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise.” Kira considered. “Or maybe it’s not so surprising. You never know with Garak.”
“Indeed,” said Sisko, reluctantly relinquishing the baby to Kira so that he could sit at the desk and consult his PADD. “Now, take a seat, Doctor. You said you wanted to talk about extending your leave. I’m assuming it has something to do with this little lady here?”
“Yes, sir. After these last three days I have six and a half weeks of leave due. I’d like to take it all, starting tomorrow.”
“To help Garak with the baby.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know it’s quite irregular, Julian.”
“Yes, sir.“ Julian knew it was, but surely if anyone would understand how difficult single fatherhood was it was Sisko. “But Garak has no one else, and he needs to get back to work soon. If he can’t work in the shop he doesn’t make money, and if he doesn’t make money, he and the baby don’t eat.”
“And what is Mr Garak planning to do for childcare after your six weeks of leave are up?”
“Well, I’ll take the night shifts at the Infirmary and that way I can be with the baby when he’s at work, and vice versa. We’ll have to figure out something else when I go on missions. There is room for a cot in the back of the shop but obviously it’s not ideal…”
“Hold on there just a minute, Julian.” Kira paused in the cooing noises she’d been making at Masya. “Are you planning on helping Garak raise this child indefinitely?”
“Well, yes.” Julian bit his lip. “I suppose I am.”
“Julian.” Sisko was cautious, but it needed to be said. “If you two are back together, you know you can have them declared your dependents. Then Garak wouldn’t have to worry about money.”
“Thank you, sir, I know. But we’re not back together. And to be honest, I’m not sure Garak would like to be declared my dependent even if we were.”
“So you’re doing this for Garak as a friend?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You are aware that people don’t usually completely upend their lives to help raise a friend’s child?”
“Yes, sir, I know. But Garak has no one else, and he’s not entitled to Federation or Bajoran benefits.”
“Julian,” said Kira. “This baby is clearly half Bajoran. *She’s* entitled to Bajoran benefits. Garak just has to fill out a few forms. She wouldn’t even have to give up her Cardassian citizenship.”
“Yes, Major, Garak knows, and I’m…actually not sure why he won’t do it. Something about the other parent.”
Kira and Sisko’s expressions darkened instantly.
“Is there a problem with the other parent that we should be aware of?” Kira asked.
“I don’t know. Garak hasn’t told me anything about him. But I get the feeling he sees the other parent as a threat.”
“Hmmmm.” Sisko frowned. “Do you think it’s credible?”
“I have no way of knowing, sir. Garak sees a lot of things as a threat. Though he’s usually not wrong — a lot of things are a threat to him. Especially now.”
Sisko nodded. “You have a point. I’ll assume he hasn’t spoken to Odo.”
“I doubt it,” said Julian wryly.
“Well, Doctor, I trust your judgement and I assume you’ll keep us and Odo informed of any potential threats to the station or its residents if you learn anything, even if Mr Garak doesn’t see fit to.”
“Of course, sir.”
“Good.” Sisko tapped the PADD and laid it on the desk. “Your leave is granted. Let us know if there’s anything else we can do to help you and Garak.”
“Thank you, sir, I will.” Julian stood to collect the baby from Kira.
“Wait, Julian.” Sisko stood as well, but not to say goodbye to his CMO. His open arms were angled towards the baby, clearly itching to hold her again. “Garak doesn’t need her back quite yet, does he? Why don’t you take a seat and tell us about your latest research?”
“I’m sorry, Doctor, I don’t think I heard you correctly,” Garak said from the floor of his quarters. He was preoccupied with Masya, who was on her belly in front of him. “There, did you see that? She’s holding her head up to look at you. I told you she could do it. Did you want to look at Doctor Bashir, Masyaseevin?” Garak addressed his daughter by her pet name before switching over to gentle encouragement in Kardasi.
“That’s incredible!” Julian took a seat, legs crossed, beside Garak. Masya looked up at him and beamed. “A Bajoran baby wouldn’t have that kind of muscle control until at least four months. Is this typical for Cardassians?”
“I have no idea, Doctor. Perhaps she’s just very advanced.”
“Of course she is, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
Masya flailed and kicked and laughed until spit bubbles came out of her mouth.
“Dukat! DUKAT! Stop right there!”
Julian had been unsure that anything could halt a determined Gul Dukat, but unsurprisingly Kira had that ability in spades. Dukat, who had been stalking furiously down the corridor at speed, stopped and turned. There was murder in his eyes. Julian was glad to have Kira between Dukat and himself.
“I am on my way to Garak’s to have a word with that degenerate tailor, but I’m very glad to have run into you, Major. How could you have let this happen?”
