The BLTS Archive - Happy Returns by Ainzfern (ainzfern@hotmail.com) --- Originally written for the "Dares Of Scales" list. Disclaimer: Paramount owns STAR TREK ... etc and so on and so forth! My only pay here is personal joy Archiving: Cool- if you want to- please let me know. Feedback: Yes please! All comments are welcome. Author's Note: Written in response to Lucy's challenge *** An anniversary/birthday must be forgotten leading to an argument. The words 'Spear', 'Lemon', 'Ice cream' and 'Huffy' must be used. Also the sentences 'Oh fine, I'll just run round the station naked, would that get your attention?', 'Whatever you say munchkin' and 'Excuse me but you're the one that came tearing in here at warp ten as though someone had just set you on fire' must be used.*** --- Moving stealthily, Garak made his careful way across the bedroom. He stood next to the bed for some moments, staring down at its current occupant with an almost feral intensity in his splendid eyes. He knew he had to act fast. There was a burning drive in him, an almost desperate need. He knew Julian would object to this. He had always known. For a moment, hesitation coupled with guilt washed over him, but then he felt the almost insatiable need spear through his gut again. He set his jaw and made his move... "Freeze!" A flat voice came from the doorway. Elim froze. Although maintaining his outward composure by the sheer force of many years of Order training, the hammering of his heart was informing him that he'd probably just had several years shocked off his life expectancy. "Drop the bear and step away from the bed." The second order sounded even colder than the first. //Blast! 'Huffy' won't even come *close* to describing how he's going to react to *this*.// Replacing the bear carefully, Garak turned and plastered a warm smile on his face. His gaze met the beautiful, luminous and currently furious eyes of his beloved. "Good afternoon, dear," he said mildly. Julian's expression was akin to someone who had just sucked on a lemon. "Don't dear *me*, Elim," he replied snippily. "I know what you were up to." Elim stifled a laugh. //Whatever you say, munchkin,// he thought, with inexplicable whimsy. "I gather I've been foiled again?" Elim said aloud. "You gather right." Julian took a step towards him. "I have told you before, Elim... Kukalaka *stays*, right?" "My dear, I was simply going to..." "Stuff him into the nearest recycler, I'm sure," Julian cut him off flatly. //You really have *no* idea, do you?// Elim gave an internal guffaw and an outward urbane smile. The Human shot him another hard glare. "What are you doing home, anyway?" he demanded. "You're supposed to be at the shop." Garak stiffened slightly; his instinctive alarms warning him that the conversation was getting very close to undesired ground. Realizing he was dangerously near to being exposed, he quickly reasoned that attack would be the best form of defense. He formed an icy look of his own, instantly re-gaining ground by the simple fact that his eyes were a far better color for it, and matched Julian's unwavering stare. "Excuse me, but you're the one that came tearing in here at warp ten as though someone had just set you on fire, startling approximately ten years off my life, might I add. Exactly what are *you* doing home at this hour? Shouldn't you be in the Infirmary, ministering to the ill and helpless?" Caught on the back foot, Julian stumbled over his answer. "Well, I uh... Doctor Looli wanted to swap a half shift with me and I couldn't see any reason to say no and..." He trailed off, his eyes narrowing. "Stop trying to change the subject." Elim sighed and took his beloved's slender hand, marveling as always, in an abstract sort of fashion, at the soft texture of his warm skin. "My dear, there *is* no subject to change. Your little bear will remain unmolested." Julian relaxed and smiled. //For now,// Elim amended silently. --- The following morning, Elim set the second phase of his plan in motion. He could see Julian glancing at him across the breakfast table. The not-quite-completely-hidden expression of hurt on that perfect face *almost* compelled him to give the whole thing away and come clean, but he forced himself to remain strong and focused on the bigger picture. //The end justifies the means,// he told himself. //You must harden your heart in this matter.// "More tea, dear?" he asked his slightly sullen companion. "No, thank you." Julian sighed softly. "I should be going to work, I suppose." "I suppose so, yes," Elim agreed. "Just like any other *ordinary* day." Those huge eyes stared closely at him. //How perfect.// Elim smiled and nodded at the Human. //He really is adorable when he's clueless.// "Yes," Elim replied aloud. "The endless routine of station life, I fear." Julian stood up. "Quite. I should imagine this day will be *no* different to any other." "A reasonable assumption." Elim's inner self sat back and howled with glee. "Right." Julian straightened his uniform. "Good. Well... I'll get going then." He leaned down and kissed Elim's face, taking another brief opportunity to stare hopefully at him. Elim smiled blandly. "Have a nice day, dear." Julian shoulders sagged a little as he walked sadly to the door. "Oh fine," Elim heard him mutter disconsolately, "I'll just run round the station naked, would *that* get your attention?" The door closed behind him. Elim waited at the table for a suitable period of time until he became certain that Julian was not about to return and catch him in the act again. A look of furtive cunning slowly crossed his elegantly ridged face and he stood and moved into the bedroom. "Mr Kukalaka?" he said politely to the little teddy bear, sitting in patchy, balding splendor on the pillows. "Your time has come." --- //I don't believe it,// Julian fumed as he worked the afternoon away in his office with the monthly report to Starfleet Medical. //I don't *believe* he forgot! Not after making all that bloody fuss over the importance of 'remembering the little niceties'!// He tossed aside his Data Padd and sighed, looking yet again at the chronometer. Two more hours till his shift was over. Bugger *that*! Julian stood up decisively. "Right," he said to the room in general. "I'm not going to mope about the place like some forlorn little puppy." He stacked away his Padds and reports. "I'm going home, I'm getting dressed up, and I'm taking *myself* out!" He strode out into the main infirmary. "Jabara?" The head nurse looked up from the dispensary. "Comm Doctor Looli in, will you? I'm giving myself an early mark." "Of course, Doctor." She activated the comm panel. Julian stayed just long enough to ensure that Looli was on his way, then he left the Infirmary and headed for home, his stride determined and his face haughty. --- A few moments later, stock-still and horrified, Julian stood just inside the bedroom door. "No..." he whispered. He stared at the bed, or more accurately, at the empty *space* on the bed. "He *couldn't* have... He wouldn't *dare*!" The evidence was undeniable. He *had*. He flawless face flushed scarlet, Julian whirled around and stalked out of their quarters. --- Elim was just finishing up in the back workroom when Julian's not so dulcet tones filled the tailor's shop. "Elim Garak? I want a word with you! In fact, I want *several* words!" Quickly Elim exited the room, closing the door behind him. Taking in his lover's agitated state, he grew concerned. "Why, my dear, whatever is the matter?" "You did it, didn't you?" Julian was literally vibrating with emotion. "You went ahead and did it in spite of me asking you not to." Elim nodded. "Ah. You've been home, then? Another free afternoon, I gather?" Refusing to be diverted, Julian closed in on him, his eyes flashing dangerously. "How could you? I mean it's bad enough that you *forgot* my birthday, but to destroy Kukalaka behind my back..." "Julian, my dear..." "And don't you *dare* start telling me that he was only a silly toy, Elim!" Julian shouted. "Don't you understand? After *everything* that I've told you about me? That stupid old bear was the *one* tangible reminder of someone that I once was. The memory of that little boy is important to me." Julian's face became tragic and his eyes suddenly filled. "I just wanted *one* thing that reminded me of that child... I just..." He shook his head, his voice failing him. Looking into those anguished eyes, Elim instantly relented. He could see that it was much more than the idea that the ratty old toy had been destroyed that was causing Julian such pain. It was the idea that Elim had deliberately hurt his feelings. Elim hadn't meant to be caught out like this. He hadn't meant to cause Julian such pain. He had certainly never meant to make him cry... Feeling yet another piece of the Obsidian Order's armor around his heart crack away, Elim held up his hand. "Wait..." Turning quickly, he reached down under his workbench and retrieved Kukalaka, carefully, almost reverently handing him to his rightful owner. Julian looked at his bear. He looked at Elim. He hiccupped softly and looked at his bear again. When he looked up at Elim, his eyes were still moist but his smile was tender and touched with a kind of wonder. "You made him a little uniform," he said quietly. Elim nodded. "Yes." Julian smiled gently and looked down at the rather dapper bear in his trembling hands. "A little Starfleet Medical uniform," he added. "Yes." Garak adjusted Kukalaka's tiny collar. "Not a bad fit, if I do say so myself." "You never intended to throw him away at all, did you?" Julian's eyes were very soft. "No, dear one." Julian's smile grew rueful. "You didn't forget my birthday either." "No, Julian. I didn't" Impulsively, Julian flung both bear and arms around Elim's broad back, clinging to him tightly. "I'm so sorry, love," he whispered contritely, against Elim's neck. Elim hugged him back. "Please don't be. I feel that under the circumstances you had little choice but to think what you did. In hindsight, I can see that I provoked you. I'm afraid Cardassians aren't all that talented with *pleasant* surprises." He gently cupped Julian's face with his large hands. "However, had you wanted to be ambushed..." Julian laughed and kissed him gently. "So, I assume that dinner *is* on the agenda?" He wiped his eyes and grinned. Elim took Julian's elbow and guided him towards the rear workroom. He opened the door and ushered the young man through. Standing behind him, he placed his hands on Julian's slender shoulders and waited. Julian gasped, his delight clearly evident. "Is that lobster?" "It is indeed," Elim murmured, feeling vastly gratified by the Human's approval. As Julian took his seat at the small, elegantly set table, Elim noticed him frown in puzzlement at the third chair and placement set to one side. "Uhm, Elim love? Who's the extra chair for?" Elim smiled and gently extricated the teddy bear from Julian's grasp. "Why, for Kukalaka, of course!" He set the little stuffed toy in his rightful place. "I know that lobster and champagne may not be an appropriate fare for him, but perhaps he might join us for ice- cream after dinner?" "Elim," Julian said with simple, quiet honesty. "I love you." "I know." Elim took his seat. "I love you too dear." He picked up his glass and raised it to his beautiful beloved. "To you, Julian, and to all those marvelous differences between us that keep our life so interesting. Happy Birthday." --- The End