laurelgirl120

Another song that perfectly captures Odo and Kira. Lovely vid. Thanks Donna.

Wes&FredFan

You're welcome .

Wes&FredFan

New fic:

Take Me Home

I know in my bones, I’ve been here before
The ground feels the same though the land’s been torn
I’ve a long way to go the stars tell me so
On this road that will take me home

Love waits for me round the bend, leads me endlessly on
Surely sorrows will find their end and all our troubles will be gone
And I’ll know what I’ve lost and all that I’ve won
When this road finally takes me home

(Mary Fahl, “Going Home”, Gods & Generals theme)

Going Home - Gods & Generals Music Video

This isn’t how I thought it would be. Of course, I thought it would happen in some sort of battle ... after all the scrapes I’d been through I knew the luck would run out, that the Prophets would come to me sooner or later. There were few times in my life where I had something to live for, where my stubborn nature would fight against death and struggle to survive.

I didn’t know the blow would be so painful, so bloody. I only had enough time to look down at my chest, to taste the blood that was starting to spill from my mouth. I saw the weapon that did it – the sleek, sharp weapon. And I looked into the eyes of my killer – Taran’atar. I gripped the weapon in a futile attempt to move it, to push it out of me. But I didn’t have enough time, didn’t have enough breath. My legs stopped working and I collapsed onto the deck, one hand still wrapped around the blade.

My vision is fading. Odo .... I think of him in this moment, as I see the blurry form of the Jem’Hadar running away from me. Part of me wishes he was here, but a larger part is glad he’s not there to see this ... my finish. My love .... I sigh with regret and sadness, try to say his name. Blood escapes my mouth in a gurgle. Then everything is dark and I feel nothing.

I await the Prophets.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I feel compelled to open my eyes. To my surprise I find myself standing in grass, a gentle breeze caressing my hair. I don’t see my family, my friends who walked with the Prophets as I am walking with them now. Or am I? I ask, looking down at my chest. No wound?

Perhaps not. But I have been here before.

Looking down, I spot the delicate archway with my name on it. My grave ... in another time, another place. Gaia. A gentle rustle beside me and I realize I’m not as alone as I thought I was.

I have a lot of questions, one of them being how it’s possible for him to be here at all. He’s not supposed to exist anymore. It doesn’t matter, I tell myself. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” I smile, wondering at the surreal familiarity of those words, wondering if he’ll understand.

Of course, he does. Odo – the Odo from the alternative timeline on Gaia – gazes at me warmly. “I exist here because you remember me, which pleases me more than you’ll ever know.”

I stare into those eyes, eyes that are still Odo ... no matter which version. “I wanted to see the man I love before I die. The other Odo – the one from my time – is in the Link now. He’s gone. He won’t know.”

I can see my words affect him deeply. Everything is in his eyes. I know those eyes. His eyes are telling me that he loves me. No matter which version of Odo I speak to, I am relieved that his eyes are the same. There is also pain in them. “You can’t die, Nerys.”

“I’m not afraid.”

He stares at me, a small, sad smile forming on his lips. “That’s because you’re fearless.”

I shake my head. “Not necessarily. I discovered that I can be extremely scared ... when I held you – him – in my arms, watched him suffer from the Founder’s disease.”

“I felt the same way in my own reality, when I lost you, when I found out you were ....” He closed his eyes. “I – we can’t lose you, Nerys.”

“I stood here and told you three years ago that if the Prophets will it, then I will follow their path. I was resigned to die then .... But I don’t want Odo to see ... my body.” I smile at him and take his hand in mine. “You can’t fix it this time.” I study him for a long moment, and see the impact of his powerlessness hit him. I knew that feeling well when Odo was sick. “I want to thank you for what you did before. I was angry at first, and hesitant. But I’m glad you did it. Part of me feels guilty about that ... but I’m grateful for that time Odo and I had together.”

I think of all those wonderful moments Odo and I shared. Our first dance. Our first kiss on the Promenade. Springball matches. Nights at Vic’s. Monthly anniversaries that never went by without a fond celebration. Passionate nights in my quarters. Loving embraces. Sensual massages. Love. A lot of love. With him, my pagh is whole.

With him, my pagh is whole.

I realize I’m not meant to die yet because I love him too much to leave him. My smile widens and I squeeze his hand. The Prophets want Odo and me to be together for a long time and they will bring him back to me. I just have to be alive to wait for him. I know he will come for me....

“Nerys?”

Suddenly, things become out of focus. I feel dizzy, and cling to his hand as a lifeline. My head hurts and there is a weight upon my chest. His hand is still soft and warm in mine and I hold it tightly. I can no longer see his face or the countryside... only a bright light. I try to say his name, to scream it, but no words come.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Blinding light. Constant beeping. Shadows moving toward and away from me. Yet still, this warm weight in my hand.

I try to focus. Do I want to wake up? I ask myself. At least in my dream I was with Odo ... well, one version of him.

I squeeze my hand, forcing myself to wake up from the dream. It will be empty, I tell myself.

But it isn’t. I turn my head and find myself staring into blue eyes ... Odo’s eyes.

I gaze up at him, overcome with joy. I have a lot to say, but since I’m not very good with words I don’t know how to say it. I squeeze his hand lightly, and wince as pain shoots through my body. “You’re ... here,” I murmur softly.

He smiles, his eyes bearing into mine. There’s a trace of fear in them. He was afraid I would die. “Yes. When I heard what happened ....” He winces. “I had to come home.”

There’s a sound and Odo looks at some point I can’t see.

“She’s awake, doctor.”

Julian enters, and studies the monitors above me. I’m alive, I tell myself. That’s all that matters. He smiles, and then looks to Odo briefly before turning to me. “You’re ready for surgery.”

“Haven’t I already had it?”

“In a manner of speaking, yes. Your heart was destroyed by Taran’atar’s dagger. We didn’t have a biosynthetic heart to replace it and you would have died. So, we had a genetic sample on hand that Odo donated some time ago that was able to be implanted immediately and sustained you long enough for us to get a biosynthetic heart.” His stiff doctor’s facade faded for a moment. “When I contacted Odo at the Great Link to ask permission for the implant, he gave it without hesitation.”

The enormity of what he was describing hit me. Odo’s sample from years ago, that had been used to diagnose his illness, had now saved my life. Odo was now physically part of me, his substance transformed into a heart that kept me alive. Fitting, really.

“I’m now going to remove the implant, and replace it with a biosynthetic heart.”

“No. Leave it in,” I say firmly.

Odo’s eyes stare at me in wonder, just the way he stared at me that night I asked him to make love to me in his natural form for the first time. He smiles and looks to Julian. “You heard her. Leave it in. All that I am belongs to her.”

I squeeze his hand and smile.

Julian is quick to offer pessimism. “We don’t know what would happen with prolonged exposure. Eventually, Nerys, your cells would depend upon Odo’s morphogenic cells. The part of Odo inside you would want to reconnect with the rest of his substance.”

“That’s fine, doctor. I’m staying here.” He smiles at me, presses a kiss to my forehead.

Julian smiles, accepting that he would most likely lose any debate he hadn’t even started yet. He leaves, and Odo and I are alone again.

“I have a gift for you,” Odo says, reaching for the small table.

“Having you here is gift enough.”

“Oh, I think this is a little better,” he replies. He opens a box and pulls out a Betrothal bracelet. “Kira Nerys, will you marry me?”

How many times had I dreamed he would say this to me? Now he is here, with me, telling me he’s staying and asking me to marry him. Yes, my new Changeling heart screams. Yes.

My head is starting to hurt and the room is starting to spin. I close my eyes to escape the blinding light.

“Nerys?” he says, and I hear fear in his voice. Nobody else knows the nuances of Odo’s voice the way I do.

“M’okay ... just dizzy.” I smile, despite the exhaustion, and squeeze his hand. “Answer’s yes. But ... the Great ... Link ....?”

“My greatest link is right here.”

Sleep beckons, but it is happy, content sleep. “I love you, Odo.”

“I love you, Nerys.”

Before sleep claims me, I feel a metallic warmth on my wrist. The betrothal bracelet.

Odo and I are one. Forever.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

There's a long way to go ... the stars tell me so ....

ChakotaysLover

Love it Donna! *Two thumbs up* You did a great job.

crazy_diamond

Lovely fic Donna

laurelgirl120

Thanks for sharing such a lovely fic Donna.

Wes&FredFan

Thanks .

I thought it would've been great if Odo's donation in "When It Rains" was used to save Kira's life instead of a biosynthetic heart - since the attack was so sudden and Kira would've died without a miracle. Also wanted to play around with a Kira/Gaia Odo reunion . Of course, a marriage proposal, and Odo remaining with Kira to be close to her . Since Odo and Kira are each other's homes, that's where I came up with the title. I saw "Gods & Generals" and had that beautiful song in my head when I was writing the story. It was my way of putting the relaunch on the road I wanted it to go on .

Glad everybody enjoyed it. Love Mary Fahl's voice ....

laurelgirl120

Attention FanArtists!

I am nearly finished with my WYLB story, and I am looking for a picture to include in my fic.

What I would like is a picture of Kira flanked on one side by Odo and on the other side by Rene - fairly contemporary, maybe from Boston Legal.

Can you help? There is no rush, as I am at least a few weeks away - I have lots of editing to do.

Thanks!

Wes&FredFan

I'll give it a try . Any text you want added ... color preferences (black & white/bright)?

laurelgirl120

Thanks so much Donna. In my story, Odo is no longer in his tawny Bajoran Security uniform. He's in all black ala Crossover Odo. If it would be easier you could do a B/W picture. No text needed.

Wes&FredFan

Wow ... I'll see if I can find a pic of him like that. Um, what about Kira? Starfleet uniform ("Unity" onward) or Bajoran Militia?

laurelgirl120

Kira is in Bajoran uniform (any version you like, except season 1 - I didn't like that uniform). I took some liberties. In my story, Bajor has joined the Federation but maintained a certain autonomy, including keeping their own militia separate from Star Fleet. Hey, it's called science fiction for a reason!

Thanks again. Oh, and for the pic of Rene, if you can find one where he's clean shaven would be better.

I'm editing editing editing like crazy. I can't believe after nearly THREE years this is almost done!

Wes&FredFan

I'll try and come up with something shortly .

Discussion questions:

Why do you think Odo said that he "cared" for Kira in "Chimera?" Earlier in the episode, holding her in his arms, he tells her that he loves her. We know THAT is definitely true, so why would he change it to "care"? Was it some sort of a gentle platitude since he knew he had just hurt her by pulling out her arms?

Just wondering what everybody else thinks. It was something I was wondering when I watched "Chimera" the other day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

crazy_diamond

I think that's probably what made him say that

Happy New Year to you too

Wes&FredFan

Just got back from the bookstore ... NOT happy.

I looked into the newest Typhon Pact book that involves Sisko - Rough Beasts of Empire - well, skimmed it. I was excited about THAT one, since I figured it would mention Kira or might even include her. For those who haven't read it but still want to know:



WTF? It seems like they are just dumping the DS9 characters anywhere they want now. I don't buy this whole 3 years later storyline at all .