#tolan

Thank you to @lorenzobane for both writing this post on how Julian’s relationship with his parents isn’t really as black and white as we tend to think in the fandom and for beta-reading this for me.

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“You really went with ‘Tolan’?” Amsha said skeptically. Somehow the judgement managed to make its way through lightyears of space and a computer screen.

“His middle name is ‘Augustus,’” Julian added lamely. He took a deep breath and tried to ignore his mother’s deepening scowl. “Look, mum, it’s really important to Elim that our son be named after his uncle,” he said. “It’s a whole Cardassian... thing.”

“Well, I’m calling him ‘Gus,’“ Amsha said.

“Fine, but he’ll just think it’s a nickname nana calls him,” Julian said.

“You aren’t even going to tell your son his human name?” she protested.

“No, I... I will, but it’ll be--”

“Because he needs to know his human name too. No grandson of mine is going to be--”

“Mum, he’s Cardassian. It only makes sense for him to go by a Cardassian name!”

“And that’s another thing!” she said. “What’s wrong with adopting a child from Earth? You’re adopting them anyway.”

“Mum,” Julian growled warningly. “There are a lot of orphans on Cardassia right now. It’d be irresponsible bordering on cruel to pass over a Cardassian for a human simply because I’m human.”

“Fine, but the next one should be--”

“Julian,” Garak said from the doorway. “I have to--” He caught sight of the video call. “Oh! Good day, Mrs. Bashir.”

“Hello, Elim!” Amsha said with a slight wave. “I told you that you could stop calling me ‘Mrs. Bashir’ when I came to your wedding ceremony.”

“Apologies, Amsha,” Garak said. “Using a familiar name for one’s mother-in-law is unusual on Cardassia.”

“Yes, we’re all going to have to get used to a lot of things,” Amsha said.

Julian clenched and unclenched his jaw. “Something you need, darling?” he asked Garak.

“I have to leave for a press conference. Could you look after Tolan?”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Julian said. Garak wheeled in the stroller with their son in it. “We had been taking a walk,” Garak said by way of explanation.

“Is that my grandson?” Amsha asked, trying to look up and over Julian like she could bend the forces of video transmission to get a good look at the baby.

“Indeed it is, M-- Amsha,” Garak said, catching himself at the last moment.

“Well, don’t be stingy! Hold him up to the camera!”

Julian sighed and carefully undid the straps keeping Tolan in the stroller. He had been dreading this moment -- the moment when his mother realized just how Cardassian their son was. He lifted Tolan out of the stroller, being careful to cradle his head. Tolan’s scaled nose twitched a little and he sneezed.

“This is Tolan?” Amsha asked as Julian cradled his son.

“Yes,” Julian said, not daring to look at the video feed.

There was a pause during which Julian wondered if he should just turn off the video feed and deal with the consequences later. He ran a finger over Tolan’s nose. 

“He has your eyes,” Amsha said. Julian looked at the computer screen and was surprised to see his mother in tears. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and smiled at him. “Not sure how that’s possible with an adoption, but he does. Could you hold him a little closer?”

Julian held Tolan a little closer to the camera.

“Look at his little nose!” Amsha said. “You know, your nose was just like that when you were a baby. Flat as a PADD. Your father said it was because I booped your nose too much.”

“That might be true,” Julian teased as he ran a finger over Tolan’s nose again. “It does seem to be one of his favorite soothing gestures.”

“His favorite or your favorite?” she said with a knowing look.

“Point taken,” Julian said.

Tolan began to squirm and cry.

“Oh, shh, Tolly,” Julian said, holding Tolan close to his chest again. “It’s alright. Daddy’s got you.”

“Tolly?” Amsha asked.

“It’s what I call him. He doesn’t seem like much of a ‘Tolan’ right now,” Julian said.    

“Tolly,” Amsha repeated as if feeling out the word on her tongue. She nodded. “I’ll pretend it’s short for ‘Bartholemew.’”

“Tolly is short for Bartholemew?” Julian said skeptically.

“Bar-tol-eh-mew,” she said, emphasizing the middle syllables, “Tolly!”

“Whatever makes you happy,” Julian said with a weary smile. “But if you start calling him ‘Bart’--”

“Oh! Never! Such an awful name. ‘Bart,’” she said, wrinkling her nose as she said it. “It sounds like someone burping. Bart.”

“That is pretty bad,” Julian said.

“So, when are we going to see Tolly?”

“Mum, I told you. Making a trip to Earth isn’t going to happen right now. Elim’s very busy with the senate and I’m--”

“I’m going to see my grandson in person,” Amsha said. “This is not up for debate.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but in order to make that happen, you’d have to come here,” Julian said. Immediately, he realized his mistake as a grin spread across his mother’s face.

“I thought you’d never ask!” she exclaimed. “We’ve been wanting to see this new home of yours. I have a break in September and I should be able to convince your father to put a hold on his newest project to come see his grandson. Would the twenty fifth work?”

“I’ll... I’ll ask Elim,” he said. “His schedule is a bit more rigid than mine.”

“Remind him that we are the boy’s grandparents and that we deserve to see our grandson,” she said with a disapproving look. “I know he’s Cardassian, but he has to understand that.”

Julian contemplated telling her that Cardassians valued family more than most humans did, then decided he didn’t want to add more weapons to her arsenal. “I’ll talk to him,” he said. “We might have to move it to October?”

“Fine, September or October. Figure it out soon though so I can book the tickets. I don’t want to pay higher shuttle fare just because you couldn’t talk to your husband.”

Julian took a deep breath. “Yes, mum.”

“This is so exciting!” Amsha said. She gave Julian a fond look. “You’re going to make a fine father, Jules,” she said.

“Thank you,” Julian said, forcing the words out around the tears in his throat.

“Well, you talk to your husband and I’ll talk to mine,” she said. “Love you! See you soon!”

The video feed cut out before Julian could get another word in.

“I suppose I should clear my schedule for the twenty fifth?” Garak said as he reappeared in the doorway.

“I thought you were going to a press conference,” Julian said, swiveling in his chair to face his husband.

“Oh, I am,” Garak said, “but I happened to overhear a bit of your conversation while I was changing jackets.”

“I’m sure,” Julian said with a little smirk. He held Tolan tighter. “That was the easy bit,” he said softly. “Father is... Well...”

“Yes, he made his opinions on Cardassia quite clear at our wedding,” Garak said dryly.

“And I’m not sure what he’s going to think about a grandson that isn’t related to him,” Julian said. “Not that I really share any DNA with my father after all the enhancements, but--”

“My dear doctor,” Garak interrupted, “I’m sure your father will love this child just as much as we do.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“I believe your mother can more than make up for the deficit,” Garak said.

Julian smiled softly and rocked the sleeping Tolan in his arms. “You’re ok with this then?” he asked. “My parents coming to visit.”

Garak cast Julian an exasperated look. “My dear, you really must set aside these Federation notions of devotion to one’s partner over devotion to one’s family,” he said. “Even if I were upset by the idea of your parents coming to Cardassia, it would be positively horrendous of me to prevent them from doing so.”

“But are you upset by it?” Julian asked.

Garak walked over to Julian and placed a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be a little annoyed if we don’t manage to clean the house by the time they arrive,” he said as he ran his thumb along Julian’s jaw. “And I would appreciate you updating your parents on Cardassia’s current lack of amenities while we’re rebuilding.”

“Clean the house and tell Mum about the power outages,” Julian said. “Got it.”

Garak heaved a bemused sigh. “Ever the soul of candor,” he said.

“One of us has to be,” Julian said.

Garak chuckled. “I suppose that’s true,” he said. He gave Tolan a little caress along the top of his head. “And, in the spirit of candor, I have to say that I agree with your mother.”

“Well, you’re too late because we’ve already named him ‘Tolan.’” Julian said, looking down at their son. “Signed the papers and everything.”

Garak heaved another sigh. “I mean about you making a fine father,” he said.

Julian looked up at Garak again. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“You’re quite welcome,” Garak said. He was about to head for the door when something occurred to Julian.

“Wait, how much of that was a lie?” Julian asked.

“A lie? From a politician?” Garak teased. “You insult me, doctor.”

“Garak,” Julian growled warningly.

“I meant every word,” Garak assured him. “Especially the ones about cleaning the house.”   

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Y bueno la otra pregunta bueno... La relación entre ellos es romántica aunque claro su relación es como.....

and well the other question well..... the relationship they have between them is romántic although of course their relationship is like....

Michael: You are only for me tolan

All Together 

I wanted to do a big piece of all the Oniverse characters together because I love them all so much! There are definitely some characters I wish I could have included, but I wanted to narrow it down as much as I could so I could complete it. They are like one big extended/found family and it makes me so happy.   

Having more GHOSTBUSTERS WAS a good idea!