Coming Out Of The Dark
by Fliss Carthew

Standard Disclaimer: Paramount owns theirs, I own mine. Everybody dance! This is the sequel to ‘Into The Night’, and if you haven't read that story, it might be an idea. It’s also available on my DS9 page, so look there, or e-mail me if that doesn't work.

This story is dedicated to Judith MacQuinn, the OdoGoddess, since without her encouragement Dakhur Central would never have come into existence and I never would have continued writing Kira stories or become an Odo fan. I owe her more than I can ever imagine.

Thanks go to Carolyn for the word P’eska, to describe a nicely turned out cross between a tart and a lady, and to Julie Owens, who put up with my intense questioning about whether things ‘worked’ or not. A large bunch of cyber-roses, and a box of cyber-chocolates to her and many thanks. Also to Cath Allen who gave encouragement (and kicks up the backside!) and also helped write parts when I got totally lost and disheartened. Thanks also to all those RAFL-sters who gave me encouragement to keep writing and have said such nice things about my previous efforts.

There is a time gap here, but you should understand. Enjoy!

"Mama!" Shakaar Nerys sighed and pushed her slightly-greying red hair off her forehead, wishing that, just for once, her husband wouldn't decide to take his retreats on the spur of the moment, and would take her and the children along too. On the other hand, that would certainly spoil his love life she decided wryly.

"MA-ma!" Lorrell called out again and Nerys put aside the report she was working on and went to investigate what had upset her daughter this time. Nerys almost walked past the library without spotting the three children standing quietly in the room, but their earrings caught her eye. Stepping warily, the woman looked for any sign of childish pranks, like water buckets suspended above walls or rubber snakes hidden under pillows, although she doubted they'd try that one again. The last time, Tarren and Nalas had hidden a fake snake under her pillow and the children had waited all night, giggling, for their mother to freak out. Unfortunately, they had forgotten that their mother had grown up in the Occupation, and was no more frightened of snakes than she was of ants.

"Come in, mam. We've got something to give you." Tarren, her fifteen year-old son smiled brightly and Nerys relaxed a little. Standing in front of the children, she was still a bit suspicious.

"Okay, what is it this time, and it had better not be another fake animal that's supposed to scare me." As the children laughed, she relaxed even more. It wasn't another prank. A small hand tugged on her trousers, and Nerys crouched down to look expectantly at her five-year-old daughter. "What is it, Lorrell?"

"It's a present." The girl giggled helplessly and glanced at her brothers. "For your birthday."

"My birth--" The woman was stricken. She'd forgotten that today was her own birthday, but the children had remembered. Picking up Lorrell, Nerys gathered the other children into a massive hug. "Thank you. Thank you for reminding mama what today is."

"That's okay, ma, we know you've been preoccupied." Tarren grinned as his mother ruffled his hair lovingly, but the smile was strained. Tarren had an idea that his father was what really worried his mother, and he knew it wasn't his father's position as First Minister of Bajor.

Nerys saw the look in her eldest eyes and sighed. The boy was old beyond his years when it came to relationships, but all his mother could do was hope that he wouldn't turn out like his father had, dropping his trousers for every skirt that strolled by. "So, what did you get mama?" She turned the conversation towards more uplifting matters.

"This." Nalas, the ten-year-old troublemaker of the family, surpassed only by his mother when she put her mind to it, placed a small, carefully wrapped package into his mothers' lap. He waited impatiently as she gently opened the paper, to find a small box.

Opening the box, Nerys was speechless as she lifted out the delicate, hand-wrought bowl. There was a small amount of dirt in the bottom of the bowl supporting a metal crafted replica of the old space station, Deep Space 9, where fifteen years before the woman had been First Officer. Behind the station was a perfect painting of the wormhole, done on the glass, and cunningly worked into the whole painting was the Bajoran national symbol.

Nerys was stunned. She'd never seen anything like this, even in Quark's, and he was supposed to have had a lobe in every moneymaking scheme going. And this would definitely be a going scheme. Looking at the children, Nerys' face creased in smiles. "Where did you get this? It's beautiful, absolutely beautiful."

Tarren scuffed the floor, embarrassed. "We made it, mam." His soft admission somehow made the gift all the more precious. "I did the paintings, and Nalas made the station."

Looking closer, Nerys realised that she could see every detail of the station, even a few that weren't supposed to be public. She wondered if there was any point in changing her computer code again, since Nalas broke them within twenty-six hours anyway.

"I got the dirt!" Lorrell wasn't about to be ignored, and Nerys laughed happily as she placed the precious package on the nearby table and hugged her young daughter fiercely.

"I bet you did. And very nice dirt it is too." She expanded the hug to include the two boys, and for a second revelled in the four-way embrace. "I love it, thank you all."

"Good." Tarren pulled back and picked up the bowl. "Do you want me to put it in your room?"

"No, I think I'll put it in the study." Nerys rescued the gift as she saw Lorrell and Nalas starting to look for something to do. "Now, run away and finish your homework while mum has a bath. And maybe tonight we'll go out for dinner, to that Terran restaurant in Jolanda City I think. Would you like that?" The cries of 'Yes' made her smile deepen as she strolled out the door. "Well go and finish your homework and we'll go."

Walking into the bathroom, Nerys wriggled out of her clothes, then sighed as she sank into the hot bath, revelling in its warmth. After a moment, her thoughts began to turn to her husband and his probable infidelities. Idly, she wondered which of his 'secretaries' was keeping him company on this retreat, and whether he would even remember her birthday this year. True, Bajorans traditionally didn't celebrate their day of birth, but still, if the children could make an effort, then so could he.

As things usually did when she was in a bath, Nerys' thoughts began to turn to her memories of the nights she, Odo had come together, and her hands began to help her body along. As a rule, Nerys refrained from those memories when she was with Edon, even to only having showers when he was home. But when he was away, Nerys felt that she was entitled to a little fun of her own, since she was sure he was having a great time.

The water swirled around her, and with the heat, Nerys could almost imagine she was back in Odo's arms again, crying out as he brought her higher and higher into the sky, sending her soaring and flying through the stars until she thought she would burst. Suddenly, a chatter of voices of broke through the euphoric fog of her memories, and Nerys slowly got out of the warm water, the serenity destroyed. Pulling on a robe, she forced the memories back into the box in her mind.

"Nerys, I'm home!" Shakaar Edon's voice echoed through the house as she stood on the upper landing, watching as he handed out presents to the children. 'Trying to make up for going away this weekend--again', she thought sadly. Finally Edon looked up, and smiled devilishly as he spotted his wife, dripping wet and wearing nothing but a bathrobe. "Children, go back to your homework. I want to talk to your mother." Dropping his bags, the man took the stairs two at a time, before ushering Nerys into the bedroom, where he relieved her of her robe as soon as the door was locked.

"I'm glad to see you too," Nerys murmured as she lay on the bed and smiled at her husband as he removed his clothing in record time. "How was your retreat, and why are you back so early?"

"The retreat was fine, thank you, and I'm back because it's your birthday." Edon slid onto the bed and embraced Nerys, slowly running his hands with unerring familiarity over her body. "What would you like as a present?"

"Dinner with the children in Jolanda city will be fine," Nerys sighed happily and opened herself to her husband. "After we're finished here, of course."

Shakaar smiled and entered Nerys. "Your wish is my command, beloved."

The Dominion spy leant back and smiled. After fifteen years, it had at last succeeded, to its satisfaction, and destroyed Kira and Odo’s relationship. There had been a few queasy moments just before the wedding when it thought that she might still fall for the Changeling, but the ceremony had gone off without a hitch, and she had left the station with her new husband.

Over the next few years, the infiltrator had slowly managed to stop her from visiting the station, and thereby stop her from seeing Odo. But the best news came when the station was handed over to Bajoran control, and the Starfleet officers left, taking Odo with them. Sisko was given command of the USS Darwin, and had offered Odo the position of Security Chief, and since there was nothing more to hold him to the station, he’d accepted.

The last the spy had heard, Odo was on Earth, assisting Starfleet, and also aiding Bajoran security whenever they had need of special security, such as during diplomatic conferences, and trade talks. But he hadn’t talked to Nerys in nearly ten years, and according to the information the spy had, Odo had never mentioned Kira again after he had left the station.

The spy was satisfied that its job was done. It had worked long and hard to make sure that Odo was all alone, to force him back to his people. Unfortunately, that hadn’t happened yet, but it would, in time. Eventually everyone he knew in the Alpha quadrant would be dead, and the Changeling would be forced to return to his people, thereby giving them the information they needed to complete their take-over of the Alpha quadrant. The Founders were patient, it mused. They had been forced to wait before; they would wait a little longer.

Tarren grinned as he skidded down the school corridor, trying to get to history class before the second bell. He loved history class, especially space history since it often involved his mother. Not that any of the other students knew that, and Tarren had no desire to tell them. He already got enough ribbing over being the son of the longest serving First Minister, and he had no desire to give his detractors any more ammunition.

Tarren lunged through the door of his class just as the bell rang, and the teacher clicked her tongue at him. "Mr Shakaar. If you insist on being late for this class again, then I'll have to call your father in for a talk. Or better yet, your mother."

As the rest of the class hooted at him, Tarren shrugged and brushed his red hair back. "I wasn't late, the bell hadn't rung yet."

"A technicality, Mr Shakaar, a technicality." Shaking her head, Golal Pern quickly began teaching the class about the station and the part it had played in protecting Bajor before it joined the Federation.

Nerys let herself into the house quietly, and smiled to herself. She had held onto a post within the Bajoran militia ever since her re-posting to Bajor from the station, advising them on policy and relationships with Starfleet. However today, she had decided that she deserved a day off. And since Edon was also having a small holiday, Nerys had decided to join him.

Stepping as lightly as she had once stalked Cardassians, she was halfway up the stairs when she suddenly heard the very feminine giggle from the bedroom, and froze. Her mind went numb as she heard Edon's voice sounding as seductive as she had ever heard, then another giggle followed by what was definitely a playful slap. Forcing her feet to keep moving, Nerys didn't bother staying quiet since the rhythmic sounds from the bedroom told her that the occupants probably wouldn't have heard a charging Kilga if it had raced by.

Shakaar was kissing his newest secretary passionately when a dry, harsh voice sounded from the door. "Nice display, Edon. Are you going to try for a replay?"

Rocketing to his knees, Shakaar was deathly white as he saw his wife leaning against the doorway, while his secretary screamed and dived beneath a sheet. Pulling on his underwear, Shakaar decided that the oldest lines were the best. "Nerys this... this isn't what it looks like."

"Really?" Nerys looked him up and down and shrugged. "It looked pretty familiar to me. Weren't we doing something similar when the kids were conceived?" Nerys shot him a blazing look, then turned and stalked down the stairs towards the study, as Edon scrambled after her.

"Look, beloved, please, we can work this out. I don't make a habit out of this, honest." Just as he reached the study door, Nerys slammed it in his face, locking him out. "Please Nerys, can't we talk about this?"

"No, not yet. I need to think." Nerys paused, then made up her mind and pulled out a small electronic device. "I'm going to think for a while, and while I'm in here, I suggest you get rid of that P'eska out there."

"Whatever you want, beloved." Edon raced up the stairs and all but pushed the other woman into her clothes and out the door. Back at the study, the man knocked tentatively on the door. "Nerys?"

"Go away. I'll come out when I'm ready." Her voice was muffled and Edon imagined she was crying her heart out. "Probably later tonight for dinner. Now go away and don't bother me till then."

"Yes dear." Shakaar retreated to the bedroom and picked up a PADD. It was nothing but a boring speech he would have to give to the Vedek assembly in two days, but it was better than staring at the study door and praying it would open.

Nalas, Lorrell and Tarren shot to their feet and swarmed around their mother as she entered the school office. "Sit down, I'll be there in a moment." Obediently sitting back down, the children watched in increasing confusion as their mother signed them out of the school and ushered them into the transporter room.

Moments later, the four Bajorans were standing in a spaceship's transporter room and a smiling Humanoid was beckoning them to follow her, leading them to a small cabin. Nerys didn't say a word as moments later the ship impulsed away from the planet and a few minutes after that went to warp and left the Bajoran system.

Sighing with relief, Nerys sagged back against the cushions in her chair, and pulled off her earring. Opening her eyes, she found three pairs of terrified blue eyes focused on her. "Children, we're going on a holiday, without daddy."

"Why? Did daddy do something wrong?" Nerys smiled at Lorrell and pulled the child's favourite stuffed toy out of a bag, eternally grateful that her daughter always left it in the study, and gathered the little girl into her arms.

"Yes, darling, daddy did do something wrong. He hurt mama very badly, and mama doesn't like being hurt, especially by daddy."

Lorrell watched her mother solemnly. "Did he hit you mama?"

"No s'lala, he hurt mama in other ways." Nerys saw the understanding light in Tarren's eyes and shook her head slightly. The others didn't need to know yet.

"Where are we going, mama?" Nalas, his initial fright finished the boys insatiable curiosity took over and he peered out the window at the passing stars.

"Earth." The children stared at her as if she'd said Cardassia Prime. "We're going to visit some old friends of mine, friends who I haven't seen in a long time, and who you wouldn't remember at all."

"When will we get there?" Nalas was itching to get out and explore what promised to be a fascinating New World.

"In two days. Until then, we'll stay here in our cabin. But there's one rule: If anyone calls, anyone at all, you don't answer the comm-link. All right?" The chorus of agreement reassured Nerys that her order would be obeyed to the letter. She had always insisted that some things were not to be questioned, and the children knew that this would be one of them.

Standing, Nerys replicated them all some dinner, and wondered how long it would be before her soon to be ex-husband realised she'd left and taken the children with her.

Actually, Shakaar Edon didn't even suspect anything was wrong until the next morning. Nerys hadn't emerged from the study, but a quick life-signs scan had shown she was still there. The children hadn't come home from school either, but Nerys had sent him a message from the study telling him they were already at a friend's place overnight.

Shakaar was in his office, becoming more and more concerned about his wife with every moment, when the secretary announced three visitors from the local courts. As the two court officials and their guard walked in, he smiled brightly, even while a small seed of suspicion planted itself in his mind. "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?"

"Shakaar Edon?" As the minister nodded, the older official placed a PADD on his desk and stepped back. "You are hereby notified of divorce proceedings brought against you by your wife, Shakaar Nerys formerly Kira Nerys. She has been granted custody of your children for the moment, and has also requested a restraint be taken out against you approaching her--." The official would have continued, but Shakaar had torn out of the room like a demon and, collecting the biggest guards he could find had raced back to his house.

Breaking down the study door, the man snatched up a small recording device from the study computer and examined it. It was programmed to give the impression that a Bajoran life form was in the room, a job it had performed with admirable efficiency.

Shakaar hurled the device through the smashed door, and displayed fluency with Bajoran invectives that left even the guards stunned. Finally, he calmed down enough to start giving coherent orders. "Find them! They're on Bajor somewhere, so find them! She has no-where to go, it won't be that difficult."

"Yes minister." The guards departed, leaving only Shervish Rem looking sadly at the fuming man before him.

"You knew she would find out one day. What did you expect her to do, nothing?"

"I didn't expect her to take our children and leave me." Shakaar suddenly realised that he had no idea what he had really thought his wife would do when she finally caught him with one of his girlfriends. "I don't know, I thought she might want time to think."

"It appears she does want time--the rest of her life, it seems." Shervish turned and walked slowly back to the Ministerial building, wondering how he was going to get his master out of this one.

Admiral Benjamin Sisko, officer in charge of Starfleet security, was having a quiet morning in his office. No trouble with the Dominion recently since they seemed to be sticking to their area of space, a monumental blessing compared to all the trouble of the past. Odo had gotten bored with simply giving lectures and assisting in science test, and had gone off with a group of cadets to try to teach them Founder tracking skills, he'd said. Sisko was convinced that Odo just enjoyed torturing innocent cadets.

Ben was just beginning to wonder if he shouldn't call Jake and see if the man wanted to have a game of baseball when his aide opened the door. "Sir, there's a woman here to see you."

"Oh?" Sisko thought hard, but couldn't come up with any women that he knew that the aide wouldn't know either. "Does this woman have a name?"

"She refused to speak to anyone but you, and said that you would know her every well." The aide began to look uncomfortable. "She's a Bajoran, with several children in tow." The man was obviously beginning to wonder if his superior had been playing around on one of his regular trips away from Earth.

Sisko thought for a moment then shrugged and stood. "Well, I suppose I'd better meet this Bajoran then." Walking out the door, Ben stopped dead, his jaw stuck open with the greeting he'd been about to give frozen in his throat as he saw Kira Nerys standing there, looking more tired than he'd ever seen her. Her hair was cut in the same short, severe manner she'd once used on the station, but there were lines around the eyes, and grey in that rich, red hair that hadn't been there before. With a jolt, Ben remembered that fifteen years had indeed passed since he'd wished the woman before him all the best in her new life.

Stepping forward, Nerys smiled tiredly. "Hello Ben. It's been a long time."

"Too long Nerys. Far too long." Sisko smiled brightly, then enveloped his former officer in a bear hug, as Kira wrapped her arms around him too, and squeezed for all she was worth. Leaning back eventually, Ben released his friend and grinned at the curious children nearby. "So, these are the children I've heard so much about."

"I wouldn't know who off, I haven't seen anyone from the station in years." Kira answered smartly, but missed the thoughtful look that Sisko shot her. "This is Tarren, you have met him but he was about eight when last we saw you. A good boy and, it turns out, a budding artist."

"So your family's talent did win out in the end?" Ben smiled and shook the teenager's hand firmly and was rewarded with an iron grip from the young man.

"This is Nalas, he's ten now. You'd better make sure your computer terminal has an endless supply of lock-out codes, because his speciality is snooping through other peoples files." Nerys pretended to whisper conspiratorially. "He can break them in minutes, I don't know where he gets it from."

Ben gazed at Kira and winked at the children. "I do." Shaking the boy's hand, he received another iron grip and made a mental note to ask the woman if she'd been feeding her children duridium. A small hand tugged on his uniform pants, and bending down, Sisko found himself nose to nose with a girl that was probably the spitting image of her mother at that age. "And who might you be, young lady?"

"I'm Lorrell, and I'm five." Sea-blue eyes gazed out at him from above a pert nose and Ben sighed cheerfully.

Strong jaw with red hair, and a face that promised a stubborn disposition. 'Ready or not universe, there's another Kira about to make her mark,' the man murmured to himself. Lorrell offered her hand, and Sisko shook it gravely, before standing and turning back to Nerys, a wide grin on his face.

"So, how long are you and your family staying on Earth, Mrs. Shakaar?" The scowl that appeared on Kira's face and the bleak expression in her eyes took Sisko by surprise.

"Edon and I are no longer together. I've gone back to Kira Nerys, if you don't mind, Ben." Sisko made a mental note to keep up with Bajoran politics on a more regular basis. "We've only just arrived, I don't know how long we'll stay." Kira turned to face out a window, tears suddenly filling her eyes. "I don't even know where we'll stay."

"I see." Ben thought for a moment, then beckoned to his aide. "Lister, contact Dax, Keiko, and Lineera and ask them to come here immediately. Meanwhile, see what you can find for these friends of mine to eat." He shot a glance at Kira who was about to complain but subsided when she saw the look in his eyes. "Nerys, you and your children will be staying with me until you can find somewhere to live. And no arguments permitted. Understood?" Sisko scowled at her in his old way, and Kira found herself laughing with relief.

"Whatever you say, Admiral. Whatever you say."

"And that's Ben to you, Colonel." He cast an aspiring eye over the children and winked again, causing them all to break into giggles. "You can call me Uncle Ben, everybody else's children do." Loud talking was heard down the corridor, and the group turned as a tall woman with spots entered, closely followed by an equally tall Bajoran female and a Human woman.

The Trill and the Human stopped short when they saw Kira, but only for a second. Then Nerys found herself in the middle of a two way hug as both Keiko and Dax hugged her tightly.

"Nerys! What happened to you? We haven't heard from you in years." Dax forced herself to let the woman go, but the excitement in her eyes was there for all to see.

"I..." Kira paused, remembering that the children were still in hearing distance. "It's a long story, I'll tell you later."

"You'll tell us NOW." Keiko gave Kira another fierce hug, before turning to the three young Bajorans standing shyly nearby. "I take it these are your children."

"Yes," Kira answered shortly. "I don't mean to take you away from your jobs, I'm sure you're all very busy--"

"Nonsense! We've always got time for you." Dax grinned impishly, then half-turned towards the other Bajoran woman standing shyly in the background. "Nerys, this is Lineera Sisko, Jake's wife. Lineera, allow me to introduce Colonel Shakaar Nerys, an old friend from DS9, and one-time scourge of the Bajoran system, now married to the First Minister of Bajor." Winking at the now-laughing children, Dax stepped away as the Lineera bowed towards Kira deeply.

"I'm honoured to meet the wife of the First Minister. Your reputation as woman of wisdom and strength is well known, as is your kindness and understanding to those of us who have left the home-world to live among the stars." Lineera looked as if she would have gone on, but Nerys held up a restraining hand.

"Please, I'm just a person who understands how difficult it can be living with non-Bajorans, that's all."

"Ladies," Sisko interrupted firmly. "Kira and Shakaar have separated, and I suspect that Nerys and her family have arrived on Earth with only the clothes they're wearing." He gazed persuasively at the three other women. "Could I ask the three of you to--"

"Are you ordering us to take Nerys shopping?" Keiko broke in, and was rewarded with a smile from Sisko. "Right away. Come on, Nerys." Taking Kira's arm firmly, the Human propelled the Bajoran towards the door while Dax and Lineera gently steered the children after their mother. "Where are you staying on Earth, Kira?"

Before Kira could reply, Sisko spoke. "They're staying with me. Have fun colonel, and I'll see you all tonight."

Grinning, Sisko watched as a speechless Kira Nerys was herded out of the office, followed by the others, and turned to smile at his aide. "Contact Jake and put it through on the office monitor, then cancel all my appointments for the next two days." Sisko paused. "Then get me Odo in the comm channel. This is something he definitely needs to know about."

Five hours later an exhausted group arrived at Sisko's house, arms full of packages of clothes, shoes, and more than a few toys. Ringing the bell, Dax was glad they were back at the house, she'd almost forgotten that shopping with small children could be exhausting, especially when the child got tired too.

Jake Sisko opened the door, and smilingly ushered the group into the house, where Miles O'Brien, Jake, and Ben quickly came forward and relieved them of the various parcels. Guiding Kira to a couch, after a quick hug, Miles took in the tired smile and the worried expression on her face and smiled gently. "It's good to see you again Nerys. We've all wondered what happened to you after you stopped visiting the station."

Kira grimaced and wearily accepted a drink from Lineera, who sat down opposite, still a little bemused that she'd spent the day shopping with the wife of the First Minister. "It’s good to see you too, Chief. Keiko tells me that Molly has just started her final years in medical school."

"That’s right." The man's face blossomed into a smile at the mention of his daughter. "She’s been working very hard, and has come at the top of her class." He examined the lined face before him and spoke softly. "What happened Nerys? What made you never visit us after you left?"

Kira sighed. "Chief, that's a very long story."

"That's the second time she's said that today," Dax threw herself into a nearby lounge chair and looked at her old friend speculatively, while Nerys hugged her sleepy daughter close. Nalas was already asleep on the lounge next to his mother, but Tarren was awake and sitting on a cushion near Ben Sisko.

"I'm just not very proud of what I've done, that's all." Kira stared at her drink and sighed. "What could it hurt? It'll probably all come out soon enough anyway?"

The story, as Kira told it, turned out to a common one of betrayal in the bedroom and the slow loss of friends naturally. "At first, everything was fine. Edon and I got married, and I fell pregnant almost immediately, but we'd planned that before hand, and Edon didn't seem to have any problem with me visiting the station occasionally. Actually, I think he was happy that I wasn't too demanding on him for company." Nerys shrugged. "Perhaps I should have been."

"But you kept visiting the station for a long time, even after Tarren was born?" Sisko glanced at young Bajoran sitting next to him and smiled affectionately. "What happened to send it sour?"

Kira took a deep breath, and glanced at her son. "Are you sure you want to hear this? You're going to hear some things about your father that aren't very nice."

"It's all right mam." Tarren smiled encouragingly. "I know that dad hasn't been nice to you for a long time now, and I want to know what he's done."

Kira shrugged. "You're old enough to make you're own decisions. Just remember that this is only my side of the story you're hearing." As the boy nodded, Kira continued. "It was about eighteen months after Tarren was born that Edon started hinting that maybe I should stop spending so much time with... 'Aliens'." Nerys blushed at the statement she was making to her favourite non-Bajorans. "It went downhill from there, with Edon making it plain that it wasn't proper for the wife of the First Minister to spend lots of time with non-Bajorans, and like a fool, I trusted his judgement. I'm no politician, and after three years, I trusted he would know what was best for Bajor."

"Instead he was doing what was best for him," Dax's soft voice cut through the air, breaking the tension slightly.

Kira nodded. "Exactly. But it never really became an issue since Bajor joined the Federation and you all left the station anyway. But since I had lost touch with all my friends from the resistance, I ended up floating along with Edon his friends in the government. It tends to be a very closed group, I can assure you."

"So that's what happened." Sisko was beginning to understand what had been a very confusing situation for the former station inhabitants. "We wondered what we'd said at first, but after Shakaar came to the station for the hand-over to Bajoran control, he told us that you were trying to put your past behind you. That you wanted nothing more than to be a mother and a normal housewife." At Kira's raised eyebrows, Ben smiled and raised a hand to calm her. "I know, it seemed strange to us at the time as well. But since we all knew what you'd gone through during the occupation, it made sense that you'd want a normal marriage without any looking back."

"Looking at it that way, his statement makes sense, and a lot of that is true. I did want to have nothing more worrying than whether I would be able to help the children with their homework, but I didn’t want to lose your friendships either." Kira smiled wanly as Sisko leant over and filled her glass again. "As it was, by the time I got pregnant with Nalas my only friends were other Bajorans connected to the government, and a few of my old resistance friends. But since none of them were really interested in my work on the station other than how it would help Bajor keep the upper hand on other races, I slowly lost contact with everybody connected with my time on DS9."

The group sat in silence; Nerys keeping a concerned eye on Tarren. Kira had decided long ago that she owed her sanity to her children. Tarren had been six when he'd learnt that his mother had been not just a war hero like his father, but had also been the commanding officer of the space station that guarded the Temple of the Prophets. He'd pestered her for months afterwards to tell him stories of the station, and when the others were old enough, Tarren had made sure that they knew all about their mother's past.

"Nerys," Dax cleared her throat and prepared to enter dangerous ground. "Why did you leave Shakaar?"

Kira was silent for a long time, and Dax was beginning to think that perhaps she should get ready to meet her Maker, when the Bajoran finally spoke. "Three days ago, I came home from the office early, and found Edon in bed with one of his assistants. At least I assume that's what she was, I don't think he'd bring a P'eska to the house."

The stunned silence lasted even longer than the last one, as the others present grasped what Nerys was saying. Finally, Kira beckoned to her son, and Tarren crept over to lean against the couch as his mother leaned down and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry, Tarren, but you wanted the truth. It's better that I tell you now rather than have someone say I lied to you later."

"I know." Tarren gulped back tears and smiled a little. "I knew he was hurting you for ages, I used to hear you crying at night when dad was away." Tarren grabbed his mother's hand and held it tight, as tears started running down Kira's face. "It's all right mam, I know you still love us, it's only dad you're having trouble with."

"I'm glad you understand," Nerys wiped away the tears and laughed. "Now, can you help me tell your brother and sister?"

"I'll try." Tarren and Nerys were smiling sadly at each other, when Sisko's voice floated through the air.

"Nerys, I think I speak for us all when I tell you that we'll help you in any way we can. I expect that Shakaar will track you down sooner or later, and I want you to know that if you need any assistance or support, you only have to ask."

"Thank you, Ben." Kira nodded, still keeping a tight grip on her children. "It might take him a while, but Edon will eventually work out where I've gone. My immediate problem is getting a job to support us." Her face took on its old pleading dog expression as she gazed at the group of surrounding friends. "I don't suppose any of you could use an assistant, could you?"

"Actually I've been thinking about that," Dax stretched tantalisingly, and smiled at the Bajoran. "After all those years with Shakaar, you must have an inside knowledge of Bajoran politics, and I'm sure the Academy would be interested in securing you as a lecturer on Bajor. What do you think?"

Kira sat dumbfounded. "Me? A lecturer at Starfleet Academy? No, I don't think that they'd agree to that."

"Why not? They'll never get a better opportunity than this, and it would immediately create ties for you here, so your husband can't claim you have no grounds for retaining custody of the children." Dax saw the cautious hope on her friend's face, and smiled encouragingly. "Look, at least let me suggest it to them."

"All right." Kira's eyes were beginning to slip close as the worry of the last few days, coupled with the stress of years of living with an unfaithful husband began to take its toll.

"People, I think we should leave this tonight, and all get some sleep. We can deal with the technicalities tomorrow." Standing, Sisko ushered the others out the door, while Jake and Lineera helped Nerys carry the children to their bedrooms.

Coming back down the stairs, Kira found Ben in the kitchen. "Ben, if you don't mind me asking, where are Odo and Julian?"

Sisko had been expecting the question all evening, and was only surprised that it had taken Kira this long to ask it. "Julian is now the Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise. He finally got what he wanted, a posting on the flagship of the fleet and a life always exploring new frontiers."

She laughed brightly. "I still remember his first words to me being how he’d chosen to come to the station, to do frontier medicine." She shook her head slowly. "I heard he got married."

"He did, to a Bajoran." He grinned too. "They have two children, and a third on the way."

She chuckled merrily. "He finally settled down. Who’d have thought it?" The look softened. "What about Odo? I know he’s still in the Militia, but I heard that he came with you back to Earth, after you left the station."

"Oh, the Constable is around. He and I ran the USS Darwin for eight years, then when I was offered the promotion to Admiral, Odo accepted a request by Starfleet Science to assist them here on Earth." Sisko chuckled. "He's away for a few days, teaching cadets Founder tracking techniques he said. I think he just likes to make fun of them, that's all." Sisko was glad to see Kira laughing with him as he presented her with a coffee.

Kira took a cautious sip, then smiled. "You remembered how I like my coffee!"

"Six years of hearing you order it every morning, and I swear I'll never forget." Ben sat at the kitchen table, his expression thoughtful, as he gazed at the tired but happy woman opposite him. "Nerys, was this the first time that Shakaar has betrayed you?"

"No." Kira breathed a sigh of relief at finally being able to talk about her life with someone who really did give a damn. "He's been keeping girlfriends for years, since before we were married, I think. I thought that, once we were married, he'd stop because he wouldn't need to going looking for company anymore. Instead, he just got more cautious, and started spending more time away at meetings and off planet."

"But you stayed for fifteen years," Ben shook his head, confused. "Why didn't you just leave?"

Kira smiled bitterly. "How do you leave when you're either pregnant or have a small child in tow? Besides, it's not like he beat me or neglected me. On the contrary, he's been a great father, and a kind, gentle husband, and he didn't personally have any problems with my friendship with you or the others." Kira shrugged. "He just sleeps with anything that's female, that's all."

"Nerys, that is abuse, and it's the worst kind too." Sisko reached out and held his friends' hand tightly. "You've put up with it for longer than I ever would have, but I believe that you've done the right thing by getting out. You can't raise your children in that kind of house."

"I know. The final straw was seeing him with that woman in our bed." Kira hadn't realised that slow tears were sliding down her face. "Our children were created there, he told me a thousand times that he loved only me in that bed. And there I was, watching him say and do the same things with another woman." She snuffled a bit and gratefully accepted the box of tissues that Sisko handed her. "It was the last straw, and all I wanted to do was get out and take the children with me, as far away from him as possible."

"I'd say you've succeeded." Sisko smiled and helped the woman onto her, suddenly very weary, feet. "I think it's time you went to bed. Don't worry about getting up early tomorrow, I've arranged to take some time off, and I'll be glad to look after the children for you until you wake up. Then we'll see how Dax went with the Academy board."

Kira nodded tiredly and stumbled into the room she was sharing with Lorrell, asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Shakaar had calmed down slightly, by the time Shervish walked in with the news about what happened to Nerys and their children. "It seems that she called a friend of hers who owns a private transporter, and he transported her to the school, where she collected the children. She then transported them all to the inter-planetary transport ship only minutes before it left Bajoran space."

"So where did they get off it?" Shakaar wasn't sure of many things at that moment, but he knew this: That his wife wasn't going to get away with stealing his children. Not without a fight first.

"They could have disembarked at twelve separate points along the way by getting on to various shuttles, but I believe they went to Earth. Given your wife's history with non-Bajorans, it's the most likely theory."

"Alert our ambassador on the Federation Council to quietly check all Bajoran's who have recently arrived within Terran space. I want a report by tonight." Dismissing his aide, Shakaar began to assemble a plan to get his children back once he found his former wife.

"Jake-o, if you lift your end higher, I think we'll just able to get it through the door!" Ben Sisko, naked from the waist up and shining with sweat, grunted as he and his son slowly began to work the heavy wooden table through the door of Kira's new house. A week had passed since Nerys and the children had arrived on Earth, and in that time Kira had taken a job at Starfleet Academy teaching about Bajor and Bajoran politics. The house was small, compared to those given to other lecturers, but it was a house of their own, and that was all that mattered to the small family.

A loud *thump* indicated that the table head finally made it into the kitchen, and the two men staggered out into the living room. They promptly collapsed into chairs demanding congratulations and drinks from their laughing friends, who had been busy moving other furnishings into the house. "Thanks for all your help. It would have taken days by ourselves." Kira smiled brightly and grinned as she heard the front door slam open and children's voices fill the air. "I think school's out."

"Sounds it." Miles O'Brien grinned as he saw his son Kirayoshi arguing loudly with Tarren over who was the better tennis player in the upcoming world championships. The two boys had taken to each other the moment each had clapped eyes on the other, and their parents heartily approved. They were only a year apart to begin with, and Tarren's natural intelligence, Dax called it his 'Damn Bajoran Cunning, meant that the boys were in the same year, and in many of the same classes.

Nalas was the first to race through the door, his eyes bright with excitement. "mam, guess what! I got to meet the principal today."

Kira sat down quickly as the other adults chuckled to themselves. Standing the boy in front of her, Nerys tried to keep her expression neutral. "Really? Why did the principal want to see you?"

"I was playing on my computer and one of the boys came up and bet me I couldn't change the school computer codes, and I said I could, and I did." Nalas finished and waited for his mother's reaction as Ben, Jake, Lineera, Miles, and Keiko began laughing helplessly.

"Nalas, you aren't allowed break into the computers here, people will get upset like they did on Bajor, remember?" Kira waited until the boy's face fell as he remembered the trouble he'd gotten into on Bajor. "Now, promise me you won't access any of the schools private files again."

"I promise." Nalas looked completely miserable, and Nerys sighed. It wasn't Nalas' fault that he was smart. But it worried her that he hadn't yet learnt not to use his talents to cause trouble.

"Okay, off you go, and I'll call the principal and talk to him about it." After the boy had left the room, she turned helplessly back to her friends. "He's there one day, and already he's broken into the system. What can I do?"

"Can I suggest the penal facility in Auckland?" Jake managed to spit out the words before dissolving into laughter again, with the others following suit soon after, as Kira grinned.

"On Bajor, Nalas was banned from using computers, he had to learn to do all his school work on paper by hand. I don't want him to have to suffer the same thing here."

"He'll be all right, Nerys. As soon as he gets involved with sport and his new friends, he'll forget all about using computers to try and rule the universe." Dax understood just how difficult it could be for youngsters with talents beyond their years at their disposal. "In the meantime, where's Lorrell?"

Looking around, Nerys saw the young girl standing near the door with tears on her face. Scooping the child up in arms, Nerys swiftly checked for any grazes or injuries that might have caused the crying, but after ascertaining that her daughter was physically all right, she was at a loss. "Lorrell, what's wrong s'lala?"

"At…at school today…they teased me." The little girl buried her face in her mother's shoulder, crying as if her heart would break. " 'M not going back."

"It's all right s'lala, mama's here." Sitting down, Nerys wiped the tears away gently. "What did they tease you about?"

Lorrell gulped for a few moments, then spoke, her voice quavering. "They said I was weird, because I'm Bajoran." The child kicked the couch viciously. "It's not fair!"

Kira looked at her daughter helplessly then lifted her chin in defiance. "Did they mean your nose ridges?" As the child nodded sullenly, Nerys sighed. "No, it's not fair, s'lala. But you have to remember that most of these children haven't see a Bajoran before, so they're a little curious, like you were when you saw your first Human, remember?"

Lorrell thought about this logic for a moment, and decided that it made sense. "So I'm not allowed punch them tomorrow?"

The group froze, and Kira raised her eyes to the heavens, asking the Prophets what she'd done wrong to deserve children like this. "No, and I hope you didn't punch them today. Did you?" Lorrell shook her head, and Kira breathed again. "All right. Why don't you go find your brothers and have something to eat?" The child slipped from Kira's knee after a quick hug and raced out the door, while Kira buried her face in her hands for a moment. "I've given birth to two nightmares! One wants to rule the universe, and the other wants to beat people up."

"Calm down Nerys," Keiko, ever the voice of reason, came over and slid and arm around the Bajoran's shoulders. "They're just children, they'll learn, just give them time, that's all."

"I know." Kira lifted her head and smiled. "But if this is the first day, imagine what tomorrow is going to be like." The group burst into laughter, Kira included, when a firm knock sounded at the front door.

"I'll get it." Tarren raced out of the kitchen and opened the door, but then there was only a quiet murmuring to be heard.

"Tarren? Who's there son?" Kira was becoming worried at the silence and was walking towards the door when a man walked in, calmly standing in the living-room door. "Odo?"

Time, for both of them, froze. Odo took in the woman before him, the lines on her face and the grey in her hair, and would forever after swear that she was even more beautiful than she had been fifteen years before. Kira decided that her memory must be failing, since Odo looked handsomer than she remembered he did from all those years ago, his unfinished face as honest and attractive as it had ever been. The others, adults and children alike watched the silent meeting with a strange feeling of detachment, as if they were trespassing on a very private and sacred moment.

Tarren was the first to break the silence, clearing his throat sharply. "mam, this man says he knows you, from the station."

"He does." Kira whispered the words, then blinked hard, bringing herself out of the daze. "Tarren, this is Odo. He used to be the security chief on DS9. Odo, this is my son, Tarren. You met him a long time ago."

Odo held out his hand gravely. "Hello Tarren, it's been a long time since we've seen each other." Odo shook the young man's hand firmly, the returned his hands to their usual clasped position behind his back. "I've been following your studies, especially your talent in the Arts, and I'm told you have a great deal of talent in painting."

Tarren was stunned. "Thank you, sir. I... that's very kind of you."

"Not at all." Odo turned back to Kira, and smiled at her. "Hello Nerys. I've heard that you've left the First Minister after you caught him sharing an intimate moment with another young lady in your bed." The shapeshifter was mildly amused at the surprised and curious expressions that crossed everyone's face. "I'm sorry, Nerys, but it's fairly common knowledge at the Bajoran embassy that Shakaar has discovered that you kidnapped your children and came to Earth."

"Kidnapped!" Kira stepped back and began pacing around the room furiously. "I didn't kidnap them, they came willingly."

"But you know that parents aren't allowed leave the sector while custody is still being decided, Colonel."

"How did you find out about all this, Odo?" Kira leaned against a nearby table. "I doubt that Edon has been telling people the real reason I left him."

Odo shrugged. "It's simple; I asked Quark."

Kira nodded with sudden comprehension. "Well, I'm glad you've taken an interest in what's been happening to us." Her smile disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived. "But if Edon knows I'm on Earth," she walked over to stand in front of the Changeling, holding out her crossed wrists in front of her. "You're still part of the Bajoran Militia I believe, and that means you have to obey the First Ministers orders. Would you like to arrest me now, or later?"

Odo reached out and held Kira's hands. "Neither. I haven't received any orders telling me to arrest you, but I have been told to escort you to the Bajoran embassy tonight at eighteen hundred." Odo walked to the front door as Kira followed dazed. "Please be ready when I call for you at seventeen-thirty." And he was gone.

Shakaar Edon smoothed his jacket front and did a final check. The court hearing to determine the immediate future of his and Nerys' children was due to start in several minutes, and Edon was determined to make sure he that he was given custody. After he had transported to the court building, Shakaar spent a few minutes reviewing the speech he was going to give to Nerys after she'd lost the children, ordering her to return with them to Bajor.

Finally, the Arbiter was ready to begin, but something was wrong. The large monitor screen, normally reserved for proving forensic evidence and showing recorded footage, was now showing an extremely calm and unapologetic Nerys, obviously currently at the Bajoran embassy on Earth. "First Minister, I apologise for the delay, but we had a little trouble setting up the relay from Earth." The Arbiter nodded towards the screen. "But we've sorted that out now."

"So I see." Shakaar turned and bowed slightly at Kira's visage. "Hello Nerys. Are you sure I can't convince you to put all this nonsense behind us and return to Bajor?"

Nerys smiled, a little savagely, Shakaar thought. "Not a chance, Edon. I've put up with your habits for fifteen years, and now I think it is enough." Nerys leaned back as the Arbiter rapped her gavel, calling the court to order.

"This court is to determine custody of the children of Shakaar Edon and Kira Nerys, Tarren, Nalas, and Lorrell." The woman glanced at a PADD for several seconds, then gazed at Edon. "Minister, I'd like to hear your side of this."

Shakaar stood and placed himself in front of the arbiter. "I admit that I made a mistake, a terrible mistake, but I'm willing to work through my problem. All I ask is that my children aren't taken away from me, and that they are brought up as Bajoran's on Bajor. Where they can receive the right education around their own people, and be brought up in the true way of the Prophets. I can provide them with a secure home, and with a steady income, the best that Bajor has to offer." Bowing, Shakaar cast a quick, smug smile at Nerys and sat down.

"Thank you for that concise statement, Minister." The Arbiter turned slightly and watched Kira carefully. "Your husband has made a very strong argument for my returning custody to him and ordering you and your children back to Bajor. What do you have to say in reply?"

Kira took a deep breath, glanced at someone off screen, and then fixed her gaze on the Arbiter. "Madam Arbiter, I know that my husband has a problem. But I don't believe that he will ever change, and I don't want our children brought up in that atmosphere anymore. I have already found us a home, and as to their education, they're already enrolled in a good school, with many different friends, who aren't all Human either. We've already started attending the small but friendly shrine that's here, it's run by Vedek Lopas, and many of the Bajorans on Earth, be they cadets at the Academy or civilians here for other reasons, attend services there. And as to the charge that Edon will be able to provide a permanent income to take care of the children, I have already found a position at Starfleet Academy. I am a lecturer in Bajoran politics and on Bajor in general. Politicians come and go, but while ever Bajor is around, I'll have a job." Kira leaned back and felt like smirking, but refrained.

The Arbiter studied the documents before her that outlined both parties' applications carefully, before finally leaning forward intently. "I realise that this is a delicate case, due to the public nature of the male party. But I cannot help but think this is one of those unfortunate cases that I can't resolve. Therefore, I am leaving the children in the custody of Colonel Kira Nerys, until the circumstances of either party change and the matter is brought up again. Colonel," she turned to face the screen sternly. "You will permit your former husband access to the children at times convenient to both of you should he visit Earth. I would strongly suggest that you make every effort to have the children visit their father at least once a year, for an extended period of time."

"I have already arranged for the children and I to return to Bajor during school and academy holidays, so that they may visit their father. I can also be brought up to date with changes on Bajor, so we will be home at least twice a year, maybe more." Kira saw the approval in the Arbiter's face and knew she'd won this round.

"Good." The woman rapped his gavel again and stood. "This court is now adjourned."

Shakaar stood, stunned at the decision. He'd been so sure that he would win, because Nerys would have none of the things needed to keep the children. Instead, she seemed to have pulled her life together with remarkable speed, helped, Shakaar had no doubt, by her old friends from the station.

Turning, he left the court and returned to the Hall of Ministers. He had an afternoon session discussing trade policy, and then a boring session with the Vedek assembly. The day was a disaster from start to finish.

"Kira Nerys!" The loud male voice rang across the Academy grounds, causing several lecturers to turn and frown at the caller. They frowned even harder when Kira spotted the man and raced over to hug him fiercely.

"Julian! It’s good to see you again." She grinned and led him over to a quiet corner near a lecture room. "Ben told me you were on the Enterprise, I didn’t know you were coming to Earth soon."

"Well, the ship’s being overhauled for a week, and after I heard you were living here now, I couldn’t pass the opportunity up." Julian Bashir grinned broadly at his old friend and hugged her again, before stepping back. "You look well, Nerys. I hear you’ve got three children now as well." His voice softened, "And that you and your husband have separated."

Kira sighed and sat down on a nearby seat, nodding. "That’s right. The children and I have been on Earth for two weeks now. They’re enjoying it so far, but I know they miss their father terribly."

Bashir placed a companionable arm around her shoulders. "Ben told me what happened between you and Shakaar. I’m sorry, I can’t even imagine what that must feel like."

She smiled at him, a little sadly. "It’s over now. Besides, I have a new career, all my old friends again, and three children who I love with all my heart. What more could I want?"

Julian's smile returned. "It’s good to know you’re back on your feet." He stood and motioned towards a Bajoran woman standing a little way off. "Now, may I introduce you to my wife and our children? Then perhaps I could persuade you and your family to join us for dinner tonight?" He flashed his most charming smile, and Kira grinned, nodding.

"We’d love to."

Julian nodded firmly. "Good. By the way, we’ve invited Odo over as well, if you don’t mind." He didn’t miss the faint blush that crossed her face, and smiled inwardly. He never ceased to be amazed at how often Jadzia seemed to get things right with other peoples lives. "Now, come and meet Narla. She’s looking forward to meeting you.

Dinner was a cheerful affair, with Julian and Narla’s children entertaining their new friends, while the four adults talked about Bajor, its policy with Cardassia, the Federation, and everything that had happened in the last fifteen years. Eventually, the group migrated from the dinning room to the lounge room, while the children headed off to play computer games downstairs. Julian stretched out in a chair and smiled as he watched Kira and Odo relax on the lounge.

"So, how are you enjoying Earth, Nerys?" Julians' parents were visiting his sister on Tafen IV, so they had the house to themselves.

Kira smiled and glanced at Odo beside her. "Quite a lot actually. The freedom is incredible, especially since I haven’t been able to move without someone there with me ever since I left the station. And lecturing isn’t as bad as I thought it might be. The students seem genuinely interested in learning about Bajor. They seem to find it fascinating that a modern culture still places value on religion."

Narla smiled and nodded cheerfully. "I remember that many Bajorans were worried that the discovery of the wormhole meant our religion would be destroyed. I’m glad that it hasn’t happened."

"So am I." Nerys grinned and unconsciously moved closer to Odo. "Lecturing is interesting though, I think that Starfleet cadets aren’t used to having non-Starfleet people teaching them." She yawned and smiled in surprise. "I think it’s got to me as well."

Julian looked at the clock and stood abruptly. "I’m not surprised, it’s nearly one am! Perhaps you and Odo would like to come for dinner again, before we leave next week?"

"I’d like that." Kira glanced at Odo and smiled as he nodded, then stood and called for her children. "Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better get home. Tomorrow might be the weekend, but I need my sleep"

Half and hour later, the small family, and Changeling, had transported back to their house, and the children were safely tucked into bed. "Would you like to stay for a while?" Nerys felt a small flutter inside as she looked at Odo and shook it off. He was her friend, for the Prophets sake! She didn't need to be nervous around him.

Odo watched her for a moment then nodded gravely. "I'd like that Nerys. I'd like that very much." His sudden grin seemed to light up the room, and she couldn't help but smile too as she poured them both a drink.

Kira and Odo sat on the veranda of her new house, sipping their glasses of wine. The Bajoran had been astounded to learn of Odo's ability to eat, and had been so intrigued that she had watched him eat a sandwich without taking her eyes off him. "It's very simple Nerys," he'd said, as she watched, amazed. "It was Doctor Bashir who suggested it actually, after I'd attended the twentieth banquet and sat there with nothing to do. He suggested I replicate a vase really, and that I practice holding it inside me for longer periods each day. It took a while, but I eventually got the hang of holding lighter forms in me, until now I just use a water proof bag."

"So you just pour the food into the bag, and it looks like you're able to eat like anybody else. Is that it?" Kira was totally intrigued by this major development with her old friends' lifestyle. "What do you 'do' with the food afterwards?"

"I use the bathroom, like everybody else." Odo smiled suddenly. "Some of the food, a few nutrients and minerals, I absorb, but the rest..." He made an enigmatic gesture that Kira grinned at, understanding.

This is how the two people found themselves sitting on Kira's veranda, sipping wine and simply enjoying the silence. Finally Odo sighed and glanced at the woman beside him. "I think I owe you an apology. Fifteen years ago, I gave you some very bad advice that's caused you a great deal of pain."

Kira reached out and squeezed the man's hand tightly. "It's all right Odo, I forgave you a long time ago. You were right, Bajor needed Edon to help it through the past years, and Edon needed me to give him an essence of respectability." Kira turned away and looked back at the stars, but still held onto Odo's hand, lacing her fingers slowly with his. "I have three children who I love deeply, and right now, that's all that matters to me."

The silence stretched forever before Odo whispered "I was hoping that you might want something more."

Kira's heart was thumping in her chest as she slowly swung her body to face the Changeling beside her. "A long time ago, you told me that... that there would never be anyone else. Fifteen years is a long time Odo. I know what you told me, but…"

Odo grabbed Kira's hand so tight it hurt. "Nerys, I told you there wouldn't be anyone else and there hasn't been. You're the only woman I've ever wanted to be with, and you're still the only woman I'll ever want, I swear to you."

Nerys turned Odo's face up until they were eye to eye. "If I'd listened to my heart that night, instead of my common sense, we could have been together then, and I would probably be in charge of that station now, or at least have been in charge after Starfleet left. Instead I did what was right for Bajor, and for everyone else but us. Well I'm not going to do that anymore Odo." Kira stood and looked down at the astonished man. "The memories of those nights have kept me going for years, and now, I've got a second chance. And this time, I'm not letting anybody tell me different." Walking to the door, Kira grinned brightly. "It's your choice, Constable. A few nights years ago… or the rest of our lives. I won't pretend that I don't have another motive either. My children will need a father, and I can't think of a better man than you. It's a tough job, Constable." Turning, the woman disappeared into her bedroom.

Odo thought for a long time, then slowly stood, walked inside, locked the door, and stepped into the bedroom, dissolving his uniform as he went. Kira was lying under the sheet, the moonlight making her more like a dream than ever before.

Slowly, Odo lifted back the sheet and slid in next to the woman of his dreams, smiling at her tear-filled eyes. "I thought you weren't coming." Kira scrubbed the tears away furiously, as Odo's hands drew her in against him.

"It's a big decision, becoming the step-father of three children. But with you thrown in as well, how could I refuse?" Smiling at the woman's gentle laughter, Odo saw many of the lines that had marred Kira's face over the years disappear and never return.

Nerys woke and stretched the next morning, then realised she was alone, but a single, white rose lay on the pillow beside her. Caressing it gently, she smiled and blushed a little as she remembered the night before. Sitting up, the woman was about to stroll into the ensuite, when laughter floated through the air, seeming to come from the kitchen. Pulling on a robe, Nerys strolled out to lean in the kitchen doorway and grinned with delight. Odo was busily juggling three pieces of fruit, and somehow managing to keep up a continuous patter, keeping all three of the children laughing.

"Good morning… Constable." Kira strolled in and ran a hand along the man's shoulders, not yet ready to tell her children about her relationship with Odo, but not able to completely ignore her feelings for him in front of them either. "I see that everyone but me has had breakfast."

"Well, you were still asleep, and I didn't have the heart to wake you." Odo smiled back, and noticed that the children had stopped talking altogether, staring at their mother.

Kira made a cup of coffee and sat at the table, her hands nervously spinning one of the pieces of fruit on the table. "Children, Odo stayed with mama last night, that's why he's here this morning." She chanced a look at each of the children's faces; they showed no dislike yet. "I realise that you might not like mama having Odo stay with her, you might want mama and daddy to get back together, but daddy lives on Bajor and we live here now. And mama and Odo have wanted to be together, as special friends, for a very long time, since before any of you were born. And now we are." Kira finished speaking lamely, wondering if it was enough to set the children's minds at rest without upsetting them more than leaving Shakaar already had.

"If you and Odo wanted to be together, then why did you marry father?" Tarren cottoned on to the situation with his usual speed, glancing between his mother and the man sitting silently at the head of the table, a place that his father had once occupied.

"Because Bajor needed your mother more." Odo spoke softly, his deep rich voice cutting through the air. "It wasn't our time, and your father needed Nerys to help him lead Bajor, to provide the support that he needed to help Bajor become prosperous and safe again." Reaching out, Odo captured Kira's hands in his, but never took his eyes off the children's faces. "If she hadn't left your father, I would never have interfered with your lives, that I promise you. But now, after all that's happened, your mother needs my support and help so that she can get her life together, and to be able to care for you."

"Mama, don’t you love daddy anymore?" Lorrell hugged her stuffed toy close and stared at Odo.

"I..." Nerys was at a loss, all her carefully rehearsed speech flying out of her mind. "Daddy and I are still friends, but mama and Odo to have special feelings for each other, feelings that mama doesn’t have for daddy."

A long silence stretched out, then Lorrell hopped down from her chair, walked around the table and climbed up onto Odo's lap, gazing seriously into his eyes. "Are you going to be my daddy now?" The girl was desperate for a male to hold on to, someone she could rely on thought Kira, and Prophets knew her father hadn't been much of a role model for her.

Odo looked at her gravely. "That depends on your brothers and your mother. Tarren and Nalas might not like your mother and I being special friends."

Lorrell reached up and ran a curious finger along the outline of Odo's unfinished face. "You look funny, did you get hurt too?"

"No, I always look like this. I'm… different to you." Odo decided there was no other way but to plunge in. "I can change my shape."

"Show me!" Lorrell demanded with the childish right to demand answers to everything they didn't understand within their world.

Odo didn't speak, he simply held up his hand, and changed it into a rattle, shaking it under the wondering child's nose. "Is this acceptable young lady?"

Lorrell laughed and threw her arms around Odo's, planting a wet, fat kiss on his cheek. "I like you, you're funny!" The child looked at her mother and smiled shyly. "He can stay, mama."

Kira drew a deep breath. 'One down, two to go', she thought. Sipping her cold coffee, and trying to look like she enjoyed it, Nerys watched her sons as they thought about what she and Odo had said.

"Are you going to hurt mam as well?" Nalas, probably the one who'd been most hurt by his father, spoke quietly as his eyes bored into Odos'. Shakaar, ever a farmer and a man who worked with his hands and lived by his sweat, had trouble relating to a child who's mind was light years ahead of his time when it came to computers. Nalas had felt rejected, although Edon had tried to understand him. But he'd never mentioned the way Shakaar had treated his wife before. Thinking about it, Kira realised that Odo would probably understand the boy even better than she did, since they both had an analytical mind.

"No. Nalas, I could never hurt your mother. She's too special for me to ever do that." Odo saw the cautious acceptance in Nalas' expression and nodded, relieved that the boy would at least try to like him for now.

"You'll have to excuse me… Constable," Tarren stood and walked towards the door. "But I'll believe it when I see it."

"Tarren!" Odo called out and the boy came back reluctantly. "Just give me a chance, please. I won't ask more than that." The young man nodded sharply, then disappeared back to his room, as Odos' grip on Kira's hand tightened in relieved concern.

Kira rubbed her neck tiredly and groaned at the knock at the door. "Come." Her office door opened wide and Dax sauntered in, smiling cheekily.

"Good evening. Are you planning to stay here all night, or are you going home sometime?" The Trill draped her self across a chair, her feet up on the desk as she watched her friend like a hawk.

"Staying for a while. I've got the next months lectures to prepare, or at least start on, and I still want to get to the holodeck for a decent unarmed combat workout this week." Kira smiled tiredly and looked apologetic. "Besides, the kids are at the O'Brien's, Miles is taking them fishing tomorrow with his family and some of Kirayoshi's friends from school. The last six months have been exhausting for everybody, and I think that we'll go crazy if we don't start making friends."

"Nerys, I doubt if the O'Brien's offered to baby-sit tonight so you could stay in your office and work. Now, where's Odo?" Dax began an exaggerated search of the office, pretending that everything was a Changeling in disguise, while Kira laughed.

"He's at the Bajoran embassy, they called him in earlier, for an official duty apparently."

"More official than you think, Nerys." Odo stood in the doorway and nodded to the women. "Jadzia, could you join us for dinner please? I think Nerys will need our support tonight."

"Why, what's happened? Has the Arbiter changed her mind?" Kira stood, her mind racing, as Odo gathered her into his arms, holding her tight.

"No, you still have custody. But there's a Bajoran trade delegation arriving in two days, and I've just been informed that I have to provide them with top-level security while they're here, because Shakaar is coming with them."

Kira was stunned. She'd spent hours agonising on the flight to Earth, wondering if her husband would get impatient and force his way into the study to find she'd gone and taken the children as well. And just when she thought she was safe, here he was coming to Earth. Kira buried her head in Odo's shoulders, feeling Dax place a gentle hand on her shoulder as she wondered how life could possible get any worse.

Shakaar nodded, smiled, and slowly walked down the line of Bajoran and Federation dignitaries at the reception at the embassy for his arrival on Earth. No more receptions was one of the things that Shakaar was looking forward to not attending after he'd finished his final term as First Minister. After what seemed like an eternity, he reached the end of the line and looked into Odo's unsmiling face. "Ah, Odo. I've heard very unusual things about you recently."

"Really minister? I could say the same about you." An unreadable expression seemed to cross the Changeling's face and Shakaar became cautious. "However, that can wait. Minister, if you'll come this way, the banquet is ready." Motioning towards nearby doors, Odo fell in behind Shakaar and his personal bodyguard, and the Bajoran ambassador as they and the others headed into the banquet hall.

Several hours later, Odo was tiredly watching the last of the visitors leave, when he felt a tap on his arm. Looking around, he saw a very determined Bajoran. "Odo, now would be a very good time for us to continue that conversation I think."

"Minister, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. My period of regeneration begins soon, and I'd like to be home, not here." Odo nodded towards waiting security staff. "These gentlemen will be your evening guard, but I will be here first thing every morning to accompany you on various tours during your stay on Earth." He bowed slightly. "If you'll excuse me, minister?"

"Constable, don't bother about coming in tomorrow. I expect I'll see you early tomorrow anyway. The first place on my agenda is a visit to Kira's new quarters, to see my children."

The air could have been cut with a razor as Odo and Shakaar glared at each other while the minutes ticked by. Finally, Odo managed a ghost of a smile. "You’re right minister, you will see me first thing tomorrow. Good night."

Odo marched away as Edon stared at his retreating back.

Kira was pacing the hallway when the door-chime rang the next morning. The children, and Odo, were waiting in the living room, leaving Kira to face Shakaar alone. The chime rang again, and after Nerys had nervously glanced down and checked her jacket again, she opened the door.

Shakaar stood on the other side, two guards behind him. He seemed calm and collected, whereas Nerys was nervous and had barely slept a wink all night. "Edon, please come in. Your guards can wait in the kitchen." Stepping back, the three Bajorans walked into the house, refraining from comment. Kira motioned towards the main room, and Shakaar saw his children for the first time in almost two months.

All three of the children raced forward and hugged their father tightly as Kira smiled. The last thing she wanted to do was corrupt the children so they hated their father. She'd worked very hard to make sure that her personal feelings hadn't detracted from the knowledge that Shakaar, despite his personal habits, had been very kind and loving with their offspring.

"Edon, why don't you sit down?" She glanced at Odo who had already waved the security detail away, and as the people sat, had taken up station in front of the only window. He knew that Nerys, ever the officer, would have triple-locked the front door as soon as she'd shut it. Kira watched Shakaar for a moment, "I hope you had a pleasant journey to Earth."

"Nice enough, although I don't think much of the scenery." Edon relaxed against the couch, an arm around Nalas and Lorrell's shoulders, while Tarren took the only other chair in the room. "How are you enjoying being a lecturer?"

Kira laughed softly. "Students are easier to work with than admirals, they don't argue so much." Her eyes steeled over. "I assume you wish to have the children today?"

"Not today, unfortunately. I have a meeting with the Romulan ambassador this afternoon, but tomorrow perhaps?" Shakaar raised and eyebrow and after a moment, Nerys nodded slowly.

"But I'll be coming too. I think there are things we need to talk about, as parents, such as Tarren's future." Nerys glanced at the silent young man. "He's going to have to decided what career he wants soon."

Shakaar nodded. "Well son, any thoughts on what you want to do?"

"I don't know yet," Tarren spoke slowly, collecting his thoughts carefully. "I'd like to keep up my painting, but my grades are high enough to choose a military career as well." He shrugged. "Do I have to decide yet?"

"No, but it might help to have a goal to work towards." Shakaar glanced at Nerys. "The Bajoran Arts Academy's next intake is in a few months, if he wants to study art."

"And Bajor has an excellent arts study program, if that's what you want to do." Kira watched Tarren closely and smiled. "But you don't have to decide now, you decide when you're ready to study." Standing, Kira motioned towards the panelled doors that led into the garden. "Meanwhile, would you like to have a look around?"

"Of course." Edon watched, amused, as Nalas and Lorrell scurried out the door, closely followed by Odo who scanned the garden immediately with his tricorder, while Shakaar, Tarren and Kira followed at a more dignified pace. After being pulled around the yard, and shown the various plants and homes of the usual animals that live in gardens, Odo saw Kira nod at him. He ushered the children inside to get ready for school, while their parents sat on the veranda.

"Edon, I know you don't approve of what I've done, and you probably don't understand either. But I'm not coming back with you to Bajor." Nerys gazed at her ex-husband steadily.

"I know. It took me a while to accept, but I know now." He stared out at the garden. "Was I really that bad to live with?"

"No, but your girlfriends were." The man flinched. "You've had your fun for fifteen years, and although we had a lot of good times together, I'm tired of having to explain why we never went on your trips with you. Anyway, it's not like you're losing the children forever, we'll be visiting Bajor every chance we get, and if they choose to return to Bajor for further education, then you'll have to look after them."

"I'm glad you've at least given them the option." Edon's expression became one of curiosity. "I've heard that Odo has become a regular feature in your life now. How do the children feel about that?"

"They've been good, so far, but Tarren is still cautious. Nalas and Odo have a lot in common, their minds work the same way." A soft smile had made it's way across Kira's face as she talked, but disappeared as she remembered who she was talking to, and she glanced at Shakaar. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that, should I?"

"It's all right, we both know how much trouble I had with Nalas. I like to think that Tarren might be the farmer of the family. He's more like me. No, Nalas is going to be a computer expert or an engineer, I just know it."

Grinning, Nerys asked "And what do you think our daughter will do when she grows up, then?"

"Lorrell? Oh, she's going to be a soldier, just like her mother. Anyone can see that!" Edon gazed at his ex-wife, his smile tinged with sadness and regret. "We did have some good times, didn't we?"

"Lots." Kira stood and returned the smile. "We have three wonderful children, even if they are a handful at times, and the memories of fifteen years. But I couldn't carry the facade on any further, Edon, that's all." She squared her shoulders. "Shakaar Edon, I cast you out of my house and my heart, and before the Prophets, I renounce you as my husband. I recognise your claim on our children, and swear in the Prophets name that I will do nothing to come between you and them. Do you acknowledge my words?"

Shakaar stood and nodded. "I hear, understand, and accept, Kira Nerys. I acknowledge your claim on our children as well, and also swear in the name of the Prophets to speak no words to come between you and them." His brow wrinkled with concentration. "Is that all? I don't recall anymore to the ritual."

"Just this." She reached behind her and picked up a bowl, and with a sharp movement, she threw the bowl at her ex-husbands feet, smashing it. They both looked at the bowl for a moment, then at each other.

Kira nodded. "That's all, except that according to the ritual we're supposed to congratulate each other after we've made a 'clean break', so to speak."

"Well after all I've heard about Odo, I believe that congratulations are already in order." Edon made a great show of bowing and clapping softly, while Kira grinned and shook her head, before taking him back inside to say goodbye to the children as they left for school.

The spy was furious as it closed the connection to its superior infiltrator on Earth. After all the time it had spent making sure that Odo and Kira would never get together, fate had played intervened and they had wound up with each other any way. It just wasn’t fair; it decided as it munched its way through the revolting substances that passed for food in the Alpha quadrant.

Fifteen years of hard work and sacrifice, all swept away by that damm traitor Changeling and his supposedly non-existent hormones. The spy had slipped away from its guards that night and had been outside the open window when Odo and Kira had made love. It was actually a little surprised that the two people hadn’t heard its teeth as it ground them in anger. On the other hand, with the amount of noise they’d made, they probably wouldn’t have heard an orchestra if it were in the same room.

Sighing, it tried to plan its next move. It had buried itself deep within the chosen society, and being Humanoid, had of course never been discovered. Now all it had to do was destroy Shakaar, Bajor, Kira, Odo, and the children. A small matter really, but one that it had a horrible feeling wasn’t going to be as easy as it had first thought.

"Nerys, come quickly!"

Tarren ignored his stepfather's frantic call to his mother.

"What is it?"

"I think I can see some floor in your son's room."

"Ha, ha, ha," intoned Tarren, "Look, I'm falling around laughing..."

Odo bent to inspect it, "No, wait, it's just another item of clothing. My mistake."

Tarren yawned.

Odo leaned on the doorframe, "Are you going to do something about this, or wait until these clothes walk *themselves* to the cleanser?"

"I like my room this way," defended Tarren, "I know where everything is."

"That's what *storage* space is for," growled the Changeling, "You have plenty, I *checked*."

Tarren didn't bother looking up from his book when he heard the tricorder going.

"Oh dear," muttered Odo, "Nerys, do we have a universal translator? I think some of this mould is trying to communicate."

Tarren read his book. Downstairs, his mother laughed. "Leave him alone, Odo," instructed Kira Nerys, "He'll clean his room when he's good and ready for it."

*Finally*, the shapeshifter made his way downstairs. Tarren could still hear the distant conversation.

"You were never this - unorganised..."

"Bet a Lita?" Nerys laughed, "The only difference between Tarren and I is that I only had one set of clothes. There was one time - I didn't wash for over a year."

"Those were extenuating circumstances, Nerys. There was a *war* on."

"I was trying to get out of guard duty," she informed him gleefully, "I figured if the Cardassians could smell me, I was no good on watch."

Tarren smiled. He could always rely on his mother to defend him.

"Excuse me Tarren," Odo made the boy look up, "I think one of your shirts has something to discuss."

Tarren stared at him, "I have better things to do than clean up."

"Name *one*."

"'Yoshi and I are going out," Tarren stood, grabbing his credits and walking past his stepfather.

"Out where?"

"Just out."

"I see. Any idea when you'll be home?"

"Sometime before tomorrow."

Oddly enough, the shapeshifter took this in stride, "Have a good time."

Kira relaxed on the veranda and smiled. She'd taken a day off from work, mainly since she only had one lecture in the morning then the rest of the day free. The children weren't due home for another few hours, and Odo was happily pottering around the house aligning things to their best position. Opening an eye lazily, she watched Odo stretch out in the hammock with her and grinned, looping an arm over him. "Have fun did we?"

Odo smiled and sipped his drink. "All the rooms are tidy." He turned and faced Nerys, kissing her hungrily. "Why don't we have a nap?"

Nerys giggled and ran her hand down to his simulated abdomen, making him gasp a little. "We spent *all* of last night 'napping'. Are all Changelings this passionate in bed, or should I be flattered?"

Odo's mouth was occupied with nibbling on her ear by now, but he managed to spare a thought. "We need to link." He moved over her, softening his form as she opened to him. "And I want to spend my life linking with you."

Tarren yawned. Even though it wasn't very late, it had been a busy day. He greeted his mother and wondered slightly at the pleased expression on his stepfather's face. Until he saw his room.

"AAAUUUGGGHHH!!"

Nerys was by his side in an instant, trying to find out if he was unwell. Odo followed at a more leisurely pace.

"Odo," asked Nerys, "what have you *done*?"

The shapeshifter was still smiling. "Look," he grinned, "you can see the carpet."

"Where the flakk *is* everything?" Managed Tarren.

"Let me show you how a cupboard works," sarcasmed Odo, "See? The drawers slide out, and there are *items* inside..."

"That's *enough*, Ale'al," Nerys informed. "You better have a good reason for doing this."

"I couldn't stand looking at his cesspit any longer," Odo growled, "it made my skin crawl."

"That's *still* no good reason to disrupt Tarren's privacy. If you're bothered by looking, then shut the damned door!"

"With *four* *inches* of filthy clothes blocking the way?"

"Four *inches*?!" Now it was Nerys' turn to glare at Tarren.

He squirmed on the spot, "Mam... it just happened."

"My eye it just happened," scolded Nerys, "I'm beginning to think Odo has a point."

"Odo gets bent out of shape if you move his plant a nanometre!"

Nerys glared at her son. "I've given you and your brother and sister a *lot* of leeway with your rooms over the years, but I think enough is enough."

"If you *want* to live like a pig, I can build you a sty in the backyard," Odo suggested.

"That's *enough*." Kira snapped. "Tarren, explain to my exactly *why* you had four inches of dirty clothing all over the floor.",

"And sundry other articles," muttered Odo, just under his breath enough for Kira to pretend she didn't hear it.

"I had everything where I could find it, Mam," Tarren iterated, "and I was too busy to pick up everything."

"If you'd asked, I could have loaned you a shovel," Odo informed, "and a portable Toxic Substances Bin."

"Odo, keep out of this, *please*..." Kira begged.

"Ale'al, they were generating their own methane," protested the Changeling, "*you* didn't encounter the seven kilos of rotting food in between the layers of fabric..."

"*Tarren*!"

"Um. I sort of forgot about that." Tarren blushed, "I was sort of hungry, then not *that* hungry, and I put the plates down, and sort of forgot."

"It's *still* disgusting," lectured Kira, "you're making *my* skin crawl..."

"If actually getting *up* after you've settled down is a problem," Odo's voice was tinged with sarcasm, "I can install a reclamation within easy reach of your bed."

"Odo..." Kira warned. "This is between him and me."

"I live here, too."

Tarren had been disconsolately looking through the drawers. "He *ironed* my *underwear*?!"

"Lorrell and Nalas didn't mind," defended Odo.

"They're not teenagers," whispered Kira, "it's a peer thing."

"Yeah," affirmed Tarren, "I'd get the stuffing pounded out of me if anyone found out I wore *ironed* *underwear*."

"Is it also *necessary* to pile up everything until it starts *rotting*?" Odo demanded, "If so, I'd like to know so I can install a few air-scrubbers."

"Leave me alone!" Tarren screamed at him.

"I tried that for half a *year*," Odo shouted back, "If you *had* shut that door, you'd have asphyxiated in an hour; and I can tell you now that it isn't a nice way to die."

"I *do* have windows," announced Tarren.

"They'd nearly corroded shut," Odo pulled up a blind to show him a half-opened window, "It took me ten minutes and most of my strength to get it that far."

Kira stopped fuming at Tarren long enough to notice the carpet. It had once been one colour. Now, dark and unfamiliar patterns 'graced' the area, making her stomach churn anew at what daylight had revealed.

"Tarren," she announced, "You're going to go to the markets tomorrow and get some anti-corrodent, and some stain-remover, and you are going to spend as long as it *takes* to get every mark out of that floor, and every encrustation off of those window frames. Do you understand me?"

"But Mam, I promised Yoshi--"

"To hell with what you promised Yoshi," Odo barked, "Your mother gave you an order, and as long as you're under this roof, you *obey* *orders*."

"You can't tell me what to do," Tarren was screaming again, "you're not my father!"

"The way you've been carrying on, I'm *glad* I'm not!"

"Odo!" Kira barked, "Five minutes, downstairs. *Now*!"

Tarren watched them go, hot tears of anger, frustration and adrenaline mixed with hormones ran down his face in a torrent. He picked up his bag and crept quietly downstairs, past his mother and step father as they sat and talked.

"Tarren is still my son," his mother was telling Odo.

"I know," said Odo, sounding heartbroken and ready to cry, "I didn't mean what I said... It just - came out. When he said that... I was so *mad*... and - I couldn't slap him."

Concealed just next to the door to the outside world, Tarren listened on.

"I tried my best," Odo continued, "I gave him room to make up his mind about me. I didn't push him into anything. It's been his decisions from the very first day... I even tried humour to - make him *see*; nothing worked, Nerys. Nothing."

"Shh..." Tarren could hear his mother rubbing the Changeling's back, and could clearly envision her hugging him. Just as she had held himself or his siblings when they were distressed. She'd never done that with his father.

"I just couldn't stand *knowing* that pile of filth was there. I couldn't get him to clean it up, so I took care of it myself."

"It's alright, Ale'al."

That was what made Tarren reach for the door. The sound of his mother calling another man 'beloved'. In a moment of silence, Tarren crept out into the twighlight, then quietly made his way into the night. He didn't care which way he went, as long as it was Away. Away from the ascerbic Changeling and his need for order.

Away from his unfamiliar room and the need for it to be cleaned tomorrow.

Away from the stranger who'd walked into his life and made his mother truly happy for the first time in - how long was it? Over a decade, at least.

Well, Mam could be happy with him all she liked. It still wasn't fair that he owed his very existence to the Changeling letting her go. It wasn't fair that while they were so in love it was sickening that *he* had all *his* things put away when he'd already had them the way he liked. Mam didn't see the way the Changeling picked on him because she was so star-crossed in love with it in a way she'd never been with his own... father...

Tarren slowed with his thoughts as the realisation dawned. His father had been a good enough father, when he was home; but he wasn't exactly the best of husbands to Mam. Mam had never called father "Ale'al" so casually, or even with a hint of anger in her voice.

Tarren stopped completely, gazing into the waters of a pond. He once believed that he was the only person who loved Mam as much as she deserved. Now that Odo had come into their lives...

_Jealous, are we?_ Taunted a voice in the back of his head.

He sat with an audible thump when he realised that the answer was "Yes".

Tossing some nearby pebbles into the pond, the young man began to realise just why he was angry at Odo; And it had nothing at all to do with having his room cleaned up for him.

In all his life, Tarren realised he'd never seen his mother truly happy with his father. They had put on the appearance of the perfectly happy couple, that he knew only too well. But he's also seen the looks in his mothers eyes as she'd watched his father escort a new secretary to the hovercar when he left on a business trip. And he'd heard, very late at night and very faintly, the small sobs from his parents bedroom as his mother spent yet another night alone.

But since she'd met Odo again, it was as if that other person never existed, as if the pain and tears had never been shed. She smiled now, a lot more often than she once had. And he'd seen Odo play with Lorrell and Nalas with an enthusiasm that Shakaar had never shown, not even in Tarrens earliest memories.

Sighing, the boy tossed another pebble into the pond and wondered if they'd even noticed his absence yet. The sun had vanished ages ago and he wasn't really sure how long he'd been sitting on the log. He was beginning to wish he'd thought to grab some money before leaving but it had totally slipped his mind.

And try as he might, Tarren just couldn't bring himself to go home *just* yet. It was just to much like admitting defeat.

Sitting back, the teenager decided to let them come looking for him. After all, it was the Changelings fault he'd left. Let him try and find him, if they wanted him back.

"He's not at the O'Brien's either." Kira stated tersely as Odo came in from searching the garden for her wayward son. "Kirayoshi and he were supposed to be meeting some friends downtown an hour ago, but Tarren never showed."

"He's probably safely somewhere nearby that we haven't looked in yet," Odo soothed, not believing his own statement for a second. "He'll come home soon enough, just wait a little longer."

"Odo, I don't care if Earth is the safest planet in the Federation, I don't want *my* son wandering around alone at night!" Nerys, not a woman known to panic easily, was about ready to call in a full scale search.

Odo thought for a moment and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "Why don't I go look for him and bring him home?" he held up a hand to forestall her argument. "After all, it was Tarren and I that this is really about, so we should sort it out between us. maybe by the time I find him he'll have had time to think and be ready to talk."

Kira took on the appearance of a deflated balloon as all the fight went out of her. "All right, but make sure you don't get into trouble as well." She smiled slightly. "I don't want to have to send out search parties for you as well Constable."

Odo kissed her gently. "Don't worry, we'll have a talk and be right home." Picking up his tricorder, he began to track the missing man-child.

Odo walked quietly down the riverbank and slipped between the pylons, searching for Tarrens' tracks on the wet grass. The bridge crossed a small stream, but was also above a beautiful garden that someone from the Bajoran contingent on Earth had set up there, complete with a stone carving of the religious symbol. Sure enough, he found the young man sitting on a nearby log, staring morosely at a small pond with a few fish in it.

Odo didn’t bother speaking, just sat silently at the opposite end of the log, staring at the pond. The silence lasted several minutes, before Tarren turned his head to glare at the Changeling. "Well? Come to drag me back to your house?"

Odo shook his head. "No. Not unless you want me to drag you back. Your mother just asked if I could come and make sure you were all right. She was very worried about you, since you haven’t been on Earth long. It might be the safest of all Federation planets, but it’s still no place for you to be running around at night on your own."

Tarren smiled in spite of himself. "Mam always worries about me. I like walking at night, something about the cool air and relaxed atmosphere helps me think, but she’s always worried I’ll get hurt somehow."

"With good reason." Odo’s voice was soft and low, as non-threatening as he could make it. "She grew up when it wasn’t safe for a child to walk Bajor at night, because the Cardassians would hurt them, so you have to understand that she would worry about you, even twenty years after they’ve left."

"I know." His expression softened for a moment, then hardened again. "But that doesn’t explain why she sent you, and didn’t come herself."

"I asked her not to come." Odo said simply. "I told her that it would be better if I found you, and we talked. We were the ones who had the fight, and we need to sort it out now. If you don’t like me, well that’s something we need to talk about. Your mother and I love each other and we’re going to be together, hopefully for many years to come. We understand that you love your father too, and if you want to return with him to Bajor we’ll understand, he is your father after all. All we ask is that you don’t forget your family here."

Another silence stretched out, before Tarren spoke again. "You really love mam, don’t you?" Odo nodded silently, and Tarren sighed, tossing a small pebble in the pond. "Dad hurt her very badly you know." He glanced at the Changeling. "If you hurt her too, I will find a way to kill you, believe me."

"You’re Kira’s son. I don’t doubt it for a second." Odo spoke solemnly, but the Bajoran detected a twinkle in his eyes. "Just between you and me, you and your brother and sister exist because fifteen years ago I loved your mother enough to let her marry another man, for the good of Bajor. He has betrayed that trust by hurting her, and neither of us feel an obligation to think of anyone else but us from now on. I won’t hurt her, or let her be hurt ever again."

"Good." Tarren smiled at the Changeling for the first time, rewarded with a smile from Odo.

"Do you want to go home now? Nerys will be worried about you."

"Not yet. I just want to sit and think for a while, if that’s all right with you." Odo nodded and settled himself to wait until the boy was ready to go home. "Odo, what was mam like back on the station?" The soft words were spoken in Bajoran, a language infinitely gentler than the Federation English that was used by the Universal Translator.

Odo smiled and answered in kind. "To answer that, we’ll be here all night." He glanced at the stars and newly risen moon. "But I guess a little longer won’t hurt.

It was after midnight when Odo and Tarren eventually got home, to find Nerys and Shakaar waiting for them. Shakaar had brought four guards with him, and looked fit to kill the Changeling on the spot as he and the boy came into the house. "What the hell do you think you’re doing, letting my son stay out this late on a strange planet?" Edon was absolutely fuming, while Kira checked that her son was still in one piece, before turning an angry eye on her lover, who saw it coming and held up a hand to forestall her.

"Tarren and I were talking down by Casey’s stream, in the garden. We weren’t in any danger, just talking about the past and Tarren’s future." Odo had learnt a long time ago that the best way to calm Kira down when she was angry was to stay calm as well. If you got upset, she simply got worse. "No harm was done, and several things were sorted out between us. Right?" He looked inquiringly at the teenager, who grinned and nodded.

"Right." Tarren turned to his father. "Dad, I won’t be coming back to Bajor with you, not yet anyway. I want to live here for a while longer, but if I decided to study Arts, I will come back to Bajor to study." Tarren, already the same height as his father, relaxed as Shakaar sighed and nodded.

"I thought you might say that." The situation was defused, and Odo blended into the background of the conversation. "Well, it’s your choice. Just remember that you’ll always have a home with me on Bajor, and the farm is there if you want something more relaxing than city life."

"Thanks. And I’m sorry I scared you and mam tonight, but I needed to think, and I needed to talk to Odo." He hung his head and appeared guilty, but his parents weren’t fooled for a moment.

"All right." Nerys folded her arms and scowled a little. "But don’t do it again. Now go to bed, you have school in the morning."

"Yes mam." He scurried up the stairs, as Kira and Shakaar rounded on Odo.

"Odo, I expected better than this from you." Nerys wasn't raising her voice, but the tone cut deeper than any blade. "You should have used the communicator to call me and tell me where you were. I know Earth is safe, but he's my son, and I was terrified that something had happened." She stepped closer and Odo saw the fear in her eyes, "To both of you."

He sighed and nodded. "I know, I'm sorry. We should have called and let you know where we were, but time just got away on us." They clasped hands gently, foreheads touching. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"See that it doesn't, Constable." Shakaar was still angry, but knew there wasn't much he could do about it. "Whatever your relationship with my ex-wife, these are my children that you're taking care of. I don't ever want to hear that something like this happened again."

Odo nodded carefully, aware that this was tricky ground. He knew that as far as Nerys and the children understood it, he was now a permanent fixture in their lives. But he also knew that the day would come when they would want to know and understand Shakaar, and that he must never come between the children and Shakaar. "I realise that Minister, and you have my word that it won't happen again."

"Good." Shakaar yawned and stretched, before heading to the door with his guards. "I'll see you at oh ten hundred, Odo. I have to visit the Cardassian ambassador tomorrow, and I'd feel safer with you there."

"As you wish." Odo watched as Shakaar and his security squad transported away, and after receiving the communication that they had arrived safely back at the embassy, turned back to Nerys--to find her gone. Looking around curiously, he heard a noise and looked into their bedroom, to see her kneeling in front of her shrine, her body shaking with muffled sobs. Kneeling behind her, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist, cuddling his lover back into him. "Shh, it's all right, Nerys. I'm sorry, it's going to be all right."

She turned to face, her arms clinging to his neck. "I waited for you for hours, I thought you'd be right back with him. But you didn't come, and I was so afraid that something had happened to the two of you." The sobs became stronger, and Odo held her tighter. He had a precious second chance with the woman of his life, and like a fool, he'd almost dropped the ball again.

"I'll never do it again Nerys, I swear I won't." All he could do was hold her, for what felt like hours, until the crying finally ceased, and she pulled away slightly, still snuffling. Stroking her hair, he murmured "I'll sleep on the couch tonight, let you get some rest."

"Odo," Her voice was strong and determined. "If you walk out that door, don't bother stopping in the lounge room."

He smiled a little, silently picked her up and laid her on the bed, and comforted her the best way he knew how.

The spy slammed the connection to it's superiors closed and threw a glass trinket across the room, watching it smash with a satisfied smile.

It had just been told, in no uncertain terms, to 'dispose of the Kira problem', and quickly. And as far as the Dominion was concerned, if the spy felt like removing Shakaar as well, they wouldn't mind at all. Thinking deeply, it tried to find a hole in the plans for the next few days, sometime when there would be ample time to destroy the family in question, along with the traitor Changeling.

The only problem, as far as it could see, was that there might not be enough time to escape before the security teams closed in. A thought suddenly came: There was to be a final formal dinner two days before Shakaar was due to return to Bajor, and one month before he would step down from his final term as first minister.

Smiling, the traitor sat back and steepled his fingers; The dinner would be perfect. So a few more people would die than just Shakaar and his Changeling bodyguard. It didn't matter, the job would be done. And it would leave him free to deal with the Bajoran family at his lesiure.

The traitor stood outside the building and gently pressed the button on a small box in his pocket. Seconds later, the Bajoran Embassy exploded in a fireball. Listening for a moment, he heard the screams as the people inside died, quickly for their sakes he hoped. Much as he had turned against his own people, he still hated to see them suffer. Sighing, he raced around the front of the building, as if fleeing the fire. He was just in time to see Odo shove Shakaar into a hovercar, dive into the drivers' seat, and take off in the direction of the house.

The man snarled, then grabbed a second car, and set off in hot pursuit.

Kira opened the door quickly, and practically pulled Shakaar inside the house as Odo pushed him through the door and slammed it shut behind them. Nerys handed her ex-husband a drink and watched as Odo stalked through the room, checking every nook and cranny. "The news is all over the planet. Everyone thinks that Edon was killed in the blast at the moment."

"They'll figure he's alive sooner or later. That's when all hell will probably break loose." Odo came to stand in the corner nearest the door and folded his arms as he stared at Shakaar and Kira. "Nerys, I want you and the children packed and ready to leave here within the hour. Minister, you and I are returning to Bajor immediately."

"I'll get the children organised." Nerys, although far from a coward, was also well aware that while she could look after herself, three innocent and unskilled children would stand no chance against a determined assassin.

After watching Kira head towards her offspring's sleeping quarters, Odo turned back to the Bajoran leader. "You realise that there is a high likely-hood of at least one, possibly two more attempts on your life before we arrive back on Bajor?"

Shakaar nodded slowly. "Are you sure Nerys will be safe? I've almost ended my final term as First Minister, but she's just starting a new life. And the children need her even more than you or I do."

"I'm well aware of that Minister, but I also believe--" Odo turned sharply as someone bashed on the front door of the house. Opening the door quickly, he yanked the outsider in, then almost sighed with relief as he realised it was one of Shakaar's guards. "What are you doing here, I thought you were all dead!"

"So did I!" The guard gulped a little and gratefully accepted the drink that Edon poured from Kira's well-stocked wine cupboard. "I was outside, checking in case someone was planning to disrupt the meeting from out there. The next thing I knew, the whole place had gone up." He smiled shakily as Shakaar poured him another glass, and nodded at Nerys as she and the children entered the room quietly. "I thought the Minister was inside, but when I ran around the front of the building, I saw the two of you driving off. So I grabbed the nearest flyer and followed you back here."

Odo shot to his feet, horrified. "Then the assassin might have done the same thing." He raced towards the door, calling back over his shoulder, "Nerys, I want you to go and stay with Ambassador Troi on Betazed. Minister, I'll be back in a moment."

As the Changeling headed out the door to check the surrounding area, Kira and Shakaar were left alone to explain what was happening to the children. It wasn't until a forcefield snapped into place around the house that the two adults spared a thought for the guard.

Jul Nagel was standing next to the computer terminal, a Jem'Hadar phaser in his hand and a smirk on his face. "Sit down, Minister. I've waited a long time for this, a very long time indeed."

Odo hurried around the house, quickly but thoroughly checking the grounds. He'd almost returned to the front door when a golden light shimmered into existence before him and he raced, head first, into a forcefield that had appeared from nowhere. He listened intently for any noise from within the house, but couldn't hear any, which simply scared him all the more.

Running into the back garden, he peered through a small gap in the curtains and gulped. He was a few metres from the house, but he could still see the man inside. Clearly visible was Shakaar's guard with a phaser in his hand, and it was pointed straight at the Minister and his family.

A scream broke out from Odo, from where he didn't know, and he threw himself at the forcefield, trying to break it down through sheer force. It merely threw him back into the garden, stunned. Sitting on the dirt, he gazed into the house to see Jul laughing. But the phaser never wavered from its mark -- Lorrell's chest, as he held her tightly against him.

Jul heard the scream of fury from outside and grinned savagely. As soon as he'd secured the house, he'd grabbed Lorrell and shoved the phaser against her chest, smiling as her parents froze in fear. He'd already laid two sets of manacles out; the old-fashioned key locked kind, onto the nearby desk, and now nodded towards them.

"Colonel, I realise you and your husband are well versed in the art of self-defence, so I'm sure you'll understand when I say that, unless you would prefer me to dispose of you now, I'll have to restrain you."

"How?" Kira tensed immediately, her long-ago survival skills coming back in force. "There are two of us here, and we won't tie each other up."

"It's very simple Colonel." Keeping his phaser arm around Lorrell, Jul picked up one of the handcuffs and placed it in the child's shaking fingers. "Your daughter is going to place the restraints on you and your husband, while I keep her under control. And I don't need to remind you that a phaser blast at this range will probably vaporise her, and your husband." He nodded at Shakaar sharply. "All right Minister, you first. Stand up slowly and turn around with your hands behind your back. Then walk back towards me."

Shakaar glanced at Nerys, then slowly complied with the man's instructions, his eyes never leaving Kira's. Beyond that, he could feel nothing, but the knowledge that before the night was over, he and his family would be dead. As he felt his daughter's small hands lock the cuffs around his wrists, Shakaar prayed silently that Odo would find a way to avenge the deaths that were about to happen. Other than that, all he could do was pray that it would be a quick death.

Jul shoved Shakaar forward and chuckled as the man fell to his knees as he lost his balance, then turned to Nerys. "Your turn Colonel. And please remember that, should you even sneeze, the next time you'll see your child will be when you meet the Prophets yourself."

"It's uppermost in my mind, Jul." Kira's voice was cold and distant as she mimicked Shakaar's actions. Standing with her back to the terrorist, she gazed out through the small gap in the curtains at Odo's faint form, and mouthed the words 'I love you'. Seconds after she felt the cold steel encircle her wrists, she found herself flat on her face on the floor next to Edon. Turning over, she glared at Jul with pure hatred in her eyes, but somehow managed to keep her mouth shut.

Jul pushed Lorrell towards her parents, and she flew into her mothers' arms, sobbing in fear as she clung to her mother. The two boys were already crouching by their parents, holding onto them, with their frightened eyes locked on the black haired Bajoran with the phaser. Tarren's eyes were mere slits as he tried to work out how he could help save his family, preferably without getting killed himself.

The would-be assassin smiled and sat carefully in a chair, and waved the phaser at Nalas. "Boy! Open those curtains wide." He ginned savagely. "I want Odo to see every moment of this."

Nalas pulled back the curtains, tears spilling down his face as he saw the Changeling watching helplessly outside the forcefield.

Odo watched the scene inside the living room and wanted to let fly with another scream. *His* family was inside, being threatened and terrified by a traitor Bajoran. Shivering with rage, he began to think of what he would do to Jul when he finally got his hands on him. First however, he had to get inside. And to do that, he was going to require help, a LOT of help! Deciding that this was the perfect time for a show of brute strength, he made a call on his comm badge.

Moments later, Sisko and a squad of Space Marines beamed into Kira's garden, to see the Changeling staring at the windows of the lounge room. Glancing in, Sisko saw Nerys and Shakaar kneeling on the lounge room floor, their hands bound behind them, and the children clutching them tight.

"Prophets Odo, what happened?" Sisko didn't even realise he'd used the Bajoran phrase as he turned to the Kira's lover. "What's going on Constable?"

"The man with the phaser is Jul Nagel, one of Shakaar's bodyguards. Apparently, he also wants to be an assassin." Odo's eyes never wavered from the scene inside the house. "As far as I can tell, he's forced Lorrell to tie up Nerys and Edon, and right now, he's intimidating all of them.

At that moment, Jul fired on, and vaporised a nearby Bajoran vase, making everyone jump. Sisko swallowed tightly and laid a gentle hand on Odo's tense arm. "Odo, we've brought a doctor with us, but if he leaves it on that setting…" The man's voice trailed off and the Changeling nodded miserably.

"I understand, Admiral." His gaze flickered towards the Human for the first time. "Is there any way in?"

Ben shook his head miserably. "I had the house scanned before we arrived. He's using a Dominion shielding device, one we can't penetrate." Sisko shrugged helplessly. "We're working on it, but there's not much we can do at the moment."

Odo nodded and returned his gaze to the house. "All I need is thirty seconds, and for you to look the other way when I get my hands on Jul." A savage expression had broken out on Odo's face, and Sisko took an involuntary step backwards. "No-one hurts my family and gets away with it."

"Odo, until we get into the house, there's not a lot we can do." Ben knew it was cold comfort for the man. "All we can hope is that he makes a mistake."

Odo opened his mouth to speak, but paused, staring at the house. A slow smile crossed his face and he appeared to relax. "I think he already has."

Ben stared at the house nonplussed and shrugged. A small part of him wondered if the stress was beginning to effect his friend's mind.

Nalas held onto his mother tightly with one arm. The other was tapping furiously at the data PADD she was holding in her manacled hands. When she'd woken him up, he'd naturally grabbed a nearby PADD and wandered into the lounge room with it. It wasn't until after Jul had handcuffed his parents that Nalas realised he was still holding the PADD, and more importantly, that Jul didn't know he had it. As soon as Kira had been pushed to the floor, he'd raced over, sobbing into her shoulder and clutching at her, just like a little boy would.

Except this boy was Bajoran, and knew his way around computers. He's pushed the book into his mothers hands, set up a link with the computer console Nagel was using and began frantically trying to break the code, using his body to hide the PADD from reflecting in the mirror. He was more than afraid; He was terrified!

Nerys had smiled slightly as she'd felt her son push the PADD into her hand, then gripped it as tightly as she could. She didn't know whether he could actually manage to break the code, but it was better than the other option. Nagel was ranting about Changeling superiority and getting carried away with the sound of his own voice, giving Nalas the opportunity he needed to work at he code.

Unfortunately for the boy, Nagel was no fool. Seconds after he destroyed the vase, he caught a glimpse of the PADD reflected in the window. Screaming in rage, he turned the weapon on the child, roaring." I gave you every chance, I might even have let you live! But now… Now you will watch your parents and your brother and sister die." He levelled the weapon at Shakaar, who held his head proudly as he tried to fight the tears in his eyes.

Nagel smiled and gently squeezed the trigger as Lorrell screamed in anguish. The terrorist fully expected to see the Bajoran leader disappear in a swirl of electricity, along with the little girl in his arms. Instead, at the last moment his aim seemed to go astray as Shakaar leapt at him, knocking the phaser up towards the ceiling.

It took a full ten seconds for Jul to realise that he'd lost control of the situation, which was all the time Tarren needed to pick the handcuffs on Nerys' wrist. Standing, Kira glared at Nagel as she rubbed her wrists slowly, then moved towards the man, hatred in her eyes. Shakaar had already forced Jul to drop the phaser and was holding him by the back of his shirt.

Glancing outside, he nodded towards Odo and glanced at Kira. "Nerys, we should let Odo take care of this now."

"No." She reached out and grabbed Juls' jacket, then slammed him against the door. "I want you to know what it's like to live in fear!"

Sweat broke out on Nagel's face as he found Kira swearing loudly at him, her face mere inches from his own. He tried to speak, but managed only a small gurgle. Kira had just managed to have Nagel seeing stars when two firm hands closed on her wrists and she was irrevocably pulled away from the would-be assassin. Nagel fell into the waiting handcuffs of Starfleet security, and Nerys turned to find Odo's welcoming arms waiting for her.

"Don't shoot him," growled Odo, "It's too fast." His eyes, too, were burning with hatred. "I want whatever's left of him alive and in pain for the rest of his life."

"I'm already setting his image up on the _dangerous persons_ lists," informed Nalas.

"You might want to wait a little, son," said Shakaar, "I want to give him a few scars, first." He took a few breaths to clear some of the rage from his head, "Tarren, take Lorrell upstairs, and tuck her in. She doesn't need to see this. Nalas, you can keep her company if you want."

Nalas looked at the horrified man pinned to the wall by his mother, and at the knife Odo had retrieved from somewhere, he then put his PADD down on a handy table, "All you have to do is press 'Enter'," he told them before creeping upstairs.

Sisko appeared at the Ministers side, his dark face taut with concern. "Minister, I'm afraid we have a conflict of interest here. You see, although this crime was committed against Bajorans, it was on Earth and therefore under our jurisdiction." He took a deep breath as Shakaar and Kira rounded on him. "Mine to be exact."

"And I suppose you'll be in a lot of trouble if we don't let you take him away safely." Shakaar had been in politics long enough to recognise a potential flashpoint when he saw one. Glancing at Nerys, he sighed as she shook her head defiantly, her eyes bright with unshed tears. Odo was holding her tight, his eyes fastened on Nagel, and Shakaar got the uncomfortable feeling that he had merely to say 'kill' and Odo would slaughter the assassin without a moments hesitation.

The man turned back to Sisko and nodded slowly. "Perhaps it would be better if we left him to you. After all," he smiled slightly, "I believe the most efficient interrogators in Starfleet are Bajoran."

Sisko grinned savagely. "I'll see to it that he receives their undivided attention." Nodding to Odo and Kira, he and the marines beamed away, a terrified Nagel with them.

Nerys sagged against Odo and allowed him to lay her on the couch as Shakaar dropped into a chair, wiping a shaking hand over his face. "Edon, promise me you'll leave the killers behind on your next visit." Kira tried a joke as she swallowed the drink Odo handed her.

"Believe me, I couldn't agree more." The man smiled a little and gratefully accepted a drink from Odo before leaning back in the chair. "At least he failed. All I have to deal with now is the Bajoran diplomatic service. There'll be at least a dozen enquires into what happened tonight." He gazed at Kira and Odo thoughtfully. "The two of you could be asked to return to Bajor to talk to them. would that be a problem?"

Kira glanced at Odo and nodded. "At the moment, yes. I have another month of lectures before mid-year holidays. But we could come then if we're needed."

A knock at the door signalled the arrival of the Sisko's promised security relief, interrupting the conversation. Moments later, Shakaar was wishing his children and hosts goodnight as he was swept away by the security detail. Hugging Lorrell and Nalas, he tousled Tarrens hair, "Keep away from those Starfleet girls, your mother doesn't need any more surprises." and smiled as the boy blushed and grinned.

Turning to Nerys and Odo, Shakaar bowed slightly. "Good night Nerys, and take care. Odo, I'll see you tomorrow morning for our final meeting with the Romulan Ambassador before leaving in two days." Reaching out, he hugged his ex-wife one last time, before stepping away and vanishing in the transporter shimmer.

Odo smiled as Kira snuggled into him and adjusted his form until she was half-wrapped in him, and set up a steady purring within his being to soothe her tense muscles. "So, how was today's visit?"

"It went very well, actually." Kira's eyes closed, and she wanted to purr herself. "We went to a nature reserve, then to an amusement park, with all the latest computer games and rides and such. The children had fun, and as much as I hate to admit it, so did I."

"Well, that's natural. You and Shakaar were friends for a long time before you were married, and I think it's wonderful that you're still are friends after all that's happened." Odo slipped a tendril of himself between Kira's thighs and began to caress her inner thigh, never quite touching the sensitive flesh at her center.

"It was rather deceitful of him to have you scan his ship today so you couldn't come with us." Nerys rolled onto her back dreamily, running her fingers lazily through Odo, trying to encourage him to cover her.

"Very sneaky, I agree." Odo complied slowly, drawing out every moment of pleasure for the woman underneath him. "But understandable. He wanted to spend some time alone with you and the children, it will be a long time before he sees them again." Kissing the woman deeply, the Changeling remembered belatedly to let her come up for air, not that Nerys seemed to notice. "I don't know how I'm going to cope whenever you go back to Bajor for holidays."

"Actually I was planning to ask you to come with us." Kira managed to whisper the words before her body took over as Odo's careful explorations stoked the fire inside her until she let out a full-throated scream and flew like she had never flown before. Odo desperately covered her mouth with his, trying to muffle the sound even as his own peak broke over him and he cried out soundlessly to the stars.

Aeons later, Kira lay back, exhausted but content, her hands trailing aimlessly through her lovers substance, while Odo shimmered happily and lay like a blanket over his beloved, both knowing that the future was, at long last, about to start.

"Mama!" Lorrell's voice rang through the house, and Nerys wiped her hands on a towel as she put a lump of bread dough on the windowsill to rise. In the year that they'd been on earth Kira and her family had discovered a new life, and a surprisingly much happier one, with Nerys discovering an unknown flair for cooking.

Walking into the lounge room, Kira stopped and smiled at her three children and Odo as they stood in the middle of the room. "What's up?"

"See! I told you she'd forget again!" Tarren glanced at Odo, who simply shook his head and smiled.

"All right, you and 'Yoshi can go camping this weekend." The Changeling saw his beloved's eyebrows shoot up and sighed. "Tarren bet me that you'd forget what today is, and I bet him that you wouldn't." His head jerked towards Tarren. "He won."

Kira thought for a moment then laughed and flopped onto the couch. "My birthday. I forgot my birthday--again."

"We didn't." Nalas smiled and handed his mother a large package while the others sat down opposite her. Kira smiled bemusedly and began unwrapping the package, but all that was inside was another box--then another, and another.

Finally, nine containers and much childish giggling later, she uncovered a small oblong, velvet-lined box. Staring at it, Kira felt a deep warmth beginning to spread through her body, and her hands shook slightly as she opened the container to see a Bajoran betrothal bracelet sitting inside. "We wanted it to be something special, mam." Tarren, the one who had taken the longest to accept her relationship with Odo, grinned at her as Odo sat on the couch next to her, taking the bracelet from her very shaky grip.

"Kira Nerys, I don't have much to offer you, but I would be very honoured if you would be my wife." The Changeling's voice, for the first time since she'd know him, cracked completely.

Kira stared at him, stunned, then turned her head to gaze at her children. "You...you all want this?"

"He's the best person for you, mama, and he loves you very much, everyone knows that." Nalas grinned easily. "Besides, you love him, and we want him to be our dad from now on."

The woman nodded slowly then turned back to the motionless man beside her, tears in her eyes. "Odo, I would be honoured to become your wife."

There was no need to say anything else, as Odo slipped the bracelet around her wrist and gently locked the clips in place, before drawing her into his arms for a long kiss. "With this I pledge my heart to thee. Eternal love, everlasting loyalty."

The whispered words cut straight through the last layers of pain and hurt from the last few years, and laid her heart open, not to be hurt again but to love and be loved as she always should ha