An idea I once had...

„Chapter 1, dinner"

„Don't you want to sit down, Garak?"

Garak looked around and finally down where he saw Dr. Bashir sitting at their table where they usually dined Wednesday. He sat down and regarded the surrounding. It was Quark's bar on DS9. Surprised, Garak examined the person opposite to him.

"Everything okay, Garak?" Dr. Bashir asked.

"Oh, yes," Garak stammered, still a bit confused.

"So, tell me. What is the latest news?"

"News?"

"Well, about your tailor shop…or about the Cardassians."

"I don't know. You tell me about the newest rumors."

"Oh, since the Klingons failed to invade Cardassia Prime, we haven't heard anything from their new government."

"Me neither."

"But, actually, there were some rumors. That Gul Dukat managed to come back to Cardassia and become a member of their government, of course, some kind of military position."

"Really, and where do you have your information from?"

"Oh, I don't know. That's the problem. Starfleet commando had received some unofficial hints and don't know if they should trust them. I hoped you could bring in some clearance."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Garak stated, confused what this had to mean.

Suddenly, Julian was hailed: "Sickbay to Dr. Bashir."

"Bashir here."

"Please come down, we have an emergency patient."

"On my way," he said and stood up. "I'm sorry Garak. But we'll see each other on the party tonight, don't we?"

"Party?"

"Seven hundred hours, on the Promenade. See you then," he answered and left the Quark's.

Garak stayed sitting, still a bit surprised about the happening. He went down the stairs and passed the crowded bar. He sighed when he heard how Morn was loudly discussing the unfair prices with Quark and walked on to his tailor shop. It looked like always and he entered.

It didn't take five minutes, until the first customer stepped in. It was Lieutenant Commander Riddle, the new Security Chief of Federation, exactly same rank like Odo and they had to work together since Lieutenant Commander Eddington has officially joined the Maquis.

At least, Garak wasn't surprised to see her. He had been sure she was part of this. "What can I do for you, Miss Riddle?" he asked charmingly.

"Oh, you know about the big party of tonight, we're celebrating five years Deep Space Nine."

"How can I forget this?"

She smiled at him, which could make every man's heart melting, even a Cardassian one. "I don't have anything appropriate to wear. I thought you could help me," she answered.

She was very young for a Starfleet officer, especially for a Lieutenant Commander, only twenty-four years old, having graduated from Academy very early. She was human, at least what Garak thought and hoped, very tall for a woman, pale, black, a bit curly, long hair and the deepest black eyes Garak has ever seen.

"Of course,…Valentina," he smiled and led her through his shop. This could become interesting, he thought.