Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Hope you guys like poetry.

A Vorta's ears are such lovely things.

Like two crescent moons, they flare out from his chin.

Or perhaps they are ridged angel wings,

Pale as cream just like his snow white skin.

Vamshi read over her work, oblivious to all else until she saw a shadow fall across her. She looked up and smiled in relief at Ziyal.

"You haven't been by in a while," the Changeling said softly with a little laugh, stowing her PADD away below the counter. "It's nice to see you again."

The woman smiled. "What were you reading?"

If she had been humanoid, she would have been blushing. Instead, she cast her eyes downward. "Just some poetry I wrote."

"Oh, how nice!" Ziyal said. "Do you want a second opinion?"

Vamshi sighed and nodded. "Promise not to laugh?"

"I promise."

She handed the young woman the PADD and awaited judgment. "If I showed this to Jake Sisko, he'd tease me for weeks. I just..."

Ziyal smiled. "This is so sweet, Vamshi. I like it."

The Changeling nodded in relief and put the PADD back under the counter. "I've been meaning to ask your...advice on something."

"Yes?"

Vamshi sighed. "I'm...confused right now. I...don't know how to...feel about someone."

Ziyal smiled knowingly. "I see..."

The Changeling frowned. "What?"

Her smile widened. "Nothing. It's completely natural for you to feel this way, Vamshi, and don't think for a moment that you're alone in this. Almost everyone in the history of the universe has had to deal with these...feelings."

"The worst part is, it came out of nowhere! One minute I feel fine around him, the next day, I'm a mess just thinking about the time that he'll visit me! It's...insane."

"Like I said, it's natural. I know that things seem strange to you right now, but when the other person feels the same way, it's the most wonderful thing in the world."

"Do you feel that way? About Garak, I mean?"

Ziyal smiled and nodded. "Speaking of which, who is this lucky man?"

Vamshi sighed. "I'd rather not talk about it. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't trust you, but...it's complicated."

The Cardassian-Bajoran nodded in understanding. "It's ok. But at some point, you're going to have to tell him how you feel."

Vamshi would have been pale white, had she been humanoid when Ziyal said those words. The thought of expressing her feelings was mortifying.

With that, she left the shop, leaving Vamshi alone to contemplate the situation. Ever since she had offered to teach Weyoun to play piano two weeks ago, he had come to see her every day. He was progressing swiftly, and he would soon be at her level of expertise. She was immensely proud of him and told him so often, but she wanted...

She broke off her thoughts abruptly, then took a deep breath and proceeded again with caution. She liked being close to Weyoun...physically close, emotionally close...Was this deep friendship? Already, she considered him to be her friend in a way, considering she valued the time they spent together. But when she thought of Weyoun, she suddenly became nervous and distracted. Her thoughts fixated on the feel of his skin against hers, and her mind played moments when she was inches away from him over and over again in her head. She had never felt the desire to be physically close to anyone else before, not with Odo or Kira or Ravneet or Rahaat or Ziyal or Jake. What was this feeling?

Ziyal said it was natural. Natural to be fine one moment and a wreck the next? The symptoms of whatever she was feeling were unpleasant to say the least, yet...not. She liked that strange tingling feeling all over when she thought of Weyoun. Elation filled her to the brim every time he smiled at her, and just the thought of him made her smile.

No. This wasn't happening. It would be far too complicated for her to...

She couldn't even get her mind to admit it. She knew it was true, but she didn't want to utter those words, even in the silence of her mind. She took a deep breath.

I am in love with Weyoun.

Those six words filled her with bliss, and she said them over and over again until she accepted them. She grinned wildly and softly whispered them to herself (but she made sure no one else was in the shop before she did).

Half an hour later, she was in the back sorting sheet music when she heard the bell ring, and she came back to the front. She forced herself to smile at him and invited him to stand behind the counter as usual. It was closing time in ten minutes, but she went ahead and closed the shop early.

"Have you been practicing your scales?" she asked Weyoun. He nodded and played them for her.

She smiled genuinely as she watched his fingers fly over the keys. The memory of his smooth-as-silk skin came back to her, but she restrained herself from simply reaching out and feeling it again. Instead she joined him in scales and corrected his fingering. Her other hand stayed firmly at her side, but it finally came time in the lesson when they would usually play together.

"I have a new piece for you today, Weyoun," she said cheerfully, pulling the papers out from under the counter. Her eye caught the PADD, but she simply smiled to herself and set the papers on the stand.

His eyes roamed over the notes and he started to play. It was wonderful how quickly he had learned to read music, and he shared her fascination of this practically universal language. He was playing a slow lullaby, a Celtic piece she had found years earlier in the Federation database. She wrapped her arms around him as usual, this time playing a descant in the song. Their fingers danced around each other, and she took pleasure in this chance to be close to him.

Weyoun simply rejoiced inside at this rare and wonderful opportunity. For fourteen days in a row, he had been held in this semi-embrace by his god, and his heart pounded in ecstasy at his proximity to paradise. She smiled at him and he felt a slight breath of air across his cheek as she turned to reach a low note. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, relishing the feeling.

Vamshi felt the slightest glimmer of hope as she examined Weyoun's expressions. He seemed overjoyed to be with her, and he didn't mind her blocking him in like this in the slightest. It appeared he was just as happy to be close to her as she was with him, and the realization made her spirit sing.

The song ended, but she took her time in stepping away, something Weyoun made note of. She...wanted to be near him? The very thought almost made him melt, and he stared at her questioningly. Vamshi realized what she had done and quickly stepped away, but she put her hand on his shoulder to reassure him. Her quick action made him look slightly hurt, but as her thumb swept lightly over the rough material of his vest, he was again his happy, glowing self.

She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a knocking sound. She went to the door and opened it.

A female Changeling stood in the doorway, flanked by two Jem'Hadar soldiers. She smiled at Vamshi and stepped over the threshold toward her.

"May I come in?" she asked politely. Vamshi nodded and glanced at Weyoun, who had his head bowed and arms raised. She also caught the guilty expression that flitted across his face, and it pained her to see it.

"Leave us," the older Changeling commanded. The Vorta bowed deeper and picked up the piano and the sheet music, then hurriedly brushed past Vamshi. But as he passed, she lightly caught his arm, and he turned to her.

"You did good today, Weyoun," she said with a soft smile. "I'm proud of you."

Despite the other Changeling's cold dismissal, Weyoun glowed as he and the Jem'Hadar left them alone together.

"I'd appreciate it if you treated him with a little more respect. I asked him to be here, and as my guest, I should hope that you would be nicer to him, if that's not too much to ask."

She shook her head. "I'm not here to discuss the Vorta, Vamshi."

The younger Changeling sighed. "Then why are you here?" She tried her best to be polite, to keep her mother's saying in mind. But so far, this woman was giving off a very bad first impression.

"I want to talk. You are, after all, one of my kind. It is only natural that we get to know one another."

Vamshi threw her a small smile, but memories of Odo's illness and experiences in the Gamma Quadrant, as well as his stories of a particular female Changeling came to the forefront of her mind. She suspected that this was that Changeling, but she couldn't be sure.

"You have a question?"

Vamshi paused before answering. "Yes, umm...is it...natural to want to teach someone? For Changelings, I mean."

The woman frowned. "Not that I am aware of. Have you had this desire?"

Vamshi nodded. "It was...intense, and I just thought it might be part of what we are."

She smiled. "Vamshi, it's not exactly a trait I am familiar with, but perhaps this is a part of ourselves we have failed to explore. The Great Link rejoiced at the news that another one of the hundred had been found, and we rejoiced all the more that you had found your way to Odo. I know you've been alone for some time, but you don't have to be alone anymore."

"But I'm not alone. I have friends on this station, and-"

"They are no longer any of your concern, Vamshi."

"Excuse me?"

"You don't need to worry about them anymore. We want you and Odo to come with us, back home where you belong."

Vamshi shook her head in disbelief. "Is that what this is all about? You want me to just leave all my friends, all the people I love and go with you? I hardly know you!"

"I hope to remedy that. I also hope you'll come to see that this is not where you belong. Perhaps if we spent more time together, you'll find that there is nothing to fear from me."

The older Changeling turned and left, and the Jem'Hadar guards left their posts and followed her. Vamshi stood dumbfounded in the shop, but then she set out to find Weyoun. Curfew was in an hour, but she was glad to find him on the upper level of the Promenade, watching the dying activity below.

"Hey," she said as she leaned against the railing with him. He turned and inclined his head, as was his habit, and she silently cursed the Female Changeling for the crushed look on his face.

"You ok?" she muttered, tilting her head. He nodded.

"Weyoun...I don't call many people on this station my friend. When I first came here, I found three: Jake, Nog and Odo. That's not even enough for one hand."

He turned his head, bemused as to where she was going with this.

"And now, six years later, I can add three more wonderful people to my small list of friends. Ziyal, Kira...you..."

His eyes widened and she entwined her fingers with his as both their hands dangled over the railing. He stared at her fearfully, but she saw a glimpse of joy in there as well.

"So you have nothing to be ashamed about by coming to visit me. I enjoy the time we spend together, and I hope you feel the same."

"I...can't describe how wonderful it is to spend time with you, Vamshi."

Her grip on his hand tightened at that. "You really did do a good job today, Weyoun. I'm so proud of you..."

His heart positively glowed at her praise, and he inclined his head in gratitude. She walked with him back to her quarters, and she smiled at him.

"Good night, Weyoun. Sleep well, and I'll see you tomorrow evening."

He closed his eyes as she leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, and he thought he might die of joy then and there. But he gathered himself as she stepped inside the door, and he walked back in a daze to his room.