Chapter 03
"No, Quark. I'm good with words. Not with numbers. I'm not playing Tongo with you, as honorable as the invitation is.", said Saoirse, licking a Jumja stick.
Jadzia was on the Tongo table beating all the Ferengi.
"Oh, Quark!", said Saoirse.
"You won't tell a word.", he approached her through the counter. "I thought you couldn't read Ferengi minds!"
"For a free Mojito, I won't! And I don't have to read minds, Quark. The way you look at her!"
"I'm serious, Saoirse. Dax would destroy me. Step on me like a bug."
She took a deep breath.
"I wouldn't."
"What?"
"I mean, if I didn't have a... a thing with the Vedek, I would be all over you."
He smiled, looking below.
"Really?"
"Yes. You remind me of my ex. Innocent, prejudiced, full of double-standards."
"And I'd love to have you on my bed, Saoirse. If what you have with the Vedek is not serious, take this into consideration."
She laughed.
"I promise I will. And you should talk to Jadzia, pronto. She's falling for Worf. There, I said it."
"Worf?!"
"Stand your ground, Quark."
And then, they heard a powerful voice.
"As I will stand mine."
Saoirse dropped the Jumja stick.
It was Vedek Merrick.
"Since when have you been there?! And cloaking your thoughts?"
He didn't seem happy.
"Since 'I mean, if I didn't have a... a thing with the Vedek, I would be all over you."
"Well, you know what they say about eavesdroppers. Quark, can you give me another Jumja stick?"
The bartender just laughed.
"Saoirse, we need to talk.", said the Vedek.
"Don't mind me.", said Quark, giving her the stick. "On the house."
"I do mind. Can we go to a place more private?"
She bit the Jumja, irritated.
"Okay."
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They were at her quarters. An immaculate and spotless place.
"Wow, really clean and smart."
"Yeah, yeah, I didn't call you here to receive compliments. What do you want?"
"Saoirse, please, be reasonable! We slept together many times!"
"So what?"
He was taken aback as if he had been slapped.
"You don't mean that."
But her expression didn't change. Just when tears started to fall from his cheeks, profusely.
He finally lowered his guard. His emotions were so powerful she nearly fainted.
"What do you want from me?" she cried.
"Nothing you don't want to give. Nothing you can't give."
"Look, Merrick, it was some great seven days, but you cut a huge chunk of my hair... I can't take this kind of obsession..."
"What?"
She felt he was puzzled. Really puzzled.
"Oh, by the gods. You didn't."
"Saoirse, have you been trapped... in dreams again?"
"I don't know, I guess... I can't remember..."
"The Pah-wraiths.", he said, biting his lower lip.
"But what does that mean, Merrick?"
"It means, probably, I'll have to resign."
"You can't! Winn is evil and incompetent!"
He kissed her lips and said:
"The Prophets have a way of guiding all of us we have to accept. I didn't see you in the Orb by chance, Saoirse. Marry me."
She knew he was in earnest.
She laughed.
"You're proposing just like that?"
He was very nervous.
"I've never done that before. I'm sorry. I just... Want to be with you for the rest of my life. I saw you in the Orb, Saoirse. That can't be taken lightly."
"I saw you too. You are part of me. But I want to get married in Betazed as well as in Bajor. Do you accept?"
He laughed.
"I saw that coming. Anything for you."
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After the Tongo game, Jadzia was fetching her profit. Quark was hovering.
"Hey Quark! Slow night?"
"Jadzia. I have to talk to you. It's quite urgent. Can we go to a quiet place?"
He seemed preoccupied. She followed him.
"Spill."
"I... I'm trying."
"Quark, I'm starting to become concerned."
"I love you, Jadzia. I want you to be my mate."
Now. Jadzia was the expression of shock.
"Quark..."
"I know you love that damn Klingon and I don't stand a chance... I just wanted you to know."
She bit her lip and took a deep breath.
"Quark... I hope this won't get in the way of our friendship."
"Never."
She hugged him, for dear life.
She turned her back and was leaving. But before she left, she kissed him, on the mouth and Quark saw stars.