"Admit it, there is a part of you that wants us to find a way to go back and bring things to how they are on the other timeline."
A disappointed Bashir is talking, in front of him Kira Neris looks at him astonished.
"Julian, what are you saying?"
"Come on Neris, from what Worf said, in the other timeline Odo is not dead, and although he has decided to share the link, the captain says that you two are happy".
Julian's voice is sad, he has always known that Kira has deeply loved Odo, and although he knows that now the woman loves him, somehow he feels that this new possibility could change things between them.
Kira stares at him intensely then she takes his hands in hers and starts talking.
"When Odo died, a part of me died with him: I believed, actually I was sure, that I would not be able to love someone again, nor that someone could love me with such discretion and devotion". Kira kisses Julian's hand and then smiles.
"But then you were there, the shoulder to cry on if I could not take it anymore, the strong arm to lean on when I felt I was falling, the sincere friend to turn even for just a smile and, little by little, the part of me, that I thought was dead, has come back to life and my heart has returned to love ".
Kira stops and looks down to see the doctor in his eyes again and continues
"It's true, I loved Odo immensely, and a part of me will never stop loving him, and it's true, when Worf told us about the other temporal reality I wondered how my life could have been, but that is a life that does not belong to me.
"My life " Kira's tone is resolute " Our life is this and believe me Julian, I would not change it with any other".
Finally Julian seems relieved, he looks at the woman he loves and a sincere smile appears on his face.
"I love you, Neris, do you know?"
Kira smiles at him, Julian thinks that when she smiles she is even more beautiful "I think I have some evidences" then she hugs Julian "I love you too".
note's author: I apologize for the delay, I have been a bit 'busy in recent years. I hope to be able to finish publishing the story in a few weeks (god bless the smartphones. "let me know if you like it.