Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Vamshi handed the sheet music and the Andorian flute back to the customer and smiled.

"I'll put it on your tab, then?"

The Bajoran nodded. "Thank you, Vamshi."

"You know that's due next month."

"I'll get it to you as soon as possible," she replied, gathering her things.

"Good," the Changeling said. "Come back and see me, Zeela."

"You know I always do!"

She was alone again, certain that was her last customer of the day. She stared off into space, thinking back as she always did to the time when Weyoun was on the station. She still remembered the first time he had set eyes on her...

Vamshi said goodbye to Jake and left him sitting at the Replimat. She walked down the Promenade, stopping to observe one of her fellow merchants stack his shelves with cloth and jewelery. A bright red length of Tholian silk caught her eye, and she watched as a customer came forward and bought it. She was glad business on the Promenade was back to normal, but she missed the bright array of aliens that seemed to be missing now that the Dominion was in control of the station. The place had descended into a bland pallet of gray and brown, and she felt the familiar pang as she realized how much she missed the Federation.

She felt the skin on the back of her neck prickle, and she turned around to see pale, striking purple eyes staring at her. The man who owned them bowed to her and looked at her in shock and awe; she recognized his features as Vorta. Odo had described to her an encounter with one called Weyoun, about how submissive and obliging he was. It disturbed the elder Changeling, and it was starting to make her uncomfortable as well. She bowed her head in response and hurried back to the shop.

Three days later, she saw Jake trying to convince the Vorta to give him an interview, and from that day on, she had decided to get to know Weyoun, to find out more about him. And now she was head over heels in love with the man, and she hardly knew what to do with herself. She threw herself into her routine, becoming more rigid with her time than she ever had before.

But she saw Odo over the last few days struggling to figure out his feelings toward Kira, and it saddened her. She knew Odo adored the Bajoran, but he never let his feelings show. He was far too rigid with himself, far too cold. At least Weyoun had an inkling of how she felt about him; she had practically showered the light of the Bajoran sun on him with her warm demeanor and affection. Odo and Kira were odd but steadfast friends, but Vamshi was eager for the Changeling's desire to be fulfilled, for the two of them to take the next step in their relationship. She knew if the two of them ever became an item, their relationship would be just as steadfast and sturdy as their friendship was now.

She locked up the shop and quickly returned to her quarters, and upon arriving, she immediately reverted to her natural state. She was tired and felt like resting for a while, so she let her thoughts roam freely and she oozed onto the carpet.

Like usual, they flew to Weyoun, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing right now, if he was lonely or making the most of his situation, if he even thought of her, if he even remembered his promise. She speculated that yes, he probably did think of her often, but probably only when he was alone. Weyoun never was one to broadcast his feelings to the public; she had seen the poker faces he had put on in front of the Founder. A pang ran through her as she wandered if he was even alive, if the Founder perhaps had killed him while Vamshi was far away. Then she immediately told herself not to be foolish, that Weyoun was far too useful to the Dominion to be killed. And she hoped the Founder thought this absence might diminish her affection for Weyoun, but it was having the opposite effect. She wanted to be near him now more than ever, and the minute they reunited, she would have to start summoning the courage to tell him how she felt.

She turned her thoughts to other matters and concentrated on her shapeshifting, until the lights brightened again and it was time to go back to work. The rigid routine she had set for herself started over again, as it would every day until she saw the man she loved again.

…

Weyoun 6 stared out the window at the blur of black and faintest trace of white. Another clone, and his vision was just as bad as Five's. He had exhausted his mind in the internal battle that had started the moment he was activated, so he turned his thoughts to other matters. He immediately settled on Vamshi, as Five's thoughts had often lingered on her during the latter half of last year.

The clarity Five had found in his quarters last year had long since faded into crippling doubt. Where there used to be hope, now only clouds of uncertainty lingered. It was far too painful to think on her, just as painful as dwelling on his feelings about the Founders. The fact that he was defective was becoming all too clear to him, and he felt tears well up in his eyes at the realization. Why couldn't he commit himself to the Founders' cause? How was he going to survive if he couldn't be wholeheartedly devoted to them?

And how could he have ever dreamed that a Founder loved him?

…

Weyoun 6 looked at Odo regretfully, shame overwhelming him at not revealing the entire truth about himself. It was wrong of him to hide so when Odo had come so far and had graced him with his presence for ten hours without complaint. He didn't deserve to sit here with a god, he wasn't worthy to even look at him. He stared at the screen.

"If you'll just hold your position until one of our ships can reach you-"

"I have no intention of releasing my prisoner to you."

Six stared at Odo, pure gratitude melting over his features, then he glanced back at the screen at Seven's retort.

"If you don't, I can't be held responsible for the consequences."

"That's an empty threat," Six spat back. "He wouldn't dare harm a Founder," he assured Odo.

"Maybe he won't, but I will...think-"

"Weyoun 7, do you believe that I am a god?"

Six stared at Odo incredulously as Seven bowed his head in acknowledgment. "I do, Founder."

"Then why," Odo asked as he turned his chair to fully face the screen, "are you even contemplating taking violent action against me? How dare you even consider harming me!"

The Changeling's voice had grown harsh and cold in a matter of seconds, and it made Six tremble. He was sure Seven was faring no better.

"Founder," he whispered, his voice shaking in fear, "I meant no disrespect. But the Female Founder has ordered me-"

"Contention within the Great Link is hardly any of your concern, now is it, Vorta?"

Weyoun 6 couldn't help but flinch at the almost derogatory way Odo spat the word at Seven, and part of him rejoiced to see such a flawless argument thrown against his replacement. The Changeling was doing a good job so far in wearing down Seven's resolve.

"Odo, please-"

"I forbid you take any action against this runabout. And I'm commanding you to keep him," he nodded to Damar, "from taking any action either. I shouldn't see any Dominion vessel on these scanners, am I understood?"

Weyoun 7 was frozen, his face contorted with shock, and Six slipped him a sly grin behind Odo's back.

"I said am I understood?" Odo barked.

Seven bowed his head in defeat, and Odo promptly ended the communication. He leaned back in his chair, and Six did the same.

"Forgive me, Odo," Weyoun whispered fearfully. "I should have told you the truth about myself."

Odo shook his head. "It's not too late to start. Why did you defect?"

Weyoun breathed in. "It's quite simple really. From the...moment I was activated, I felt this war was wrong. Please don't misunderstand me, I still worship the Founders, but I believe their obsession with conquering the Alpha Quadrant is misguided. It's time they learned to live in peace with the Solids."

Odo's eyes widened in shock.

"You believe that?"

Weyoun bowed his head. "I know its not my place to question the Founders...I know Weyoun 7 is right. I am defective."

"On the contrary." Weyoun turned to Odo in surprise. "What you're saying about the war, about the Founders...makes perfect sense."

The Vorta's eyes lit up with joy. "I want to thank you, Odo, for the way you stood up for me, protected me."

Odo's eyes gleamed. "Well, don't let it go to your head. I'd do the same for any prisoner. Besides...Vamshi would never forgive me if I failed to get you home."

Weyoun's eyes clouded with pain and grief at the sound of her name. "How is she?"

"I've never seen a person so locked up in her own misery before. She'll be glad to see you again, Weyoun."

For the first time since that night in Five's quarters, Weyoun felt a ray of hope enter his heart. Perhaps he had been too hard on himself, maybe there was hope for the two of them after all...

Don't be ridiculous, he told himself. She probably doesn't even care about you that way.

The hope faded a bit, but did not flee from him as it so often did these days. He conceded that he did not understand how Vamshi felt about him, and that it was possible that she only wanted his friendship. Shame at his defective thoughts about her and any possible romantic involvement with her made him automatically cast his eyes downward.

"She does miss you, Weyoun," Odo continued.

"And I miss her," he replied softly. "You and her are...beyond compare."

Odo turned to him again. "I figured that if she could stand up and hold her own against the Female Founder, than I could do the same."

"Thank you, Odo," he breathed back, at a loss for words.

…

Hit after hit rocked the runabout and caused explosions out of every console. Sparks flew around the cabin, and several ruptured conduits filled the space with coolant. Weyoun extinguished the fire, then turned to Odo.

"I only wish to serve you," he said, resolved to do what had to be done. Odo and Vamshi could lead the Dominion without him.

He activated the comm, and Odo leaped out of his seat as Weyoun reached for his termination implant. His thumb found the trigger, than he felt his hand ripped away from his chin.

"Don't do this," Odo whispered to him. "Vamshi needs you."

"The Dominion needs her more," Weyoun replied, but Odo didn't release his hand. He instead turned to the screen, where Damar and the Female Founder watched the scene in anticipation. Seven had been terminated.

"If I go with you," Odo asked the Founder, "will you let Weyoun 6 go free?"

Weyoun's eyes widened at the Changeling's words. "Odo, please don't do that on my behalf-"

Odo held up his hand, silencing the Vorta. "You told Weyoun once that returning me to the Great Link meant more to you than the entire Alpha Quadrant...I could always stay away from the Link for a few years longer-"

"Very well, Odo. We will be overjoyed to have you with us."

"I thought as much," Odo replied. "But I will only go on the condition that Weyoun is given safe passage back to Deep Space 9."

"No one will harm him, you have my word."

The Changeling nodded and the channel was closed. Odo quickly turned to Weyoun.

"Odo," Weyoun gasped, hardly finding his voice, "How can I ever thank you?" Tears welled up in his eyes and began to roll down his cheeks.

"Thank me by helping the Federation keep the Alpha Quadrant...and tell Major Kira I love her."

He bowed his head. "Of course."

"Tell her that this is not goodbye, that we will see each other again."

Another nod. Three Jem'Hadar guards beamed aboard and waited for Odo to join them.

"Vamshi was willing to give her life for you, and still is," Odo said, taking a step back away from Weyoun. "It's about time I took the same responsibility."

Tears blurred his vision as Odo was beamed away, and he sat in the empty pilot's seat and continued on his way. The tears did not stop falling until he crossed the Federation border. He cried for Odo, who had given up his lover so that he, Weyoun, could live. He cried for Vamshi, who would have to live without her beloved mentor and father figure, for Colonel Kira, who would have to live without a lover. And he cried for himself, who had caused this awful mess in the first place.