Chapter 3

That night, long after the party had broken up and while Rathaus slept soundly beside her, Kira let her thoughts wander back over their whirlwind courtship. They had met in the Bajoran capital during the autumn. The ancient city had been transformed into a glorious playground by the stunning, rich colors of its abundant trees

Kira had set out on her first morning to visit one of the metropolis' numerous monasteries. She sought a measure of peace and comfort which eluded her on her beloved station. This was the first trip she had managed to take since she had assumed the position of station commander at the end of the war, the first since Odo had left her for the Gamma Quadrant. Kira still deeply grieved the loss of Odo, who had been gone several months. At night, her dreaming mind forgot about his departure and she dreamt of his face and his voice, her body responded to his formless caresses. The dreams always ended abruptly, leaving her flushed body suddenly frozen and in shock. She tried to avoid the security office, unable to avoid the involuntary anticipation that thumped through her heart at the mere sight of it. She found the shock of reality more painfully than any of the many physical wounds she had suffered in her life. He had been more than just another lover, he had been her best friend and confidante. Though, at the time, she acknowledged the necessity of his leaving, she later failed to understand why the Prophets had demanded such a complete sacrifice of her. After all, she had already lost all of her family and most of her friends.

She had also mourned the loss of Ben Sisko, the Emissary. She missed his wisdom and calm judgment, fearing its loss to the Bajoran population, who were still struggling to overcome the scars left by both of the Occupations. She missed the company Kirayoshi and the O'Brien's, the closest that she had yet come to a post-Occupation family. The grieving and combined losses exhausted her, and had sent her in search of rest and clarity.

After a morning spent in prayer and consultation with one of the vedeks, Kira had happened upon an unfamiliar man in one of the monasteries' many walled gardens as he sat on a stone bench studying an unremarkable piece of statuary. Lost within her own thoughts, she paid little attention to him, walking quickly past him so as not to disturb the stranger. "It's beautiful isn't it?" he said suddenly, staring rapturously at the statue in front of him. Nerys was startled by the comments. "Yes, it is," she replied distractedly. It was only then that she took particular note of him. He was immensely tall and dressed in a quietly, tasteful tunic and trousers of deep brown.

"You've barely noticed the statue. Look closer," he replied playfully. "Come, sit down a moment and study it for yourself. I assure you, you won't regret the inconvenience." Kira hedged a moment. She did not welcome the company, but was unsure of how to quickly extricate herself without breaking the peaceful spell over the garden. "I promise, I'll only keep you for a moment and then you can continue your ramblings." His presumption irritated her, but she dismissed her immediate reaction to curtly dismiss him. So she sat down on the bench beside him. "Now look at the details of the face, doesn't the expression seem to come alive after a few minutes. Notice how she seems to be looking just off to the side, as if she's seeing someone that we haven't just yet. The proportions and angle of the body are perfect. The sculptor has caught her the second before she moved."

His voice lulled Kira into a calm, almost sleepy daze. She looked up into his eyes, barely noting that he was a Betazoid. "That was beautiful," she murmured. "I never thought to look at it that way."

"Now aren't you glad you took a chance and trusted me?" he asked.

"Yes, I am," she replied, unwilling to break out of her sudden daze.

"My name is Lahn Rathaus," he stated. "And you would be?"

"Colonel Kira Nerys."

"Not the Colonel Kira, of Deep Space Nine?"

"You've heard of me?"

"Of course, I've heard of you. Everyone has heard of you and especially of the great space station Deep Space Nine. You're a war hero."

"I've never thought of it that way."

"Well, you should. The entire quadrant owes you a debt of gratitude. If it weren't for you, we'd all be slaves of the Founders by now."

"It was a combined effort." She reminded him.

"Ah. So you've decided to be modest about it. Well, now that we've been properly introduced, will you consent to show me around the monastery for a while? I've never been here before." Surprising herself, she smiled and agreed to a tour. His face bloomed into a smile, and taking her hand, placed it in the crook of his arm. "Then I'll let you lead the way, Colonel."

They took the long tour that day. She explained the history of the monastery and the basics of Bajoran religion while he raved about the artwork. In between pieces, they chatted about themselves and their lives. Rathaus had come for the famous art treasures. A seasoned traveler, he had been waiting for the end of the Dominion War in order to study Bajor's treasures in the landscape in which they had been created. By late afternoon, they had seen most of the great monasteries' offerings and Rathaus invited her to dinner at one of the capital's most elegant restaurants. Kira, feeling relaxed and happy, accepted his invitation. Afterwards, she agreed to his proposal to meet for breakfast along with his first offered kiss, a light brushing of the lips. Within a week, they had explored most of the capital and its many treasures. They had met for every meal since that first day. A few days later, she accepted another proposal from him. This time, it was a proposal of marriage.