Present Day…2378

"I guess I wasn't paying as much attention as I had thought I was during the Occupation," Odo commented. "The fact that you gave information that was vital to the resistance to Nerys and no one knew, and no one knew that you were responsible for the attempt on Dukat's life either, you were very good. That was also around the first time I met Nerys."

"Thank you," Ara answered. "I was actually behind four of the attempts on Dukat's life, obviously none of them were successful."

"But you had managed to get the attention of the Obsidian Order my dear," Garak said.

"I'm confused, if you knew that she was in the resistance why didn't you kill her," Quark asked.

"When did the two of you become lovers instead of enemies," questioned Kira.

Ara answered, "I believe it was a gradual thing at first, but then…"

Eleven Years Earlier…2367

Garak and Ara had developed a slow relationship with one another, one that was based upon respect and mistrust. They were using one another for information, and neither of them was supplying it.

The first romantic advances were made when Dukat was away on business on Cardassia Prime, meanwhile Garak had been stationed on Terok Nor for a substantial length of time. Garak used that as a way of getting alone with Ara. He invited her to dine in his quarters, and she accepted.

He had prepared a rather nice meal, and she had even dressed very nicely for the occasion. Their conversation throughout the meal was guarded, but afterwards, when they were sitting on a sofa of his, their conversation was more open.

"Why does the Prefect treat you like you are meaningless to him?"

"I don't know what you mean, he gives me anything I wish for."

"Would he leave his wife and children for you?"

"Of course not, nor would I want that. You are rather rude towards the Prefect, I could tell on you."

"You won't though, and even if you did it would fall on deaf ears."

"Why is that?"

"My father has far more influence on Cardassia then Dukat does."

"Who is your father?"

"My dear girl, that would be far too telling."

"Well you do have me at a disadvantage as far as information is concerned."

"I wouldn't be so certain of that."

"What is that supposed to mean," Ara asked as she stood up and started to walk around the room.

Garak stood up as well, and he walked towards her. "I think you know exactly what I mean."

"You need to stop speaking in riddles, then I may understand you more." She joked nervously.

Suddenly he put one hand to her throat and he pushed her against a wall, she was starting to feel the pressure against her throat. "My dear girl, the Obsidian Order has been watching you for some time, and it has sent me to eliminate you."

"I would never do anything that would harm you," she squeaked out as she used her hands to try and pull his away.

He tightened his grip, and as he looked into her beautiful blue eyes, which were pleading to him for mercy, he couldn't do it. He knew that he was obligated to kill her, but it was impossible for him to do it, he was in love with her.

He relaxed his grip, and he gently stroked her slightly bruised flesh, and the he tilted her head so that it was even to his own and he kissed her, and she kissed him back even more passionately. Right then they abandoned all of their mistrust and reason and they just drank in the passion that had filled them both. Not all of their passion was for one another, some of it was anger, some loathing, some was even lust, but that night it didn't matter to them what was the force of their encounter, it was incredible for both of them.

From that night forward, Garak and Ara carried on a secret affair whenever it was possible. Sometimes it was on Bajor; most times it was on the station. None of the officers were foolish enough to tell the Prefect that they suspected Ara of having an affair with Garak because of Garak's position within the Obsidian Order. Other than the few officers who noticed them, nobody else knew about their affair. The strangest part of it was the fact that although they could change the entire balance of power by killing the other, neither of them could because they were in love.

In 2368, Ara became pregnant, and she knew right away that Garak, not Dukat, had been the father, although she told Dukat that the child was his. The child was mostly a ploy so that Dukat wouldn't kill her, because he was starting to become paranoid, and he no longer trusted her as much. Meliyen was born two months before the Occupation of Bajor ended. Dukat believed that the girl was his, and even though he needed to send her away he loved the girl as his own.

Then Dukat figured it out, and it all started to crumble. Two weeks before the Occupation ended, when the Cardassians had already realized that the end had come, Dukat was leaving on a shuttle with Ara and Meliyen, Garak was also scheduled to be on that flight. As they were boarding Garak helped Ara carry her bags onto the vessel, Dukat recognized the look of love in his eyes, and as they traveled to Cardassia, Dukat managed to send enough data to the central command to have Garak sent into exile.

The ship docked at a space station in orbit of Cardassia Prime, where Garak was given the orders of his exile, and then he was sent on another ship to return to Terok Nor. As he was boarding it he caught one last glance at Ara and his child as they were escorted another direction.

She was alone with Dukat for the last time, and he said, "Ara, I gave you everything, and you betrayed me."

"What do you mean?"

"That child is Garak's, not mine."

"That's…"

"Don't bother. I'm going to have you taken to safety though, a Yridian freighter is taking a load of cargo into Federation territory, from there you can do as you choose."

"If I betrayed you why are you letting me go?"

"Because of all the women that have shared my life I loved you the most."

"And Garak?"

"Exile from Cardassia, if he returns he will be killed, and there is no way that you would want to return to Bajor with that child. Good bye Ara, the fair siren."

With that he left her alone with her child, and then she boarded the Yridian vessel which eventually led her to her home for the next ten years in the Beta Quadrant.

TBC...

Note- in chapter 2 I mentioned that Garak was promoted from a legate to a gul, well that's wrong, he was promoted from a glinn to a gul, a legate is above a gul... sorry...

Thankyou to Jacobed Rose for reviewing! You're the only one I'm continuing this for because you're the only one who reviewed!