Disclaimer: I have not come into the ownership of DS9 scince the last chapter, so I still don't own it. Once again, you can flame till you drop, but I'll use 'em to toast marshmallows… On with the story.

"Kira to Dax."

Ezri Dax and Julian Bashir pulled away from each other so Ezri could answer the call. This was not the first time a Starfleet couple had gotten a call in the middle of a kiss, and was certainly not to be the last. Ezri tapped her combadge, flustered, and replied.

"Dax here."

"Report to the confrence room immedietly. All senior staff are required."

"Yes, Colenel. On our way"

"Our?"

Ezri blushed. "Never mind."

In the commander's office, Kira smiled slightly. Life on the station looked normal. At least for them.

When the various senior staff arrived in the confrence room, they were startled to see a Vorta standing at the head of the room with Kira.

"Eana." The Vorta introduced herself.

Kira commenced the meeting.

"As some of you know, a Dominion ship came through the wormhole at 08:00 hours this morning. That ship brought disturbing news to us. They were attacked and nearly destroyed a Borg ship at these coordinates."

Kira tapped a button on the screen and a star chart appeared, marking the location of the Borg vessel, Eana's ship, and the Bajoran wormhole. There was a sharp intake of breath.

The Borg! In the Gamma Quadrant. Impossible. Insane. No one wanted to believe it.

"The Borg's trajectory appeared to lead them towards the wormhole. If the enter the Alpha Quadrant, we're the first line of defense. Eana, do we have the Dominion's cooperation?"

"If the Founders agree to it."

"We'll have to ask the changeling in sickbay as soon as-"

"Johanson to Bashir."

"This is Bashir."

"The other Dominion personnel are awake. You and the Colenel should get down here."

"The Colenel?"

"Yes, I think she'll be interested."

Eana interrupted. "The Founder is awake?"

Bashir asked the question for her. The answer was yes. Bashir, Kira and Eana set off to the Infirmary to obtain the agreement of the Founders.

They arrived to the sound of voices. Johansen was speaking.

"Look, I told him the Colenel should come. They'll be down as soon as they can."

"I have to speak with Nerys. It's vital that we-"

Kira recognized the second voice. Her eyes widened.

Prophets, she thought. What are the chances-

"See, here they are."

The changeling turned. Kira met his eyes, trying not to show her surprise. Eana bowed her head. Bashir gawked.

"Nerys?"

Bashir stuttered. "How-where-?"

"Of all the people-"

Odo, who was there from the ship and definitly there, of all the people, smiled at them and simply said,

"I'm back. And we need to talk."