Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

"Vamshi!"

She turned around at Jake's voice and saw him standing in the entrance to the music shop. She smiled and shook her head.

"What's up?"

He came forward and pulled her into a tight embrace, and she rolled her eyes, but she smiled at the gesture.

"I take it you got that interview?" she said with a laugh.

"You rock, Vamshi. I owe you big time for this."

She shook her head. "I've been looking for an excuse to talk to Weyoun for a while now."

"Why?"

She leaned against the counter. "He...he can make me so uncomfortable, but I get the feeling he doesn't mean to. He's just...in awe of me, I guess. It's weird."

He chuckled. "I can't imagine what it must be like being treated like a god..."

"Wanna trade? You be the god and I interview Weyoun?"

He laughed. "I promise I won't embarrass myself. I'm sure it's wasn't easy doing this for me, and I know you don't like taking advantage of people."

"I told him you were a good writer and that you didn't mean to be biased. Please...don't make me eat my words."

"Don't worry. This will be my best article yet," he said with his signature smirk. She clapped him on the shoulder and nodded.

"It had better be," she replied. "When you finish it, can I read it?"

He smiled. "You'll be the first to read it."

"Good. Then I can edit out all your spelling mistakes and make sure you're not 'biased against the Dominion.'"

"I'll write a more 'balanced perspective' this time, Vamshi. Speaking of which, you haven't written anything in a while. What happened, lose your muse?"

She rolled her eyes at his favorite pun. "I'll have you know I started a new story last night, and it's coming along nicely. I should be done with it within two weeks."

He raised his eyebrows. "Really? What's it about?"

"I'm not telling."

"Oh, come on! A hint to the plot of this masterpiece? Please?"

She smirked. "It's really personal, Jake, and I might not even share this one."

"Wow, that deep, huh?"

She sighed. "It's...kind of like a diary. I've been meaning to start one..."

"I'd pay a hundred strips of latinum to read that."

She tried to elbow him in the ribs, but he dodged her blow and laughed. "Just kidding!"

"It's nearly closing time, Jake. When's that interview?"

"In an hour. And you know...I'm actually kind of nervous."

She raised her eyebrows. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know what to think of Weyoun..."

Vamshi turned to him and smiled sympathetically. "From the little I've seen of him, he's gentlemanly, polite, and well-spoken. Diplomat to a T."

Jake nodded. "Yeah, but...nevermind. You're right...thanks again, Vamshi. I'd better go review my questions and get ready."

"Good luck! Oh, and tell Weyoun thank you for me, ok? And also to come see me if he wants!"

"I will!" he said as he headed out the door.

…

Jake smiled sincerely and stood to shake the Vorta's hand. "Thank you so much for your time, Weyoun. This really does mean a lot to me."

The Vorta threw him a diplomatic smile. "It was my pleasure talking with you. Your questions were quite intriguing, and I look forward to reading your article."

Jake didn't miss the pointed look that Weyoun gave him, but he nodded politely. "Oh, before I forget, Vamshi told me to tell you thank you for her."

A genuine smile spread across the older man's face. "I understand you're a friend of Vamshi."

He nodded. "We've been friends ever since we met six years ago. It's a funny story, really..." He trailed off.

Vamshi had convinced Odo not to flay he and Nog alive after an incident with gravy and several balloons, and that alone set her high in the boys' sights. Their practical jokes had sent them to Sisko's office plenty of times, but the young Changeling (with Odo's encouragement) had tamed the boys' wild temperament. She had a strange way of engaging their attention and making them see what all there was to do on the station. The three often hung out in the music store, and Nog proved himself to be quite the budding piano player. Jake tried to learn, but he never got the hang of it, but he still liked to snap his fingers along to whatever Vamshi could find. He shared his father's love of jazz, but his true love would always be writing.

Vamshi had caught on to this and joined him in the art, and she had a unique perspective, often writing highly descriptive poems about what it was like to be something else. He always enjoyed reading her material, and the shared love brought them even closer.

"You're close, aren't you?" Weyoun said softly with a knowing smile, bringing him out of his reverie. Jake nodded.

"Vamshi also said she'd like a visit from you."

The Vorta's eyes glittered at this. "If you see her, tell her I would be honored to visit her, at her convenience. Tell me, Jake...why does Vamshi work in that music store?"

"Why do you want to know?" Jake felt this might turn into a long discussion, so he sat back down. Weyoun followed suit.

"I'm simply curious."

Jake nodded in understanding. "She told me Odo wanted for her to contribute to the station in some way, and there was an opening in the music shop at the time. She took the job and has been there ever since."

Weyoun smiled and leaned back into the couch. "Fascinating...and you say she came here six years ago?"

"That's right. But why are you asking me? Vamshi will tell you anything you want to know."

Weyoun tilted his head. "Is that so?"

Jake sighed inwardly at the lead-in and realized Weyoun wanted to hear what Vamshi thought of him. As the Changeling had pointed out, he was in awe of her, as he believed she was a god.

"Look, Weyoun...from what she's told me, she thinks highly of you. I think she'd like to get to know you."

A slow, satisfied smile graced the Vorta's face, and he nodded. "Thank you, Jake. As I said, I look forward to reading your article."

Jake recognized the dismissal, and with a nod and a grateful smile, he left Weyoun's quarters.

Weyoun sat on the couch for a while, pondering what Jake had said. From what she's told me, she thinks highly of you. I think she'd like to get to know you. Those words echoed over and over in his head, and he hardly knew what to think. He was overjoyed to hear that a Founder had a high opinion of him, that a god would want to spend time getting to know him.

He stood and paced around the room, thinking over everything he knew about her. She worked in the music store on the Promenade; he had known that before she told him. Oftentimes, he would watch her from afar, desiring only to be closer to her, to make her pleased with him. And now came his chance to prove himself worthy of her attention, and it made his heart pound in anticipation.

As he fell asleep that night, his thoughts never strayed from Vamshi, and they examined her dark hair and eyes and her slightly tanned skin. He allowed himself to imagine this meeting going well, followed by many others going even better. And a small smile graced his lips as he finally gave in to sleep.