By Noelle Morrow

You know the drill. Paramount owns it, I have fun with

it. Don't steal it from either of us.

~~~~~

WORF

"If things were safer, you know we would be there..."

I nodded towards my monitor, "Yes Father, I know. I wish Jadzia and I could come to Earth, but, the war just does not allow it. And I do not want you traveling to this sector, it is very dangerous here."

"Which only makes us worry about you more!" Helena Rozhenko exclaimed, "And with our Alexander off fighting, oh, I barely sleep at night!"

"You worry too much," I paused, "And that is where I got it from."

Both of my parents laughed, "Yes, it much be."

Just then, the door to our quarters slid open. I looked up, and my wife smiled at me, "Hi there."

"Jadzia just came home," I said to my parents.

"We can tell by your smile," Sergey noted.

"She makes me happy," I said.

Dax was blushing, "Your parents?" she asked.

"Yes. They wish to meet you."

She came over to face the monitor, "Hi there," she and my parts have *met* before, but only over subspace transmissions like this one. I wanted them to meet in person, but Dax and I could not take any time off, and I did not want them to travel to this sector during the war. So a face- to- face meeting would have to wait.

The four of us talked, Dax of course dominated the conversation. She liked speaking with them, she liked hearing about my childhood and hearing how glad they were that someone was making my happy.

When we ended the transmission, Dax said to me, "I was talking with Kira today..."

"So you're going to tell me why you two were talking about me?"

She laughed, "She said I have unusual taste in men."

I frowned, "Really?"

"We were talking about Boday- anyway, I invited her to dinner."

"Here?"

"Yes Worf, here."

"What does that have to do with Captain Boday?"

"I suggested that she invite him to be her escort."

"You are joking."

Jadzia walked to the other side of the room, "I knew se wouldn't accept. She's so caught up in outward appearances. You have to get to know a person inside. Okay, yes, his head is transparent- but he's a great guy."

This was not what I wanted to hear right now, but I decided to be calm, to let my wife talk and to not be so jealous. So what if she thinks her ex- over is a great person? I am her husband now, that is all that matters.

"Is she bringing anyone?"

"No, not yet anyway. But, she's got time."

JADZIA

I was learning to get used to these types of things. I live on the frontier of space, right outside of the only stable wormhole known to exist. I'm married to a Klingon, the only Klingon in Starfleet. In his spare time, my Captain and best friend is a religious Messiah, so I should be used to the unexpected, right? So why was I so unprepared when Kira told me she'd be bringing Bareil to dinner tonight? Bareil, her dead lover.

As it turns out, he was seeking exile from the ever popular mirror universe. Worf and I had never been, but Kira, Julian, Jake and Benjamin had all made trips there. I explained all this to Worf, but he didn't know Bareil in the first place, so, it wouldn't be as awkward for him.

All through dinner, Kira was gazing at him. Not just casual glances, but fond gazes. I smiled inwardly. Those were the same gazes I would give Worf before we got together. Those longing , "Oh how I wish..." gazes. And in return he would smile at her. I wondered what his story was, I mean *really* was. He didn't have a history with her, the way she had one with him. Then again, maybe they could make a future together...

He seemed harmless enough. Yes, he tried to take her hostage, but, he was desperate. And he had enough stories to last three lifetimes.

"...An hour later the Klingon guard returns to my cell. He puts down what's supposed to be my last meal. I slip his mek'tleh from its scabbard hide it in my shirt. That night, I used to blade to deactivate the sensor alarm my earring to open the cell door. By the time they realized I was gone, I was halfway to the Ventar system."

As I stood to clear the table, I laughed heartily, "That's one hell of a story," I said.

"And that is all it is, a story," Worf replied, sounding quite annoyed.

"Excuse me?" Bareil was obviously not too offended by Worf's accusation.

"It was well told," Worf began, "But there is no truth to any of it."

"Oh. You're sure of that?" Bareil countered.

"You want us to believe that you stole a mek'tleh from a Klingon warrior?"

"Worf it's not polite to accuse the guest of lying."

"No, no, it's all right," Bareil conceded, "Obviously I was exaggerating."

Worf gave me an "I told you" look. I made a mental note I'd have to give him a lesson in politeness a little later on.

I placed a beautifully make Rokeg Blood Pie in the center of the table. Helena gave me the recipe, I only hoped mine was half as good as hers. I handed Worf the knife, "Would you care to do the honors?"

Bareil stood, "No, allow me."

My husbands face was utterly bewildered as Bareil pulled from his side a mek'tleh-Worf's mek'tleh and cut the pie in fourths.

"I believe," Bareil said triumphantly, "This is yours."

Worf accepted it dumbfounded.

"What do you think now Worf?" Kira asked.

"Obviously Bareil is a better thief than I gave him credit for."

We all laughed.

Worf good- naturedly offered him more blood wine and he accepted it. And, of course, Kira's giddy smile returned.

WORF

"So, what did you think?"

I frowned at Jadzia, "Of what?"

"Of Kira and Bareil?"

"I think she hardly knows him. But, she will probably follow her heart regardless of that."

"You make that sound like a bad thing," she said. The dinner was over, and Jadzia and I were in bed. I thought she had gone to sleep, but, as usual, she wanted to talk.

"Sometimes it is. She is allowing her feelings for the Vedek to be confused with this man. She could be hurt in the end."

"Well, I hope they just have fun together. In fact, I know they will."

"Something I have learned about you and Kira, you both do what you feel with very little reasonable or rational thought."

She smirked, "Like when I decided to be with you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, a lot of people told me it was a mistake, that it wouldn't last, and that I wasn't being rational or reasonable. So maybe to us, she isn't being rational, but to her, pursuing him could be the best thing for her right now."

I nodded, "You have a point."

"I know I do. Oh, and what did you think of the pie?"

"It was... edible."

"*Edible*!!" she exclaimed.

"I cannot lie to you It could have been better. But, it was only your first, I am sure you will improve."

"Thank you for your honesty."

"You are welcome," I paused, "What do you know about the mirror universe?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know about your counterpart, or mine?"

"I know that Klingons are apart of the Alliance with Bajor and Cardassia. From what Ben tells me, I am ruthless and without morals. I was his lover, until he died, then I ran into the arms of Julian, more for convenience than love."

"I do not think I would want to visit that place then."

She laughed, "No way! Imagine, me and *Julian*? And to think that there was a time where I might have considered being with him."

"Really?"

"No, not really. He would have just been someone to play with, nothing serious."

"He does not seem... patient enough to deal with you."

"I won't even ask what that means. Good night."

"Good night."

(April 19, 1998)