Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

The treaty was signed around sunset. Hydroth is a part of the Dominion.

Jen-Lia stared at these words, reading them over and over and relishing the joy in her soul. She was sitting on Weyoun's bed as the last dim rays of moonlight filtered through the spacious window. The Vorta was still asleep, and she put the pad down and took the opportunity to examine Weyoun's features. She had watched him sleep in the hospital, yes, but she had been more concerned about the cut on his forehead than about examining him. Piercing purple eyes were shielded by pale eyelids, and thick dark lashes framed the edge of them. A small, petite nose wrinkled a little as he lay there dreaming, and pale pink, perfectly sculpted lips were slightly parted as he took in air. Curly black hair covered his head, and the texture and style was identical to Gelnon's.

The pale blue coverlet was draped haphazardly around his body, and she carefully tucked it in around him. She leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. Although he wasn't awake, a tiny smile graced his lips and he shifted in his sleep, sighing contentedly.

She left the pad on his bedside table and, with one last loving look, headed downstairs to shape-shift for a while.

…

Weyoun awoke to soft sunlight filtering in through the window, and the first thing he saw was the pad. He read it and smiled, then quickly dressed and made his bed to go celebrate with Jen-Lia.

But when he padded down the staircase, he was greeted with the sound of desperate sobbing. He stopped for a moment, then proceeded cautiously down the stairs.

Jen-Lia was holding the woman from next door in her arms, and the woman was sobbing into the Changeling's chest. Jen-Lia's eyes were closed as she shhed the grieving woman, and Weyoun could barely hear a soft song coming from the Founder's lips.

"Rek-qe hashir bekata ten...Ive-tusum nanhala jen..."

The woman sobbed harder. "Genala...gen-" she tried to sing, but she choked on her sobs.

"Shh...genala vok tel-hima shem...ba Raka-Pur sentala kem..."*

Jen-Lia's eyes found Weyoun's and she smiled wearily at him. "Gelnon and breakfast are in the kitchen. Once you're done, put your dishes in the sink and come back in here. I need to talk to you both."

He nodded and went into the kitchen and sat across from Gelnon.

"The woman's sister died from the virus last night," he explained to Weyoun. "She's been here since dawn."

"That's unfortunate," Weyoun muttered insincerely. "But that's not really any of our concern. Our mission is complete, as I'm sure you've heard."

Gelnon nodded. "Who will be the temporary administrator?"

"I will," Weyoun replied smugly. "I haven't received word on your re-assignment, but it might be to the Creshin sector, and you'd be the supervisor at Dominion outpost 223."

Gelnon scowled at Weyoun's triumphant grin. Leave it to him to assign him to the most boring sector in the Dominion and keep a new planet (and a Founder, no less) to himself. But his scowl dissolved into a nonchalant, passive face and he glanced back down at his plate.

"She trusts me more than you," he murmured so soft that if Weyoun had been anything but Vorta, he would not have heard. This soured the shorter Vorta's victorious smirk, and Gelnon could almost see flames leap up behind his eyes. His expression became cold and dangerous.

"I would not push things with me if I were you, Gelnon," he hissed with a tiny smile. "I have always had more influence than you, and you wouldn't want to be assigned to the front lines again, would you?"

Gelnon put down his spoon and glared at his adversary. "Are you suggesting something?" he growled.

Weyoun smiled. "Oh please, don't think that just because a Founder shows you a little favor means you can't be assigned to the labs for the rest of your existence. I can make-"

"Gentlemen!"

They fell silent and looked up at Jen-Lia, who was standing in the door, comprehension dawning in her eyes.

"Is there something going on that I should know about?" she said, a hint of impatience in her voice. The Vorta looked away, ashamed.

"No, Jen-Lia, nothing."

"Right," she said shortly, shaking her head. "Both of you, in here, now."

They jumped to attention and followed without question, glancing at each other not with mutual loathing but mutual fear. They took seats on the couch and noted that the woman was gone. Jen-Lia paced for a minute in front of them, and they shifted in their seats uncomfortably. Finally, she stopped and turned to them with an exasperated look.

"All right, let's make a deal. I give you living accommodations for another week, and you two stop competing for my attention."

Weyoun and Gelnon stared at her, half-guilty and half-awed. "Founder?" Weyoun started, testing the waters.

"I didn't know why you two argued behind my back all the time, and I never sought to ask. But now I know what you've been arguing about, and I won't have it," she said, the geniality in her voice gone. Gelnon shifted slightly under her piercing gaze, and Weyoun looked away.

"I've raised five children in my time, and I tried my hardest to teach them love and respect for those around them, but I see that no one has cared about you two enough to do the same. That ends today."

She stood and came closer, taking a seat on the table in front of the couch. "From now on, if you are in my household, you will treat each other with the same love and respect that you would treat me. Am I understood?" Each word was crisp and emphatic, and the Vorta nodded hastily.

Her gaze softened. "I'm only one shifting, my dears," she murmured wearily, "but I will try my best to be my best for you. Heaven knows you probably deserve it by now."

Weyoun and Gelnon were slightly bemused by her statement, but it warmed their hearts nonetheless.

Jen-Lia sighed again. "I need to know your plans, because tomorrow I will have temporary custody of Li-Ama's niece. Hopefully within a month, we can contact some other relatives of hers and arrange for her to stay with them. Li-Ama just lost her sister, and she's already overwhelmed with the two children she has. In any case, Cor-Tesra will be sleeping in the second-story room, right below you, Weyoun."

He bowed his head, not daring to say a word.

"Also...when are the other Vorta due to arrive?"

"Tonight," Weyoun replied softly, easing as Jen-Lia smiled.

"That soon? Have they been assigned to their stations yet?"

Gelnon shook his head. "They should be getting that information within the next few days. But in the meantime, a team of seven Vorta scientists have been assigned exclusively to finding a cure for this disease. They will begin immediately upon arrival."

Jen-Lia's smile widened. "That's very efficient of you. I'm impressed...what time approximately are they arriving?"

Weyoun smiled back, relieved that Jen-Lia was in a better mood. "1800 hours."

"How many Vorta total?"

"400."

She paused for a moment, thinking. "Will you have any of the assignments by that time?"

Weyoun nodded. "We should have perhaps 30 of them placed by that time, yes."

Jen-Lia was quiet for a minute, then she stood and walked over to the console. She typed something and a man's face appeared on the screen.

"I'd like to book Gre-Nafa auditorium for tonight, 1900 hours."