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"Garak? Are you alright?" Odo's voice cut through Garak's reverie.
"Hm? Oh, I must apologise, Constable. I had a bit of a late night, I'm afraid." Garak ate another mouthful of his food, and smiled. "What was it you said again?"
"I didn't say anything. We were sitting in silence." Odo pretended to take a sip of his coffee, and eyed Garak over the rim. "Anything you want to talk about?"
"I'm not planning anything illegal, Constable, no need to worry." Garak took a sip of his tea, and tried to appear nonchalant.
"Ah, so you are planning something." Odo pretended to take another sip, and refilled the glass cup.
"If you must know, it's something personal." Garak's tone was a bit testy. He didn't want to discuss his private life with Constable Odo, of all people.
"You're worried Doctor Bashir will say no?" Odo cut straight to the chase, damn him.
"Constable Odo, I-"
"I don't think he will." Odo interrupted Garak to say. Garak was taken aback for a moment, but composed himself quickly.
"Say no to what, Constable?" Garak aimed for nonchalant, while knowing full well that Odo had seen right through him. Odo had made a study of humanoid behaviour, which did make lying to him a pleasant challenge.
Odo leaned across the table, and, in a conspiratorial tone, loudly whispered, "Your proposal."
Garak looked affronted. "Not so loud, Constable!"
Odo leaned back with a smile. "So I was right."
Garak looked left and right, before back at Odo. "Yes. I'm just... concerned. We haven't really discussed 'marriage', as humans put it."
"Mm hmm. Perhaps that would be a good place to start?" Odo suggested.
Garak sighed. "I've been thinking of ways to bring it up. Everything I come up with seems too... obvious."
"To you? Or to Doctor Bashir?" Odo's gaze was piercing.
"Both." Garak admitted, despite himself.
"Hmm." Odo murmured. "Perhaps you could find someone to ask on your behalf?"
Garak's gaze drifted to the Promenade as he thought on his options. As he did so, he saw a familiar oddly wheeled contraption speeding towards them. "Perhaps I could." He mused with a smile.
Odo turned to follow his gaze, and sighed. "No speeding on the Promenade!" He barked, as the four wheeled vehicle pulled up to their table.
The occupant, a vine huddled under a heatlamp, responded with a sighing voice reminiscent of wind through tree tops. "I feel the need for seed."
Both Odo and Garak blinked. "I do believe you meant 'speed', Sh'thil'in." Garak corrected.
"Yes. But I am a plant, and a plant will produce seeds. It is a pun, you see." Sh'thil'in answered, their leafy approximation of a face peering out of the centre of their vines, with the exception of the one controlling the vehicle.
"I see." Garak diplomatically replied. Odo just harrumphed.
"Well, please restrain your need for 'seed' on the Promenade." Odo cautioned Sh'thil'in, before standing up. "Always a pleasure, Garak. Sh'thil'in."
Odo walked away to continue his rounds, his cup of 'coffee' now reabsorbed back into himself. Sh'thil'in eyed Garak's plate of food with open curiosity, which meant they were reaching out a tendril towards it. "Get your own food." Garak cautioned.
"What is your flavour of ingestion?" Sh'thil'in asked.
"What am I eating?" Garak questioned. Sh'thil'in nodded, leaves rustling. "Porridge. It's an Earth dish commonly eaten for breakfast. And my usual red leaf tea."
"How does it taste?" Sh'thil'in somehow managed to give the impression of tilting their head to one side.
"Salty. You can't have any. It would be too dangerous for you." Garak replied, taking another mouthful. He appreciated the saltiness of the porridge, but he doubted he would ever order it again. The texture left much to be desired.
"Ah, I see." Sh'thil'in replied. "I shall get my own sustenance and join you?"
Garak nodded in assent, somewhat used to Sh'thil'in's sometimes odd turns of phrase by now. By the time the Illium returned, Garak had almost finished his porridge, but made no move to leave, for their sake.
Sh'thil'in had decided to try a cooked steak this time, and the aroma of garlic reached Garak's nose. He eyed the steak curiously.
Sh'thil'in noticed his look, and, unprompted, explained, "I have been told garlic enhances food taste. Doctor Bashir said it's safe for me to eat, so I wished to try."
"It's not the garlic I was curious about. It's the cooked part," was Garak's response.
"Ah. I get many looks eating my food raw. There is no downside to my food being cooked, so I am trying to fit in more." Sh'thil'in picked up a knife and fork, and cut a piece of steak.
"It's more likely the looks are because you're a plant eating with a knife and fork, I'm afraid." Garak admitted.
"Ah. Well, it is cleaner than the alternative. I find I prefer it." Sh'thil'in's unashamed directness was always refreshing for Garak. They had no illusions about their differentness, but they didn't revel in it. It just was, to them.
And that directness was something Garak was hoping to use to his advantage.
"Say, Sh'thil'in, are you seeing Doctor Bashir today?" Garak enquired.
"I am to, after I eat breakfast, yes. You could say 'affernative'." Sh'thil'in continued eating, while Garak blinked, momentarily distracted by Sh'thil'in's latest pun.
"Would you be averse to helping me with something? You can say no, if you wish." Garak added.
"Ask me, and I will tell you." Sh'thil'in delicately placed a piece of steak into their face, before removing the empty fork. Garak idly wondered what their teeth looked like.
"I want... I want to know Doctor Bashir's views on... marriage." Garak quietly admitted, remembering at almost the last minute to not say 'enjoinment' for Sh'thil'in's sake.
Sh'thil'in somehow managed to give an impression of confusion. "Why do you not ask him? Are you not a 'couple'?"
"We are. I want to ask him to... marry me. But I want to know that he will say yes before I ask him." Garak leaned forward. "I want it to be a surprise."
"I see. And what do you wish for me to do?" Sh'thil'in continued eating, the steak already half gone.
"Could you ask him about... marriage? Use that to feel out how he might feel about... marrying me?" Garak took a sip of his tea to cover the slight shaking in his hands.
"You want for me to ask him how he feels about marrying you, under the guise of my ignorance leading to the question?" Sh'thil'in confirmed.
"Well, when you put it like that, it's hardly subtle..." Garak defended.
"You are subtle. I see no point in subtlety. I will do this. For you." Sh'thil'in took another bite of steak.
"Thank you, Sh'thil'in." Garak inclined his head as he leaned back. "How are your reading lessons coming along?"
"They are going extremely well, according to Keiko." Sh'thil'in replied. "Perhaps my knowledge of sounds has helped me learn faster. She has told me of a book I look forwards to being able to read. It is called 'Lord of the Rings'. She says I will like the character of 'Treebeard'."
"I have heard of those books, now you mention it. I believe they're commonly read as a trilogy, however." Garak replied, taking a sip of his tea.
Sh'thil'in rustled in a manner that appeared to be intended as a shrug, and finished off their steak. "An interesting texture. I will try it again," they declared.
Garak tilted his head. "How was the flavour?"
"I preferred it." Sh'thil'in stated.
"Was it the cooked flavour, or the garlic?" Garak finished off his porridge, and took another sip of his tea.
"Both, I believe. I will have to try cooked steak with other flavours to be sure." Sh'thil'in carefully set their cutlery onto the plate, and dabbed at where their mouth appeared to be with a napkin.
"Perhaps I could join you for lunch tomorrow? Doctor Bashir is working the late shift, and sadly, will not be able to join me. We could try some together?" Garak asked, setting his napkin onto his tray.
"I guarantree I will be there." Sh'thil'in promptly replied.
Garak stifled a groan, but smiled. "I look forward to it."
Sh'thil'in rustled in their pot, shifting so different vines sat under the heat lamp. "I need to see Doctor Bashir now. I will tell you his reply afterwards?"
"Please, do. Thank you, Sh'thil'in." Garak inclined his head in gratitude.
"You are welcome, Garak. You helped me when I came here, I help you in return." Sh'thil'in reached out a vine and touched Garak's hand. "And you are my friend."
"Then, as your friend, allow me to return your tray. It's getting a bit busier here, and you might have some trouble with the crowds." Garak reached for Sh'thil'in's tray, and organised the contents to fit on his.
"My thanks, Garak. I will see you later." Sh'thil'in gave a leafy approximation of a nod, and drove away along the Promenade, as Garak stood behind him, trays in hand.
###
"Doctor Bushir."
With a frown, Julian Bashir turned around to see Sh'thil'in parked behind him. "Oh, hello, Sh'thil'in. I think you mispronounced my name there."
"I did. It is a pun." Sh'thil'in moved a bit closer. "You wanted to seed me?"
Bashir smiled. "Yes, yes I did. I'm glad you didn't decide to shrub me off."
"I could not leaf you hanging." Sh'thil'in replied.
Bashir laughed softly. "Well, it's time for your weekly scan. Let's see how you're doing, shall we?"
Bashir took out his tricorder and scanned Sh'thil'in, reading them the results. "Your salt levels are a little lower than last week, would you say they're still within normal range?"
"They are slightly low. I will remedy this at my next meal. The other levels are increasing, which is good news, as you would say. I have felt stronger." Sh'thil'in shifted in their pot. "I will soon be able to leave this pot, for which I will be grateful."
"That is good news!" Bashir smiled again. "I can't wait to see you running along the Promenade."
"It will be nice to properly stretch my roots." Sh'thil'in replied with a rustle.
Bashir added the results to Sh'thil'in's file, comparing the results to those previous. "Yes, I see marked improvement from your last few scans. Keep up what you're doing, the nutrients added to your soil included. I think we're done here."
"I have a question for you, if you will answer?" Sh'thil'in asked.
"Sure. What do you want to know?" Bashir leaned back against the console he'd been working on, and folded his arms.
"I have recently learned about marriage, and that it is not as straightforward as I assumed."
"Yes?" Bashir encouraged Sh'thil'in to continue.
"I understand not all humanoids enter into a relationship with the intention of marriage?" Sh'thil'in tilted what approximated their face.
"Ah! Well, sometimes you find someone you like, and you start a relationship, and see where you go. Marriage isn't something you enter into lightly, so it's best to be sure the person you're with is the right one, and that can take time. Many people don't marry the first person they enter into a relationship with." Bashir smiled at Sh'thil'in.
"I see. So, Keiko and O'Brien had relationships prior to their one with each other?" Sh'thil'in asked.
"Yes, they both did. And those relationships probably helped them understand what they wanted in a partner, and that they were prepared to be there for each other, when they realised the other was what they were after, no matter how difficult things could get. And the same for their former partners with other people." Bashir explained.
"Will you marry Garak?" Sh'thil'in decided the blunt approach may work best here, if he was comparing Garak and Bashir to Keiko and O'Brien.
Bashir shifted, perhaps a bit uncomfortably. "If he asked me, yes. Yes, I would. But a true partnership means both have to be on the same wavelength, and I'm not sure he's ready for that."
"Why not?" Sh'thil'in asked.
"Well, there's a lot of factors at play. Garak... hasn't had an easy life, and not a lot of stability." Bashir explained. "I'm not sure he's ready for marriage because of that."
"Is marriage not a type of stability? Would not that stability be a good thing for him?" Sh'thil'in questioned.
"You know, you have a point there. It's a promise to be there for each other, through the good and the bad, and Garak hasn't had many people be there for him. Hmm. Thank you, Sh'thil'in. I have something to think about now." Bashir grinned at Sh'thil'in.
"You are welcome, Doctor Bashir." Sh'thil'in tried to mimic Garak's nod.
"You know, Jadzia might be a good person to ask about relationships. She's had quite a few over her lifetimes." Bashir informed them.
"I will ask her next time we speak. Thank you again, Doctor Bashir." Sh'thil'in turned their vehicle around to leave.
"Have a wood day, Sh'thil'in!" Bashir called out.
"And the rain to you." Sh'thil'in replied.
###
When Sh'thil'in made it to Garak's shop, Garak was already working on altering some pants a Bajoran officer had dropped off. He looked up at their approach. "How did you go?"
Sh'thil'in relayed the relevant conversation part word for word to Garak, who smiled broadly and oddly openly at the results. Sh'thil'in decided they liked seeing open joy on Garak's face.
"Very well done, Sh'thil'in!" Garak complimented them. Sh'thil'in rustled under the praise.
"Now, how best to propose..." Garak mused, eyes tracing absently over a clothing rack.
"Keiko may be one to ask." Sh'thil'in suggested.
"Yes, her husband is very close to Julian... a very good idea." Garak absently stroked the fabric of the pants he was working on, lost in thought.
"Perhaps we can tell her I asked about proposals, and see if she asks?" Sh'thil'in suggested.
"We?" Garak looked at Sh'thil'in.
"You are my friend. You need help. Friends help each other." Sh'thil'in stated.
Garak's expression softened slightly, just for a moment. "Yes, you're right. Alright, we'll ask Keiko."
"When?" It was almost a statement.
Garak pursed his lips. "She's due to come in later to pick up some alterations on some of Molly's clothes, so I'd say then. Would you like to wait around?"
"I will." Sh'thil'in moved their vehicle off to one side, clearing the door.
Garak eyed Sh'thil'in critically. "Have you ever considered accessorising?"
###
Keiko was surprised, upon walking into Garak's shop, to see Sh'thil'in's pot on the floor, and them tying bows that were then being stuck onto small clips. She was even more surprised to see purple bows clipped through Sh'thil'in's vines, like accents.
"Green things, Keiko." Sh'thil'in greeted her.
"Professor!" Garak welcomed her into his shop. "Molly's clothing is ready for you."
"Hello Garak, Sh'thil'in. You look very nice with those bows." Keiko smiled. Sh'thil'in rustled with obvious pleasure at the compliment.
Garak picked up a neatly folded pile of clothes and brought them to Keiko. “Here’s Molly’s clothes for you. I added a bit of extra room in a few of the hems, so she should get a little more use out of them as she grows.”
“Thank you Garak. I really appreciate it. She has her favourites, and really likes to wear them.” Keiko replied.
“I understand. You should bring her in again soon to be measured. I’m sure she’s growing very fast.”
“Like a weed, Garak. I think she’ll need a whole new wardrobe soon!” Keiko laughed. “I’ll bring her in next week. Maybe we can start then, and get her a few new favourites before she outgrows the current ones.”
Garak smiled at her. “I look forward to seeing her again.”
Sh’thil’in called out to Keiko from the floor. “Do you have some more time to talk?”
“I have about half an hour, why?” Keiko answered.
“Garak and I have a question for you.” Sh’thil’in moved in their pot to face Keiko. “It is of some urgency.”
“I hope I can help. What’s it about?”
Garak moved back towards his workbench, turning his back to Keiko as he replied. “I want to propose to Julian.”
Keiko clapped her hands in delight. “That’s wonderful news! Are you unsure how to propose? Humans generally use rings.”
“I understand that to be the case. My concern, however, is the setting.” Garak turned back to Keiko. “I’m not sure where to propose.”
“Oh! And you need someone to feel him out?” Keiko grinned.
“Exactly. Sh’thil’in here managed to find out that Julian would say yes, but I want it to…” Garak trailed off, with a slight frown.
“You want it to be perfect for him.” Keiko finished.
“Yes.” Garak said, in a softer voice than usual.
“And that is where I come in. I am currently interested in marriage. That is how I asked Julian. If I ask you about how proposals work, maybe you can bring up my interest to Julian.” Sh’thil’in stated.
“We’re having Julian over for dinner the night after tomorrow. I can bring it up over dinner, and retell how Miles proposed to me, and ask Julian about his thoughts on proposals!”
“If you can move getting Molly measured up…” Garak smiled broadly.
“I can fill you in! It’s perfect!” Keiko’s grin spread across her face. “This is so exciting!”
“How do Cardassians propose?” Sh’thil’in suddenly asked.
Keiko and Garak turned to look down at Sh’thil’in. “You know, now I’m curious too.” Keiko looked at Garak. “How do Cardassians propose?”
Surprise flickered briefly across Garak’s face, so briefly Keiko wasn’t sure she’d seen it. “Well, for one thing, we call marriage an enjoinment. We propose by gifting our partner a pendant. The pendant has the names of both partners in the design, to symbolise the partnership being offered. If the partner accepts, a second design is made, of both family names, to symbolise the joining of the two families. Both wear the same pendant. It’s quite simple really.”
Keiko smiled brightly. “That’s actually quite beautiful. Everywhere you go, you carry the other with you.”
“In essence, yes. The pendant is not always shown, however. We are a somewhat private people.” Garak added.
“It’s still very romantic.” Keiko maintained.
“Cardassians do have a sense of romance, contrary to popular belief.” Garak grinned.
“It is simple among my kind. If you care deeply for another, you stay together. If your wish is to reproduce as a pair, you each create a flower, and touch the flowers together. This can also be done alone.” Sh’thil’in weighed in.
“How do you raise the young?” Keiko asked curiously.
“We stay with them and tend them until they can move freely, and they then accompany the parent, or parents until they wish to leave.” Sh’thil’in replied.
“Sounds like what we do for children.” Keiko said with a nod.
“If in a bit more simple terms.” Garak agreed.
Sh’thil’in gave a rustling shrug. “It is not something we take lightly.”
“Same with many of our species.” Keiko agreed. She turned to Garak. “Family is very important among Cardassians isn’t it?”
“The most cherished thing any Cardassian can have,” Garak stated, in a tone that said this was obvious to everyone.
“The continuation of our species is very important to us also,” Sh’thil’in agreed, before adding, “I am out of clips, Garak. May I please have more?”
“Of course, Sh’thil’in.” Garak replicated a container of new clips, and took them to Sh’thil’in, who thanked him, before continuing to tie more bows.
“You know, Molly would love some clips like that for her hair.” Keiko noted.
“Really?” Garak smiled at Sh’thil’in. “Would you like to earn a bit of latinum? I have a lot of leftover ribbon from a number of commissions, and if Miss Molly would like some bows, I’m sure other children on the station would as well. However, I am swamped with commissions…”
“I beleaf I wood.” Sh’thil’in somehow managed to add an impish tone to their voice.
Keiko grinned. “Two in one sentence! Very well done, Sh’thil’in!”
Sh’thil’in held a vine up towards Keiko, who walked over and gently tapped it in a high five.
“You are a vine teacher, Keiko.”
###
The morning after Garak had spoken to Keiko and Sh’thil’in, Garak approached Odo in his office.
“Garak. What can I do for you?” Odo set down the PADD he was reading, to look up at Garak, who stood in front of his desk.
“There is a matter I could… use assistance with.” Garak started.
“And you need my help?” Odo finished. Garak nodded his head.
“I assume you know how difficult it is for me to ask you for help.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do. And I’m assuming you want me to keep this between us?”
Garak nodded. “Please.” There was an edge to his voice Odo had rarely heard before, almost a plea, which told him Garak was being very serious. Odo nodded.
“Very well. What do you need?”
“Your observation skills.” Garak was rarely blunt, and his directness took Odo aback temporarily.
“Is this to do with Doctor Bashir?” Was all Odo asked.
“Yes.” A finger on one of Garak’s hands twitched slightly, a movement Odo knew meant he was nervous. To most, it would just be a random tic, but to someone who had studied various humanoid behaviours, and this one in particular, it stood out. Garak’s movements were never minor or slight on purpose.
“What do you want me to do?” Odo pressed.
“I need to know the size of the third finger of his left hand. I can approximate a guess, but without a measurement, I can’t be sure, and this is a matter where knowing precision is a must. You, however, are much better at accuracy in situations like these than myself.” Garak’s tone sounded like he was discussing the latest happenings on the station, but his finger again twitched.
Odo nodded slowly. “I see.” A pause. “Alright.”
Garak’s eyes lit up. “You will assist? My thanks, Constable.” Garak inclined his head.
Odo gave a small smile. “Yes. You can stop being so nervous about proposing to Doctor Bashir now.”
“Am I that transparent, Constable?” Garak sounded mildly offended, but his face wore a small smile.
“Only when it comes to the Doctor, Garak, I assure you.” Odo drily replied.
Garak looked mildly alarmed, but before he could answer, the doors to Odo’s office opened, admitting Major Kira.
“Nerys,” Odo greeted her, his voice soft and full of love.
“Hello Odo.” Kira’s voice was just as soft and full of love. “Garak.” Her voice was much less full of love when she greeted Garak, however.
“Thank you very much for that, Constable.” Garak straightened his tunic, suddenly businesslike. “That clears that up nicely. Good day, Constable, Major.”
Garak turned and left Odo’s office with purpose and a touch of his usual flair, a far cry from the still man of a few moments ago. Kira sat on the edge of Odo’s desk. “What was that about?”
“Garak and Doctor Bashir are reading a Sherlock Holmes story. He had a few questions about the book he wanted cleared up.” Odo smiled at Kira.
“Why doesn’t he ask Doctor Bashir then?” Kira frowned.
“How could he debate with him about it if he did?” Odo replied.
Kira laughed. “That’s a good point. Cardassians do love a good debate.”
“They do indeed.”
###
Later that same day, Odo walked into Garak’s shop, frowning slightly to see Sh’thil’in tying bows on the floor, and sticking them onto what looked like hair clips. Garak looked up from his workbench with a smile. “Constable!”
“I’m here about the incident we spoke of this morning?” Odo eyed Sh’thil’in.
“Ah! Of course! Sh’thil’in is aware of my plans, you can speak in front of them. What are his measurements?” Garak stood up, grabbing a PADD.
“I can do better than give you his measurements, Garak.” Odo held out his left hand. “Nerys spilled her raktajino on her arm earlier, and I accompanied her to the Infirmary. I mimicked his finger.”
“You mimicked his finger- why thank you, Constable!” Garak grabbed a measuring tool, and scanned Odo’s finger. “This is perfect! I can take multiple measurements of the finger over a wider area… yes, this is better than I hoped for! Thank you, Constable!”
“You’re welcome, Garak.” Odo’s finger morphed back into its usual appearance. Before either could say anything more, Sh’thil’in’s sighing voice interrupted.
“I sometimes envy you, Constable. Being able to change your form at will. What you must be able to experience..” They sighed. “I am but sadly limited to one single form.”
Odo smiled gently at Sh’thil’in. “It has its moments. Though I never quite fit in anywhere.”
“I do not either. I feel that is something we both know well.” Sh’thil’in continued their bow making with a rustle.
“Yes. I think we do.” Odo turned back to Garak. “If that’s everything…”
“Yes, thank you, Constable.” Garak was inputting the scan results into a PADD. “You have my deepest thanks.”
“You’re welcome, Garak. Sh’thil’in.”
With a nod, Odo left.
Not long after Odo left, Garak asked Sh’thil’in to watch the shop, and made his way to a jewellery shop. It was newly opened, only a few months previous, but Garak had heard very good reviews from various sources. The Bajoran behind the counter stiffened as he entered, but still maintained a customer service smile. Garak appreciated it.
“Good afternoon…?” The shopkeeper eyed him suspiciously, but introduced himself as Tresas Jukro. “Tresas. What a lovely name. I’m after a ring in a plain band, about this wide.” Garak held his finger and thumb a small distance apart. “In any colour. Unless you have any in a blue, perhaps cobaltium?”
Tresas warily waved him to a display tray at the end of the counter, where a number of cobaltium rings were displayed. “Wonderful!” Garak perused the display with a quick eye, seeing one of the perfect width and pointing to it. “This one looks perfect! Could I please have one in this size?” Garak handed over the PADD he’d brought with him. The shopkeeper nodded.
“I have a few in this size out the back. Would you like to see them?” Tresas asked.
“Please.” Garak smiled.
Tresas returned quickly with another tray, all holding cobaltium rings. Garak inspected a darker one with a lighter streak through the middle. “Does this streak go all the way through?”
“It does. I have a few like it. I think it’s quite striking, personally,” Tresas replied.
“I agree. I’ll take it. Do you happen to do engraving, by any chance?”
“I do.” Tresas hesitated. “It’s extra.”
“I would expect so. You should always be paid for your work.” Garak noticed the jeweller relaxed slightly at his words.
“What do you want engraved on it?” he asked.
Garak picked up the PADD from before, tapped it a few times, and handed it back. Tresas frowned, before his eyes widened. “Oh. I see.” He looked up at Garak. “I can get this design around the band twice, and make it look more like a pattern. Is that still in keeping with Cardassian custom? Don’t you normally do pendants?”
“We do, but my partner is human, and they use rings of all things. The design must have both names, but there is no reason for it not to be repeated.”
Tresas nodded. “I can have the engraving done by tomorrow.”
“Excellent! Would it be alright to pick it up in the afternoon?” Garak asked.
“It will be done by then, yes,” the jeweller replied.
“Wonderful. I shall see you then.” Garak paid for the ring with his thumbprint, and headed back to his shop.
###
That night, Garak lay in bed and watched Julian sleep. He wasn’t particularly beautiful or handsome, with his mouth half open and on a slight angle, but to Garak, it wasn’t his features he found incredible.
No, it was the fact he was so relaxed in his presence, as to sleep so deeply. Julian trusted him enough to be this vulnerable.
To Garak, that was a rare gift, and one he treasured more than he could ever say.
It had taken Garak time to feel comfortable enough with another body close to his to sleep through the night. Sometimes, he still didn’t. Old habits, nightmares, and, as on nights like tonight, his mind refusing to slow down enough.
Ever since he had made the decision to propose to Julian, he’d felt the same peace as on that night that he had examined his feelings in depth, every time he looked at him. Garak knew it was the right decision, but fear, ever vigilant, tended to creep in.
Soon, he would know the perfect way to propose - he just had to have faith in Julian saying yes.
And if there was anyone Garak had faith in, it was Julian. Julian, who was now moving closer to him, his head now on his chest, face turned downwards.
Garak was sure he could feel drool on his chest.
But it was a small sacrifice to make, to be with Julian. And Garak knew a lot about sacrifice.
With a sigh Garak would deny was contentment, had anyone else been around to hear it, he wrapped an arm around Julian, buried his nose in his hair, and closed his eyes, soon slipping into sleep.
###
The next day crawled by for Garak, the monotony broken only by one difficult customer in the morning. Sh’thil’in was only in for the afternoon, spending most of the time learning to tie bows using multiple vines at once, which gave Garak the time to visit the jeweller to pick up the ring.
It was exquisite, the engraving delicate yet easily readable, and Garak told Tresas as such. He smiled in thanks, and wished Garak luck, with what appeared to be genuine sincerity.
After he closed up the shop, Garak made his way to their quarters and ate alone, picking at his food. He didn’t feel hungry, instead, he felt nervous.
Julian would be home soon from his meal with the O’Brien’s, and Garak puttered around, tidying things up to keep himself occupied until his return, before deciding to read once he had nothing else to do.
When Julian finally came home, he smiled to see Garak sitting on the couch, reading from a PADD. “Hello Elim.”
“Good evening, my dearest. How was your meal with the O’Briens’?” Garak looked up from his PADD with a smile.
“It was good to catch up. Yoshi is certainly growing fast!” Julian grinned widely.
“Yes, Professor O’Brien has been in a few times for new clothing for him,” Garak replied.
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Sh’thil’in lately, haven’t you?” Julian asked as he made his way to the bedroom, to get changed.
“Yes, they’ve been making hair clips for my shop, why?” Garak called to him.
“They’ve been asking about marriage customs. They asked me the other day during their checkup, and Keiko told me they asked her too. I got to hear about how Miles proposed to Keiko tonight, actually. It was more romantic than I expected from him, to be honest with you.” Julian came back out of the bedroom, wearing a light pair of pyjamas, Garak having turned up the heat earlier. Julian had insisted he do so, wanting him to be comfortable somewhere on the station. “Did Sh’thil’in ask you about Cardassian customs?”
“They did. I gave them a brief rundown just the other day myself.” Garak replied, as Julian flopped beside him, throwing an arm around his shoulders. Julian’s arm felt deliciously warm against his neck, and Garak almost sighed in delight at the touch.
“Mmm. You feel tense, Elim. Here, let me give you a neck rub.” Julian gently tugged Garak closer to him. Garak moved so he was leaning back against Julian, who was now sitting cross legged sideways on the couch. Julian began expertly kneading the muscles at the base of his neck, causing Garak to sigh in pleasure. He loved when Julian rubbed his neck. “You really are tense. You should look at changing your work table a bit, Elim. It can’t be good for your posture.”
“It’s not the work table that’s the issue, Julian. It’s the customers.” Garak grunted as Julian hit a particularly stubborn knot.
“Well, the customers aren’t good for your neck,” Julian teased.
“I can hardly change how my customers behave, my dear Julian. All I can do is try not to murder them.” Garak let his head fall forward as Julian started loosening the knot.
“Yes, I can see why murdering your customers would be bad for business,” Julian drily remarked, hands still working.
“Yes, my dear. Word would soon get around, and no one would frequent my shop. And where would I be with no customers?” Garak winced as Julian found another knot, but was determined to keep the flirting going.
“You’d have to rely on me to look after you, and be like a house husband,” Julian teased.
“Perish the thought.” Garak let his eyeroll into his voice, making Julian laugh. Oh, how he loved that laugh. “Although there would be benefits to that arrangement.”
“Oh?” Julian pushed his fingers into the knot, making Garak wince again. “And what would they be?”
“I’d finally be able to catch up on my reading.” Garak let a smile creep into his voice. “Deciphering all those Earth novels of yours would be a full time job in itself.”
Julian chuckled. “Oh yes, the terrible slog of working through all those classics. Though you did seem to almost enjoy the Bible.”
“It is required reading to understand many of your Earth idioms. I also enjoyed how Jesus avoided the traps set by those in power, who wished to maintain the status quo that he challenged, all while imparting his own knowledge. And there was an almost acceptable amount of politics and intrigue.” Garak felt his neck beginning to relax and sighed.
“Only you would describe one of Earth’s most well known religious texts as such,” Julian teased, one of his hands gently running along Garak’s neck ridge, causing an indrawn breath.
“Hmm, well… some of those tales were almost positively Cardassian, my dear.” Garak tilted his head to allow Julian better access to his neck ridges. “But most, well… most left a lot to be desired.”
“Yes, I recall that discussion. You were quite affronted that Jesus let Judas betray him. Thankfully it was over dinner in my quarters, as I suspect we might have been kicked out of Quark’s for your language alone.” Julian increased the pressure on Garak’s neck ridge, enjoying the low rumble of pleasure it elicited.
“My language was not that indecent,” Garak protested half-heartedly, becoming quite distracted by the feel of both of Julian’s hands now on his neck ridges.
“Mmm hmm. Of course not.” Julian said sarcastically, leaning forward to kiss behind Garak’s ear.
“Now, your reaction to Ileni’s take on the repetitive epic however…” Garak leaned his head back, allowing Julian better access to his aural ridge. “Positively scandalous.” The memory of that night caused a fluttering in Garak’s chest.
“I didn’t hear you complaining,” Julian murmured into Garak’s ear, before placing a few light kisses along his aural ridge. Garak shivered at the contact.
“I do love to hear obscenities drop from your lips, my dear.” Garak grinned wickedly. “Speaking of which… shall we move this discussion to a more comfortable location?”
“Are you afraid you’ll lose this round?” Julian teased, as they both stood.
“Of course not. You just have an unfair advantage I intend to rectify.” Garak turned to face Julian, his grin turning predatory.
“I see. Well, let’s go level that playing field shall we?” Julian smirked.
Neither was sure who won that night’s debate, but neither was also complaining about it.
###
Garak was on edge the next morning, waiting for Keiko. Sh’thil’in had dropped in soon after opening, and was quietly making more bow clips off to one side. Garak was amazed how quickly they could work, using multiple vines, and hoped that he could sell the clips fast enough to keep up.
After what felt like hours, but was in actuality about an hour and a half, Keiko entered the shop, carrying Yoshi, with Molly at her side. “Hello Mister Garak!” Molly greeted him.
“Hello Miss Molly! And hello to you too, Professor. And to you, young Mister Yoshi.” Garak returned the greeting with a smile. Sh’thil’in rustled around and also greeted the newcomers by name.
“I brought Molly in to be measured, and I told her about the clips Sh’thil’in has been making! She’s very excited to pick out two pairs.” Molly ran over to Sh’thil’in, excited to see what they were making.
Sh’thil’in appeared to peer up at Molly, and extended a vine to show her the purple clips they had scattered throughout their leaves, explaining how they’d been made. Molly made an excited squeak, and the two began talking about colours.
“Sh’thil’in is doing a wonderful job.” Garak smiled down at the Illium, who was now discussing whether pink or blue would go better with their leaf colouring with an excited Molly. “I hear dinner last night went well.”
“Oh, dinner was wonderful!” Keiko grinned. “Julian told us all about Cardassian proposals. He said it’s come up in a lot of your literature.”
“We have read some books where it is a theme, yes.” Garak agreed.
Keiko glanced over at Molly. “Julian also told us about his idea of a perfect proposal, didn’t he, Molly?”
Molly looked up at the mention of her name. “Uncle Julian did! He said it would be somewhere romantic, like under the moonlight!”
Molly jumped up, running towards Garak. “Are you going to propose to Uncle Julian, Mister Garak?”
Both Keiko and Garak smiled at her. “And what would you say if I did?” Garak gently asked her.
Molly thought for a moment. “You’d have to come to dinner with Uncle Julian, so I’d have two uncles to talk to!”
Keiko laughed softly. “Out of the mouths of babes.”
“I would have to agree with you.” Garak smiled, before turning back to Molly. “Maybe I should propose, so I can come to dinner and see you.”
Molly excitedly jumped up and down a couple of times. “Yay!”
Keiko laughed again, and asked Molly to stand still. “Mister Garak needs to measure you for a new dress, Molly.”
“Ok!” Molly stood still while Garak quickly measured her. Her measurements weren’t too different from last time, but this was a cover for Keiko to relay information after all.
“So, what else did your Uncle Julian say?” Garak asked as he finished her measurements.
“A picnic!” Molly exclaimed happily.
“A picnic under the moonlight?” Garak sounded very surprised.
“Uh huh!” Molly bounced on her heels.
“That sounds very nice, I must say.” Garak informed her. “Did you know Cardassia has three moons?”
Molly’s face lit up. “Three moons! Do they all get full at once?”
“They do. And one is called the Blind Moon, because it is always in the sky at the same time as another moon, like it is being guided.”
“Wow!” Molly looked excited.
“I share your sentiment, Miss Molly.” Garak then gestured to a stand beside his work bench. “Now, I believe your mother said you could choose two pairs of hair clips?”
Molly happily bounced over to look at the bows Sh’thil’in had made, examining them with the seriousness only a child could muster. Garak moved closer to Keiko. “You have my thanks, Professor,” he said softly.
“You’re most welcome, Garak. Anything to see you both happy.” Keiko reached out her free arm to gently pat his shoulder. Garak inclined his head.
Molly came bouncing back, having chosen a pair of pink, and a pair of purple bows, from the same ribbon that Sh’thil’in was wearing. “I’ve chosen!”
“And what a good choice you’ve made!” Garak complimented her. Molly beamed up at him.
“Now, Molly, come on. We need to get to the arboretum, remember?” Keiko reminded her daughter.
“Yes, mummy. Bye Sh’thil’in. Bye Mister Garak.”
“Good bye, Miss Molly. Professor. Yoshi.”
“Farewell, Molly and Keiko. And Yoshi.” Sh’thil’in sighed, waving a free vine at them.
Once the three had left the shop, Sh’thil’in rustled themselves back into position to continue making bows. “It seems that you have your answer now.”
“So it would seem. Just a stroke of luck that I happen to have a holosuite reservation for tomorrow night with Quark.” Garak sat down at his workbench.
“I do not beleaf luck has anything to do with that,” Sh’thil’in replied.
“You would be correct in that assessment.” Garak sounded vaguely proud of himself. Sh’thil’in gave a rustling laugh.
###
The next night, Garak and Julian made their way to Quark’s, arm in arm. Garak took the program he’d reserved from Quark, along with a basket, and led Julian upstairs to the booked holosuite.
“Where are we going tonight, Elim?” Julian asked.
“I thought I might show you some of Cardassia. One of my favourite places, to be precise.” Garak replied with an enigmatic smile.
The holosuite door opened to reveal a night time setting, three moons high and bright in the sky, reflecting on the ocean beneath. Julian’s face split in a wide smile. “Oh, this is beautiful!”
“Thank you, my dear. This is the Tirin Sea. I thought night time would be more appropriate, when the climate is more suited for humans.” Garak led Julian down onto the beach, where a blanket was laid out on the sand.
“I appreciate the lowered temperature,” Julian said teasingly.
The two sat on the blanket and unpacked the basket, revealing an assortment of various finger foods, and a bottle of Bajoran springwine, with two glasses.
The two talked for a while, about their respective days, and the latest station gossip, while they ate. Afterwards, they sat and watched the play of the moonlight on the gentle waves. Garak looked over at Julian, enraptured by the sight of him under the Cardassian night sky. “Julian.”
Julian looked back at him. “Yes, Elim?”
Garak reached into his pocket, producing the box containing the ring. Taking a deep breath, he opened it. “Your secrets are my secrets, to keep and protect.”
Julian stared at him, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, before he began to laugh.
Garak felt himself recoil. Had he been wrong about this entire thing? Had it not been perfect? Did Julian not want to be enjoined to him after all?
Julian must have read the expression on his face, because he stopped laughing. “Oh, I’m sorry, Elim. I…”
“If you don’t wish to become enjoined to me, you could just say no,” Garak sniped.
“You misunderstand, Elim!” Julian reached into his pocket, withdrawing a box. Garak eyed Julian warily, until he opened it. Inside was nestled a pendant, fashioned into the shape of a delicate orchid. Garak could see two names engraved along the stem. Julian and Elim.
“I was waiting for the right moment.” Julian explained. “I had this made a month ago, but I was scared you’d say no. I know I want to be with you, through better or worse, no matter what life throws at us. You’re the closest thing I have to home, Elim. When Sh’thil’in asked me a few days ago about whether or not I’d ever become enjoined to you… well, they asked if marriage, well, enjoinment, was a form of stability. And I know you haven’t had a lot of stability in your life…” Julian’s voice trailed off, and he looked down.
Garak reached out a hand and gently lifted Julian’s face towards him. “Am I to take this as an acceptance?”
Julian smiled at him, face radiant. “Yes, Elim. Your secrets are my secrets, to keep and protect.”
The two stared into each other’s eyes, before coming together for a gentle kiss. When they parted, Garak took Julian’s left hand, and slid the ring onto his third finger, where it sat perfectly. Julian admired it for a moment, before asking, “How did you know I wanted to be proposed to in the moonlight? No, wait… Keiko.”
“I did enlist her help, yes. And Sh’thil’in’s. They were most accommodating, pretending to be interested in various marriage customs. Odo was also of assistance.”
“Odo? How did he help?” Julian frowned slightly.
“How do you think the ring fits?” Garak smiled gently at Julian, whose eyes widened in understanding.
“You crafty dragon.” Julian’s voice was full of admiration, before his eyes widened. “Oh!”
Julian took the pendant out of the box, and held it up. Garak bowed his head, allowing Julian to drape the chain over his neck, and settle it at the base of his neck ridges. “There. That fits perfectly.”
Garak ran his fingers over the pendant, which gleamed in the moonlight. “It’s perfect. How could it not?”
The two embraced, both grinning widely, giddy that, yet again, they were both on the same page.
###
Sh’thil’in, Keiko, Odo and Miles sat at a table in Quark’s, waiting for two people to leave the holosuites. Odo pretended to be drinking, while the other three enjoyed a meal, the O’Brien children being babysat by Jake and Ziyal.
Soon enough, Julian and Garak came down, Miles spotting them and waving. As they joined them at the table, Miles asked, “How was your date?”
Julian, grinning widely, held up his left hand. The table broke out in grins, Sh’thil’in somehow even rustling in an approving way.
Garak, also grinning, showed off the pendant, causing the table to laugh in delight.
“Congratulations!” Miles exclaimed, slapping Julian on the back, a sentiment echoed around the table.
“Thank you!” Julian replied. Garak inclined his head.
“I believe I have you all to thank for this.” Julian added.
Miles frowned. “Not me. I had no clue.” He looked around the table. “Bloody hell, was I the only one out of the loop?”
Keiko, laughing, nodded. “I couldn’t risk telling you, Miles. I know what you and Julian get like when you have a few too many, and I couldn’t risk it slipping out, before Garak had a chance. I didn’t realise Julian was going to propose, though!”
“Well, I did hide it well, apparently.” Julian admitted.
Sh’thil’in rustled again, before replying, “I had a suspicion. But I said nothing.”
“Jaysus, Julian.” Miles blurted out. “You didn’t tell me!”
“I did!” Julian defended himself. “When we were drinking, over a month ago! You told me to go for it!”
“Huh. I must have been five sheets to the wind then, to not remember that!” Miles looked downcast.
“Well, if it helps you feel better, I’ll need a best man. And I can’t think of a better man for the job.” Julian clapped Miles on the shoulder, who grinned at him.
“Yeah, you will. Someone will need to make sure you’re dressed properly and on time!”
Garak looked at Odo. “Would you be willing to stand with me, Constable?”
“I’d be honoured to, Garak,” Odo replied, inclining his head.
Sh’thil’in spoke up next. “I could be a decoration.”
The table burst out laughing, before Garak agreed. “You could be, if you’d like.”
“I would.” Sh’thil’in managed to sound pleased.
Miles waved to a waiter. “A round on my tab please!”
The waiter nodded and took everyone’s order before walking off, no doubt to let Quark know of the occasion.
When their drinks arrived, Miles proposed a toast. “To Julian and Garak.”
“To Julian and Garak!”