Down on the promenade, Garak was opening up his shop and hanging out his wares when he heard a low, gruff yet oddly tuneful sound behind him. As the sound came nearer he could just about make out words.

Each time I do, just the thought of you makes me stop - before I begin ..

He turned to see Odo coming towards him. Two things were unusual about this. First, it was he who was apparently making the strange sound. Second, he appeared to be smiling.

"Constable!" Garak was taken aback. "You're in a good mood!"

"Good morning, Garak!" said Odo heartily. "Isn't it a beautiful day?"

Garak had a quick look around to make sure he hadn't missed anything. It was exactly like any other day on the Promenade as far as he could see.

"You're singing," he said suspiciously.

"I'm not aware of any station regulations which prohibit private, non-profit-making singing on the Promenade," replied Odo cheerfully. He slapped Garak on the shoulder, turned and continued on his floaty way, singing "I've got you under my skin, I've got you deep in the heart of me..."

Shaking his head, Garak carried on arranging his shop.

Odo approached O'Brien and Bashir as they sat in Quark's at lunchtime.

"Doctor ..."

"Hello, Odo!" said Bashir. "I understand congratulations are in order. You should have seen Major Kira's face when she got out of the lift this morning and we all clapped her. She went the colour of a Risian sunset. Didn't she, Miles?"

"Yes, actually, that was what I wanted to talk to you about," said Odo. "I'm afraid I've been borrowing your holosuite program without your knowledge."

"You have? That explains everything!"

"Yes," said Odo. "Your Mr Fontaine has been extremely helpful. I got the idea after I overheard you telling the Chief about the advice he'd given you."

"That's not what I meant," said Bashir. "I mean that explains why I haven't been able to get a late-night holosuite all week."

"I'm sorry," said Odo.

"Don't worry," said Dr Bashir. "Evidently it was all in a good cause. I've never seen the Major looking so happy. Come to that, I've never seen you looking happy at all. I'm happy to have been the spreader of happiness, even inadvertently ..." He waved an arm expansively. But Odo was no longer there. A familiar, terracotta-clad figure had appeared at the door and he was off like a shot.

"Julian," said O'Brien.

"Yes, Miles."

"Shut up."

Late that night, in a quiet corner of the Klingon restaurant ...

"I didn't really know whether you still felt the same way about me," said Kira. "I didn't dare bring the subject up in case you'd changed your mind."

"I was convinced I did know how you felt about me. I also thought there was nothing I could do about it, " replied Odo.

She laughed. "We are a pair, aren't we? I've never been good at being aware of my feelings. What was it you said to me once? About Bareil? Something on the lines of - when it comes to emotional attachments you humanoids never see the obvious?"

"I remember. And what a fine piece of hypocrisy that was. It wasn't you I was talking about, it was me," Odo replied. "I was trying to cover up the fact that I'd only just realised - what my own feelings meant."

Kira looked down. "I'm sorry. I wish I'd known."

"Would it have made any difference?"

"At the time, probably not. Anyway, let's not dwell on the past. There's always the future."

"At the moment," said Odo, taking both her hands in his, "I'm more than happy with the present."

Vic was just coming to the end of his set when Odo walked into the holosuite. He made a crack at the audience then hurried across the room to greet his former pupil. "Odo! Long time, no see!"

"No. I've been busy," Odo replied.

Vic grinned. "I know. Julian tells me you and the Major are quite an item."

"For the moment," said Odo cautiously. "Who knows how long it'll last?"

Vic sighed. "That's my Odo. Always ready to turn victory into defeat."

Odo shrugged. "I just wanted to thank you for all your help."

"Any time, pally, any time. Hey, you feel like sitting in on a number?"

"Some other time, perhaps."

"No problem, pally. Say hi to the Major for me, will you?" As Odo turned to leave he called out: "Hey! D'you mind leaving the program running a few minutes longer? I feel like singing."

"Whatever makes you happy," said Odo, with a smile, returning Vic's gesture.

As Vic began to with sing "Come fly me, let's fly, let's fly away," he walked out of the holosuite, down Quark's stairs and over to the entrance of the Bajoran temple, just as she came out.