Paramount/Viacom owns all familiar names, places, characters and races… (Hey, a rhyming disclaimer!)
Hankie Alert: This is sad in places…
He awoke, alone. Jadzia was gone, but part of her went on in Dax. He had to be grateful for that; yet it was no comfort to his lonely soul…
Deep Space Nine had been so tantalisingly close, and Ariana Dax had, for one wonderfully insane minute, thought about changing course, and taking the runabout to padd 4, where she would then run to her- to Jadzia and Worf’s quarters, and tell her Klingon husband (widower) she still adored him.
But, she was travelling with Enole Jud and Moran Lar: Heads of the Symbiosis Commission, and Chief Executors of the Reassociation law. So, like a good little host, she’d passed up the perfect opportunity and headed back to Trill.
She could feel Worf’s presence wherever she was. It hadn’t been just Jadzia who had fallen for Worf; Dax had recognized in the Son of Mogh a soul mate. It knew that Worf and Dax were destined to be together, and Ariana planned to put it to the Symbiosis Commission…
After getting K’Ehyla and Orias ready for daycare, Worf sat alone. His muscular form still clad in his robe- the one Jadzia had bought him on Casperia Prime- he sat drinking raktajino, and reading the day’s schedule.
Then his terminal announced, "Incoming communique."
"From?" he demanded. If it was his mother, or Deanna wanting him to talk through his grief…!
"The Trill Homeworld."
Trill?! Could it be? Was it possible? Could she? Dax?! Kahless let it be Dax! "Put it through!" he stammered…
Onto his monitor blinked an auburn haired, blue eyed Trill female. Her eyes lit up upon seeing him, in that familier way which always made his heart skip a beat.
"Worf!" The pleasant alto voice caressed his name, "My name is Ariana - " she was cut off.
"Dax?!"
"Yes, my love. It’s me!" Tears started to steam down Ariana’s face, and her voice was choked.
"I thought I’d never see you again!" The woman caught herself and wiped her tears away, roughly. "I’m sorry. There you are; first thing in the morning and a complete stranger -- who just happens to have been your wife in her last life is weeping over the sight of you, and the sound of your voice… I’m sorry…"
"Dax. I have missed you so much! My life is empty without you. If there was only some way we could be together again, but - No. I am being selfish, I know your laws forbid it - "
Ariana interrupted him, her eyes flashing in a manner she had to have inherited from Jadzia. "Damn the laws! Now I know you still want me, I’m gonna request a reprieve from Reassociation! I need you Worf- and I will fight for us!"
She kissed her fingertips, and placed them on his lips on the screen, he did likewise. "’Til we meet again. I love you…"
"And I have fully integrated the memories of the previous hosts! I am not feeling an echo of Jadzia! This love exists between Dax and Worf; not Jadzia and Worf! All of the lost loves Dax has known: Nilani Kahn, Leonard McCoy, Xantia Ceh and all the others- pale in comparison! Can this law divide soulmates?" Ariana fininshed her impassioned plea to the Symbiosis Commission.
"Proffessor Dax. The Commission will contact you in three days time when we have weighed the options and evaluated your case. Dismissed."
Dax remembered Ben telling her of an old Earth place of legend called Purgatory. A place where you awaited absolution for past sins; where your future was decided; do you go to Paradise or the Abyss?
Those three days redefined the concept of Purgatory for Dax. She clung to the hope of being with Worf again, and to the photograph she had illicitly acquired of him…
On DS9, Worf pondered what Ariana had meant, and how far she’d go. He didn’t want her to sacrifice Dax by defying her culture, yet he wanted her beside him.. It was a week since he’d spoken to her, and he’d told no-one.
Worf looked around Ops at his friends; should he have told Kira, or Odo, or Benjamin? He sighed, and walked to the turbolift.
Alone, he picked up K’Ehyla and Orias from day-care, the three walked home, Worf silently listening to the childish rambling of his children, telling him what they did at daycare.
Neither of the children remembered Jadzia, but Worf often spoke of her to them. He let them sit at Jadzia’s dressing table, which still stood, untouched, in their quarters. K’Ehyla loved to look at her mother’s clothes, which still hung in the wardrobe, and Orias adored to play with the Tongo board Quark had given Jadzia, and his mother’s tricorder (sans power cell).
Yet, except for those two innocents, Worf had given up on life. Until the message came…
He had cleaned their quarters, trimmed his beard – even polished his sash. Things were to be ready, should Dax return.
Orias and K’Ehyla sat at the table, with a snack of jumja juice and cookies. They talked amongst themselves and Worf sat nearby with a raktajino, losing himself in the musical sound of his children’s chatter and laughter…
"Sisko to Worf!"
"Worf here!"
"Come to airlock 5. Our new Science Officer is arriving."
"Captain, I –"
"Keiko O’Brien is on her way to mind the children. Just come to Airlock 5, Commander. And if that has to be an order, it is."
On his way to the airlock, Worf grumbled to himself. Why was is so damned important that he meet the new Science Officer now? Couldn’t they be introduced at morning briefing? He wanted to be with his children…
He turned the corner. Sisko and Kira were there. The Major had a barely repressed grin on her face, and Sisko seemed excited.
"Her ship is docking now." Kira told him.
"You're here, there's nothing I fear,
A gorgeous red-haired Trill in a science uniform dropped her bags and ran to him.
Worf held out his arms and she leapt into them. Dax pulled his face to hers in a passionate kiss, for the first time in over two years…
When they finally pulled apart, she jumped down, fetched her baggage, and reported to Benjamin.
"Lt. Ariana Dax; has just come aboard, but requests permission to do so anyway!"
She hugged Sisko and Kira warmly, and then turned to her husband again.
"Let’s go home! I haven’t seen my babies in two years…"
"They are waiting, Dax. They love you, and so do I…" With that, Worf took her bags, and she, his arm.
The doors whoosed open. Worf called Orias and K’Eyhla. "Children, your mother’s come home!" Orias and K’Ehyla ran in.
Ariana squatted down, and held her arms out. With the complete trust of the very young they threw themselves in to their mother’s arms… The family were altogether again…
Keiko O’Brien entered the room. "Worf? Who is this?!" she demanded.
"Keiko! It’s me, Dax!"
"But, I thought.."
"I was dead? Jadzia is, but I’ll explain later.. Better not confuse the children… Oh, I’m Ariana, by the way…"
The oriental woman looked from the Trill to the Klingon whose love had demolished all boundaries.
"Do you want me to take the kids to our place tonight?"
Ariana lay in her husband’s arms, with her head on his shoulder. She felt, at last, complete.
"I love you, Worf."
"Don’t ever leave me again, Ariana."
"Never!"
And two soul mates just held each other, and reaffirmed their commitment and devotion. Nothing would ever separate them again …
And I know that my heart will go on…"
You are safe in my heart
And my heart will go on and on…"
Take me Back!