Ten-forward was silent and the tables had been empty for a long while now, the stars spun by in barely visible spectrums of color. Counselor Deanna Troi sat in a pale lavender chair across from one of the slender windows, across from her Imzadi. Her beautiful features were drawn and delicate and personified by the starlight in her dark eyes. He watched her as she stared down at the drink she was holding, as she revealed the feelings she so often discounted as unimportant and insubstantial, her feelings.  I used stare out my window and wish that I could here your voice, even if were only reading security reports or shield modulations. Sometimes I would convince myself that you were longing for me in the same way. I would look up at the brightest star in the sky and wish that you were near me, she said softly, casually brushing away a stray tear that she hadn't planned on shedding. In fact she had never planned on having this conversation with him at all. Now in the dimness of the room she couldn't even recall how it had started, but she felt her heart breaking all over again. Everyone tried their hand at cheering me up, but I just felt numb and they felt like vague presences and faint whispers to my ears. I knew your career had taken the best pat of me with it. For the first time, I really realized that things could would never be the same again. She looked back up at him and painted a polite smile on her face. Will's intense eyes reflected a bit of her pain as he slipped his hand up to wipe a small tear that had found its way onto the counselor's face, but she caught it and placed the cup she had been holding into his strong hands, getting up. He started to say something to her, but she silenced him with a barely controlled motion as she headed out the doors. He turned to watch her go, and as the doors slid shut behind her the first officer of the Enterprise found himself truly alone. 

   The counselor hid herself behind the doors of her bedroom and sat on the bed. She'd had a similar conversation with Lt. Riker a little over a year ago and at the moment when she had shared with him she knew it should've been the commander sitting across from her. This time when her true feelings had flowed from her lips it had been. She didn't have the strength to see how he would react and she didn't really know how it would effect him or the relationship they'd gotten comfortable with, and Deanna was almost sure she didn't want to.  Will Riker walked slowly up to Deanna Troi's quarters. He had been sitting in 10-Foreward for hours. It had to be close to morning. He knocked on the doors that led to the cabin and waited for a response. She was standing right behind the door and somehow he knew it. Deanna can we talk, he asked gently. Not now, she said in a hollow tone, go. Deanna, I'm sorry. . .,he began. I know, she said softly, placing her hand to the door squeezing her eyes shut, just leave. Deanna, he said his voice rising, This isn't fair I need to talk to you!!! I want to tell you...! Imzadi!! The counselor winced at the word, never had it brought her so much pain. Not only was she hurting, but she had hurt him, too. Please, she told him barely above a whisper, don't call me that. With that the counselor slid down the wall next to her, bursting into silent tears and the commander on the other side of her thumped his head into the bulkhead before complying with her wishes and heading sown the corridor to his own cabin.

    Sleeping was not an option as the first in command sat in his quarter staring straight ahead. All he had wanted to do was apologize, to tell her how foolish he had been. The memories and scars from their early relationship was still very vivid in their lives. They had drifted apart for so long, but now they were close, closer than before. It looked like choosing to forget there past instead of facing there feelings could now be detrimental to their relationship. Will was interrupted from the terrible thought when Deanna Troi walked through the doors to his cabin. She was wearing her nightgown, her eyes were bloodshot from crying-a mirror of his own- and she looked like her heart had been shattered all over again. He held out his hands for her to come to him and she did. Will cradled her in his arms and spoke to her with all sincerity and truth. I thought of you every waking moment, Dee. I didn't take the best part of you with me. You had my heart in your hands the whole time. She looked up at him and this time when he reached down to wipe away those tears she did nothing to stop him. She pulled down that lock of his hair like she always had and he smiled down at her. Do me favor will ya'? he asked. She look at him expectantly. He brought his hand to her cheek. Don't ever leave me outside when you're hurting on the inside? She nodded biting her lip slightly, the words held a depth to them that she was only beginning to realize. I promise, Imzadi, she told him, and slowly she felt an unspoken hope seeping back into her soul. Deanna Troi felt the pieces of her that had been broken so long ago being pulled back together with a renewed happiness and she new that her heart was being mended in his arms.