Will was lying in bed replaying the argument he and Deanna had..over what, he had no idea.
He had come to her quarters for the friendly talks they often had before each retired for the night.
It started out as a very friendly chat and then turned into a heated argument. They yelled at each other and at one point, he thought he heard her say 'I hate you!' and out of anger he yelled it back at her and stormed out of her quarters.
Now, alone in his quarters he realized he didn't mean the cruel words he had said and he absolutely did not hate her. He loved her. It wasn't often that Will cried, but now in the loneliness of his quarters, he did.
He cried for his cruel words, how much he knew he had hurt her, and for all of the regrets he ever had within his relationship with Deanna. He cried himself to sleep.
The next day in ten-forward..
Will came to ten forward for a drink after his shift and saw Deanna at a table in the far corner. He sighed deeply and walked over slowly to her. when he could see her face, he stopped dead in his tracks. His heart stopped and the breath was taken from his lungs.
She was crying.
Will immediately felt guilty and felt an icy hand grab his heart and squeeze the life from it. He went over and knelt down beside her and she looked down and saw him and opened her mouth to speak, but he held her words with the wave of his hand as he said in a low voice, one only intended for her,
"Deanna, I'm sorry for the things that I said to you last night."
He saw the tears that ran down her face and reached up to gently wipe them away.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, even now."
Deanna looked around nervously and said, "Aren't' you embarrassed with all these people watching?"
"No, not with you." "Deanna smiled and lowered her eyes just as Will's badge sounded, "Picard to Riker." "Riker here." "Commander, please report to the bridge." "On my way."
He looked back to Deanna and lowered her face to his with his index finger and said,
"If you don't want to forgive me, I understand..but do remember that I love you, o.k?" "I will." she answered softly. Will kissed her gently on the cheek and left for the bridge.
Deanna smiled and blushed slightly at the kiss he had given her and frowned for a moment as she realized how much she took his love for granted.
That evening, Will returned to his quarters and sat a briefing PADD on the table and noticed a small piece of paper sitting on the table. It read:
"Dinner with me in my quarters. Dress appropriately. Deanna."
Will smiled and ran to take a shower and get dressed.
He arrived at Deanna's quarters wearing a 20th century style shirt and tie and Deanna welcomed him in and noticed his tie and says,
"Your tie is messed up." She walked over to him and proceeded to fix it while he let his eyes roam over her.
She was wearing his favourite dress. The blue one that started at her shoulders and left her beautiful shoulders bare and curved beautifully around the rest of her body.
"There." She said as she fixed his tie. "I didn't know you knew how to do ties," he answered amazingly. "My father always wore one and I always liked to watch him do his tie in the mornings.."
Changing the subject as she noticed how Will was looking at her, she asked,
"What would you like for dinner?"
Will smiled seductively and said,
"You."
She looked up into those dazzling blue eyes and seemed surprised as he bent down and kissed her and was surprised when she returned the kiss, but accepted it and kept kissing her.
Just as he was getting used to the feel of the sensation of her lips against his once again, she gently pulled away. She looked down and smiled and once again asked,
"I guess I should rephrase the question: What would you like to eat for dinner?"
Will was tempted to say 'You' again, but he smiled and said,
"I'm sure whatever you have fixed will be fine." "Well, good, because I fixed your favourite."
She lead him over to her table and he helped her into her seat and then sat down at his and saw that she had fixed them his favourite, steak and potatoes with Auvian wine and chocolate pie for dessert. He smiled at he dessert and they ate in silence for a while and the Deanna said,
"I didn't mean the things that I said either, Will." Will looked up and said, "That's alright, everyone had arguments every once in a while. I'm just glad that we know how each other feels."
Deanna picked up her chair and came over to sit beside Will and held his hands and said,
"No, you don't know how I feel.." Will looked at her hands in his and said, "Well, how do you feel?"
Deanna couldn't believe she was about to do this, but went ahead and let it out as she gazed into his entrancing blue eyes and said,
"Will, I love you. I have always loved you and I will continue to love you, even when we argue like we did last night."
As she waited for an answer, Will couldn't believe what she had just said and as he looked into those exotic Betazoid eyes as he said,
"I love you too Deanna, even when we argue and I will always love you too."
Will leaned over and took her face in his hands and kissed her and their dinner was forgotten until morning..

END