Imzadi: My Version

From: mriana 

My version of "Imzadi" How it should have gone. chapter 1/?

This story begins around chapter 15 of the book "Imzadi". After the wedding. Parts are similar due to jump off points to add to what Peter David left out or to change it to how I thought it should be.

Chapter One

"I remember you!"

She stopped suddenly. She could not place the voice, but the sense of him was very familiar. She smiled to herself. "I should have expect this." she said to herself. She was very happy that he ran into her again, but was not about to let him know this.

"You were at the wedding yesterday weren't you?"

She nodded, but she was not about to let on that she was interested in him. No, she wanted to play hard to get for as long as she could. However, his blue eye were so intreguing and his babyboy face was so cute. "He's almost irresitable." she thought.

"The name is Lieutenant William T. Riker."

"What does the T. stand for?" she asked.

"Terriffic." he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.

"Are you trying to impress me? Because if you are it's not working." she said. "Now what does the T. really stand for."

"What's wrong? You can't take a joke?" he asked.

"No, it's not that." she responded. "I just don't go for those games."

"Games?" he stated. "You know, I get the feeling I'm not the one playing a game here. You haven't told me your name."

"Why should I? You already know my name, apparently." she said and walked off.

Something told him not to give up, but he could not put his finger on it. Something made him want to persue her, "but why was she playing so damn hard to get?" he thought to himself. Then he rushed after her.

"Let's try this again." he stated with a smile. "I'm Lieutenant William T. Riker."

"We've been through this already haven't we?" she asked rolling her eyes.

He just looked at her with a smile. "God, she's beautiful." he thought to himself. "So exotic."

"Oh, alright." she said. "Deanna Troi and the answer is no."

"I haven't even asked a question." he said shocked.

"No, but you were going to."

"How can I ask anything if everyone reads my mind before I even get a chance to know what it is I want to ask?" he asked.

"I assure I didn't read your mind just now, I know what was going on in your mind yesterday at the wedding and while I'm flattered, I'm just not interested in someone who is only interested in just outward appearances."

"Miss Troi, for one, were not on equal footing, because I don't know what was going on in your mind. And two, I assure you my interest in you is more than just outward, although it helps."

"Look I'm flattered by your attention and all, but I just don't believe in getting involved with someone who's main goal is to have an affair due to an outward attraction and make no attempt of having a relationship on a deeper level."

"Is that what you think?" he asked.

"Yes, it is. You thrive on not having any comments, because getting invovled with someone is to much for you. I just don't go for those types of relationships and prefer to know someone on a much deeper level."

"I would like to get to know you on a deeper level."

"The level you mean and I mean are two different subjects. I have no intentions of being a one night stand for anyone or even with an officer who is only going to be station here for a few months." she responded. "Good day, Lieutenant." She then walked off leaving a very perplexed Riker.

"Some how that did not go very well." he said to himself. "I just don't see how she read all of that in my mind, because that was not at all what I was thinking."

"I hope I didn't over do it." she thought. "But yet at the same time I don't want to be just another woman for him either. He is very attractive, but yet he's the kind who likes to play the field." she sighed inwardly. "Oh, if Mother knew she would throw a royal fit."

 

Later that evening as fate would have it, Deanna was at the Embassy and so was Riker. Riker was getting the scoop on Deanna from Mark Roper.

"Mark, you seem to have a grasp on these people. Can you tell me about their social style?"

"What do you mean?" Mark Roper asked.

"Well, are they all so damn unfriendly?"

"No." he answered. Then it came to him. "Will, are you interested in someone in particular?"

"Well, yes. A Miss Deanna Troi. She wasn't too friendly when I ran into her earlier today on campus."

"Well, you surely weren't out of line?" Mark asked.

"No I was fine. I was just uncomfortable with the knowledge she could read my mind."

Mark laughed. "What's so funny?" Will asked.

"Deanna can't read minds. Just emotions. Her father was human and so she's an empath. Not a telepath like her mother." Mark stated. "She senses moods, emotions and feelings. She very adept at sensing sexual desire, but only in a general sense."

There was a pause and then Mark brighten with the realization Will was very interested in Deanna. "Will, you're really interested in Deanna Troi aren't you?"

"Well, yeah, kind of. But with a greeting like she gave me, she makes it very difficult."

"I think you two had a bit of a misunderstanding, given the fact you thought she was reading your mind." Mark said. "She's right over there. Why don't you go and try talking to her again and tell her you may have misunderstood her?"

"She's not all that friendly."

"Will, give it another go, especially if you are really interested in getting to know Deanna." he said. "She really is a very nice person. And who knows you may get luckly." Mark smiled a mischeivious smile.

Mark was distracted by someone else who wanted his attention before Will could respond with his shock at Mark's statement, so he took this chance to make his way over to Deanna. He reached where she was and just stood there.

"Lieutenant Riker, why are you hovering over me?" she asked as she turned around.

"How did you know?"

"You WERE breathing down my neck!" she stated.

"No, not that." he replied. "How did you know I was going to be stationed here only a few months?"

There was no response from Deanna. She stood there just staring at him. "His blue eyes are so hypnotizing." she said to herself.

"I'm waiting." he demanded.

"I'm sorry. What was the question?" as she came out of her thoughts.

"How did you know I was going to be here for only a few months?" he restated. "An empath could not have read that from my mind."

"I... a... I asked around." she finally answered.

"Now why would you do that?" he taunted. "Could it be you are just as interested in knowing me as I am you?"

"I didn't say that." she replied.

"No, but you just insinuated that." he returned.

They bantered back and forth for a bit, while Deanna stabbed him with replies of supposed disinterest. "Lieutenant, what would it take to get through to you that I am not interested in you?"

"Go out with me."

"Go out with you?" she repeated. "That's suppose to show you I am not interested in you?"

"On the contrary, Miss Troi." he replied. "I think you are and going out with me would give you the opportunity to get to know me better, before you make a final decision about me."

"Oh, really?" she asked.

"Yes."

She did not say much, nor did she say she would go out with him. Instead, she continued to act disinterested and Will finally said, "Fine. Have it your way." Then starts to walk off.

Afraid that this could be the last chance she would get to see him or for him to even ask to go out with her she grabs him by the shoulder and says, "The day after tomorrow pick me up around midday and we can have a picnic lunch together."

"Oh, don't go to any trouble on my account." he replied.

"It's no trouble." she replied trying to hold back her enthusiasm.

"Well, then, I'll pick you up around noon." he flashed his famous Riker smile at her and turned to leave.

"Geeze! Deanna!" she kicked herself. "How could you? You almost over did the not interested act and almost lost any chance of going out with him." she berated herself for a bit and then smiled finally. "But you didn't entirely blow it. He is going to have a picnic with you the day after tomorrow."

While Will walked away with a big grin on his face, he thought to himself, "I finally convenced her to go out with me! The most beautiful woman on the planet Betazed!"

 

To: Imzadi_Pro@yahoogroups.com

From: "Mriana" <mriana@sixthhouse.zzn.com>

Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 21:33:45 -0500

Subject: [Imzadi_Pro] Imzadi: My version 2/? PG

Disclaimer: See chapter One.

Feedback: Please!

Imzadi: My Version

Chapter Two

Will just could not believe Mrs. Troi. "The things she said were

unbelievable and to go as far as reading what my favourite position

was!" Will said to himself. "I can't believe she did that!"

"I hope she wasn't too hard on you." Deanna said.

They were walking to their destination where they would be having the

picnic. Deanna drew Will out of his thoughts even with the beautiful

scenery.

"Oh, it's nothing I can't handle." he responded.

"Are you sure? My mother can be a little intimidating sometimes."

"Oh, don't worry about it."

"Oh, Lieutenant, I have to show you something." Deanna said while

walking in the direction of a beautifully coloured flower.

Will followed her. She bent over to touch the stem of the flower and

she gently shook. It made a very wonderful sound.

"It's beautiful and even sounds wonderful." Will commented. "What

is it called?"

"We call it Muktok." Deanna said. "It's one of my favourite plants.

"I'll have to remember that." Will said enjoying her enthusiasm for

the plant.

"They say this plant will live for a hundred years." she informed

him.

"Then maybe we should come back in a hundred years to see if it's

still here." he said.

She giggled and said. "I don't know if we will be here in a hundred

years."

Will smiled.

They walked a little farther to a beautiful glade. Riker was

enjoying the beauty of Betazed and Deanna's beauty. She wore her

hair down today and she looked even prettier than she did the other

day with it pulled up.

"I never knew a planet could have so much beauty." Will commented

and added silently "and you also."

"I like it." Deanna stated.

"It's as beautiful as the woman standing before me." he said with a

smile.

"Lieutenant, are you trying to flatter me again?" she smiled back at

him.

"I don't know." he said. "Is it working?"

"Well," she paused, then smiled. "I must say I am begining to enjoy

it."

She stops walking and turns to Riker. "Are you going to set the

basket down or shall we keep walking?"

"Oh," he said, "I'm sorry, is this where you want to picnic?"

"Yes." she answered. "I guess it's habit."

"What is?" Will asked.

"I've grown up here and sometimes I forget, not everyone knows what

is on my mind."

"We all have a tendency to fall back on what we're use to." Will

said excusing her.

They spread the blanket out on the ground. Deanna then pulled out

the food.

"I do hope you are game in trying foods from other cultures." she

stated.

"Does it bite?"

She chuckled. "No, it hardly does that."

She pulled out a dish of green leafy vegetable like food, with a few

other foods. Some he recognized. Some he did not. The one he

recognized without a doubt, due to it's aroma and sight were brownies.

"What is this?" he asked, pointing to the green leafy food.

"It's oskoid." she stated. "It's a delicacy on our planet. Tastes

wonderful. Try some."

Will was very willing to try it. He put some in his mouth and was

delighted with the tasted.

"This is wonderful." he stated. "What is it again? Squiod?"

"No." Deanna chuckled. "Oskoid."

"Oskoid?"

"Yes."

Moving on Will asked, "So what are you studying at the University of

Betazed?"

"Psychology."

"Intreguing subject." Will stated.

"I enjoy it." she stated. "Matters of the mind and how people feel

are of interest to me."

They ate the main chorus and talked. Asking questions of each other

and trying to get to know each other. Then Will commented, "I know

what that is." pointing to the brownies. "For we have brownies on

Earth."

"Very good, Lieutenant!"

"What it this?" he asked pointing to the pie. "It looks sort of like

blueberry pie."

"That my mother baked. It's Uttaberry pie."

"Now that I have never had before." Will stated. "Who baked the

brownies?"

"I did." she said with a smile. Then she asked, "You're good at

asking questions, but when someone asks you how you feel about

something your basic response is it was something within your

control. Do you ever answer with how something made you feel?"

"Once in a while. Why does it matter?"

"Well, Lieutenant,"

"Please call me Will."

"OK, I guess at this stage of the game it is more appropriate. And

you may call me Deanna."

"OK, Deanna, as you were saying?"

"Not everything can be describe in terms of whether or not you can

handle it. Sometimes acknowledging that you are aware of a situation

can be enough."

"In my line of work that is not always enough. You have to deal with

it."

"That's not true. What about the Prime Directive? Doesn't it say

you can't always get involved?"

"Well, it tells us the preferred way to handle it."

"Is control very important to you, Will?"

"Not letting things get out of control is important. There is a

difference."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is when everything is within defined parameters

everything is fine and you must keep them within those parameters."

he stated. "When things go out of those parameters it is not in

control."

"Do you always think in terms of Star Fleet?" she asked a little

indignant.

"Not always."

A moment of silence passed between them. They stared into each

others eyes. "God, his eyes are so beautiful!" she exclaimed to

herself. "Luckily he can't hear my thoughts."

"She is so beautiful." Will thought. "How did I get so lucky to be

with her today?"

Then Will had this urge to just kiss her. He leaned in, pulled her

close and kissed her. Deanna melted for a moment in his arms. "His

kiss is so wonderful, but I can't let this continue. I have to make

my point."

Suddenly, she kneed him in his stomach. Will had his breath knocked

out of him for a moment. When he looked at Deanna she was completely

composed as if nothing happened.

"Dessert?" she asked.

"Wh...Wh....Why did you do that?" Will asked still trying to catch

his breath.

"Why do you ask the obvious?" she asked "I think the reason I

stopped you is self-evident. Do you still feel in control?"

"Not particularly."

"You see? A moment ago I felt out of control so I had to reclaim it."

"You could have said no." Will stated.

"I did."

"No you did not say no." he said. "You may have thought you said

it, but you did not. If you had I would have stopped."

She looked puzzled. "I could have sworn..."

"You may have thought you said it, but you did not. Maybe you didn't

want too. For a moment you seemed to have been enjoying it. And you

think you know my mind so well. I don't think you know your own very

well."

"Is that a fact?"

"Yes." he said.

"Then just tell me one thing." she requested.

"And what might that be?" he asked.

"Would you like dessert or not?"

"Oh, what the hell. Why not." he said. "My stomach has been

through a lot this afternoon, why not a little more.

"Brownies or Utteberry pie?"

"Never had Utteberry pie. I'll give it a try."

Deanna looked hurt.

"What's wrong?" Will asked.

"Well, I was kind of hoping you would try my brownies."

"Well, if it's as good as the rest of the food you prepared, I'm sure

they are very good." he complimented. "I've never tried Utteberry

pie, though."

"Oh, OK." she said. "If you insist."

Will grabs her hand as she was serving the pie. "Tell you what. Why

don't you give me a little of both."

"OK." she smiled.

As they were eating dessert Will asked, "Have you met many humans?"

"Yes, most of my father's friends."

"Formed an opinion?"

"I prefer to make a case by case diagnosis." she stated.

"Spoken like a true Psychology student." Will said. "So, what are

you going to do with your degree when you get it?"

"I don't know." she stated. "I haven't decided. I'll probably do

the traditional thing and follow in my mother's footsteps. I just

haven't decided yet."

"I've had this conversation before with your mother and I really

don't want to go there again." Will said. "Don't you have a mind of

your own?"

"Excuse me?"

"You asked me if I ever said how I felt. Well now I'm asking you if

you ever think for yourself?"

"I have a mind of my own!" she retorted.

"Then why do I feel like I'm listening to a tape recording of your

mother?" Will asked.

"You just don't understand my people." still smarting from his

earlier statement.

"Then teach me." he requested. "I am interested in other cultures."

"Alright, I will."

"And I'll teach you to go with your feelings. Since you are into

everyone elses feelings, I don't think you know what your own

feelings are."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes." he confirmed.

"You know I think this was a bad idea." she said starting to pack up.

"Well, that's the first thought of your own I have heard you express

so far." Will exclaimed.

"Oh, really?" she asked indignant.

"Really." he confirmed again. "I have a question for you?"

"Yes? And what might that be?" she asked.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"What?" she asked with shocked.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" he repeated.

"Are you saying you are in love with me?"

"You haven't answered my question."

"You didn't answer mine."

"I'm just asking a question." he asked. "So please just answer my

question and not answer with a question."

"Yes." she answerred and proceeded to explain her theory.

"Well, that makes sense." Will replied. "However, if you ever did

meet your soul mate you'd probably rationalize it to death,

especially since you try to be so rational."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes."

"You know we just don't think the same and we come from two different

worlds." she said. "I don't know whatever gave me the idea that we

could even go out in the first place. There's just no future for us."

"Well, I've challenged you to teach me about your people." he

reminded her. "Here's another challenge."

"And what that may be?" she asked.

"Change me."

"What?"

"You're a psychology student and I'm offering to be your guinea

pig." he stated.

"You're just hoping that if I agree to this, that it will give you an

opportunity to make love to me."

"That's right and you're hoping it too." he said. "You just can't

admit that you have some sort of feelings for me, but I can tell you

do."

"You speak with such conviction, William Riker." She was turning red

as she said this.

"I didn't read your mind." he said. "I just guessed what was on

your mind and you just confirmed it."

"I did not!"

Will chuckles. "OK, if you say so. I guess your blushing meant

nothing."

She did not say anything for a moment. Then she said, "OK, I'll take

you up on both your requests."

"Is that a deal?"

"Yes." she agrees. "It's a deal."

"Lead me to the maze, Miss Troi."

"Are we on a formal basis again?" she asked.

"Well, if you are the teacher to teach me and psychologist that will

change me, I guess we are." he said jokingly.

"Give it up, Mr. Riker." she said. "You've flattered me and

everything else already. There's nothing else you can do today."

"If you say so." he smiled.

Will walks her back to her house. As they approached her home, they

were laughing and giggling again. They approached the door and as

they did Will speaks.

"Well, Deanna, I guess I'll see you again tomorrow."

"Yes." she confirmed. "I think you'll like the museum."

"I'm sure I will." he said. Then he turned to leave and as he steps

off the last step, Deanna begins to say something.

"Will."

He turns back around. "Yes."

"I know we had our share of disagreements today, but I did have fun."

"I'm glad you did." he said with a smile. "I did too." Then he

departs and Deanna walks on into her home.

Chapter 3

Deanna was so glad her mother was out for the evening, so she could be alone with her thoughts. Regardless of being in her room or not she had the whole house to herself. Even so she spent the evening in her room.

She was rather glad she went out with Will Riker earlier today. Sure they had their disagreements, but she still enjoyed being with him. It was like there was some sort of magic between them. She felt so free to talk to him and say anything she wanted to and there was no reading of the minds. Her thoughts were hers until she voiced them and she did. The thoughts that were hers he did not critisize like her dear old mother. No, he listened and then said what was on his mind openly and honestly.

Then there was that kiss. He was a great kisser, but she had to get her point across about control of situations. Oh sure, it was not what a therapist would do in therapy, but it got her point across. No one can be in control of every situation and one should be able to talk about their feelings rather than handling things. However, she was never really out of control. She got a kiss, which was what she wanted to begin with and it did not go any farther.

Will was so strong and so handsome, but outward apperances does not make a soul mate. Although she knew she could get very lost in his baby blue eyes. "His eyes were as blue as the Betazoid sky." she thought dreamily.

"Why would he want to be a little more than a guine pig though? I explained to him I'm not a full fledge therapist and he still wanted to be my guine pig. He's right though, it is only unethical if I were to pass myself off a something I was not. Maybe he does want to get in my pants, but he is right about one thing. I would love to be taken by him and made love too. He stirs something in my soul and I have no idea what it is."

"Could he be that other part of my soul? Is he that part of me that is missing? The part one goes around looking for most of their lives? Have I been fortunate enough not to spend my whole life looking for my soulmate? He asked me if I believed in love at first sight and I gave him my definition of what I thought a soul mate was. It was everything I've been asking myself now. Do we just fit? I was comfortable around him and it was like I have known him all my life. Is he my soul mate? My Imzadi?"

"He maybe right. If I ever found my soul mate, I would analyze it to death. I'm doing it now."

"Well, there's always tomorrow and probably beyond that. All I know is right now I am very infatuated with him and hoping one day he will make mad passionate love to me. And I can show him what it is like to make love to one's mind. The joys of making love to another's mind." she chuckled at that last.

"He did read me like a book when he said I was hoping that continuing to see each other would give him the opportunity to make love to me. He just stirs my soul. Maybe another book could be written on the joys of sex. Call it "The Joyous of Sex With a Betazoid"." She could not help but laugh at her own thoughts.

It was going on 9:00 in the evening and she was starting to get very tired from her long day. She heard her mother finally return home. "Little One?" Lwaxana called. "Little One, I home."

"I'm upstairs, Mother."

"Going to bed early?" Lwaxana asked climbing the stairs to Deanna's room.

"Yes, I'm rather tired." Deanna told her. "It's been a long day."

"Oh, well. I was hoping you would tell me about your date." Lwaxana stated. "He didn't try anything funny, did he?"

"No, Mother." She rolled her eyes. "He was a gentleman."

"Are you telling me the truth?" Lwaxana asked. "I'm sensing you aren't telling me everything."

"Mother, I'm tired." Deanna stated. "Can we discuss this in the morning?"

"Oh, alright." Lwaxana gave in. "I'll let you get some rest, but then you tell me all about it in the morning. And don't leave out any details."

 

The next morning Riker was having breakfast at the cafe across from the Federation Embassy. Mark Roper had caught up with him and joined him for breakfast.

"So how did your date go with Deanna Troi?"

"Very nicely." Will said.

"Lwaxana is something else isn't she?"

"Oh, yes." Will agreed. "Would you believe she voice to me all the sexual thoughts she thought I had and even was going to state my preferred sexual position before I stopped her? She really eavesdrops, doesn't see."

Roper laughed a loud boisterous laugh. "Yes, she does. So how was she?"

"Lwaxana?"

"No, Deanna?" Mark asked. "Did you do it?"

"Mark, why are you so interested in my sex life?"

"I don't have one, so I'm living vicariously through you." Mark stated.

"Do me a favour and get your own sex life." Riker told him.

"Nothing happen did it?" asked Mark.

"No."

"I figured. Your not her type. She goes for the intellectual type. No offense." Mark said.

"None taken, but I'm no intellectual midget." said Will. "But I think I am her type. She wants me. She just hasn't admitted it yet, but she does want me."

"Really?" Said Mark. "You really think so, huh?"

"Yes, I do."

"I bet you 100 credits you won't ever become intimate with her."

"Mark, that is very crass. It's tasteless. It's just not right. I could never make a bet like that!"

"200 credits."

"It's a bet."

"No funny stuff, either." said Mark. "No getting her drunk or forcing her just to bag her."

"I would never force a woman to do anything she didn't want to do." informed Will. "I have never ever done that in my life and I am not about to start now. Not even for 200 credits."

Mark patted him on the head and said, "Captain, You've just been taken for 200 credits."

"Yeah?" said Will. "We'll see about that. I'll show you just how wrong you are and take you for 200 credits on your stupid bet."

"OK. If you say so." Mark shrugged.

"Oh, hell." said Will. "If I win you can keep your 200 credits."

"No, a bet's a bet." Mark affirmed.

"No, I really don't want it."

"You really have it bad for her don't you?"

"Maybe I do. Maybe I do." said Will. Then he got up and left the cafe to go to his office.

As he walked all he could do was think about Deanna Troi. Her beautiful brown eyes, soft hair, and a body to die for. "She's smart too. Looks and brains. The perfect woman." Will thought to himself. "Ah, who am I kidding! She'll never go for me in a million years."

Will walked into the Embassy and headed off for work. Deanna plagued his mind for the rest of the day though, and by the end of the day, he was very excited for their next date at the museum.

Chapter 4

They met at the museum and Deanna was trying to explain to Will the history of the structure, as well as the design theory. However, Will was admiring a different work of art.

"I'm so glad she wore her hair down again. It flatters her face so much and her dark hair brings out her beautiful brown eyes. And that outfit! Wow! What it does to her body! What it does to mine! She has such sensuous curves that a man would just die to be able to touch all those lustrous curves. Her breasts are so full. What I wouldn't give just to touch one of them! Her lips. Oh, God, her lips are so full and shapely that to kiss her would be heaven! What a Godess! Goddess of the moon."

"Why do I even bother!" Deanna said.

"Huh? What?" Will said startled out of his thoughts.

"You're not interested in anything I'm saying! I'm trying to explain to you why this building is a work of art!"

"And I'm trying to explain to you that I can only admire one work of art at a time." Will said with a big grin on his face.

"And right now you are admiring me."

"I guess so, yes."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him along saying, "Come on!"

Inside Betazoid music was playing and people were sitting in seats that were arrange in a circle. They had their eyes closed and what Riker did not understand was why. He looked at Deanna and her eyes were also closed. She had a serene look on her face.

"Are you alright?" Will asked.

She openned her eyes and could not believe Will was not able to become one with the music. To feel what it was all about. "This is music for the soul. It helps you become one with your surroundings. It is a symbolizism of Mother Betazed. Listen to it and feel what it is saying to you. Let it pervade your body and speak to you."

Will closes his eyes and listens to the music.

"What is it saying to you?" she softly asked Will.

"What's it suppose to say?" he asked.

She was getting a little irrated that he just could not understand what she was trying to teach him about her and her people. Nor could he relax and become one with his environment. To be in communion with himself and what was around him.

Again, she grabbed his hand and dragged him off to another section of the museum where there was abstract art of some sort. There were artistically designed seats in front of each painting. "More Betazoid art design going on with the seats." Will thought. It reminded him of old Roman design cement benches, but these were not concrete. They had a softer touch than concrete. Even looked more comfortable.

People were sitting in front of the paintings staring at them intently. What Will did not yet understand was the people were in silent communion with themselves and their surroundings.

Deanna spoke very softly, as though she were in a library. "I come here once a week."

Even with how softly she was talking, people turned and stared at her like she were interrupting a church service during prayer. They looked at Deanna and then at Will and their faces turned from mild irritation to understanding tolerance and pity. It was like they were saying, "Poor human. He can't get in touch with higher areas of his mind to communicate telepathically."

Riker was a little annoyed by it. "What? They think they are better than thou because they are telepathic?" He let it go and asked Deanna, "Why do you come here once a week?"

"I come her once a week to get in touch with myself." she explained. "In order to understand others you must be in touch with yourself. To be in touch with yourself you must focus on something and let it speak to you."

"This is suppose to speak to me too? Can't anything on this planet keep it's mouth shut?" Will asked. Then regretted it because he rememberred Betazoids do not talk to each other with their mouths.

She was mildly annoyed with his statement. "How complicated can this be?" she thought to herself. Then she said to Will, "Betazoids believe in full communion. To be in full communion you must be in communion with three things. Communion with each other. Communion with the world and first and foremost, before one can be in communion with any of those two elements, one must be in communion with themselves."

"Deanna, I feel like this is some sort of a religion and I'm at church."

"What?"

"I just don't get it." he said.

"Will, it's a way of life, not a religion." Deanna said. "A way of life that helps you become one with yourself and everything around you."

"And this painting is suppose to help do that?"

Deanna turns to the painting and says, "Yes."

"What's it called?"

She looks at him like "Unbelievable."

"If I knew what the damn thing was," he said. "I would at least know what the artist was trying to convey."

The "damn thing" has no name." she said. "To name it would be imposing the artist's view onto everyone else. The point is to become one and to visualize what the world is to you. Not someone else's vision of the world. A person can not become one if other people's views are imposed on them. Look at the picture and visualize what it is saying to you. Let it speak to you and tell me what it is saying to you."

He stares at the picture and has no idea of what it could be communicating to him. He felt very uncomfortable at this idea of music and paintings speaking to people. The fact was he had no idea what the symbolism of all this was, nor what she meant by it being a way of life. All he could concentrate on was how to get Deanna's clothes off of her. To feel her soft curves of her body, but these thoughts he realized were just going to get him into trouble again. Especially with a planet full of telepaths.

Deanna tried to get Will to relax by massaging his neck. Will thought her massage felt so good. He was feeling the tension ebb from his body. Then she stopped. He wished she would have continued. "She could massage any part of my body she wanted to any day." he thought.

"Now that you are relax look at the picture and see beyond the superficial. What is there to learn from the painting about ourselves. Now tell me what you see." she asked him.

"I see."

"Yes. Go on."

"Big goopy paint swirls."

Deanna was even more frustrated now. He just could not see beyond anything. Only the surface of things. He could not let what lie beneath something move him in anyway, shape, or form. He could not allow anything to speak to him. He just had no idea.

"Tell me, Will. What are you going to do when you run into something in space that you can not understand?"

"I have instrumentation to tell me what it may be."

"You won't have to depend on yourself?"

"I didn't say that."

"Well, Lieutenant, there will be times when you can't rely on that instrumentation and you have to rely on yourself. You have to be able to know why you think as you do or you'll be going down the wrong road."

"Thank you for your opinion, Miss Troi."

"Come on, we're getting out of here." she stated.

"Where are we going now?" Will asked.

"We're going to try something different." she said. "We're going to get back to nature to teach you what I'm trying to teach you."

Will thought, "Nature. Now this could be interesting." Looking at her back side and smiling.

They walked outside the museum and down a ways to a tree. Will thought, "This tree is suppose to teach me something? I suppose she is going to tell me it can speak to me, next."

He watched Deanna climb the tree, watching all the muscle in her body move and thought, "God, this woman is sooo sexy! The way her body moves even up a tree!" Then he followed her up and went to the opposite branch as she instructed.

Deanna shakes her head and says, "You know what your problem is? You let your body rule your mind, instead of your mind ruling your body."

"What do you mean?"

"You're attracted to me, but it's hormonal. Not on a spiritual or intellectual connection."

"You said earlier you believed in love at first sight. Isn't that physical?"

"No, it's a spiritual connection between two people. You're too primitive in your thinking for that."

"You're saying my hormones push out all higher forms of emotion?"

"Yes."

"Well, thanks a lot, Miss Troi." he said sarcastically. "Tell me, have you ever had really good sex?"

"You just can't figure me out can you? You think you can just get me to have sex with you just by flashing your smile. Well, welcome to the twenty-four century. Women are not like that anymore. At least where I come from."

Deanna then had the two of them do a mind over matter exercise, by hanging from the tree. Riker was the first to come down from the tree. He watched her hang there a little longer. Watching her body and thinking how magnificent it was. "If only you could get your body out of that mind of yours and let me sex you up. I could really rock your world." he thought with a grin. Then he thought to himself, "Will Riker, you really have your mind in the gutter now."

Then Deanna came down, but she slipped on the way down and Riker caught her in his arms. Their faces were just inches from each other. Will leaned in and kissed her. She melted in his arms and returned the kiss. A long luxurious kiss. Will started to probe her mouth with his tongue and Deanna pulled away.

In a whisper she said, "You can put me down now." She was trying to catch her breath from the kiss. It was so pleasurable to her. She enjoyed it so much that she wanted more, but that would counterdict everything she was trying to explain to Will.

Will hadn't put her down yet and he also wanted more, but she yelled to him, "Put me down now!"

Not meaning to, Will dropped her to the ground. "I heard you in my head!" he said in shock.

"You couldn't have." she insisted.

"I distinctively heard you."

"You did not." she said trying to compose herself and get control of her own feelings.

That was when Will realized she was in pain. Not from the fall, but because of him. He realized she must have been sensing his erotic thoughts over her and decided it was best that he try hard not to think of her in such a manner. "But it's so damn hard when a woman looks like a goddess." He said to himself.

Once she got her own thoughts back in line, she pointed out to Will, that he could not do any of the things she was trying to get him to do because of his erotic thoughts about her. That he could not get beyond the needs of his body and focus on more important things.

Will informed her that she was also listening to the needs of her body. She just did not want to admit it. Deanna was not about to let him know that he was right, though. She wanted to make love to him so badly, but she was beyond that. So she had thought. Instead she blamed her slipping on a piece of bark and walked off.

As she was walking back home she thought about Will and that kiss. She wanted him very badly, but she was going to milk this for all it was worth. No matter how she felt or what he thought. She wanted Will to want her for her and not for her body. The air was within her caught in her chest as she then thought, "But oh, gods! He stirs so many feeling in me that I just want to melt into his arms and make love to him."

 

Chapter 5

Deanna and Lwaxana were having dinner that evening. Like always, Mr. Homn was banging the gong for every bite taken to praise the gods for the food eaten. Most nights this annoyed Deanna immensely, but tonight it did not bother her, for her mind was on other things. In this case, Will Riker.

Lwaxana was concerned something may have been troubling her daughter, so she did a mind brush. Deanna completely ignored it and had blocked her thoughts from her mother. So, with frustration Lwaxana resorted to the inconvience of speaking aloud.

"Little One." Lwaxana said.

"Mother, please." said Deanna. "I'm a grown woman, not a child. I am almost 21, not 3 years old."

"OK, Deanna." Lwaxana restarted. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing is bothering me."

"Are we resorting to casual lies?"

"No, Mother. Everything is fine." Deanna reaffirmed.

"First you brush aside my mind brush and then you refuse to tell me what's bothering you. Really Deanna, I'm hurt. I thought we were more open with each other than that."

"No, Mother. There's no reason to be hurt." Deanna said. "Technically, I'm the one who is usually open to you. Is it really necessary that I share every intimate detail of my life with you?"

"Intimate?"

"Mother, please. I really don't want to get into it."

"You want to fuck him." Lwaxana let the crude response float from her mind to Deanna's.

Deanna turn red and said, "Mother! That was really uncalled for!"

"So it is him. The Star Fleet man. Striker."

"Riker, Mother."

"Mr. Homn, get me Star Fleet!" Lwaxana demanded. "We'll put a stop to this relationship right now!"

"Don't you DARE, Mother." Deanna scolded her mother.

"You tell me, the holder of the sacred chalice of Riix, don't you dare?" Lwaxana repeated. "How dare you talk to your mother like that! Who in the Great Fire do you think you are talking to? One of your friends? I will not be addressed in that manner by anyone, especially you, young lady!"

"I'm sorry, Mother." Deanna backed down.

"Ever since you met this Piker."

"Riker."

"Whatever his name is, you have been trying to ignore your responsibilities to the Fifth House."

"I have not!" Deanna insisted.

"And may I remind you of your commitment to Wyatt." Lwaxana said.

"Mother, Lieutenant Riker is just a friend." Deanna stated. "Besides, where is Wyatt now. I refused to be force into an out dated tradition. It's archaic."

"Archaic!" Lwaxana repeated in shock and dismay. "This is that Biker's doing isn't it?"

"Riker! and no Mother, it is not." Deanna said. "You know Mother, I do have a mind of my own that I can think with."

"Little One, I'm not holding you to anything, but a tradition and a custom. I don't come up with these things to inconvience you. I simply teach them to you and I expect you to abide by them. You know your place in society and the responsibility that it holds. And you will abide by them. Right?"

Deanna looked down at the floor for she knew how her mother expected her to answer. She really did not want to say she would. She wanted her own life and to live the way she wanted to live it. Not by some archaic tradition and custom.

"Right." Lwaxana repeated.

"Yes, Mother." Deanna finally responded.

"Very well." Lwaxana stated. "Now you will not be seeing him any more."

"Mother!" Deanna said. "He's just a friend and I can handle myself just fine."

"Oh, dear, I'm sure you can." Lwaxana said. "But it's not you I'm worried about it's him."

"I assure everything is fine and you have nothing to worry about."

"I know I don't, because you will not be seeing him anymore." Lwaxana insisted. "End of discussion.

 

Will Riker over the course of the days that followed read the Betazoid Primer and just did not understand any of it. On top of it all he had not heard a thing from Deanna in days and she had not return his calls.

He received stategy advice from fellow colleagues on how to handle the situation. Roper insisted Riker had lost the bet to him, but Will insisted differently. Finally, Roper slipped and told Will it was Lwaxana's doing that he was not hearing from Deanna, much less seeing her. Will felt shock and frustration and disbelief. He just had to see Deanna again. He had to come up with a stategy. Which he did and he was going to carry it out the next day.

Chapter 7

Will and Mark were having breakfast together as usual when Xerx came in and joined them. Mark stayed and chatted for a bit and then excused himself because he had to rush off to a meeting. Left with Xerx, Will found out he was a Psychology teacher at the University and Deanna was attending one of his classes.

Will asked, "Then maybe you can answer a question for me."

"Go ahead."

"Have you ever heard of a therapy technique where the therapist and patient take off all their close and lie next to each other and even.. press up against each other?"

"I'd think that would lead to sex." Xerx said very amused. "What has that Troi girl done now?" He thought to himself. "Well, I must say Riker seems like a fine young man."

"Well, no. It's done to move past the physical and deal with each other on a purely intellectual manner. But why am I explaining this to you? You teach Psychology."

"Oh, my, that Troi girl has done a real number on this man." he thought. Trying hard not to laugh he told Will, "Lieutenant, I have been teaching and practicing for a long time. I can assure you, I have never heard of a technique like that except in maybe cases of sexual dysfunction. Was this a case of sexual dysfunction?"

"N-no." Will stammered.

"In that case," said Xerx, "I see little purpose for that sort of contact beyond the obvious gratifications." Then leaning forward toward Will he asked, "Who told you about this?"

"No one." Will said quickly. "I just heard it around."

"Riker apparently forgets I am Betazoid." Xerx said to himself. "Well, no matter, I have enough information. I'll just have to have a talk with her, but I have to find away to bring it up to her without embarrassing her or her worrying that I may tell her mother or where I heard this."

"Lieutenant, is there something you want to discuss with me?" Xerx asked.

Will thought smiling, "Deanna really pulled a number on me. I knew she had to be up to something. Well, at least she's happy and I'm amused."

Trying to wipe the smile off his face, Will says to Xerx, "No, I just find the entire thing funny."

"I see." Xerx said and then to himself, "Well, at least the human has a good sense of humour and from what I can tell, he has a lot of feelings for Deanna."

Will's com-badge suddenly beep and he tapped it. "Riker, here."

"Planetary sensors detect an incoming Sindareen ship and they are refusing all attempts at being hailed."

Riker was on his feet. "Planetary defense sys.."

"Too late." said Tang. "These Betazoids are so damn peaceful, they hardly have anything and what they do have is too little, too late. The squad is scrambled and it appears the ship is headed for the heart of the city."

"I'm on my way." said Riker.

Everyone in the cafe' were too worried about the situation to be insult about what Tang said. They feared for their families and their friends. Riker did not need to be an empath to feel the anxiety levels skyrocketing in the cafe'. He felt them loud and clear.

Xerx approached him with tremendous worry in his eyes. "An open area makes them easy targets, but also with the density of our population makes it easy to harm innocents. Don't let your determination to catch them be your first and last mistake."

Riker regarded him for a moment and said, "Understood."

 

Deanna and Chandra were in the museum. Deanna got a sudden chill.

"Deanna are you ok?" Chandra asked.

"Yes, it's just.."

"It's that Riker isn't it? The one from the wedding?" Chandra asked her friend.

Deanna nodded with hesitance.

"What about him?" Chandra continued to inquiry.

"I don't know. He's not like any man I ever met." Deanna said dreamily. "He's just different and Mother can't seem to accept that I like him a lot. He has no ties to our planet or our culture and Mother can't seem to handle that. She's gone as far as treating me even more like a child and has forbid me to ever see him again. Oh, Chandra, I just have to see him, though." Tears came to Deanna's eyes.

"I can see how you would be upset."

Another chill past through Deanna. She was feeling more than just her desire for Will. She wondered why Chandra did not feel it. Surely she did.

"It's just when I'm with him all rational thought just seems leave me." she said. "And all I want is him."

All of a sudden Deanna's face turns ashened. "Deanna, what's wrong?" asked Chandra.

"You don't sense it?" Deanna grabbed her friend's hand. "We have to get out of here!"

Suddenly, Chandra sensed it too. "Oh, Gods!"

Other Betazoids were reacting as well and tried to quickly get out of the museum, but to no avail. As fast as they reacted doors suddenly started to burst inward by phaser blasts. Then a section of a wall was blasted down, falling on top of a man and crushing him. The Betazoids suddenly froze in fear of what the saw. They were surrounded with no where to go. They were trapped like animals with no way of escape by formidable beings.

Chapter 8

Deanna sense terror in her friend. Chandra was afraid she would never see her husband again, but Deanna's main concern was survival. She was not willing to accept the notion that she was going to die here.

The Sindareen prodded and herded the thirty plus Betazoids into a circle in the middle of the room like they were cattle. As they did Deanna was thinking surely they would be rescued, for their ship could not have gone undetected. She knew steps for rescue had been taken and she knew, without any question or doubt, Lieutenant William T. Riker would be leading that rescue.

For some strange reason, that thought gave Deanna a lot of comfort. She knew everything would work out and they would be rescued and she had these feelings within her for quite a while. Until a Sindareen blaster was shoved into her mouth.

She had no idea why he took such action, but she now felt fear. She knew without a doubt it was because she and Chandra were about to make their way out the exit he blasted through. But was blocking their escape not enough?

She sensed Chandra's fear become even greater at this point and she tried to telepathically comfort her friend. Then realized seeing her with a blaster stuck in her mouth that nothing was going to comfort her friend.

The hugh, burly monster that had the blaster stuck in Deanna's mouth shouted, "Now get back there! All of you and don't try to stop us or someone's going to die. Starting with this woman here!"

Deanna tried hard to continue to breath, but fear was causing her to forget to breath. She knew if she did not remain calm she might not survive this. She fought showing any fear as best she could and she mind sent to her whimpering friend "Do not let them know you are afraid."

Still it did little to help Chandra. Chandra was certain her friend and many more were going to die. Certain that she would not see her husband again, who she had married not too many weeks back. Certain that she was going to watch her best friend die here and now.

 

Riker walked up beside Tang and asked, "What do we have?"

They were about a hundred yards away from the museum and Betazoids were gathering near, sensing the terror that was going on in the building. They wanted to try and comfort their families and friends who were kept prisoners in the building. But Tang, who the Betazoids were begining to think was a mongrel, order his people to keep the distraught people back.

Tang replied to Riker, "There's the ship they came in." as he pointed toward the top of the building.

Both Tang and Riker decided it would not be a good idea to destory the ship at this time, because it could leave the Sindareen desparate enough to harm more people inside. Riker came up with an idea which he thought was brilliant.

"Who's your communications expert?" he asked Tang.

"Hirsch." he replied and tapped his comunicator "Hirsch get your butt over here."

Riker was thinking, "Tang isn't going to make a very good command officer talking to people like that, but now is not the time to concern myself with Tang's style."

Riker turns to Tang and asks, "How many people are in there?"

"Not certain, but one of the stronger Betazoids said she sensed about thirty Bbetazoids and nine Sindareen."

Hirsch, a stocky brunette in great shape, ran up to them not even huffing and puffing,and said, "Yes, sir."

Tang pointed to Riker and she faced him.

"I want to talk to the Sindareen." Riker said. "Odds are they left someone on that ship to communicate with and to be their eyes and ears."

"And you need me to find the frequency so you can talk to them?" she responded.

"Yes and keep in mind they may have scrambled it." Riker replied.

Her facial expression showed just what she thought of the Sindareen's communication technology and then she said to Riker, "No disrepect sir, but I thought you were going to give me something hard to do. Their communications system is not much more than a child's walkie talkie in my opinion." Then she dropped down to the ground to pull out her equipment out of her bag and set to work.

Within seconds she said, "Got it, Lieutenant. I just need a few seconds to unscramble it. Apparently they think we can't do it, but this is child's play to me." she smirked.

 

"Let her go!" yelled the leader of the Sindareen to the man who had the blaster in Deanna's mouth. "Let's not start picking them off until we absolutely need to. We need them as leverage to get out of here, remember?"

The man tossed Deanna aside and she landed on the floor. She was relieve to have that blaster out of her mouth. Chandra tried to scramble over to her, but when she heard the leader shout at the rest of the group she frozed.

"Baytah!" he snapped at his men. It was a deep, throated growling sound that came out of his mouth next "Zroah!" What are you standing there for? You two get to the other room and clear it out! You others- Move! We don't have all day!"

As his men scurried to clean out the place the Betazoids started to gasp and protest. The leader turned his blaster toward them and roared, "Shut up! All of you or I'll start shooting every last damn one of you. One by one. Right here and now!"

They quieted and the leader continues in a sacchrine sweet manner, "My dear Betazoids, I am called Maror. If you would be so kind as to cooperate, we can get this over quickly without to much difficultly to any of you."

Deanna thought his name more appropriately should be moron. Then without any control she said, "But why!"

Chandra tried to pull her back into the group, but it was too late. She had attracted the moron's attention. Somehow, surviving the last incident had embolden her, even with Chandra's warning for her not to even think of more appropritate names for these people.

Maror's gazed at every inch of Deanna in a way that made her suddenly feel dirty. She tried to ignore the feeling. She could not, however, get an empathic lock on him and her uncontrolled outburst came from that aggravating defeat.

"But why what?" he asked. "Why should you not interfer with our proceedure?"

Deanna tried to picture her mother who seemed to have never been intimidated by anything or anyone. "Deanna, keep quiet." Chandra sent to her.

But that did not detour Deanna. She summoned the courage to ask her question and look the formidible enemy straight in the eye as she asked it. "Why are you stealing our art treasures? The surely can't hold any meaning for you? They're peices of art that sprang from the hearts and souls of Betazoid artists?"

He made a sound that she assumed was the equivalence to laughter and said, "Are you under the impression that we are going to sit around and look at these meaningless pictures? Don't be rediculous. What we have is a Ferengi who is an avid art collector and is willing to pay handsomely for one of a kind art. You should be flattered that your work has attracted his attention, for he is very discriminating in the interest of profit."

Then a voice came over the comm informing "There's a large crowd of typical Betazoids gathering and trying to figure out how everyone is feeling and doing nothing about the situation ".

"Yes, that is typical." grunted Maror in disgust of their culture. "Anything else?"

"Yes, Star Fleet appears to be trying to take control of the situation."

"Let them. As long as we have hostages they won't do a thing. I esti..."

But before he could finish another voice broke in. "Attention, Sindareen raiders. You are completely surrounded and cannot escape. Surrender is your only alternative."

Deanna's dark eyes widened and her heart leaped with joy at the sound of Will's voice. For the briefest of moments Deanna wanted to cry out to Will and tell him she was there and ask him to help get her out, but she knew that was not wise. For if he knew, it could hinder him from rescuing any of them.

"Who is this!" Maror growled out.

"Lieutenant Riker of Star Fleet." he said. "And who are you?"

"Maror of the Sindareen. So tell me. Where is your ship? We did not see one within light years from here."

"A ship is not necessary to deal with this situation." Riker informed.

Maror made the action again of the equivalent of a chuckle. "You flatter yourselves, Star Fleet."

"No, I warn you. You are surrounded by a squad of Star Fleet men. Surrender and your cooperation will be noted."

Maror's voice bacame very sarcastic as he said, "Noted. How nice. It would make a lovely tombstone. "Here lies Maror. He cooperated." No, thanks, I'll take my chances and invite you to try and impede our departure. Then you can explain the three dozen corpses to your superiors. Do we understand each other? Now get of my damn comm channel!"

"Very well. We are scrambling your comm channel. You will not be able to communicate with anyone."

"Oh, really?" he said with an evil smirk and pointed his blaster at Chandra and fired it at her.

The blast hit her in the theigh and she went down with a scream of intense pain. Which echoed through out the museum and was heard over the comm. Deanna dropped to the floor beside her friend due to concern for her. She turned to Maror and screamed, "You Bastard!"

Will heard Deanna's voice and alarm of concern and fear for her well being went off within him. Although he knew it was not Deanna who was hit by the blaster, he still feared for her safety.

"Did you hear that?" Maror said with an evil voice. "I could have killed her. Now, here's my warning to you. The next time I fire it will be at someone's heart and I assure you I don't miss. That will be on your head. Now unclutter my comm channel!"

Riker becoming very ill at ease about the situation, returned the channel back over to Maror's people. Maror told his men to maintain radio silence except in an extreme emergency.

Deanna ripped off the sleeve of her dress to bandage Chandra's wound. She could sense her friend's intense pain. The pungent smell of carbon burnt flesh permeated the air. Then Deanna looked up at Maror with distain and discussed. She had the look on her face that spoke "if looks could kill, you would be dead right now."

He turned to the group of Betazoids pointing his blaster at them and said, "You had all better pray to what ever gods you believe in for the success of Star Fleets efforts to rescue you will be measured by how many cropses that they get. Now, let's see. Who's going to be next if we experience anymore problems?"

Chapter 9

Riker turned from Hirsch to Tang and said, "That could have gone better."

"Well, It could have gone worse." said Tang. "Nobody's dead, yet."

"We don't know that for sure." said Riker. "We have to get in there to know for sure."

"Well, we do know two things." replied Tang. "We know they want what's in that building and that we let them get away with it."

"But we won't let them get away with it!" stated Riker. "We have to avoid anyone dying, but if we let them get away with it they will continue to do what they are doing. We must figure out how to stop them now."

Suddenly, Xerx runs up to Will. "Sindareen Raiders!"

"We know." said Riker. "We are handling it just ..."

"Chandra's in there and they shot her!"

"How do you... Of course." Will said, remembering Xerx was a Betazoid. "How is she?"

"She's been shot!" Xerx said as though to say, "What do you think?" Then adds "That Bastard shot her in the leg!"

Will remembered the young woman had been married a few weeks ago and could not help but think what she was going through. Worse yet, what her husband may be going through. Will reasked his question. "Is she alright?"

Trying to keep from snapping at Riker, Xerx tried to pull in all his emotional restrain and said, "Lieutenant, for just being shot in the leg she is alright considering the alternative."

Will felt like an idiot for asking the question twice, but Xerx was right. It could be worse. They could have killed her. Will looked at Xerx and knew he was clearly in panic, but also noticed that he appearred to be looking for that inner calm Deanna was talking about.

Xerx spoke again. "Deanna's with her and she's bandaging Chandra's wound."

Riker felt the pain of anxiety well up within him again and thought, "Xerx could have gone a long time without reminding me of that fact." Then Will, trying to control his feelings, said, "Good." That was about all he could say to keep from loosing his control of his own emotions. He was extremely concerned for Deanna's well being and prayed she would be unharmed through this ordeal.

With his determination to stay all business regained, he asked Xerx, "Can you communicate with her? Find out information?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything." Riker said, firmly.

 

The profused bleeding Chandra was having had slowed down, but Deanna continued to apply pressure to the wound to get it to completely stop. Then she looked up to Chandra to offer words of comfort, but found she was starring out into space. At first she thought Chandra was trying to separate herself from the pain, but then realized she was talking to someone on the outside.

Chandra turned to Deanna and nodded to confirm what Deanna was thinking. "Father, I'm still here. Scared and yes it hurts really bad, but I'll be ok." She sent.

"Chandra, I need you to help Lieutenant Riker and his men out." Xerx sent. "They want as much information as they can get on what's happening in there."

"OK" Chandra sent. "I'll try." Xerx could hear, in her thought sending, that she was in a lot of pain and discomfort. He wanted to relieve her pain, but for now there was nothing he could do to help his daughter.

Maror walked up behind Deanna and Chandra and said, "Good. No more whimpering. I like to see that you have decided you need to keep quite. That will make it easier for all of us." However, he had no idea that Chandra was being very talkative. Chandra praised the gods for the fact that she was telepathic and not everyone else was. She was so thankful for that fact, because she knew that it could be what may save everyone elses lives.

"Father" she sent.

"Yes?"

"What are the specifics he wants?"

"How many people are there inside?" Xerx repeated Will's question.

"There are about thirty-two of us, alive."

Xerx got a face of alarm. "You mean... there are dead?"

"Yes, Father. At least one I know for sure. He was crushed by a wall that was blasted in when they forced their way in here."

Xerx told Will, but he felt sadden by the loss, even though he didn't know who it was.

"There are about twelve Sindareen."

Xerx told Will. "Twelve? I thought a Betazoid, who was out here said nine?" Riker said a little shock that the count was off.

Xerx shrugged and said, "Maybe that is what she thought at that moment. I have no idea." Xerx started starring off into the distance again and continued to get more information from his daughter.

Suddenly Xerx said aloud, "What a barbaric idea!"

Riker suddenly turned his head toward Xerx, "What is it?"

Xerx explained they were taking the art works to make profit from a Ferengi. Riker responded, "That's a lot more civilized then what they usually do. They may even be the only race in the galaxy that the Ferengi actually enjoy doing business with. Tang, I want you to deploy..."

"Already done, sir." he replied.

Riker thought, "This guy has things done before I have a chance to say anything. Well, maybe his being on the ball and getting things done may make up for how he address people."

"There is one problem though." Tang said.

Riker did not like the sound of that. "What is that?"

"Well, sir, Sindareen are pretty tough. It takes settings that would usually injure or kill a humanoid to stun them."

Riker did not like the prospects of what he had just heard. "Sergeant, you'll have to work around that. Tell your marksmen to use extreme care."

"Yes, sir, but in case they do make it, I have this beauty here." Tang gesture towards one of his men who was lugging a large case and staggering over to Tang. He placed it on the ground in front of Tang. Tang bent down and opened the case. It was a level 10 shoulder mounted phaser cannon. "Believe me, Lieutenant, this baby pacts a kick and they are not going anywhere."

"Good to hear." said Riker. "Alright, appraise your men, we have confirmed twelve Sindareen." He continued to instruct Tang of the orders to be carried out.

"Understood, sir. I won't miss. You can count on it."

 

Everything was loaded and the Sindareen were ready to take their leave. Maror studied the group of Betazoids before him and said, "Well, as charming as this has been, we are ready to go. However, I am concerned about the Federation men out there, so one of you will go with us."

He looked at Chandra. She started crying and shaking her head no. She whimpered, "No, No." But Maror grabbed her roughly and pulled her to her feet. "You're injured anyway. You're coming with us."

"NO!" shouted Deanna. "Leave her alone!"

Maror started to drag the struggling, frantic Chandra. "No, please!" she pleaded with tears in her eyes. "Father! They're taking me with them!" She continued pleading and crying. "No, no, please!"

Deanna jumped up and raked her nails across Maror's face. He howled in pain "You Bitch!" and then threw Chandra across the room. She hit the floor hard. Her head made a loud cracking sound on the impact.

Deanna started to run toward her motionless friend, but Maror grabbed her. "You know, I thought you had nerve and intellegence, so I was going to let you be, but for what you just did, you're the one who's going to be coming with us."

 

Xerx gasped in shear terror and stagger backward. Riker caught him and he knew something horrible happened and he was almost afraid to ask what it was. He did not have to ask though. Xerx was very forthcoming.

"I lost contact with her! She's unconscious!" he said in wide eyed panic. "There was something about taking one of them as a hostage to use as a sheild. They were going to take Chandra, but she struggled and I.. I.. I don't know, but she somehow fell and I can't sense her!" In his panic, Xerx was talking in such rapid speech that Riker almost did not understand him.

Over the comm came a voice. "This is Sommer at Gamma Point. I have a visual. They're coming out."

"Wait for my signal." said Tang. Then he lookes at Riker and said, "You're the CO, Lieutenant. It's your call."

"We will stick with the plan. When all twelve are out, we open fire."

Xerx was very distraught and shaking with fear. "My daughter! Gods! Lieutenant! You can't shoot my child! You just can't!"

Riker could just sense the terror and shock going through Xerx at this moment. It was as though the Betazoid was radiating his emotions, but Riker knew, this man was like any other parent. Scared for his child's life.

He placed his hand on the man's shoulder in reassurance and said in a gentle voice to calm the man, "They'll shoot clear of her, Gart." Then Will look to Tang for comformation and Tang nodded.

Then Tang pulled from his supply belt a pair of electronic sensor binos and placed them to his eyes to study the roof top. Riker saw and said, "Get me a pair of those."

"Binos for the Lieutenant." snapped Tang not removing his gaze from the roof top. Moments later someone brought Will a pair and now he was able to get a good look at the roof top.

Xerx was still shaking from fear. He tried to find his inner calm so that he could calm himself, but when it came to his baby, he just could not help but worry. He could not do anything to help her and he still could not get any sense of her, no matter how hard he tried. And now. Now they are going to be dragging her out as a hostage unconscious or worse. Xerx tried to push that thought out of his mind. He told himself, "Just because you can't sense her, does not mean that she's dead." He tried hard to reassure himself, but his fear was still there.

Will saw the door of the roof open and the Sindareen started filing out. "Hold fire." said Will. More of them filed out. Will counted to himself as they filed out of the building on to the roof. "Eleven! Damn! Where is the twelvth one?" he said to himself.

All the snipers reported in and Will wanted to give the order to cut loose, but he knew he had to wait for the last Sindareen to come out of the building.

Finally, he saw movement and the last Sindareen came out with a blaster in his right hand pointed at the throat of the woman he had restrained with the other arm in front of him.

"Deanna." Riker breathed out. Now he felt this was getting personal. He felt a lump raise up to his throat. He felt like he could even choke on that lump. He got a closer look at her and saw that if she were afraid she was not showing any sign of it.

"That's Twelve." said Tang. "Lieutenant?"

"They have a hostage." Riker said tonelessly. He tried hard to keep all emotion out of his voice, but he was scared out of his mind at this point. "Who's your best marksman?"

Tang anticipated this and had already started giving orders to his men. They all replied and Sommers said, "Got him in my sights."

"Do you have a clear shot?" Tang asked.

"Negative, sir." said Sommers. "The target is moving too much."

"Only one hostage left, who might survive if all went as planned." Riker thought trying to reassure himself. "Deanna." he thought bleakly.

At that moment Deanna was swung directly into Will's eyesight and she looked directly at him. Straight. Proud and unafraid. Then Will heard one word in his head that he had just learned recently. "RaBeem."

Understanding what she was communicating to him, Will reacted quickly and shouted the order, "Take 'em!"

Tang echoed the order.

Deanna flinched.

Phaser blast enveloped the surprised Sindareen and many of them fell. Finally, only one was left standing and he tumbled into the ship with Deanna. Deanna's shiver of what was about to come was enough to warn the Maror. As a result, he dropped dragging Deanna with him. He knew as long as he had Deanna they would not shoot directly at him.

For a brief moment he stood and was struck by a phaser, which was enough to cause him to push Deanna inside and tumble in after her. Regaining his composure, he closed the hatch and started the engines.

"Damn it!" Shouted Riker. "Damn it!" He felt so much anger at that moment. He was determined now and out for blood. He was going to get that Sindareen one way or another.

 

"You know, can't escape." Deanna said in a calm, cool manner. "They will come after you."

Maror turned to face her for a moment and pointed his blaster at her, "Shut up! Not another word out of you or you're dead!" Then he turned back to his business at hand.

 

Tang swung the phaser cannon onto his shoulder. Without turning around or taking his eyes of the ship, Will asked, "Can you bring them down?"

"I can blow them out of the sky."

"Can you cripple them?" Will asked in determination and desparation, keeping his eyes on the ship.

"Trickier. There's no garantees she'll survive the crash." Tang said. "You may not be doing her any favours."

"I know. Just cripple them." Will said firmly.

"OK." Tang said as though he was saying "It's you for it." Then he adjusted the controls on the phaser. The intensity of the phaser's blast was beyond anything Will had ever seen or experienced in his life.

The blast took out the starboard engine and navigation. The ship launched wildly and left a spiral trail of thick black smoke in the sky kilometers long.

"Where is it going to come down?" Riker asked tonelessly, but on the inside he was worried that Deanna may not have made it alive. However, he was determined to find her, because if she was alive he had to see to her safety. He had to do it himself. He wanted to find her himself. He just could not leave her for someone else to find.

"Judging from the speed and trajectory," Tang replied. "somewhere in the region of the Jalara Jungle."

There was silence for a while and Xerx finally perked up and said, "If she makes it through the crash, she may have a chance. The jungle does have it's dangers. Mud pits and such, but there are very few dangerous animals to contend with."

Riker turned to Xerx, fire was his eyes. He then said with definite emotion in his voice, "You're forgetting that the most dangerous animal is flying that ship."

Chapter Ten

Will went off in the general direction of where Tang said the ship would land hoping to find Deanna safe and sound or at least, alive. Now that the hostages were out of danger he felt he could assign others to look after their needs while he went to find Deanna. He had no other concern but to find her. Not just a concern, but an urgent need to find her.

He found the ship, but no one was alive inside the ship. The hatch was open so he had a clear view of the inside. To his relief, Deanna's body was not inside. However, neither was Maror's. "Well," he thought to himself. "Unless he's dragging a corpse, Deanna is definitely alive."

Relieved, he looked for tell tale tracks that would signal which direction Maror took off with her. It wasn't too hard to find a trail and Will was glad of that, for it saved on time in finding Deanna. The tracks lead deeper into the Jalara. "Well, here goes. I just hope I don't run into a mud pit or that I don't find Deanna in a mud pit."

 

Maror knew he was running straight to hell and if he had anything to do with it he was determined he would take the Betazoid woman with him. It irritated him that the woman still had the same composure that she had the day he abducted her. He could not take it anymore. He want her to be like other women he had capture and to beg and plead. He wanted to smack the hell out of her until she did.

He shoved his blaster up into her face and demended, "Ask for your life."

With a shrug she said in an even voice, "Please don't kill me."

He could not believe this woman. "You have a gun pointed in your face and you call that begging?"

"No, I call that asking. To be honest it's pointless. You will either kill me or you won't. Begging and pleading would only demean me and accomplish nothing. Therefore, I won't do it."

Maror roared with fury and grabbed her by the back of the head and yanked her down hard. Then he shoved the gun into her mouth at an angle that would be sure to blow her brains out through the top of her skull.

Then in a growl he said, "I said BEG!"

Truth be told Deanna was scared out of her mind, but she was not going to let Maror know. Instead she forced herself into a state where she could not feel a thing. She slowed her breathing and just went limp. She forced her mind to distance itself from the whole situation so she could not feel a thing or even show how she was really feeling. She went within herself to hide all she was feeling and to avoid the intense anxiety she was now feeling. To find a calm within herself and escape the immediate threat.

For a moment Maror thought she had passed out, then realized she had put herself into some sort of meditative state. There was nothing he could say or do to bring her out of her current state. He thought, "I could just blow her brains out and she would never know it. But then I would not get the thrill of hearing her yell and scream for mercy. Also, if I did kill her, I would have nothing to hold over the Fed men when they caught up with me." Then in total frustation he growled and a kicked the damp ground.

Slowly, she came back to her immediate surroundings and was looking up at Maror. "Well," she said to herself. "It's definitely not a nightmere."

"You're wondering why I have not killed you yet?"

She sat up slowly, tilted her head and said, "You are hoping that I will serve some purpose."

"Did logic or your telepathic sense tell that?"

"At first I thought there was that possibility, but as time went on and prolong exposure to you, I have been able to get a sense of you. It's enabled me to get an empatic feel for you."

"Keep your empathic feelings to yourself!" he growl and then walked over to her and yank her up to her feet. "I still can't believe you survived the crash when my other men did not."

"I simply relaxed myself. Your men were tense and it resulted in internal injuries and killed them."

"Keep your diagnosis to yourself." he demanded.

He dragged her deeper into the Jalara. As he did, Deanna thought her mother must be very frantic with worry by now. She wished she were not part human at this moment. For if she were all Betazoid she could send and receive and let her mother know that she was alright, but her human half diluted any possibility of that. Her only hope, for her mother not to be so worried about her, was that her mother might have a sense that she is still alive. That was the only thing she could hope for now.

However, she was able to sense the life around her and she was getting a feel for it. She was able to sense a serpent before she step on it. It was not poisonous, she just had no desire to harm the innocent creature. To her it was heartening that she could just sense the creatures presence, even before she saw it.

They were approaching a clearing that had a watering hole. Maror was relieved to find water and told Deanna to drink first. She knelt down and gingerly sipped water from her hands being careful not to take big gulps like she would have liked to.

"You drink like a bird!"

"There's no point in over indulging." she said. "I'd only get a stomach cramp if I did."

"Fine. Whatever." and then he knelt down and got himself some water.

Then she spoked to him, "You do realize you are not headed anywhere? You have no one waiting for you. No rendezvous or anything."

"I've never been caught and I'm not about to get caught now. Besides, I'm willing to bet they found the ship, saw the dead bodies and eventually decided to give up the search."

Deanna thought, "This man has no idea." then informed him they would keep looking. She continued to talk and tell him what all he was afraid of.

Then Maror's anger rose again and he said, "You know, I was just tired of you, but now, I'm sick of you! You analyze me and just will not stop talking. And right now I would just love the selfish pleasure of blowing your pretty lit.."

Deanna kicked him in the small of his back and he landed in the water with some inquisitive water snakes. Deanna had sensed her new found little friends before she shoved him into the water and was rather thankful for them. For they investigated Maror by wrapping themselves around his neck, which gave Deanna time to run for freedom. She had also sensed that he was genuinly ready to kill her, especially now that she did that.

Deanna could hear him ranting and cursing. He shot into the jungle blindly and barely missed her, but she kept running. She knew, that if he caught up with her, he was going to kill her. Even with the fear of him catching her, she tried to keep her mind open to the wild life around her, because she knew, she could run into something almost as dangerous as Maror.

However, he had no trouble catching up with her, for she left a trail of broken branches and shubbery behind her. She tried to look around desperately for some place to hide, but with her frantic running she tripped over an exposed root. She caught herself with the palms of her hands and the pain of the impact shot right up her arms. One of her hands landed on a rock. Lucky for her that not only was it sharp on one end, but that it did not cut into her hand. She wrapt her hand around the rock and scrambled to her feet.

She heard his pursuit of her and fear built up inside her. He was still cursing and yelling. Then he spotted her and started firing his blaster toward her. The fight or flight urge was building within her. She opted to continue to run at this moment.

Then for a brief moment she envisioned Will coming to her rescue. She wished that things like that did happen in really life, because it would mean they were meant to be together. Not because it was the intellegent thing to do, but because it was meant to be. It would mean that there were things in this world beyond what the mind could conceive. She wanted him and knew it all along, but she knew that was not going to happen. It was up to her to live or die at this moment and running was becoming no longer an option.

Suddenly, she ran into a steep slope. She tried to scramble up it as fast as she could, but the angle of the slope slowed her down, but she could not go back from where she came. She tried to grab onto the roots and vines to help her up, but it did not help her increase with anymore speed.

Her heart was racing so fast from fear that she felt it could jump right out of her. Her fear was the only thing helping her get up the slope though and she kept going, but it was not fast enough. Maror grabbed her ankle and growled, "Gotcha, you bitch!"

She screamed as he pulled her down hard to the ground. Fear was the only thing that kept her from feeling the impacted. Then he pulled her up and roared, "You've been more trouble than what you're worth! I'm gonna..."

The rock was still in the palm of her hand and she stabbed the sharp end of it into his forehead. He shreiked with the pain and blood pourred from his foreheand. She tried to shove the rock in as far as she could, but Maror over powerred her and shoved her backwards.

Her tight grip help her keep hold of the rock and it came out of his forehead as she was shoved backwards. She tried to scramble back and away from him, but he landed on top of her with his full body weight. She tried to squirm out from under him, but she could not brake free before he pointed his gun directly at her stomach. Her heart was still racing with profound fear.

"Belly wound. Very slow. Very painful death." he said in a menacing manner. "That's what you deserve. You ruin everyth...."

"I didn't."

"Shut up, you bitch! You never shut up!" and smacked her across the face with the other hand. "I'm going to blow..."

Suddenly a voice came above them that was deliberately cool and controlled. "Back away from her."

Deanna's heart leaped with gladness and she turned wanting to confirm that was who she thought she heard. Maror looked up just to see who it was, but Deanna looked up, for she could not believe her ears. She was so thankful that it was Will. Ten feet above them was a well equipped Riker with a phaser pointed directly at Maror.

She felt his emotions flood over her. Both had relief and fear, but Will's was bottled up so that he could present an image of utter composure.

"I said back away from her!"

Maror yank Deanna up to the front of him and pointed his blaster at her face and said, "No, Federation man! You're going to put your weapon down or she dies."

Even with the fear mounting up inside her again, Deanna sent to Will's mind, "Don't listen to him Will! He'll kill you!"

Will did not drop his weapon. Instead he replied, "Kill her and you'll have nothing to bargin with."

"I don't care. She's been a real pain in the ass to me and if you don't care I'll just kill her." he said with an evil grin. "Then you'll have to explain her death to your superiors. Go ahead. Try and shoot me. I'll warn you though, I don't stun easily, therefore, I'll kill her if she's not fried first by your phaser. From where I stand, you don't have a chance in hell. Now throw your weapon down or I'll kill her!"

"All right." Will back down and Deanna's body sagged against Maror. She felt her only hope was now gone. That it had just vanished and Will would also die.

"Jacket too." said Maror.

"Alright. I have no weapons as you can see." Will assured. "Now throw you weapon down and no one will hurt you.

"You got to be kidding." Maror said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice.

"No, I'm not. For you see we have you surrounded."

"You're bluffing."

Will used his best poker face as he said, "No, No bluff. You are surrounded by Star Fleet poeple on either side of you. If you try to harm me, they will kill you where you stand, regardless if she's harmed or not."

"Now, I know you're bluffing." Maror said with an air of curtainty. "That's against Star Fleet policy."

"Yes, but security sometimes have their own agenda."

Deanna knew what was really going on, and she was not worried, for she could sense what was in Will's mind.

"Alright then, tell them to shoot." Maror challenged.

"Alright men. Fire!"

At first nothing happened and Maror started to speak with arrogance on his face until he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Out of panic he started shooting in the direction he saw movement.

The distraction was enough for Will to take the opportunity to jump off the slope and land directly on Maror. Maror looked up with alarm and realized he had just made a mistake. He aimed at Riker. Deanna took this chance to push up and away for Maror causing him to miss Riker.

Will plowed into Maror, while pushing Deanna aside. The two men fought viciously, but when Maror started to get the upper hand Deanna shouted, "Will." and tried to pull Maror off of Will. Maror slammed the butt of his gun into Deanna's stomach, knocking the wind out of her as she fell back. Will managed to knock the blaster out of Maror's hand and send it sailing into a bush.

This gave Will time to get the upper hand and he tried to cut Maror's air supply off by squeezing the nictating membranes on the sides of his neck. However, Maror was still able to over power Will.

Deanna feared the worst for Will. She was not sure how he was going to get the upper hand and keep it. Even with the ache in her stomach from Maror's weapon, she franctically tried to come up with a way to help Will as the two men fought. Then she saw Maror with a knife and having the upper hand. She thanked the gods when the knife was stuck in a tree. Will then manage to knock Maror off balance and into a bush. However, she again felt all hope was lost, for Maror manage to grab his blaster out of the bush. Riker dove for cover. Maror was piviting and dodging trying to get a clear shot at Will.

Suddenly, Will yelled. "Stop! Don't go there!"

Maror did not listen. Will warned him to move before it was too late, for Maror was standing on a mud pit when he was about to insist it was too late for Will. He noticed he was somehow getting shorter, looked down and said it was too late for him.

Will scurried over to assist the man out of the mud pit before it was too late, but with a crazed smile Maror refused Riker's help. Riker made one last ditch effort to help Maror out, but it was too late. The man vanished without a trace.

Deanna stared down at the mud pit where Maror sank and said in a very low sad whisper, "He won. He was never caught." An undiscribable emotion was within her that she just could not define. The only thing she knew was, she had to leave the area.

Will put an arm around her and said, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." she stated with some fear remaining in her voice. "I want to get out of here."

"Alright, let's just wait..."

"No, Now!" There was urgency and desparation in her voice. All she knew was, she had to get as far away as possible from this place as she could. The trauma of the events were getting to her and she could not stand being there any longer.

"Alright." said Will. "Let me get my things."

Deanna never removed her gazed from the mud pit as Will retreived his equipment. He walked back over to her and place a gentle arm around her. He obseved her for a moment and asked, "Are you sure you are alright?"

"Positive. Let's go." she replied.

Will gently and lovingly guided her away from the mud pit saying nothing. He noticed the condition of her clothes and was amazed that through all that had happened she still looked beautiful. She seemed to have an endless reserve of strength.

Chapter 11

They started walking away from Deanna's waking nightmere. Will still had an arm around her and Deanna leaned in to him as they walked. Deanna was glad to have him near. He made her feel safe, especially right now, after all she had been through.

Will contacted Tang to let him know he had Deanna. He told him she was safe and physically unharmed and that they were on their way back. However, Will knew, somewhere, down deep inside of her, she had to have been affected emotionally, but he did not voice this.

Maror had been right, though. The Federation Team had split up to cover more ground, but it had been Will who was fortunate enough to find Deanna, after several days of searching. He thanked God he had found her. Will wanted to be the one who found her and he prayed to that end and he did. He saw her with his own eyes and felt very relieved that she was alive.

The trip back would take them a few days to get there, but Will came prepared with plenty of supplies. Without any abnormal delays they would have enough to last them.

Will had concentrated on the mission that he had not paid any attention to the beauty of the jungle. The only thing he had concerned himself with, other than rescuing Deanna, were the pitfalls and obstructions of the jungle. His judacious use of his phaser to carve out a path in the jungle helped him find the way back easily.

Now, with the pressure off, he was able to appreciate the beauty of the Jalara Jungle. Deanna broke free of him to point out some of the plants that were there. At least the ones she recognized. The flowers had exotic colours of pink, purple, red, blue and more colours than he ever imagined. The greenery was vivid shades of green. The air was warm and steamy, but yet not uncomfortably humid. It was also filled with a scented mist, that smelled even sweeter, now that Deanna was free from her terror.

He turned to Deanna, who had been extremely silent the past hour. He was getting very concerned about her, because she was starting to shiver in the warmth of the jungle. Her arms were wrapped around herself in a protective manner and her teeth started to chatter.

He knew instantly what was going on with her. All the pent up emotions, that she had apparently detached herself from during her ordeal, were starting to emerge. It was obvious she now felt safe and secure, thus all the emotions were pouring out of her. She had to deal with those feelings sometime or another. This made Will feel good that Deanna felt comfortable and save enough with him to allow all those pent up emotions out of her.

He went to her and help her sit down and put his arms around her. "Shh, It's ok. Let it all out, Deanna."

She trembled even more violently, looking straight ahead as though she expected something to jump out of the shrubs. She clung tighter to Will, digging her nails into him so hard that Will had to keep himself from pushing her away. He did not want to let her know that it hurt like hell.

Instead, he continued to try and comfort her by stroking the side of her face, kissing the top of her head and talking softly to her. He reassured her it was alright and she was out of danger. She drew herself closer to him and tears were rolling down her face. She, then buried her face into his chest and cried softly.

Will rocked her in his arms gently and allowed just his presence alone to be a comfort to her. Then finally she started to stop trembling and she wiped her tears from her face with one hand, but she continued to hold on to him with the other.

Deanna was so glad he was there. She appreciated him for just holding her and comforting her, but now she wanted more. She wanted him even closer to her. To make reassuring love to her. She looked up and Will thought she was prepared to move on, so he asked, "Ready?"

She was so ready for him to take her in his arms and make sweet love to her. She said, "Yes, I am." Then she reached up, wrapped her hand around Will's neck and drew his face to hers.

The kiss was was long, sweet, and filled with promise. They started to explore each others mouths with their tongues. Will was begining to think the night air was making him feel giddy. Their mouths finally parted and he looked at her.

"Deanna," he said softly. "This.. this isn't right. It's not the time. You're not thinking straight and you've been through a lot."

She held his face in her hands and said, "Let me put this into words you'll understand." With her eyes wide open and her lips mere inches from his, she whispered, "Shut up and kiss me, Will Riker."

He did and they resumed their exploration of each other's mouths. Soon, all the perfectly logical reasons why this was wrong and inappropriate behaviour for a Starfleet officer just flew out of his mind. He started to move down to her neck with gentle kisses and he slowly removed her torn, ragged clothes.

They went back to exploring each other's mouths and Deanna removed Will's jacket and unzipped the back of his shirt. Will assisted her in removing his shirt and then they explored each other upper bodies. Will moved from her neck to her beast and gently suckled one with his mouth and caressed the other with his hands. He took turns caressing and suckling each of her breasts.

Then Deanna gently pulled him to her face and kissed him. Then she returned the favour by slowly moving down to his chest and teased each of his nipples with his tongue. Will made a soft moan of pleasure as she did so. Deanna did not intellectualize or analyze any of their love making. She was completely engrossed in his mind and his pleasure. She moved further down his body with kisses and then she slowly removed his pants. Teasing his manhood with her tongue and mouth. She was completely into his mind, body and soul and Will was into hers. They enveloped each other's spirits with their love for each other and there was only one word from her. Imzadi.

Deanna slowly moved upward again teasing and kissing Will all the way back up with her tongue and mouth. Once she was complete flesh to flesh and face to face again with Will they probed each others mouths again. Will rolled her over onto her back, continuing to give her sweet gentle kisses. He again moved slowly down to her neck with gentle kisses. He gave her gentle love bites and then progressed slowly back down to her breasts. Teasing them again with his tongue and mouth. He enveloped her with his love and again he heard her in his mind. Imzadi.

They complemented each other and filled each other's needs completely and totally. Will continued to progress slowly down her body. Exploring every square inch of her. As he did, they also explored each other's soul, mind, and spirit. Neither of them left anything untouched.

Will kissed her stomach ever so gently and then he moved down and explored everything that made her a woman. The woman he loved so deeply. He probed her with his tongue and fingers. Stimulating her womanhood. Deanna moan with great pleasure and again he heard the word "Imzadi". His tongue moved more rapidly in and out of her as he sensed her pleasure mounting. Until she was almost screaming the word "Imzadi" in his mind from pure ecstasy.

Will started moving slowly and lovingly back up her body. He continued to explore every square inch of her with his tongue and mouth. As he moved upward, he kept one hand below him, stimulating her pleasure point. Then when he reached her mouth again, they became one in body, mind and soul. They moved as one. In perfect rhythm. Filling each other's hunger. There was no one else in the universe, but the two of them. They moved as one with increased energy and speed until the pressure within them was beyond containment. Lovingly, Will spoke her name aloud and she was in his mind with only one word. Imzadi.

They exploded in great rapture as one and then they clinged to each other as though they were trying to become in body as they had their souls. Then somewhere deep within his mind, merged with his spirit one word echoed. Imzadi.

They laid craddled in each other's arms. Deanna's head was on Will's shoulder. She ran her fingers acrossed his chest hairs. Both were content just enjoying each other's company in the after glow of their loving act.

Deanna finally spoke, asking "So, where do we go from here?"

"To the rendezvous point, but I have a feeling we are going to be late."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know." He pulled a vine gently out of her hair and started to toss it aside, but she took it from him.

"I want to keep it as a souvenir." she said.

"A piece of vine?"

She shrugged.

"In answer to your question. I don't know." he said. "I know how you make me feel and I think I know how you feel, but I don't have any answers. You're the expert on feelings. What do you think?"

She sighed and drew herself closer to him. "I don't know. That's what I find appealing about you. When I'm with you I don't think. When I'm with you, when I think about you, all my training just goes flying out the window. I've never felt this way about anyone and I finally decided to give into it. To exprience it fully. How can I be a complete person if I don't go where my spirit wants to take me?"

Will kissed the top of her head and said, "I think your spirit is very beautiful."

"Why thank you, Will. It's nice of you to notice. And so is yours."

"This is going to sound strange." he said. "But believe me when I say I also have never felt this way about anyone before. It's more than just the physical, which was wonderful, but there was.." he was tongue tied. "I can't find the words to explain it."

"Maybe there are no words." she replied.

"No, there was one word. You thought it to me when we were.." he paused. "It was imzi, imza."

"Imzadi." she said softly. It sounded so musical and loving. Her tone of voice was such that he had never heard before.

"Yes! That's it!" he said. "What does it mean?"

"It has several meanings." she replied. "The surface meaning is beloved or dear one, but when used with certain people it has a much deeper meaning. You would need to understand it's further nuances to understand it's deeper meaning."

"So what is it's full meaning?"

She smiled shyly. "It means the first."

Will was surprised. He could not believe he heard right.

She continued. "From here on out, no matter what happens, we will be truly Imzadi. We will forever be each other's first."

Will got wide eyed and said with surprise in his voice, "You mean.. I am the first man that you have ever...

She nodded.

"Had sex with?" he finished.

"You find that hard to believe?"

"Well, your such an open society and your so incredibly beautiful."

"Thank you." she said demurely.

"It never occurred to me that no man had ever.."

"Bagged me?"

Will cringed. "Well, that's one way of putting it, but not mine."

"Of course not you." she teased. "Never by you."

"Ah.. Look, Deanna, I didn't mean to give you the impression that I have never been with other women. You're not... my first."

"No, you haven't." she insisted.

"Yes, I have. I know. I was there."

"Oh, I understand. You mean you've had sex before."

"Well, yeah." he said looking totally confused. "I thought that was what we were talking about."

"You still don't understand. You see the concept of Imzadi goes far deeper than the physical. You've had other women and even though I haven't had other men, that's incidental. Other women may have had your body, but I am the first to touch your soul and you are the first to touch mine."

With astonishment, he realized she was right. Even when he thought he was in love it was just superficial. An excuse to add some excitement to the sexual gratification. Was he in love now? His thoughts were moving too fast for him to figure anything out. Even now, with Deanna here, he still was not sure if he was able, but for the first time in his life he was willing to do that.

"Imzadi." he said looking at her with a smile and kissed her passionately. She returned his kiss with just as much passion.

Then they laid back, cuddled up together and watched the night sky. They finally fell asleep craddled in each others arms.

Chapter 12

The next morning Deanna was cleaning up and trying to make herself look as presentable as she could, given the circumstances. She felt safe with Will and he made her feel so good. She felt she could spend eternity with him. She had finished and returned to where Will was.

She saw Will starting to hurriedly put something into his supply belt. "What's that? Paper? Now that's something you don't see every day!" she exclaimed. "May I see it?"

"Oh, really it's nothing. It's just something I wrote down and I have no idea what I was thinking as I wrote it."

She took the paper from him and read it. "I really wish you wouldn't read that." Will said.

"I have no idea why your so embarrassed by this. It's beautiful!" Deanna sent the last part to his mind. She felt like her heart was singing as she read it. The feelings he stirred with in her were none that she had ever felt before. He gave her so much joy.

"Do you really like it." he thought back at her.

"You'd know if I were lying." she said aloud. Then she read the poem aloud.

"I hold you close to me.

I feel the warm breath of you, and think of a time without you.

Deanna, Goddess of the moon.

The goddess who brings my heart joy and happiness.

I remember a time without you, only as a dark and bleak nightmere.

You shudder against me in your sleep.

Do you share the memory with me of dark times past?

The goddess of the moon smiles and makes my heart sing.

Do you share the hope and promise of times to come?

The future holds such promise.

And just as I can not imagine how I survived the past without you.

I cannot imagine a future without you.

Deanna, Goddess of the moon and the goddess of my heart."

"I don't know." Will said, trying to keep the pride of authorship out of his voice. "I thought it was kind of syrupy."

"You thought no such thing!" she said. "You thought it was a prefect expression of your feelings for me. You're proud of it."

"I should have known better than to try false modesty with an empath." he said with a grin.

"You are absolutely right." she stated. "That will get you nothing but embarrassment."

"Speaking of embarrassment." Will began. "We are already late and that in itself is embarrassing. Sergeant Tang has called four times in two days wondering if we are alright."

"It's nice that's he's concerned for us." Deanna said tucking the poem in her bodice and Riker looked at her with surprise.

"Hey!" he said. "Aren't you going to give that back?"

"Please don't make me. I'd like to keep it."

"OK. You may keep it, only if you promise not to show it to anyone else."

"I promise with all my heart and love for you." she said with a smile. Truth was, Deanna loved the poem so much, that she wanted to keep it to read again and again when she could. It made her feel good that Will felt the same for her as she did for him. She could sense he did, but the poem just made it seem all that much more real.

Will gave her his jacket to wear, so she could cover her torn dress and look a little more presentable. This made Deanna smile as they walked back to their distination.

As they made the final trek of their trip back, they forced themselves not to give into temptations of the flesh. However, they held each other's hand until they were close to the camp. They did not want to let go of each other ever, but given the circumstances, they felt had to let go.

Tang reported to Riker upon arrival, that the Betazoid artworks had all been recovered and returned to the museum. He had also arranged for the Sindareen bodies to be returned to their homeworld.

"Good work, Sergeant." Will was now all business. He then turned to Deanna and extended a hand. "This is Deanna Troi." Deanna had taken his hand in as neutral of an expression as possible, but she was pleased that he did offer his hand.

"Ma'am" Tang greeted.

Out of concern, Deanna asked, "How is Chandra?"

"I'm not sure who, oh, yes. You mean Xerx daughter?" Tang replied.

"Yes."

"She's in a local medical facility and should be recovering just fine." Tang told her. He did not find it necessary to tell her how hard of a blow to the head the young woman took, but he figured, being a Betazoid, she already knew that much.

"I'm glad." Deanna said with concerned sympathy and thankfulness that her friend was going to eventually be fine.

Tang turned back to Riker and asked, "Are you sure that the leader of the raiders has been attended to?"

"Yes, I am." Riker assured. "It was not the most pleasant thing to witness, but I assure you he has been attended to."

"Very well, shall we go?" Tang asked.

"By all means." Will replied.

The trip back to the city was short. Deanna and Will hardly said anything aloud. However, what Deanna sent to his mind and what he thought at her said volumes.

Deanna finally asked him telepathically, "Why don't you come over for dinner tonight?"

"Are you sure your mother won't mind? I mean, she doesn't exactly like me."

"Mind?" Deanna scoffed. "How could she mind? I would think she would like to thank you for rescuing me and I would like her to be more kindly disposed to you."

"That would be nice." Will thought, looking at Deanna with a smile.

 

Back at the house, Lwaxanna was livid. "You invited him to have dinner with us!" she almost shouted into Deanna's head. "You know how I feel about that man! He's not right for you either Deanna!"

Aloud, Deanna said, "Mother, it's just dinner."

"And look what he's done to you! You can't send your thoughts to me? Has he really gotten you out of the habit in as many days?"

"No, Mother." Deanna sent dryly. "I can still thought cast."

"Well, I still don't want you near him. He's no good for you, Deanna. He has no respect for our ways."

"You don't know that, Mother."

"Yes, I do! And he has no idea about how our philosophy is lived out in our daily lives. On top of that he would never accept the fact that you are a Daughter of the Fifth House and you have responsibilites to this house and to Betazed."

"Mother, you should, in all due respect, thank him."

"Oh, I'll do that, but he will NOT be having dinner with us!" Lwaxana stated. "He's too barbaric and would never understand why we give thanks to the gods for our food the way we do. He just can not eat with us."

Deanna sighed. Her heart was broken, because her mother just did not understand and how could she explain to her mother that she loved the man. That he was her Imzadi.

"He is NOT!" Lwaxana had eaves dropped into Deanna's thoughts. "You know nothing about Imzadi! You have NO idea what it is! And you don't love him!"

"Mother! You don't know how I feel!" Deanna shouted.

"Oh, yes, I do! I am a telepath. I know better how you feel, than you do!" Lwaxana said aloud.

"No you don't, Mother!" she cried.

"Well, no matter. I will thank him and you will tell him, that due to your duties here on Betazed, you can not see him anymore."

"Mother! No!" Deanna cried.

"Yes, you will." Lwaxana insisted firmly.

Deanna left the living room in tears. As she left she sent, "How could you, Mother! You don't care a thing about my feelings! Just stupid archaic Traditions!"

 

Riker was at the cafe' with Mark Roper. "I want details." Roper insisted.

"On what?"

"On what? What do you think? How was she? And don't hold back." Roper demanded.

Will shrugged. "There's nothing to tell, really. It was a standard mission. I was fortunate enough to find her and then I brought her home safely. End of story."

"No, that's not what I meant." Roper said. "You and her out in the jungle. Romance. Our bet. You can't tell me she was not incredibly greatful that you saved her life."

"Alright, I won't." Will said without any suggestion of anything else. "But what I can tell you is that you have 200 credits coming to you."

Roper's mouth dropped. "Unbelievable! You have got to be kinding me!"

"Believe it, Mark. Not even first base." Will stated, refusing to give the old man any intimate details of their beautiful and loving experience in the jungle.

"I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed." Roper said. "I felt sure you and Deanna would make a good couple. I generally have good instincts about such things and I've learned to trust my instincts." he shakes his head in disappointment. "Unbelievable."

"It happens to the best of us, Mark." Will said with a smile. "We're both frustrated, but at least you're frustrated and have 200 credits."

However, on the inside, Will was thinking, "Not on your life, Mark Roper, am I going to tell you any details about Deanna and me. It's worth 200 credits to keep all of the things that went on between us to myself."

"Is that suppose to make me feel better?"

"It should one of us." Will said with a smile.

"You know what I think?" Mark said without waiting for an answer. "I think you are the most self-satisfied looking loser I've ever seen."

Will just smiled from ear to ear and kept all his and Deanna's secrets to himself.

Chapter 13

Will stood at the Troi door waiting for someone to answer the bell. He was not sure how Mrs. Troi would receive him, but he tried hard not to let past incidences between the two of them get to him. Nor the fact he knew Lwaxana had been intimidating her daughter into avoiding him.

The door finally openned and to his surprise it was not Mr. Homn who answerred, but rather Mrs. Troi. "Good evening, Mrs. Troi." He greeted her.

Lwaxana forced a smile. Although Will had some sort of sense that her smile was not one of true nicity. "Lieutenant," she addressed him. "I want you to believe me when I tell you this is not easy for me."

Will was a little confused. "What isn't easy?"

"First, I have a moral obligation to thank you for rescuing my daughter from a dangerous situation. For that you have my gratitude and I will remember that when I think of you in the future."

"Thank you." Will replied. However, he had a feeling she was not finished.

"Because of that, I am not using my considerable influence with Starfleet to see that you are severly reprimanded."

"I beg your pardon?" Looking quite puzzled. Then he thought, "She knows."

"Of course I know." Lwaxana stated, letting Will know full well that she could read his thoughts. "Your actions with my daughter were completely out of line. You took advantage of her in the situation."

Will was getting very irritated. "Mrs. Troi." Will said firmly. "What happened between your daughter and myself was completely mutual and our business. Now, I would like to see Deanna."

Lwaxana did not move and was in no way about to let him into the house to see Deanna. "So help me, Leiutenant, I will press charges if you try and set one foot in here for trespassing. I do not care what obligation I have to you or other wise, you will not be seeing my daughter ever again. Is that clear?"

"I want to see Deanna." he said in a more forceful voice.

"And do what? Screw her again?"

Will cringed. "Mrs. Troi!" Will was not only upset with Lwaxana, but was extremely shocked. He tried to tell himself that he should be use to her behaviour by now.

"What do you have to offer her? Besides further dilution of her purpose and changes in the philosophy that she grew up with?"

Lwaxana goes on about tradition,obligation and all the other dictates of Deanna's life. She finally concludes with, "Her whole life has been mapped out for her. Her education, her career, her place in Betazoid society. And you will not interfer with any of it."

"Planned by you." Will said tonelessly. He could not believe how unbelievable this woman was. She was a power mongrol.

"Yes by me. It's my obligation and I accept it. I don't like it, I assure you, Lieutenant."

Will thought, "Yeah, right. You thrive on it."

Lwaxana ignores his thought and continues. "Deanna accepts it all too, including her future and it's a future you do not fit into because you have no understanding of Betazoid society and our ways. Now, if you don't mind I have completed my obligation to you and have spoken my mind. Now, Deanna and I would appreciate it if you would leave now and stay out of her life."

"That's for Deanna to decide." Will said with an icey gaze of anger.

"Oh, really?" she said with evil sarcasm. "And where is that decision going to lead? Her bed? Your bed? Are you going to give up your career and life for her? Somehow, I really doubt that. And you are certainly not going to be in her bed."

"I want to speak to Deanna." Will said firmly.

"And where will that lead to? Your seducing her to sleep with you again?"

Will was so furious by this time, that he could hardly speak. Lwaxana was fixated on one thing and that was hardly his intent. Then he spotted Deanna in the hallway behind Lwaxana.

"Deanna!" he shouted to her.

She shugged in helpless resignation of what her mother was saying and doing. She would have thought sent to him, but she knew her mother would hear it. There was nothing she felt she could say or do.

"Tell him, Deanna." Lwaxana ordered.

She did not want to say the words her mother was insisting she say. She wanted to say what she wanted to say. She wanted to say, "I love Lieutenant William T. Riker. He IS my Imzadi and I want to be with him." But she knew she would not get away with it. She kicked herself for not standing up to her mother and staying her little girl.

"Deanna." Will said. "Imzadi."

Lwaxana looked at him with fire in her eyes. "Don't EVER use that word with my daughter again!" Then she turned to Deanna again, "I said, tell him."

She wanted to cry, but she stuffed her feelings and looked at Will in his eyes, and said, "She right, Will."

"No! She's not!" Will stated. "Deanna."

Unable to keep her feelings inside her any longer, she turned and ran out of the room, while Will thought at her, "Imzadi." He felt hurt and angry. Not angry with Deanna, but with Lwaxana, who was forcing Deanna into this situation.

Deanna had ran to her room, threw herself face down on her bed and was crying. She hated her mother. She hate the stupid traditions. She was even starting to hate Betazed and wanted to be as far away from there as she could possibly get.

Will looked at Lwaxana. There was no triumph in her eyes, which he thought was odd.

"No, it's not odd." she replied to his unspoken thoughts. I'm not an orgress. All I want is what's best for my daughter. Sometimes, with responsibility comes pain. I do not relish what I have to do here, but it is in the best interest of my daughter. We do what we have to do. I know and accept that and so does Deanna. Now, Lieutenant, I think it is time you should leave. Good day."

She shuts the door, leaving Will thinking, "Like hell she does." Referring to Deanna accepting what Lwaxana said. He turns and walks back to the Embassy.

When he got back he noticed a message from Starfleet. There was an opening on the Hood. Will thought, "It would get me the hell out of here. Then maybe I could forget all that's happened here." Will knew better, though. He knew his heart was with Deanna, but there was nothing he could do.

He returned the call and agreed to take the position.

 

Meanwhile, Lwaxana and Deanna sat in the study. Deanna was silently furious with her mother, but she sat at her desk pretending to study. Lwaxana was in her favourite chair reading and totally relaxed.

"What are we studying, Little One." Lwaxana suddenly asked.

Deanna did not respond.

Lwaxana turned and noticed Deanna was staring out into space. "Deanna. " she tossed into her head. "What are you studying?"

"Oh, a... Human Dysfunctions."

"Well, we've certainly had plenty of that around here today. Haven't we?"

"Not funny, Mother." Deanna sounded like she could kill at her mother's statement.

"You know you may be able to get some use out of your extended contact with him. A clinical case study in Obsessive Behaviour. Don't you th.." She paused and noticed Deanna getting up. "Where are you going?"

"Out. I'm going out, Mother."

"But it's late! You can't go out this time of night."

"I'm a little old for a curfew, Mother." Deanna stated sounding very perturbbed with her mother.

"You're going to see him aren't you? And don't bother lying to me."

"Yes, I am." Deanna said defiantly. "And you are not stopping me. I am a grown woman, Mother. I think it should be my choice who I see and don't see and when ever I want to see them."

"How dare you talk to me that way, young lady!" Lwaxana said with anger. "You are a daughter of the Fifth House and you have obligations."

"And I'm tired of hearing about them." Deanna said. "I don't care about them either. I want to make my own decisions in life. Not have someone dictate them to me."

"I don't care what you want!" Lwaxana's voiced echoed in Deanna's head sharply. "You do as I say!"

"You don't, do you? You don't care about what I want or feel. All you care about is that old moldy clay pot and tradition."

"I care about what's best for you."

"NO YOU DON'T, MOTHER!" Deanna said with a powerful force right into Lwaxana's mind.

Lwaxana was shocked. She staggered from the force and shock. Then sent, "How dare you think at me that way!"

"For years you have done whatever you wanted to do. Thought whatever you wanted to and even made your own decisions. While I had to do whatever you said and thought as I was told to think. You keep telling me it's for me, but in reality, it's all for you. You've never once asked me what I cared about, what I wanted or how I felt. You've never cared. You just assumed I would embrace all those stupid traditions just because you do and said you said so. Well, you can make windchimes out of those damn rings for all I care!"

Lwaxana was shocked. "I would have sooner died than talk to my mother that way!"

Deanna was afraid to stop for fear she would never get it all said. "I want to make my own priorities and my own decisions. My own choices! MINE! Not yours! All my life I have tried to please you. Everything I've done was what you wanted me to do. Not what I wanted to do. So when do I get to make my own decisions, Mother? When I'm dead?"

"When you're married to Wyatt and have kids of your own."

"I can't believe you said that! I think I have the right to choose who I want to marry and it not that Wyatt Miller, either!"

Lwaxana was speachless. She did not say a word. She just stared at her daughter in shock.

"Generation after generation, women have not been able to think for themselves. Well, it stops here, Mother!"

"It's that Riker, isn't it? He put those thoughts into your head!" Lwaxana said with the sound of shock still in her voice.

"No, Mother. They were there all along. You just haven't bothered to listen. And what's worse, Mother, is you knew I was unhappy. You just wanted an obediant daughter to fulfill your needs. A daughter who was dutiful and nothing more."

"I knew you would understand when you were older."

"Well, you're wrong, Mother." Deanna said flattly and walked around her mother to walk out the door.

"You'd take him over me?" she said, sounding very hurt.

"YES!" Deanna said, defiantly. "I want to be with him."

"But what about your studies, your duty, your destiny?"

"I was wrong to let you intimadate me into submission. I was wrong to let him walk away. I love him, Mother and I will be with him. I won't live anymore lies for you or anyone else. I will do what I decide to do."

"What are you going to do? Marry him?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. But whatever I do, it will be because it's what I want to do." she said. "I've thought about Starfleet for years, now. There's more out there than what I have here and I want to experience it. There's a galaxy full of possibilities, even for a daughter of the Fifth House. Maybe I'll be a geologist or maybe paint myself blue and become a naked dancer or even a dabbo girl. But what ever I do it will be my decision. Not yours!" Then Deanna headed for the door.

"If you go out that door, don't you dare come back!"

Deanna walked out the door. She was gone and Lwaxana sat down in her chair totally distraught. "My baby's gone." she cried to herself. "What am I going to do without her? I need her to carry on. What am I going to do?"

Chapter 14

Deanna entered the Embassy, which was quiet since it was after hours. She stumbled across several security men that she remembered from the rendezvous point.

"Evening, Miss." greeted Sommer and he nodded slightly, much like an old time southern man would.

"Hello, I'm here to see Lieutenant Riker." she said with a smile.

"Yes, miss. I'm sure you are. You know where his quarters are."

"Oh, yes." Then Deanna went on her way to Will's quarters. Heart was pounding with excitement, but yet it had also skipped a beat, for she was not sure if Will would be glad to see her or not. Especially, after what happened several hours ago at her home. She was thinking Will would be proud of her once she told him she had finally stood up to her mother.

She arrives at the door to his quarters. It was adjarred and she could see Will was scurring about, gathering his things and packing them. Her heart sank, but she softly knocked at the door.

Will looked up to see who was there. "Deanna." Will said.

"You're leaving aren't you?" she said with sadness in her voice.

"I thought... I mean your mother..." Will stammered. "Deanna, please come in."

She enterred his quarters and asked, "You're leaving because of me and what my mother said?"

"No, Deanna." Will said openning his arms to hug and reassure her. She accepted his embrase and tears started to run down her face. "I got a transfer. I don't have to leave until the day after tomorrow though. I'm just finding something to do with my time tonight. Get a head start."

"Take me with you." she said with urgency in her voice. Tears started to trickle down her face.

"Oh, Deanna." he said softly and gently. "Your mother would not stand for it. You know that. She'd have my butt. Probably drum up some stupid charges of abduction or something."

She pulled back just a little without letting go of him. Looked up to him and said, "You could stand up to her. Besides, she maybe bluffing."

"Why don't you? Personally, I don't want to chance it." he asked. Before she could say another word he continues, "You know, a while back you said you didn't think we had a future together, because I didn't understand your people's ways? Then you taught me this concept of RaBeem."

She nodded and waited to say what she wanted to say.

Will continues, "Well, until you learn to stand up to your mother yourself, instead of getting angry and running off everytime, I don't think we have a future together either. Until then..." He trails off.

"Will, I love you." she said, tears still in her eyes. "I want to be with you."

"And I you. However, I understand you are intimadated by your mother. Hell, who wouldn't be with how she acts and all." Deanna lets out a small giggle at this last that Will said. "I can't make the decision for you on how you should deal with your mother. I can, however, support you in whatever decision you make."

She was still looking up at him. She smiles with tears still in her eyes and sends to his mind, "Oh, Imzadi! You have learned what I have tried to teach you."

"Yes, I have." he smiles. "Trying to anyway."

"I have to tell you, though" she started to say. "Mother and I had it out tonight. I told her how I felt and expressed a lot of things to her."

"Did you two work anything out?" he said a little surprised.

She releases him, turns away from him and says, "No, not exactly."

"Does she know your with me this time?"

"I told her I was coming here and she's not very happy about it." Deanna informed him. "But she's not going to tell Starfleet anything."

"Are you sure about that?" Will said. "I mean, Deanna, I just got transferred to the Hood and I really don't want my career ruined..."

She turns with tears turning to anger and asks "Is your career all you think about?"

"Hey, Imzadi." Will said. Then he reaches out to her and pulls her close, then softly says, "No, it's not, but right now, I feel that's all I have."

She looked at him and said, "But Will, you have me. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I can't. Mother told me not to come back if I walked out the door."

With considerable concern Will pushes her back to arms links, but left his hands on her shoulders. "Deanna, you have to go back and make amends with her."

"No, I'm not going to allow her to dictate my life anymore." she stated firmly.

"Deanna, it may not have to be that way, but if I let you come with me and you don't make amends with her, then you'll never be happy with yourself. That won't help us any." He said. "I know you love your mother and we would never be happy if you were to leave things with her this way."

"You're right, Will." she agrees. "Just... let me have one more night with you before you leave."

He sees the urgency in her eyes and her desire to be with him just once more before he departed. He pulls her back in close and she softly starts to weep again. He kisses the top of her head and softly agrees. Then he looks up and notices the door was still open and says, "But I do think we need to shut the door."

She let's out a chuckle, while Will walks over to shut the door. Tang was outside and had over heard the last and says, "Oo! Lieutentant, we're getting lucky tonight aren't we?"

"Tang, Shut up!" Then he shuts the door, but not before hearing Tang say, "Shutting up, sir."

Then Deanna walks over to him, wraps her arms around him and kisses him. Will then says, "Well, I guess I'm not going to be needing that bottle of Scotch tonight after all."

With a seductive smile on her face, Deanna says, "Why do you need Scotch, when you have me?"

"I don't." he said with a smile. "You're all I need." Then he returns her kiss, but this time they did not part until they felt the need for air. Will continues, "You are so beautiful and I am such a lucky man."

"Well," Deanna began. "It is getting late and you have a nice soft bed here. Why don't we try exploring each other like we did in the Jalara?"

"You must have read my mind." Will said with a smile, picked her up and took her to bed.

As he laid her down she said, "No, I just confirmed what was on both our minds."

Will laughs and says, "Deanna Troi, shut up and kiss me."

"Gladly." she said with a smile.

They spent the night together repeating their passionate experience they had in the jungle. Only this time, there was no holding back. They freely made love to each other. Their need for exploration had past and this time they made love as two passionate lovers, who had known each other forever. They had hoped this night would never end, but they made love to each other as though it were their last time. The kisses were not soft and sweet this time, but of urgent longing to make this night one to remember. The fever of the jungle was within them and primitive lust was released.

Will devoured every inch of her within his mouth, as if it would keep her with him forever. Deanna in turn enveloped him within her mind and soul. Then, once again, they became one, in body, mind and soul. At the climax of their passion, there was still the promise of forever and only one word between them. Imzadi.

Chapter 15

The next morning Deanna showered and put her clothes from the previous night back on. Will was running a little late to meet with Mark Roper for breakfast, but he did not care. He was happy and so was Deanna. He gave her playful little pecks on the lips as she was trying to leave. She backed up giggling against the wall and Will had one hand on each side of her still kissing her.

"You know...(Will kisses her) at this rate...(again he kisses her) I may not leave." she said all smiles.

"I know." he said with a grin.

"I thought you wanted me to go back home?"

"No, I said you needed to." He still had that playful smile. "I want you stay, but since you can't, I figure this would be a good send off."

"Well, it certainly is that." she smiled.

"Just promise me one thing before you leave." Will requested with a kiss.

"And what might that be?" Deanna inquired, still all smiles.

"When the time is right, (he kisses her) you've got your career going (another kiss) and are happy with your life, marry me."

Deanna's heart leapt in unbelieving joy. She smiled, wrapped her arms around him and kissed him a long and passionate kiss.

When she released him from the kiss, Will said, "I'll take that as a yes."

"You'd better, Will Riker." she said. Then he realeased her and she started to leave.

"Deanna." he said softly.

"Yes?"

"Before I leave tomorrow, will you meet me at the museum in the morning, one last time?"

She smiled the most beautiful smile Will thought he had ever seen. "Yes, I'd like that."

With a big grin on his face, Will said, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

They parted for the rest of the day.

 

Deanna arrived back at the Troi mansion. She noticed her mother was in the study, also wearing the same clothes she had on last night. She also realized it was almost seven in the morning. Her mother wasn't usually up and dressed at this time.

Deanna walked into the study sensing her mother was not mentally wishing her away and said, "You're up early."

"I never went to bed last night." Lwaxana responded. "You should never leave a woman my age alone with her thoughts."

Deanna noticed a holopicture in front of her mother. "What's that?"

"Oh, it's something I found last night." Lwaxana then handed her the holopicture.

There was a five year old little girl in the picture with her father. "Is that me or Kestra?" Deanna asked.

"It's you, before your father died."

"I don't remember this picture." Deanna said.

"Maybe it's because I never brought it out after your father's death, until now." Lwaxana had another holopicture beside her also. Deanna looked at it and saw it was a picture of her grandmother. Lwaxana's mother.

There was a long silence between them. Finally, Deanna said, "I just came to get my things." She started to leave until her mother spoke.

"You know, when I was your age, I did the same to my mother. The circumstances weren't that much different, and she said the same to me as I walked out the door. When I told you not to come back, it reminded me of the time my mother and I got into it. She did the same to me. Planned every detail of my life."

"Did you return?"

"Yes." stated Lwaxana. "She didn't really mean it. At the time she did, just as I did, but when I got back she regretted saying it. She even had a man planned for me, but he met another and married her."

"Must have been hard for you."

"For a while it was." Lwaxana confirmed. "But then I met your father. We also had an explosive argument about him, because she did not like anything about him. Too human. I guess parents make the same mistakes every generation."

"Did she dislike him as much as you do Will?"

"Oh, no, she was worse." Lwaxana stated. "I must admit, though, Lieutenant Riker does have a lot of good qualities. Much like your father. I can see why you are so attracted to him."

"So that's why you didn't try harder to stop me." Deanna said. "You were hoping he would talk to me like my father did."

Lwaxana nodded and said, "Obviously he did, because you're here and not leaving with him."

There was a brief silence between them. Then Lwaxana said, "You know, Deanna, you don't have to leave."

Deanna smiled a reassuring smile and said, "I know, but things can't go back to the way they were."

"You are right, Lit..." she stopped herself. "Deanna. Things were simpler then and uncomplicated, but I must accept that you are not a little girl anymore. You're a grown woman and it's not what you want. I'm not an ogress. Really, I'm not."

"I know, Mother."

"If you leave where will you go?" her mother asked.

"I don't know. The dorms, Chandra's." she shook her head and shrugged. "I do what to finish my studies in psychology and I haven't ruled out Starfleet."

"Well, if you want and only if you want to, you can stay here. With me." Lwaxana offered. "And you can do what ever makes you happy. Just promise me you won't become a naked blue dancer on Zetli. It's so cold there. You'll catch your death."

She hugged her mother, and smiled, "I won't mother, but I do have a definite idea what I want for my life. I want to finish my studies, get my career going as a Psychologist and when Will and I are ready..." She pauses with a hesitant smile. "We want to be married."

"I was hoping that what I was reading from your mind was true." Lwaxana said with a small smile.

"So, you're not going to insist that we not see each other?"

"No." her mother said. "As I said, Will Riker is a lot like your father. I'm really not surprised you have fallen in love with him and if he makes you happy...."

Lwaxana never finished her sentence, but Deanna knew and understood. They decided they both were hungry and went to eat breakfast. Deanna insisted they should not disturb Mr. Homn. Saying that it would be fun if they made breakfast themselves, together.

 

Riker strolled in the cafe all smiles. Roper greeted him with "You're late, Captain."

Riker continues to smile and says, "Well, I was a little detained."

"The scuttle butt says you had a nice looking young woman in your room all night." Roper informed him.

"Oh, really?" Will said with a smile.

"Yes." Roper said with a sly smile. "I guess I owe you 200 credits, but I want details first."

"Well, who says anything happened?" Will asked, refusing to devulge any information.

"Oh, come now!" Roper exclaimed. "You can't tell me you had Deanna in your quarters all night long and nothing happened!"

"Who said it was Deanna?" Will asked, giving Mark a hard time.

"Tang did. Short, curly dark, hair and eyes." Roper repeated the discription. "He even said she was introduced to him by the name Deanna Troi and that she was the woman you rescued."

Will just shook his head and chuckled. "Mark, I'm not telling you a thing."

"Well, a bet's a bet." Roper said. "I'll have 200 credits transferred to your account before you leave tomorrow."

"Mark," Will said firmly. "I told you, I do not want the 200 credits, even if it is a bet. To me the bet would be I pay you 200 credits if I didn't get her to sleep with me and I would get nothing if I did."

"No." Said Roper. "That's not how I see it."

"Mark, I don't want your money." Will said very firmly.

"You're in love with her!" Mark said with a joyful smile.

"Yes, I am." Will confirmed with a smile. "But that's all I'll say."

"Given the circumstances," Mark began to ask. "Are you wishing you didn't have to ship out tomorrow?"

"Yes and no."

Mark Roper looked totally confused.

Will noticed this and said, "It's a very long story of unfinished business that we both need to complete before anything else."

"I'm still confused." Roper stated.

"Like I said, it's a long story." Will said, then added with a smile. "But I will see her again, before I leave."

Chapter Seventeen

Deanna and Chandra walked acrossed campus together. Chandra had been out of the Medical Facility for a few weeks now and had just gotten back to her normal routine. Physically she was much better, emotionally she was still shaken and had not yet return to the museum. Deanna had been encouraging her to go, but today was different.

It had been six weeks since Will had left for the Hood and Deanna missed him sorely. Oh, they had communicated via subspace and all, but had not seen each other in person for as many weeks. Deanna had wanted to see him so badly, but she could not get away from school at this time due to all the tests she had to take at this time of year.

"Oh, Chandra, I do miss him so much." Deanna confided in her friend.

"You know, Deanna. You have not told me much about him, except that you miss him." Chandra informed Deanna. "Why don't you tell me about him. I mean, I was still in the Medical Facility when he left, so I really didn't get to meet him."

"Well, what do you want to know?" Deanna asked. "You have an idea what he looks like because you saw him at the wedding."

"Yes, but I want to know what he's like."

Deanna got a dreamy look about her. "Well, his eyes are as blue as the Betazoid sky."

"No, I mean what's he like to talk to?" Chandra asked. "How was he when he rescued you from that brutal Sindareen and stuff like that?"

"Well, as far as talking to him, I feel as though I can tell him anything." Deanna told Chandra. "We talk about everything and anything. Well, almost." Deanna got a look of worry upon her face, but she did not say much more to her friend. Chandra did not miss the fact her friend was worried about something, but Deanna continued before she could inquire about it. "As for as the Sindareen leader goes, he was determined to get me safely back home. He never back down from that man and in the end, well, you know the rest."

Chandra continued her questions, "So, you were alone in the jungle with Will for days. What all happened?"

Deanna blushed slightly, "What do mean?" She asked not wanting to devulge a lot of details to her friend.

"Well, what happened?"

"Chandra, please." Deanna pleaded. "I really don't want to talk about all the details."

Chandra's eyes got wide with surprise and fascination. "Deanna!" she smiled. "I want deatails!"

"Chandra, really." Deanna said. Chandra looked at her with a face that begged to know what happened. "OK, I'll tell you this much, Will and I are getting married after I finish getting a degree and have my career started."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" Chandra exclaimed. "I wish I could have met him before he left. There's nothing more you want to tell me? I'd love to hear more!"

Deanna looked all directions to see if there was a place she could talk to her friend where there was not a lot of people around. She spotted a quiet looking secluded place a few meters away. It was a corner spot in the well trimmed shrubby. "Come over here with me."

Deanna dragged her friend by the hand over to the corner and said, "Chandra, can I tell you something and you keep quiet about it, at least until I tell you it's ok?"

Chandra had confused concern about her friend. "Of course, Deanna. What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure yet, but.." Deanna's voice trailed off and Chandra could barely hear the rest of Deanna's sentence.

Chandra's eyes got wide, "Surely, I didn't hear you right?"

Deanna finally sent her concerns to Chandra's head. Chandra's eyes got even wider, or so it seemed to Deanna, and her mouth dropped to the ground in surprise.

"Deanna!" Chandra exclaimed in her head. "I don't know whether to be happy for you or what!"

"Well, I don't know for sure yet."

"You haven't had any confirmation of what you think it might be for sure?"

"No, not yet." Deanna informed her friend. "I don't know myself how I feel about this yet, to be honest."

"Well, I'm going to be late for class." Chandra informed Deanna. "Do me one favour, Deanna, let me know when you have more information."

Deanna sensed her friend's sincerity and said aloud, "I will, Chandra."

 

On the bridge of the Hood, Will had drifted off in thought. He enjoyed speaking to Deanna, via subspace last night. She was just as beauty as ever. They talked for almost three hours about everything and everything. Then Will thought, "I miss her. God, how I miss her! Holding her, how she smells. Everything. I do hope she's right about being together again soon. It's just the waiting that's hell."

"Well, Riker?"

Will shook his head to get his mind back to where he was. "I'm sorry, sir. What were you saying?"

"I asked if you were going to the concert this evening?" Captain Desoto said.

"Well, I wasn't planning on it." Will informed him. "I have other plans in mind, unless it's mandatory, of course, that we all go."

"No, no." affirmed his new captain. "If you have other plans, then by all means attend to them."

Will did not have big plans. He just wanted to write a letter to Deanna, even though he just talked to her last night. He did notice she appearred to have something on her mind that she was not saying. He had no idea what was bothering her. He thought maybe a letter to her could get her talking about it. "Couldn't hurt." he thought.

"Well, I guess since first watch is over, and your replacement is here." A nice looking young woman approached him, "Are you sure you don't want to go to that concert, Leiutenant Riker? Perhaps with me?"

This particular young woman, also a leiutenant, had been trying to seek out Riker's attention since he came aboard. So far, Will had declined her advances. He kept reminding himself of Deanna and their promise. "Leiutenant, I think you should know, I am promised to another."

"Promised?" she repeated. "What exactly does that mean?"

"I'm engaged, so to speak." Will boarded the turbolift.

"Well, have you set a date?" she asked as she board with him.

"No, not for a while, yet."

"So, then, it's not definite, is it?"

"Well, it is, but we just haven't set any date or made plans for any wedding yet." Will informed her. "It's a long story, ma'am and I really don't want to discuss my personal life."

"Well, if there's no date or anything, why not dinner at least?"

Will felt the urgent need to get out of the turbolift and was wishing it would hurry to his deck a little faster. It finally openned to his deck and he said, "Well, I really do have plans for tonight. I'll see you tomorrow on the bridge."

He walked off the turbolift and headed to his quarters. Once inside his quarters he sat down with a padd and started to write a letter to Deanna. At the same time he was so glad to be away from that woman. "What's her name? Rosair, Rosairo, Rosatto. Damn! I have to work with her and I can't even remember her exact name!" he thought.

He decided to let it go and sat down to write Deanna. However, he had no idea what to say to her or what to ask her. Even how to ask her. "If she wanted to talk about it she would have." he thought to himself. "Maybe she'll mention it next time we talk and I should just let it go for now."

"I could call her, but we spoke last night. It might be a little too presumptuous of me." he thought. "Maybe I was reading too much into it."

He put the padd aside and decided to fix himself something to eat and just spend the evening getting sometime alone with his thoughts. "Maybe turn in early or read a good book." He thought.

He was begining to feel things, without Deanna, were getting a little mundane. However, he did not know what to do with his free time unless he was calling or writing her.

He ate his dinner and found a good book to read for the evening. Then he thought, "Well, her semester is ending soon, maybe I could invite her to come for a visit." he thought with a smile.

Chapter 18

Will had been gone for seven weeks now and Deanna felt she could not stop thinking about him. She wanted to talk to him about something, but she had no idea what she would say or how she would say it. In reality, she did not know if she really had anything to say at all. Maybe it was just a desire to be with him. She just was not sure. She was not sure of anything at this point.

She just finished taking a test that she felt was the biggest test of her life. She waited to find out how the test turned out. She felt anxiety over it, but yet she also felt some hope about the test. She had so many mixed emotions over this test that she could hardly contain herself. She just had to know what the outcome was so she waited around for the final analysis, instead of waiting for the information to be sent to her later.

Finally, she was going to find out what the results of her test were. "I don't want to know." she said to herself. "But I have to know."

The results of her test were positive for her and she was trying to figure out what she was going to do next. "Well." she thought. "I think I'll hunt down Chandra and see what she is doing for the afternoon. Maybe I could drag her to the museum."

She found Chandra sitting in the middle of campus reading a text padd.

Deanna spoke to her, "Would you like to take a break from studying or do you have another test this afternoon?"

"Well, actually, I'm done for today as far as tests go." Chandra respond. "What did you have in mind?"

"I was hoping to drag you off to the museum this afternoon." Deanna informed her. "It would do you good to go back."

"You're not going to let this go are you?"

"No, I'm not." Deanna replied. "I assure you, you will be OK."

"If I participate in your submersion therapy, will you let it go?" Chandra asked with sarcasm.

Deanna smiles, "Yes."

"OK. I'll go." she said gathering up her text padds and placing them in her bag. Chandra rose and they headed off to the museum.

"Well, I got more information." Deanna informed Chandra by thought sending.

Chandra smiled. "And?"

"Well, I'm not sure what happens next or how I feel, but yes it was." she informed Chandra with a smile.

"Oh, Deanna! That's wonderful!" Chandra exclaimed elated. Then her expression changed. "I think? You said you weren't sure how you felt."

"Well, I'm not sure. I have so many mixed emotions about it all."

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out." Chandra stated encouragingly.

They arrived at the museum and Chandra was getting a little anxious. "Deanna, maybe I should go back to my studies." she said aloud with panic in her voice.

"Oh, no! You'll be OK." Deanna insisted giving her a little nug.

Chandra started to turn around in panic and ran right into Deanna. She backed up a little and said, "This isn't a good idea."

"Oh, Chandra, get in there and don't worry about it so much. It's OK." Deanna reassured her firmly.

Chandra finally went into the museum. Deanna got her friend to walk through the museum and Chandra actually forgot her fear and started enjoying being in the museum like old times. They listened to the music and looked at the various artworks, until late afternoon and decided it was time to return home.

As they left to go home, Deanna asked, "Now see? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Chandra smiles and says, "No, it wasn't. Thanks for dragging me out here." then Chandra hugged her friend and they went their separate ways.

 

Deanna arrived home and was thankful to find out her mother was not home. She checked the time and thought, "Maybe I can call Will and talk to him, now."

She put the communique through and finally got Will on the view screen, "Hello, Imzadi." she said with a smile.

"Deanna! Imzadi!" Will replied with a smile. "I am so glad to see you."

"Yes, a week seems like such a long time, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does, but we can talk now." he smiled.

"How are you doing?" she asked trying to keep from rushing to her question.

"I'm great now!" he said with a smile. "What about you?"

She smiled back at him. She couldn't resist his smile. It made her heart flutter the way he smiled at her. Then she responded with a slight change in her expression, "I fine. I've missed you and just had to call you."

Somehow, Will started to get the feeling she wanted to ask him something. "Deanna, is there something you want to ask me?"

The smile on Deanna's face left and turned to one of uncertainty. She did not say anything at first. She wanted to ask him with the right words. Finally, she said, "Will, we need to talk."

Will's smile dropped and he asked with some confussion, "About what?"

"I'd rather see you in person to talk to you about this." Deanna informed him. "Is there anyway you can get permission for me to come aboard next week to see you?"

"Well, yes. I'll see what I can do." Will said with ambiguous excitement. "Deanna, I must say, this is not only a surprise, but I'm thrilled you want to come aboard and see me."

"I'm rather excited to pay you a visit too." Deanna told him and broke a smile again.

"I'll call you as soon as I get an answer." Will said.

Deanna smiles. "I guess I'll let you go so you can talk to your captain and get permission."

Will smiles back and says, "OK. I hope to get back to you with good news."

"Me too, Imzadi." she said still smiling and looking into his blue eyes. "Until next time." she said.

"Until next time." With that she closed the comm channel.

Her mother walked in about the same time and said, "Oh, Lit..." she stopped. It was becoming a habit for her to rephrase how she addressed Deanna.

"Well, at least she's trying." Deanna thought.

"Of course I am!" Lwaxana said. "You know I am! Now, what was I about to say? Oh, yes, Deanna. I have to go on a delegation trip next week and guess who's ship I'll be on?"

"Unbelievable!" Deanna thought. "This may make getting permission to come aboard easier, but somehow I have this feeling I may not get any privacy with Will."

"What was that, Lit.. Deanna?"

"Oh, nothing, Mother." Deanna said. "I had just got done talking to Will and I happened to have been making plans to visit him."

"Well, why didn't you say so!" Lwaxana said with joy. "You can go with me. Well, now that you have that settle..."

"Really, Mother." Deanna said. "Will's going to ask permission for me to come aboard."

"Why bother when you can just come with me?" she said with her hand waving through the air as though to push away Deanna's idea.

"Well, at least I know I will be seeing him next week." Deanna said with a smile.

 

Later that night at dinner Deanna was quiet in thought, but not wanting to share her thoughts with her mother. Just not yet at least. Lwaxana studied her. She really wanted to know what was going on in her daughter's little head. "She looks so serious in thought." Lwaxana thought. She did a gentle mind brush, but Deanna refused her mother inquiry.

So Lwaxana asked aloud with concern, "Deanna, You're so quiet tonight. Is there something wrong? Actually, you've been like this a lot these past two weeks."

"No, not really." Deanna replied a little uneasy. Then said with a look of sadness. "I don't know." she shrugged. "I guess I just miss Will a lot."

Deanna had let her guard down for a brief moment and Lwaxana caught a quick peek into Deanna's thoughts. "No!" Lwaxana just sat there with shock, from what she sensed, written all over her face.

"Mother," Deanna started to reassure her mother. "It's really not that bad."

"Not that bad! Not that bad!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "No wonder you want to go see him, I would to and I just may pay him a visit!"

Deanna stood up suddenly, quickly moved to her mother's side of the table, and looked directly at her mother pointing her finger at her, "Mother! You promised you would stay out of our relationship, except to help plan the wedding when we decided to make our final arrangements. Now, please. It's nothing Will and I can't deal with and work out ourselves."

Lwaxana was starting to calm down a little and said, "Well, OK, Little One. If you're sure."

"Yes, Mother. I'm sure." Deanna said, trying to ignore her mother's momentary regression of her name. "Now where are those brownies for dessert?"

Chapter 19

Lwaxana knocked at the bathroom door and sent, "Deanna, we need to get going."

Deanna openned the door and spoke as if she was not only trying to catch her breath, but also trying to keep from wretching. "Mother, I can't go. I'm too sick to go."

"Nothing that some crackers and hot tea won't take care of, Deanna." Lwaxana said in a tone that seemed like she was saying "Oh, just get over it and let's go."

Deanna placed a hand over her mouth and a said, "Mother!" then closed the door and lost her stomach again.

"Deanna." Lwaxana sent. "If you won't listen to anything else I say, please listen to this. If you don't go and see him, you're going to regret it later. Mark my words. So please just eat some crackers and drink some tea."

 

A few hours later Deanna was on a shuttle craft to meet with the Hood, doing better and was thankful for the crackers and tea. The morning ritual had started within the last week or so and Deanna was already getting tired of it, but she realized her mother was right about not going. She would have regretted it.

She had no idea what she was going to say to Will or how she was going to say it. In some respects she was nervous and worried. In other respects, she was very excited to see him. She knew she could not have told him over a communique or in a subspace message. "No, it's best I tell him in person." she said.

 

A couple hours later, they were awaiting permission to come aboad the Hood. Lwaxana was her usual flambouyant self. Deanna was having butterflies in her stomach. "Oh, gods." she thought. "Not now! I can't get sick again now." She took a few deep breaths and prepared to beam aboard the Hood.

Lwaxana tried to convence her not to beam aboard, but Deanna was not about to do anything usual. She did not want Will asking questions before she had a chance to say a word. "Besides, Mother, there's no medical reason why I shouldn't." Deanna sent.

"Very well. Do what you want." Lwaxana said, indignant.

They beamed aboard and Will was there to greet them. Deanna openned her arms to offer Will a hug and he was more than happy to return her hug. "Deanna," he said with a big smile. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Will." Deanna said smiling back at him. "And how about you?"

Lwaxana speaks before Will could answer Deanna. "Oh, she fine, alright. She's better than fine. She just positively glowing."

Riker was confused, looked at Deanna, and his face looked as if it were saying, "What the hell is she talking about?" Will finally decides to just blow Lwaxana off and replied to Deanna, "I'm fine and so glad to see you again."

"Will," Deanna pauses for a moment. "I really need to talk to you and I really don't want to wait too long." She was afraid she would loose her nerve if she did not get it said right away.

"Sure, what is it?"

"No, somewhere private."

"We can go to my quarters and talk there." Now Will knew there was something wrong and he was very concerned.

They started to walk off, when Lwaxana said with an anxious smile, "Oh, I'm coming too! I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

"Mother!"

"No, no. I'm coming with you two."

Deanna was not happy about this. "Mother, if you say one word!"

"Oh, don't worry. I'll behave." Lwaxana sent back. "I promise."

 

"Well, here it is, my quarters." Will said with a smile. "It's not much, but I call it home."

"It's lovely, Will."

The door slid shut behind the three of them and Deanna looks around his quarters.

"So, what is it you want to talk to me about." Will asked.

She walked over to where he was. Looks at him with adoration.

"Well, if you don't tell him, I will." Lwaxana said aloud.

"Mother, I really would like it if you left us alone." Deanna said firmly.

"Deanna's pregnant and I want to know what you're going to do about it!" Lwaxana informed Will directly to his face.

There was an angry silence. Lwaxana could sense both of them were very angry with her, but she had no idea who was more angry.

Will holds his head up and with irritation in his voice he says to Lwaxana, "Mrs. Troi, I would appreciate it if you left the two of us alone."

"Oh, leaving the two of you alone was how she got in this condition in the first place." Lwaxana said. "Personally, I don't think you two could handle it."

"Mrs. Troi, Deanna and I can handle this just fine." he informed her. "Now, I'm asking nicely one more time. Please leave!"

"Young man, do you realize who you are talking to?" she asked rhetorically. "I am Lwaxana Troi."

"I don't give a damn who you are!" Will said with anger quite clear in his voice. "Get out!"

"Well, I never!" she said very appaulled and left.

After she left, Will turned to her and placed his hands, lovingly on her shoulders and said, "Deanna."

She sensed his worry. "If you're worried that I might kill the baby, given the circumstances, don't be."

"Well, that's a relief, but that's not what I was worried about." Will informed. Deanna looked at him with curiousity. "I'm worried about how you're going to finish getting a degree and all of that other stuff. It's your deam."

Very indignant she says, "I will do it. May take a little longer than planned, but I will do it."

"You're just stubborn enough to do it too, one thing though, who's going to take care of our child while you do this? Your mother?"

"I really haven't thought through all of that, just yet, but I'm sure I'll find someone and it's not mother. She's too busy running around the universe, herself."

Will let out a slow breath of air and pull her close to him. He held her close to him and thought, "I know what I want to say, but would she go for and if she did, how would she do what she wanted to do?"

Finally, he pushes her back just enough to still hold her and look into her eyes. He says, "We'll work this out somehow. I have no ideas right now, but we will."

Deanna looks at him with tears of happiness and says, "I love you, Will." Then hugs him and adds, "Thanks for you're support."

"There's one thing I don't get." Will said. "I thought we were careful."

Deanna pulled away slightly irratated. "Will, withdrawal is not the most reliable form of contraception."

"Well, yeah, I know." Will was surprised she came out that. "We were in the jungle, in the heat of the moment and all."

"Who said it wasn't in your quarters!"

"Deanna, I really don't think it matters now, where or when it happened." Will stated. "It's happened and we need to figure out what to do."

"You're right, Will." Deanna agreed.

"My biggest question is, if you're on Betazed, when this child is born, how am I going to get there in time to be there as it's being born? And if you're on Betazed, how are we going to raise him or her together. And if you're ..."

"What does Betazed have to do with it, Will?" she interrupts. "If you're on this ship, and by the way, it's twins, but Mother doesn't seem to know tha..." She noticed Will's face change to total shock and pauses.

"Twins?" he said in complete shock. He turns around and walks over to a chair and sits down. "Twins?"

She walks over to him and kneels down beside him, with sympathetic eyes and touches him in a sympathetic and reassuring way. She allowed him time to recover from the shock, before she spoke again.

"Deanna, this is very complicated." he looked at her with even more concern.

"That's what I was about to say." She said. "Or something like that. If you're on this ship how are you going to see their births and all their milestones? It's a two way street here. It's not just me being on Betazed."

"Deanna." he stopped himself. He wanted to ask her to marry him sooner. He had a hard time being without her these last couple of months and he knew now it was going to be even harder, but he knew she also wanted to become her own person. He could not take that from her. "And besides." he thought to himself. "Is it what she wants?" He decided to wait on that question for awhile.

Deanna thought to herself, "If only we could..." Then she stops her thought. Then sadly thinks, "That maybe a bad idea too."

They talked for a while longer, but came up with no solution to all their questions. They had no answers, but they knew they did have each other and for now that was enough.

Chapter 21

Will was on his way to see the captain. As he was walking down the corridor he thought about the prior day's conversation with Deanna.

"Will, I don't think you would be very happy working planet side." Deanna commented. "I'm afraid you would not want to stay stationed on a planet, because of your desire to be a captain in the near future."

That's when he walked over to Deanna, placed his hands on her shoulders, looked her straight in the eyes and said, "Deanna, there's some things that take presidence over beating Kirk's record. I do not want my children growing up with an absent father. I want to be there for them. And if that means giving up a dream or two so be it."

Then he pulled her in close to him and just held her. Finally, he said, "Unlike my father, I have to be there for them. I want to be there for them."

He knew Deanna sensed his sincerity, which was what brought him to the captain today. He had put in a request to be transferred planet side on Betazed or Earth.

Finally in the Captain's Ready Room, the captain addressed him. "Lieutenant," the captain, who was a much older man, began. "I've read your request for transfer and I was wondering, within this short time that you have been on the Hood, if there was a problem."

"Well, yes and no, sir."

"Would you mind elaborating on your statement?" the Captain asked.

"There's not a problem here on the Hood." Will stated. "It's more of a family matter."

"I see, and given your request was preferably for Earth or Betazed, I assume this family matter has something to do with our vistors from there."

Will was uncertain how to answer, so he was rather honest, "Yes, sir. It does, sir."

The captain walked around his desk and sat on the front side of it in front of Will. "Not that it's really any of my business, but may ask what relationship the Troi's are to you?"

"Deanna Troi is my fiancee."

"I think I understand." The captain said. "So, why couldn't she just come aboard here on the Hood after you're married?"

"Well," Will responded hesitantly, "We feel being aboard a ship, even with all it's positive aspects, is not very condusive to raising a family."

The captain smiles and chuckles slightly. "Ah! So you're planning to have children right away! No waiting, huh?"

"I guess you could say that." Will replied.

"I like your spunk! Your ambition, Lieutenant!" The captain commented. "I wish I were young again. Because if I had it to do all over again, I would do just what you're doing. I would have gotten married to the woman I was in love with so many years ago and had a family, but no, I chose the stars and prestige."

Will sat and listened to him and it was starting to slowly dawn on him that this was what his future self meant, by screwing up. He did not marry Deanna when he had the chance and now, much like his captain, he wished he had. However, the circumstances were probably a little different than this man's were.

"Well, Lieutenant Riker." Will turns his attention back to his captain who was still smiling at him. "Are you sure this is what you want to do with your career in Starfleet?"

"Yes, Sir. At this point in my life." Will answerred firmly.

The captain sighed a sigh that was mixed with emotions. Then he said, "I can't say if I agree with your decision to be transferred to a planet side position or not, but I can say I will put in your request for transfer. You're a good officer and I'll miss having you aboard."

They both stood and the captain pats him on the back and says, "Good luck, I wish you the best."

"Why thank you, sir, but I haven't gotten the transfer yet."

"No, but you have made plans to be married and that's enough right there to wish you luck."

Will smiles and thinks to himself, "To bad I couldn't have had him as a superior officer sooner. He has seemed like a good man to work with." Then he finally says, "Thank you" again to his captain.

Will departed from the Captain's Ready Room and headed for the turbolift. He was rather excited to tell Deanna how his discussion went, until the doors to the turbolift opened. He wanted to find some excuse not to get on at that moment, for standing in the turbolift was the woman he was trying hard to avoid. She was of olive complextion, brown eyes and hair. A real looker and any other time he might have taken an interest. Not that he had not, but he was so committed to Deanna and did not want to go that route, but this woman made it very hard for him.

He could not find an excuse so he boarded the turbolift. "Hello, Billy Boy."

"Ma'am, I would appreciate it if you would not address me in that manner."

"Oh, really?" she smiled. "I've heard other female officers, who have served with you, say you enjoy it."

"That was another time and place."

She puts and arm around him, "How about lunch?"

"I'm sorry, I'm booked."

"Dinner."

"Also booked."

"You're not still spending your free time all alone are you?"

"Nope, someone's booked my schedule for me."

"Really," she said. "Maybe I could unbook it."

Will was getting very uncomfortable and then the turbolift stopped. Will was about to get off to get away from this woman, when he saw Deanna about to get on the lift. She paused and looked at Will and then the other woman. She sensed who was the aggressor and why Will was so uncomfortable at that moment.

"Imzadi, it's not what you think!" he thought at her with desperation.

She got the message. Will was almost sure of it.

She then smiled at Will and stepped into the turbolift. Then she put her arm around Will's arm. "Why Lieutenant! It's nice to meet with you a little sooner than expected! This way we can have more time in each other's company during your lunch time!" she said in a cheerful voice.

Will was thinking, "Well, I was either saved by the bell or she is making some sort of a point here."

The lift stopped on the floor of the lounge and the three stepped off. The woman address Will again and said, "So this must be the person who has booked all your free time?"

"This woman can stop anytime now." Will thought. Then responded with a smile, "Yes, she is."

"Aren't you the delegate's daughter?"

Deanna hated being referred to as the delegate's daughter, but all she said was, "Yes, I'm Deanna Troi."

"Lieutenant Marie Rosalinio."

Will thought she was of Latin descent, so with some surprise in his voice he says, "Sounds Italian?"

"Silcilian, actually." she said and then she noticed a look from Deanna that most women understand as "Back off". The woman got the message, but said, "Well, I'll leave you two alone." Then adds, "After all, Willy Boy here needs to keep the delegate's daughter entertained."

Will buries his face into his free hand and says, "Oy!"

Deanna gives a small chuckle, pats him on the arm and replies, "It's okay, Will. I have an idea of what was going on, you can relax now."

Will looks up, moves his arm from hers and faces her. "How did... Oh, yeah." realizing how stupid that question was going to be. Then says with a smile, "I guess I was saved by the bell."

Taking Will by the arm again, she smiles and says, "Yes, and don't you ever forget who has all your free time booked or I'll really remind you big time, Willy Boy!"

Will just smiled and they walked off to find a table. Will pulled a chair out for Deanna to sit down and then he helps her up to the table.

"I'll go order. What do you want?" Will asked.

Deanna jokingly says, "Ice cream and pickles."

Will looks at her with an "you serious" look? Deanna laughs and then tells him what she really wanted.

Will returns, sits two glasses of water on the table and then sits down in the chair across from her. He stares at her, with a smile, for a few moments. Then he says, "You know, I think your mother is right. You are glowing. Or at least right now you are very radiant."

Deanna smiles and almost chuckles. "You know, flattery will get you everywhere."

"I wasn't trying to flatter." Will smiled. "I meant it."

She smiles, tilts her head and slightly nods, "Why thank you."

Then Will got serious. "How did you know?"

Their food was being delivered to their table, as the conversation paused briefly. Will thanked the person who brought them their lunch and looks back to Deanna.

"Know what?" Deanna resumed the converstion, then took a sip of water.

"What was going on between her and me in the turbolift?" Will asked. "I felt almost certain you would misunderstand and take it all wrong."

She reachs over, pats him on the cheek and explains with a smile, "Simple, Will. You are marrying an empath."

Will felt so stupid now for asking, so he changed the subject. "Oh, I want to tell you." Will began with a slight lit in his voice. "I spoke to the captain, before we came down here."

"What did he say?"

"He said he would put in my request for transfer."

Deanna looked at Will and said, "You actually put in a request?

"Yes, I did." Will smiled.

Deanna smiled back at him and she was rather happy that Will was going through with what he said, but she was concerned that he might change his mind eventually. She prayed to the gods that that day never came.

 

Chapter 22

It was almost a week later, Lwaxana's conference was over and Will had gotten his transfer. He and Deanna had no complaints about where he was transferred and the captain of the Hood was glad Lwaxana was going to be leaving.

In the visitor's quarters, Lwaxana was making big plans for Deanna's big wedding day and she was determined to have them married within a month, before Deanna showed too much.

"Mother, don't you think we are rushing to get this all set up?" Deanna asked. "After all, we need to give people time to RSVP and all."

"Oh, no!" Lwaxana sent. "I'm not having my daughter showing at her wedding anymore than need be! After all, it is a Betazoid wedding, and I'm not going to have it any other way. No, we just have to have it within a month, before you show too much."

"Really, Mother." Deanna sent back. "Is it really necessary to have it strictly Betazoid? I think Will would be a little more comfortable if it were both."

"He's just going to have to adjust to Betazoid ways, especially since he's marrying a daughter of the Fifth House."

Deanna just rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and another thing." Lwaxana added. "I don't trust that Rosa person. We may be arriving back at Betazed tomorrow, but mark my words. She's still going to be trouble. She's been trouble and she will be more trouble. I can just sense it."

"Mother, Will's handled her thus far." Deanna stated. "I think he'll be ok."

"No, he's managed to deal with her because you've been with him his every waking free moment." Lwaxana reminded her. "She's up to something for his last night here. Trust me, Deanna, she's going to be even more trouble."

Deanna was feeling ill at ease by her mother's statements. She's seen this woman, sensed her intent and she knew her mother knew what she was saying. She did not like it. Deanna was in deep thought when her mother gave her a gentle mind brush.

"Deanna."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mother."

"How can you let your thoughts drift off, scheming and devising plans, when I'm trying to make plans for YOUR wedding." Lwaxana asked.

"I'm sorry." Deanna apologized. "What were you asking?"

"I wasn't asking, I was stating that I thought a pale blue head band would be nice. Don't you think?"

Deanna knew what her mother was getting at. "Mother, it's almost time for Will and me to meet for dinner, can we talk about this later?"

Her mother frowned. "Oh, alright." she sent. "I guess with having a month to plan, we can wait on the headband. Go have dinner. You know, you do have dinner with him more often than you do me, but I understand, you prefer his company over your old boring mother's."

Deanna, ignoring her mother's last words, was now all smiles as she left to meet Will for dinner. He was waiting for her in the lounge and as usual, there was that Sicilian beauty all over Will. "Doesn't she ever let up!" Deanna thought.

She walks over to the table where Will was being tormented by her advances. She sensed Will was struggling hard not to give into her advances. In a way it made her feel good, but in another way it worried her, for it just confirmed what her mother was saying. Deanna smiled a mischievious grin and said to herself, "Well, I can curtainly remedy the problem tonight."

She wanted to scratch the eyes out of the woman pawing her soon to be husband, but she reminded herself this woman had no idea of what kind of relationship she and Will had. "Not yet at least." she thought with a smile.

"Hello," Deanna greeted. "We meet again." Then she planted a kiss on Will's cheek. It got a reaction out of the woman, but it did not last very long.

Deanna sat down across from Will and the woman stroke the side of Will's face and purred, "I'm sure one way or another, I can throw you my own personal bon voyage party, later." Deanna did not like the sound of that and felt like she could really retaliate, but no she had other ideas, which would take care of her. She smiled to herself as she thought about what she was going to do.

"Deanna." Will said with some frustration in his voice. "I'm getting a little..."

"Will it's ok." she said. Then she smiled adding, "I personally wouldn't worry about her anymore. Besides, you know if it's too much, I'm here and I can help relieve you."

Will was not too sure what she meant, but if she meant what he thought she meant... Will smiled and thought, "If she means what I think she means, this could be interesting with a pregnant woman."

Deanna sensed a change in his sexual frustrations and knew they were re-directed at her now and not the temptress of a few moments ago. She could not help but giggled.

"What's so funny?" Will asked.

"You!" she said with a smile.

They had finished dinner and Will was about to walk Deanna back to her guest quarters, but Deanna had other plans.

"You know Will." She started to suggest. "We could go back to your quarters and have our own little party."

Will's interest perked up. "What do you have in mind?" He smiled.

She smiles a sly smile back at him and says, "You'll see." She was not about to tell him what her mother mentioned and what she was concerned about. However, if her suspensions came true, at least she would be there to see the look on one particular person's face.

 

Deanna and Will were enjoying each other's company when the chime to his quarters rang.

"It's 2200 hours." Will stated. "Who could this be? Not your mother, I hope."

Deanna did not say a word. She just readjusted herself as Will answered the door to his quarters without even a shirt on. Just his pants and nothing more.

"This should be interesting." Deanna thought.

As the door opened, Lieutenant Rosalinio threw her arms around Will, planted a kiss and then said, "Happy bon voyage! I knew the delagate's daughter couldn't have your schedule book at this ho..."

When she saw Deanna walk up behind Will she stopped in midsentence with wide eyed amazement and removed herself from Will.

Will finally got a grip and said, "Lieutenant, this is my fiancee."

The woman's mouth dropped wide open and Deanna just smiled trying to stifle a laugh.

"I ah..." the woman stammered. "I...Ah...Had no idea." Then backed away from the door, into the hall, letting it close shut.

Deanna finally let out a laugh and Will turned to face her. "You?? How??"

She threw her arms around Will, kissed him and said, "I told you, you didn't have to worry about her."

He chuckled a small chuckle and returned her kiss. Then they had their own little party for the rest of the night without any more disturbances.

 

Then next day Deanna returned to the visitor's quarters to gather her belongings for their return to Betazed. Lwaxana was a little livid.

"Deanna! I can't believe you stayed out all night and in your condition! And with him, before your wedding!" Lwaxana sent.

"Mother, if you saw the look on that woman's face last night, I'm sure you would have understood." Deanna smiled.

Lwaxana backed down a little, "Well, I guess you had good intensions, so I won't say anymore."

 

At 1000 hours, Deanna, Will and Lwaxana were all in the transporter room and on their way back to Betazed.

"Lieutenant," his former captain began. "I'm sure going to miss having you serve under me. I'm sure you would have made a fine officer."

"Well, thank you, sir." Will smiled.

"However, I congratulate you and wish you and your soon to be wife good luck."

"Thank you, sir."

"Since I won't be at the wedding, may I kiss the bride, now?"

Will smiled and said, "If she has no objections."

The captain approached her and Deanna turned her cheek towards him. He then gave her a peck on the cheek. After that the captain said, "You're marrying a fine man, but I'm sure you already know that."

Deanna smiled her acknowledgement.

"And you, Mrs. Troi," the captain addressed her.

Lwaxana looked at the captain with a look that said, "Whatever you have to say I already know it."

"You know what I'm going to say of course, but I'm saying it anyway." he said. "Try and be nice to this gentleman and not pick his brain too much."

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana was a bit mortified. "I will inform you, I don't pick people's brains!"

The captain just smiled and watched them all step onto the transporter padd.

"Energize." The captain commanded. "And thank God that woman is gone!"

"I heard that!"

"Well, at least I got one last jab at her." the captain smiled looking at the officer at the other side of the transporter controls. Then he added, "He may be marrying a fine woman, but I still feel sorry for him."

"Why is that, sir?"

"His mother-in-law!" he responded. "I sure wouldn't want her as my mother-in-law!" Then the captain departed without another word.

Chapter 23

Will and Deanna had been back on Betazed for two days and now Will was back to work. He was rather glad to get away from Lwaxana Troi. She had been trying to run everything from the moment they got there and he was ready to look for other arrangements. Not that he did not appreciate the temporary shelter, he did. It's just he had to bite his damn tongue so much, out of respect for Lwaxana's so called hospitality. She had not given him and Deanna a moments time alone, either, which really got on both Will and Deanna's nerves.

He was begining to understand Deanna in some respects when it concerned her mother. Sometimes there was nothing anyone could say or do, because Lwaxana did not give anyone a chance. However, Will could have stayed at the embassy, but Lwaxana was trying to meet them half way, so he could not complain.

"Well, welcome back, Lieutenant."

Will came out of his thoughts and noticed it was Tang who addressed him. "Tang, you still here?" Will smiled.

"All part of the service, sir." Tang said. "So what brings you back?"

"Just one of those things, Tang." Will smiled. "But this is a good thing."

"There's a rumour going around Betazed." Tang said. "That you're getting married."

"And how did you hear about this, before I had a chance to say anything?" Will asked.

"All part of the service when one lives on a planet full of Betazoids." Tang smiled.

Will grinned and said, "I should have guessed." And then he went to his office.

Tang followed shaking his head. "So, the young lady cast her hypnotic spell on you didn't she. I told you, these Betazoid women will do it to you everytime."

"Tang!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Shut up and get back to work."

"Yes, sir." he said. "Just..."

"I know, I know" Will said. "Just part of the service."

Tang departed and Will sat at his desk. "Tang's a good guy, but he can be so damn annoying." Will thought. Then he said to himself, "Was it really Tang or am I a little stressed out, here?" He shook his head and decided to let go for now.

"Captain!" A familiar voiced screamed out. "I need to talk to you!"

Will buried his head into his hand and said to himself, "What now?" Then he stood up from his desk and greeted the man who walked straight through his open door. "Good morning, Mark."

"How dare you back out on that bet of ours!" Mark said jovially.

"What?"

"You know what I mean." Mark stated. "You sent back the 200 credits that I had transfered to your account and now I hear you're getting married! I say you won the bet fair and square."

"Does everything spread around here like wild fire?" Will asked.

"Hey, on a planet full of telepaths everything gets spread quickly!" Mark smiled.

"So I'm told." Will said.

"Well, don't you worry, you won the bet fair and square and then some." Mark said. "You'll get your 200 credits even if I have to make you eat them."

"Mark, really, I'm not interested in your money or this bet."

"Yeah, well, there's always a wedding gift." Then Mark starts to walk out, then turns to say with a smile, "Congrats, Will. You're a lucky man."

"Thanks, Mark." Then Will just grins and sits back down at his desk to go to work on some paper work, which consumed most of his morning. The only thing that interrupted him was an occasional co-worker coming by to welcome him back and congratulate him. And a brief visit from Deanna.

"Hello, Imzadi." came her voice soft and intimate. Will rose from his desk with a big smile and came around to give her a big hug and kiss.

"I'm glad to see you." he said with a smile. "So how has your day been?"

"Well, I went to registar for one more semester before the babies are born and barring any complications, I think I can squeeze it in."

"Well, if you're sure about that, then I'm all for it." Will stated.

"That and it will give me something constructive to do in the meantime." Deanna said. "Will?"

"Yes?" he looked at her quizically.

"I'm sorry if Mother is being a big pain to you." Deanna said. "I really don't think she means any harm by it. It's just the way she is."

"Ah, Deanna," Will tried to reassure her. "It's nothing I can't handle."

Deanna rolled her eyes again and pointed out, "Will, there you go again, stating something is within your control. Are we resorting back to old habits with me as a means to cope with the situation?"

"OK, If you want me to state the truth?"

"What do you think?"

"She's driving me freaking crazy, Deanna!" he said letting out a lot of frustration in one simple statement. "I'm sorry, it's just.."

"No, you were being honest with not only me, but also with yourself." Deanna said. "And I understand. You're not the only one she gets too, so don't feel so alone with your feelings and don't be afraid to tell me. I'm sure we will come up with better arrangements soon. We just need to be patient."

Will pulls her near and gives her a big hug. "You know, I love you, Imzadi."

"And I love you, too, Imzadi." Deanna said. "Well, I hate to say this, but I promised Mother, I would have lunch with her for a change. You join us?"

"For you, Deanna, I would, but I don't have much time for lunch." Will stated. "I have to eat and get to a briefing."

"I understand." Deanna kissed him, then said, "Just because you do have a meeting. You can't use that excuse all the time."

Then she smiled and kissed him one last time, but this time Will acted like he was going to keep her there and not let go. Just kiss her all over. Deanna giggled when Will worked his way down to her neck. "This is very nice Will, but I do have to go and you have work to do."

"Yeah, you're right." he said still holding her. "But this would be so much more fun."

She gave him one last long loving kiss and asked, "Will that take care of you for a while?"

"Oh, most definately." Will let her go. "I'll see you later and I do hope there's more where that came from."

She smiles and while she's walking out, she looks over her shoulder saying, "There is, there is."

 

Will decided to have lunch at the cafe instead of walking back to the Troi Mansion. Part of the reason was getting to the briefing on time, the other reason was he really was avoiding Lwaxana. Unfortunately, he knew Deanna knew and he wished she did not, but that was something Will knew he would have to get use to, eventually.

While Will was in the cafe he saw Garth Xerx entering and spoke to him.

"Well, if I haven't seen everyone, today!" Will said by way of a greeting.

Xerx sensed he was being addressed and he turned to see who the familiar person was. "Lieutenant Riker!" he said with a smile. "Nice seeing you here!"

"You, too." Will said. "Have a seat."

"Thank you." Xerx said. "So what's on your mind, Lieutenant?"

Will raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm sure you probably know, already."

"Well, unlike Lwaxana, I rather you tell me what you want to talk about." Xerx stated.

"Spoken like a true Psychologist." Will complimented.

"Well, that and I just prefer it that way." Xerx said. "I find it makes people more comfortable that way and they are free to talk about what ever they want to talk about. So, what is it you want to talk about?"

Will sat quiet for a moment and then asked with a bit of caution, "Can I talk to you about a certain Betazoid person that really gets on my damn nerves!"

Xerx chuckled. "Frankly, Lieutenant, Lwaxana gets on a lot of people's nerves, even Betazoids' nerves. While I think highly of her, I have to admit, she can get to me too. I just wouldn't want to have to live with her."

"Yeah, well, I hope by the time Deanna and I are married, I have found other accomodations that has lots of space between us and her."

"Lieutenant!" Xerx said with excitement. "I have the perfect place!"

"Yeah?" Will asked. "What's that?"

"Well, I have this house I'm wanting to sell," Will was all ears now. "I could work something out with you on the amount of credits and then throw in any repairs and remodeling that needs to be done before you move in as a wedding gift."

"Oh, really, that's not necessary." Will said.

"No, no." Xerx said. "I want the remodeling and repairs to be my gift to you two. It's the least I can do. There's really very few repairs needed anyway. Why don't you come and take a look at it tomorrow?"

"Sure, what time?"

"How about this time tomorrow and then you can surprise Deanna with it, when ever you want to or whenever you can't hold back any longer, which ever comes first."

"Now that sounds good." Will smile at the idea of sharing the traditional Earth ritual of carrying the new bride over the threshold with Deanna.

Xerx smiled at the interesting human tradition he sense from Will and thought, "Some of these Human traditions sound nice. I bet some Betazoid women would even enjoy such a thing."

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Xerx." Will said. "I need to get back to work. I have a briefing to be at in ten minutes."

"Oh, go right ahead." Xerx said. "I need to finish up and get back to work myself."

Will went back to work feeling better and was anxious to get back to Deanna at the end of the day. However, he was going to try to keep his conversation with Xerx a secret, if possible, for a while. Living with a telepath and an empath left very little room for secrets. Will just hope he could pull this surprise off.

Chapter 24

Will met with Xerx during his lunch at the address Xerx gave him. Will noticed it was within viewing distance of the University and thought, "This location is perfect for Deanna." Xerx had already arrived and unlocked the house.

Sensing Will's presence, Xerx stuck his head out the door and said, "Come on in and take a look around."

Will entered. "This is nice and roomy."

"Most Betazed homes are. It serves it's purposes." stated Xerx. "Here is the main room and over here is the sitting room, den, library, whatever you want it to be."

They walked over to a room that opened off the main room and entered. Will smiled.

"It needs a woman's touch, really. I think Deanna can handle that, but we don't want every room. of course, decorated in pink." Xerx joked.

"I rather doubt Deanna's favourite colour is pink." Will responded with a slight chuckle. "But you're right, I will probably want a room decorated to suit my tastes."

Xerx smiled back and then said, "The beauty of this house is that it is perfect for families with young children. There's no stairs to worry about little ones falling down. It's all one floor."

Will turned his head to Xerx and said, "How did you know?"

Well, first off, Chandra was the first person Deanna told." Xerx said. "Secondly, you're an open book Will. I have no idea how you're going to surprise Deanna with this."

"That's what I'm worried about." Will said with a discouraged look on his face. "If she and Lwaxana don't know already they soon will."

Xerx looked at him sympathetically, "Lieutenant, I know Deanna has probably taught you quite a bit about us and all, but either she didn't succeed in teaching you how to put up mental blocks or didn't teach you at all."

"A human can do that?"

"Well, yes." Xerx informed. "Usually, I don't teach humans this, but in your case, since there's no way you're going to even surprise her on her birthday, I will. I seriously doubt you will use it for bad intent and marrying into the Troi family, you're going to need it son."

Will was not sure how to take any of this and did not care too much for being called son much, but he took it as a gesture of an older man's friendship and said nothing about it.

"Well, Xerx, that would be nice to learn, but if you have reservations..."

"No, no." Xerx said. "You being an open book has left me no reservations. You need help, especially when it comes to Lwaxana."

"You are so right." Will smiled. "When do we start?"

"Well, after I finish showing you the house and if we have time, we can begin." Xerx said. "But to thoroughly get a grasp on it, it'll take sometime to master, unfortunately."

"Well, then, let's finish looking at the house, talk business and get on with learning mental blocks, so I can surprise Deanna." Will smiled.

"OK." Xerx agreed. "Right this way."

They exited out of the door they came in and arrived back into the main room and went through a door, which was across from the enterance of the house.

"This is the kitchen." Xerx said. "Lots of space to move around in and plenty of places to store things. Women of any culture like that." Xerx smiled.

"I can understand why." Will said.

"Go ahead, check everything out." Xerx offered. "You'll see water, lights and everything works properly. Now, I will say this, and I'll have it fixed before your wedding day. There is a leak in the ceiling somewhere in here." He pointed up at the ceiling about the approximate place of the leak.

"I appreciate that." Will said. "And everything else looks fine."

"Now we can enter the hall by the way we came or by this door." Xerx explained and led Will through the other door. It was an "L" shaped hall with the bathroom at one end and the bedrooms at the other end and lead back out to the main room. In all, there were three bedrooms and like the rest of the house, they were also spacious.

"As you can see, it's just your basic home, but perfect for young families." Xerx stated.

"It's perfect." Will stated with a grin.

"Well, then." Xerx smiled. "Let's talk business."

The two men discussed the total amount of credits it would be and then Xerx set about helping Will be able to surprise Deanna with the house when he was ready to show it to her.

 

Back at the Troi mansion, Lwaxana was talking to Deanna about the plans for the ceremony. Chandra, who was the equivalent to the Maid of Honour, stood by and just listened while the two Troi women talked.

"Mother," Deanna sent. "There's less than two weeks until the wedding and not all the guest have RSVP'd. How can we have this if not everyone can make it?"

"Well, my dear, that's their problem." Lwaxana informed. "Now I really think a pale blue band would be nice."

"Mother, I could care less about the band right now." Deanna said. "What if Kyle Riker has not gotten the invitation. It is a long ways from here to Earth."

"Well, he has less than two weeks to RSVP." Lwaxana stated. "Either he will or he won't. Now, back to the band."

"Mother!" Deanna exclaimed. "I really think if Kyle Riker had the chance, maybe he would want to be there for Will on this occassion."

"Deanna, you and Will want to get married, right?"

"Yes, we do." Deanna sent with a smile.

"Well, if I have to take care of the wedding plans, then it will be before you show too much."

"I really don't see how it matters, Mother." Deanna replied.

Lwaxana's eyes got wide, "It does matter!" she said aloud. "You are a daughter of the Fifth House and we must always look our best and appropriate. We can't let everyone know that you and Will sort of got the cart before the horse."

Deanna was appaulled by her mother's attitude and her face looked it also.

Chandra finally, but meekly, spoke up, "Actually, Mrs. Troi." she bagan. "There's a lot of people who know and they don't seem bothered by it."

"You're too young to understand, dear." Lwaxana informed Chandra telepathically, "But they are probably not letting their true feelings known. They expect certain things from the various houses and getting life a little backwards is not one of them."

"Really, Mrs. Troi." Chandra sent. "They are Betazoids after all, why would they hide their true feelings."

"Chandra, even us Betazoids don't always say how we feel about something." Lwaxana stated arrogantly. "There's somethings we keep to ourselves. Now back to the band."

Chandra and Deanna allowed Mrs. Troi to change the subject back to the band.

"Mother, how about off white."

"No, pale blue is much better for you, dear." Lwaxana insisted.

"Mother!" Deanna shouted in her mother's head. "I don't want pale blue. Now it's my wedding ceremony and I would prefer white. I'll settle for off white if I must, but not pale blue."

"White is not quite appropriate, dear." Lwaxana informed with a sing-song tone in her voice.

"Oh, you don't want people knowing I'm pregnant, but yet you insist on blue for my band." Deanna sent. "That's really good, Mother." Deanna rolled her eyes.

"OK," Lwaxana said aloud. "Have it your way! Be non-traditional! Have a human wedding for all I care!" Lwaxana started to leave the room.

"Mother!" Lwaxana stopped, turned around with anger written all over her, but listened to Deanna. "I'm happy with a Betazoid wedding, but I'm not happy that you are limiting me in what I have to choose from. I'm also not happy that you are not allowing me to help plan my own wedding. You're planning it all! Now, you said a few months ago you would let me live my life and do what makes me happy. Well, let me do that, Mother!"

"You're right, Lit..." Lwaxana stopped herself again. "Deanna, I did say that, but think about tradition."

"Mother, I don't want tradition! I don't care about tradition!" Deanna informed. "I want my wedding to be what I want and care about! Not what you want!"

"Then you plan it!" Lwaxana said and walked out of the room.

"Deanna," Chandra said in sympathy, "Surely you and your mother can compromise on something."

Deanna shook her head, turned around and looked at Chandra. "I wish it were that simple, Chandra. Mother is set in her ways, I guess. Tradition, tradition, traditon. That's all she's ever talked about."

"I know. My mother is sometimes like that." Chandra said. "But I think Father helps some with that. If he were here, maybe he could convince your mother, like he has mine sometimes, that it would be good for you to make some of these choices concerning your wedding."

"Well, Chandra, he's not."

Lwaxana walked back in and sent, "And your father would probably be right, Chandra."

Deanna and Chandra looked at Lwaxana, not really surprised she heard what they had said.

Lwaxana continues looking like she could cry, "Deanna, you're all I have. You're my baby." Lwaxana paused. "It's hard for me to let you grow up when you're all I have left. Your sister died long ago and then your father died. I know I should let you go and not hang on to you so tightly, but it's a very hard process for me."

"You know, Mother." Deanna begins. "I can't say I understand, but I can say, that what you just said, maybe one of those things that I will understand some day."

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana smiled with tears still in her eyes. "You can be so wise beyond your years. Well, we have a wedding to plan. Now, about that band."

The two girls stared at her for a minute waiting for Lwaxana to talk about pale blue bands.

"You say you want off white?"

Deanna smiled. "That will be fine, Mother."

"OK," Lwaxana sent. "Now that, that's settled, let's talk flowers."

Lwaxana finally allowed Deanna to make some choices on her wedding ceremony and the planning process started to go a little faster and smoother. The afternoon went fast and before they knew, Will was back.

"Oh, Will." Deanna said. "You're just in time! We are discussing the menu. What would you like to have at the reception?"

"Oh," Will said a little surprised. "I think I'll let you ladies handle that."

"No, Will." Deanna replied. "I want to know what food you would like to eat at the reception."

"Really." Will said, waving his hand, not wanting to deal with the little details. "You guys decide."

"Will!" Deanna said. "I really want your input. For all I know, you would like to see some Earth dishes there."

"You're not going to let this go. are you?" Will said with a smile. Deanna shook her head no. "OK, seal." He said jokingly and with a big grin.

Deanna almost laugh. "Will, please. Be serious."

"Trout?"

"Better, but how is it cooked?" Deanna asked.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana said. "Never mind that. If that's what he wants, I'm sure we can find someone who knows how to cook Earth dishes."

"Brownies, would be nice, too." Will said with a smile. "Or chocolate suffle'."

"Oh, you're just saying that, because I like chocolate!" Deanna laughed.

"Well, you did ask for Earth dishes." Will stated.

Will got everyone to laugh and then Lwaxana decided that was enough to work with for one day.

"I'll contact the florist, find someone who can cook Earth dishes, and arrange for what we have decided on tomorrow." Lwaxana stated. "Chandra, it's getting late, would you like to have dinner with us?"

"No, actually, my hubby is expecting me." Chandra reminded her with a smile. "Thanks for the offer though." Then turns to Deanna, "I'll see you for the first day of classes tomorrow?"

"Yes." Deanna responded. Then Deanna walked over to Will and hug him. "Missed you today." She whispered in his ear.

"I missed you, too." Will replied.

Lwaxana sat there, looking as though she could cry.

Chandra just smiled. "RaBeem. I'll show myself out." She sent to whoever was listening.

Deanna and Will knew Lwaxana could sense what they maybe saying aloud, but were not worried about it. Lwaxana, just watched them, smiled and said to herself, "They do make a cute couple." Tears ran down her face as she thought, "My baby is getting married."

"Will Riker!" Deanna snapped. It was two days before their wedding and Deanna was very upset. "I don't know what you're hiding, but you're hiding something!"

She had cornered him in the study that evening on the basis of what her mother said to her earlier. She knew he was not telling her something, but it was not confirmed until her mother had said something to her earlier in the day. She and Will had been busy with classes and work all day, so there had been no time to talk each other before what her mother said to her festered.

"Deanna." Will said reassuringly.

"I don't know when you figured out how to block your thoughts, even from Mother, but you have! Mother can even tell it!"

"Deanna, I assure you."

"Why are you, what are you keeping a secret?" Deanna demanded to know.

"Deanna, calm down." Will said.

"Calm down?" Deanna asked. "You give me one good excuse."

"Because, I have a wedding surprise for you, which I want to keep a secret until our wedding night."

She could tell he was telling the truth. Just not what the surprise was. She was very puzzled how he figured it out.

"Will." Deanna said, softly. "I'm sorry. Mother, just had me a little worked up I guess. She gets a little paranoid when she can't sense someone's thoughts. Especially, human thoughts."

"It's ok." Will said. "Just don't do it again." he smiled at her, then kissed her. "I promise you, you will know what it is the night of our wedding."

"I'd better." she teased. "Now tell me something."

"Yeah?"

"How did you figure it out? I mean, I never, or at least I don't think I did," she stammered. "I can't remember teaching you that technique."

"Oh, you didn't." Will grinned. "In fact, I never knew it was possible until some professor and doctor of Psychology told me."

Deanna smiled back. "And who might that be?"

Will pulled her close for what he was going to say next and smiled. "Oh, the same professor who told me that, that technique of your's was not really a theraputic technique."

She became wide eyed with surprise. "You knew all this time?"

Will chuckled. "Yes I did." He kissed her. "I guess you could say a little birdie told me you were interested in me after that incident."

"Oh, Will" she said playfully. "Why didn't you tell me you knew sooner?"

"I don't know." he replied. "I guess I wanted to let you have your fun and and your little secret for as long as possible."

Deanna just shook her head and said, "You're unbelievably good! And I can't wait to see my surprise."

"You'll have to wait. Until then kiss me, soon to be Mrs. Riker."

She did. They kissed passionately for several minutes, but as luck would have it, Lwaxana returns from her outing bellowing.

"Mr. Homn! Deanna! Will!" She yelled. Then walks into the study. "Oh, there you two are and it figures. The moment I turn my back too!"

Will releases Deanna and jumps back.

"Oh, calm down! I'm not mad!" She stated. "Now where's Mr. Homn? I have something to tell all of you. Mr. Homn!"

He finally appears and bows slightly from the waist.

"I have good news! I found someone who can cook trout! Earth Trout, too!" She announced. "I don't know how good he is, but I found him!"

"Mrs. Troi." Will started to tell her something about trout, but Lwaxana continues.

"Oh, don't thank me." She said waving her hand. "Besides, it took me all this time to find someone who was willing to do it. I swear! Some people get so uptight about some things! I just can't figure it out! It's just fish, isn't it?"

Will chuckled. "Yes it is, but um...."

"Then what's the problem?" Lwaxana asked. "How hard is it to cook a fish?"

Will's still laughing.

"What's so funny?" Lwaxana asked puzzled. "No!"

"Yes, Mrs. Troi." Will said still laughing. "You've been taken. You can't bring trout all this way and it be fresh. Oh, you maybe able to keep it preserved, but it's really not that good, unless it's fresh. Even with all the technology we have, trout is really not good unless serve fresh."

"Why didn't you say so?" Lwaxana asked. "You mean I went through all that trouble for nothing? And would you please stop laughing! It's bring out other thoughts that you don't want me to tell Deanna."

Will stopped laughing and got serious. "Mrs. Troi, please, that's suppose to be a surprise on our wedding night."

"By the way, Deanna." Lwaxana said. "You can forget what I said earlier about Will hiding something. I was wrong about it all. He's not hiding anything drastically wrong."

"Mrs. Troi! Please!"

"Mother, I know."

"You know? Then why is he saying it's still a secret?" Lwaxana asked. "And it's even going through his mind that it's a secret still!"

"No, Mother. I mean, I know he has a surprise for me on our wedding night."

"Oh, I see." Lwaxana said. "I've had such a long day, I'm really too tired to talk, much less read minds. And to think that someone was able to keep me from knowing about trout like that! I just couldn't figure out all this week why no one wanted to bother with trout. I must be loosing my touch! Oh, enjoying your youth, you two. I'm turning in for the night."

Lwaxana leaves the room and heads upstairs. Mr. Homn also departs to return to what he was doing.

Will thought, "Well, if she would stop talking long enough, maybe she would know when she's being shiesterred."

"I heard that!" Lwaxana yells down the stairs.

Will grins, shakes his head and then turns to Deanna and says, "Now, where were we?"

Deanna smiles at him and says. "Well, Lieutenant, I think we were right here." Then she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him.

After a moment she says, "There's no way I'm going to find out any sooner what my surprise is, is there?"

"Not on your life!" Will resumes kissing Deanna.

She pulls back and says, "Will Riker, I love you."

"Deanna Troi, I love you, too, but it's not going to work."

She sighs. "OK, I guess I'll wait, but it better be good!"

Will smiles. "Oh, it is, it is."

Chapter 26

It was the big day for Deanna and Will. Deanna was very nervous. As she was getting ready for the ceremony, she was having a telepathic discussion with her mother, Chandra and Chandra's mother.

"Mother, I don't know if I can do this." Deanna sent nervously.

"Oh, it's just wedding day jitters, dear." Lwaxana reassured. "You'll be fine."

"Oh, yes," Chandra reaffirmed. "Remember how nervous I was the day of my wedding?"

"How could I forget." Deanna sent.

"Oh, dear." Lwaxana sent with some disappointment.

"What's wrong, Mother?"

"Well, your band looks just fine, but you're showing just a bit."

"Mother!"

"Well, it could be because you are having twins." Lwaxana sent.

"I don't notice anything." Chandra stated.

"Oh, no you wouldn't, dear." Lwaxana stated. "A mother knows though."

"Mother, please." Deanna sent firmly. "Let's not go through this again. I really don't think at this point it really matters."

"Lwaxana, she looks fine." Chandra's mother chimed in.

"Well, maybe you're right." Lwaxana replied.

"Really, Mother. I'm more worried about falling on my face than how I look."

"Well, can you try holding your stomach in a little?"

"Mother!" Deanna said aloud.

"Yes, probably not." Lwaxana sent.

"Would you please give it a rest!" Deanna said with irritation.

"Lwaxana, really!" Chandra's mother said. "Stop worrying about it. It's a time of celebration and sharing in harmony and unity. Not a time to worry about whether or not she is showing!"

"Yes, I guess you are right." Lwaxana sent and began fussing with Deanna's hair.

 

Will was also preparing for the ceremony. Garth Xerx came to check on him.

A few days before Xerx approach Lwaxana with the idea of he and his wife filling in the part of Will's parents for Deanna and Will.

"Lwaxana, you know Deanna is like a daughter to me and Kyle Riker doesn't appear to be coming." He spoke to her telepathically.

"Oh, just come out with it Garth." Lwaxana demanded.

"Well, I thought, my wife and I could be proxies for Deanna's ceremony in place of Will's parents."

Lwaxana thought for a moment and then she agreed to the suggestion. Deanna and Will also agreed to his suggestion when he posed it to them. Thus, Xerx was taking the place of Will's father in the ceremony.

"Lieutenant?" Xerx said. "Are you about ready?"

Tang was taking the place of the best man. "He's got cold feet, Xerx."

"Cold feet?" Xerx exclaimed. "Lieutenant, I assure you it will be fine."

"Well, it's not that I'm afraid to marry Deanna." Will said. "It's my outfit."

"Ah, I understand." Xerx said. "Well, Lwaxana insist it be a Betazoid wedding all the way. When it comes to custom she never backs down. To the letter all the way."

"I feel like I'm not only exposed mentally here, but physically, too." Will said. "Like I have no privacy at all right now."

"Well, try and bare with it, son." Xerx said. "It's just for about an hour and understand it's just symbolism."

"Oh, I didn't say I wouldn't." Will said. "And I do understand the symbolic reason or at least the words. Just as you explained to me at Chandra's wedding. It's to symbolize, physically and spiritually, there is nothing to hide. That all are sharing in cooperation in the spirit of harmony and unity. I have nothing to hide really, but it's just so damn uncomfortable!"

Xerx chuckled. Then said, "At least you remembered and what about the spiritual?"

"Well, I'm not very sure, but what I've learned from Deanna about Betazoid cultural, it's very, what's the word?" Will paused. "What was it she said about full communion? Oh, yes, one has to become one with their environment. I am certainly doing that." He grinned.

Xerx then said, "I'm not sure if you are begining to understand us or not, but you seem to take our ways fairly well. Regardless of how uncomfortable you are."

"Trying to." Will smiled and looking at Tang he continues with a smile. "As he says, 'It's all part of the service.' In this case, it's all part of marrying the woman I love."

GONG!

"Well, there's our que." Xerx said with a smile.

"Yes, I guess it is." Will said. "I guess I need to get up the courage really quick here, to walk out there so I don't end up upsetting some Troi women."

"That's the spirit." Xerx smiled. "Ready Tang?"

Tang briefly looks down at himself, shrugs and says, "All part of the service." Then proceeds behind Xerx.

 

Will entered and Mrs. Xerx followed, as the mother, trying to stop him. Will had to ignore her and he kept walking toward the middle, trying not to think about his nakedness. "Well," he thought. "At least this time I'm not nakid." Then Xerx stepped into his path and held up his hand to stop him. As tradition dictated, Will pushed him aside and took his place in front of the minister who was holding the scroll in front of him.

The place was decorated with beautiful Betazed flowers and greenry. The lighting enhanced the colours of the flowers and greenry and made them even more vivid. This time, without a doubt, Will was sure these plants came from the Jalara, for they looked exactly like the ones Deanna pointed out to him and the thing that struck him as most touching was Deanna's favourite was also there. Muktok. Will smiled as he noticed this little added touch.

Then Lwaxana came in sobbing, very melodramatically. "She's playing it up even more than Chandra's mother ever did, but that's my soon to be mother-in-law." Will thought. Then waves of nausea hit him. "I think I'm going to be sick!"

Then Chandra walked in and towards Deanna. She stepped aside and gestured to her. With a big smile she said, "I summon you to the place of marriage." Then Deanna rose and took Chandra's hand. They stepped up beside Will and faced the minister.

"God!" Will exclaimed to himself. "She's even more beautiful than the first time I saw her at Chandra' wedding!"

Deanna was radiant and glowing on the out side. She kept a smile, even though on the inside she too, thought she was going to be sick. Her hair was down, with the band holding it back in place and her curls were even tighter than usual. She sensed Will's thoughts, briefly looked at him and smiled. Then they both faced the minister.

The minister addressed everyone in traditional Betazoid language. Then he looked at Will and Deanna. Since Will did not know the Betazoid language fluently the minister switched to Federation Standard to address the couple.

Deanna and Will had prepared their wedding vows to each other.

Deanna faced Will and spoke first. "Imzadi, my beloved soul mate. I take you to be my husband from here to eternity. My soul is your's forever, for Imzadi is forever."

Will thought, "How can I top that?" Then looking at Deanna in her deep brown eyes, he began his vow. "Deanna, my goddess, the one I deeply love and cherish. I shall love and cherish you forever until death do us part."

After he said the words he kicks himself. "God! I sound so human! Not at all in keeping with this ceremony!"

Deanna smiled at him and sent, "Imzadi, you are human. It's okay and it's beautiful."

Then Will thought, "Can she do that in a room full of Betazoids in the middle of this ceremony?"

Deanna continued smiling at him, until they turned back to face the minister to listen to his finishing statements. At Will's request and Lwaxana's final approval, he kissed the bride in traditional Earth custom.

 

The reception followed and everyone was fully clothed again. Will was relieved, just as he was after the first Betazoid wedding he attended, to have his clothes back. He wore his dress uniform to the reception and as they entered the garden with the rest of their wedding party, there was a burst of applause.

Will was begining to think this was a traditional setting for wedding receptions. It was also decorated with the same plants that were inside the chapel and the colours were just as brilliant. Will could not help but think Deanna chose these plants to decorate the place due to their Jalara experience together. He smiled broadly and with rememberance.

Lwaxana approaches him and boldly says, "I don't know why you are so self conscious of your body, Will. You have a very nice one, I can see why Deanna was so drawn to you."

Will blushed. "Mrs. Troi!"

"Oh, don't take it so personally!" She frowned. "The humanoid's body can be a work of art and one's admiration doesn't have to have anymore baring than when one looks at a painting."

Now Will felt he should be on display at the museum and this made him feel very uncomfortable.

"Humans!" Lwaxana scoffed and walked away to chat with someone else and get herself a plate of food.

"Will." He heard Deanna behind him and turned. "That was beautiful what you said. At least to me and that's all that really matters, right?"

He puts his arms around her and hugs her. "Yes, it is." Then he looks at her with a smile and kisses her.

"Oh, can't you two keep your hands off of each other for even a minute!"

It was Lwaxana's voice. Will raised his head, released Deanna and turns to his mother-in-law. He did not say a word. Deanna on the other hand just blushed, slightly smiled and sent, "Mother, please! It's our reception and everyone can hear you!"

"Oh, so what lit..." she had a look of frustration "Why do I have to break this habit? Anyway, who cares!"

Lwaxana went on her way and sat at a table to socialize and eat her meal.

"Oh, Deanna." Will noticed a particular plant again and pulled her over to it. He then touched one of the flowers and shook it gently. The pleasing sound came out of it as expected. "I noticed this during our ceremony. Was it your idea?"

Deanna smiled. "It was one of the first Betazoid plants I showed you. I felt like it should be here, as a symbolism, between you and me, of our first date together."

He turned to her with a smile and gently caressed the side of her face. "Oh, Deanna." Then he kissed her again.

Lwaxana noticed and placed in their minds, "Oh, will you two love birds stop and get something to eat! You can't live on love alone!"

Deanna pulled back slowly and said, "She's right about that."

The two of them walked over to the table full of food, which was minused the trout, to Will's thankfulness. They got their plates and sat down at their place of honour. Everyone, it seemed, approached them and congratulated them.

Deanna, to her credit of wanting Will's customs somewhere in the series of events, had a traditional Earth wedding cake prepared for the reception. When the two of them were ready, she dragged Will over to it.

"I'll need your help with this." She smiled and whispered to him. "I have no idea how this is done."

He smiled and whispered back, "It's simple." Then he picks up the knife to cut the cake. "Here."

She takes the knife by the handle and says, "Will, I don't..."

Will puts her hand over hers and they cut the cake together. "Now, you take a piece of the cake and I take one too."

He hands Deanna one and gets one himself. "Then we give each other a bite cake like so." Gives her a bite and then adds, "Only we do it at the same time."

They proceeded to do so. Deanna was very awkward and nervous about it. So nervous that some of the icing dropped onto Will's uniform.

Deanna was very embarrassed by this, grabs a napkin and apologizes profusely. Will stops her from smearing the icing any further and says, "It's ok." Then kisses her for the umpteenth time during the reception.

Will felt very proud that this day had come and he was very anxious to show Deanna his wedding gift to her, but they first had to open some of the gifts they had received from the guest. The most prominent ones at least.

Mark Roper was insistant that they open his gift first. It was a very small box and would have gotten lost in all the other gifts, if it were not for the brightly coloured wrapping he had wrapped it in. Inside to Will's astonishment was a card that said, "You are now 200 credits richer, spend it on whatever you wish as my wedding gift to you."

Will thought, "That son of a gun! He did! He really did it!"

Roper just smiled at him and said to both of them, "I hope you can find something you like." Then to Will he said, "You are the big winner, Will. She's a good woman, and you are very lucky to have won her heart."

Will caught the underlying meaning, but also Roper's sincere congratulations. Deanna, then started to pick up the Xerx's gift, but Garth Xerx stopped her. "Oh, no, no. Deanna." He said cheerfully with a smile. "Save that one until you get home."

Not sensing anything else from him, she went on to open Chandra's and her husband's gift. Then Tang's and finally, one of her mother's many gifts.

Lwaxana and Xerx, both sensed Will's anxiousness to leave so that he could give Deanna's gift to her, so they both approached Deanna and Will.

"Deanna, Will." Lwanxana addressed. "Deanna really needs to get off her feet. Why don't you two go on home and I'll have the rest of the gifts delivered to the house."

Will smiles. "Yes, Mrs. Troi. That's an excellent idea, for I agree she's been on her feet too long."

"Oh, good." Lwaxana said. "I'll let all the girls know she's ready to throw the band."

All the young women gathered around, Deanna stood back and tossed the band into the air for them to catch. They all scrambled for it, before it hit the ground and finally one of the women came out victorious with the band.

Deanna smiles and Will approaches her. "You ready?" He asked.

Deanna smiles. "What is everyone up to here?"

"Oh, you'll see." He grins a mischievious grin. "You'll see."

Will guides he slowly off from the reception.

"Will?" Deanna said. "Our home is that way?"

"We're taking the long way home." He smiled and kissed her one last time, before leaving the reception.

Chapter 27

"Will." Deanna said. "I am getting rather tired."

"We'll be there in a minute." Will responded with a grin. "Then you can rest all you want."

"But we're no where near..."

"Here we are!" Will smiled as he gestured toward their new home.

"But this isn't..." Deanna started, then she smiles. "Will! You didn't!"

"Yes I did!" He said, happily.

She was staring at the outside of the house. "It's beautiful!"

"Wait until you see the inside." he smiled.

She started to rush in and Will stopped her before she got to the door. "Wait right there little lady!" Will said playfully. "I have to carry you over the threshhold."

"What!" She exclaimed, as Will scooped her up.

Will grunted slightly and thought, "She's a little heavier than I remembered, but understandable."

"Don't you dare drop us!" She said with a giggle.

They went through the door of the house and Will gently places her feet back on the floor and keeps her from loosing her balance. "Whoa!" Will exclaims. "Don't fall over here!"

"This is so nice!" Once she recovers her balance. She forgets her exhaustion and looks through the house excitedly.

She goes from room to room checking everything out. "And you have it furnished already!" She exclaimed. "Will, how did you do all this in such a short time and without me knowing?"

"It took a lot of help and a lot of work keeping your mother from spoiling the surprise, but we did it."

"We?" She inquired.

Will clears his throat. "Well, yeah." He replied. "Garth Xerx was who I got the house from."

She turns to him, puts her arms around him and says, "Well, it's wonderful!" Then she gives him the most romantic thank you kiss Will could ever remember getting. "So, when do we start our honeymoon?" she asked.

"Right now, if you like." Will said with a smile. Then looses the smile and continues, "That is, if you're not too worn out from the rest of the days activities."

Still having her arms around his neck she says with a smile, "I think I've gotten a second wind." Then she proceeds to kiss him passionately.

After a few moments Will pulls back a little and seductively says, "Why don't we christen the master bedroom?"

"Humm. Lieutenant Riker, are you trying to seduce your new bride?"

"Do I need to?" He smiles.

"No, but I like it." Then grabs him by the arm and a drags him to their room.

Once in their room Will pulls her close and says, "Well, Mrs. Riker, how do you like it so far?"

"Oh, Will shut up and kiss me, then maybe I can show you."

"Sounds like a plan!" He smiles.

Will drowns in excitement from her sultry kisses and lays her gently back on the bed. They made unbridled love to each other until their energy was completely spent, then they laid in each others arms in the warm afterglow.

Will finally speaks. "You know, you are the first pregnant woman I ever made love to.

Deanna sits up and playfully throws her pillow at Will and says, "I better be, Imzadi."

Will grabs her pillow and playfully tries to keep it from her, but she finally retrieves her pillow and lays back down in Will's arms.

Will then asks, "Is it ok that we, um. I mean it doesn't affect the babies does it?"

Deanna sits up again with disbelief all over her face. "You never seemed concerned about that before."

"I know, but you weren't as far as you are now."

"I assure you, Will, it's ok." She said. Then adds, "In fact, I think I enjoy it even more."

"Really?" Will asks. Then he pulls her down to him and kisses her.

"Except right now, I am tired." She states lying back down and pulls his arm around her. "But I wouldn't mind cuddling."

They cuddled until they both fell asleep for the night, feeling very content.

 

The next morning Deanna was outside looking over the place. Will steps out and says, "Good morning. So what's on your mind?"

"Well, I was thinking about putting hedges along the front of the house and flowers along the walk and a vegetable garden out back."

"Isn't that being a little over zealous right now?" Will asked.

"The garden can wait, but I really want the hedges and flowers in now." She said. "I figure I could put a mixture of Betazoid and Earth flowers along here. " She gesture to the sides of the walkway. "Unless you think they are incompatable?"

"I wouldn't know." Will said with some concern in his voice, "Deanna, I can find someone to put the hedges in, if you are really in a hurry about it. Flowers too, for that matter."

"Oh, Will, the hedges would be nice, but I think I can manage the flowers myself." Deanna insisted.

"Deanna, In case you have forgotten, you're pregnant." Will reminded.

"No! I am! I didn't know!" She remarked sarcastically, putting a hand to her astonished looking face.

"I don't see how you can plant anything in your condition." Will said trying to ignore her behaviour. "Sure, you maybe able to now, but eventually you may not be able to get up off the ground once you get down."

Deanna smiles, pats him on the side on the face and says, "You worry too much, Dear."

"Deanna," Will said firmly. "I'm only concerned for the three of you."

"Really, Will, we're fine."

"You may not be if you take on too much."

"Oh, alright!" She gave in reluntantly. "Find someone for the flowers, too, Will. I don't care. I'm going to go lie down."

"You OK?" I mean, you just got up a couple of hours ago."

"I assure you, I'm fine!" She exclaimed. "I'm just tired, Will. All pregnant women get tired."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that was it." Will said feeding off her crankiness.

"Well, maybe I should get you a book to read up on it so you'll know." Deanna angerily added. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go lie down."

Will follows behind her into the house and she turns abruptly. "Alone!" Then walks towards their room.

"Gee, hormones are really over active today!" Will thought.

"I heard that!" She yells from their room.

"And so are her other senses, especially for an empath!" He thought again to himself.

"Why don't you do something besides worry about me, Will!" She yelled again. "Go back to work! Something! Anything! I don't care! Just let me rest!"

"Gee, some honeymoon!" Continuing to think to himself as he angerily walked out of the house. "I have a new wife, who's pregnant with hormones working over time and doesn't even want me around. Now that's really fun!"

Chapter Twenty-eight

It was three months later and Deanna was obviously pregnant. She waddled back home from her classes at the university.

"Why did I decide to take classes in my condition, again?" She thought to herself. "I know we live practically across the street from it, but this daily waddling back and forth is starting to get old, especially with all these text padds."

"Deanna!" A gentle, but excited, mind brush of a familiar person entered her mind.

Deanna turned, "Chandra!" She sent back. "What are you up to?"

Chandra caught up with Deanna and the two chatted as they walked.

"Well, I finished my last class for today. I got lucky. The class I have at this time was cancelled." Chandra sent. "I was wondering if you and Will would like to join us tonight for dinner?"

"Oh, that would be nice!" Deanna exclaimed. "I'll have to check with Will, but I don't see at this point why we can't."

"Oh, good!" Chandra replied aloud. "This will be a wonderful anniversary party, if you two come, then everyone who was at the wedding will be there tonight!"

"Oh, yes." Deanna said. "It is your one year anniversary, isn't it?"

"Yes, and we are having a big dinner party for our celebration." Chandra stated. Then asked with concern, "Deanna, you look awfully tired. Are you ok?"

"Oh, yes." Deanna replied. "Long day. So, when are you and your husband going to have children?"

"Soon we hope." Chandra replied.

"Well, I tell you, it can be tiring carrying this load around all day long." Deanna said.

"I bet, especially with twins."

"Yes, well this is my stop." Deanna said stopping in front of her walkway. "I'll tell Will you invited us and hopefully we will see you tonight."

"That will be nice." Then Chandra gestured at the house. "How do you like the house?"

"Oh, I love it!" Deanna stated. "I do think it could use more of a woman's touch, but Will worries about me over doing things while carrying his children. So, I'm putting somethings off until after they are born. Redecorating is one of them."

"Yes, men can be overly concerned." Chandra agreed. "Mine thinks, because I'm on the go a lot and studying all hours of the night, that that's why we haven't gotten pregnant yet. So he wants me to slow down and see if that helps any. I say, if it's going to happen, it will and if not, it won't."

"Spoken like a true woman, Chandra." Deanna giggled. "Well, I guess I better get in there. I sense Will is home early, for some reason, but that will give me a chance to tell him about you two's dinner party, squeeze in a nap and we can both be ready on time, hopefully."

"Yes, I can't wait to see you two there!" Chanda said elated, then she continued her journey home.

Deanna walked into the house and as she walked through the house she shouted, "Will? Will?"

"I'm out back hun." Will yelled back.

She walked out to the backyard and saw Will putting together some sort of trapeze contraption. "What is that?"

"It's backyard play equipment for the kids." Will smiled.

Deanna looked at the pieces and what he already had together and could tell it was of good size. "Don't you think they are a bit young for this?"

"That's the beauty of children." Will said with a smile. "They'll grow into it before you know it."

"Yes, and in the meantime it will be collecting iron oxide."

Will looked at her puzzled. "I think you mean rust, and this is not steel. It's titanium alloid.

"Still, Will, if they fall trying to play on it before they are old enough, they could get seriously hurt." She stated. "Couldn't you find something smaller and softer?"

"Deanna, if you worry this much before they are born about injuries, what are you going to do when I teach them Fareezees Squares?"

Deanna's eyes got wide. "You will NOT teach them that game! They could brake their necks!"

"Deanna, it's not that bad." Will said.

"Yeah? Will, you're insane! How many times have you dislocated your shoulder playing that game?"

"It was just a dislocated shoulder. I lived." Will said firmly, then kisses her. "And so will the kids."

"Will Riker! If you try to teach them that game, I'll have you committed for psychological evaluation!"

Sarcastically Will responded. "Oh, look at this! Already she's trying to analyze people, diagnose them and have them committed. And she's not even a true counselor yet."

Deanna crosses her arms, frowns, and says, "Very funny."

"Hello!" Came Lwaxana's voice. "I sensed you two were back here and I was right. Ugh! What is that!"

A disgruntled Deanna response, "Will's idea of backyard toys for young children."

"I'm sensing a lovers quarrel here." Lwaxana said in a voice that sounded like she was still trying to be cheerful. "Now you've only been married for three months. You two should be elated still."

"Yeah, well," Will began with sweat running down his forehead. Wiping it off with his sleeve and a tool still in his hand. He then continues pointing at Deanna with the hand that had the tool, "She has hormones from hell and I never know what mood she's going to be in one moment to the next."

"Oh, she's just a typical pregnant Betazoid woman." Lwaxana said in her daughter's defense.

"Actually, Will is insane!" Deanna exclaimed. "Fareezees Squares! Please!"

"Fareezees Squares!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "They're just babies!"

"Not now!" Will said defensively. "When they're older! And how did you get into this argument?"

"I'm their grandmother?" Lwaxana asked as though she hoped it qualified her. "Why can't you think small? Like a rattle or a stuffed animal?"

Will threw down the tool. "I don't know!" He replied in irratation. "Maybe I'm just an overzealous father!" Then he walks into the house without another word.

Deanna and Lwaxana looked at each other as though they could not believe his response. Lwaxana finally speaks, "Oh, never mind him, Deanna. I'm sure he'll get over it. Anyway, I came by to see if you two are going to Chandra's dinner party tonight?"

Deanna sighed. "I don't know. I haven't had the chance to discuss it with him. I came home and saw that mess and well..."

"What's wrong, Little One?" Lwaxana asked sympathetically.

"It's nothing. Really, Mother."

"Oh, don't give me that." She sent slightly shaking her head. "I'm your mother. I know when there's something wrong."

"I know he loves me, but it seems lately we've been arguing about the children a lot and they aren't even here yet." Deanna informs her mother. "We just have different opinions on how to deal with them. Take this thing, for example." She gestured at the backyard equipment.

Lwaxana frowns and again slightly shakes her head. "He's just a man. Most men have problems thinking about how to play with babies. It'll be alright. I assure you."

"I hope you're right, Mother." Deanna crossed her arms again and looks toward the house, sadly.

 

Deanna did find a calm moment to talk with Will about the dinner party and later that evening they were sitting at one of the tables in Chandra's backyard eating dinner. As with many Betazoid get togethers, there were lots of people and a fine array of food and drink. Soft music was playing in the background.

Most were talking telepathically as Will watched the crowd of people. He felt rather alone in the crowd.

Deanna sensed Will's feelings and reached over to Will's leg under the table and rubbed it. "You're awfully quiet tonight."

"Who me?" Will asked. "I'm just enjoying myself." Then Will smiled. "And enjoying the company of my radiant wife."

Deanna giggled. It was a far cry from the earlier scene they had and she was rather glad that it was. Then she got serious and asked, "Really, Will, are you still not use to conversations here?"

"Well, yes and no." Deanna looked at Will as though she did not understand, so he clarifies. "In smaller groups it seems fine, but in large groups, I kind of expect a little more noise. That and I feel left out of conversations in situations like this."

Deanna still having her hand on his leg rubbed it again, but this time it was in sympathy and not as an attention getter. She could understand how he could feel left out of the party in such a circumstance.

Then Garth Xerx walked over and asked, "May I sit with you two?"

Will smiled. "Oh, yes. Please do join us."

He sits down at their table. "I didn't mean to intrude on you, Will, but I sensed you felt left out."

Will wiggled in his seat and thought, "Between you and Deanna. The local psychologists."

"Oh, I didn't mean it the way it sounded, Will." Xerx said sensing his discomfort and of course his thought, but trying not to let on that Will's thought came through loud and clear. "I just thought I would come over here and keep two friends company."

"That's very nice of you!" Deanna chimed in with a smile.

Will looked at Xerx for a moment and could tell his friend was sincere, but he had no idea what to say now that someone was communicating with him.

Then Will smile and said to break the silence, "Thanks, Xerx. I appreciate that."

"So, are you two enjoying the food?"

"Oh, yes!" Will smiled as Deanna said "yes" in unison with him. "I wish I could compliment the cook."

The music changed tempo, slightly and got a little louder. People started dancing to the music as it played.

Will looked over at Deanna and then stood with his arm extend so Deanna could latch onto it. "Would you like to have this dance with me?"

Deanna smiles, takes his arm and says. "Why yes! I would."

Then they glanced at Xerx. "Oh, you two go ahead. I'm sure I can find my wife somewhere around here and we can cut a rug, also, as you Earth people say." He said shooing them away with his hand.

Will laughs. "Xerx, I hate to say this, but that is a very old term."

"It is?" He asked. "Well, what other terms are there?"

Will was still laughing. "To many to tell you right now, for time's a wastin' and I would love to dance with my lovely wife."

"Yes. We'll talk later." Xerx said and got up to look for his wife.

Will and Deanna join hands and Will tries to pull her in close. However, Will felt a little distanced from her so he jokes, "Well, I guess we can't dance as close as we use to for a while, huh? The children want to dance too, I guess."

Deanna laughs. Then Lwaxana approaches them. "Will Riker, don't over exert Deanna in her condition! She probably shouldn't be up dancing around, anyway."

"Mother, please." Deanna begged. "Now you're doing it too and Will and I are having a lovely evening together."

"Doing what?" Lwaxana asked.

"Being overly concerned for me and my "condition"." Deanna replied. "Really, I'm fine."

"I'm just concerned about my grandbabies." Lwaxana stated. "I don't want to see you end up falling just because HE wants to dance."

Will had no idea what to say. He just stood there dumbfounded and thought, "Just when I was having fun with my wife."

"Well, you becareful and see that you don't have too much fun out here." Lwaxana responded to his thought. "At least one of us is seeing to Deanna and the babies' wealth fair! And by the way, aren't you keeping her up awfully late for her condition, too? Well, she really should be in bed sleeping this time of night!"

"Mother, you wanted us to come, too." Deanna reminded.

"Yes, but I never thought Will would have total disregard for your condition." Lwaxana stated. "I thought he would be considerate enough to see that you were well taken care of! But no, he has you dancing and out very late!"

"Mother!" Deanna scolded, softly. "You're making a scene."

She was right. Everyone was looking in Lwaxana's general direction. Lwaxana looks back at everyone and says, "Well, can't a soon to be grandmother be concerned about her grandbabies?" Then she sticks her nose up in the air and walks off.

"I'm sorry, Will."

"It's ok." Will reassured and kissed her forehead.

"Maybe we should tell Chandra and her husband goodbye and go home for the evening." Deanna suggested, then added, "Before Mother makes another scene."

"OK" Will said. "If that's what you want to do."

"Yes, I really don't want my mother informing us about what we should or should not be doing while I'm pregnant in front of everyone, again."

Will did not argue as Deanna took him by the hand to find Chandra and say goodbye.

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Will." It was two o'clock in the morning and Deanna was trying to wake Will. She was ten months and three days.

"Will." She said again.

"Huh?" He said half awake.

"It's time."

"What!" Will's eyes flew open.

"It's time." She said a little louder.

Will jumps out of bed. "We've got to get you to a medical facility now!"

"Well, it's not that far and I timed them at fifteen minutes apart."

"Fifteen minutes! We have to hurry!"

"Will, you're half dressed!" Deanna told him. "I really don't think you want to go like that. It's not very becoming of a Starfleet officer."

"I don't think I need my uniform for this."

"No," Deanna said. "But I do think you need some clothes."

Then Deanna suddenly cringed with a labour pain. "Huh!" It wasn't a loud sound, but enough to get Will's attention.

"Are you going to make it?" Will asked.

"Yes, it's not that bad."

Will got Deanna's bag and got her to the nearest Medical Center. Lwaxana had met them there.

"Mrs. Troi?"

"Yes, it's amazing what a mother can sense, isn't it?" Lwaxana explained. "This is a joyful moment and experience!"

"Mother!" Deanna said with pain in her voice. "If you call this a joyful experience then you are NUTS!"

"Deanna, I'll let that one go since you are in labour." Lwaxana said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Deanna was prepped for labour and placed in the birthing chair.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" She screamed. Will was right by her side.

"That bad?" He asked.

"That bad?" She screamed at him. "You try pushing a watermelon out of your penis and see how you feel!"

"Will, you're not helping." Lwaxana frowned and pushed her way past him. "Let a mother take over. Mother's generally know what they are doing."

"Right! Mother, you couldn't help if you tried!" Deanna said crankily. "You rarely even lift a finger in the kitchen!"

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "I am just trying to help! Now why don't you try breathing."

"Why don't you try not breathing for a change, Mother!" Deanna said and screamed in pain again.

"I think it's time for some pain medicine." The doctor stated. "An epideral maybe. Women's personalities do change drastically when in labour."

Deanna just looked at him then screamed with another contraction.

"Deanna, your mother is right." Will said. "You need to try to breath."

"And why don't you try to be quiet!" she said. "You should taaaaaaalk!" She screamed. "You put me in this condition! You can give birth to them for all I care!"

Lwaxana replied, "Now Little One, it took two and you know it and it's just not possible for him to give birth now is it?"

"Mother!"

"Yes, Little One?"

"Don't call me Little One! I'm giving birth here, for gods saaaaaaaake!"

"You know, Lit." Lwaxana started. "Deanna, I'm letting all this go because you are in labour. Otherwise I would be having words with you, right now."

"Mother! Out!"

"What?" Lwaxana asked in shocked.

"Get out!" Deanna said. "You're not helping!"

"Deanna, I was just.."

"You were just nothing! Out!"

"Deanna." Will said. "Your mother is trying to help in her own way."

"And yoooooou!" Deanna screamed with another contraction. "GOOOOOO!" Pointing at a corner.

"I'm now a leiutenant commander and she's throwing me into a corner?"

"Yes!" she said. "GO!"

"Don't feel so bad, Leiutenant. Your wife maybe throwing you into a corner, but me, her mother! She's throwing completely out!" Lwaxana said indignant.

"Mother!"

"Yes, dear?"

"OUT!" She screamed with another contraction.

Lwaxana looked at Will. "She's serious!"

"Don't look at me." Will shugged. "I'm in the corner."

Lwaxana walked out of the door feeling dejected, but she stayed near by the room, just in case Deanna changed her mind.

"Not much longer." Stated the doctor. "She's dialated seven centimeters."

"AAAAAAH!"

"OK" said the doctor. "It's almost time to push."

Will speaks again. "Did you hear, Deanna. The first one is coming soon."

"Haaa! What do you know?"

"Well, the doctor just..."

"Screw the doctor!" She said and another contraction came.

"Alright, push!"

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

"You have to breath, Mrs. Riker."

"Right!" She yelled angerly.

"Deanna, " Will walked over to her. "You really do need to breath. Let's try it together and see if that helps." Then Will makes breathing noises.

"Will!"

"Yes, Imzadi."

"First of all, don't Imzadi me!" Deanna shouted. "Second, AAAAAAAH!"

"Push." Said the doctor.

Deanna screams, "It hurts!"

"Push!" Will couched.

"Screw you, too, Will Riker!" Deanna said to Will.

"Sorry, I could almost comment on that, but I won't in this time." Will said trying to hold back his laughter.

"Good, because I don't want to hear it right now." Deanna said. "Because YOOOOU!"

"Time to push, Mrs. Riker."

"DID THIS TOO ME!"

"I can't argue with that." Will replied with a smile, still trying not to laugh at what his wife was saying. "Now push."

Fifteen minutes past and Deanna was getting very tired. She had sent him back to the corner once again, but now she was wanting him near her.

"Will, Imzadi." Deanna reached for him.

"Am I out of the corner for good this time?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." She said with regret in her eyes.

He kissed her on the forehead. "It's ok. I can't say I really understand, but I.."

"AAAH!" She let out a tired scream of pain.

"He's almost out." The doctor said. "Now push."

"I can't." Deanna said tiredly. "I'm too tired. The baby can come out on his own."

"Deanna!" Will said firmly. "Push!"

She tiredly complied.

"OK." the doctor said. "You can stop pushing.

Deanna let out a sigh of relief. "Where's Mother?"

"Remember, you threw her out of the room?" Will replied.

"Yeeeeeesss!" She let's out another scream of pain. "Get her!"

"Push, one more time." Said the doctor.

Deanna did and a loud "WAAAAAAA!" Came from the baby.

Will got Lwaxana, who had been standing outside the door.

"It's a boy!" Announced the doctor.

"Oh, do becareful with him!" Lwaxana demanded as she fretted and followed the nurse, who was cleaning the baby, around.

"Mrs. Troi, if you don't let us do our job here, I'll throw you out myself." The doctor warned firmly.

"I'm Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Five House of Betazed." She said insulted by the doctor.

"I don't care if you are the Queen of Egypt. I'll still throw you out, if you don't let us do our jobs."

"AAAAAAAH!"

Will got to her side quickly and Lwaxana turned and walked quickly over to Deanna.

"This one is following quickly behind!" Said the doctor.

"No, no. This one can give birth to itself." She said tiredly. "AAAH!"

"Time to push!" Said the doctor.

"No, I can't." Deanna said again tiredly.

"Push!" Will ordered.

Again Deanna complied and let out a sigh of exhaustion when she stopped pushing.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana smiled. "You're doing well."

"Mother, please." Deanna was exhausted and it could be heard in her voice.

"Mrs. Troi." Said the nurse.

"Yes?" Lwaxana turned to the nurse.

"You want to hold your grandson, since the mother is kind of busy?"

"AAAH!"

"Push!"

"Oh, yes!" Said Lwaxana excitedly and took the baby from the nurse. "He's beautiful!"

"AAAH!"

"Push, should be the last time." Stated the doctor.

"That's what you said a few minutes ago!" Deanna said tiredly.

"Push, Deanna." Will coached.

"I can't." Exhaustion filled her voice.

"Oh, yes you can, Lit."

"No." Deanna whined.

"Push!" Will coached.

"WAAAAAAAAA!"

"It's a girl!" The doctor again announced.

"Huh!" Deanna sighed. Then she fell quickly off to sleep due to exhaustion.

The nurse handed the baby girl off to the father and he turned to offer the baby to Deanna, but noticed she was asleep. So he addressed Lwaxana.

"They're beautiful!"

"Yes, they are." Lwaxana agreed with a smile, still holding her grandson.

"So," The doctor addressed them. "What are you going to name them?"

Will tilted his head toward his son. "William T. Riker Jr." Then tilted his head to his daughter, "And Kestra Deanna Riker."

"Kestra, that was Deanna's sister's name." Lwaxana replied with a tear in her eye.

"We know." Will smiled at her.

 

Will stayed by Deanna's side and several hours later she finally woke up. Will was holding their daughter by this time.

"You still here?" She asked.

"Yes." Will smiled.

"Did Mother go home?"

"No, she went down to demand better food service, I think." Will replied.

"She didn't!" Deanna exclaimed.

Will chuckled and tilted his head a little one way and then the other. "She complained something about the food service before she left out of this room."

Deanna sighed, then asked, "Who do you have bundled up there?"

Will brought her over to Deanna and place her in Deanna's arms. "Kestra."

"She's beautiful!" Deanna exclaimed.

"She looks just like her mother." Will replied and kissed Deanna on the forehead.

"Where's Will Jr."

"Right here." Will walked over to one of the baby beds and lifted Will Jr. out of it. Then he showed Deanna their son.

Deanna smiled. "And he looks like his father."

Will leaned over and gave his wife a long passionate kiss. Then he said, "We make beautiful children don't we?"

"Yes, we do." She smiled, then playfully grabbed him by the collar. "But don't think you're getting anymore, anytime soon."

Chapter 30

The twins were now one year old and also talking, babbling, and toddling around. Will did not want to have the traditional betazoid gathering for the twins' birthday and Deanna had agreed with him. Instead, they had a small get together of their grandmother, Chandra and Teb. Will was really not thrilled about Lwaxana being there, but she was their grandmother and so Will allowed her to be there.

"Really, William Riker!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "You are neglecting their social development, by not having a Betazoid gathering! You know we like large crowds of people when we get together and you having a small group of people for their birthday is just neglect!"

"Mother, please. I really don't think that is Will's intent." Deanna stated. "After all they are just babies and they really don't need all that stimulation."

"Oh, please!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "They are also Betazoids."

"Only 1/4, Mother." Deanna reminded. "The other 3/4 is Human."

"Yes. Don't remind me." Lwaxana said with an arrogant attitude.

Deanna and Will frowned at her statement. Will was about to say something, but Deanna stopped him. Now, it was Deanna's turn to get a look from Will. His looked basically said, "We'll discuss this later."

Deanna sensed his irritation with everything and so did Lwaxana. "Well, if you want to say something, don't let Deanna stop you!"

"It's not important." stated Will.

"If wanting to tell me that being Human is not that bad and to butt out is not important, then why did you think it?" Lwaxana asked.

Will was ready for his mother-in-law to go home. Luckily, before Lwaxana could comment on his last thought, Chandra changed the subject.

"Teb and I have a big announcement!" She boasted cheerfully.

"Oh, we know already." Lwaxana said still irritated with her son-in-law. "Your pregnant and we're all very happy for you."

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra said with resentment. "I really wanted to announce it myself and next time I would appreciate it if you would allow me to say what is on my mind."

Sensing her mother was about to explode on Chandra next, Deanna replied, "That's wonderful, Chandra!"

"Listen young lady," Lwaxana retorted. "Have you forgotten that I am the Daughter of the Fifth House? You need to show some respect!"

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra starts to remind her.

"Mother, Chandra." Deanna started. "Please, it's the babies' birth..."

"My mother is the Daughter of the Eighth House." Chandra stated. "Regardless, I was still trying to be respectful and still state my feelings. I apologize if you can't handle it."

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana said, taken aback. "I will inform your parents of your attitude!"

Lwaxana then departs with anger, while Chandra says quietly to everyone else, "My parents will probably get a laugh out of it."

Then everyone giggles and Lwaxana sends to Chandra, "We'll just see about that!"

Chandra paid no mind to what Lwaxana sent to her, but instead went on about her being pregnant. "We are so happy about this and can't wait for the ten months to be over with."

"I'm sure you can't." Said Deanna. "I remember how I was with the two of them."

"Well, Teb and Chandra," Will began all smiles. "Congratulations! And thank you Chandra, for getting my mother-in-law to leave. Cake?"

"Will!" Deanna said while poking him in the ribs.

"Ow!" He said in response. "Well, you have to admit, she was striking a nerve with everyone of us."

"That may be, but you don't have to enjoy it so much, when someone succeeds in getting Mother upset enough to leave."

"Moi? Enjoy it? Whatever gave you that idea?" Will said teasingly.

"Cake!" Will Jr. said.

"Oh, Will." Deanna said with a little chuckle in her voice. "Just cut the cake and let the children have some."

"Cake!" Echoed Kestra.

Will looks at his children and smiles. "Sounds like the natives are getting restless. Maybe you're right. I do need to cut the cake."

"Cake!" They both said in unison.

"Oh, righty!" Said Will to the twins and gave them both a piece at the same time. He had learned long ago that if he did not give them both something at the same time the other threw a fit. So he made it a habit to give things to them at the same time.

Later, that evening, when the twins' party was over and they were in bed sound asleep, Will was out back looking up at the night sky. Deanna sees him, walks out and puts her arm around his arm and then lays her head on his shoulder.

"Will?"

"Hum?"

"Is something bothering you?"

Will looks down at Deanna. "Oh, no. It's nothing. Just looking up at the stars and enjoying the night air."

"You miss it don't you?" Deanna asked.

"Miss what?"

"Being on a starship."

"Maybe a little." Then turns towards Deanna, wraps his arms around her, holding her close and says, "But not nearly half as much as I would you and the kids if I were up there."

Deanna smiles. "Yes, but you still wish you could be up there."

Will did not deny it. "A part of me does, yes, but only if I could have you and my children with me."

Deanna's expression changed. She worried about the part that wanted to be on a starship and flying through the stars. She worried that there could come a day that part of him would desire to be up there, more than down on Betazed with his family. She clung to him tighter and hugged him.

Will noticed her expression changed just before she hugged him. "Hey, Imzadi. My goddess of the moon. I could never give up my family to be up there."

"You know," Deanna began softly. "Things are changing. Some ships are starting to have families aboard."

Will pushes her back a little, but did not let go. "We discussed this already. We decided it was best we stay on Betazed until our children were much older."

"But you're not happy here." Deanna said.

Will pulls her close again and says, "Deanna, I am very happy here with you three. It's your mother that bothers me."

Deanna pulls back and releases him. "That reminds me. Why do you find it so hard to keep from wanting to say something to her that you know would start an argument between you and her?"

Will shakes his head. "Maybe the children come by their stubborness rightly. Maybe we all three are stubborn and hard head. One thing I know for sure is your mother and I are both very opinionated and sometimes it just strikes a wrong chord."

"Can't you let somethings go?"

Will shakes his head again. "Not when it comes between how you and I agree to raise our children. Then it just irks me when she criticizes Humans. Think how it could affect them."

"Will, you know she doesn't mean anything by it."

"Does she?" Will asks. "I sometimes wonder how it affects you even, when she says things about Humans likes she does."

Deanna looks down to the ground forlornly. "I've learned not to let it bother me."

"Have you?" Will asks, then continues, "After all, it was you who reminder her that our children are more Human than Betazoid."

"That was just a statement of fact!" Deanna said defensively, while raising her head up to look at him. "It meant nothing more!"

"Didn't it?"

"Will Riker! If you're insinuating that I have learned to be ashamed of my Human side, you're wrong!" She said angrily and still defensive.

"Am I?" Will asked.

"Yes you are!" Deanna said with a lot of wrath. "To say that I am, would mean I didn't appreciate my father for who he was and I resent that greatly. It also says something about how I feel about you and my children. I also resent that!"

Now Will was on the defensive. "I was not trying to insinuate that at all!"

"Weren't you?" Deanna turns and walks angrily back into the house.

Will sighs and thinks, "Oh, Imzadi. What happened?"

 

A little while later, Will walks back into the house only to find his pillow and a blanket were on the couch. "Well, I don't need to be telepathic to know what this means." Will thought to himself. Then laid down on the couch and pulled the cover over himself.

Deanna was in her room. Her eyes were red with tears. She thought to herself, "He is my Imzadi and I love him greatly. I know he loves me, but were we really ready? Was I really ready? Maybe he's right. Maybe I have learned to be ashamed of my Human side and that's not something I want my children to learn."

She sat on the edge of her bed and sent out to Will, "Oh, Imzadi. If you can hear me, I'm sorry." Then she laid down and tried to go to sleep, but sleep was not forth coming.

Will stirred as he tried to sleep, but he did not quite hear her. Only felt the distant touch of her presences and that was all.

Two in the morning rolls around and the two of them receive a wake call, even though neither of them were really asleep. First Kestra cries and then Will Jr. follows suit, in empathy for his sister. Both Deanna and Will go in to check on them and soothe their cries.

After the twins were asleep again, Deanna turns to Will, with a sad apologetic look on her face and touches his cheek. "Imzadi," she says, "Come back to bed. I need you to just hold me."

Will smiles and goes with Deanna to their room and cradles her in his arms the rest of the night.

Chapter 31

"I can't believe it!" Will said the morning of their anniversary, then he gave his wife a playful kiss. "We've been married 2 years."

Then he starts to nibble on her ear.

Deanna giggles and then they hear Will Jr. calling "Mama".

Will continues his anniversary wake up call with Deanna, by giving her gentle love bites on her neck.

She then adds with a laugh, "Yes, and even at nineteen months Will Jr. seems to want me first thing in the morning, too." Then she starts to get out of bed.

Will tries to playfully keep Deanna to himself by pulling her back down onto the bed. With a smile he says, "He'll have to wait his turn."

"Mama!"

"I don't think he's going to agree to that, Dear." She said, giggling again.

"Mama!"

"Yeah, I think you're right." Will said, giving into his son's desire for the woman they love.

"Dada." Came Kestra's voice.

"Well, there's a consolidation." Deanna said teasingly. "Daddy's little girl wants him, this morning."

They laughed and both got up to attend to the children.

As they attended the children Will talked about the event of the evening that Lwaxana was throwing for them. He was not happy about it.

"Deanna," Will said. "Why does your mother feel the need to go through all this trouble for us?"

"Well, it is our second wedding anniversary."

"Yeah, well, hasn't she heard of taking the kids off our hands and letting us go out for a quiet dinner, just the two of us?"

"You know how Mother is." Deanna stated. "With celebration comes a traditional gathering."

"Well, she did that last year." Will whined. "You would think she would let us have this year to ourselves."

"Will," Deanna said as she walked with Jr. in her arms to the kitchen. "Get use to it."

"Oh, yeah." He said following her to the kitchen with Kestra in his arms. "I'm suppose to get use to Lwaxana's behaviour and large crowds? Crowds of people who rarely talk with their mouths unless it's to a non-telepath, for that matter?"

Deanna turned suddenly, "And what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, if you understand what's being said, but I don't and probably never will."

Deanna gave a loud sigh as she turned back to the food replicator. "2 Milks, warm." Then she turned back to Will looking at him firmly and sent, "You've learned to understand me."

"Yes, but you're different." He said with a smile. "You're my Imzadi."

"And that's suppose to make a difference?" She said aloud while taking a warm milk out of the replicator and handing it to Will. Then she got the other one for Jr.

"I'm not sure I get your point."

"The point is you're use to me talking without using my mouth, but you can't get use to others?"

"I can understand you." He stated while sitting Kestra in her chair. "All I see with everyone else is just facial expressions and gestures. I don't hear anything. It's a little unsettling to be left out of a conversation."

"Tusche." She said. "I can understand being left out. What I can't understand is how you expressed it in the first place."

"I think you missed understood me, in the first place." Will stated. "I didn't mean it as an insult when I said talking without using their mouths."

"No, I heard your words and sensed your emotions and your emotions were that of frustration and the feeling of the strange and unusual." She said. "What do you want to eat for breakfast?"

"Strange and unusual is an emotion?" Will asked. "A, eggs over easy and toast."

"Yes and no." Deanna said. "It's how you felt about it that gave me the impression that you felt it was strange and unusual." Then asked the replicator to prepare three servings of eggs over easy and toast.

"No, Deanna." Will said then added with curiosity, "Aren't you going to eat anything?"

"I'm not hungry." She said. "You were saying?"

"I just want to have a nice anniversary dinner that's just you and me." Will stated. "Nobody else and lovely conversation between just the two of us. No one else butting in mentally."

"OK, fair enough." Deanna said. "I'll ask Chandra to watch the children and we can have lunch together. Just the two of us." Then handed Will two plates and she took Will Jr's and sat down with him on her lap and started helping him eat his breakfast.

"Agreed." Will smiled and sat the plates down on the table. "Around noonish?"

"Yes." Deanna smiled back. "Where shall we meet?"

"How about that nice restaurant up the street?" Will smiled as he tried to wipe the runny yoke off Kestra's chin.

Kestra reached out and touched her father's face with yokey hands. "Oh, Kestra." Will said with a smile on his face. "Lucky for you, young lady, I haven't had a shower yet.

Deanna laughed. "Problems?"

"You don't look like you are doing much better yourself." Will laughed, looking at Deanna with yoke on her night shirt and face from Jr. wiping his drippy hands on her.

"Well, that's just what happens when a young one eats runny eggs on mama's lap." She said playfully with her yellow nose pointing upward.

Will laughed again. "Why don't you go clean yourself up, while I clean up down here?"

"Oh, that's so nice!" Deanna said, rising and placing their messy son on Will's lap facing him.

"Oh, really nice." Will said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice.

Deanna then kissed his messy face and said, "You're no worse for the wear than I am."

After several minutes, Deanna came out cleaned and dressed. She saw Will was changing their son and Kestra toddling around.

"Well, looks like you had your work cut out for you." Deanna smiled.

"Yeah, but I held down the fort." Will smiled. "It's your turn now."

Will left the room to get ready for work.

When he came back out, Deanna had the twins ready to go for a morning walk.

"Shall we walk with you this morning?" Deanna asked.

"Sure!" Will smiled. "I'm sure Tang will be glad to see them again."

"All part of the service?" Deanna asked with a laugh.

"That's probably what he'll say." Will said also laughing.

"It's on the way to the museum and I told Chandra I'd meet her there today." Deanna said. "Which will make it very convenient to ask her about lunch, also."

"Great!" said Will smiling as they all walked out the door.

 

They arrived at the Embassy and Tang was at the door as usual. "Good morning, Mrs. Riker." Tang said cheerfully. "Oh, and you brought the little ones, too."

Tang bent down and talked in a baby voice to the two. "And how are we today?"

The twins made a gurgly laugh and Deanna could sense even they thought the talk was really silly of an adult to do, too. She smiled and sent to them, "Yes, I know, little ones. Even adults can be silly too."

"They must be teething." Tang said, noticing the drool on one of them.

Deanna wanted to say, "No, they laughed so hard at your voice that it just came out. You know how babies are." Instead she said, "Yes, they maybe."

Then Will turned to Deanna and sighed, "Well, I guess I need to get to work."

Deanna sensed he was not happy with his current position in Starfleet or with Betazed. He had not been for quite some time. She knew where he wanted to be, but he chose to stay here with his family, because he did not want to take them all on a starship at this time.

Will hugged and kiss Deanna and then he hugged and kissed the twins. He then told Will Jr., while holding his little hand like he were going to shake it, "Take care of them while I'm at work, Sport."

Deanna laughed.

"What's so funny?" Will asked with a smile.

"You!" She said still having a grin on her face.

Will kissed her again and said, "I'll see you at noon at um... I wish I could pronounce the name of that place."

"I think you mean the Rubrikra." Deanna said.

"Yes, Roo bree kraw." Will said the name slowly, as though he were trying to soak the word into his mind.

"Oo, that's a nice place!" Tang chimed in. "Very fancy. Something special?"

"Tang," Will began. "You were there two years ago as my best man. You should know."

"Ah, yes and Mrs. Troi is having a big shindig tonight because of it." Tang said.

"Shindig?" Deanna asked inquisitively.

"It's a big to do." Will said. "Her dinner party could be called a shindig."

"Oh." Deanna said, then sneaked in one last kiss and departed to met Chandra at the museum.

 

"How are you, two, today?" Deanna asked Chandra, who was now seven months pregnant.

"Oh, she's fine." Chandra said with a yawn. "She gets to ride around and sleep all day after keeping me up all night."

Deanna laughed. "Welcome to motherhood."

"Gee, thanks." Chandra said with a grin.

They then went into the museum together. The babies were soothed by the music inside the museum and eventually went to sleep for a mid-morning nap.

Finally, Deanna telepathically asked Chandra, "I was wondering, could you watch these two while Will and I have an anniversary lunch together at noon?"

"Oh, how nice!" Chandra sent back with a smiled. "Sounds so romantic! Sure, I'll watch them."

"Thanks, Chandra."

"Will they be at the dinner tonight?" Chandra asked.

"Do you think Mother would have it any other way?"

Chandra giggled. "No."

They finished their outing at the museum and Deanna walked with Chandra to her house. She said her good byes to the twins and reassured them she would be back in a couple of hours. They were pretty good about it. Kestra fussed a little bit, but Will Jr. touched her on the shoulder and she stopped.

"Amazing!" Chandra sent to Deanna with surprise in her thought. "It's as though they have a telepathic language of their own!"

Deanna laughed. "They may have! Twins are said to do amazing things in that nature."

"But they are too, young for telepathy."

"Well, maybe as we know it." Deanna responded. "Well, it's time for me to meet Will."

"Have fun!" Chandra sent with a smile.

 

Will and Deanna met at the Rubrikra at the same time. Will smiled and kissed Deanna in greeting. "Good timing."

Deanna smiled and returned his kiss.

"Ready for lunch?" Will asked, offering her his arm.

Deanna, still all smiles, wraps her arm around his and says, "Yes. You?"

"Starved!" He said also still smiling.

They waited for the hostess to seat them. Once they were seated, Will asked, "Would you like a red, blush or white wine?"

"Oo! You are going all out!"

"Anything for my Imzadi." He smiled.

Deanna thought for a moment. "How about a white wine?"

"OK." Said Will. "Chablis?"

"Hum, make it a pink Chablis."

"Changed your mind and want to go with a blush?"

"Woman's prerogative."

Will smiled and just agreed.

Once they had finally decided what they wanted the maitre d' sensed it and returned to their table to take their order.

"Yes, we're ready to order." Will said.

"Good afternoon." He sent with a slight bow of his head. "What would you two like?"

Will looked at Deanna with a look that said, "What the hell just happened?"

The maitre d' sensed Will's confusion, but did not switch to Federation Standard. Instead, he looked at Deanna and said something to her. She responded back to him telepathically.

Will wiggled in his seat due to feelings of discomfort. Then he remembered something from history, which occasionally happened still today along the France and Germany boarder. "Could that have just happened?" He thought to himself.

"Yes, something like that." Deanna said to him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Will said.

Deanna curled one side of her mouth, then said, "I guess you haven't ran into Betazoids who believe oral speech is for the feeble minded and non-telepaths, yet."

"Well, no." Will said, still confused.

"My grandfather had that saying and I hear he never spoke to my father." Deanna told him. "Some Betazoids still practice that belief and refuse to use oral mode of communication."

"So they feel they are better than non-telepaths?" Will asked with astonishment.

Deanna was not sure if she wanted to answer that, but finally said, "Yes."

"Sounds worse than your mother." Will said with irritation. "At least your mother talks to me. Not always nicely, but she talks to me."

"Well, she did marry a Human, too." Deanna reminded him with a smile. "So, you know she's not all bad."

Will fell silent for a short period. Deanna sensed he was feeling like he chose the wrong place to have lunch and felt bad for him. Not because he was not Betazoid, but because some Betazoids treated Humans that way, still.

Deanna finally broke the silence. "You know, Will, I'm glad we are spending this time together alone. It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has." Will agreed and smiled at her.

The conversation stopped again. Will became distant. Deanna sensed he was wishing he were anywhere, but on Betazed. She tried again to start a conversation, but the maitre d' returned and showed her the bottle of wine. She gestured to Will and he frowned, but poured Will a taste of the wine.

Again, ill at ease, Will sampled it and then nodded his head in approval. The maitre d' poured them both a glass of wine and left in silence.

"You know, this is getting damn annoying." Will stated in frustration.

"Well, we could always leave and go somewhere else." Deanna told him.

"No, no." Will said. "It's our anniversary and I want you to have a fine lunch for it."

"It's not fair to you, though." Deanna said.

"Maybe not, but do you know of another fancy place we could eat?"

She shook her head. "Not off hand, but if I had known it would be this way."

"Tang said it was a nice place too." Will retorted.

"Well, for him it is." Deanna informed Will. "I honestly did not sense anything else from him. If I had I would have told you."

There was a brief pause. "Will, if I had known about this place, I would have suggested something different."

"I know you would have." Will said in all honesty.

Their meal finally came and again, the maitre d' addressed Deanna and not Will. Afterwards, Will tried hard to make the best of the situation and the two of them enjoyed their meal.

"This oskoid is really good. Deanna." Will stated. "You sure do pick some good choices when you have too."

"Why thank you, Will." She said with a smile. "But you know, I did pick some of the things you wanted too."

"Yes, you did and it's all good." Will looked around the restaurant and started feeling self conscious again. "You get the feeling that it's awfully quiet in here?"

Deanna stops her fork in mid-air, stunned at his question. Then puts her fork down and tries to view things as Will was.

"Until you said something, I hadn't noticed." Deanna replied.

Will looks at her as though to say, "I'm sorry, I guess you wouldn't."

"Will, I..." She stops.

"No, it's ok." He said. "I forget you grew up here and you're use to this, what ever you would like to call it. I'm still stuggling with it."

She sighs. "Will, you know, you could always ask to be aboard a starship again and we could all move aboard. They are accepting families on some ships."

"No, we discussed this before and agreed it's best for the children to be here until they are much older." Will said. "And since I agreed to live here, I'll just have to eventually learn to deal with it."

"Maybe this was a bad idea." Deanna said. "Why don't we go ahead and leave now."

"It's ok. Finish eating." Will said.

"Actually," She began. "I'm rather full now."

"I thought Betazoids didn't lie." Will accused.

"We don't." Deanna insisted.

"Well, you've hardly touched your meal."

"I've really had enough." Then she added, "To eat."

Will took his napkin off his lap and threw it down beside his plate, still not quite believing Deanna. Then he placed his knife on a slant at the top of his plate.

"OK." Will said with frustration and disappointment. "Let's go ahead and go."

Deanna gracefully did the same with her napkin and knife, then she stood to prepare to leave.

In hopes to rescue their meal out, Will said, "If you're really sure."

"Yes, I am."

In silence, Will paid for their meal and they walked out together. When they were outside, Will touched Deanna on the arm and they stopped.

"Deanna," He said, looking at her. "I'm sorry if I ruined our lunch."

She looked at him a little surprised and said, "It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was." Will insisted. "I complained about the service and environment the whole time."

"Maybe so, but you didn't start it." Deanna also insisted. "Their treatment, or at least the maitre d' we had, of Humans or non-telepaths was very bad, so I don't think you are entirely to blame."

Will looked away for a bit, then looked back at Deanna. "Maybe you're right. I'm glad you feel that way. I was worried I may have ruined our lunch."

"No, it wasn't you." She repeated with all the empathy she could muster without sounding like she felt sorry for him. "Not all Betazoids know how to be hospitable."

Since Chandra's house was in the opposite direction, they said their good byes. Then Deanna went to get the children and Will went back to the Embassy.

"Tang!" Will shouted in anger when he got back.

"Yes, sir? Did you enjoy your dinner?"

"No!"

"Why not it's a nice place." Tang insisted.

"Yeah, if you're a telepath." Will informed him.

"Well, honestly sir, I had no idea." Tang stated. "I only stated what I've seen on the outside and what others have told me."

"All Betazoids, I presume?"

"Well, yes sir. This planet is full of them, sir."

Sighing in frustration, Will shook his head and walked back to his office.

 

That evening Deanna, Will, and the twins were on their way to the Dinner party Lwaxana was giving for them.

"I do hope this dinner your mother is giving us goes better than lunch did." Will said.

"It will." Deanna reassured. "I can't see why it wouldn't."

"Knowing your mother, anything could happen." Will commented.

They arrived and Lwaxana was as exsuberant as usual and made her rounds around the room. She spotted them as Mr. Homn showed them to the dining area.

"There you two are!" She exclaimed. "Whatever took you so long to get here? You're fifteen minutes late! Now being fashionably late is fine if you are not the guests of honour!"

"Mother." Deanna greeted.

"Oh, and how are my littlest ones, today?" Lwaxana kneeled down to greet her grandchildren. "Give your grandmother a hug!"

As she hugged them she continues, "I can't believe I'm a grandmother! I am far too young to be a grandmother! Much less be called one, but what else are they going to call me?"

"Granny?" Will replied with a devilish smile.

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana exclaimed standing back up. "That sounds even worse!"

"Gwanny!" Will Jr. giggled out.

"Now look what you've done!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "Now you have him saying it!"

Will was still grinning. "Well, you know what they say."

"No, I don't." Lwaxana stated.

"Like father, like son."

"Let's hope not!" Lwaxana exclaimed.

"Mother," Deanna interrupted. "I hate to interrupt the two of your's lovely bantering, but don't you think the guest maybe getting hungry."

"Bantering?" Lwaxana asked taken slightly off guard.

"What? It wasn't enjoyable for you?" Will asked jokingly.

Lwaxana looked at him vexatiously.

Will just laughed and said, "Your guest appear to need their hostess."

Lwaxana looks back at the group. "Yes, you're right. I'll just have to deal with you and your son later." Then she walks back to the group of dinner guest.

"Alright everyone." She announced trying to be the center of attention again. "Mr. Hohm has dinner ready and our guests of honour are now here, so if everyone would take their seats Mr. Hohm will serve everyone."

As always, the gong was placed near the table. "Oh, no. Not that god awful gong."

Lwaxana gives Deanna a scolding look. "Yes, the gong." She sent. "You know we have to praise the gods for the food that is eaten."

Everyone sat at the table and Mr. Hohm served everyone present.

"Will." Lwaxana addressed him. "Am I to gather from Deanna's thought you are neglecting the children's spiritual upbringing?"

GONG!

"Excuse me?"

"Well, giving praise to the gods is spiritual in your language right?"

"Well, yes." Will replied.

GONG!

"So you don't give praise to the gods for food eaten?"

Everyone, including the Xerxes were staring at Lwaxana.

"Lwaxana." Garth tried to intercede. "Let's not start with tradition, philosophy or beliefs of Betazoids again. I really don't think it's appropriate to bring it up at this time."

"Of course not, Garth." Lwaxana replied with a frown. "You wouldn't. You allow your daughter to disrespect other houses."

GONG!

Now it was Garth's turn. "Excuse me?"

"Well, you and your wife didn't seem to be bothered in the least by your daughter disrespecting a Daughter of the Fifth House."

GONG!

"Lwaxana Troi!" Garth's wife was now in the conversation. "May I also remind you. We are of the Third House. I think we hold the reins of seniority around here."

"Well, I never! Taking age of a house as presidence for allowing disrespect!"

"Now, Lwaxana." Garth said. "Chandra was expressing her feelings appropriately."

Lwaxana holds her head up and states, "In our house the oldest woman in the family makes the decisions regardless of feelings. The children soon realize the purpose of it and appreciate it after a while."

GONG!

"Mother!" Deanna exclaimed. "It doesn't work that way any more and you know it."

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to teach my grandchildren how to praise the gods of Betazed since he has influenced you not to." Lwaxana said waving a hand as though she were brushing Deanna off.

GONG!

"Mrs. Troi, I have influenced nothing." Will informed. "Deanna chose not to have the gong, because well..."

GONG!

With her mouth full of food and glaring at Will, she ungracefully says, "Yes, go ahead. Say it. Not that we all don't know what you are about to say anyway. Except for maybe Mr. Tang, of course."

Tang took no notice of what she had said as he continued to eat.

"Annoying." Will finished.

GONG!

Deanna's nerves were now on edge. "He's right, Mother. I do find it very annoying."

"This is his fault! I know it is." Lwaxana exclaimed pointing at Will.

"No, Mother! It was my decision!" Deanna informed firmly.

GONG!

"Lwaxana," Garth tried to calm the situation. "I realize you feel very strongly about Betazoid tradition and all, but not all Betazoids, especially this younger generation, feel as you do anymore."

"I see why your daughter takes the attitude she does." Lwaxana stated. "You let her make her own choices, instead of insisting she stick with tradition."

GONG!

"That's not entirely true, Lwaxana." Garth's wife informs. "And I would appreciate it if you keep your thoughts to yourself on such matters until you have all the information."

Garth pats his wife's hand, trying to calm the tension that was building up within her and says. "While it's true we allow her to make some choices, and have all her life, she is now a grown woman with her own family now. She can decide whatever she wants for her family."

GONG!

"Thank you, Father." Chandra replies with a smile and puts her hand on her stomach.

"Chandra?" Lwaxana addresses her. "Do you praise the gods for your food and are you going to teach your daughter to, also?"

"No."

GONG!

Lwaxana's eyes grew wide and she almost choked on her last bite of food. "Somehow, I can't find a reason yet, I blame Will for that too."

"Mrs. Troi, please!" Will said in protest. "I have had a long hard day and I really don't feel like putting up with anymore arrogant Betazoids!"

"Really!" Lwaxana said appaulled and puts her fork down. "I am NOT arrogant!"

"Lwaxana, he's right." Garth said. "You can be very arrogant."

"Garth Xerx! I'm shocked that you thought that!" She said.

"Well, Lwaxana, you know we Betazoids don't let every thought we have go wandering out of our minds." Garth said.

Tang sits eating his food and just smiles at the conversation.

"And what are you laughing about, young man?" Lwaxana asks, picking up her fork again and taking a bite.

GONG!

"Nothing really, ma'am." Tang replies.

"Well, maybe not, but you are wondering if all Betazoid dinner conversations go like this."

"They do if your mother is Lwaxana Troi." Deanna mumbled.

"Deanna!" Lwaxana said. "How dare you say such a thing!"

GONG!

"Well, Mother, I'm sick of this!" Deanna said. "Every dinner we attend, you're there and you always stir up discussions that are insulting or nerve racking!"

"Now, Little One, I really..."

Deanna gets up from the table saying, "I've had enough Mother! Enough of your calling me Little One, when I have little ones of my own and of your attitude at these events!" Then she rushes past the gong and knocks it over, releasing her anger and frustration. It vibrates as it hits the floor. As it does the twins start crying from the noise.

Deanna picks one of them up and says, "Will, will you get Kestra. I'm ready to leave."

"Deanna, you can't leave!" Lwaxana said in a panic. "This is your dinner party."

"No, Mother. It's YOUR dinner party." Deanna stated. "If it were mine, we would not have that damn gong, for starters and the conversation would definitely not go this way, if I had anything to say about it." Then adds sarcastically, "Thanks for the anniversary party, Mother."

Deanna then walks out of the house with Will Jr. in her arms and Will behind her with Kestra in arm and the stroller dragging behind him.

"Deanna!" Will shouted behind her. "Deanna!"

"What?" She asked still angry.

"Let's at least take the time to put them in the stroller."

She stopped suddenly. Then realized Kestra was getting a little heavy in her arms. "Yes, you're right. It is a bit of a walk to carry her all the way."

"I'm sorry, Will."

"For what?"

Deanna answers as they started walking again. "For how our anniversary has gone this year."

"Deanna," Will said with a smile. "The day is not over."

"Will Riker." She smiled. "Do you have something in mind?"

"Maybe." He said slyly.

 

When they got home they put the twins to bed and then Will puts an arm around Deanna. Then he turns to face her and places the other arm around her. He kisses her softly.

"How about you and I go to bed early and have our own celebration."

Deanna smiles. "I'm ready to call it a night."

Will smiles and scoops her up in her arms. "Whoa!" She saids a little startled, but laughs at the same time.

He then carries her off to their room saying, "This may be the best part of our anniversary celebration."

They celebrated their anniversary by themselves in love and pure passion until their energy was spent from making each other happy and satisfied. Then Deanna curled up against him as he held her in his arms.

 

Chapter 32

Almost two years had past and Will had grown more distant. He was, also, spending more nights looking at the night sky. Deanna sensed there was something troubling her Imzadi.

She walked outside and stood beside him. "Will, are you ok?"

He turned and looked at her. "Oh, yes, I'm fine."

"No, you're not." She stated firmly. "I can sense something is troubling you."

"Really, I'm fine."

She decided to change her approach and discuss what was on her mind. "Will, I want to go back and finish my studies."

"Well, in a couple more years the children will be in school."

"No, now!" She said very firmly. More firmly than she has intended.

"Deanna, I thought we discussed we'd wait until they were in school?"

"They are old enough to go to pre-school and the university has a very good one."

"Fine." Will said with some hidden anger. "Do what you feel you need to do."

"I don't think you're really angry with me."

"How can you be sure about that?" Will asked. "We had decided together you would wait until they were five and now you want to change your mind without discussing it with me."

"That's just it. I am discussing it with you now." She said. "And you are displacing anger on to me."

Will sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "You're right. I am." He agreed. "I... I don't know what I want anymore."

"You're restless."

"Well, I don't know if that's it." He replied with some doubt.

"I'm sensing restlessness. Like you feel you need a change or something."

"Maybe." Will said. "This past year and a half I've wanted to get away."

"From what?"

"Well, it's not you and the children. That's for damn sure." He said. "Your mother sometimes." He chuckled.

Deanna let out a slight laugh. "Sometimes I've had that feeling too."

"I don't know what it is."

"I think I do." She said walking around in front of him, so she could see his face. "You're wanting to be out there." She gestured to the sky.

"A part of me does, yes."

Deanna looked a little saddened. "I was afraid this day would come."

"What are you talking about?" He asked defensively.

"Will, you're desire is to be out there flying through space, be the best officer there ever was and beat Kirk's record."

"I told you long ago, my priorities have changed."

"Have they?" She asked. "In less than six months after we came back here, together, you got promoted for your valiant service to the Federation concerning the Sindereen incident. Now, all you do is stare up at the night sky."

"You know, Deanna, for once in your life, you are sensing wrong." He said, walking back into the house and he was still on the defensive when he turned towards her before entering to say. "You are dead wrong!" He then walked inside.

"Then why are you so defensive?" She asked as she followed him into the house.

"I don't know, Counselor. You tell me." He said, and for the first time in a long time, he stated what he knew was her endeaver. The reason she was going back to finish her studies.

"Alright, I'll admit it." She said. "I want to be the best counselor in Starfleet, but you want me to stay home with the children and wait. Now, I come to you and say I'm ready to move on and finish what I started before the children were born and you don't like it."

"That's not true!" Will said louder than he meant to say it.

Deanna sighed. "Will, where is this going?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everything."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I think you do." She insisted.

"What? My career? Your studies? Your career? This family? Our marriage? What?"

"All of it, Will!" She said sharply. "You don't talk to me anymore."

"I talk to you." He insisted. "I'm here to help and support you with the kids and I know they are not easy to take care of when you're here by yourself with them."

"No, you're not, Will." Deanna insisted. "You're here physically, but your mind is not. It's out there some where." She gestured upward with her hand.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I do want to be on a Starship and beat Kirk's record, still." He said hostilely.

"Well, at least now we're admitting to what we want." Deanna firmly stated.

"No, it's what you think I want." He informed her and then he heads for the front door.

With alarm Deanna says, "Where are you going?"

"To hell if I'm not careful."

"Will, we really do need to talk." Deanna said, as if she were clinging to a last shred of hope to get Will to talk to her.

"What's there to talk about? You know what you want and you know what I want." He said, then with thick sarcasm he adds, "I think if I plan it right, there's still time to break Kirk's record."

"Will, this is not like you!" Deanna said.

"Maybe not." He said, as he walked out the door.

Deanna sat down in a chair and cried. "This didn't go well." Deanna thought to herself. "All I wanted was to talk to him and he talk to me. Now, he's walked out the door."

 

Will gets to the Embassy and heads straight to his office. It was after midnight, so the Embassy was basically quiet and there really was not anything he could do at this hour, but he sits down at his desk and tries to lay back in his chair and doze.

However, sleep did not come. "What the hell did I just do?" He asked himself aloud. "Deanna's right and I'm too afraid to admit it."

He puts in a call to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth.

"Lieutenant Commander William Riker." Said the admiral. "It must be late there on Betazed."

"Yes, sir it is." Will said. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

 

Morning had come and Deanna had not slept all night. She tried hard to get a general sense of Will, but she realized her own emotions were getting in her way, but she just could not take her mind off of what happened last night.

0700 hours came and went. No Will. During that time she had gotten the children up and dressed for the day and fed them.

0800 hours, still no Will. Finally, at 0900 Will walked back through the door. Deanna ran into the living with a smile, but it quickly faded when she sensed Will's mood.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing." He paused for a moment. The mood in the air was forlorning. "Everything."

"Would you like to talk about it now?" She asked hopefully.

"Deanna," Will began. "I requested a transfer back to the Hood. A Captain Desoto is now the commanding officer of that ship."

"And?"

"You and the twins are welcome to come aboard with me."

Deanna turned around to face away from him. "I can't." She said softly. Tears started falling from her eyes.

Will was confused. "I don't understand. Why not?"

She turns back around to face him with the tears still trailing down her face. "You don't get it, do you?"

"If this is because of your mother."

"No!" She exclaimed. "It's me! Just as much as you want so desperately to have your own damn ship one day, I want to be a counselor."

"And who cares about what the children need?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Will and you know it." She said. "You're the one who's leaving."

"Deanna, I'll be back for shore leave and you three can visit me if you really feel you want to stay here."

"It's not the same." She insisted.

"No, it's not." He admitted.

She sobbed louder. "Go, just go, if it's what you feel you really want."

She started to walk away, but Will grabbed her and pulled her close to him. She sobbed into his chest as he held her.

Will kissed the top of her head and said, "Imzadi, I love you. I will be back and if I know you three, you will come for a visit when you can. I'm not abandoning you guys, I'm just going to be on a ship."

Deanna continued crying and said nothing. She finally sent to him, "As I said, Imzadi, I knew this day would finally come."

Will continued to hold her a while longer in silence. He hated the fact that he was going and they were staying behind on Betazed, but for some reason he felt they had to do this. He did not know why he felt that way, but he felt that for now it had to be.

The twins finally walked in and tugged on their daddy's pant legs. It was Will Jr. who spoke though, "Daddy, wat wong wit mama?"

Will did not have the heart at that moment to tell his son how to say his words right. Instead, he let Deanna go, then he bent down to his children, wrapped an arm around each of them and pulled them up close to him.

"I know you two are just three years old, but I'm going to try and explain this anyway." Will began. "Daddy has to go and be on a starship. You two remember what that is right?"

Kestra was quick to say no, but Will Jr. thought as hard as a three year old could. "Sarship. Sar."

"No, son, star."

"Ssstar." Trying to get in every letter. Then he slowly remembered his father talking to him about ships not too long ago. "Starship. Those ships that fly in space?"

"Yes." Will confirmed with a smile, until he noticed Kestra was wiggling away from him and moved over to their mother. Deanna kneeled down to Kestra's level and held Kestra in her arms.

Will continued, "Well, that's where I have to go for now. You three can come visit me on the ship and I'll come see you when I can."

"We get to be on ship?" Will Jr. asked excitedly.

"When you come visit." Will smiled again.

"Why we don't go too?" He asked his dad.

"Well, your mother wants to stay here and go to school."

"We go to school too?" Asked Will Jr.

Will chuckled. "Yes, you and your sister will go to school too."

"Yea!" Will Jr. said with a smile.

"Kestra?" Will tried to get her attention, but she would not look at him.

"Kessa feel like Mama."

Will was surprised. Not by the fact Jr called his sister Kessa. He had been doing that since he started talking, but it was by the fact Jr said his sister felt like their mama.

"Um, Will." Will said to his son calmly.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Could you do me a favour and take your sister to your room to play?"

"Why Daddy?"

"I need to talk to your mother."

"Oh."

Jr. offered a hand to his sister. "No!" She said.

"Kestra." Will said firmly. "I need to talk to your mother. Go to your room for a few minutes."

"No!" She clung tighter to her mother.

Will decided he did not want another argument with another female in his life, so he decided to talk to Deanna anyway.

"Why didn't you tell me they were empathic?"

"They're not empathic, at least not yet." Deanna stated as she stood with Kestra. "If you remember, that doesn't occur until they hit puberty."

"Then how does he know how Kestra feels?"

"For one thing, I think she maybe feeding off of my feelings." Deanna surmised, still holding Kestra in her arms. "The other thing is, twins do have a unique form of communication."

"Not like that." Pointing in his son's direction. Will's statement was more of a question than it was an actual statement, but he was very perplexed by it all at the same time.

"Any thing is possible, but I assure you they are not telepathic or empathic as of yet, Will." Deanna had a lot of anger behind her voice, but it had nothing to do with Will's wonder about his children.

Will was doubtful of Deanna's statement, but he did not persue the subject any further. The house became really quiet and the only conversation Will noticed was Deanna trying to comfort Kestra. It was a silent conversation, not unlike ones he had seen before between mother and child on Betazed and not the first one he had seen between Deanna and their children. However, for some strange reason, he became uncomfortable seeing them converse in silence this time. He had no idea what Deanna was saying to her, but he knew it was nothing negetive against him. Even so, he still felt discomforted by it.

"It's OK, Kestra." Deanna sent to her, while brushing stray hairs out of her daughter's face with her fingers.

"But you're sad, Mommy. I don't like that." Tears were falling from both their eyes.

"I know, but I'll be alright and we'll see your father again soon."

"You don't believe it, though."

"I do, but I'm just sad right now."

"I don't want Daddy to go."

"Niether do I, hun, but he has to."

"Why?"

Deanna searched for a plausable answer to give her three year old daughter. Finally Deanna sent to her, "Because Starfleet, the people who tell your daddy what job he's suppose to do, want him to and your daddy decided he wanted to serve on a ship."

"We go to school and he stay here, with us."

"He can't, Kestra. He has to go."

"Not fair!" Kestra screamed in her head. Deanna sensed her daughter's thought and winced at the powerful emotions behind it.

Deanna hugged her daughter's head close to her and sent, "I know, but that's the way it is."

Will broke the silence finally. "Well, I..." He stammered, not knowing exactly what to say or how to say it. Then he just decides to say it. "I guess I better get ready to leave on the next shuttle to join the Hood."

Will finished getting his belongings together and walked back out to the living area. He set his suit case down at the door. Deanna said nothing to Will and when he was actually ready to leave, she was still silent.

"A person needs a sharp knife to cut through this silence." Will said. "Deanna, aren't you going to say anything to me before I leave?"

"I wish you safe voyage." Her voice quivered a little as she said it, but she refused to let him see her cry again.

"That's it? Not even a hug and a kiss good bye?"

When Deanna just stood there looking at him and made no action towards him, he turned and started to walk out the door. As he opened the door he stops and turns back around. "Deanna."

It was too late. Deanna had left the room and no one, but himself, was left in the room. Will opened the door the rest of the way and departed.

Chapter 33

Deanna was sitting on the sofa with her two children when Chandra rang the doorbell. Chandra had sensed Deanna was not herself clear to her house and had to know what was wrong with her best friend. However, Deanna did not want to be bothered by anyone and even though she knew Chandra could sense she was at home, she did not respond to Chandra.

It had been three hours since Will walked out the door and Deanna withdrew to her immediate surroundings. What was keeping her going at this point were the twins and she did not want anyone else around.

Chandra sent a gentle mind brush, but Deanna ignored it. Then Chandra sent a pleading mind brush. "Deanna, please. I came to check on you and see if you would like to talk."

"I'm fine!" She sent back.

"Deanna." Chandra said with some doubt in the tone she sent.

Deanna sighed. "OK, come in." She sent reluctantly.

Chandra entered and as she did she asked sympathetically, "What's wrong, Deanna?"

"Nothing! I'm fine!" Deanna sent indignantly.

"Deanna, I'm your best friend."

Chandra sat down beside Deanna and waited for her to reply. Deanna did not say a word for a few minutes and Chandra was feeling that the silence was getting menotinous.

Finally, Deanna broke like a dam. "Will's gone!" She cried.

"Gone?"

"Yes." Deanna replied sobbing. "Oh, I knew it was coming, but I didn't quite think it would be this soon."

"He seemed happily married." Chandra stated.

"Oh, that wasn't the problem."

"Then why did he leave?"

"He had a strong desire to be an officer on a ship and not at the Embassy." Deanna told Chandra.

"On a ship? Surely he asked you to go with him?"

"He did." Deanna affirmed.

"Why didn't you go?" Chandra asked shocked.

Deanna shook her head. "I want to return to my studies and I can't do that on a ship. Oh, Chandra!" She cried. "I feel we are going two different directions."

"But you want to join Starfleet one day, eventually, right?"

"Yes."

"So, I don't get it."

"He's not ready for me to leave the children to pursue a career, yet."

"Oh, I get it. I think."

"Deanna!" Lwaxana thought send came.

Deanna put up a mental mind block, because she did not want to hear a word her mother had to say. Regardless of the mind block, though her mother entered, without invitation.

"Oh, there you are, Little One." Lwaxana said breathlessly. "I came as soon as I could. Now, tell Mother what's wrong."

"I'm fine, Mother." Deanna stated firmly and gave her mother the angriest look Lwaxana ever seen from her. "There's nothing wrong."

"Deanna, you can't fool me." Lwaxana said firmly. "Your eyes are red and your face is streaked with tears. Now what's going on, here?"

"Nothing I can't handle." For the first time in her life she sounded like her husband and she recalled the first time she heard him say those words and tried hard to choke back the tears.

"Daddy gone." Kestra said.

"Kessa!" Will Jr. scolded.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana said in fringed sympathy. "I don't want to say I told you so."

"Then don't!" Deanna yelled at her mother in anger. "You have no idea and I don't want to talk to you about it!"

Insulted and hurt, Lwaxana said, "Oh, fine. You want to talk to Chandra, but you don't want to talk to your own mother!"

"Mother!" Deanna shouted as she stood to face her mother eye to eye. "You just don't get it, do you? Not even other Betazoids can get through to you!"

"What are you talking about Deanna?" Lwaxana asked.

"You, Mother!" Deanna said with stronger anger than before and pointing a finger at her.

Lwaxana was feeling Deanna was taking something out on her, but she was not sure what. "Deanna, whatever Will said or did, don't take it out on me."

"I'm not taking anything out on you!" Deanna snapped. "I'm telling you to butt out!"

Lwaxana was shocked. "Butt out? W... w... What did I do?'

"What did you NOT do?"

"If you would talk to me, then maybe I could figure out what you are talking about." Lwaxana said.

"No! You don't get it. I want you out!"

Lwaxana was even more shocked than before. She stood and look at her daughter incredulously.

"OUT!" Deanna yelled into her mother's head and pointed to the door. Lwaxana was so blown over by Deanna's powerfully angry mind send, that she almost fell over backwards.

Surprisingly to Chandra, she found herself feeling sorry for Lwaxana. She even flinched at Deanna's mind sending, herself. Finally, she stood and placed a hand on Lwaxana's shoulder in sympathy. "Mrs. Troi, why don't you give her some time. Then maybe she will be willing to talk to you later. She'll be OK, I assure you."

Deanna had her arms crossed in front of her and with anger still in her voice she said, "Oh, I'll be OK, but I don't think time will eventually cause me to want to talk to her again!"

Lwaxana still could not say a word. "Come on, Mrs. Troi." Chandra guided the older woman gently to the door. "I promise you, I'll check on her for a while for you and let you know how she's doing."

"I.. I.. have.. no idea..." Lwaxana stammered as she walked out the door still in incredulous shock.

Deanna sat back down as she saw her mother leaving, refusing to say a word to her.

Chandra turned and walk back to the sofa to sit down near Deanna again and sent, "I gather Will's leaving had something to do with her, too."

"He never said it directly, but it was there, too." Affirmed Deanna. "Mostly tried to make a joke about it, instead of saying it out right."

"I can understand that." Chandra said. "Your mother was not nice to any of us the last couple of times we all got together and that was at your anniversary and shortly after Tebra was born."

"And she was born almost a year ago."

"Deanna," Chandra began. "Are you afraid he won't be back here?"

Deanna got quiet and shook her head. "I don't know. I know, I will eventually take the children to see him and see him then, but as for him coming back to Betazed, I don't know for sure."

"If he said he would..."

"That's just it. I couldn't sense what he was feeling when he left." Deanna stated. "I was too wrapped up in how I felt."

"Well, knowing him, I'd say if he said he would, he will." Chandra tried to reassure.

 

Will was on the shuttle heading for the Hood and had been on the shuttle for almost four hours now. He was feeling bad with the way things were left and kept going over it again and again. Trying to figure out what went wrong and when it went wrong. He had no answers, except he knew Deanna was right. He had been feeling very restless for a long time now.

He tried to get his mind off of everything that had happened in the last several hours. He tried getting some sleep, since he had not slept since the night before last, but sleep still did not come for him. He then decided to look over the crew manifest of the Hood.

At first glance the crew looked like a good group of people to work with. There were some new crew members since he was last there and some were the same as last time. Then he saw one name that sent chills up his spine. Not chills of fear exactly, but he just did not like the fact that he would be working with this particular crew member again.

"Gods!" He laid his head back on the back of his seat. Then his thoughts went back to Deanna and all the memories he had with her. As he was thinking about all the memories he thought of the twins and realized that he had not said a final good bye to them before he walked out the door to catch the shuttle. Not even a hug.

"Ugh!" He thought. "That's just great! I'm too busy worrying about Deanna, that I completely forgot to check on them before I left. They're probably just as upset with me as Deanna is."

"Sir," The helmsman addressed Will. "We will be approaching the Hood in ten minutes."

"Thank you." Will said. Then thought to himself, "I wonder what working with Captain Desoto will be like? I guess I'll find out here in a few minutes."

Chapter 34

Will got settled into his new quarters and he decided to put in a communique to Deanna and the twins.

Will was disappointed when he had to leave a message for the third time. "Damn. It's 1900 hours on Betazed. Why isn't she answering."

"Deanna, I don't know if your getting these messages or if you're listening to them, but I just wanted to say, I'm sorry, but I have to be out here. I wish you and the kids would have came with me. I miss you. Call me when you can, Imzadi."

He finally gave in and called Lwaxana. "What did you do to her?" Lwaxana attacked him verbally.

"Nothing, really." Will shrugged. "Except decided I wanted to be on a ship. I asked them to come with me, but Deanna refused."

Lwaxana frowned. "Well, of course she did. She is about to start her studies here in a few days."

"Mrs. Troi, please don't start harassing me."

"Harassing? I'm not harassing, yet."

"Mrs. Troi, just tell Deanna I want to talk to her." Then Will disconnected the link between them.

"Well, that was very curt of him." Lwaxana huff. "They are both almost as bad with how they talk to me lately. I'm not sure who's worse! Deanna or Will."

 

Deanna was listening to his messages. She sat and cried when she listened to them after the children were in bed. She could not bring herself to talk to him just yet.

Days went by and Will tried hard to get her to talk to him. After the fifth day he decided to wait for her to come around and call him. That was when he decided he had to get out of his quarters and went to the lounge.

He walked up to the bar and had a seat. "Scotch on the rocks." He ordered.

When he received it, he downed it quickly and ordered another. Then he walked back to a corner table to be by himself and nurse the second drink.

When the person he was trying to avoid for the last five days walks in and over to his table after ordering a drink, he knew he had picked the wrong table.

"Well, Billy Boy. Long time no see."

He nodded and tried to smile. "Lieutenant."

"Oh, it's Lieutenant Commander, now. And call me, Marie." She said, while sitting on his lap and stroking his cheek.

"Um." Will said, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Marie, I'm married."

"Oh, yes. That's right. Where is the delegate's daughter?"

"She a.. has other responsibilities and couldn't be here."

Stroking his cheek again she said, "Oh, that's a shame. Well, if there's anything you need just holler."

Will's eyes got really wide with shock when she kissed him full on the mouth and he squirmed in his seat. "That's just a sample." She said with a seductive smile, as she walked away.

"Oy," Will said to himself. Then he finished his drink and went back to his quarters.

 

Lwaxana came by Deanna's house again the day after Will called her, but Deanna was out back with the children and she still did not want to talk to her mother.

"Well," Lwaxana said in her head for anyone listening, as she stood at the front door. "I'll just go around back!"

She walks around to the back and approaches Deanna. "How long are you going to go without talking to me? I'm your mother, after all!"

"Gwamma!" The twins said in unison and ran up to hug her.

"Well, at least you're talking to me." She sent to her grandchildren and knelt down to hug them. Then she struggled to stand up again and said aloud, since Deanna was ignoring her mentally, "Well, aren't you at least going to help an old lady back up to her feet again?"

Deanna gave no response to her mother. Instead she said, "Come along children. It's time to go in to eat lunch."

"Can Gwamma stay and eat lunch with us, Mama?" Asked Will Jr.

"Yes, can she?" Kestra also asked.

Deanna was tempted to say no, but she said to herself, "She is their grandmother, though."

Deanna sighed and said, "I guess, if she wants too."

"Oh, no, Deanna." Lwaxana said with sarcasm. "Not if it's too much of an imposition to you. I wouldn't want you to be put out by me."

"Mother." Deanna said turning to face her. "Don't push it."

They all four walked through the back door into the kitchen for lunch. As they were, Lwaxana asked, "What I want to know, is what did I do that you are angry with me, too?"

Deanna decided to make the twins sandwiches by hand today. As she got some bread, peanut butter and jelly, she said without looking at her mother, "What did you not do?"

"Oh, that helps a lot, Deanna."

Deanna continued making the sandwiches and had them made rather fast. She still said nothing to her mother as she served the children. "Here you two go."

"Oh, Daddy's fave wit from Eart!" Will Jr. exclaimed. "I wanna see him on ship!"

"So what does an old lady have to do around here to get something to eat with her grandbabies?"

Deanna looked at Lwaxana as though she hated her. "Fix it yourself." Then she went to get the twins some milk to go with their sandwiches.

"Uh, really!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "You know, you're worse than Will was the other day! At first I thought it was almost a tie, but now I think my own daughter is more rude and curt to me."

Deanna almost reacted to Lwaxana's statement about Will. She wanted to ask what he had said to her, but decided she would not ask her mother.

"Will you please call him?" Her mother asked. "I could tell he was very sincere in his desire to talk to you and the kids want to see him. Why don't you visit him before you start classes?"

"No." Deanna said firmly. Then softened a little and said, "I have a lot to do before I start my classes."

"What all do you have that it can't wait until you get back?"

"I have to get them ready for preschool." Deanna imformed as she got herself a cup of hot chocolate.

"Preschool!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "Oh, no! Not my grandbabies with all those germy children. I'll watch them."

"No, Mother! You won't."

"Oh, Deanna. You can't be serious? And what am I suppose to eat? You know I can't cook."

Deanna slammed her mug on the table and said, "Learn!"

Lwaxana was mortified. "W... W..."

"You are not a Queen for everyone to be at your beck and call!"

The tension level in the room was rising substantially and the children started reacting to it.

Kessa started crying and Will Jr started screaming, "I wanna see Daddy on sip! I wanna see Daddy on sip!"

"Deanna, you're upsetting the children!" Lwaxana scolded.

"I am not! They were fine until you came!"

"Oh, so I guess their being upset is also my fault?"

Deanna did not say a word to her mother. She just picked up Kestra and said, "Kestra tired?"

"NO!" She said through the tears.

"I guess it's time for a nap."

"NO NAP! NO NAP!" They both screamed.

"Deanna, take them to see their father, before you start your studies, again."

"If I tell you I'll think about it, will you leave?" Deanna said hostily.

Lwaxana frowned. "If I must, but I do think you need some help with those two right now. I could at least help you with that, if you let me."

"No, Mother. I can handle it."

"OK." Lwaxana said. "Have it your way. I'll go since you refuse to even let me have lunch with my grandbabies."

"I didn't refuse, I said make it yourself."

"At least my son-in-law was nicer to me than my own daughter is. You don't have to show me out. I'll find my own way, thank you." Then Lwaxana left by way of the front door.

"The back door would have been better for you to leave." Deanna thought. "Maybe it would knock you down a few levels."

 

After his shift, Will checked his messages. "Nothing." He said to himself.

Then his comm beeped. "In coming message from Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed." said the computer.

"Well, I definitely can't confuse her with anyone else." He said to himself. "Put it through to my comm."

The computer screen flicked on and Lwaxana's face appeared. "Will," She shook her head, looking like she herself could cry. "I can't get through to her. She's not speaking to me, either. I even went to your house and she just acts like she hates me."

"How are the children?"

"Oh, they're fine given all the tension. They want to see you."

"And is she coming with them for a visit?"

Lwaxana shook her head again. "I don't know. She said, 'If I tell you I will, will you leave?' I'm telling you, Will, she's blocked all her thoughts from me and I can't get through no matter how hard I try."

Will sighed. "Thanks, Mrs. Troi."

Lwaxana looked like she felt very bad about the situation. "I'm sorry that I couldn't do more. Will."

The link was then broken, but not without Will noticing that Lwaxana looked as though she was also hurt. Will felt some relief that it was not he who was upsetting Lwaxana, this time. If it were she would try to be insulting.

"I think I liked it better when she was insulting people." Will said to himself.

Then Will decided he would try Chandra and see if she could get Deanna to call him. He put the call through and Teb answered.

"Ah, Teb. How are you?" Will greeted, trying to sound cheerful.

"I'm fine, but I take you want to talk."

"Can't full you can I?" Will tried to joke.

"Will, I hear there are problems between you and Deanna."

"I guess Chandra's told you?"

"Well, from what I gather, Chandra is the only person Deanna is talking to, right now." Teb informed. "Chandra said Deanna was so awful to Mrs. Troi, that she actually felt sorry for her."

"I'm starting to gather that from talking to Mrs. Troi."

"Do you know why?" Teb asked. "I mean, I haven't been in contact with Mrs. Troi lately, so I have no idea and Chandra didn't say."

"I think I know, but I can't say for sure." Will said.

Teb frowned. "That's a shame."

"Teb, I called to see if Chandra could talk Deanna into calling me so we could talk."

"Well, she's not here right now, but I'll ask her when she gets back."

"Thanks, Teb. I really appreciate that and I'm glad Deanna is at least talking to someone."

"Me too." Agreed Teb. "I'd hate to see her if she didn't talk to anyone."

"Well, have Chandra call me and let me know if she can't convence Deanna to call me."

"I'll do that." Teb smile. "Oh, and take care out there."

"I will." Said Will and then he broke the link.

Chandra called Will two days later, but Will was on duty when she called, so she left a message. "Will, I'm sorry. She would not talk to me about calling you, but she is listening to your messages. That much I know for sure. As for bringing the twins to see you, she wouldn't say whether she would or not."

Will was disappointed. He had hoped, if anyone could get Deanna to call him, Chandra could. He sat in his quarters, wondering what Deanna was thinking. He felt so shut off from her, but then he thought about how Lwaxana must be feeling, being on the same planet with her and shut off from Deanna, also.

"And she's a very strong telepath!" Will thought to himself.

The chime to his room rang just then. "Come in." He said without thinking.

When he saw who it was he sat up straight. "Oh, shit!" He thought.

"Billy Boy, I haven't seen you for a while." She walked over to him and caressed his cheek. "You seem so down! Is there anything Marie could do for you?"

"I'll need several drinks to answer that question." He replied. "Now could you please leave?" He asked her, trying to keep his composure.

"Oh, but I want to cheer ole Billy Boy up!" She replied kissing him.

"This woman doesn't take no for answer." Will thought. Then he stood. "I really need to be going."

"Where do you have to go this time of night?"

Will suddenly remembered being invited to a poker game earlier and thought it had to still be going on at this time. "Ah, there's a poker game I said I would attend and play a few rounds."

"Oh." She said. "Well, I don't play poker, so I'll catch up with you later."

Will felt like he was saved by the bell. They walked out and he went the oppisite way than she did.

 

Three days later, Will received an emergency communique at 1100 hours.

"You can take it in my Ready Room if you like." Captain De Soto offered.

Will agreed and walked into the Ready Room to receive the call.

"Will, Deanna's gone!" She cried.

"Lwaxana?"

"I went your house yesterday and she was not there and then I went again today and she's still not there." Lwaxana was talking rapidly and said the whole sentence in one breath.

"The children too?"

"Yes." She sobbed.

"Well, maybe she decided they needed to get out of the house today and yesterday."

"I don't know." Lwaxana said, still sobbing. "I haven't been able to sense a thing from her with her blocking me out."

"Well, keep me posted." Will asked.

"I will." Lwaxana said with tears rolling down her face as she ended the call.

Two hours later Will got another emergancy communique and again took it in the Captain's Ready Room.

This time it was Garth Xerx.

"Will, I'm sorry to bother you."

"It's OK." Will said with concern.

"Well, Deanna was suppose to show up for my class yesterday and today. My class starts a little early. Well,"

"She didn't show?" Will was getting a little concerned now.

"No." Xerx confirmed. "Chandra isn't home, so I called Lwaxana. She told me how Deanna had been acting lately and that she has not seen her either the last two days."

"I'm getting very concerned now." Will told Xerx. "Have Chandra call me if she knows anything."

"I'll do that." Xerx stated. There was a pregnant pause and then Xerx said, "Well, I'll let you get back to work."

"A... yes. I need too. Thanks for letting me know."

 

Will spent the rest of the day worrying about Deanna. He was not sure what was going on with her and two people have called also concerned. He had no idea what to do nor even a clue what to do.

It's was 1800 hours and Will had heard nothing more since Xerx called. "Maybe that's good news." Will thought, but as he thought it, the computer announced he had another emergency communique.

Will took it and this time it was the concerned face of Chandra. "Will, I haven't seen her lately either."

"Please tell me it's because you haven't been over to our house these last couple of days."

"I wish I could say that, but I can't. I've gone over there several times today and yesterday. I've sort of been trying to keep an eye on her lately. Father told me he called you and said you wanted me to call you. I went over there one more time, before I called you, just to be sure and still no one is home."

Will sighed. "Where the hell could she have gone!"

"I sense you are very upset, worried and concerned."

"Now you sound like Deanna, but she may have narrowed it down some."

"I wish I knew where she was."

"And you've been over there every day, lately?"

"Yes and these last two days, she and the twins haven't been home."

"No signs of foul play?"

"No. The house is locked and she's just not there." Chandra told Will, shaking her head.

Will was silent for a minute. Finally, Will spoke. "I'll see what I can do on this end to find her and you contact Tang to see if he can put out a search for her and the twins."

"OK, I'll see if I can talk to him now."

"Thanks, Chandra."

Then the connection was again broken. "God! Where the hell could she be! What is she even thinking! Why didn't she inform anyone she was leaving? Deanna said I wasn't acting like myself, what the hell does she call this!"

Chapter Thirty-five

"Where the hell is she!" Will asked himself. "I can't feel her like I use to. And neither can anyone else who's close to her. Either she's completely blocked everyone out or..." Will did not want to think of the alternative.

It had been five days since anyone had heard anything from Deanna. Will felt like he was going to loose his mind. He could not concentrate on anything. Even Captain DeSoto saw Will's work was suffering.

"No, she's out there somewhere. I know she is. She has to be."

"Lieutenant Commander Riker!" DeSoto finally said after several times of trying to get Will's attention.

Will jumped out of his skin. "Yes, Sir."

"My Ready Room, now."

"Yes, Sir."

The two of them walked into Desoto's Ready Room. "Have a seat or do you want to continue pacing like a caged animal."

"I'm sorry?"

"On my bridge just now, you were in another world pacing back and forth as though you were a caged animal."

"Captain, let me have a shuttle craft."

"What?"

"A shuttle craft."

"And do what?" The captain asked.

"I want to look for my wife for God's sake!"

"Commander, Starfleet is looking for her. If you go out and start running around out there by yourself you could get into a lot of trouble and no one would know it."

"Sir, please."

"They are looking for her and your children. Now, if you can't do your job because of this I will have no choice but to relieve you of duty."

<Bridge to Captain.> The communications officer called.

"DeSoto here."

"There is a priority one communique for Lieutenant Commander Riker from a Lieutenant Tang on Betazed."

"Put it through to my Ready Room."

 

"Captain Riker." Said the communications officer of the Valiant. "There's a priority one communique from the Research Station on Forever World."

"Riker stood to face his communications officer. "Put it through to my Ready Room."

Will walked into his Ready Room and sat down at his desk. "What the hell did my idiot younger self do now!"

Will tapped the communication button and said, "Riker here."

"Sir, you asked us to keep an eye on a particular time line for you and to let you know of anything that may or may not change time as you know it."

"Yes." Will affirmed. "What's happened?"

"Well, did Mrs. Riker ever leave Betazed without letting anyone know?"

"What?" Captain Riker asked in shock. "Never mind. We'll make a slight detour and be there as soon as we can. Riker out."

"Now this is an unusual change of events." Will said to himself. "Captain to Bridge."

"Bridge here."

"Set course for Forever World."

"Forever World?"

"That's what I said."

"Aye, sir." Said the bridge officer, still unsure of what was happening.

"Captain to Counselor Troi-Riker."

 

In Desoto's Ready Room, Will became very anxious.

"Captain DeSoto here."

Tang sounded a bit confused when he saw the captain of the Hood. "Is Riker there?"

"Yes, he is." Then DeSoto signal to Will that he could speak.

"Have you found them, Tang?" Will asked hopefully.

"No, sir."

Will's demeanor changed from the hopeful anxiety back to the original anxiety of the fearful unknown.

"I don't know if this bit of info will help any, but apparently your wife hired a shuttle here on Betazed off the record and no flight plan was recorded."

"How did you come by this information Lieutenant Tang, if none of this information is documented?" Asked DeSoto.

"Interesting you should ask that." Tang replied. "There are a number of free-lance shuttle pilots on Betazed that, for a price, will take anyone, anywhere completely and totally off the record."

"How the hell do they leave orbit off the record?" Will asked.

DeSoto signalled Will to calm down.

"Well, that I'm not certain of yet, but there were other free-lancers there that day that had apparently saw the diplomat's daughter."

"How reliable are these shuttle pilots?" Will asked.

Tang shrugged. "One takes their chances, I guess."

"Damn it!" Will exclaimed.

"Sorry I don't have anymore info than that."

Will look even more upset than before, but did not say anything more.

"It's OK Lieutenant. Keep us informed if you find out anything more."

"Aye, sir. Tang out."

 

"You want me to do what?" Deanna exclaimed her question. This Deanna had some graying in her hair and was much older.

"Well, I can't do it and I probably won't be as much of an attention getter as you would be." Said the older Riker.

"You've got to be kidding, Will."

"Deanna, I don't know what's going on with you, but something happened and I personally like this time line we're in." Will said.

"I'm not sure if we're really talking about me." Deanna said. "Are we?"

"Deanna, this is the wife of the Riker I went back in time to give a swift kick in the butt." Riker informed her. "Now, I maybe wrong, but it sounds like it's your turn."

"Will, surely you're not serious?" Deanna asked. "This is tampering with a time line and we're not suppose to do that."

"Not unless the Guardian of Forever let us." Will reminded her.

"That's only if time has been tampered with."

"Ah, but that's why we are going to Forever World to find out." Will said with a gleem in his eye. "If it has been, then the Guardian may let you through to fix it."

"And if it hasn't?"

"Then we're up shit creek without a paddle."

Deanna stared at him. She still had no idea what her Will was talking about, nor did she quite understand what was going on, except a younger version of herself was doing the strange and unusual for her.

"OK." Deanna said. "If you're right and the Guardian let's me, I'll see what I can do, but I'm not making any promises."

"That's all I ask, Imzadi."

"Will, are you sure you're alright?" Deanna asked.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You're begining to act a little strange yourself."

 

Will started pacing in the captain's Ready Room and was engrossed in thoughts of Deanna. "I wish I could get in her head and figure out what is wrong with her. Why would she just take off like this and where could she be going? Was she that upset with everyone that she felt she couldn't tell anyone? Damn it! I wish she would just contact me and tell me what's going on."

"I'm relieving you of duty."

"Huh? What?" Will asked.

DeSoto had been observing Will even before Tang signed off the communique. He realized Will was not going to be able to keep his mind on his duties and that was one thing they did not need right now.

"As of this moment, Lieutenant Commander Riker, I am officially relieving you of duty. You are not to leave this ship for any reason what so ever. Is that clear?"

"Aye, sir."

"You are free to go to the lounge or anywhere on this ship that does not include a duty station. You may call any family member on Betazed that you like, if you wish, but any official reports that come in concerning your wife and children will be made through me with me present."

"Sir, what am I going to do, except try and find out if any new information has been found?"

"Oh, I don't know. Try and smuggle a shuttle." DeSoto noticed the look Will gave him and added, "I've been a Federation Officer long enough know how officers work when they want to accomplish something bad enough and you look desparate enough to try anything you can. I am not going to allow any of my officers to pull any stunts that might get them in trouble."

"Sir, I."

"I have my reasons. Now go do something to distract yourself from the immediate situation or call a relative or friend. I don't care, just stop pacing in front of me. Dismissed, Lieutenant."

"I can proform..."

"Dismissed."

Will left without further argument and went straight to his quarters. "It's a cinch I"m not going to be able to stop thinking about Deanna and the twins. So, if I'm going to be off duty I might as well, be in my quarters."

 

"Will, I don't know about this." The older Deanna stated. "I can't jump through that. A million things could happen!"

"A million things could happen if you don't." Will stated.

Deanna shook her head. "Will..."

"Imzadi." Deanna looked at Will as he addressed her by the term of endearment. "You trust me don't you?"

"Yes, Will, but what does this have to do..."

As she gestured to the Guardian, Will interrupted her. "If you don't figure it out by the time you get back, I'll explain then." Will said. "Now go."

"How do I get back if I jump through that... that portal?"

"Don't worry, the Guardian will spit you back out."

"What? Spit me back out?"

Will shook his head. "Never mind, you'll get back."

"Come with me."

"Nope." Will said. "You have to talk to yourself, yourself."

"You're starting to make sense and that's starting to get scary in it's self."

"OK." Will said. "Watch the images and when you see yourself, jump in."

"Oh, right, and land ungracefully on my face with a mouth full of sand."

"Deanna, you're making this very difficult."

"If you're wrong..."

"If I'm wrong, then you'll have a mouth full of sand."

Deanna gave him a look of discuss and said, "Gee, thanks."

"Did you see yourself?"

"If I say yes, will you stop talking that way?" Deanna asked. "I'm starting to feel like I need to look up your diagnosis in the DSM-Ten."

"The what?"

Deanna shook her head. "A book of Psychological Disorders."

Will laughed. "Are you ready now?"

Deanna curled one side of her mouth and said, "As ready as I'll ever be to get a mouth full of sand."

Will then said, "Guardian, replay the last sequence of images."

They watched and Will said, "OK, get ready."

Deanna saw herself and jumped into the Gaurdian. The next thing she knew, she was on some shuttle and watching her sleeping younger self and her young twins.

She smiled as she looked at her babies. "It's been a long time since you two were that age." She thought. "And I'm guessing your. I'm, trying to get away from something I don't want to deal with, at least not yet. Little does your father know, I did run off, but not like this or this far. Mostly to the museum or those places I took him to when we met. Well, you two will hopefully think this is a dream and go on sleeping."

"Where is it you think you're going?" She sent to her younger self.

Her younger self stirred in her sleep like she were dreaming. "You're not dreaming." She said aloud, but not so loud she might wake up the twins. "Come on, wake up."

Her younger self awoke, sat up, and stared at the woman before her. Her mental blocks were down and she looked at the woman as though she were analyzing the situation and sensed her eyes were not deceiving her. "You're me, but older!"

"Quiet! You'll wake the twins." The older sent. "Yes, and no, you're not loosing your mind yet. Although, before your life is done you might think Will is."

"What? What's wrong with Will?"

"Nothing, really. I was joking." Deanna replied. "Oh, your Will is worried sick over you."

"He's too intent on breaking Kirk's record to worry about us."

"Actually, he managed to get Starfleet, along with your mother's help, to look for you three. He's even tried to get a shuttle craft to look for you on his own. Probably would have gone AWOL, if DeSoto wasn't experienced enough to know what goes through desparate officers' heads."

"He didn't get Starfleet to look for us, nor is he that desparate." The younger sent with doubt.

"You're a diplomat's daughter. It wasn't that hard."

Deanna got out of the bed and stood before the older one. "You've lived with your Will far too long, that you've learn how to be a damn good bluffer."

"Really? OK, you have established that I'm you, only older. If that's the case, you're empathic, you tell me. Am I really bluffing?"

The younger Deanna frowned. "OK, you're not bluffing. So why are you here?"

The older Deanna gave a small closed mouth smile. "Your husband's crazy older self insisted that it was my turn to go back to the past. Only, this isn't really the past I know since our older Will came back to the past before me and gave your husband a kick in the pants. So, I guess it's my turn, since he did that before me and change everything before you two got married."

"OK, so how do I know this is not some hallucination and I've develop a psychotic depessive episode."

The older Deanna thought for a minute. "I'd say, if you are able to ask yourself that question you've probably haven't, but if you insist on proof you are not in a psychotic depressive episode, I guess I could think of something to prove you are not."

The younger Deanna crossed her arms in a way that said, "OK, Prove it."

The older Deanna looked down for a moment and took a couple steps to the side of the younger and then looked at her. "OK, look at yourself. If you were in a psychotic depressive episode, would you be crossing your arms wanting proof you were not psychotically depressed?"

The younger one briefly thought, then sent, "Probably not."

"OK, now that is established." Sent the older one. "I have a question for you? Where in the universe do you think you are going?"

"I... I'm not sure yet. I thought maybe Vulcan or somewhere far from Betazed, but I'm just not sure yet?" The younger sent in reply.

"Then why are you out here in the middle of now where?"

"I.. I don't know."

"Oh, gods!" The older Deanna rolled her eyes. "I never dreamed I'd be having a counseling session with myself! But it would appear that I am."

The younger Deanna stared at her older self again, but said nothing.

"OK, let's start from the begining. What were you feeling when you left Betazed?"

"Well, I." The younger paused. "I felt like I had to get away. Be anywhere but where I was."

"Time to get the moat out of your eye."

"What?"

"You're a student of psychology. Is running from your problems and feelings a healthy way to deal with them?"

"Look, I don't need this from you!" The younger Deanna shouted into the older one's mind.

"Apparently you do or you would be talking to everyone you need to be talking to right now and handling your problems in a more appropriate way than disappearing like this."

"Why bother! Mother doesn't want to listen to me. She wants to control everything. Will wants to be out here and beat Kirk's record and not with us."

"So you feel if you go out on your own, then your feelings will be acknowledged. How can they be when it's just you and the twins?"

The younger Deanna just looked at the older one.

"I'm going to assume that your staring at me at key points means that something is getting through that thick head of your's."

"Oh, that's really professional, Older Deanna." The younger said sarcastically.

"That sounds a bit juvenile."

"Well, It's sounds like I'm nuts if I talked to myself."

"Fair enough. Would it help if I said call me Counselor?"

"Not really, but it will have to do. Gods, I still feel strange talking to myself."

"I assure you, you really aren't even though you are."

"That really helps." The younger Deanna felt she was about to cry again, so she turned her back to her older self.

"I'm sensing you are feeling very hurt."

"What gave you that idea? Past experience or your empathy?"

"You feel that if you had stood up to your meddling mother much sooner, Will would not have left. If you had been able to have been better in being a counselor, you would have been able to approach Will in a better way, that would have gotten him to talk to you and he would still be with the three of you. Which you know counseling skills has nothing to do with dealing with own family. You're to close to do that. As far as your mother goes, you did a better job and sooner than I did in my time line. Lastly, it takes time to be good at whatever you do, which as a student, is not enough time. That you should also know already, but I guess you threw the book out the window somewhere along the line."

"Ok, you seem to think you have me figured out. What makes you think Will cares more about us than beating Kirk's damn record?"

"Well, I've already told you, my Will went back in time to try and keep your Will from making the same mistakes again. That's a start. Then your Will took his advice and put his career on hold for a short time."

"OK, but he's back out there wanting to beat Kirk's stupid record and Mother is trying to be the queen of Betazed." Deanna sobbed softly.

"If you weren't more important than Kirk's record, and more important to your mother than her traditions, why would they have gotten so many people out here to look for you?"

"I've been travelling out here for almost six days now. I haven't seen anyone."

"No, if you're incognito, then the pilot of this shuttle doesn't know to tell a Federation ship that you're aboard, now does he?"

"No, he doesn't." The younger Deanna said, shaking her head.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know." She cried a little louder.

The older Deanna rolled her eyes. "Oh, gods! They're right! Next to doctors, psychologist are the most difficult patients to work with, especially if the psychologist is yourself. Well, I'm here until you go back where you belong or whatever and the Guardian spits me out."

"What?" The younger spins around with wide eyes.

"Yes, you're stuck with me, so unless you want them to wake up and see me, I suggest you work a little harder on figuring out what you need to do." Said the seasoned counselor as she points her head toward the twins and sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I for one don't want to be here when they wake up."

"They want to see their father." The younger one softly sobbed.

"So, I ask again, is leaving to no distination a logical course of action? Or is it a symptom of a problem that needs to be resolved?"

The younger Deanna refused to give an answer, so the older one continues. "OK, I have plenty of time. One problem though, this one is on house, so given that I'm working with myself and all I might get a little irritable after awhile and loose all professionalism. Unfortunately, at my age that could happen anytime now."

A growing sense of panic was developing inside of the younger Deanna. Not the panic of fear, but the panic that grows when one knows what they should do, but are not doing it because they are too scared to do it. So mustering up as much courage as she could, the younger Deanna goes to the front of the ship to talk to the pilot.

"Lay in a course for the Hood."

"Excuse me, Ma'am."

"I said, lay in a course for the Hood. It's a Federation ship."

"Yes Ma'am." said the pilot. "What do you want me to tell them when I get within their sensor range?"

"Just tell me and let me do the talking."

"OK, but that will be another 100 credits for the use of my communication system."

"I don't care, just do it."

"OK, whatever you say."

Deanna walks back to where her children were sleeping and starts to thought send to her older self, but she was gone. "Thank the gods, that session is over with and I pray I never have to go through another session where I'm the patient ever again." Deanna thought to herself.

"Imzadi, I'm fine and I'm coming to see you, soon." She sent, hoping Will's mind would be eased.

Chapter Thirty-six

"Ma'am, Can you give me an approximate idea where the Hood might be?" Said the pilot. "There's a million ships out there and looking for one is like, well, a needle in a hay stack."

She thought for a moment, but since she had not talk to Will she had absolutely no idea what sector or area he might be in. She shook her head.

"Well, does it have to be the Hood or could it be any Federation Ship I run into?"

"I really want the Hood." She informed the man. "But any Federation ship maybe able to tell us how to find it."

"May I ask why it has to be the Hood?"

"It's personal reasons." She informed him.

"Ah, must be a man."

She gave him a startled look.

"Nothing personal, Ma'am, but I've transported a lot of people and well, you just learn things a long the way." He said. "You know you are awfully mysterious. You haven't even told me your name. Mine's Morris, if that helps any."

She debated telling him, but finally said, "Um, Deanna."

Will Jr. tugged on her skirt. "Mama, when we gonna see Daddy?"

"Soon, hun."

"Ah, I was right. It is a man. You're a Federation family, huh. So, why did you hire me, why didn't you contact Starfleet?"

She was getting the feeling this man was a very nosy person and frowned. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"OK, suit yourself. I was just trying to make conversation." Morris said. Then he remembered that he had heard something over his comm about the Federation looking for a woman and two children. "What was the name? Dina, Dena, Dianna or could it have been Deanna?" He thought to himself.

"Mama, hungry." Said Kestra.

"You know where the food replicator is." Morris said to Deanna as he pushed some buttons on his console. "You know, most pilots charge extra for food and drink, but me, I see a woman traveling alone with children, I just include that with the cost of everything else. That's the only time I don't charge extra for food and drink."

"That's nice of you, but you didn't have, too."

"Oh, think nothing of it." Said Morris.

She got the children something to eat, while Morris continued to chatter away. She only half listened. Suddenly, Morris said, "Oh, oh."

Deanna sensed alarm from the man. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Klingons."

"What about them?"

"Well, I'm kinda on their bad side, in particular, a Duras family." Morris informed her.

"How did you get on their bad side?"

"Oh, now it's your turn with the questions, huh?" Said Morris. "Like you, I have a personal side too. Why don't you take the kids to the back and let me handle this."

Suddenly, Deanna had a bad feeling about all of this and she did not like it. Even so, she took the twins to the back of the shuttle as she was requested.

The Klingons had been hailing him when he told Deanna to go to the back and once they were in back he answered their hail. "Ah, Ursala and Bikker! Nice to see you two lovely sisters, again."

Lursa growled at him. "Moran! You know our names and we would take to you better if you would use them!"

"Our paths meet again." Morris said. "What is it you want this time?"

"Oh, you know what we want." Stated Lursa with a leer on her face. "We want the item you stoled from the Duras family."

"Are we still squabbling over that?" Asked Morris. "I mean, come on, it can't be that valuable."

B'Etor whispered something in her sister's ear. Lursa smiled. "Ah, this could be interesting." She replied to her sister.

"Seems like you've gone back to transporting people." Lursa said to him. "What? Did you stop smuggling stolen goods?"

"I'm not saying a word." Morris said defensively.

"Obviously the item that's been in our family for generations is not aboard your shuttle." Lursa said.

Duras came onto the bridge of the ship and pushed his way roughly past Lursa. "Tell us where it is or say that it's a good day to die!"

"Now, Duras. If you kill me you'll never find it, now will you? Besides, as you can see I have no weapons. A courtousy to the majority of people I transport." Morris asked as he surrepticiously pushed a button to send a coded message.

Duras growled. "Unfortunately, you maybe right."

"So am I free to go?" Morris asked with a bit of pride behind his voice.

"No!" Duras growled.

"OK, how about a deal?"

"I make no deals with theives!"

"Oh, such strong language." Morris said in a condensending manner. "I like to fancy myself as a connoisseur of fine treasures."

 

"Captain, we're receiving an encrypted distress signal."

Captain Zimbata looked puzzled. "Encrypted distress signal?"

"Aye,sir." said the officer. "Translating it now."

"This is very strange and unusual. Who the hell encrypts a distress signal?" Zimbata asks rhetorically.

"Shuttle pilot in trouble with a woman and two young children. No further information or names given, sir."

Zimbata stood up, slowly turned in thought and asked, "How far away is this shuttle?"

"Sir!" A young man with a visor over his eyes spoke.

"Yes, Ensign?"

"It appears to be a hunderd kilometers off our starbird bow and there's a Klingon ship within the immediate vicinity of the shuttle."

Zimbata said, "We definitely need to check this out. Helm, set coordinates for that shuttle and ship. From the brief discription we may have found the woman everyone is looking for. If were lucky."

"Should I signal the Hood?" Asked the communications officer.

"No, not until we're sure. I don't want to stir up any false hopes." Informed Zimbata.

 

Deanna sensed there was trouble and Morris was hiding something. She had not sense this before, so she thought it must be from the Klingons. She had heard parts of the conversation through the curtain that divided the front of the shuttle from the back of the shuttle and did not like what she had heard.

"Mama, we're scared." Will Jr. admitted.

"I know, but it's ok. We'll be fine."

In the front of the shuttle, Morris was still trying to talk his way out of trouble. "Duras, I have people I'm transporting here that have nothing to do with this matter. Why don't we discuss this at another time?"

"Why should I care about these people?" Duras spit out.

"Well, they are nice enough and have not bothered anyone that I know of."

"Duras." Lursa addressed. "He sent an encryptic message out within the last minute."

"Load phasers." Duras ordered. "I've had enough of this man."

Deanna sensed Morris's tension level rise and heard the Klingon. She was now wishing she had agreed to any Federation vessel they had stumble across and was now praying to the gods that any Federation vessel would come along.

Kestra and Will Jr. felt her tension and began to cry. Deanna pulled them closer to her in a loving embrass, but she could not ease their fears, for her fear was also great.

 

"Sir, the Klingon ship is powering their phasers."

"What's our ETA?"

"Less than a minute now."

"I see them, finally." The captain said as the two vessels start coming into view on the screen. "Hail the Klingon Ship and be prepared to beam aboard whoever is on that shuttle, just in case."

 

"Duras." Said Lursa. "We're being hailed by a Federation ship."

"I should go ahead and finish you now." Duras threatened.

"But you won't, because you have no idea who I may be transporting."

"I could care less about them." Growl Duras.

"I suggest you answer their hail, Duras. They are prepared to fire on us if you don't." Lursa informed him.

"URRRAH!" Duras growled. "ANSWER THEM!"

"This is Captain Zimbata of the Federation Ship USS Victory. Stand down your phasers!"

"Why should I?" Asked Duras. "This man has stolen from us and we want our property back and him dead."

"Obviously that shuttle is at a disadvantage to you and you are at a disadvantage to us. So, I suggest you stand down and we can discuss this."

"NO! WE WILL GET THIS MAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!" Then Duras turns to his crew. "FIRE!"

Deanna thanked the gods when she felt they were being beamed off the shuttled barely in the knick of time. However, the children had never experienced the sensation of being transported, so they became even more scared and cried louder.

 

Once on the transporter padd, Deanna began to soothe her children and explained to them it was alright. "We're safe now." She said.

As fast as she had gotten the children calm down, Captain Zimbata entered the transporter room. "Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Zimbata."

Deanna was not sure what to say. After a moments thought she said, "I'm looking for the Hood. Could you by chance assist me in finding this ship?"

The captain studied her for a moment. "I'm assuming you must be Mrs. Riker."

Deanna swallowed hard and realized her older self was right. "Yes, but I really would like to surprise my husband, if I could."

"Mrs. Riker, I don't know if you realize this or not, but there's been a search going on for you and I have to report that you have been found."

Deanna sighed. "So there's no way I can surprise him now."

Chapter Thirty-seven

"Mrs. Riker, with all the stress he's been under, I don't know why you want to surprise him."

"Well, he has waited this long." Deanna replied.

The captain sighed. "OK, I still have to report you being found, but I'll see what I can do aobut surprising your husband."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"In the meantime, Ensign LaForge will show you to your quarters."

"Thank you." Deanna smiled.

"Mama, he looks funny. What is that on his face?" Will Jr. thought to his mother.

"I think he's blind, hun." Deanna sent to her son.

"Essin LaFow, LaFore." Will Jr. looked up to his mother for the name, but LaForge understood.

"Yes, sir." LaForge said looking down at the boy and smiling.

"Was dat on your face?"

Geordi smiled. "It's a visor. It helps me see."

"Why?"

"Well, I was born blind."

"Why?"

"Will! That's enough." Deanna scolded.

"I wanna know why too, Mama." Kestra said. "Why you born blind?"

LaForge laughed. "They're at that age aren't they?"

Deanna sighed. "I'm afraid so."

"They're cute."

"Thank you. I apologize for their extreme curiousness. It seems to be a Betazoid trait."

"Nah," Geordy smiles. "It seems to be a quality of Starfleet officers. They'll probably grow up and join Starfleet like their father. Personally, I rather people ask questions than just stare."

"I can understand that."

"Well, here you go." Said Geordy as he shows them into the visitors quarters. "The food replicator is over here. You know how to work one?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Is there anything else you need?" He asked.

"Not that I can think of right now." She replied.

"Well, if you need anything just call us on the comm." He gestured to the panel near the door.

"Thank you. I will."

He then departed and Will Jr. exclaims, "Oh, wow! We on a starsip!" Then he rushes over to the window to look out.

The three of them spent the next twenty-four hours aboard the Victory. The children enjoyed every minute they were on the Constellation-class starship. "This is better than that shuttle, Mama." Will Jr. thought to his mother, before he went to sleep that night.

 

The next evening, Will was in the lounge having scotch on the rocks, again. He was on his third one for the night. "Where could she be! It's been more than a week now! I thought I had felt something from her last night, but I feel nothing, now. I know she's out there. Somewhere. She has to be."

"Hello again, Billy Boy." She said as she agressively sits herself down on his lap, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hi, a.." Will starts to say. "Um, I'd rather you not do that."

"Oh, but Billy Boy, I just want to take your mind off your troubles." She says as she strokes the side of his face.

"Look, really." He starts to stand up, but falls back down into the chair.

"Oh, I'm sure if you let me, I could take your mind off your troubles and we could have some fun."

"You don't give up do you?"

"No." Then she plants a kiss on his lips.

When she releases him, he had to catch his breath. Will was a little dizzy and he could not decide if it was the scotch or her kiss.

"Um, why don't you have a seat over there." He gestures to the chair across from him.

"Well, as long as I can have the presence of your company." She says, stroking his face again, as she gets up off his lap to sit in the chair.

Three hours later, Marie and Will were still in the lounge. By this time, Will had lost count of how many glasses of scotch he had had. "I think I need to go." Will informed Marie.

"Oh, Billy Boy." She gets up, walks over to him and plants herself on his lap. "Stay a little longer." Then she kisses him again.

 

Deanna and the children were back in the transporter room.

"Mama, dat's scary. Do we have to get on it?" Will Jr asked.

"Yes, Mama. Do we have to?" Kestra agreed.

"I assure you two, it's OK." She sits down beside them and continues. "It's another way to get from one place to another and it won't hurt you. In fact, if you try to enjoy it, instead of being afraid of it, it can kind of tickle."

Both their eyes got wide and they said in unison, "Really?"

"Uh, Huh." Deanna affirmed to her children with a smile. "Besides, I promise if you get on the transporter, you will be on your Daddy's ship next and you will see him soon."

Both of them smiled and took their places on the circles without further reluctance. Before they knew it, they were on the Hood and the two children squeelled with glee.

The captain of the Hood was there to greet them. "Hello Mrs. Riker. Children."

"Hello" Deanna said as the children said, "Hewwo." At the same time.

"I'll take you to your husband's quarters and then you all can be reunited shortly there after. At your request, Mrs. Riker, we have not yet told him, so that you may surprise him. I don't understand why you chose to do that, but I guess it's your decision."

"Thank you."

They were excorted to his quarters and then they waited there until Will showed up.

"We see Daddy, soon now, Mama?" They asked.

"Yes." she smiled at her children.

 

"I really need to be going." Will told Marie.

"I'll go with you!" She exclaimed.

"No, That's OK." Will staggered a bit getting up. Her being on his lap and the Scotch he had drunk did not go together very well.

She stood and followed him out of the lounge. As they walked she continued to paw him with her hands.

"Marie, please." Will slurred. "It's been a long day and I really want to go to my quarters."

"By all means! We can finish our little party there!"

"No, I have to get some sleep."

She leans on his shoulder. "Oh, Billy Boy, I'll make sure you're tucked in and sleeping like a baby!"

"Nice offer, but no." He said, trying to resist her advances. "How much more can a man take of this?" He asked himself.

He kept trying to keep her from leaning on him, but she continued to try and hang on him. They walked down the corridor to the turbolift and she continued her seductive pursuit of him.

They arrived at his quarters and the doors to his quarters open. Will walked in with Marie hanging on him and lipstick all over his face. Will's eyes got very wide at what he saw and he suddenly sobbered.

"Deanna!"

Deanna saw the lipstick on Will's face and the woman she remembered as pawing her husband years ago. Anger rose inside her.

"Daddy!" The children ran to him and grabbed his legs in a hug, where he stood, staring at their mother.

Will stared at Deanna in shock. "You're here!"

"Obviously you were not that worried about me." Deanna said in anger looking at Marie. Then Deanna started to walk out of his quarters.

"Deanna!" Will yelled after her. "Deanna, it's not what you're thinking."

She reels around. "Then why is there lipstick all over your face and she came with you to your quarters hanging all over you?"

"I, ah," Marie started to say.

"Yes, you'd better leave. Unless you want to be on the receiving end of a Betazoid woman's wrath, also." Deanna looked at her with distained.

The children were quiet, still clutching their father and watching everything that was happening. Marie, on the other hand hurried out of Will's quarters quickly.

"Deanna." Will started to walk over to her and hug her.

"Don't touch me!" Deanna recoiled.

"Honestly, Deanna." Will said. "She was just following me here. Nothing has ever happened between us and nothing was going to happen."

"How do I know that?"

Will sighed. Then he finally resigned himself to what it looked like it may have been that night. "You don't know and I can't prove it to you."

"I had hoped to surprise you, but it looks like the surprise is on me." Deanna said. Then she turns to walk out of Will's quarters.

"Deanna, where are you going?"

"To request the use of the visitor's quarters until this ship takes us back to Betazed!" She said as she walks out the doors.

"Daddy?" Asked Kestra. "What just happen?"

Will did not answer Kestra's question. He stood there and stared at the doors to his quarters in shock.

Chapter Thirty-eight

The captain knew Mrs. Riker was very angry about something. Even so, he could not understand why she wanted to be in the visitor quarters and not with her husband.

Captain DeSoto thought for a moment with his hands clasped together, first two fingers pointing upward on his chin. "Mrs. Riker, I don't know what problems you and Lieutenant Commander Riker are having and it's none of my business, but I think you two need to work them out somehow. I really feel that giving you the visitor's quarters is not the answer. I would not be doing you two any favours. At this point, I see no necessity in assigning you guest quarters."

"So, you're denying me the use of the visitor's quarters."

"Yes, ma'am, I am." DeSoto stated firmly. "Unless you can give me a legitiment reason for you to be in separate quarters. Besides personal reasons. That is not a good enough reason to use the extra resources on this ship."

"No, sir. I can't give you any other reason." Deanna replied. "I just feel our disagreements are significant enough for us not to be in the same quarters together."

"Well, then marital disagreements is not something I can approve separate quarters." DeSoto stated. "I think you two would be better off trying to work them out during your stay here."

Deanna frowned. "Well, thank you, sir."

Deanna started to leave when the captain addressed her again. "Mrs. Riker."

She turned back around to face him. "Yes, sir."

"I just wanted to tell you that you and Riker have two lovely children."

"Thank you." She replied with a smile. However, she sensed he had an ulterior motive for mentioning their children.

When she realized he was finished she departed from his office. She then begrudginly returned to their quarters. "Well, it looks like I'm stuck with him until we get back." She thought angerily.

Once she returned to their quarters, Will had the children in bed and asleep. He saw that she had returned and said, "Well, I thought you were going to see about different quarters?"

"I have nothing to say to you." She stated firmly and proceeded to arrange the sofa so she could sleep on it.

"Maybe you have nothing to say, but I do." He informed her. "Do you know what assume means?"

"If you mean make a judgement on something then yes." She said as she turned to face him. "If you mean something, else then I have no idea what you mean."

"When one assumes something they make an ass out of you and me."

"If that's a joke it's not funny." Deanna stated.

"Well, if you had opened your mind tonight, you might have sensed something totally different than what you did, but no. You've been closing your mind off to everyone, lately. Me, your mother, hell for all I know the children, too."

She stops what she was doing and looked him square in the eye. "And what's that suppose to mean?"

"You have been refusing to talk to anyone about why you are so angry lately."

"I am not angry!"

"You couldn't prove it by me." Will stated.

"I don't have to listen to this." Deanna said as she started to walk back out the door.

Will jumps to catch up with her. Then he jumps in front of her path. "Oh, no you don't. Not this time. You are going to stay here and at least listen."

Deanna crossed her arms and looked at him angerily. "OK, whatever it is you have to say, say it."

"I don't know what's going on between you and your mother, and I'm not sure why you became so angry about me wanting to return to a ship. As for tonight though, you've met that woman and you know how persistant she can be. Just because I returned to my quarters with her does not mean anything. If anything, she was insistant on coming with me."

"Oh, please!"

"You just happen to have seen her leaning on me and all, again. What you did not see was me trying to pry her off of me. Nor did you hear me telling her I'm a married man and that I wanted to return here by myself. Now you can assume what you want, but if you think about what you know about that woman and past history, you would know I am being honest with you. Now, you're welcome to join me or you can stay out here. Suit yourself." Then he started to leave the room for the sleeping area.

She stood and watched him start leave for the other room. She lowered her mental blocks and sensed his anger and frustration. "Will." She said softly.

He turned towards her. "You're right and I'm sorry." She said trying to keep from crying. "I've been upset about a lot of things lately and it was not fair to you that I just looked at the obvious intead of asking you about it first."

"Well that's a start." Will said.

"It's just before you left, you became so distant and no matter how hard I tried, you did not talk to me. You just kept all your thoughts to yourself and stayed up late staring up at the stars. Then you decided to come here without talking to me about it. You never asked how I felt or what I wanted. So, I just felt it was pointless to even try to talk to you after that."

"Deanna." He said with remorse. "I'm sorry if you felt like I wasn't wanting to talk to you."

"You just walked out and left us!" She shouted.

"Hey, I asked you to come with me." He said defensively.

"Yes, but you never even discussed with me what I wanted." Deanna said. "I tried to talk to you about returning to my studies and you refused to discuss it any further. You just decided it was discussed once and that was the end of it. Well, things do change, Will!"

"OK, I'm listening." Will said. "And if you want to go back now, that's fine. It's just, if you do go back, I think you need help with the children, so you are not burning the candle at both ends. Even if I was there, the need for help would still be needed. They can't stay in preschool all day."

"Well, I know you don't want Mother looking after them and neither do I." Deanna stated with anger as she added the last.

"No, but I don't understand why you are so angry with her."

"I really don't want to discuss her."

"Regardless, of how I feel, I've heard you have not been very nice to her lately." Will informed. "In fact, it would seem your mother and I have been getting along better than you have with her, lately."

"I said, I don't want to talk about her."

"I may not care for your mother's attitude sometimes, but I do care about how she is treated." Will said. "I want to know what you're taking out on her."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You're blaming her, aren't you?" Will asked.

Deanna just got quiet. "OK, fine." Said Will. "Then who are you going to get to help you with the children while you study?"

"I don't know yet."

"OK, you finish your studies then what are you going to do."

"You joined Starfleet to beat Kirk's record." Deanna said. "I want to join to be one of the best psychologists they ever had."

"Starfleet?" Will said in shock. "I had no idea."

"You never asked." Deanna informed. "Just as mother never asked. You just assumed that I'd spend five years at home with the kids and stay on Betazed."

"I'm not so sure it's such a good idea for the children to have us both..."

"There are several officers who have spouses in Starfleet and have children. So don't tell me what is a good idea or not a good idea!" She said with anger.

"I don't want to worry about both you and the children."

"Oh, please! What you do is even more of a risk then what I plan on doing in Starfleet."

"Alright, fair enough." Will said. "So while you are studying on Betazed and I'm here, how are we going to juggle the kids?"

"What?" Deanna asked.

"Well, I still want to be there for them, but I'm out here and you're on Betazed. Am I not going to have time with them while you're attending the University?"

"Really, you make it sound like we're..." She paused with a sudden realization. "We are going in two different directions aren't we?"

"I don't know, you tell me." Will said, still sounding a little angry.

Deanna looked some what confused for a few seconds. "You know, maybe we do need some time to think about things. Maybe everything was a little too soon. Maybe..." She shook her head. Tears were collecting into her eyes. "I don't know anymore about us. All I know is what I feel I need to do and you know what you feel you need to do."

Will walked closer to her, pulled her close to him and hugged her. Deanna laid her head on his chest and cried, as he kissed the top of her head. "Imzadi," Will said. "It's OK. We'll work through this."

 

A few days later, the Hood arrived at Betazed. As Deanna and the children were getting ready to beam down, Will said his good byes to the children. Then he faced Deanna. "I guess this is good bye."

"I don't like good byes." She said feeling a little uncomfortable and sad. "Why don't we say, until next time."

There was a brief pause in their conversation. Then Will said, "Well, good luck with your studies and you know you can also come and see me whenever you like. It doesn't have to be just the kids."

"I know." Deanna replied. "And you can see us when you like."

"Deanna, I feel like we're getting divorced, not separated." Will said. "Geeze! This is the most awkward moment I have ever had with you!"

"As you said, we will eventually work through this, but we agreed that for now, we need some time apart."

"And you don't think this isn't tearing me up inside to see you go your way and me my way?" He asked. "At least for a while."

"I know." She said sadly. "We're both hurting, but we agreed we need to find ourselves, before we can figure out how we feel for each other. Or even if we do feel the same way."

"Yes, but maybe we can do all this together."

"Not unless you want to be stationed on Betazed, for a while longer." Deanna said. "And I really don't think that's what you want either."

"No, I don't." Will said. "You were right. I do want to break Kirk's record still and I can't do that on Betazed."

"Well, I'll send the kids to stay with you in a couple of months." Deanna said.

"Deanna." Will placed his hands on her shoulders. "As I said, I would not mind seeing you, too."

"I know." Deanna said. "When there's a break in my studies. Of course, you do get shore leave from time to time. You could come and see us also. It's a two way street you know."

"Yes, you're right." He agreed.

"Well, Mother has been anxious to get her say in with me, so I'd better get down there." Deanna said trying to change the subject. "I don't relish listening to her, but I guess this will be my chance to get some things off my chest with her."

"If she let's you get a word in edge wise." Will joked.

"True." Deanna agreed.

"You know, Deanna, we may have agreed we need some time apart, but I'll still miss you."

Deanna felt tears well up in her eyes. "I'll miss you, too, but we have our paths to follow and whether or not the meet eventually..."

"Yes, I know. Only time will tell." Will finished.

"Daddy? Mama?" Kestra got her parents attention.

As Will and Deanna looked down at her, it was Will Jr. who finished the question. "Why don't you want to be together?"

With surprise on their faces, they both got down to the children's level and Will said, "Well, it's not that we don't, but we have things we have to do and we just can't be together right now."

"We don't understand." Said Kestra.

"What your father is saying, is we have to have some time out from each other so we can think about what we have to do."

"Like when Kessa and I fight, then you make us take time out?" Asked Will Jr.

Will replied with a some what of an embarrassed chuckle, "Yes, something like that."

Kestra holds her head down and says, "That's not good."

Will and Deanna then stood. Look at each other briefly, but they did not say another word to each other. Finally, Deanna turned towards the transporter padd. "Let's go, Will, Kestra."

The children looked at their father and said sadly, "Bye Daddy." Then gave him another hug and kiss, before they step on a circle on the transporter padd. "Mama, told us we have to stand on the circles." Will Jr. said with a smile.

Will smiled and chuckled. "Yes, that's right, son."

Then Will watched them beam off the ship. He felt an emptiness within himself as he watched Deanna leave. He did not know if they would ever recapture the feelings they once had for each other. He knew he still loved her and she loved him, but things had changed and now she was gone.

Chapter 26

It was the big day for Deanna and Will. Deanna was very nervous. As she
was getting ready for the ceremony, she was having a telepathic discussion
with her mother, Chandra and Chandra's mother.

"Mother, I don't know if I can do this." Deanna sent nervously.

"Oh, it's just wedding day jitters, dear." Lwaxana reassured. "You'll be
fine."

"Oh, yes," Chandra reaffirmed. "Remember how nervous I was the day of my
wedding?"

"How could I forget." Deanna sent.

"Oh, dear." Lwaxana sent with some disappointment.

"What's wrong, Mother?"

"Well, your band looks just fine, but you're showing just a bit."

"Mother!"

"Well, it could be because you are having twins." Lwaxana sent.

"I don't notice anything." Chandra stated.

"Oh, no you wouldn't, dear." Lwaxana stated. "A mother knows though."

"Mother, please." Deanna sent firmly. "Let's not go through this again.
I really don't think at this point it really matters."

"Lwaxana, she looks fine." Chandra's mother chimed in.

"Well, maybe you're right." Lwaxana replied.

"Really, Mother. I'm more worried about falling on my face than how I
look."

"Well, can you try holding your stomach in a little?"

"Mother!" Deanna said aloud.

"Yes, probably not." Lwaxana sent.

"Would you please give it a rest!" Deanna said with irritation.

"Lwaxana, really!" Chandra's mother said. "Stop worrying about it. It's a
time of celebration and sharing in harmony and unity. Not a time to worry
about whether or not she is showing!"

"Yes, I guess you are right." Lwaxana sent and began fussing with Deanna's
hair.

 

Will was also preparing for the ceremony. Garth Xerx came to check on him.

A few days before Xerx approach Lwaxana with the idea of he and his wife
filling in the part of Will's parents for Deanna and Will.

"Lwaxana, you know Deanna is like a daughter to me and Kyle Riker doesn't
appear to be coming." He spoke to her telepathically.

"Oh, just come out with it Garth." Lwaxana demanded.

"Well, I thought, my wife and I could be proxies for Deanna's ceremony in
place of Will's parents."

Lwaxana thought for a moment and then she agreed to the suggestion. Deanna
and Will also agreed to his suggestion when he posed it to them. Thus,
Xerx was taking the place of Will's father in the ceremony.

"Lieutenant?" Xerx said. "Are you about ready?"

Tang was taking the place of the best man. "He's got cold feet, Xerx."

"Cold feet?" Xerx exclaimed. "Lieutenant, I assure you it will be fine."

"Well, it's not that I'm afraid to marry Deanna." Will said. "It's my
outfit."

"Ah, I understand." Xerx said. "Well, Lwaxana insist it be a Betazoid
wedding all the way. When it comes to custom she never backs down. To the
letter all the way."

"I feel like I'm not only exposed mentally here, but physically, too."
Will said. "Like I have no privacy at all right now."

"Well, try and bare with it, son." Xerx said. "It's just for about an
hour and understand it's just symbolism."

"Oh, I didn't say I wouldn't." Will said. "And I do understand the
symbolic reason or at least the words. Just as you explained to me at
Chandra's wedding. It's to symbolize, physically and spiritually, there is
nothing to hide. That all are sharing in cooperation in the spirit of
harmony and unity. I have nothing to hide really, but it's just so damn
uncomfortable!"

Xerx chuckled. Then said, "At least you remembered and what about the
spiritual?"

"Well, I'm not very sure, but what I've learned from Deanna about Betazoid
cultural, it's very, what's the word?" Will paused. "What was it she
said about full communion? Oh, yes, one has to become one with their
environment. I am certainly doing that." He grinned.

Xerx then said, "I'm not sure if you are begining to understand us or not,
but you seem to take our ways fairly well. Regardless of how uncomfortable
you are."

"Trying to." Will smiled and looking at Tang he continues with a smile.
"As he says, 'It's all part of the service.' In this case, it's all part
of marrying the woman I love."

GONG!

"Well, there's our que." Xerx said with a smile.

"Yes, I guess it is." Will said. "I guess I need to get up the courage
really quick here, to walk out there so I don't end up upsetting some Troi
women."

"That's the spirit." Xerx smiled. "Ready Tang?"

Tang briefly looks down at himself, shrugs and says, "All part of the
service." Then proceeds behind Xerx.

 

Will entered and Mrs. Xerx followed, as the mother, trying to stop him.
Will had to ignore her and he kept walking toward the middle, trying not to
think about his nakedness. "Well," he thought. "At least this time I'm
not nakid." Then Xerx stepped into his path and held up his hand to stop
him. As tradition dictated, Will pushed him aside and took his place in
front of the minister who was holding the scroll in front of him.

The place was decorated with beautiful Betazed flowers and greenry. The
lighting enhanced the colours of the flowers and greenry and made them even
more vivid. This time, without a doubt, Will was sure these plants came
from the Jalara, for they looked exactly like the ones Deanna pointed out
to him and the thing that struck him as most touching was Deanna's
favourite was also there. Muktok. Will smiled as he noticed this little
added touch.

Then Lwaxana came in sobbing, very melodramatically. "She's playing it up
even more than Chandra's mother ever did, but that's my soon to be
mother-in-law." Will thought. Then waves of nausea hit him. "I think I'm
going to be sick!"

Then Chandra walked in and towards Deanna. She stepped aside and gestured
to her. With a big smile she said, "I summon you to the place of
marriage." Then Deanna rose and took Chandra's hand. They stepped up
beside Will and faced the minister.

"God!" Will exclaimed to himself. "She's even more beautiful than the
first time I saw her at Chandra' wedding!"

Deanna was radiant and glowing on the out side. She kept a smile, even
though on the inside she too, thought she was going to be sick. Her hair
was down, with the band holding it back in place and her curls were even
tighter than usual. She sensed Will's thoughts, briefly looked at him and
smiled. Then they both faced the minister.

The minister addressed everyone in traditional Betazoid language. Then he
looked at Will and Deanna. Since Will did not know the Betazoid language
fluently the minister switched to Federation Standard to address the couple.

Deanna and Will had prepared their wedding vows to each other.

Deanna faced Will and spoke first. "Imzadi, my beloved soul mate. I take
you to be my husband from here to eternity. My soul is your's forever, for
Imzadi is forever."

Will thought, "How can I top that?" Then looking at Deanna in her deep
brown eyes, he began his vow. "Deanna, my goddess, the one I deeply love
and cherish. I shall love and cherish you forever until death do us part."

After he said the words he kicks himself. "God! I sound so human! Not at
all in keeping with this ceremony!"

Deanna smiled at him and sent, "Imzadi, you are human. It's okay and it's
beautiful."

Then Will thought, "Can she do that in a room full of Betazoids in the
middle of this ceremony?"

Deanna continued smiling at him, until they turned back to face the
minister to listen to his finishing statements. At Will's request and
Lwaxana's final approval, he kissed the bride in traditional Earth custom.

 

The reception followed and everyone was fully clothed again. Will was
relieved, just as he was after the first Betazoid wedding he attended, to
have his clothes back. He wore his dress uniform to the reception and as
they entered the garden with the rest of their wedding party, there was a
burst of applause.

Will was begining to think this was a traditional setting for wedding
receptions. It was also decorated with the same plants that were inside
the chapel and the colours were just as brilliant. Will could not help but
think Deanna chose these plants to decorate the place due to their Jalara
experience together. He smiled broadly and with rememberance.

Lwaxana approaches him and boldly says, "I don't know why you are so self
conscious of your body, Will. You have a very nice one, I can see why
Deanna was so drawn to you."

Will blushed. "Mrs. Troi!"

"Oh, don't take it so personally!" She frowned. "The humanoid's body can
be a work of art and one's admiration doesn't have to have anymore baring
than when one looks at a painting."

Now Will felt he should be on display at the museum and this made him feel
very uncomfortable.

"Humans!" Lwaxana scoffed and walked away to chat with someone else and
get herself a plate of food.

"Will." He heard Deanna behind him and turned. "That was beautiful what
you said. At least to me and that's all that really matters, right?"

He puts his arms around her and hugs her. "Yes, it is." Then he looks at
her with a smile and kisses her.

"Oh, can't you two keep your hands off of each other for even a minute!"

It was Lwaxana's voice. Will raised his head, released Deanna and turns to
his mother-in-law. He did not say a word. Deanna on the other hand just
blushed, slightly smiled and sent, "Mother, please! It's our reception
and everyone can hear you!"

"Oh, so what lit..." she had a look of frustration "Why do I have to
break this habit? Anyway, who cares!"

Lwaxana went on her way and sat at a table to socialize and eat her meal.

"Oh, Deanna." Will noticed a particular plant again and pulled her over to
it. He then touched one of the flowers and shook it gently. The pleasing
sound came out of it as expected. "I noticed this during our ceremony.
Was it your idea?"

Deanna smiled. "It was one of the first Betazoid plants I showed you. I
felt like it should be here, as a symbolism, between you and me, of our
first date together."

He turned to her with a smile and gently caressed the side of her face.
"Oh, Deanna." Then he kissed her again.

Lwaxana noticed and placed in their minds, "Oh, will you two love birds
stop and get something to eat! You can't live on love alone!"

Deanna pulled back slowly and said, "She's right about that."

The two of them walked over to the table full of food, which was minused
the trout, to Will's thankfulness. They got their plates and sat down at
their place of honour. Everyone, it seemed, approached them and
congratulated them.

Deanna, to her credit of wanting Will's customs somewhere in the series of
events, had a traditional Earth wedding cake prepared for the reception.
When the two of them were ready, she dragged Will over to it.

"I'll need your help with this." She smiled and whispered to him. "I have
no idea how this is done."

He smiled and whispered back, "It's simple." Then he picks up the knife
to cut the cake. "Here."

She takes the knife by the handle and says, "Will, I don't..."

Will puts her hand over hers and they cut the cake together. "Now, you
take a piece of the cake and I take one too."

He hands Deanna one and gets one himself. "Then we give each other a bite
cake like so." Gives her a bite and then adds, "Only we do it at the same
time."

They proceeded to do so. Deanna was very awkward and nervous about it. So
nervous that some of the icing dropped onto Will's uniform.

Deanna was very embarrassed by this, grabs a napkin and apologizes
profusely. Will stops her from smearing the icing any further and says,
"It's ok." Then kisses her for the umpteenth time during the reception.

Will felt very proud that this day had come and he was very anxious to show
Deanna his wedding gift to her, but they first had to open some of the
gifts they had received from the guest. The most prominent ones at least.

Mark Roper was insistant that they open his gift first. It was a very
small box and would have gotten lost in all the other gifts, if it were not
for the brightly coloured wrapping he had wrapped it in. Inside to Will's
astonishment was a card that said, "You are now 200 credits richer, spend
it on whatever you wish as my wedding gift to you."

Will thought, "That son of a gun! He did! He really did it!"

Roper just smiled at him and said to both of them, "I hope you can find
something you like." Then to Will he said, "You are the big winner, Will.
She's a good woman, and you are very lucky to have won her heart."

Will caught the underlying meaning, but also Roper's sincere
congratulations. Deanna, then started to pick up the Xerx's gift, but
Garth Xerx stopped her. "Oh, no, no. Deanna." He said cheerfully with a
smile. "Save that one until you get home."

Not sensing anything else from him, she went on to open Chandra's and her
husband's gift. Then Tang's and finally, one of her mother's many gifts.

Lwaxana and Xerx, both sensed Will's anxiousness to leave so that he could
give Deanna's gift to her, so they both approached Deanna and Will.

"Deanna, Will." Lwanxana addressed. "Deanna really needs to get off her
feet. Why don't you two go on home and I'll have the rest of the gifts
delivered to the house."

Will smiles. "Yes, Mrs. Troi. That's an excellent idea, for I agree she's
been on her feet too long."

"Oh, good." Lwaxana said. "I'll let all the girls know she's ready to
throw the band."

All the young women gathered around, Deanna stood back and tossed the band
into the air for them to catch. They all scrambled for it, before it hit
the ground and finally one of the women came out victorious with the band.

Deanna smiles and Will approaches her. "You ready?" He asked.

Deanna smiles. "What is everyone up to here?"

"Oh, you'll see." He grins a mischievious grin. "You'll see."

Will guides he slowly off from the reception.

"Will?" Deanna said. "Our home is that way?"

"We're taking the long way home." He smiled and kissed her one last time,
before leaving the reception.

Chapter 27

"Will." Deanna said. "I am getting rather tired."

"We'll be there in a minute." Will responded with a grin. "Then you can
rest all you want."

"But we're no where near..."

"Here we are!" Will smiled as he gestured toward their new home.

"But this isn't..." Deanna started, then she smiles. "Will! You didn't!"

"Yes I did!" He said, happily.

She was staring at the outside of the house. "It's beautiful!"

"Wait until you see the inside." he smiled.

She started to rush in and Will stopped her before she got to the door.
"Wait right there little lady!" Will said playfully. "I have to carry you
over the threshhold."

"What!" She exclaimed, as Will scooped her up.

Will grunted slightly and thought, "She's a little heavier than I
remembered, but understandable."

"Don't you dare drop us!" She said with a giggle.

They went through the door of the house and Will gently places her feet
back on the floor and keeps her from loosing her balance. "Whoa!" Will
exclaims. "Don't fall over here!"

"This is so nice!" Once she recovers her balance. She forgets her
exhaustion and looks through the house excitedly.

She goes from room to room checking everything out. "And you have it
furnished already!" She exclaimed. "Will, how did you do all this in such
a short time and without me knowing?"

"It took a lot of help and a lot of work keeping your mother from spoiling
the surprise, but we did it."

"We?" She inquired.

Will clears his throat. "Well, yeah." He replied. "Garth Xerx was who I
got the house from."

She turns to him, puts her arms around him and says, "Well, it's
wonderful!" Then she gives him the most romantic thank you kiss Will could
ever remember getting. "So, when do we start our honeymoon?" she asked.

"Right now, if you like." Will said with a smile. Then looses the smile
and continues, "That is, if you're not too worn out from the rest of the
days activities."

Still having her arms around his neck she says with a smile, "I think I've
gotten a second wind." Then she proceeds to kiss him passionately.

After a few moments Will pulls back a little and seductively says, "Why
don't we christen the master bedroom?"

"Humm. Lieutenant Riker, are you trying to seduce your new bride?"

"Do I need to?" He smiles.

"No, but I like it." Then grabs him by the arm and a drags him to their
room.

Once in their room Will pulls her close and says, "Well, Mrs. Riker, how
do you like it so far?"

"Oh, Will shut up and kiss me, then maybe I can show you."

"Sounds like a plan!" He smiles.

Will drowns in excitement from her sultry kisses and lays her gently back
on the bed. They made unbridled love to each other until their energy was
completely spent, then they laid in each others arms in the warm afterglow.

Will finally speaks. "You know, you are the first pregnant woman I ever
made love to.

Deanna sits up and playfully throws her pillow at Will and says, "I better
be, Imzadi."

Will grabs her pillow and playfully tries to keep it from her, but she
finally retrieves her pillow and lays back down in Will's arms.

Will then asks, "Is it ok that we, um. I mean it doesn't affect the
babies does it?"

Deanna sits up again with disbelief all over her face. "You never seemed
concerned about that before."

"I know, but you weren't as far as you are now."

"I assure you, Will, it's ok." She said. Then adds, "In fact, I think I
enjoy it even more."

"Really?" Will asks. Then he pulls her down to him and kisses her.

"Except right now, I am tired." She states lying back down and pulls his
arm around her. "But I wouldn't mind cuddling."

They cuddled until they both fell asleep for the night, feeling very
content.

 

The next morning Deanna was outside looking over the place. Will steps out
and says, "Good morning. So what's on your mind?"

"Well, I was thinking about putting hedges along the front of the house and
flowers along the walk and a vegetable garden out back."

"Isn't that being a little over zealous right now?" Will asked.

"The garden can wait, but I really want the hedges and flowers in now."
She said. "I figure I could put a mixture of Betazoid and Earth flowers
along here. " She gesture to the sides of the walkway. "Unless you think
they are incompatable?"

"I wouldn't know." Will said with some concern in his voice, "Deanna, I
can find someone to put the hedges in, if you are really in a hurry about
it. Flowers too, for that matter."

"Oh, Will, the hedges would be nice, but I think I can manage the flowers
myself." Deanna insisted.

"Deanna, In case you have forgotten, you're pregnant." Will reminded.

"No! I am! I didn't know!" She remarked sarcastically, putting a hand to
her astonished looking face.

"I don't see how you can plant anything in your condition." Will said
trying to ignore her behaviour. "Sure, you maybe able to now, but
eventually you may not be able to get up off the ground once you get down."

Deanna smiles, pats him on the side on the face and says, "You worry too
much, Dear."

"Deanna," Will said firmly. "I'm only concerned for the three of you."

"Really, Will, we're fine."

"You may not be if you take on too much."

"Oh, alright!" She gave in reluntantly. "Find someone for the flowers,
too, Will. I don't care. I'm going to go lie down."

"You OK?" I mean, you just got up a couple of hours ago."

"I assure you, I'm fine!" She exclaimed. "I'm just tired, Will. All
pregnant women get tired."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that was it." Will said feeding off her
crankiness.

"Well, maybe I should get you a book to read up on it so you'll know."
Deanna angerily added. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go lie down."

Will follows behind her into the house and she turns abruptly. "Alone!"
Then walks towards their room.

"Gee, hormones are really over active today!" Will thought.

"I heard that!" She yells from their room.

"And so are her other senses, especially for an empath!" He thought again
to himself.

"Why don't you do something besides worry about me, Will!" She yelled
again. "Go back to work! Something! Anything! I don't care! Just let
me rest!"

"Gee, some honeymoon!" Continuing to think to himself as he angerily
walked out of the house. "I have a new wife, who's pregnant with hormones
working over time and doesn't even want me around. Now that's really fun!"

Chapter Twenty-eight

It was three months later and Deanna was obviously pregnant. She waddled
back home from her classes at the university.

"Why did I decide to take classes in my condition, again?" She thought to
herself. "I know we live practically across the street from it, but this
daily waddling back and forth is starting to get old, especially with all
these text padds."

"Deanna!" A gentle, but excited, mind brush of a familiar person entered
her mind.

Deanna turned, "Chandra!" She sent back. "What are you up to?"

Chandra caught up with Deanna and the two chatted as they walked.

"Well, I finished my last class for today. I got lucky. The class I have
at this time was cancelled." Chandra sent. "I was wondering if you and
Will would like to join us tonight for dinner?"

"Oh, that would be nice!" Deanna exclaimed. "I'll have to check with
Will, but I don't see at this point why we can't."

"Oh, good!" Chandra replied aloud. "This will be a wonderful anniversary
party, if you two come, then everyone who was at the wedding will be there
tonight!"

"Oh, yes." Deanna said. "It is your one year anniversary, isn't it?"

"Yes, and we are having a big dinner party for our celebration." Chandra
stated. Then asked with concern, "Deanna, you look awfully tired. Are
you ok?"

"Oh, yes." Deanna replied. "Long day. So, when are you and your husband
going to have children?"

"Soon we hope." Chandra replied.

"Well, I tell you, it can be tiring carrying this load around all day
long." Deanna said.

"I bet, especially with twins."

"Yes, well this is my stop." Deanna said stopping in front of her walkway.
"I'll tell Will you invited us and hopefully we will see you tonight."

"That will be nice." Then Chandra gestured at the house. "How do you like
the house?"

"Oh, I love it!" Deanna stated. "I do think it could use more of a
woman's touch, but Will worries about me over doing things while carrying
his children. So, I'm putting somethings off until after they are born.
Redecorating is one of them."

"Yes, men can be overly concerned." Chandra agreed. "Mine thinks, because
I'm on the go a lot and studying all hours of the night, that that's why we
haven't gotten pregnant yet. So he wants me to slow down and see if that
helps any. I say, if it's going to happen, it will and if not, it won't."

"Spoken like a true woman, Chandra." Deanna giggled. "Well, I guess I
better get in there. I sense Will is home early, for some reason, but that
will give me a chance to tell him about you two's dinner party, squeeze in
a nap and we can both be ready on time, hopefully."

"Yes, I can't wait to see you two there!" Chanda said elated, then she
continued her journey home.

Deanna walked into the house and as she walked through the house she
shouted, "Will? Will?"

"I'm out back hun." Will yelled back.

She walked out to the backyard and saw Will putting together some sort of
trapeze contraption. "What is that?"

"It's backyard play equipment for the kids." Will smiled.

Deanna looked at the pieces and what he already had together and could tell
it was of good size. "Don't you think they are a bit young for this?"

"That's the beauty of children." Will said with a smile. "They'll grow
into it before you know it."

"Yes, and in the meantime it will be collecting iron oxide."

Will looked at her puzzled. "I think you mean rust, and this is not steel.
It's titanium alloid.

"Still, Will, if they fall trying to play on it before they are old enough,
they could get seriously hurt." She stated. "Couldn't you find something
smaller and softer?"

"Deanna, if you worry this much before they are born about injuries, what
are you going to do when I teach them Fareezees Squares?"

Deanna's eyes got wide. "You will NOT teach them that game! They could
brake their necks!"

"Deanna, it's not that bad." Will said.

"Yeah? Will, you're insane! How many times have you dislocated your
shoulder playing that game?"

"It was just a dislocated shoulder. I lived." Will said firmly, then
kisses her. "And so will the kids."

"Will Riker! If you try to teach them that game, I'll have you committed
for psychological evaluation!"

Sarcastically Will responded. "Oh, look at this! Already she's trying to
analyze people, diagnose them and have them committed. And she's not even
a true counselor yet."

Deanna crosses her arms, frowns, and says, "Very funny."

"Hello!" Came Lwaxana's voice. "I sensed you two were back here and I was
right. Ugh! What is that!"

A disgruntled Deanna response, "Will's idea of backyard toys for young
children."

"I'm sensing a lovers quarrel here." Lwaxana said in a voice that sounded
like she was still trying to be cheerful. "Now you've only been married
for three months. You two should be elated still."

"Yeah, well," Will began with sweat running down his forehead. Wiping it
off with his sleeve and a tool still in his hand. He then continues
pointing at Deanna with the hand that had the tool, "She has hormones from
hell and I never know what mood she's going to be in one moment to the
next."

"Oh, she's just a typical pregnant Betazoid woman." Lwaxana said in her
daughter's defense.

"Actually, Will is insane!" Deanna exclaimed. "Fareezees Squares!
Please!"

"Fareezees Squares!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "They're just babies!"

"Not now!" Will said defensively. "When they're older! And how did you
get into this argument?"

"I'm their grandmother?" Lwaxana asked as though she hoped it qualified
her. "Why can't you think small? Like a rattle or a stuffed animal?"

Will threw down the tool. "I don't know!" He replied in irratation.
"Maybe I'm just an overzealous father!" Then he walks into the house
without another word.

Deanna and Lwaxana looked at each other as though they could not believe
his response. Lwaxana finally speaks, "Oh, never mind him, Deanna. I'm
sure he'll get over it. Anyway, I came by to see if you two are going to
Chandra's dinner party tonight?"

Deanna sighed. "I don't know. I haven't had the chance to discuss it with
him. I came home and saw that mess and well..."

"What's wrong, Little One?" Lwaxana asked sympathetically.

"It's nothing. Really, Mother."

"Oh, don't give me that." She sent slightly shaking her head. "I'm your
mother. I know when there's something wrong."

"I know he loves me, but it seems lately we've been arguing about the
children a lot and they aren't even here yet." Deanna informs her mother.
"We just have different opinions on how to deal with them. Take this
thing, for example." She gestured at the backyard equipment.

Lwaxana frowns and again slightly shakes her head. "He's just a man. Most
men have problems thinking about how to play with babies. It'll be
alright. I assure you."

"I hope you're right, Mother." Deanna crossed her arms again and looks
toward the house, sadly.

 

Deanna did find a calm moment to talk with Will about the dinner party and
later that evening they were sitting at one of the tables in Chandra's
backyard eating dinner. As with many Betazoid get togethers, there were
lots of people and a fine array of food and drink. Soft music was playing
in the background.

Most were talking telepathically as Will watched the crowd of people. He
felt rather alone in the crowd.

Deanna sensed Will's feelings and reached over to Will's leg under the
table and rubbed it. "You're awfully quiet tonight."

"Who me?" Will asked. "I'm just enjoying myself." Then Will smiled.
"And enjoying the company of my radiant wife."

Deanna giggled. It was a far cry from the earlier scene they had and she
was rather glad that it was. Then she got serious and asked, "Really,
Will, are you still not use to conversations here?"

"Well, yes and no." Deanna looked at Will as though she did not
understand, so he clarifies. "In smaller groups it seems fine, but in
large groups, I kind of expect a little more noise. That and I feel left
out of conversations in situations like this."

Deanna still having her hand on his leg rubbed it again, but this time it
was in sympathy and not as an attention getter. She could understand how
he could feel left out of the party in such a circumstance.

Then Garth Xerx walked over and asked, "May I sit with you two?"

Will smiled. "Oh, yes. Please do join us."

He sits down at their table. "I didn't mean to intrude on you, Will, but I
sensed you felt left out."

Will wiggled in his seat and thought, "Between you and Deanna. The local
psychologists."

"Oh, I didn't mean it the way it sounded, Will." Xerx said sensing his
discomfort and of course his thought, but trying not to let on that Will's
thought came through loud and clear. "I just thought I would come over
here and keep two friends company."

"That's very nice of you!" Deanna chimed in with a smile.

Will looked at Xerx for a moment and could tell his friend was sincere, but
he had no idea what to say now that someone was communicating with him.

Then Will smile and said to break the silence, "Thanks, Xerx. I
appreciate that."

"So, are you two enjoying the food?"

"Oh, yes!" Will smiled as Deanna said "yes" in unison with him. "I wish
I could compliment the cook."

The music changed tempo, slightly and got a little louder. People started
dancing to the music as it played.

Will looked over at Deanna and then stood with his arm extend so Deanna
could latch onto it. "Would you like to have this dance with me?"

Deanna smiles, takes his arm and says. "Why yes! I would."

Then they glanced at Xerx. "Oh, you two go ahead. I'm sure I can find my
wife somewhere around here and we can cut a rug, also, as you Earth people
say." He said shooing them away with his hand.

Will laughs. "Xerx, I hate to say this, but that is a very old term."

"It is?" He asked. "Well, what other terms are there?"

Will was still laughing. "To many to tell you right now, for time's a
wastin' and I would love to dance with my lovely wife."

"Yes. We'll talk later." Xerx said and got up to look for his wife.

Will and Deanna join hands and Will tries to pull her in close. However,
Will felt a little distanced from her so he jokes, "Well, I guess we can't
dance as close as we use to for a while, huh? The children want to dance
too, I guess."

Deanna laughs. Then Lwaxana approaches them. "Will Riker, don't over
exert Deanna in her condition! She probably shouldn't be up dancing
around, anyway."

"Mother, please." Deanna begged. "Now you're doing it too and Will and I
are having a lovely evening together."

"Doing what?" Lwaxana asked.

"Being overly concerned for me and my "condition"." Deanna replied.
"Really, I'm fine."

"I'm just concerned about my grandbabies." Lwaxana stated. "I don't want
to see you end up falling just because HE wants to dance."

Will had no idea what to say. He just stood there dumbfounded and thought,
"Just when I was having fun with my wife."

"Well, you becareful and see that you don't have too much fun out here."
Lwaxana responded to his thought. "At least one of us is seeing to Deanna
and the babies' wealth fair! And by the way, aren't you keeping her up
awfully late for her condition, too? Well, she really should be in bed
sleeping this time of night!"

"Mother, you wanted us to come, too." Deanna reminded.

"Yes, but I never thought Will would have total disregard for your
condition." Lwaxana stated. "I thought he would be considerate enough to
see that you were well taken care of! But no, he has you dancing and out
very late!"

"Mother!" Deanna scolded, softly. "You're making a scene."

She was right. Everyone was looking in Lwaxana's general direction.
Lwaxana looks back at everyone and says, "Well, can't a soon to be
grandmother be concerned about her grandbabies?" Then she sticks her nose
up in the air and walks off.

"I'm sorry, Will."

"It's ok." Will reassured and kissed her forehead.

"Maybe we should tell Chandra and her husband goodbye and go home for the
evening." Deanna suggested, then added, "Before Mother makes another
scene."

"OK" Will said. "If that's what you want to do."

"Yes, I really don't want my mother informing us about what we should or
should not be doing while I'm pregnant in front of everyone, again."

Will did not argue as Deanna took him by the hand to find Chandra and say
goodbye.

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Will." It was two o'clock in the morning and Deanna was trying to wake
Will. She was ten months and three days.

"Will." She said again.

"Huh?" He said half awake.

"It's time."

"What!" Will's eyes flew open.

"It's time." She said a little louder.

Will jumps out of bed. "We've got to get you to a medical facility now!"

"Well, it's not that far and I timed them at fifteen minutes apart."

"Fifteen minutes! We have to hurry!"

"Will, you're half dressed!" Deanna told him. "I really don't think you
want to go like that. It's not very becoming of a Starfleet officer."

"I don't think I need my uniform for this."

"No," Deanna said. "But I do think you need some clothes."

Then Deanna suddenly cringed with a labour pain. "Huh!" It wasn't a loud
sound, but enough to get Will's attention.

"Are you going to make it?" Will asked.

"Yes, it's not that bad."

Will got Deanna's bag and got her to the nearest Medical Center. Lwaxana
had met them there.

"Mrs. Troi?"

"Yes, it's amazing what a mother can sense, isn't it?" Lwaxana explained.
"This is a joyful moment and experience!"

"Mother!" Deanna said with pain in her voice. "If you call this a joyful
experience then you are NUTS!"

"Deanna, I'll let that one go since you are in labour." Lwaxana said with
a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Deanna was prepped for labour and placed in the birthing chair.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" She screamed. Will was right by her side.

"That bad?" He asked.

"That bad?" She screamed at him. "You try pushing a watermelon out of
your penis and see how you feel!"

"Will, you're not helping." Lwaxana frowned and pushed her way past him.
"Let a mother take over. Mother's generally know what they are doing."

"Right! Mother, you couldn't help if you tried!" Deanna said crankily.
"You rarely even lift a finger in the kitchen!"

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "I am just trying to help! Now why
don't you try breathing."

"Why don't you try not breathing for a change, Mother!" Deanna said and
screamed in pain again.

"I think it's time for some pain medicine." The doctor stated. "An
epideral maybe. Women's personalities do change drastically when in
labour."

Deanna just looked at him then screamed with another contraction.

"Deanna, your mother is right." Will said. "You need to try to breath."

"And why don't you try to be quiet!" she said. "You should taaaaaaalk!"
She screamed. "You put me in this condition! You can give birth to them
for all I care!"

Lwaxana replied, "Now Little One, it took two and you know it and it's
just not possible for him to give birth now is it?"

"Mother!"

"Yes, Little One?"

"Don't call me Little One! I'm giving birth here, for gods saaaaaaaake!"

"You know, Lit." Lwaxana started. "Deanna, I'm letting all this go
because you are in labour. Otherwise I would be having words with you,
right now."

"Mother! Out!"

"What?" Lwaxana asked in shocked.

"Get out!" Deanna said. "You're not helping!"

"Deanna, I was just.."

"You were just nothing! Out!"

"Deanna." Will said. "Your mother is trying to help in her own way."

"And yoooooou!" Deanna screamed with another contraction. "GOOOOOO!"
Pointing at a corner.

"I'm now a leiutenant commander and she's throwing me into a corner?"

"Yes!" she said. "GO!"

"Don't feel so bad, Leiutenant. Your wife maybe throwing you into a
corner, but me, her mother! She's throwing completely out!" Lwaxana said
indignant.

"Mother!"

"Yes, dear?"

"OUT!" She screamed with another contraction.

Lwaxana looked at Will. "She's serious!"

"Don't look at me." Will shugged. "I'm in the corner."

Lwaxana walked out of the door feeling dejected, but she stayed near by the
room, just in case Deanna changed her mind.

"Not much longer." Stated the doctor. "She's dialated seven centimeters."

"AAAAAAH!"

"OK" said the doctor. "It's almost time to push."

Will speaks again. "Did you hear, Deanna. The first one is coming soon."

"Haaa! What do you know?"

"Well, the doctor just..."

"Screw the doctor!" She said and another contraction came.

"Alright, push!"

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

"You have to breath, Mrs. Riker."

"Right!" She yelled angerly.

"Deanna, " Will walked over to her. "You really do need to breath. Let's
try it together and see if that helps." Then Will makes breathing noises.

"Will!"

"Yes, Imzadi."

"First of all, don't Imzadi me!" Deanna shouted. "Second, AAAAAAAH!"

"Push." Said the doctor.

Deanna screams, "It hurts!"

"Push!" Will couched.

"Screw you, too, Will Riker!" Deanna said to Will.

"Sorry, I could almost comment on that, but I won't in this time." Will
said trying to hold back his laughter.

"Good, because I don't want to hear it right now." Deanna said. "Because
YOOOOU!"

"Time to push, Mrs. Riker."

"DID THIS TOO ME!"

"I can't argue with that." Will replied with a smile, still trying not to
laugh at what his wife was saying. "Now push."

Fifteen minutes past and Deanna was getting very tired. She had sent him
back to the corner once again, but now she was wanting him near her.

"Will, Imzadi." Deanna reached for him.

"Am I out of the corner for good this time?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." She said with regret in her eyes.

He kissed her on the forehead. "It's ok. I can't say I really understand,
but I.."

"AAAH!" She let out a tired scream of pain.

"He's almost out." The doctor said. "Now push."

"I can't." Deanna said tiredly. "I'm too tired. The baby can come out on
his own."

"Deanna!" Will said firmly. "Push!"

She tiredly complied.

"OK." the doctor said. "You can stop pushing.

Deanna let out a sigh of relief. "Where's Mother?"

"Remember, you threw her out of the room?" Will replied.

"Yeeeeeesss!" She let's out another scream of pain. "Get her!"

"Push, one more time." Said the doctor.

Deanna did and a loud "WAAAAAAA!" Came from the baby.

Will got Lwaxana, who had been standing outside the door.

"It's a boy!" Announced the doctor.

"Oh, do becareful with him!" Lwaxana demanded as she fretted and followed
the nurse, who was cleaning the baby, around.

"Mrs. Troi, if you don't let us do our job here, I'll throw you out
myself." The doctor warned firmly.

"I'm Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Five House of Betazed." She said
insulted by the doctor.

"I don't care if you are the Queen of Egypt. I'll still throw you out, if
you don't let us do our jobs."

"AAAAAAAH!"

Will got to her side quickly and Lwaxana turned and walked quickly over to
Deanna.

"This one is following quickly behind!" Said the doctor.

"No, no. This one can give birth to itself." She said tiredly. "AAAH!"

"Time to push!" Said the doctor.

"No, I can't." Deanna said again tiredly.

"Push!" Will ordered.

Again Deanna complied and let out a sigh of exhaustion when she stopped
pushing.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana smiled. "You're doing well."

"Mother, please." Deanna was exhausted and it could be heard in her voice.

"Mrs. Troi." Said the nurse.

"Yes?" Lwaxana turned to the nurse.

"You want to hold your grandson, since the mother is kind of busy?"

"AAAH!"

"Push!"

"Oh, yes!" Said Lwaxana excitedly and took the baby from the nurse. "He's
beautiful!"

"AAAH!"

"Push, should be the last time." Stated the doctor.

"That's what you said a few minutes ago!" Deanna said tiredly.

"Push, Deanna." Will coached.

"I can't." Exhaustion filled her voice.

"Oh, yes you can, Lit."

"No." Deanna whined.

"Push!" Will coached.

"WAAAAAAAAA!"

"It's a girl!" The doctor again announced.

"Huh!" Deanna sighed. Then she fell quickly off to sleep due to
exhaustion.

The nurse handed the baby girl off to the father and he turned to offer the
baby to Deanna, but noticed she was asleep. So he addressed Lwaxana.

"They're beautiful!"

"Yes, they are." Lwaxana agreed with a smile, still holding her grandson.

"So," The doctor addressed them. "What are you going to name them?"

Will tilted his head toward his son. "William T. Riker Jr." Then tilted
his head to his daughter, "And Kestra Deanna Riker."

"Kestra, that was Deanna's sister's name." Lwaxana replied with a tear in
her eye.

"We know." Will smiled at her.

 

Will stayed by Deanna's side and several hours later she finally woke up.
Will was holding their daughter by this time.

"You still here?" She asked.

"Yes." Will smiled.

"Did Mother go home?"

"No, she went down to demand better food service, I think." Will replied.

"She didn't!" Deanna exclaimed.

Will chuckled and tilted his head a little one way and then the other. "She
complained something about the food service before she left out of this
room."

Deanna sighed, then asked, "Who do you have bundled up there?"

Will brought her over to Deanna and place her in Deanna's arms. "Kestra."

"She's beautiful!" Deanna exclaimed.

"She looks just like her mother." Will replied and kissed Deanna on the
forehead.

"Where's Will Jr."

"Right here." Will walked over to one of the baby beds and lifted Will Jr.
out of it. Then he showed Deanna their son.

Deanna smiled. "And he looks like his father."

Will leaned over and gave his wife a long passionate kiss. Then he said,
"We make beautiful children don't we?"

"Yes, we do." She smiled, then playfully grabbed him by the collar. "But
don't think you're getting anymore, anytime soon."

Chapter 30

The twins were now one year old and also talking, babbling, and toddling
around. Will did not want to have the traditional betazoid gathering for
the twins' birthday and Deanna had agreed with him. Instead, they had a
small get together of their grandmother, Chandra and Teb. Will was really
not thrilled about Lwaxana being there, but she was their grandmother and
so Will allowed her to be there.

"Really, William Riker!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "You are neglecting their
social development, by not having a Betazoid gathering! You know we like
large crowds of people when we get together and you having a small group of
people for their birthday is just neglect!"

"Mother, please. I really don't think that is Will's intent." Deanna
stated. "After all they are just babies and they really don't need all
that stimulation."

"Oh, please!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "They are also Betazoids."

"Only 1/4, Mother." Deanna reminded. "The other 3/4 is Human."

"Yes. Don't remind me." Lwaxana said with an arrogant attitude.

Deanna and Will frowned at her statement. Will was about to say something,
but Deanna stopped him. Now, it was Deanna's turn to get a look from Will.
His looked basically said, "We'll discuss this later."

Deanna sensed his irritation with everything and so did Lwaxana. "Well, if
you want to say something, don't let Deanna stop you!"

"It's not important." stated Will.

"If wanting to tell me that being Human is not that bad and to butt out is
not important, then why did you think it?" Lwaxana asked.

Will was ready for his mother-in-law to go home. Luckily, before Lwaxana
could comment on his last thought, Chandra changed the subject.

"Teb and I have a big announcement!" She boasted cheerfully.

"Oh, we know already." Lwaxana said still irritated with her son-in-law.
"Your pregnant and we're all very happy for you."

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra said with resentment. "I really wanted to announce
it myself and next time I would appreciate it if you would allow me to say
what is on my mind."

Sensing her mother was about to explode on Chandra next, Deanna replied,
"That's wonderful, Chandra!"

"Listen young lady," Lwaxana retorted. "Have you forgotten that I am the
Daughter of the Fifth House? You need to show some respect!"

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra starts to remind her.

"Mother, Chandra." Deanna started. "Please, it's the babies' birth..."

"My mother is the Daughter of the Eighth House." Chandra stated.
"Regardless, I was still trying to be respectful and still state my
feelings. I apologize if you can't handle it."

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana said, taken aback. "I will inform your parents of
your attitude!"

Lwaxana then departs with anger, while Chandra says quietly to everyone
else, "My parents will probably get a laugh out of it."

Then everyone giggles and Lwaxana sends to Chandra, "We'll just see about
that!"

Chandra paid no mind to what Lwaxana sent to her, but instead went on about
her being pregnant. "We are so happy about this and can't wait for the ten
months to be over with."

"I'm sure you can't." Said Deanna. "I remember how I was with the two of
them."

"Well, Teb and Chandra," Will began all smiles. "Congratulations! And
thank you Chandra, for getting my mother-in-law to leave. Cake?"

"Will!" Deanna said while poking him in the ribs.

"Ow!" He said in response. "Well, you have to admit, she was striking a
nerve with everyone of us."

"That may be, but you don't have to enjoy it so much, when someone succeeds
in getting Mother upset enough to leave."

"Moi? Enjoy it? Whatever gave you that idea?" Will said teasingly.

"Cake!" Will Jr. said.

"Oh, Will." Deanna said with a little chuckle in her voice. "Just cut the
cake and let the children have some."

"Cake!" Echoed Kestra.

Will looks at his children and smiles. "Sounds like the natives are
getting restless. Maybe you're right. I do need to cut the cake."

"Cake!" They both said in unison.

"Oh, righty!" Said Will to the twins and gave them both a piece at the
same time. He had learned long ago that if he did not give them both
something at the same time the other threw a fit. So he made it a habit to
give things to them at the same time.

Later, that evening, when the twins' party was over and they were in bed
sound asleep, Will was out back looking up at the night sky. Deanna sees
him, walks out and puts her arm around his arm and then lays her head on
his shoulder.

"Will?"

"Hum?"

"Is something bothering you?"

Will looks down at Deanna. "Oh, no. It's nothing. Just looking up at the
stars and enjoying the night air."

"You miss it don't you?" Deanna asked.

"Miss what?"

"Being on a starship."

"Maybe a little." Then turns towards Deanna, wraps his arms around her,
holding her close and says, "But not nearly half as much as I would you and
the kids if I were up there."

Deanna smiles. "Yes, but you still wish you could be up there."

Will did not deny it. "A part of me does, yes, but only if I could have
you and my children with me."

Deanna's expression changed. She worried about the part that wanted to be
on a starship and flying through the stars. She worried that there could
come a day that part of him would desire to be up there, more than down on
Betazed with his family. She clung to him tighter and hugged him.

Will noticed her expression changed just before she hugged him. "Hey,
Imzadi. My goddess of the moon. I could never give up my family to be up
there."

"You know," Deanna began softly. "Things are changing. Some ships are
starting to have families aboard."

Will pushes her back a little, but did not let go. "We discussed this
already. We decided it was best we stay on Betazed until our children were
much older."

"But you're not happy here." Deanna said.

Will pulls her close again and says, "Deanna, I am very happy here with
you three. It's your mother that bothers me."

Deanna pulls back and releases him. "That reminds me. Why do you find it
so hard to keep from wanting to say something to her that you know would
start an argument between you and her?"

Will shakes his head. "Maybe the children come by their stubborness
rightly. Maybe we all three are stubborn and hard head. One thing I know
for sure is your mother and I are both very opinionated and sometimes it
just strikes a wrong chord."

"Can't you let somethings go?"

Will shakes his head again. "Not when it comes between how you and I agree
to raise our children. Then it just irks me when she criticizes Humans.
Think how it could affect them."

"Will, you know she doesn't mean anything by it."

"Does she?" Will asks. "I sometimes wonder how it affects you even, when
she says things about Humans likes she does."

Deanna looks down to the ground forlornly. "I've learned not to let it
bother me."

"Have you?" Will asks, then continues, "After all, it was you who
reminder her that our children are more Human than Betazoid."

"That was just a statement of fact!" Deanna said defensively, while
raising her head up to look at him. "It meant nothing more!"

"Didn't it?"

"Will Riker! If you're insinuating that I have learned to be ashamed of my
Human side, you're wrong!" She said angrily and still defensive.

"Am I?" Will asked.

"Yes you are!" Deanna said with a lot of wrath. "To say that I am, would
mean I didn't appreciate my father for who he was and I resent that
greatly. It also says something about how I feel about you and my
children. I also resent that!"

Now Will was on the defensive. "I was not trying to insinuate that at all!"

"Weren't you?" Deanna turns and walks angrily back into the house.

Will sighs and thinks, "Oh, Imzadi. What happened?"

 

A little while later, Will walks back into the house only to find his
pillow and a blanket were on the couch. "Well, I don't need to be
telepathic to know what this means." Will thought to himself. Then laid
down on the couch and pulled the cover over himself.

Deanna was in her room. Her eyes were red with tears. She thought to
herself, "He is my Imzadi and I love him greatly. I know he loves me, but
were we really ready? Was I really ready? Maybe he's right. Maybe I have
learned to be ashamed of my Human side and that's not something I want my
children to learn."

She sat on the edge of her bed and sent out to Will, "Oh, Imzadi. If you
can hear me, I'm sorry." Then she laid down and tried to go to sleep, but
sleep was not forth coming.

Will stirred as he tried to sleep, but he did not quite hear her. Only
felt the distant touch of her presences and that was all.

Two in the morning rolls around and the two of them receive a wake call,
even though neither of them were really asleep. First Kestra cries and
then Will Jr. follows suit, in empathy for his sister. Both Deanna and
Will go in to check on them and soothe their cries.

After the twins were asleep again, Deanna turns to Will, with a sad
apologetic look on her face and touches his cheek. "Imzadi," she says,
"Come back to bed. I need you to just hold me."

Will smiles and goes with Deanna to their room and cradles her in his arms
the rest of the night.

Chapter 31

"I can't believe it!" Will said the morning of their anniversary, then he
gave his wife a playful kiss. "We've been married 2 years."

Then he starts to nibble on her ear.

Deanna giggles and then they hear Will Jr. calling "Mama".

Will continues his anniversary wake up call with Deanna, by giving her
gentle love bites on her neck.

She then adds with a laugh, "Yes, and even at nineteen months Will Jr.
seems to want me first thing in the morning, too." Then she starts to get
out of bed.

Will tries to playfully keep Deanna to himself by pulling her back down
onto the bed. With a smile he says, "He'll have to wait his turn."

"Mama!"

"I don't think he's going to agree to that, Dear." She said, giggling
again.

"Mama!"

"Yeah, I think you're right." Will said, giving into his son's desire for
the woman they love.

"Dada." Came Kestra's voice.

"Well, there's a consolidation." Deanna said teasingly. "Daddy's little
girl wants him, this morning."

They laughed and both got up to attend to the children.

As they attended the children Will talked about the event of the evening
that Lwaxana was throwing for them. He was not happy about it.

"Deanna," Will said. "Why does your mother feel the need to go through
all this trouble for us?"

"Well, it is our second wedding anniversary."

"Yeah, well, hasn't she heard of taking the kids off our hands and letting
us go out for a quiet dinner, just the two of us?"

"You know how Mother is." Deanna stated. "With celebration comes a
traditional gathering."

"Well, she did that last year." Will whined. "You would think she would
let us have this year to ourselves."

"Will," Deanna said as she walked with Jr. in her arms to the kitchen.
"Get use to it."

"Oh, yeah." He said following her to the kitchen with Kestra in his arms.
"I'm suppose to get use to Lwaxana's behaviour and large crowds? Crowds of
people who rarely talk with their mouths unless it's to a non-telepath, for
that matter?"

Deanna turned suddenly, "And what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, if you understand what's being said, but I don't and probably
never will."

Deanna gave a loud sigh as she turned back to the food replicator. "2
Milks, warm." Then she turned back to Will looking at him firmly and sent,
"You've learned to understand me."

"Yes, but you're different." He said with a smile. "You're my Imzadi."

"And that's suppose to make a difference?" She said aloud while taking a
warm milk out of the replicator and handing it to Will. Then she got the
other one for Jr.

"I'm not sure I get your point."

"The point is you're use to me talking without using my mouth, but you
can't get use to others?"

"I can understand you." He stated while sitting Kestra in her chair. "All
I see with everyone else is just facial expressions and gestures. I don't
hear anything. It's a little unsettling to be left out of a conversation."

"Tusche." She said. "I can understand being left out. What I can't
understand is how you expressed it in the first place."

"I think you missed understood me, in the first place." Will stated. "I
didn't mean it as an insult when I said talking without using their mouths."

"No, I heard your words and sensed your emotions and your emotions were
that of frustration and the feeling of the strange and unusual." She said.
"What do you want to eat for breakfast?"

"Strange and unusual is an emotion?" Will asked. "A, eggs over easy and
toast."

"Yes and no." Deanna said. "It's how you felt about it that gave me the
impression that you felt it was strange and unusual." Then asked the
replicator to prepare three servings of eggs over easy and toast.

"No, Deanna." Will said then added with curiosity, "Aren't you going to
eat anything?"

"I'm not hungry." She said. "You were saying?"

"I just want to have a nice anniversary dinner that's just you and me."
Will stated. "Nobody else and lovely conversation between just the two of
us. No one else butting in mentally."

"OK, fair enough." Deanna said. "I'll ask Chandra to watch the children
and we can have lunch together. Just the two of us." Then handed Will two
plates and she took Will Jr's and sat down with him on her lap and started
helping him eat his breakfast.

"Agreed." Will smiled and sat the plates down on the table. "Around
noonish?"

"Yes." Deanna smiled back. "Where shall we meet?"

"How about that nice restaurant up the street?" Will smiled as he tried to
wipe the runny yoke off Kestra's chin.

Kestra reached out and touched her father's face with yokey hands. "Oh,
Kestra." Will said with a smile on his face. "Lucky for you, young lady, I
haven't had a shower yet.

Deanna laughed. "Problems?"

"You don't look like you are doing much better yourself." Will laughed,
looking at Deanna with yoke on her night shirt and face from Jr. wiping his
drippy hands on her.

"Well, that's just what happens when a young one eats runny eggs on mama's
lap." She said playfully with her yellow nose pointing upward.

Will laughed again. "Why don't you go clean yourself up, while I clean up
down here?"

"Oh, that's so nice!" Deanna said, rising and placing their messy son on
Will's lap facing him.

"Oh, really nice." Will said with a bit of a chuckle in his voice.

Deanna then kissed his messy face and said, "You're no worse for the wear
than I am."

After several minutes, Deanna came out cleaned and dressed. She saw Will
was changing their son and Kestra toddling around.

"Well, looks like you had your work cut out for you." Deanna smiled.

"Yeah, but I held down the fort." Will smiled. "It's your turn now."

Will left the room to get ready for work.

When he came back out, Deanna had the twins ready to go for a morning walk.

"Shall we walk with you this morning?" Deanna asked.

"Sure!" Will smiled. "I'm sure Tang will be glad to see them again."

"All part of the service?" Deanna asked with a laugh.

"That's probably what he'll say." Will said also laughing.

"It's on the way to the museum and I told Chandra I'd meet her there
today." Deanna said. "Which will make it very convenient to ask her about
lunch, also."

"Great!" said Will smiling as they all walked out the door.

 

They arrived at the Embassy and Tang was at the door as usual. "Good
morning, Mrs. Riker." Tang said cheerfully. "Oh, and you brought the
little ones, too."

Tang bent down and talked in a baby voice to the two. "And how are we
today?"

The twins made a gurgly laugh and Deanna could sense even they thought the
talk was really silly of an adult to do, too. She smiled and sent to them,
"Yes, I know, little ones. Even adults can be silly too."

"They must be teething." Tang said, noticing the drool on one of them.

Deanna wanted to say, "No, they laughed so hard at your voice that it just
came out. You know how babies are." Instead she said, "Yes, they maybe."

Then Will turned to Deanna and sighed, "Well, I guess I need to get to
work."

Deanna sensed he was not happy with his current position in Starfleet or
with Betazed. He had not been for quite some time. She knew where he
wanted to be, but he chose to stay here with his family, because he did not
want to take them all on a starship at this time.

Will hugged and kiss Deanna and then he hugged and kissed the twins. He
then told Will Jr., while holding his little hand like he were going to
shake it, "Take care of them while I'm at work, Sport."

Deanna laughed.

"What's so funny?" Will asked with a smile.

"You!" She said still having a grin on her face.

Will kissed her again and said, "I'll see you at noon at um... I wish I
could pronounce the name of that place."

"I think you mean the Rubrikra." Deanna said.

"Yes, Roo bree kraw." Will said the name slowly, as though he were trying
to soak the word into his mind.

"Oo, that's a nice place!" Tang chimed in. "Very fancy. Something
special?"

"Tang," Will began. "You were there two years ago as my best man. You
should know."

"Ah, yes and Mrs. Troi is having a big shindig tonight because of it."
Tang said.

"Shindig?" Deanna asked inquisitively.

"It's a big to do." Will said. "Her dinner party could be called a
shindig."

"Oh." Deanna said, then sneaked in one last kiss and departed to met
Chandra at the museum.

 

"How are you, two, today?" Deanna asked Chandra, who was now seven months
pregnant.

"Oh, she's fine." Chandra said with a yawn. "She gets to ride around and
sleep all day after keeping me up all night."

Deanna laughed. "Welcome to motherhood."

"Gee, thanks." Chandra said with a grin.

They then went into the museum together. The babies were soothed by the
music inside the museum and eventually went to sleep for a mid-morning nap.

Finally, Deanna telepathically asked Chandra, "I was wondering, could you
watch these two while Will and I have an anniversary lunch together at
noon?"

"Oh, how nice!" Chandra sent back with a smiled. "Sounds so romantic!
Sure, I'll watch them."

"Thanks, Chandra."

"Will they be at the dinner tonight?" Chandra asked.

"Do you think Mother would have it any other way?"

Chandra giggled. "No."

They finished their outing at the museum and Deanna walked with Chandra to
her house. She said her good byes to the twins and reassured them she
would be back in a couple of hours. They were pretty good about it.
Kestra fussed a little bit, but Will Jr. touched her on the shoulder and
she stopped.

"Amazing!" Chandra sent to Deanna with surprise in her thought. "It's as
though they have a telepathic language of their own!"

Deanna laughed. "They may have! Twins are said to do amazing things in
that nature."

"But they are too, young for telepathy."

"Well, maybe as we know it." Deanna responded. "Well, it's time for me to
meet Will."

"Have fun!" Chandra sent with a smile.

 

Will and Deanna met at the Rubrikra at the same time. Will smiled and
kissed Deanna in greeting. "Good timing."

Deanna smiled and returned his kiss.

"Ready for lunch?" Will asked, offering her his arm.

Deanna, still all smiles, wraps her arm around his and says, "Yes. You?"

"Starved!" He said also still smiling.

They waited for the hostess to seat them. Once they were seated, Will
asked, "Would you like a red, blush or white wine?"

"Oo! You are going all out!"

"Anything for my Imzadi." He smiled.

Deanna thought for a moment. "How about a white wine?"

"OK." Said Will. "Chablis?"

"Hum, make it a pink Chablis."

"Changed your mind and want to go with a blush?"

"Woman's prerogative."

Will smiled and just agreed.

Once they had finally decided what they wanted the maitre d' sensed it and
returned to their table to take their order.

"Yes, we're ready to order." Will said.

"Good afternoon." He sent with a slight bow of his head. "What would you
two like?"

Will looked at Deanna with a look that said, "What the hell just happened?"

The maitre d' sensed Will's confusion, but did not switch to Federation
Standard. Instead, he looked at Deanna and said something to her. She
responded back to him telepathically.

Will wiggled in his seat due to feelings of discomfort. Then he remembered
something from history, which occasionally happened still today along the
France and Germany boarder. "Could that have just happened?" He thought
to himself.

"Yes, something like that." Deanna said to him, bringing him out of his
thoughts.

"Huh?" Will said.

Deanna curled one side of her mouth, then said, "I guess you haven't ran
into Betazoids who believe oral speech is for the feeble minded and
non-telepaths, yet."

"Well, no." Will said, still confused.

"My grandfather had that saying and I hear he never spoke to my father."
Deanna told him. "Some Betazoids still practice that belief and refuse to
use oral mode of communication."

"So they feel they are better than non-telepaths?" Will asked with
astonishment.

Deanna was not sure if she wanted to answer that, but finally said, "Yes."

"Sounds worse than your mother." Will said with irritation. "At least
your mother talks to me. Not always nicely, but she talks to me."

"Well, she did marry a Human, too." Deanna reminded him with a smile.
"So, you know she's not all bad."

Will fell silent for a short period. Deanna sensed he was feeling like he
chose the wrong place to have lunch and felt bad for him. Not because he
was not Betazoid, but because some Betazoids treated Humans that way, still.

Deanna finally broke the silence. "You know, Will, I'm glad we are
spending this time together alone. It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has." Will agreed and smiled at her.

The conversation stopped again. Will became distant. Deanna sensed he was
wishing he were anywhere, but on Betazed. She tried again to start a
conversation, but the maitre d' returned and showed her the bottle of wine.
She gestured to Will and he frowned, but poured Will a taste of the wine.

Again, ill at ease, Will sampled it and then nodded his head in approval.
The maitre d' poured them both a glass of wine and left in silence.

"You know, this is getting damn annoying." Will stated in frustration.

"Well, we could always leave and go somewhere else." Deanna told him.

"No, no." Will said. "It's our anniversary and I want you to have a fine
lunch for it."

"It's not fair to you, though." Deanna said.

"Maybe not, but do you know of another fancy place we could eat?"

She shook her head. "Not off hand, but if I had known it would be this
way."

"Tang said it was a nice place too." Will retorted.

"Well, for him it is." Deanna informed Will. "I honestly did not sense
anything else from him. If I had I would have told you."

There was a brief pause. "Will, if I had known about this place, I would
have suggested something different."

"I know you would have." Will said in all honesty.

Their meal finally came and again, the maitre d' addressed Deanna and not
Will. Afterwards, Will tried hard to make the best of the situation and
the two of them enjoyed their meal.

"This oskoid is really good. Deanna." Will stated. "You sure do pick some
good choices when you have too."

"Why thank you, Will." She said with a smile. "But you know, I did pick
some of the things you wanted too."

"Yes, you did and it's all good." Will looked around the restaurant and
started feeling self conscious again. "You get the feeling that it's
awfully quiet in here?"

Deanna stops her fork in mid-air, stunned at his question. Then puts her
fork down and tries to view things as Will was.

"Until you said something, I hadn't noticed." Deanna replied.

Will looks at her as though to say, "I'm sorry, I guess you wouldn't."

"Will, I..." She stops.

"No, it's ok." He said. "I forget you grew up here and you're use to
this, what ever you would like to call it. I'm still stuggling with it."

She sighs. "Will, you know, you could always ask to be aboard a starship
again and we could all move aboard. They are accepting families on some
ships."

"No, we discussed this before and agreed it's best for the children to be
here until they are much older." Will said. "And since I agreed to live
here, I'll just have to eventually learn to deal with it."

"Maybe this was a bad idea." Deanna said. "Why don't we go ahead and
leave now."

"It's ok. Finish eating." Will said.

"Actually," She began. "I'm rather full now."

"I thought Betazoids didn't lie." Will accused.

"We don't." Deanna insisted.

"Well, you've hardly touched your meal."

"I've really had enough." Then she added, "To eat."

Will took his napkin off his lap and threw it down beside his plate, still
not quite believing Deanna. Then he placed his knife on a slant at the top
of his plate.

"OK." Will said with frustration and disappointment. "Let's go ahead and
go."

Deanna gracefully did the same with her napkin and knife, then she stood to
prepare to leave.

In hopes to rescue their meal out, Will said, "If you're really sure."

"Yes, I am."

In silence, Will paid for their meal and they walked out together. When
they were outside, Will touched Deanna on the arm and they stopped.

"Deanna," He said, looking at her. "I'm sorry if I ruined our lunch."

She looked at him a little surprised and said, "It wasn't your fault."

"Yes, it was." Will insisted. "I complained about the service and
environment the whole time."

"Maybe so, but you didn't start it." Deanna also insisted. "Their
treatment, or at least the maitre d' we had, of Humans or non-telepaths was
very bad, so I don't think you are entirely to blame."

Will looked away for a bit, then looked back at Deanna. "Maybe you're
right. I'm glad you feel that way. I was worried I may have ruined our
lunch."

"No, it wasn't you." She repeated with all the empathy she could muster
without sounding like she felt sorry for him. "Not all Betazoids know how
to be hospitable."

Since Chandra's house was in the opposite direction, they said their good
byes. Then Deanna went to get the children and Will went back to the
Embassy.

"Tang!" Will shouted in anger when he got back.

"Yes, sir? Did you enjoy your dinner?"

"No!"

"Why not it's a nice place." Tang insisted.

"Yeah, if you're a telepath." Will informed him.

"Well, honestly sir, I had no idea." Tang stated. "I only stated what
I've seen on the outside and what others have told me."

"All Betazoids, I presume?"

"Well, yes sir. This planet is full of them, sir."

Sighing in frustration, Will shook his head and walked back to his office.

 

That evening Deanna, Will, and the twins were on their way to the Dinner
party Lwaxana was giving for them.

"I do hope this dinner your mother is giving us goes better than lunch
did." Will said.

"It will." Deanna reassured. "I can't see why it wouldn't."

"Knowing your mother, anything could happen." Will commented.

They arrived and Lwaxana was as exsuberant as usual and made her rounds
around the room. She spotted them as Mr. Homn showed them to the dining
area.

"There you two are!" She exclaimed. "Whatever took you so long to get
here? You're fifteen minutes late! Now being fashionably late is fine if
you are not the guests of honour!"

"Mother." Deanna greeted.

"Oh, and how are my littlest ones, today?" Lwaxana kneeled down to greet
her grandchildren. "Give your grandmother a hug!"

As she hugged them she continues, "I can't believe I'm a grandmother! I am
far too young to be a grandmother! Much less be called one, but what else
are they going to call me?"

"Granny?" Will replied with a devilish smile.

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana exclaimed standing back up. "That sounds even
worse!"

"Gwanny!" Will Jr. giggled out.

"Now look what you've done!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "Now you have him saying
it!"

Will was still grinning. "Well, you know what they say."

"No, I don't." Lwaxana stated.

"Like father, like son."

"Let's hope not!" Lwaxana exclaimed.

"Mother," Deanna interrupted. "I hate to interrupt the two of your's
lovely bantering, but don't you think the guest maybe getting hungry."

"Bantering?" Lwaxana asked taken slightly off guard.

"What? It wasn't enjoyable for you?" Will asked jokingly.

Lwaxana looked at him vexatiously.

Will just laughed and said, "Your guest appear to need their hostess."

Lwaxana looks back at the group. "Yes, you're right. I'll just have to
deal with you and your son later." Then she walks back to the group of
dinner guest.

"Alright everyone." She announced trying to be the center of attention
again. "Mr. Hohm has dinner ready and our guests of honour are now here,
so if everyone would take their seats Mr. Hohm will serve everyone."

As always, the gong was placed near the table. "Oh, no. Not that god
awful gong."

Lwaxana gives Deanna a scolding look. "Yes, the gong." She sent. "You
know we have to praise the gods for the food that is eaten."

Everyone sat at the table and Mr. Hohm served everyone present.

"Will." Lwaxana addressed him. "Am I to gather from Deanna's thought you
are neglecting the children's spiritual upbringing?"

GONG!

"Excuse me?"

"Well, giving praise to the gods is spiritual in your language right?"

"Well, yes." Will replied.

GONG!

"So you don't give praise to the gods for food eaten?"

Everyone, including the Xerxes were staring at Lwaxana.

"Lwaxana." Garth tried to intercede. "Let's not start with tradition,
philosophy or beliefs of Betazoids again. I really don't think it's
appropriate to bring it up at this time."

"Of course not, Garth." Lwaxana replied with a frown. "You wouldn't. You
allow your daughter to disrespect other houses."

GONG!

Now it was Garth's turn. "Excuse me?"

"Well, you and your wife didn't seem to be bothered in the least by your
daughter disrespecting a Daughter of the Fifth House."

GONG!

"Lwaxana Troi!" Garth's wife was now in the conversation. "May I also
remind you. We are of the Third House. I think we hold the reins of
seniority around here."

"Well, I never! Taking age of a house as presidence for allowing
disrespect!"

"Now, Lwaxana." Garth said. "Chandra was expressing her feelings
appropriately."

Lwaxana holds her head up and states, "In our house the oldest woman in
the family makes the decisions regardless of feelings. The children soon
realize the purpose of it and appreciate it after a while."

GONG!

"Mother!" Deanna exclaimed. "It doesn't work that way any more and you
know it."

"Well, I guess I'm going to have to teach my grandchildren how to praise
the gods of Betazed since he has influenced you not to." Lwaxana said
waving a hand as though she were brushing Deanna off.

GONG!

"Mrs. Troi, I have influenced nothing." Will informed. "Deanna chose not
to have the gong, because well..."

GONG!

With her mouth full of food and glaring at Will, she ungracefully says,
"Yes, go ahead. Say it. Not that we all don't know what you are about to
say anyway. Except for maybe Mr. Tang, of course."

Tang took no notice of what she had said as he continued to eat.

"Annoying." Will finished.

GONG!

Deanna's nerves were now on edge. "He's right, Mother. I do find it very
annoying."

"This is his fault! I know it is." Lwaxana exclaimed pointing at Will.

"No, Mother! It was my decision!" Deanna informed firmly.

GONG!

"Lwaxana," Garth tried to calm the situation. "I realize you feel very
strongly about Betazoid tradition and all, but not all Betazoids,
especially this younger generation, feel as you do anymore."

"I see why your daughter takes the attitude she does." Lwaxana stated.
"You let her make her own choices, instead of insisting she stick with
tradition."

GONG!

"That's not entirely true, Lwaxana." Garth's wife informs. "And I would
appreciate it if you keep your thoughts to yourself on such matters until
you have all the information."

Garth pats his wife's hand, trying to calm the tension that was building up
within her and says. "While it's true we allow her to make some choices,
and have all her life, she is now a grown woman with her own family now.
She can decide whatever she wants for her family."

GONG!

"Thank you, Father." Chandra replies with a smile and puts her hand on her
stomach.

"Chandra?" Lwaxana addresses her. "Do you praise the gods for your food
and are you going to teach your daughter to, also?"

"No."

GONG!

Lwaxana's eyes grew wide and she almost choked on her last bite of food.
"Somehow, I can't find a reason yet, I blame Will for that too."

"Mrs. Troi, please!" Will said in protest. "I have had a long hard day
and I really don't feel like putting up with anymore arrogant Betazoids!"

"Really!" Lwaxana said appaulled and puts her fork down. "I am NOT
arrogant!"

"Lwaxana, he's right." Garth said. "You can be very arrogant."

"Garth Xerx! I'm shocked that you thought that!" She said.

"Well, Lwaxana, you know we Betazoids don't let every thought we have go
wandering out of our minds." Garth said.

Tang sits eating his food and just smiles at the conversation.

"And what are you laughing about, young man?" Lwaxana asks, picking up her
fork again and taking a bite.

GONG!

"Nothing really, ma'am." Tang replies.

"Well, maybe not, but you are wondering if all Betazoid dinner
conversations go like this."

"They do if your mother is Lwaxana Troi." Deanna mumbled.

"Deanna!" Lwaxana said. "How dare you say such a thing!"

GONG!

"Well, Mother, I'm sick of this!" Deanna said. "Every dinner we attend,
you're there and you always stir up discussions that are insulting or nerve
racking!"

"Now, Little One, I really..."

Deanna gets up from the table saying, "I've had enough Mother! Enough of
your calling me Little One, when I have little ones of my own and of your
attitude at these events!" Then she rushes past the gong and knocks it
over, releasing her anger and frustration. It vibrates as it hits the
floor. As it does the twins start crying from the noise.

Deanna picks one of them up and says, "Will, will you get Kestra. I'm
ready to leave."

"Deanna, you can't leave!" Lwaxana said in a panic. "This is your dinner
party."

"No, Mother. It's YOUR dinner party." Deanna stated. "If it were mine,
we would not have that damn gong, for starters and the conversation would
definitely not go this way, if I had anything to say about it." Then adds
sarcastically, "Thanks for the anniversary party, Mother."

Deanna then walks out of the house with Will Jr. in her arms and Will
behind her with Kestra in arm and the stroller dragging behind him.

"Deanna!" Will shouted behind her. "Deanna!"

"What?" She asked still angry.

"Let's at least take the time to put them in the stroller."

She stopped suddenly. Then realized Kestra was getting a little heavy in
her arms. "Yes, you're right. It is a bit of a walk to carry her all the
way."

"I'm sorry, Will."

"For what?"

Deanna answers as they started walking again. "For how our anniversary has
gone this year."

"Deanna," Will said with a smile. "The day is not over."

"Will Riker." She smiled. "Do you have something in mind?"

"Maybe." He said slyly.

 

When they got home they put the twins to bed and then Will puts an arm
around Deanna. Then he turns to face her and places the other arm around
her. He kisses her softly.

"How about you and I go to bed early and have our own celebration."

Deanna smiles. "I'm ready to call it a night."

Will smiles and scoops her up in her arms. "Whoa!" She saids a little
startled, but laughs at the same time.

He then carries her off to their room saying, "This may be the best part
of our anniversary celebration."

They celebrated their anniversary by themselves in love and pure passion
until their energy was spent from making each other happy and satisfied.
Then Deanna curled up against him as he held her in his arms.

 

Chapter 32

Almost two years had past and Will had grown more distant. He was, also,
spending more nights looking at the night sky. Deanna sensed there was
something troubling her Imzadi.

She walked outside and stood beside him. "Will, are you ok?"

He turned and looked at her. "Oh, yes, I'm fine."

"No, you're not." She stated firmly. "I can sense something is troubling
you."

"Really, I'm fine."

She decided to change her approach and discuss what was on her mind.
"Will, I want to go back and finish my studies."

"Well, in a couple more years the children will be in school."

"No, now!" She said very firmly. More firmly than she has intended.

"Deanna, I thought we discussed we'd wait until they were in school?"

"They are old enough to go to pre-school and the university has a very good
one."

"Fine." Will said with some hidden anger. "Do what you feel you need to
do."

"I don't think you're really angry with me."

"How can you be sure about that?" Will asked. "We had decided together
you would wait until they were five and now you want to change your mind
without discussing it with me."

"That's just it. I am discussing it with you now." She said. "And you
are displacing anger on to me."

Will sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "You're right. I am." He
agreed. "I... I don't know what I want anymore."

"You're restless."

"Well, I don't know if that's it." He replied with some doubt.

"I'm sensing restlessness. Like you feel you need a change or something."

"Maybe." Will said. "This past year and a half I've wanted to get away."

"From what?"

"Well, it's not you and the children. That's for damn sure." He said.
"Your mother sometimes." He chuckled.

Deanna let out a slight laugh. "Sometimes I've had that feeling too."

"I don't know what it is."

"I think I do." She said walking around in front of him, so she could see
his face. "You're wanting to be out there." She gestured to the sky.

"A part of me does, yes."

Deanna looked a little saddened. "I was afraid this day would come."

"What are you talking about?" He asked defensively.

"Will, you're desire is to be out there flying through space, be the best
officer there ever was and beat Kirk's record."

"I told you long ago, my priorities have changed."

"Have they?" She asked. "In less than six months after we came back here,
together, you got promoted for your valiant service to the Federation
concerning the Sindereen incident. Now, all you do is stare up at the
night sky."

"You know, Deanna, for once in your life, you are sensing wrong." He said,
walking back into the house and he was still on the defensive when he
turned towards her before entering to say. "You are dead wrong!" He then
walked inside.

"Then why are you so defensive?" She asked as she followed him into the
house.

"I don't know, Counselor. You tell me." He said, and for the first time
in a long time, he stated what he knew was her endeaver. The reason she
was going back to finish her studies.

"Alright, I'll admit it." She said. "I want to be the best counselor in
Starfleet, but you want me to stay home with the children and wait. Now, I
come to you and say I'm ready to move on and finish what I started before
the children were born and you don't like it."

"That's not true!" Will said louder than he meant to say it.

Deanna sighed. "Will, where is this going?"

"What do you mean?"

"Everything."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"I think you do." She insisted.

"What? My career? Your studies? Your career? This family? Our marriage?
What?"

"All of it, Will!" She said sharply. "You don't talk to me anymore."

"I talk to you." He insisted. "I'm here to help and support you with the
kids and I know they are not easy to take care of when you're here by
yourself with them."

"No, you're not, Will." Deanna insisted. "You're here physically, but
your mind is not. It's out there some where." She gestured upward with
her hand.

"Maybe you're right. Maybe I do want to be on a Starship and beat Kirk's
record, still." He said hostilely.

"Well, at least now we're admitting to what we want." Deanna firmly stated.

"No, it's what you think I want." He informed her and then he heads for
the front door.

With alarm Deanna says, "Where are you going?"

"To hell if I'm not careful."

"Will, we really do need to talk." Deanna said, as if she were clinging to
a last shred of hope to get Will to talk to her.

"What's there to talk about? You know what you want and you know what I
want." He said, then with thick sarcasm he adds, "I think if I plan it
right, there's still time to break Kirk's record."

"Will, this is not like you!" Deanna said.

"Maybe not." He said, as he walked out the door.

Deanna sat down in a chair and cried. "This didn't go well." Deanna
thought to herself. "All I wanted was to talk to him and he talk to me.
Now, he's walked out the door."

 

Will gets to the Embassy and heads straight to his office. It was after
midnight, so the Embassy was basically quiet and there really was not
anything he could do at this hour, but he sits down at his desk and tries
to lay back in his chair and doze.

However, sleep did not come. "What the hell did I just do?" He asked
himself aloud. "Deanna's right and I'm too afraid to admit it."

He puts in a call to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth.

"Lieutenant Commander William Riker." Said the admiral. "It must be late
there on Betazed."

"Yes, sir it is." Will said. "There's something I'd like to discuss with
you."

 

Morning had come and Deanna had not slept all night. She tried hard to get
a general sense of Will, but she realized her own emotions were getting in
her way, but she just could not take her mind off of what happened last
night.

0700 hours came and went. No Will. During that time she had gotten the
children up and dressed for the day and fed them.

0800 hours, still no Will. Finally, at 0900 Will walked back through the
door. Deanna ran into the living with a smile, but it quickly faded when
she sensed Will's mood.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing." He paused for a moment. The mood in the air was forlorning.
"Everything."

"Would you like to talk about it now?" She asked hopefully.

"Deanna," Will began. "I requested a transfer back to the Hood. A
Captain Desoto is now the commanding officer of that ship."

"And?"

"You and the twins are welcome to come aboard with me."

Deanna turned around to face away from him. "I can't." She said softly.
Tears started falling from her eyes.

Will was confused. "I don't understand. Why not?"

She turns back around to face him with the tears still trailing down her
face. "You don't get it, do you?"

"If this is because of your mother."

"No!" She exclaimed. "It's me! Just as much as you want so desperately
to have your own damn ship one day, I want to be a counselor."

"And who cares about what the children need?"

"That's not what I'm saying, Will and you know it." She said. "You're the
one who's leaving."

"Deanna, I'll be back for shore leave and you three can visit me if you
really feel you want to stay here."

"It's not the same." She insisted.

"No, it's not." He admitted.

She sobbed louder. "Go, just go, if it's what you feel you really want."

She started to walk away, but Will grabbed her and pulled her close to him.
She sobbed into his chest as he held her.

Will kissed the top of her head and said, "Imzadi, I love you. I will be
back and if I know you three, you will come for a visit when you can. I'm
not abandoning you guys, I'm just going to be on a ship."

Deanna continued crying and said nothing. She finally sent to him, "As I
said, Imzadi, I knew this day would finally come."

Will continued to hold her a while longer in silence. He hated the fact
that he was going and they were staying behind on Betazed, but for some
reason he felt they had to do this. He did not know why he felt that way,
but he felt that for now it had to be.

The twins finally walked in and tugged on their daddy's pant legs. It was
Will Jr. who spoke though, "Daddy, wat wong wit mama?"

Will did not have the heart at that moment to tell his son how to say his
words right. Instead, he let Deanna go, then he bent down to his children,
wrapped an arm around each of them and pulled them up close to him.

"I know you two are just three years old, but I'm going to try and explain
this anyway." Will began. "Daddy has to go and be on a starship. You two
remember what that is right?"

Kestra was quick to say no, but Will Jr. thought as hard as a three year
old could. "Sarship. Sar."

"No, son, star."

"Ssstar." Trying to get in every letter. Then he slowly remembered his
father talking to him about ships not too long ago. "Starship. Those
ships that fly in space?"

"Yes." Will confirmed with a smile, until he noticed Kestra was wiggling
away from him and moved over to their mother. Deanna kneeled down to
Kestra's level and held Kestra in her arms.

Will continued, "Well, that's where I have to go for now. You three can
come visit me on the ship and I'll come see you when I can."

"We get to be on ship?" Will Jr. asked excitedly.

"When you come visit." Will smiled again.

"Why we don't go too?" He asked his dad.

"Well, your mother wants to stay here and go to school."

"We go to school too?" Asked Will Jr.

Will chuckled. "Yes, you and your sister will go to school too."

"Yea!" Will Jr. said with a smile.

"Kestra?" Will tried to get her attention, but she would not look at him.

"Kessa feel like Mama."

Will was surprised. Not by the fact Jr called his sister Kessa. He had
been doing that since he started talking, but it was by the fact Jr said
his sister felt like their mama.

"Um, Will." Will said to his son calmly.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"Could you do me a favour and take your sister to your room to play?"

"Why Daddy?"

"I need to talk to your mother."

"Oh."

Jr. offered a hand to his sister. "No!" She said.

"Kestra." Will said firmly. "I need to talk to your mother. Go to your
room for a few minutes."

"No!" She clung tighter to her mother.

Will decided he did not want another argument with another female in his
life, so he decided to talk to Deanna anyway.

"Why didn't you tell me they were empathic?"

"They're not empathic, at least not yet." Deanna stated as she stood with
Kestra. "If you remember, that doesn't occur until they hit puberty."

"Then how does he know how Kestra feels?"

"For one thing, I think she maybe feeding off of my feelings." Deanna
surmised, still holding Kestra in her arms. "The other thing is, twins do
have a unique form of communication."

"Not like that." Pointing in his son's direction. Will's statement was
more of a question than it was an actual statement, but he was very
perplexed by it all at the same time.

"Any thing is possible, but I assure you they are not telepathic or
empathic as of yet, Will." Deanna had a lot of anger behind her voice, but
it had nothing to do with Will's wonder about his children.

Will was doubtful of Deanna's statement, but he did not persue the subject
any further. The house became really quiet and the only conversation Will
noticed was Deanna trying to comfort Kestra. It was a silent conversation,
not unlike ones he had seen before between mother and child on Betazed and
not the first one he had seen between Deanna and their children. However,
for some strange reason, he became uncomfortable seeing them converse in
silence this time. He had no idea what Deanna was saying to her, but he
knew it was nothing negetive against him. Even so, he still felt
discomforted by it.

"It's OK, Kestra." Deanna sent to her, while brushing stray hairs out of
her daughter's face with her fingers.

"But you're sad, Mommy. I don't like that." Tears were falling from both
their eyes.

"I know, but I'll be alright and we'll see your father again soon."

"You don't believe it, though."

"I do, but I'm just sad right now."

"I don't want Daddy to go."

"Niether do I, hun, but he has to."

"Why?"

Deanna searched for a plausable answer to give her three year old daughter.
Finally Deanna sent to her, "Because Starfleet, the people who tell your
daddy what job he's suppose to do, want him to and your daddy decided he
wanted to serve on a ship."

"We go to school and he stay here, with us."

"He can't, Kestra. He has to go."

"Not fair!" Kestra screamed in her head. Deanna sensed her daughter's
thought and winced at the powerful emotions behind it.

Deanna hugged her daughter's head close to her and sent, "I know, but
that's the way it is."

Will broke the silence finally. "Well, I..." He stammered, not knowing
exactly what to say or how to say it. Then he just decides to say it. "I
guess I better get ready to leave on the next shuttle to join the Hood."

Will finished getting his belongings together and walked back out to the
living area. He set his suit case down at the door. Deanna said nothing
to Will and when he was actually ready to leave, she was still silent.

"A person needs a sharp knife to cut through this silence." Will said.
"Deanna, aren't you going to say anything to me before I leave?"

"I wish you safe voyage." Her voice quivered a little as she said it, but
she refused to let him see her cry again.

"That's it? Not even a hug and a kiss good bye?"

When Deanna just stood there looking at him and made no action towards him,
he turned and started to walk out the door. As he opened the door he stops
and turns back around. "Deanna."

It was too late. Deanna had left the room and no one, but himself, was
left in the room. Will opened the door the rest of the way and departed.

Chapter 33

Deanna was sitting on the sofa with her two children when Chandra rang the
doorbell. Chandra had sensed Deanna was not herself clear to her house and
had to know what was wrong with her best friend. However, Deanna did not
want to be bothered by anyone and even though she knew Chandra could sense
she was at home, she did not respond to Chandra.

It had been three hours since Will walked out the door and Deanna withdrew
to her immediate surroundings. What was keeping her going at this point
were the twins and she did not want anyone else around.

Chandra sent a gentle mind brush, but Deanna ignored it. Then Chandra sent
a pleading mind brush. "Deanna, please. I came to check on you and see if
you would like to talk."

"I'm fine!" She sent back.

"Deanna." Chandra said with some doubt in the tone she sent.

Deanna sighed. "OK, come in." She sent reluctantly.

Chandra entered and as she did she asked sympathetically, "What's wrong,
Deanna?"

"Nothing! I'm fine!" Deanna sent indignantly.

"Deanna, I'm your best friend."

Chandra sat down beside Deanna and waited for her to reply. Deanna did not
say a word for a few minutes and Chandra was feeling that the silence was
getting menotinous.

Finally, Deanna broke like a dam. "Will's gone!" She cried.

"Gone?"

"Yes." Deanna replied sobbing. "Oh, I knew it was coming, but I didn't
quite think it would be this soon."

"He seemed happily married." Chandra stated.

"Oh, that wasn't the problem."

"Then why did he leave?"

"He had a strong desire to be an officer on a ship and not at the Embassy."
Deanna told Chandra.

"On a ship? Surely he asked you to go with him?"

"He did." Deanna affirmed.

"Why didn't you go?" Chandra asked shocked.

Deanna shook her head. "I want to return to my studies and I can't do
that on a ship. Oh, Chandra!" She cried. "I feel we are going two
different directions."

"But you want to join Starfleet one day, eventually, right?"

"Yes."

"So, I don't get it."

"He's not ready for me to leave the children to pursue a career, yet."

"Oh, I get it. I think."

"Deanna!" Lwaxana thought send came.

Deanna put up a mental mind block, because she did not want to hear a word
her mother had to say. Regardless of the mind block, though her mother
entered, without invitation.

"Oh, there you are, Little One." Lwaxana said breathlessly. "I came as
soon as I could. Now, tell Mother what's wrong."

"I'm fine, Mother." Deanna stated firmly and gave her mother the angriest
look Lwaxana ever seen from her. "There's nothing wrong."

"Deanna, you can't fool me." Lwaxana said firmly. "Your eyes are red and
your face is streaked with tears. Now what's going on, here?"

"Nothing I can't handle." For the first time in her life she sounded like
her husband and she recalled the first time she heard him say those words
and tried hard to choke back the tears.

"Daddy gone." Kestra said.

"Kessa!" Will Jr. scolded.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana said in fringed sympathy. "I don't want to say I
told you so."

"Then don't!" Deanna yelled at her mother in anger. "You have no idea and
I don't want to talk to you about it!"

Insulted and hurt, Lwaxana said, "Oh, fine. You want to talk to Chandra,
but you don't want to talk to your own mother!"

"Mother!" Deanna shouted as she stood to face her mother eye to eye. "You
just don't get it, do you? Not even other Betazoids can get through to
you!"

"What are you talking about Deanna?" Lwaxana asked.

"You, Mother!" Deanna said with stronger anger than before and pointing a
finger at her.

Lwaxana was feeling Deanna was taking something out on her, but she was not
sure what. "Deanna, whatever Will said or did, don't take it out on me."

"I'm not taking anything out on you!" Deanna snapped. "I'm telling you to
butt out!"

Lwaxana was shocked. "Butt out? W... w... What did I do?'

"What did you NOT do?"

"If you would talk to me, then maybe I could figure out what you are
talking about." Lwaxana said.

"No! You don't get it. I want you out!"

Lwaxana was even more shocked than before. She stood and look at her
daughter incredulously.

"OUT!" Deanna yelled into her mother's head and pointed to the door.
Lwaxana was so blown over by Deanna's powerfully angry mind send, that she
almost fell over backwards.

Surprisingly to Chandra, she found herself feeling sorry for Lwaxana. She
even flinched at Deanna's mind sending, herself. Finally, she stood and
placed a hand on Lwaxana's shoulder in sympathy. "Mrs. Troi, why don't you
give her some time. Then maybe she will be willing to talk to you later.
She'll be OK, I assure you."

Deanna had her arms crossed in front of her and with anger still in her
voice she said, "Oh, I'll be OK, but I don't think time will eventually
cause me to want to talk to her again!"

Lwaxana still could not say a word. "Come on, Mrs. Troi." Chandra guided
the older woman gently to the door. "I promise you, I'll check on her for
a while for you and let you know how she's doing."

"I.. I.. have.. no idea..." Lwaxana stammered as she walked out the door
still in incredulous shock.

Deanna sat back down as she saw her mother leaving, refusing to say a word
to her.

Chandra turned and walk back to the sofa to sit down near Deanna again and
sent, "I gather Will's leaving had something to do with her, too."

"He never said it directly, but it was there, too." Affirmed Deanna.
"Mostly tried to make a joke about it, instead of saying it out right."

"I can understand that." Chandra said. "Your mother was not nice to any
of us the last couple of times we all got together and that was at your
anniversary and shortly after Tebra was born."

"And she was born almost a year ago."

"Deanna," Chandra began. "Are you afraid he won't be back here?"

Deanna got quiet and shook her head. "I don't know. I know, I will
eventually take the children to see him and see him then, but as for him
coming back to Betazed, I don't know for sure."

"If he said he would..."

"That's just it. I couldn't sense what he was feeling when he left."
Deanna stated. "I was too wrapped up in how I felt."

"Well, knowing him, I'd say if he said he would, he will." Chandra tried
to reassure.

 

Will was on the shuttle heading for the Hood and had been on the shuttle
for almost four hours now. He was feeling bad with the way things were
left and kept going over it again and again. Trying to figure out what
went wrong and when it went wrong. He had no answers, except he knew
Deanna was right. He had been feeling very restless for a long time now.

He tried to get his mind off of everything that had happened in the last
several hours. He tried getting some sleep, since he had not slept since
the night before last, but sleep still did not come for him. He then
decided to look over the crew manifest of the Hood.

At first glance the crew looked like a good group of people to work with.
There were some new crew members since he was last there and some were the
same as last time. Then he saw one name that sent chills up his spine.
Not chills of fear exactly, but he just did not like the fact that he would
be working with this particular crew member again.

"Gods!" He laid his head back on the back of his seat. Then his thoughts
went back to Deanna and all the memories he had with her. As he was
thinking about all the memories he thought of the twins and realized that
he had not said a final good bye to them before he walked out the door to
catch the shuttle. Not even a hug.

"Ugh!" He thought. "That's just great! I'm too busy worrying about
Deanna, that I completely forgot to check on them before I left. They're
probably just as upset with me as Deanna is."

"Sir," The helmsman addressed Will. "We will be approaching the Hood in
ten minutes."

"Thank you." Will said. Then thought to himself, "I wonder what working
with Captain Desoto will be like? I guess I'll find out here in a few
minutes."

Chapter 34

Will got settled into his new quarters and he decided to put in a
communique to Deanna and the twins.

Will was disappointed when he had to leave a message for the third time.
"Damn. It's 1900 hours on Betazed. Why isn't she answering."

"Deanna, I don't know if your getting these messages or if you're listening
to them, but I just wanted to say, I'm sorry, but I have to be out here. I
wish you and the kids would have came with me. I miss you. Call me when
you can, Imzadi."

He finally gave in and called Lwaxana. "What did you do to her?" Lwaxana
attacked him verbally.

"Nothing, really." Will shrugged. "Except decided I wanted to be on a
ship. I asked them to come with me, but Deanna refused."

Lwaxana frowned. "Well, of course she did. She is about to start her
studies here in a few days."

"Mrs. Troi, please don't start harassing me."

"Harassing? I'm not harassing, yet."

"Mrs. Troi, just tell Deanna I want to talk to her." Then Will
disconnected the link between them.

"Well, that was very curt of him." Lwaxana huff. "They are both almost as
bad with how they talk to me lately. I'm not sure who's worse! Deanna or
Will."

 

Deanna was listening to his messages. She sat and cried when she listened
to them after the children were in bed. She could not bring herself to
talk to him just yet.

Days went by and Will tried hard to get her to talk to him. After the
fifth day he decided to wait for her to come around and call him. That was
when he decided he had to get out of his quarters and went to the lounge.

He walked up to the bar and had a seat. "Scotch on the rocks." He ordered.

When he received it, he downed it quickly and ordered another. Then he
walked back to a corner table to be by himself and nurse the second drink.

When the person he was trying to avoid for the last five days walks in and
over to his table after ordering a drink, he knew he had picked the wrong
table.

"Well, Billy Boy. Long time no see."

He nodded and tried to smile. "Lieutenant."

"Oh, it's Lieutenant Commander, now. And call me, Marie." She said, while
sitting on his lap and stroking his cheek.

"Um." Will said, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Marie, I'm married."

"Oh, yes. That's right. Where is the delegate's daughter?"

"She a.. has other responsibilities and couldn't be here."

Stroking his cheek again she said, "Oh, that's a shame. Well, if there's
anything you need just holler."

Will's eyes got really wide with shock when she kissed him full on the
mouth and he squirmed in his seat. "That's just a sample." She said with
a seductive smile, as she walked away.

"Oy," Will said to himself. Then he finished his drink and went back to
his quarters.

 

Lwaxana came by Deanna's house again the day after Will called her, but
Deanna was out back with the children and she still did not want to talk to
her mother.

"Well," Lwaxana said in her head for anyone listening, as she stood at the
front door. "I'll just go around back!"

She walks around to the back and approaches Deanna. "How long are you
going to go without talking to me? I'm your mother, after all!"

"Gwamma!" The twins said in unison and ran up to hug her.

"Well, at least you're talking to me." She sent to her grandchildren and
knelt down to hug them. Then she struggled to stand up again and said
aloud, since Deanna was ignoring her mentally, "Well, aren't you at least
going to help an old lady back up to her feet again?"

Deanna gave no response to her mother. Instead she said, "Come along
children. It's time to go in to eat lunch."

"Can Gwamma stay and eat lunch with us, Mama?" Asked Will Jr.

"Yes, can she?" Kestra also asked.

Deanna was tempted to say no, but she said to herself, "She is their
grandmother, though."

Deanna sighed and said, "I guess, if she wants too."

"Oh, no, Deanna." Lwaxana said with sarcasm. "Not if it's too much of an
imposition to you. I wouldn't want you to be put out by me."

"Mother." Deanna said turning to face her. "Don't push it."

They all four walked through the back door into the kitchen for lunch. As
they were, Lwaxana asked, "What I want to know, is what did I do that you
are angry with me, too?"

Deanna decided to make the twins sandwiches by hand today. As she got some
bread, peanut butter and jelly, she said without looking at her mother,
"What did you not do?"

"Oh, that helps a lot, Deanna."

Deanna continued making the sandwiches and had them made rather fast. She
still said nothing to her mother as she served the children. "Here you two
go."

"Oh, Daddy's fave wit from Eart!" Will Jr. exclaimed. "I wanna see him on
ship!"

"So what does an old lady have to do around here to get something to eat
with her grandbabies?"

Deanna looked at Lwaxana as though she hated her. "Fix it yourself." Then
she went to get the twins some milk to go with their sandwiches.

"Uh, really!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "You know, you're worse than Will was
the other day! At first I thought it was almost a tie, but now I think my
own daughter is more rude and curt to me."

Deanna almost reacted to Lwaxana's statement about Will. She wanted to ask
what he had said to her, but decided she would not ask her mother.

"Will you please call him?" Her mother asked. "I could tell he was very
sincere in his desire to talk to you and the kids want to see him. Why
don't you visit him before you start classes?"

"No." Deanna said firmly. Then softened a little and said, "I have a lot
to do before I start my classes."

"What all do you have that it can't wait until you get back?"

"I have to get them ready for preschool." Deanna imformed as she got
herself a cup of hot chocolate.

"Preschool!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "Oh, no! Not my grandbabies with all
those germy children. I'll watch them."

"No, Mother! You won't."

"Oh, Deanna. You can't be serious? And what am I suppose to eat? You
know I can't cook."

Deanna slammed her mug on the table and said, "Learn!"

Lwaxana was mortified. "W... W..."

"You are not a Queen for everyone to be at your beck and call!"

The tension level in the room was rising substantially and the children
started reacting to it.

Kessa started crying and Will Jr started screaming, "I wanna see Daddy on
sip! I wanna see Daddy on sip!"

"Deanna, you're upsetting the children!" Lwaxana scolded.

"I am not! They were fine until you came!"

"Oh, so I guess their being upset is also my fault?"

Deanna did not say a word to her mother. She just picked up Kestra and
said, "Kestra tired?"

"NO!" She said through the tears.

"I guess it's time for a nap."

"NO NAP! NO NAP!" They both screamed.

"Deanna, take them to see their father, before you start your studies,
again."

"If I tell you I'll think about it, will you leave?" Deanna said hostily.

Lwaxana frowned. "If I must, but I do think you need some help with those
two right now. I could at least help you with that, if you let me."

"No, Mother. I can handle it."

"OK." Lwaxana said. "Have it your way. I'll go since you refuse to even
let me have lunch with my grandbabies."

"I didn't refuse, I said make it yourself."

"At least my son-in-law was nicer to me than my own daughter is. You don't
have to show me out. I'll find my own way, thank you." Then Lwaxana left
by way of the front door.

"The back door would have been better for you to leave." Deanna thought.
"Maybe it would knock you down a few levels."

 

After his shift, Will checked his messages. "Nothing." He said to himself.

Then his comm beeped. "In coming message from Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of
the Fifth House of Betazed." said the computer.

"Well, I definitely can't confuse her with anyone else." He said to
himself. "Put it through to my comm."

The computer screen flicked on and Lwaxana's face appeared. "Will," She
shook her head, looking like she herself could cry. "I can't get through
to her. She's not speaking to me, either. I even went to your house and
she just acts like she hates me."

"How are the children?"

"Oh, they're fine given all the tension. They want to see you."

"And is she coming with them for a visit?"

Lwaxana shook her head again. "I don't know. She said, 'If I tell you I
will, will you leave?' I'm telling you, Will, she's blocked all her
thoughts from me and I can't get through no matter how hard I try."

Will sighed. "Thanks, Mrs. Troi."

Lwaxana looked like she felt very bad about the situation. "I'm sorry that
I couldn't do more. Will."

The link was then broken, but not without Will noticing that Lwaxana looked
as though she was also hurt. Will felt some relief that it was not he who
was upsetting Lwaxana, this time. If it were she would try to be
insulting.

"I think I liked it better when she was insulting people." Will said to
himself.

Then Will decided he would try Chandra and see if she could get Deanna to
call him. He put the call through and Teb answered.

"Ah, Teb. How are you?" Will greeted, trying to sound cheerful.

"I'm fine, but I take you want to talk."

"Can't full you can I?" Will tried to joke.

"Will, I hear there are problems between you and Deanna."

"I guess Chandra's told you?"

"Well, from what I gather, Chandra is the only person Deanna is talking to,
right now." Teb informed. "Chandra said Deanna was so awful to Mrs. Troi,
that she actually felt sorry for her."

"I'm starting to gather that from talking to Mrs. Troi."

"Do you know why?" Teb asked. "I mean, I haven't been in contact with
Mrs. Troi lately, so I have no idea and Chandra didn't say."

"I think I know, but I can't say for sure." Will said.

Teb frowned. "That's a shame."

"Teb, I called to see if Chandra could talk Deanna into calling me so we
could talk."

"Well, she's not here right now, but I'll ask her when she gets back."

"Thanks, Teb. I really appreciate that and I'm glad Deanna is at least
talking to someone."

"Me too." Agreed Teb. "I'd hate to see her if she didn't talk to anyone."

"Well, have Chandra call me and let me know if she can't convence Deanna to
call me."

"I'll do that." Teb smile. "Oh, and take care out there."

"I will." Said Will and then he broke the link.

Chandra called Will two days later, but Will was on duty when she called,
so she left a message. "Will, I'm sorry. She would not talk to me about
calling you, but she is listening to your messages. That much I know for
sure. As for bringing the twins to see you, she wouldn't say whether she
would or not."

Will was disappointed. He had hoped, if anyone could get Deanna to call
him, Chandra could. He sat in his quarters, wondering what Deanna was
thinking. He felt so shut off from her, but then he thought about how
Lwaxana must be feeling, being on the same planet with her and shut off
from Deanna, also.

"And she's a very strong telepath!" Will thought to himself.

The chime to his room rang just then. "Come in." He said without thinking.

When he saw who it was he sat up straight. "Oh, shit!" He thought.

"Billy Boy, I haven't seen you for a while." She walked over to him and
caressed his cheek. "You seem so down! Is there anything Marie could do
for you?"

"I'll need several drinks to answer that question." He replied. "Now
could you please leave?" He asked her, trying to keep his composure.

"Oh, but I want to cheer ole Billy Boy up!" She replied kissing him.

"This woman doesn't take no for answer." Will thought. Then he stood. "I
really need to be going."

"Where do you have to go this time of night?"

Will suddenly remembered being invited to a poker game earlier and thought
it had to still be going on at this time. "Ah, there's a poker game I said
I would attend and play a few rounds."

"Oh." She said. "Well, I don't play poker, so I'll catch up with you
later."

Will felt like he was saved by the bell. They walked out and he went the
oppisite way than she did.

 

Three days later, Will received an emergency communique at 1100 hours.

"You can take it in my Ready Room if you like." Captain De Soto offered.

Will agreed and walked into the Ready Room to receive the call.

"Will, Deanna's gone!" She cried.

"Lwaxana?"

"I went your house yesterday and she was not there and then I went again
today and she's still not there." Lwaxana was talking rapidly and said the
whole sentence in one breath.

"The children too?"

"Yes." She sobbed.

"Well, maybe she decided they needed to get out of the house today and
yesterday."

"I don't know." Lwaxana said, still sobbing. "I haven't been able to
sense a thing from her with her blocking me out."

"Well, keep me posted." Will asked.

"I will." Lwaxana said with tears rolling down her face as she ended the
call.

Two hours later Will got another emergancy communique and again took it in
the Captain's Ready Room.

This time it was Garth Xerx.

"Will, I'm sorry to bother you."

"It's OK." Will said with concern.

"Well, Deanna was suppose to show up for my class yesterday and today. My
class starts a little early. Well,"

"She didn't show?" Will was getting a little concerned now.

"No." Xerx confirmed. "Chandra isn't home, so I called Lwaxana. She told
me how Deanna had been acting lately and that she has not seen her either
the last two days."

"I'm getting very concerned now." Will told Xerx. "Have Chandra call me
if she knows anything."

"I'll do that." Xerx stated. There was a pregnant pause and then Xerx
said, "Well, I'll let you get back to work."

"A... yes. I need too. Thanks for letting me know."

 

Will spent the rest of the day worrying about Deanna. He was not sure what
was going on with her and two people have called also concerned. He had no
idea what to do nor even a clue what to do.

It's was 1800 hours and Will had heard nothing more since Xerx called.
"Maybe that's good news." Will thought, but as he thought it, the computer
announced he had another emergency communique.

Will took it and this time it was the concerned face of Chandra. "Will, I
haven't seen her lately either."

"Please tell me it's because you haven't been over to our house these last
couple of days."

"I wish I could say that, but I can't. I've gone over there several times
today and yesterday. I've sort of been trying to keep an eye on her
lately. Father told me he called you and said you wanted me to call you.
I went over there one more time, before I called you, just to be sure and
still no one is home."

Will sighed. "Where the hell could she have gone!"

"I sense you are very upset, worried and concerned."

"Now you sound like Deanna, but she may have narrowed it down some."

"I wish I knew where she was."

"And you've been over there every day, lately?"

"Yes and these last two days, she and the twins haven't been home."

"No signs of foul play?"

"No. The house is locked and she's just not there." Chandra told Will,
shaking her head.

Will was silent for a minute. Finally, Will spoke. "I'll see what I can
do on this end to find her and you contact Tang to see if he can put out a
search for her and the twins."

"OK, I'll see if I can talk to him now."

"Thanks, Chandra."

Then the connection was again broken. "God! Where the hell could she be!
What is she even thinking! Why didn't she inform anyone she was leaving?
Deanna said I wasn't acting like myself, what the hell does she call
this!"

Chapter Thirty-five

"Where the hell is she!" Will asked himself. "I can't feel her like I use
to. And neither can anyone else who's close to her. Either she's
completely blocked everyone out or..." Will did not want to think of the
alternative.

It had been five days since anyone had heard anything from Deanna. Will
felt like he was going to loose his mind. He could not concentrate on
anything. Even Captain DeSoto saw Will's work was suffering.

"No, she's out there somewhere. I know she is. She has to be."

"Lieutenant Commander Riker!" DeSoto finally said after several times of
trying to get Will's attention.

Will jumped out of his skin. "Yes, Sir."

"My Ready Room, now."

"Yes, Sir."

The two of them walked into Desoto's Ready Room. "Have a seat or do you
want to continue pacing like a caged animal."

"I'm sorry?"

"On my bridge just now, you were in another world pacing back and forth as
though you were a caged animal."

"Captain, let me have a shuttle craft."

"What?"

"A shuttle craft."

"And do what?" The captain asked.

"I want to look for my wife for God's sake!"

"Commander, Starfleet is looking for her. If you go out and start running
around out there by yourself you could get into a lot of trouble and no one
would know it."

"Sir, please."

"They are looking for her and your children. Now, if you can't do your job
because of this I will have no choice but to relieve you of duty."

<Bridge to Captain.> The communications officer called.

"DeSoto here."

"There is a priority one communique for Lieutenant Commander Riker from a
Lieutenant Tang on Betazed."

"Put it through to my Ready Room."

 

"Captain Riker." Said the communications officer of the Valiant. "There's
a priority one communique from the Research Station on Forever World."

"Riker stood to face his communications officer. "Put it through to my
Ready Room."

Will walked into his Ready Room and sat down at his desk. "What the hell
did my idiot younger self do now!"

Will tapped the communication button and said, "Riker here."

"Sir, you asked us to keep an eye on a particular time line for you and to
let you know of anything that may or may not change time as you know it."

"Yes." Will affirmed. "What's happened?"

"Well, did Mrs. Riker ever leave Betazed without letting anyone know?"

"What?" Captain Riker asked in shock. "Never mind. We'll make a slight
detour and be there as soon as we can. Riker out."

"Now this is an unusual change of events." Will said to himself. "Captain
to Bridge."

"Bridge here."

"Set course for Forever World."

"Forever World?"

"That's what I said."

"Aye, sir." Said the bridge officer, still unsure of what was happening.

"Captain to Counselor Troi-Riker."

 

In Desoto's Ready Room, Will became very anxious.

"Captain DeSoto here."

Tang sounded a bit confused when he saw the captain of the Hood. "Is Riker
there?"

"Yes, he is." Then DeSoto signal to Will that he could speak.

"Have you found them, Tang?" Will asked hopefully.

"No, sir."

Will's demeanor changed from the hopeful anxiety back to the original
anxiety of the fearful unknown.

"I don't know if this bit of info will help any, but apparently your wife
hired a shuttle here on Betazed off the record and no flight plan was
recorded."

"How did you come by this information Lieutenant Tang, if none of this
information is documented?" Asked DeSoto.

"Interesting you should ask that." Tang replied. "There are a number of
free-lance shuttle pilots on Betazed that, for a price, will take anyone,
anywhere completely and totally off the record."

"How the hell do they leave orbit off the record?" Will asked.

DeSoto signalled Will to calm down.

"Well, that I'm not certain of yet, but there were other free-lancers there
that day that had apparently saw the diplomat's daughter."

"How reliable are these shuttle pilots?" Will asked.

Tang shrugged. "One takes their chances, I guess."

"Damn it!" Will exclaimed.

"Sorry I don't have anymore info than that."

Will look even more upset than before, but did not say anything more.

"It's OK Lieutenant. Keep us informed if you find out anything more."

"Aye, sir. Tang out."

 

"You want me to do what?" Deanna exclaimed her question. This Deanna had
some graying in her hair and was much older.

"Well, I can't do it and I probably won't be as much of an attention getter
as you would be." Said the older Riker.

"You've got to be kidding, Will."

"Deanna, I don't know what's going on with you, but something happened and
I personally like this time line we're in." Will said.

"I'm not sure if we're really talking about me." Deanna said. "Are we?"

"Deanna, this is the wife of the Riker I went back in time to give a swift
kick in the butt." Riker informed her. "Now, I maybe wrong, but it sounds
like it's your turn."

"Will, surely you're not serious?" Deanna asked. "This is tampering with
a time line and we're not suppose to do that."

"Not unless the Guardian of Forever let us." Will reminded her.

"That's only if time has been tampered with."

"Ah, but that's why we are going to Forever World to find out." Will said
with a gleem in his eye. "If it has been, then the Guardian may let you
through to fix it."

"And if it hasn't?"

"Then we're up shit creek without a paddle."

Deanna stared at him. She still had no idea what her Will was talking
about, nor did she quite understand what was going on, except a younger
version of herself was doing the strange and unusual for her.

"OK." Deanna said. "If you're right and the Guardian let's me, I'll see
what I can do, but I'm not making any promises."

"That's all I ask, Imzadi."

"Will, are you sure you're alright?" Deanna asked.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You're begining to act a little strange yourself."

 

Will started pacing in the captain's Ready Room and was engrossed in
thoughts of Deanna. "I wish I could get in her head and figure out what is
wrong with her. Why would she just take off like this and where could she
be going? Was she that upset with everyone that she felt she couldn't tell
anyone? Damn it! I wish she would just contact me and tell me what's
going on."

"I'm relieving you of duty."

"Huh? What?" Will asked.

DeSoto had been observing Will even before Tang signed off the communique.
He realized Will was not going to be able to keep his mind on his duties
and that was one thing they did not need right now.

"As of this moment, Lieutenant Commander Riker, I am officially relieving
you of duty. You are not to leave this ship for any reason what so ever.
Is that clear?"

"Aye, sir."

"You are free to go to the lounge or anywhere on this ship that does not
include a duty station. You may call any family member on Betazed that you
like, if you wish, but any official reports that come in concerning your
wife and children will be made through me with me present."

"Sir, what am I going to do, except try and find out if any new information
has been found?"

"Oh, I don't know. Try and smuggle a shuttle." DeSoto noticed the look
Will gave him and added, "I've been a Federation Officer long enough know
how officers work when they want to accomplish something bad enough and you
look desparate enough to try anything you can. I am not going to allow any
of my officers to pull any stunts that might get them in trouble."

"Sir, I."

"I have my reasons. Now go do something to distract yourself from the
immediate situation or call a relative or friend. I don't care, just stop
pacing in front of me. Dismissed, Lieutenant."

"I can proform..."

"Dismissed."

Will left without further argument and went straight to his quarters.
"It's a cinch I"m not going to be able to stop thinking about Deanna and
the twins. So, if I'm going to be off duty I might as well, be in my
quarters."

 

"Will, I don't know about this." The older Deanna stated. "I can't jump
through that. A million things could happen!"

"A million things could happen if you don't." Will stated.

Deanna shook her head. "Will..."

"Imzadi." Deanna looked at Will as he addressed her by the term of
endearment. "You trust me don't you?"

"Yes, Will, but what does this have to do..."

As she gestured to the Guardian, Will interrupted her. "If you don't
figure it out by the time you get back, I'll explain then." Will said.
"Now go."

"How do I get back if I jump through that... that portal?"

"Don't worry, the Guardian will spit you back out."

"What? Spit me back out?"

Will shook his head. "Never mind, you'll get back."

"Come with me."

"Nope." Will said. "You have to talk to yourself, yourself."

"You're starting to make sense and that's starting to get scary in it's
self."

"OK." Will said. "Watch the images and when you see yourself, jump in."

"Oh, right, and land ungracefully on my face with a mouth full of sand."

"Deanna, you're making this very difficult."

"If you're wrong..."

"If I'm wrong, then you'll have a mouth full of sand."

Deanna gave him a look of discuss and said, "Gee, thanks."

"Did you see yourself?"

"If I say yes, will you stop talking that way?" Deanna asked. "I'm
starting to feel like I need to look up your diagnosis in the DSM-Ten."

"The what?"

Deanna shook her head. "A book of Psychological Disorders."

Will laughed. "Are you ready now?"

Deanna curled one side of her mouth and said, "As ready as I'll ever be to
get a mouth full of sand."

Will then said, "Guardian, replay the last sequence of images."

They watched and Will said, "OK, get ready."

Deanna saw herself and jumped into the Gaurdian. The next thing she knew,
she was on some shuttle and watching her sleeping younger self and her
young twins.

She smiled as she looked at her babies. "It's been a long time since you
two were that age." She thought. "And I'm guessing your. I'm, trying to
get away from something I don't want to deal with, at least not yet.
Little does your father know, I did run off, but not like this or this far.
Mostly to the museum or those places I took him to when we met. Well, you
two will hopefully think this is a dream and go on sleeping."

"Where is it you think you're going?" She sent to her younger self.

Her younger self stirred in her sleep like she were dreaming. "You're not
dreaming." She said aloud, but not so loud she might wake up the twins.
"Come on, wake up."

Her younger self awoke, sat up, and stared at the woman before her. Her
mental blocks were down and she looked at the woman as though she were
analyzing the situation and sensed her eyes were not deceiving her.
"You're me, but older!"

"Quiet! You'll wake the twins." The older sent. "Yes, and no, you're not
loosing your mind yet. Although, before your life is done you might think
Will is."

"What? What's wrong with Will?"

"Nothing, really. I was joking." Deanna replied. "Oh, your Will is
worried sick over you."

"He's too intent on breaking Kirk's record to worry about us."

"Actually, he managed to get Starfleet, along with your mother's help, to
look for you three. He's even tried to get a shuttle craft to look for you
on his own. Probably would have gone AWOL, if DeSoto wasn't experienced
enough to know what goes through desparate officers' heads."

"He didn't get Starfleet to look for us, nor is he that desparate." The
younger sent with doubt.

"You're a diplomat's daughter. It wasn't that hard."

Deanna got out of the bed and stood before the older one. "You've lived
with your Will far too long, that you've learn how to be a damn good
bluffer."

"Really? OK, you have established that I'm you, only older. If that's the
case, you're empathic, you tell me. Am I really bluffing?"

The younger Deanna frowned. "OK, you're not bluffing. So why are you
here?"

The older Deanna gave a small closed mouth smile. "Your husband's crazy
older self insisted that it was my turn to go back to the past. Only, this
isn't really the past I know since our older Will came back to the past
before me and gave your husband a kick in the pants. So, I guess it's my
turn, since he did that before me and change everything before you two got
married."

"OK, so how do I know this is not some hallucination and I've develop a
psychotic depessive episode."

The older Deanna thought for a minute. "I'd say, if you are able to ask
yourself that question you've probably haven't, but if you insist on proof
you are not in a psychotic depressive episode, I guess I could think of
something to prove you are not."

The younger Deanna crossed her arms in a way that said, "OK, Prove it."

The older Deanna looked down for a moment and took a couple steps to the
side of the younger and then looked at her. "OK, look at yourself. If you
were in a psychotic depressive episode, would you be crossing your arms
wanting proof you were not psychotically depressed?"

The younger one briefly thought, then sent, "Probably not."

"OK, now that is established." Sent the older one. "I have a question for
you? Where in the universe do you think you are going?"

"I... I'm not sure yet. I thought maybe Vulcan or somewhere far from
Betazed, but I'm just not sure yet?" The younger sent in reply.

"Then why are you out here in the middle of now where?"

"I.. I don't know."

"Oh, gods!" The older Deanna rolled her eyes. "I never dreamed I'd be
having a counseling session with myself! But it would appear that I am."

The younger Deanna stared at her older self again, but said nothing.

"OK, let's start from the begining. What were you feeling when you left
Betazed?"

"Well, I." The younger paused. "I felt like I had to get away. Be
anywhere but where I was."

"Time to get the moat out of your eye."

"What?"

"You're a student of psychology. Is running from your problems and
feelings a healthy way to deal with them?"

"Look, I don't need this from you!" The younger Deanna shouted into the
older one's mind.

"Apparently you do or you would be talking to everyone you need to be
talking to right now and handling your problems in a more appropriate way
than disappearing like this."

"Why bother! Mother doesn't want to listen to me. She wants to control
everything. Will wants to be out here and beat Kirk's record and not with
us."

"So you feel if you go out on your own, then your feelings will be
acknowledged. How can they be when it's just you and the twins?"

The younger Deanna just looked at the older one.

"I'm going to assume that your staring at me at key points means that
something is getting through that thick head of your's."

"Oh, that's really professional, Older Deanna." The younger said
sarcastically.

"That sounds a bit juvenile."

"Well, It's sounds like I'm nuts if I talked to myself."

"Fair enough. Would it help if I said call me Counselor?"

"Not really, but it will have to do. Gods, I still feel strange talking to
myself."

"I assure you, you really aren't even though you are."

"That really helps." The younger Deanna felt she was about to cry again,
so she turned her back to her older self.

"I'm sensing you are feeling very hurt."

"What gave you that idea? Past experience or your empathy?"

"You feel that if you had stood up to your meddling mother much sooner,
Will would not have left. If you had been able to have been better in
being a counselor, you would have been able to approach Will in a better
way, that would have gotten him to talk to you and he would still be with
the three of you. Which you know counseling skills has nothing to do with
dealing with own family. You're to close to do that. As far as your
mother goes, you did a better job and sooner than I did in my time line.
Lastly, it takes time to be good at whatever you do, which as a student, is
not enough time. That you should also know already, but I guess you threw
the book out the window somewhere along the line."

"Ok, you seem to think you have me figured out. What makes you think Will
cares more about us than beating Kirk's damn record?"

"Well, I've already told you, my Will went back in time to try and keep
your Will from making the same mistakes again. That's a start. Then your
Will took his advice and put his career on hold for a short time."

"OK, but he's back out there wanting to beat Kirk's stupid record and
Mother is trying to be the queen of Betazed." Deanna sobbed softly.

"If you weren't more important than Kirk's record, and more important to
your mother than her traditions, why would they have gotten so many people
out here to look for you?"

"I've been travelling out here for almost six days now. I haven't seen
anyone."

"No, if you're incognito, then the pilot of this shuttle doesn't know to
tell a Federation ship that you're aboard, now does he?"

"No, he doesn't." The younger Deanna said, shaking her head.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know." She cried a little louder.

The older Deanna rolled her eyes. "Oh, gods! They're right! Next to
doctors, psychologist are the most difficult patients to work with,
especially if the psychologist is yourself. Well, I'm here until you go
back where you belong or whatever and the Guardian spits me out."

"What?" The younger spins around with wide eyes.

"Yes, you're stuck with me, so unless you want them to wake up and see me,
I suggest you work a little harder on figuring out what you need to do."
Said the seasoned counselor as she points her head toward the twins and
sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I for one don't want to be here when
they wake up."

"They want to see their father." The younger one softly sobbed.

"So, I ask again, is leaving to no distination a logical course of action?
Or is it a symptom of a problem that needs to be resolved?"

The younger Deanna refused to give an answer, so the older one continues.
"OK, I have plenty of time. One problem though, this one is on house, so
given that I'm working with myself and all I might get a little irritable
after awhile and loose all professionalism. Unfortunately, at my age that
could happen anytime now."

A growing sense of panic was developing inside of the younger Deanna. Not
the panic of fear, but the panic that grows when one knows what they should
do, but are not doing it because they are too scared to do it. So
mustering up as much courage as she could, the younger Deanna goes to the
front of the ship to talk to the pilot.

"Lay in a course for the Hood."

"Excuse me, Ma'am."

"I said, lay in a course for the Hood. It's a Federation ship."

"Yes Ma'am." said the pilot. "What do you want me to tell them when I get
within their sensor range?"

"Just tell me and let me do the talking."

"OK, but that will be another 100 credits for the use of my communication
system."

"I don't care, just do it."

"OK, whatever you say."

Deanna walks back to where her children were sleeping and starts to thought
send to her older self, but she was gone. "Thank the gods, that session is
over with and I pray I never have to go through another session where I'm
the patient ever again." Deanna thought to herself.

"Imzadi, I'm fine and I'm coming to see you, soon." She sent, hoping
Will's mind would be eased.

Chapter Thirty-six

"Ma'am, Can you give me an approximate idea where the Hood might be?" Said
the pilot. "There's a million ships out there and looking for one is
like, well, a needle in a hay stack."

She thought for a moment, but since she had not talk to Will she had
absolutely no idea what sector or area he might be in. She shook her head.

"Well, does it have to be the Hood or could it be any Federation Ship I
run into?"

"I really want the Hood." She informed the man. "But any Federation ship
maybe able to tell us how to find it."

"May I ask why it has to be the Hood?"

"It's personal reasons." She informed him.

"Ah, must be a man."

She gave him a startled look.

"Nothing personal, Ma'am, but I've transported a lot of people and well,
you just learn things a long the way." He said. "You know you are awfully
mysterious. You haven't even told me your name. Mine's Morris, if that
helps any."

She debated telling him, but finally said, "Um, Deanna."

Will Jr. tugged on her skirt. "Mama, when we gonna see Daddy?"

"Soon, hun."

"Ah, I was right. It is a man. You're a Federation family, huh. So, why
did you hire me, why didn't you contact Starfleet?"

She was getting the feeling this man was a very nosy person and frowned.
"I'd rather not talk about it."

"OK, suit yourself. I was just trying to make conversation." Morris said.
Then he remembered that he had heard something over his comm about the
Federation looking for a woman and two children. "What was the name? Dina,
Dena, Dianna or could it have been Deanna?" He thought to himself.

"Mama, hungry." Said Kestra.

"You know where the food replicator is." Morris said to Deanna as he
pushed some buttons on his console. "You know, most pilots charge extra
for food and drink, but me, I see a woman traveling alone with children, I
just include that with the cost of everything else. That's the only time I
don't charge extra for food and drink."

"That's nice of you, but you didn't have, too."

"Oh, think nothing of it." Said Morris.

She got the children something to eat, while Morris continued to chatter
away. She only half listened. Suddenly, Morris said, "Oh, oh."

Deanna sensed alarm from the man. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"Klingons."

"What about them?"

"Well, I'm kinda on their bad side, in particular, a Duras family." Morris
informed her.

"How did you get on their bad side?"

"Oh, now it's your turn with the questions, huh?" Said Morris. "Like you,
I have a personal side too. Why don't you take the kids to the back and
let me handle this."

Suddenly, Deanna had a bad feeling about all of this and she did not like
it. Even so, she took the twins to the back of the shuttle as she was
requested.

The Klingons had been hailing him when he told Deanna to go to the back and
once they were in back he answered their hail. "Ah, Ursala and Bikker!
Nice to see you two lovely sisters, again."

Lursa growled at him. "Moran! You know our names and we would take to you
better if you would use them!"

"Our paths meet again." Morris said. "What is it you want this time?"

"Oh, you know what we want." Stated Lursa with a leer on her face. "We
want the item you stoled from the Duras family."

"Are we still squabbling over that?" Asked Morris. "I mean, come on, it
can't be that valuable."

B'Etor whispered something in her sister's ear. Lursa smiled. "Ah, this
could be interesting." She replied to her sister.

"Seems like you've gone back to transporting people." Lursa said to him.
"What? Did you stop smuggling stolen goods?"

"I'm not saying a word." Morris said defensively.

"Obviously the item that's been in our family for generations is not aboard
your shuttle." Lursa said.

Duras came onto the bridge of the ship and pushed his way roughly past
Lursa. "Tell us where it is or say that it's a good day to die!"

"Now, Duras. If you kill me you'll never find it, now will you? Besides,
as you can see I have no weapons. A courtousy to the majority of people I
transport." Morris asked as he surrepticiously pushed a button to send a
coded message.

Duras growled. "Unfortunately, you maybe right."

"So am I free to go?" Morris asked with a bit of pride behind his voice.

"No!" Duras growled.

"OK, how about a deal?"

"I make no deals with theives!"

"Oh, such strong language." Morris said in a condensending manner. "I
like to fancy myself as a connoisseur of fine treasures."

 

"Captain, we're receiving an encrypted distress signal."

Captain Zimbata looked puzzled. "Encrypted distress signal?"

"Aye,sir." said the officer. "Translating it now."

"This is very strange and unusual. Who the hell encrypts a distress
signal?" Zimbata asks rhetorically.

"Shuttle pilot in trouble with a woman and two young children. No further
information or names given, sir."

Zimbata stood up, slowly turned in thought and asked, "How far away is
this shuttle?"

"Sir!" A young man with a visor over his eyes spoke.

"Yes, Ensign?"

"It appears to be a hunderd kilometers off our starbird bow and there's a
Klingon ship within the immediate vicinity of the shuttle."

Zimbata said, "We definitely need to check this out. Helm, set
coordinates for that shuttle and ship. From the brief discription we may
have found the woman everyone is looking for. If were lucky."

"Should I signal the Hood?" Asked the communications officer.

"No, not until we're sure. I don't want to stir up any false hopes."
Informed Zimbata.

 

Deanna sensed there was trouble and Morris was hiding something. She had
not sense this before, so she thought it must be from the Klingons. She
had heard parts of the conversation through the curtain that divided the
front of the shuttle from the back of the shuttle and did not like what she
had heard.

"Mama, we're scared." Will Jr. admitted.

"I know, but it's ok. We'll be fine."

In the front of the shuttle, Morris was still trying to talk his way out of
trouble. "Duras, I have people I'm transporting here that have nothing to
do with this matter. Why don't we discuss this at another time?"

"Why should I care about these people?" Duras spit out.

"Well, they are nice enough and have not bothered anyone that I know of."

"Duras." Lursa addressed. "He sent an encryptic message out within the
last minute."

"Load phasers." Duras ordered. "I've had enough of this man."

Deanna sensed Morris's tension level rise and heard the Klingon. She was
now wishing she had agreed to any Federation vessel they had stumble across
and was now praying to the gods that any Federation vessel would come along.

Kestra and Will Jr. felt her tension and began to cry. Deanna pulled them
closer to her in a loving embrass, but she could not ease their fears, for
her fear was also great.

 

"Sir, the Klingon ship is powering their phasers."

"What's our ETA?"

"Less than a minute now."

"I see them, finally." The captain said as the two vessels start coming
into view on the screen. "Hail the Klingon Ship and be prepared to beam
aboard whoever is on that shuttle, just in case."

 

"Duras." Said Lursa. "We're being hailed by a Federation ship."

"I should go ahead and finish you now." Duras threatened.

"But you won't, because you have no idea who I may be transporting."

"I could care less about them." Growl Duras.

"I suggest you answer their hail, Duras. They are prepared to fire on us
if you don't." Lursa informed him.

"URRRAH!" Duras growled. "ANSWER THEM!"

"This is Captain Zimbata of the Federation Ship USS Victory. Stand down
your phasers!"

"Why should I?" Asked Duras. "This man has stolen from us and we want our
property back and him dead."

"Obviously that shuttle is at a disadvantage to you and you are at a
disadvantage to us. So, I suggest you stand down and we can discuss this."

"NO! WE WILL GET THIS MAN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!" Then Duras turns to his
crew. "FIRE!"

Deanna thanked the gods when she felt they were being beamed off the
shuttled barely in the knick of time. However, the children had never
experienced the sensation of being transported, so they became even more
scared and cried louder.

 

Once on the transporter padd, Deanna began to soothe her children and
explained to them it was alright. "We're safe now." She said.

As fast as she had gotten the children calm down, Captain Zimbata entered
the transporter room. "Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Zimbata."

Deanna was not sure what to say. After a moments thought she said, "I'm
looking for the Hood. Could you by chance assist me in finding this ship?"

The captain studied her for a moment. "I'm assuming you must be Mrs.
Riker."

Deanna swallowed hard and realized her older self was right. "Yes, but I
really would like to surprise my husband, if I could."

"Mrs. Riker, I don't know if you realize this or not, but there's been a
search going on for you and I have to report that you have been found."

Deanna sighed. "So there's no way I can surprise him now."

Chapter Thirty-seven

"Mrs. Riker, with all the stress he's been under, I don't know why you want
to surprise him."

"Well, he has waited this long." Deanna replied.

The captain sighed. "OK, I still have to report you being found, but I'll
see what I can do aobut surprising your husband."

"Thank you." She smiled.

"In the meantime, Ensign LaForge will show you to your quarters."

"Thank you." Deanna smiled.

"Mama, he looks funny. What is that on his face?" Will Jr. thought to
his mother.

"I think he's blind, hun." Deanna sent to her son.

"Essin LaFow, LaFore." Will Jr. looked up to his mother for the name, but
LaForge understood.

"Yes, sir." LaForge said looking down at the boy and smiling.

"Was dat on your face?"

Geordi smiled. "It's a visor. It helps me see."

"Why?"

"Well, I was born blind."

"Why?"

"Will! That's enough." Deanna scolded.

"I wanna know why too, Mama." Kestra said. "Why you born blind?"

LaForge laughed. "They're at that age aren't they?"

Deanna sighed. "I'm afraid so."

"They're cute."

"Thank you. I apologize for their extreme curiousness. It seems to be a
Betazoid trait."

"Nah," Geordy smiles. "It seems to be a quality of Starfleet officers.
They'll probably grow up and join Starfleet like their father. Personally,
I rather people ask questions than just stare."

"I can understand that."

"Well, here you go." Said Geordy as he shows them into the visitors
quarters. "The food replicator is over here. You know how to work one?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"Is there anything else you need?" He asked.

"Not that I can think of right now." She replied.

"Well, if you need anything just call us on the comm." He gestured to the
panel near the door.

"Thank you. I will."

He then departed and Will Jr. exclaims, "Oh, wow! We on a starsip!" Then
he rushes over to the window to look out.

The three of them spent the next twenty-four hours aboard the Victory. The
children enjoyed every minute they were on the Constellation-class
starship. "This is better than that shuttle, Mama." Will Jr. thought to
his mother, before he went to sleep that night.

 

The next evening, Will was in the lounge having scotch on the rocks, again.
He was on his third one for the night. "Where could she be! It's been
more than a week now! I thought I had felt something from her last night,
but I feel nothing, now. I know she's out there. Somewhere. She has to
be."

"Hello again, Billy Boy." She said as she agressively sits herself down on
his lap, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hi, a.." Will starts to say. "Um, I'd rather you not do that."

"Oh, but Billy Boy, I just want to take your mind off your troubles." She
says as she strokes the side of his face.

"Look, really." He starts to stand up, but falls back down into the chair.

"Oh, I'm sure if you let me, I could take your mind off your troubles and
we could have some fun."

"You don't give up do you?"

"No." Then she plants a kiss on his lips.

When she releases him, he had to catch his breath. Will was a little dizzy
and he could not decide if it was the scotch or her kiss.

"Um, why don't you have a seat over there." He gestures to the chair
across from him.

"Well, as long as I can have the presence of your company." She says,
stroking his face again, as she gets up off his lap to sit in the chair.

Three hours later, Marie and Will were still in the lounge. By this time,
Will had lost count of how many glasses of scotch he had had. "I think I
need to go." Will informed Marie.

"Oh, Billy Boy." She gets up, walks over to him and plants herself on his
lap. "Stay a little longer." Then she kisses him again.

 

Deanna and the children were back in the transporter room.

"Mama, dat's scary. Do we have to get on it?" Will Jr asked.

"Yes, Mama. Do we have to?" Kestra agreed.

"I assure you two, it's OK." She sits down beside them and continues.
"It's another way to get from one place to another and it won't hurt you.
In fact, if you try to enjoy it, instead of being afraid of it, it can kind
of tickle."

Both their eyes got wide and they said in unison, "Really?"

"Uh, Huh." Deanna affirmed to her children with a smile. "Besides, I
promise if you get on the transporter, you will be on your Daddy's ship
next and you will see him soon."

Both of them smiled and took their places on the circles without further
reluctance. Before they knew it, they were on the Hood and the two
children squeelled with glee.

The captain of the Hood was there to greet them. "Hello Mrs. Riker.
Children."

"Hello" Deanna said as the children said, "Hewwo." At the same time.

"I'll take you to your husband's quarters and then you all can be reunited
shortly there after. At your request, Mrs. Riker, we have not yet told
him, so that you may surprise him. I don't understand why you chose to do
that, but I guess it's your decision."

"Thank you."

They were excorted to his quarters and then they waited there until Will
showed up.

"We see Daddy, soon now, Mama?" They asked.

"Yes." she smiled at her children.

 

"I really need to be going." Will told Marie.

"I'll go with you!" She exclaimed.

"No, That's OK." Will staggered a bit getting up. Her being on his lap
and the Scotch he had drunk did not go together very well.

She stood and followed him out of the lounge. As they walked she continued
to paw him with her hands.

"Marie, please." Will slurred. "It's been a long day and I really want to
go to my quarters."

"By all means! We can finish our little party there!"

"No, I have to get some sleep."

She leans on his shoulder. "Oh, Billy Boy, I'll make sure you're tucked
in and sleeping like a baby!"

"Nice offer, but no." He said, trying to resist her advances. "How much
more can a man take of this?" He asked himself.

He kept trying to keep her from leaning on him, but she continued to try
and hang on him. They walked down the corridor to the turbolift and she
continued her seductive pursuit of him.

They arrived at his quarters and the doors to his quarters open. Will
walked in with Marie hanging on him and lipstick all over his face. Will's
eyes got very wide at what he saw and he suddenly sobbered.

"Deanna!"

Deanna saw the lipstick on Will's face and the woman she remembered as
pawing her husband years ago. Anger rose inside her.

"Daddy!" The children ran to him and grabbed his legs in a hug, where he
stood, staring at their mother.

Will stared at Deanna in shock. "You're here!"

"Obviously you were not that worried about me." Deanna said in anger
looking at Marie. Then Deanna started to walk out of his quarters.

"Deanna!" Will yelled after her. "Deanna, it's not what you're thinking."

She reels around. "Then why is there lipstick all over your face and she
came with you to your quarters hanging all over you?"

"I, ah," Marie started to say.

"Yes, you'd better leave. Unless you want to be on the receiving end of a
Betazoid woman's wrath, also." Deanna looked at her with distained.

The children were quiet, still clutching their father and watching
everything that was happening. Marie, on the other hand hurried out of
Will's quarters quickly.

"Deanna." Will started to walk over to her and hug her.

"Don't touch me!" Deanna recoiled.

"Honestly, Deanna." Will said. "She was just following me here. Nothing
has ever happened between us and nothing was going to happen."

"How do I know that?"

Will sighed. Then he finally resigned himself to what it looked like it
may have been that night. "You don't know and I can't prove it to you."

"I had hoped to surprise you, but it looks like the surprise is on me."
Deanna said. Then she turns to walk out of Will's quarters.

"Deanna, where are you going?"

"To request the use of the visitor's quarters until this ship takes us back
to Betazed!" She said as she walks out the doors.

"Daddy?" Asked Kestra. "What just happen?"

Will did not answer Kestra's question. He stood there and stared at the
doors to his quarters in shock.

Chapter Thirty-eight

The captain knew Mrs. Riker was very angry about something. Even so, he
could not understand why she wanted to be in the visitor quarters and not
with her husband.

Captain DeSoto thought for a moment with his hands clasped together, first
two fingers pointing upward on his chin. "Mrs. Riker, I don't know what
problems you and Lieutenant Commander Riker are having and it's none of my
business, but I think you two need to work them out somehow. I really feel
that giving you the visitor's quarters is not the answer. I would not be
doing you two any favours. At this point, I see no necessity in assigning
you guest quarters."

"So, you're denying me the use of the visitor's quarters."

"Yes, ma'am, I am." DeSoto stated firmly. "Unless you can give me a
legitiment reason for you to be in separate quarters. Besides personal
reasons. That is not a good enough reason to use the extra resources on
this ship."

"No, sir. I can't give you any other reason." Deanna replied. "I just
feel our disagreements are significant enough for us not to be in the same
quarters together."

"Well, then marital disagreements is not something I can approve separate
quarters." DeSoto stated. "I think you two would be better off trying to
work them out during your stay here."

Deanna frowned. "Well, thank you, sir."

Deanna started to leave when the captain addressed her again. "Mrs. Riker."

She turned back around to face him. "Yes, sir."

"I just wanted to tell you that you and Riker have two lovely children."

"Thank you." She replied with a smile. However, she sensed he had an
ulterior motive for mentioning their children.

When she realized he was finished she departed from his office. She then
begrudginly returned to their quarters. "Well, it looks like I'm stuck
with him until we get back." She thought angerily.

Once she returned to their quarters, Will had the children in bed and
asleep. He saw that she had returned and said, "Well, I thought you were
going to see about different quarters?"

"I have nothing to say to you." She stated firmly and proceeded to arrange
the sofa so she could sleep on it.

"Maybe you have nothing to say, but I do." He informed her. "Do you know
what assume means?"

"If you mean make a judgement on something then yes." She said as she
turned to face him. "If you mean something, else then I have no idea what
you mean."

"When one assumes something they make an ass out of you and me."

"If that's a joke it's not funny." Deanna stated.

"Well, if you had opened your mind tonight, you might have sensed something
totally different than what you did, but no. You've been closing your mind
off to everyone, lately. Me, your mother, hell for all I know the
children, too."

She stops what she was doing and looked him square in the eye. "And what's
that suppose to mean?"

"You have been refusing to talk to anyone about why you are so angry
lately."

"I am not angry!"

"You couldn't prove it by me." Will stated.

"I don't have to listen to this." Deanna said as she started to walk back
out the door.

Will jumps to catch up with her. Then he jumps in front of her path. "Oh,
no you don't. Not this time. You are going to stay here and at least
listen."

Deanna crossed her arms and looked at him angerily. "OK, whatever it is
you have to say, say it."

"I don't know what's going on between you and your mother, and I'm not sure
why you became so angry about me wanting to return to a ship. As for
tonight though, you've met that woman and you know how persistant she can
be. Just because I returned to my quarters with her does not mean
anything. If anything, she was insistant on coming with me."

"Oh, please!"

"You just happen to have seen her leaning on me and all, again. What you
did not see was me trying to pry her off of me. Nor did you hear me
telling her I'm a married man and that I wanted to return here by myself.
Now you can assume what you want, but if you think about what you know
about that woman and past history, you would know I am being honest with
you. Now, you're welcome to join me or you can stay out here. Suit
yourself." Then he started to leave the room for the sleeping area.

She stood and watched him start leave for the other room. She lowered her
mental blocks and sensed his anger and frustration. "Will." She said
softly.

He turned towards her. "You're right and I'm sorry." She said trying to
keep from crying. "I've been upset about a lot of things lately and it was
not fair to you that I just looked at the obvious intead of asking you
about it first."

"Well that's a start." Will said.

"It's just before you left, you became so distant and no matter how hard I
tried, you did not talk to me. You just kept all your thoughts to yourself
and stayed up late staring up at the stars. Then you decided to come here
without talking to me about it. You never asked how I felt or what I
wanted. So, I just felt it was pointless to even try to talk to you after
that."

"Deanna." He said with remorse. "I'm sorry if you felt like I wasn't
wanting to talk to you."

"You just walked out and left us!" She shouted.

"Hey, I asked you to come with me." He said defensively.

"Yes, but you never even discussed with me what I wanted." Deanna said.
"I tried to talk to you about returning to my studies and you refused to
discuss it any further. You just decided it was discussed once and that
was the end of it. Well, things do change, Will!"

"OK, I'm listening." Will said. "And if you want to go back now, that's
fine. It's just, if you do go back, I think you need help with the
children, so you are not burning the candle at both ends. Even if I was
there, the need for help would still be needed. They can't stay in
preschool all day."

"Well, I know you don't want Mother looking after them and neither do I."
Deanna stated with anger as she added the last.

"No, but I don't understand why you are so angry with her."

"I really don't want to discuss her."

"Regardless, of how I feel, I've heard you have not been very nice to her
lately." Will informed. "In fact, it would seem your mother and I have
been getting along better than you have with her, lately."

"I said, I don't want to talk about her."

"I may not care for your mother's attitude sometimes, but I do care about
how she is treated." Will said. "I want to know what you're taking out on
her."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You're blaming her, aren't you?" Will asked.

Deanna just got quiet. "OK, fine." Said Will. "Then who are you going to
get to help you with the children while you study?"

"I don't know yet."

"OK, you finish your studies then what are you going to do."

"You joined Starfleet to beat Kirk's record." Deanna said. "I want to
join to be one of the best psychologists they ever had."

"Starfleet?" Will said in shock. "I had no idea."

"You never asked." Deanna informed. "Just as mother never asked. You
just assumed that I'd spend five years at home with the kids and stay on
Betazed."

"I'm not so sure it's such a good idea for the children to have us both..."

"There are several officers who have spouses in Starfleet and have
children. So don't tell me what is a good idea or not a good idea!" She
said with anger.

"I don't want to worry about both you and the children."

"Oh, please! What you do is even more of a risk then what I plan on doing
in Starfleet."

"Alright, fair enough." Will said. "So while you are studying on Betazed
and I'm here, how are we going to juggle the kids?"

"What?" Deanna asked.

"Well, I still want to be there for them, but I'm out here and you're on
Betazed. Am I not going to have time with them while you're attending the
University?"

"Really, you make it sound like we're..." She paused with a sudden
realization. "We are going in two different directions aren't we?"

"I don't know, you tell me." Will said, still sounding a little angry.

Deanna looked some what confused for a few seconds. "You know, maybe we do
need some time to think about things. Maybe everything was a little too
soon. Maybe..." She shook her head. Tears were collecting into her eyes.
"I don't know anymore about us. All I know is what I feel I need to do
and you know what you feel you need to do."

Will walked closer to her, pulled her close to him and hugged her. Deanna
laid her head on his chest and cried, as he kissed the top of her head.
"Imzadi," Will said. "It's OK. We'll work through this."

 

A few days later, the Hood arrived at Betazed. As Deanna and the children
were getting ready to beam down, Will said his good byes to the children.
Then he faced Deanna. "I guess this is good bye."

"I don't like good byes." She said feeling a little uncomfortable and
sad. "Why don't we say, until next time."

There was a brief pause in their conversation. Then Will said, "Well,
good luck with your studies and you know you can also come and see me
whenever you like. It doesn't have to be just the kids."

"I know." Deanna replied. "And you can see us when you like."

"Deanna, I feel like we're getting divorced, not separated." Will said.
"Geeze! This is the most awkward moment I have ever had with you!"

"As you said, we will eventually work through this, but we agreed that for
now, we need some time apart."

"And you don't think this isn't tearing me up inside to see you go your way
and me my way?" He asked. "At least for a while."

"I know." She said sadly. "We're both hurting, but we agreed we need to
find ourselves, before we can figure out how we feel for each other. Or
even if we do feel the same way."

"Yes, but maybe we can do all this together."

"Not unless you want to be stationed on Betazed, for a while longer."
Deanna said. "And I really don't think that's what you want either."

"No, I don't." Will said. "You were right. I do want to break Kirk's
record still and I can't do that on Betazed."

"Well, I'll send the kids to stay with you in a couple of months." Deanna
said.

"Deanna." Will placed his hands on her shoulders. "As I said, I would
not mind seeing you, too."

"I know." Deanna said. "When there's a break in my studies. Of course,
you do get shore leave from time to time. You could come and see us also.
It's a two way street you know."

"Yes, you're right." He agreed.

"Well, Mother has been anxious to get her say in with me, so I'd better get
down there." Deanna said trying to change the subject. "I don't relish
listening to her, but I guess this will be my chance to get some things off
my chest with her."

"If she let's you get a word in edge wise." Will joked.

"True." Deanna agreed.

"You know, Deanna, we may have agreed we need some time apart, but I'll
still miss you."

Deanna felt tears well up in her eyes. "I'll miss you, too, but we have
our paths to follow and whether or not the meet eventually..."

"Yes, I know. Only time will tell." Will finished.

"Daddy? Mama?" Kestra got her parents attention.

As Will and Deanna looked down at her, it was Will Jr. who finished the
question. "Why don't you want to be together?"

With surprise on their faces, they both got down to the children's level
and Will said, "Well, it's not that we don't, but we have things we have
to do and we just can't be together right now."

"We don't understand." Said Kestra.

"What your father is saying, is we have to have some time out from each
other so we can think about what we have to do."

"Like when Kessa and I fight, then you make us take time out?" Asked Will
Jr.

Will replied with a some what of an embarrassed chuckle, "Yes, something
like that."

Kestra holds her head down and says, "That's not good."

Will and Deanna then stood. Look at each other briefly, but they did not
say another word to each other. Finally, Deanna turned towards the
transporter padd. "Let's go, Will, Kestra."

The children looked at their father and said sadly, "Bye Daddy." Then
gave him another hug and kiss, before they step on a circle on the
transporter padd. "Mama, told us we have to stand on the circles." Will
Jr. said with a smile.

Will smiled and chuckled. "Yes, that's right, son."

Then Will watched them beam off the ship. He felt an emptiness within
himself as he watched Deanna leave. He did not know if they would ever
recapture the feelings they once had for each other. He knew he still
loved her and she loved him, but things had changed and now she was gone.

 

Imzadi: My Version Ch. 39 PG

 

Chapter Thirty-nine

 

Deanna and the children had been beamed down in front of their home and Lwaxana and Chandra were there to greet them. At least Chandra was there to greet them.

"Where have you been, Little One and where's Will? You know you had us scared half to death? Why have you been blocking everyone out and why did you leave without telling anyone? I've been worried sick about you!"

Deanna walked to the front door with the children in tow. "You know that's your problem. You treat me like a child and you always have to stick your nose in where it doesn't belong."

"Really? Well, you've been acting like a child lately! Blocking your thoughts and running off without telling anyone!" Lwaxana exclaimed.

"Well, I for one am glad you're back." Stated Chandra.

"Thank you, Chandra." Deanna said as they all walked through the door. "At least someone around here knows how to welcome someone home!" She said as she looked directly at her mother.

"I've just been very worried about you, that's all." Lwaxana informed.

"You know, Mother, there for a while I did blame you for Will leaving. Now, I realize you were only part of the problem."

"What? Don't tell me, you and Will are getting divorced! A daughter of the Fifth House getting divorced! Why that's just disgraceful!" Lwaxana continued her terrade.

"No, Mother, we're not getting divorced." Deanna informed her.

"Well, that's a relief." Lwaxana said. "So, then where is he?"

"He's on the Hood. We've decided to separate."

"Separate?" Lwaxana said in surprise. "Well, for how long and why?"

"I don't know. Just until we work things out."

"What's there to work out? You love each other still don't you?" Lwaxana asked.

Deanna sighed. "Yes, we do, Mother, but it was all to much to soon. All of this. We have to find out who we are still and find out what we really want in life and we just can't do that together. As much as we want too, we can't. We have too many differences right now and we've just grown apart."

"Apart? Well, how in the world can you grow back together if you're not together?" Lwaxana asked surprised.

"I don't know. We just will and you will stay out of it." Deanna informed her. "I don't want you involved in our marriage anymore."

"I was just trying to help!"

"Well, don't, Mother."

"Well, the children need to learn about being Betazoid, and everything else that goes with it." Lwaxana said. "Why, you're not even teaching them how to worship the gods and give them thanks!"

"Well, maybe I don't believe in the deities you do, Mother or at least maybe I don't worship them like you do." Deanna informed her.

"That is sacreligious! I won't have my grandchildren..."

"No, I won't have you meddling in how we raise our children, Mother!" Deanna shouted. "That's part of the problem right there."

"Oh, really?" Lwaxana asked looking appaulled.

"Yes, really." Deanna affirmed. "We don't need your help and we don't want your help."

"Well, if that's how you're going to be, I'm leaving!"

"Fine!"

Lwaxana stormed out of the house, just as angry with Deanna as Deanna was with her.

Deanna turned to Chandra. "What are you planning on doing, now that you've had Tebra?"

"I'm not sure yet. Why do you ask?" Chandra asked.

 

As fast as Deanna left Marie Roselerio was all over Will in the lounge. "Look, you almost cost me the most important thing in my life and I didn't do anything. Now I would appreciate it if you would stop coming on to me." Will demanded.

"Oh, but Billy Boy, I just want to help you take your mind off of things." She replied.

"Well, don't." Will said. "I like what my mind is on and I don't need you distracting me from it."

"Oh, Billy Boy doesn't want to come out and play?"

Will had really tired of her game and rudely pushed her off his lap. "I'm sorry, but I have had enough of you and as I said, I would appreciate it if you would cease in your behaviour toward me."

Will then stood and proceeded to walk out of the lounge, leaving a shocked Roselario sitting on the floor. He returned to his quarters, then decided to read a book and call it a night.

 

Meanwhile, back at the Riker home Chandra was surprised about the question Deanna had asked her. "You want me to help you with the twins while you go to school?"

"Yes, if you want to." Deanna said. "After all, you're practically family to them."

Chandra smiles. "Well, I'd be honoured to help you out with them."

The twins squeeled their joy. "Aunt Chandwa going to watch us!"

Then they both stopped and said in unison, "This mean we not go to pweschool?"

Deanna smiled at them, "No, since you enjoy it you can still go, it's just Aunt Chandra will help out when I need an extra hand around here."

"Oh, OK." They said together with joy.

"Tebwa, we get to play together a lot mow!" Will Jr. told the little one year old.

Tebra giggled her appreciation of the twins' joy.

"Oh, you know Tebra can't play everything with you two yet?" Chandra asked them.

"Yes, we know, but we still like to pway what we can wif her." Will Jr. said.

Chandra and Deanna giggled with gladness that the two three year olds enjoyed Tebra's company, even though they could not actually play together just yet. Afterwards, Deanna went on to tell Chandra about her classes, schedules and other things partaining to helping out when Deanna need the extra hands.

Chapter Forty

 

It had been over two years since Will had seen Deanna. They had talked over several communiques, though, but mainly about the children. Will kept telling Deanna he wanted to see her, but she kept making excuses as to why she could not come. Now, he could not get a hold of her again and was getting very concerned.

He put in a call to his mother-in-law. "William, I tell you, I don't know what to do with her anymore!"

"Well, where is she?" Will demanded more forcefully than he had meant to do.

"On Earth taking some Starfleet protocol classes or something like that." Lwaxana waved her hands in front of herself in a manner that said she was not quite sure. "I am so upset with her about leaving the children behind with Chandra, too!"

"She did what!" Will exclaimed sounding very upset.

"Yes, I tried to tell her, but she refused to listen to this old...." Will disconnected the link before Lwaxana had finished her sentence. "meddling fool." She finished.

She turned to Mr. Homn. "You know, when Deanna was a child I took her everywhere I went. Oh, I refused to leave her behind, no matter what diplomatic duty I had. She was always there no matter what, with tutors and everything. Now, look what she does to those poor children!"

Mr. Homn stands quietly facing her. It was hard to tell for sure if he was listening or not, but he look at her as she said every word, even so. Lwaxana continues with speech.

"Well, Mr. Homn, at least you listen to me." She sighed touching his shoulder. "You're the only one who does anymore. Tell me, am I really a nosy, meddling, old fool?"

Mr. Homn stares at her without a word spoken. "Maybe, I am." Lwaxana finally said sadly and walks out of the room.

 

Will called over to Chandra and Teb home. "I heard the children are with you."

"Yes, they are." Chandra confirmed. "Would you like to speak with them?"

"Yes, but first I want to ask you, how are they?"

"Honestly, Will." Chandra began forlornly and started to speak in a clinical manner. "Father said there are some abandonment issues and they both also have some depression. I think he said, it was Dysthymia. Some form of mild depression, I don't know. What I do know is Kestra has not said a word since Deanna left two months ago."

"That's not good." Will said.

"No, it's not and I've tried to tell Deanna, but she thinks they will adjust."

"Does your father agree with Deanna?"

"You really respect his opinion, don't you?" Chandra asked and Will nodded. "Well, at least one of you is listening. She's not listening to him, that's for sure."

"Can you tell me where on Earth she's taking these courses she needs?" Will asked.

"San Francisco Starfleet Acadamy." Chandra informed him.

"Thanks, Chandra." Will said. "May I speak to them now."

"Yes, you may, but unless you can read Kestra's mind, I'm afraid you won't get a word out of her."

"I know, but it still might be helpful if I at least tried." Will said.

The children were close to six years now. They had four more months to go, before their sixth birthday and they had spent the last couple years being shuttled back and forth to one parent's home to the other. They never complained and were always glad to see their parents, but when Will saw them approach the screen, he could tell they were not happy.

"Hi, Daddy." Said Will Jr.

"Hello, son."

"Are we going to see you soon?" he asked his father.

"Yes, you will, soon." Will promised. "How are you two?"

"Fine." Stated Will Jr.

"Kestra?" Will addressed her. "I heard what your brother said, but I want to hear from you."

Kestra looked at him briefly and then looked away. "Kessa is quiet these days, Daddy." His son told him. "I can't even get her to talk to me."

"Are you being good to your sister?"

"Yes, Daddy." His son said. "I'm trying to take good care of her."

Will smiled. "That's good son, but let Aunt Chandra take care of the big stuff for her. OK?"

"OK, Daddy, but if she won't say anything how is she going to get what she wants?"

"Don't worry, Chandra knows." Will told his son. "Listen, I have to make another call, before I have to go back on duty. You two be good for your Aunt Chandra and I'll see you soon."

"We will Daddy." Will Jr said sadly.

"Your mother and I love you two."

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Will?"

"We miss you."

"I miss you two, too."

"When will you and Mama get back together?"

Will sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know, son. I wish I could give you an answer, but. Well, let's just say, your mom and Kestra have a lot in common."

"Mother, doesn't talk to you, either?"

Will's head popped up sharply with his eyes in a puzzled squint. "Has your mom spoken with you since she left?"

"No." Will Jr. said sadly. "It's been a long time. She calls Aunt Chandra after we go to bed at night, but..."

"Well, Earth and Betazed have a different time. Days and nights are different. Maybe she's still trying to adjust to that." Will tried to comfort him. "I'm sure she'll figure it out soon."

"What did we do?"

"Son, you two didn't do anything." Will informed his son. "Listen, I really have to put this call through before I have to go back on duty. I will see you soon." Will emphasised the will very strongly. "And you two did nothing wrong, I promise you that."

"OK, Daddy, We love you."

"I love both of you, also."

Will disconnected the call and hurriedly put a call into San Francisco Acadamy. "Yes, I need to speak to a Deanna Riker please. Tell her it's her husband calling."

"I'll put it through, sir."

"Thank you."

Deanna's face came onto the screen. "Hello, Will."

"Deanna! What the hell were you thinking! You left the children behind on Betazed, while you go off and do whatever you want as though you haven't a care in the world!"

"I would hardly say that." Deanna said, in a controlled voice.

"You know, this could affect them for years to come. They'll feel abandonment issues for a long time."

"I really don't think they feel abandoned." Deanna said. "They just need time to adjust to living with Teb and Chandra."

"Have you talked to Chandra, lately?"

"Yes, I have and I disagree with Professor Xerx." She informed Will, adamantly.

"Deanna, the man's had more years in psychology than you have." Will reminded her. "I think you would listen to him. I know I do and I've spoken with the children. At least to Will. Kestra won't talk to anyone. Much like you."

"I'm talking to you aren't I?" She asked a little taken abacked.

"No, not really, Deanna. You dodge the issues everytime I talk to you and I haven't seen you in person for two years now." Will stated. "I had hoped that when the children came, you would have come at least part of the time."

"Well, I couldn't. I had to study. You know that, Will." This time she had a slight touch of anger in her voice.

"Deanna, go get the kids." Will said. "Spend some time here on the Hood with me before you go wherever it is you're assigned and let's try and work something out here."

"I will send for the children when I can. I even told Chandra this."

"Fine, Deanna." Will said angerly. "Do what you want. When you're ready to talk you know where I am. In the meantime, I will see the children as usual and for God's sake, Deanna! Talk to the children! They think all this is their fault!"

"Oh, Little Will was just trying to get your attention, that's all. He's fine."

"I don't believe you!" Will stated in astonishment. "Any other child you would be listening and trying to do something as a psychologist, but your own children you don't do a thing with! You're also the empathic one here and yet you even deny the obvious!"

"They are fine, Will!" Deanna said more strongly than she had anything else in the conversation.

"I don't have a degree in psychology nor am I empathic, but I can see they are not at all happy and they are hurting." Will informed her. "Now, I'm going to tell you this once, Deanna, if you don't do something with the children, I will!"

"Will, I assure you they will be fine." Deanna said, slightly alarmed at Will's last statement.

"Fine. I can't believe this. I really can't, Deanna, but if that's what you want to believe, go right ahead."

Will cut the link and went to his captain to ask for time to speak with him at his earliest convenience.

 

Will finally got a chance to speak with Captain DeSoto and he was very passionate about his request to the captain.

"Well, Lieutent, I understand you want them here tonight, but I can not get the accommodations for them that quickly. It takes time."

Will sighed a deep and heavy sigh. "OK, I guess that's all I can ask for. I appreciate that you are willing to have them aboard. Thank you, sir. They are good kids and I think you will not mind having them aboard."

"Oh, I'm sure, if they are anything like their dad, they are the best kids in Starfleet." DeSoto said with a laugh.

Even Will had his first good laugh for today. "Well, I'm glad to see you laugh, Riker. I know you have been under a lot of stress lately."

"Ah, I can't deny that, sir." Will said.

"Even so, your work has been exceptional and I feel you deserve a promotion."

"Thank you, Sir." Will replied.

"You deserve the rank of Commander." DeSoto said. "You've worked hard, even under stress and pressure. You also have an exceptional service record. Gone beyond the call of duty in many cases, these past couple of years. You really deserve the promotion."

"I appreciate that, Sir."

"You're dismissed, now." Captain DeSoto stated.

Will left feeling a little happier with the news of his promotion. He felt at least one thing was going right in his life, even if his family was not doing to well.

Chapter 41

 

It was six months later and Lwaxana Troi was at Teb and Chandra's home visiting with her grandchildren. Garth Xerx was also there, but he mainly observe the situation, even though Deanna said they were fine and asked him to not counsel the children. He and Lwaxana figured his presence would be good for them, if nothing else.

"Kestra, please say something to your grandmother." Lwaxana sent to her granddaughter's mind. Lwaxana shook her head sadly. "Well, at least eat some lunch, dear."

Kestra shook her head.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Who could that be?" Chandra thought.

Chandra went to the door and when she openned it her eyes got wide. "Will!"

"Daddy!" Will Jr. shouted and ran to his father to hug him.

"Ah, William!" Lwaxana said. "Please do something with your daughter! She won't talk and she won't eat!"

"I'm planning on it, Mrs. Troi." Will said to her. "Chandra, would you mind getting their things together. I am going to take them to live with me on the Hood."

Will's statement got Kestra's attention. She got up and went to him. Then looking up to him with questioning eyes, she stopped in front of him. Will knelt down to her and hugged her. "Yes, honey. I'm taking you to come live with me."

For the first time in months Kestra smiled and without a word, she threw her arms around her father's neck.

"Does Deanna know anything about this?" Chandra asked.

"I told her, but not in exact words."

Lwaxana smiled approvingly.

"Mrs.Troi." Chandra began. "Aren't you going to do anything? Or at least say something?"

"Oh, no!" Lwaxana smiled while placing a hand on her chest, and then added, mocking Deanna. "I don't want to meddle! After all, Deanna told me to stay out of how they raise their children!"

"So, you approve of Will taking the children without talking to Deanna first?"

"I don't see any problem, especially if Deanna knows how Will feels. Nor do I sense any ill intent from him. Do you Teb?" Lwaxana asked turning to the other men in the room. "Garth?"

Both of them shook their heads. "In fact, Chandra, I highly recommend it as a theraputic measure." Garth smiled at his daughter. "I think it is just what the children need. Now, go get their things so they can be with their father."

"After all he is their father." Lwaxana added.

"OK, but I will call Deanna and let her know where they are." Chandra said not knowing exactly what to do.

"That's fine, Chandra." Will told her. "I was going to do that myself once we got back to the Hood and they got settled."

Chandra went to get the children's things together, as Will turned to Lwaxana. "Thanks, Mrs. Troi. If you had not told me what was going on, I would not have known." He informed her. "I don't know what's going on with Deanna, but she has pushed me away and from the looks of things, everyone else too."

"What!" Lwaxana said in mock shock. "You are actually thanking me for meddling into your family's affairs?"

Will smiled. "I guess we had that one coming, but yes I am and I know you did it because you care about the children and their well being."

Lwaxana looked as though she could cry. "That's all I ever wanted to do, is take care of my family. I know I may seem over bearing at times, but I only want what's best for them. For my whole family, actually, and you're family too, now. From what I can see, this family needs to be together. You two are Imzadi and I know Deanna will come to her senses soon. She has to."

Will sighed. "I hope you're right, Mrs. Troi."

"OK, I have the children's belongings together." Chandra said as she came down the stairs to their home. "Has anyone gotten Kestra to eat anything?"

Lwaxana looked around. "Where is Kestra? She was right.." As Lwaxana walked into the dining area she saw Kestra at the table, slowly eating her lunch. Lwaxana smiled, then turned back around. "She's going to be fine. I can feel it."

"We go now, Daddy?" Asked Will Jr.

"Well, let's wait for Kestra to finish getting ready. OK?"

"OK."

When Kestra was satisfied with lunch, Will gather up their things and loaded them into the shuttle craft. "Oh, cool!" Will Jr. said. "We get to ride in Dad's shuttle craft!"

"Well, it's not really mine." Will said.

"That's OK." His son said. "You're driving!"

"Well, say good bye to your grandmother and hop aboard." Will said.

The twins hugged and kissed their grandmother. "Now, you be good for your father." She said.

"We will." Said Will Jr. Then he literally hopped on to the shuttle craft.

Kestra started to climb aboard, then she turned around and ran back to give her grandmother another hug. "I love you, Grandmother."

Tears rolled from Lwaxana's eyes as she smiled and said into Kestra's mind, "Those are the best words I've heard in a long time, Prescious!" She held her granddaughter for a few seconds softly crying and then she kissed Kestra's cheek and told her, "Now, run along and don't keep your father waiting."

Garth Xerx watched Kestra release her grandmother to get on the shuttle and thought, "For once Lwaxana's meddling has done a lot of good."

"Oh, you be quiet and let me enjoy this moment, Garth!" Lwaxana sent to him as stood. "If I hadn't helped Will and pulled some strings with Starfleet, the children would still be moping around here."

Will started the engine to the shuttle and departed to go back to the Hood.

 

Chandra called Deanna on her ship, after everyone had left. "My mother did what?" Deanna was furious. "And you allowed Will to take them to the Hood?"

"Well, Father and Teb insisted on it." Chandra told her. "In fact they supported Lwaxana in her decision. Deanna, I had no idea. I mean, Will said he told you he was, but not in exact words."

Deanna took a deep breath. "Yes, he did, Chandra."

"Oh." Chandra responded.

"I just didn't listen at the time." Deanna said, then added with anger. "However, my mother had no right to get invovled in the situation and I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!"

"Deanna, now." Chandra said. "Don't do anything rash. You've hurt her enough."

"Now you're taking her side?"

"Well, you have been rather mean to her at times and for quite a while now." Chandra stated. "I mean, she can be rather hard to take sometimes, but.."

"I don't believe you!" Deanna said, stunned.

"I'm just telling you the truth, Deanna." Chandra said. "It was good you finally did tell her how you felt, but there have been times.."

Deanna disconnected the link to Chandra. Then she called her mother.

"How dare you!" Deanna verbally attacked her mother.

"Wh...Wh.. I.. I.." Lwaxana stammered.

"I wanted the children to be on Betazed, not riding around all over the galaxy!" Deanna shouted. "Then you had to butt in again and pull some strings with Starfleet to hurry and get them aboard a ship!"

"It.. It.. It's not just a starship, Deanna." Lwaxana finally said. "It's where their father lives!"

"I did not like being dragged all over the galaxy as a child and I don't want my children to be either! I will not have you...."

"Kestra finally ate and spoke." Lwaxana interrupted.

Deanna paused with shock. "What? I had no idea. I was told about Will, but no one told me about Kestra. At least, I don't remember anyone saying anything about Kestra."

"Well, how can they if you keep closing your mind off to everyone. Even Garth tried to tell you, but you just refused to drop your mental blocks." Lwaxana told her daughter. "Honestly, Little One, I have no idea what's gotten into you lately."

"Mother, I'm sorry." Deanna said softly.

"I'm not the only one you need to apologize to." Lwaxana informed her. "Now, I can't see how in the world you can do your job and not take care of your family like you should and on top of it all I, as the matriarch of this family, have to intercede where I'm not wanted just to."

Deanna broke the connection again and just sat in the quiet of her quarters for a long period of time. She finally fell into a fitfull sleep where she was sitting.

"Here we go again. I don't relish going through that portal."

Deanna stirred and finally woke to see her older self again. "Yes, It's me again." The older Deanna said with her arms crossed in front of her. "You would think you would get a clue the first time, but no you're too stubborn and thick headed. I guess it comes with the territory."

"I've had a long day. I really..."

"No, Will had to only see his younger self once and he got it together. Not you though, and so I don't have to come back a third time, you are going to listen and figure this out one way or another."

"Oh, I got it. You didn't have to come back here again."

The older Deanna rolled her eyes. "No, you apparently didn't or things would not have gone this far. Will is your Imzadi and that is forever. So, you better start working on what ever it is that you need to work on and this time do it right so I don't have to come back and beat you over the head!"

The older Deanna was there for three hours that night. It took that long to get through to the younger Deanna. She finally conceeded to the fact that Will had been trying to reach out to her. Now, it was she who needed to stop pushing him away and actually talk to him and work things out with her Imzadi.

Chapter 42

Will got back to the Hood a few days later, with two happier children. The captain and a few other crew members were in the shuttle bay to great them.

"Welcome back, Commander." Said Captain DeSoto.

Then Will suddenly got a kiss on the cheek. "Welcome back, Billy Boy!"

Will tried to take Marie's smile and gesture for what it looked like and let it go as he turned his attention back to the captain.

"Well, well." Said the captain as he kneeled down. "Are these two little crew members the famous ones we met a few years ago?"

"Yes, they are, Sir." Will said. "You remember Will Riker Jr. and Kestra Riker?"

"Oh, yes." DeSoto affirmed. "My, you two have grown!"

The two children giggled. "We're six now." Said little Will.

"Oh, my, you two are getting to be a big officers, now aren't you?"

More giggles came from the Riker children. "We're not officers yet!" Kestra finally spoke.

Will smiled as he watched how happy his children were now. For the last few months all he had seen were sad faces every time he called to speak with them and now he saw brighter faces.

"Well, on my ship, you two are the youngest crew members aboard."

Little Will stood up straight and proud. "Thank you, Sir. We will do our best to serve this ship!" Then Will Jr dropped his posture and the twins giggled again.

Then DeSoto stood up and started to address Will. "Commander, there have been three messages from your estranged wife. I'm guessing she started calling sometime after you left Betazed."

The word estranged brought Will up short, for he had not really considered Deanna was estranged from him. However, the realization of that fact was starting to dawn on him, now that his captain said it.

Kestra tugged at his pant leg. "Daddy, are we going to get Mama and bring her home, too?"

"Oy!" Will thought to himself. "How do I explain this." Then he kneels down to her and tells her, "Honey, we'll call your mother later and talk to her, but for now." He paused and looked around. "Lieutenant Reilly?"

She was starting to leave when she heard Will call out to her. "Are the children OK?"

"Oh, yes. They're fine." Will said to the young nurse. "I was just wondering if you would take them to the lounge for some ice cream or something, while I speak with the captain."

"Oo! Daddy! Can I have chocolate chocolate chip, with fudge topping and chocolate sprinkles?"

Will chuckled. "Like Mother, Like Daughter! Yes, you may, Kestra."

"Sir?" Asked the nurse. "Isn't that a lot of sugar?"

"I'm just glad to see she eating something, Lieutenant." Riker stated with a smile. "Besides, she's eaten that since before she was born. Something she inherited from her mother, I guess."

"Well, I'll gladly take them for ice cream." She said with a smile.

"OK, kids." Will said. "This is Lieutenant Reilly. She's a nurse on this ship and she's going to take you for some ice cream while I talk to the captain. OK?"

"Oh, goody!" They both shouted and they went with her for ice cream.

Will turned back to his captain. "Did she say anything when she left the messages?"

"No, just that she wanted to talk to you." DeSoto informed.

"Well, it's a start." Will said. "She hasn't initiated any conversations with me in a long time."

"Why don't you take the time to return her call and then get your children settled into your new quarters, before you officially return to duty?"

"Thank you, Captain." Will said. "I'll do that."

"Well, then, I'll see you early in the morning." DeSoto began with a smile. "Dismiss, Commander."

"Aye, Sir." Will smiled back and departed from the shuttle bay.

 

Will was walking to his newly assigned quarters when he was called over his com badge by the communications officer. "Tigart to Riker."

"Riker here."

"There is another communique for you from a Deanna Riker."

"Thank you." Will said. "I'll take it in my quarters."

Will arrived at his quarters and as he entered he saw the light signaling a call was being put through. Will took a deep breath and gazed around the quarters briefly. His new quarters were meant for a family and somehow, it still felt empty. He was not quite sure why at this point, but just the same the feeling of emptiness was still there.

Will finally sat down to answer the communique. "Riker here."

"Will." Deanna looked tired and as though she had been crying for quite a while.

Will suddenly got a look of concern on his face. "Deanna, are you OK?"

"No." She said and tears started to fall from her eyes. "I had no idea and I'm sorry."

Will repositioned himself in his seat. "I'm not sure I understand."

"I've been awful to everyone these past three years and I'm so sorry." She sobbed. "I also didn't listen to anyone about anything. I didn't even listen when it concerned our children."

Will sat up straight and searched for something to say, "Deanna, I'm not sure what to say."

"I know you are very angry and must hate me. I don't blame if you do." Deanna said.

"Deanna, I could never hate you." Will began trying to let his love for her show. "What I think is more important is where do we go from here?"

"I don't know." She said softly. Then she looked away from him. "I can't, I can't."

She had his complete attention. "You can't what?"

"I'm here and I, well I."

"Deanna, damn it. Would you just say what's on your mind. I'm not a mind reader."

"I can't leave this ship yet." Deanna said. "I was assigned here not too long ago."

Will was not sure if she was making another excuse or if that was reality. He did realize, given the fact she was now a Starfleet officer, it could be the honest truth or it could be a mixture of both.

"Well, Deanna." Will said. "I can understand that."

"The other thing is." She paused for a brief moment looking down at her hands. "I'm.. I'm not ready yet."

Will tried hard to control his frustration with her as he asked, "What do you mean you are not ready yet?"

"I'm not sure." She said. "I guess, right now..." She paused to find the words.

"Go on." Will coached.

Her lower lip quivered as the tears were about to flow, again. She tried hard not to start crying again. She did not want to continue with the tears, but they kept coming as though a damn had broken.

"You hurt me, Will, when you walked out that door three years ago and I just could not bear to see you go!"

"That was not my intention, Deanna." Will told her. "What I don't get is, why you have been taking it out on everyone, including the children. They had nothing to do with it."

"I know and I guess I'm not ready to come home yet, because I'm angry with myself, now." Deanna said with tears still in her eyes. "I don't know, yet at the same time, I just can't leave where I've been assigned, either."

Will realized, she was finally speaking the truth and being honest with herself now. He had no idea how to counsel the counselor at this point. His own wife, also. She succeeded in becoming a counselor, but at the expense of many. However, he felt that was not what her intentions were when she set out to reach her goal and now, he had no idea how to reach out to her.

"Deanna, I love you." He said.

"I love you, too, Imzadi." She cried. "And I do love our children."

"I know you do." He said softly.

"A part of me wants to be there with you three, but I'm scared right now." She admitted.

Will felt that may have been the most honest thing she had said so far in this whole conversation.

"Deanna, we have all the time you need to work this out." Will tried to encourage. "You know you can call me anytime. I'll always be here for you."

"I realize that now, but I..."

"When you're ready." He said gently. "I'll be here."

Will so desparately wanted to put his arms around her, to hold her and reassure her. He felt a million miles away from her, not just physically, but mentally too and he felt helpless to do anything for her.

"I have to go." She said with tears still in her eyes. "I..." She paused. "I don't know how to do my job anymore!" She cried. "I have patients to attend to and look at me! I'm a complete basket case!"

"When was the last time you took some time off, Deanna?" He asked.

"Not since I was accepted at Starfleet." She said, with not only sorrow in her voice, this time, but exhaustion. "I haven't even slept in a couple of days."

"Maybe you should take some time off for yourself and talk to someone."

Anger started to errupt in her voice along with the tears. "I'm fine!" She insisted. "I don't need to talk to anyone!"

Will just realized he had said the wrong thing. He felt like a real heel for even suggesting what he just did. He then thought to himself, "She's still here and didn't disconnect the link, like she has done in the past. So maybe, I'm not doing too badly."

"Will?" She softly sobbed.

"Yes."

"I can't sense what you are feeling." She sobbed. "It could be my feelings getting in the way, but what are you feeling?"

Will took a deep breath and tried hard to concentrate on putting words to his feelings. "I don't know. I guess, I'm angry and hurt, too." He stated. "But that does not take away from how I feel for you. I want to hold you in my arms again, but I can't."

She looked down and was silent for a few moments. Then she lefted her head without looking at him and softly said with regret in her voice, "I'm going to be late."

"Yes, and I need to take the children off of Lieutenant Reilly's hands." He stated. "I asked the ship's nurse to watch them while we talked. I was about to return your call when..."

"How are they?" She asked softly, but this time she looked at him.

Will nodded his head. "They're doing better. Kestra is eating the chocolate ice cream concoction you two like so well."

Deanna chuckled. "That's my girl."

"Yes, it is." Will smiled and was thankful to finally see a smile on his wife's face.

"Well," She looked away from Will again. "I have to go. I'm running late."

He heard the comm on her side of the communique. "Bridge to Counselor Troi."

"You're using your maiden name?" Will asked a little shocked.

"Um, yes." Deanna said, still not looking at him. "But I'm known by both in Starfleet."

"Bridge to Troi-Riker."

"Troi here." She said in her Betazoid accent that Will loved so much.

"We need you on the bridge."

"Yes, Sir." She said. "I'm on my way, Sir."

Then she turned back to Will. "I'll call you." She said and then broke the link between them.

Will stared at the view screen for several minutes, before he rose from his seat to meet the twins in the lounge.

Chapter Forty-three

It was a year and half later. Deanna was now aboard the Enterprise-D and was so happy to be the Ship's Counselor. She was also a happier person than she was a year and half ago. Actually, happier than she had been in four years.

She and Will had been talking quite frequently and seemed to have worked a lot of things out. The only thing she had not told him was where she was going to be assigned next. She had looked over the crew roster and thought to herself with a smile, "I am about to surprise the best crew member on this ship!"

She had known that Will was going to be on this ship before she came aboard a few days ago. He had told her. It was then she realized their paths were about to cross again, but rather than tell him, she decided to surprise all three of them.

They were scheduled to pick up the new crew members at Farpoint station in a few days. She felt she could hardly wait, but she knew she had to wait. Their new captain had not quite put two and two together yet, but Deanna was sure he eventually would. For now, she and Will were in two separate quarters. Even so, Deanna thought that could easily be remedied later. She was more concerned about Will and the children's reactions once they knew she was on board.

 

Will and the children were in the market center on Farpoint station. They had just met Dr. Beverly Cusher and her son Wesley.

"You'll have to excuss my mother." Wesley said. "She's rather shy around men."

"Wesley!"

"I think it will be nice to have other kids aboard." Will Jr. said. "Even if they are older than us."

It was then that Will started a conversation with Beverly and the twins chatted with Wesley. "Yeah, I know what you mean." Wesley agreed. "I've been on ships myself where I was the only kid and it can get a little boring, but this ship is so big that there's no way to get bored and there are lots of families. I looked at the roster."

"You did!" The twins' eyes got big as they spoke in unison.

Wesley tilts his head slightly to the side and says, "Well, it helps when your mom's the CMO of the ship."

"Yeah, it probably does." Little Will said sadly.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Wesley said. "I didn't mean anything by moms. I lost my dad when I was a baby, so I kinda understand how you feel."

"Oh, our mom's not dead." Kestra said. "She's just not with us."

"Oh?" Wesley asked as he ferrowed his brow.

"She works on a different ship than our dad does and we just miss her. That's all." Said Will Jr.

"Say, a..., um, We didn't catch your name?" Kestra said.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Wesley Crusher."

"I'm called Kestra by adults, but my brother calls me Kessa." Kestra said. "Has since he learned to talk and other kids have called me Kessa, too, because of it. Anyway, his name is the same as our dad's."

Will Jr. beamed and quoted the line he heard his dad say when he told them the story of how he and their mom met. "William T. Riker, at your service."

Wesley laughed. "So what's the T stand for?"

"Terrrrrrrific!" Will Jr. said.

Kestra laughed. "You have to excuse my brother. He can be a little silly and obnoxious sometimes." Then leans over to Wesley and whispers, "Gets it from our dad."

"Hey!" Will Jr. did not like her teasing him sometimes and this was one of them. He crosses his arms and sticks his nose up in the air. "I personally like how Dad acts."

"Yeah, well, Silly." Kestra giggled. "He used it on girls, not potential friends."

Wesley laughed too. "Don't worry Kestra. Your brother will grow up and probably use it on girls. He's only seven."

"Oh, great! Thanks, Kestra!" Said her brother. "Now this fourteen year old thinks I'm a baby."

"No, I don't." Wesley reassured. "I think you're a kid, like me only younger."

The only younger part did not help Will's self esteem any. Kestra ignored him and went on with what she was going to say. "Anyway, forget him. I was going to ask you, do you play Fareezees Squares?"

Wesley smiled. "Do I? Yeah! That game's cool! You two play?"

"Mostly with our dad, since the last ship we were on didn't have any kids, except us." Kestra said. "Mama doesn't like it that Dad taught us how to play the game."

"Well, you are kinda little to play." Wesley said.

"We're seven years old!" Kestra said. "And if Dad says we are old enough and big enough, then we can play! Boys!"

Kestra then storms off back to her father's side. Wesley shakes his head. "Girls! Doesn't matter what age they are, they can take offense at something you didn't mean anything by."

"Tell me about it." Will said, rolling his eyes. "She's been like that ever since I can remember. I think I liked her better when she didn't talk."

"You can't remember that far back." Wesley said.

"Trust me I can." Then Will saw something he thought was interesting. "Hey, look at this."

"That is a cool toy shuttle." Wesley said. "But this, this is better." He held up a compact telescope and pulled it out to it's full length.

"Cool!" Said Will.

"Yeah, I only wish it were in black instead of red." Wesley said and then the telescope changed colours.

"Wow!" Will's little eyes got big and wide.

"Amazing!" Wesley said. "We gotta go tell your dad and my mom!"

"Yeah!" Will said and both boys ran back to their parents.

"Hey, Mom!"

"Not now, Wes." Beverly said. "I was talking, before you interrupted."

"Dad, this was weird. You gotta check it out!"

"OK, hold on, son."

"You were saying, Dr. Crusher?"

"Yes, it was a case..." She paused. "This is beautiful fabric! Too bad they don't have another shade. Anyway..."

Suddenly, there were several colours and styles of material. Beverly gaped and said, "That's amazing!"

"That's what we were trying to tell you!" Wesley said.

"You know, I had wished for something too in Groppler Zorn's office and suddenly it was there." The adult Will said.

The adults started discussing the strange occurances and decided that maybe they should mention it to their new captain. Wesley shakes his head and looks at the twins. "Adults!"

Will crosses his arms, "Yeah, tell me about it."

Kestra looks down sadly at the ground and sighs, "Yeah, they never listen to children when it comes to the strange and unusual."

 

Will, Beverly and the children were finally beamed aboard and Will takes the twins to the nursery before he went to meet his captain for a breifing.

"Dad! We're seven." Whined the twins.

"Must we go to the nursery?" Kestra asked.

"Yeah, the nursery's for babies." Little Will added.

"Well, sorry, kids." Their father said. "You're going to stay there and that's final."

"Well, why can't we hang out with Wesley?" Kestra asked.

"She's got a crush on him!" Little Will teased.

"DO NOT!" She yelled.

"DO TOO!" Will Jr. shouted back.

"Alright, kids!" Will said firmly. "That's enough. You will stay in the nursery until I get off duty."

"OK." They said disappointed and in unison.

 

Will left them in the nursey and met with Captain Picard in his Ready Room. Will sat across the from the captain as they discussed the oddities that had been occuring on Farpoint and both were equally concerned.

As they talked Will discovered the thing he liked most about his new captain was he accepted Will without reservation. Once Picard had welcomed him aboard and set out the ground rules, it was as if the captain had left any sort of doubt behind him. Unlike the other captains, Will had served under, Will felt no pressure to impress Picard. Instead, it was clear that Picard was going to deal with him in a straightforward no nonsense manner. Will welcomed that sort of attitude.

They had finished discussing the details of the planet and Picard asked, "Ready to beam down? I'm looking forward to meeting this Groppler Zorn."

"Yes, Sir." Will replied and they both rose from their chairs. They chatted as they walked out of Picard's Ready Room and over to the Turbolift.

As the doors to the turbolift opened and everyone stepped out, Will stood in disbelieving shock at who he saw. There standing before him was his goddess. The woman that he loved and cherished. He felt he could hardly move, much less speak. All he did was stare when Captain Picard waved her over to them and she walked over to them as graceful and as beautiful as he had remembered her.

Chapter Forty-four

There stood before him the great love of his life, who he had not seen in four long years. At least, he had not seen her in person for that long. He wanted to hug her and kiss her, but he knew now was not the time or the place.

"May I introduce to you our new first officer, Commander William Riker. Mr. Riker, our ship's counselor, Deanna Troi-..." Picard stopped before he finished her name.

Deanna, for her part, looked utterly serene. Then just as he had years ago, before he left to serve on the Hood, she thought to him and he heard her voice in his mind and his soul. "Imzadi, do you remember what I taught you? Can you still sense my thoughts?"

It finally dawned on Captain Picard as he said their names, who these two were. "Obviously, you two already know each other."

Deanna looked at Will with a smile and said, "We do, sir. We do."

Picard tried to cover up his over site by adding, "Well, good. I feel it's important that my officers know each other's talents."

Riker was staring at her still in utter amazement. He wanted to tell her and show her just how much he had missed her and ask her the most important question on his mind. Suddenly, as if she had read his mind she replied, "Yes, Imzadi, I've come home."

 

The hardest part laid a head of them. The first mission they had together was down on Farpoint. They were under the surface of the planet and up until that time niether of them had any idea just how difficult it could be to work together.

"Counselor, can you sense anything?" Will asked Deanna.

"The entity's emotions are so strong that I've closed my mind off to it." She replied.

"Well, I'm going to have to ask you to open your mind and tell us what you sense." Will requested gently.

She tried and she could feel the entity's emotions. Emotions so strong and powerful that they overwhelmed her. She could feel it's pain and suffering as though it's emotions were apart of her and she empathized greatly with it. "Pain! Intense pain!" She cried.

Will saw how hard it was for her and he ran to her side out of concern for his wife and not out of concern for another officer. Then he put an arm around her. "It's OK. Go ahead and shut your mind off to it. I'm really sorry I asked you to open your mind to it."

Explosions outside the entrance were going off all over the place. Will ordered Deanna to take everyone, but those that were going with him, back up to the ship.

Deanna knew he was not going back up to the ship and as he ran out of the entrance to where the explosions were. She shouted out to him with fear, "If you should be killed!"

He turned and yelled back, "You have your orders, Lieutenant!"

That was the last they saw of each other until their mission was over and their day was finished.

 

Will went to the nursery to get the children and take them to their quarters. When the twins saw their father, they ran to him.

"Dad!" They both said as they wrapped their arms around him. "Do we get to see our new quarters now?"

"Yes, we do and if we're lucky, I have a surprise ..." He started tell them, but before he could finish his sentence, the twins knew without seeing what the surprise was, although they did had some uncertainties.

They pushed away from him and started for the doors. As the doors opened their mother walked into the nursery and their uncertainty disappeared. "Mama!" They shouted and then ran to her as she knelt down to greet them.

"You knew they were in here?" Will asked.

"Yes and part of it was logic." She said. "Not all empathy."

"Well, how did they guess you were here?" He asked. "I mean they were heading for the door before I could get my sentence out."

Deanna smiled. "It was my greeting to them, Imzadi."

Will smiled and grabbed all three in one big group hug. "I've been wanting to hug you all day."

"Really?" Deanna asked with a devilish smile. "That's not all I sensed."

"Well, we can talk about that later." Then he kissed her.

The twins started to do a giddy happy dance. "Mom and Dad are together again!"

Deanna and Will looked at the twins and they abruptly stopped. "You are, aren't you?" They asked.

Deanna smiles and looks at Will, then back at their children. "Yes."

Will then speaks, "Let's go home, guys."

 

The children were the happiest Will had ever seen them in years. They were so giddy with joy and could not stop talking and telling their mother what all that has happened clear through dinner.. Deanna for her part seemed to just sit and listen, but Will was certain that the one sided chatter was not all it seemed to be. Even so, he was not certain how Deanna got a word in edgewise even with thought-sending.

Will just sat and watched his family. They were happy and whole again. The thought of that alone made him smile from ear to ear, but he was waiting to show Deanna just how happy he was to have her back.

It was then Deanna looked at him and smiled. "Don't worry you will get your chance soon enough." She thought sent to him.

After dinner, as though nothing had changed sinced Deanna left the twins on Betazed two years ago, she read them a story. Will had volunteer to clean up after dinner so she could spend a little quality time with the children.

He stood at the opening to the living area and watched the scene as though it were a dream come true. He could not believe their paths had actually crossed and fate had actually allowed them to be a family again. Did Deanna request the transfer after he told her he was going to be first officer of the Enterprise or was it a coensidenced?

He looked at the children. Kestra was becoming the spitting image of her mother. Her hair was long and dark. Her eyes a deep dark brown and her complexion was the exact same shade as her mother's. Young Will was growing up to be like him. Brown hair and blue eyes. All he could do was smile at the fact their children were so much like them.

As he heard Deanna wrap up the story, he decided to ask her later if her presence here was coinsidence or planned. "Well, it's 1700 hours. Time for bed." She told them.

"Oh, Mama! Do we hafta?" They asked in unison.

"Yes." She smiled at them.

"Why don't we both put them to bed?" Will suggested.

"Will, were you there the whole time?"

"Well, the last half I was." He told his wife with a smile. "OK, go brush your teeth you two."

The children went to brush their teeth and Will walked up to Deanna. "Do you know what I have been wanting to do all day?"

"What might that be?" She said with a playful smile.

He pulled her close to him and kissed her for the longest time. As they broke apart for air, they heard giggling behind them and they turned and looked at the source. As they looked down they could not help but smile.

"You two finished with your teeth?" Will asked.

"Yes, sir." They said in unison while they were still giggling.

"Well, then." Deanna said as she stepped beside Will. "I'd say it's time for you two to crawl into bed."

"Aw." They said as Will and Deanna guided them to their rooms and tucked them into bed.

Both children said how glad they were that Mama was back home with them as Will and Deanna tucked them into their beds. Both children were glad to have both their parents tuck them into bed that night and prayed that it would never change again.

 

After the children were in bed, Will turned to his wife, pulled her in close and started kissing her. "You know, Will?" Deanna said in between kisses.

"We need to talk about today?" He asked between the kisses he continued to give her.

"Yes, among other things."

"We can do that tomorrow, but for tonight..." He lifted her up in his arms, "I'm taking you to bed."

Deanna giggled as he carried her to their room and he laid her gently on the bed. He kissed her passionately on her valuptuous lips. Then he kissed he chin. She raised her head as he moved down and kissed below her chin, then her neck. He removed her uniform slowly and continued kissing her down to her cleavage. He massaged one breast as he teased the other with his mouth and tongue. Then he slowly switched and did the same to the opposite side.

Deanna moaned with pleasure. Then she raised her chest to get closer to him and groaned out, "Gods, it's been a long time!"

"Yes, it has." Then Will continued showing her just how happy he was that she was back.

He slowly moved down and as he started to stimulate her womanhood with his tongue, her breath caught in her chest. She finally released it and gasped for air as he continued administrations to her. She felt she was going to go insane with his show of appreciation. She moved her lower body up toward him. The insanity increased and she felt she just had to have him, but Will was insistant about taking his time.

Finally, after driving her insane with desire he slowly progressed back up her body. She raised her chest up to him again as he reached her breast and gasped for air again. She reached up to remove his uniform and then pulled him close to him. She kissed him passionately and relished his body against hers. She explored his mouth with her tongue. Then he moved toward her neck again with gentle love bites, she tilted her head to the side allowing him to do whatever he desired, but she kept him close to her as if she were never going to let him go.

"Oh, Deanna! I've missed you, so much." He whispered into her ear.

Finally, just as she thought she had gone insane with the desire to be one with him, they became one. The insanity did not dissapate immediately, but instead it increased dramatically and she screamed a breathless, "Oh, Gods! Imzadi!"

He kissed her mouth as she let out another groan of pleasure. Then the intensity increased until they both reach their peak of excitement for each other and were blinded by passion. Deanna screamed into Will's head at the moment of their climatic experience. "Oh Imzadi!"

Spent of energy, Will laid his body gently on her and kissed her. "I've missed you so much." He said as he rolled onto his back pulling her with him.

She started teasing him with kisses down his neck and as she reached one of his nipples, she teased it with her tongue. "Oh, Deanna! I don't think I can."

"We'll just see about that." She said with a teasing tone to her voice.

She returned the favour of his foreplay from their previous loving moment and gave him tingling sensations as she moved down his body. Will shivered from the sensation and then she reached the part of his body she was desiring most and teased him some more with her tongue.

To his surprise, his energy, as well as his desire, returned. Finally, Deanna straddled him and he easily merge as one with her again. She leaned forward and kissed him, then she sat up and continued with loving movements.

Will reached out to her womanhood with a finger and massaged it. It did not take long before they reached their plateau of ecstasy, again.

Deanna laid against him. Both drenched with sweat from their welcoming celebration, but still very much in love. In the time it took for them to welcome each other back, they realized their feelings they had for each other in the Jalara were still there after all these years. Even with the time they were apart, trying to find themselves, those feelings never left.

Deanna rolled to his side and he craddled her in his arms. They stayed in each others arms the rest of the night and realized that Imzadi was forever.

They vowed never to be apart again and as they vowed this vow, Will suddenly asked Deanna, "Will you marry me?"

Shocked by his question, she said, "Will, we are married!"

"I know." He said. "I want to renew our vows, just as we vowed never to be apart again."

Tears came to her eyes. "Oh, Will!" Then she kissed him more passionately than ever.

It was deja vu, all over again. "I take that as a yes." Will said with a smile.

She curled up in his arms again and said, "You'd better."

Then, for the first time in years, they slept peacefully in each others arms.

Imzadi: My Version

Epilogue

The older Deanna returns from visiting her younger self and was not happy. She was exhausted from dealing with a younger version of her stubborn self and was not about to do it again.

"Will Riker!" She exclaimed.

"Did it go alright?" He tried to smile, but he knew she was miffed about something and he was the target.

"If you ever insist I go through a portal again." She began to say. "I'll... I'll"

Will smiles at the thought of Deanna not having the words she wants to say. "You'll what?"

"Don't patronize me!" She replied. "I spent gods know how many hours with a stubborn, younger version of myself and I'm not in the mood."

Will laughs. "What's so funny?" Deanna asked, still perturbed.

"You got a taste of yourself." Will said with laughter.

"Will, it's not funny!"

"So, have you figured it out yet?" He asked her.

"Figured what out?"

"You asked why I wanted you to go through that portal and straighten your younger self out, so not to mess up this time line." He reminded her. "I said, if you don't figure it out after you come back, I would explain it to you."

Suddenly, all the anger and frustration left her and was replaced by the feelings of warnth and love. She smiles at Will and says, "I think I have."

Then she throws her arms around him and kisses him with all the love she had for him.

When they came up for air, Will said, "Deanna, I love you more than life it's self and I would go to the ends of the universe for you."

Deanna smiles. "I know you would."

Will taps his comm badge. "Valiant, two to beam up."

They both stood side by side with a loving arm around each other. As they beamed up, Deanna sends to his mind. "I, too, would go to the ends of the Universe for you, Imzadi."

 

End