Imzadi Smile

By Stephanie

Pretend there is a disclaimer here. Really, there is one. It is just in a very small font and also in invisible type.

This Story Takes Place During the Episode "The Child" (2nd Season)

October 2, 2003

She wished he had stayed. She needed him now more than ever, but he had turned and walked out of her quarters followed by Data and Dr. Pulaski, probably believing that she needed some time alone.

She didn't want to be alone.

Large tears dripped from grief-stricken dark eyes, down porcelain cheeks to splash upon the bedclothes that covered the small bed that the child had occupied only moments before, her child, her precious son that she was only allowed to be mother to for a few short wonderful days until he had decided that he had learned enough about human life and left her, left her to mourn his loss. Gods, she missed him. She had loved him so much that it hurt.

An image of the little boy flashed into her mind, his deep brown eyes, mirrors of her own, looking up at her, a huge smile on his cherubic face as she ran a hand through his dark, tousled curls, curls just like hers. She could feel his small arms wrap around her waist, hear him whisper, "I love you Mommy." And then the image became a speck of bright light that drifted up to her face, leaving a gentle kiss upon her wet cheek before it disappeared.

Burying her face in the bedclothes, she began sobbing her broken heart out, her sorrow so intense that she didn't feel a gentle hand on her shoulder. She wasn't aware that anyone was there until she heard his voice whisper in her ear, "I am here for you, Imzadi." She raised her tear-streaked face to look at the beautiful man who knelt beside her. Her best friend had come back.

Will reached out to catch the crystal drops that cascaded from ebony pools. He placed small kisses on her cheek, on the tip of her nose, his blue eyes full of sympathetic tears. Deanna knew that he felt her loss as if it were his own. She had pretended that Ian was his son, making the little boy's death that much harder to accept. She welcomed the embrace Will pulled her into and wept bitterly against his chest. She felt him bury his face in her hair, felt the wetness of his tears as they fell with hers. She found great comfort and security in his arms and never wanted him to let go.

She didn't realize she had fallen asleep until she awoke to find herself lying on her own bed. Her heart leapt with joy when she discovered she was still entangled within Will's arms. He must have carried her here and remained with her the whole night. She gently stroked his bearded cheek until sleepy blue eyes opened to meet her dark ones. A smile began to play at the corners of her mouth, quickly spreading across her face, causing him to smile as well.

"Now that is a beautiful sight to see first thing in the morning," Will said, tracing her lips with a gentle fingertip. "My Imzadi smile."