Until The End Of Time

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.

(Okay, this story doesn't deal with Riker and Troi, but it does deal with Troi. It goes before my other story "Daddy's Little Girl")

5/29/03

She cradled the small infant in her arms and looked down into the sweet angel face. Large dark eyes stared back up at her and her heart was filled with so much love that it overflowed into her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

She had waited an eternity for this child and felt truly blessed when this little miracle came into the world. She wanted to hold onto her forever. She never wanted to let go.

"I love you, my Little One." She pressed her lips to the tiny soft cheek. "And I always will until the end of time."

* * * * * * * * *

"Mommy, I picked these for you."

She turned to see the tiny dark-haired girl running towards her. Kneeling, she accepted the slightly wilting purple and red flowers from the small outstretched hand. Little arms wrapped around her neck and she pulled the child into a tight embrace. She never wanted to let go.

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you too, my Little One." She placed a kiss on the soft baby cheek that was resting against hers. "And I always will until the end of time."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Mom, have you seen my red hair ribbon?"

She turned to see the dark-haired teenaged girl coming down the stairs. Her little girl was going on her first date. Just where had the time gone?

"It's in the dining room on the floor," she replied, smiling at the questioning look that crossed the girl's face. "Your cat put it there, remember?"

She watched her daughter retrieve the ribbon and lace it through her long, dark curls. What a lovely young woman she was becoming. Her heart swelled with so much love and it overflowed into her eyes when soft and gentle arms wrapped around her waist.

"I love you Mom."

She returned the embrace. She never wanted to let go.

"I love you too, my Little One." She placed a kiss upon the soft cheek that was resting against hers. "And I always will until the end of time."

* * * * * * * * * *

"What was that you said, Mother?"

She shook her head from side to side as if awakening from a dream and looked at the dark-haired young woman sitting next to her. Where had her little girl gone?

"Did I say something?"

Big dark eyes scrunched up with worry. "I thought you said something like until the end of time."

"Oh?" She feigned surprise as gentle arms wrapped around her neck. "Maybe I was just thinking out loud." She returned the hug. She never wanted to let go.

A big smile broke out over her daughter's face. "I remember when you would always tell me that you would love me until the end of time."

She placed a kiss on the soft cheek that was resting against hers. "And I will. You have my promise."

* * * * * * * * * *

She placed the red and purple flowers in the glass vase. Her fingers began to trace the outline of the name on the intricately carved stone.

A life cut tragically short.

Lwaxana sighed deeply as a wave of intense loss came over her. She never imagined that she would outlive her Little One. She missed Deanna with all her heart and soul.

She could see Deanna as a baby, Deanna as a small child picking flowers for her, Deanna as a lovely teenager, then a beautiful young woman whose dark eyes were always full of life, whose smile lit up every room she was in. Her little girl had grown up so fast and was taken away from her way too soon.

The risks to being a Starfleet officer.

If only she could turn back time! She longed to hold Deanna in her arms again. She never ever wanted to let go.

She wished she had never let go.

"I love you, my Little One." She pressed her lips to the cold hard stone, wishing it was Deanna's soft cheek instead. "And I always will until the end of time."