Clandestine Rendezvous II
Counselor Troi entered her quarters after Data relieved her for the start of Alpha shift. She couldn’t wait to collapse on her bed for a little sleep before her first appointment. However, before she had a chance to do so, Troi noticed a piece of paper sitting on her table. She picked it up.
Please meet me in holodeck 3. It read simply.
Deanna smiled. Now, what is he up to? And despite her exhaustion, Troi left her quarters headed off for the holodeck.
As the doors to the holodeck slid open, Troi was greeted by a maitre d’ to a little café that she often visited on Betazed, because it was situated next to the university.
“The gentleman is waiting, Madame,” and he led her to a table where Will Riker was sitting decked out in full dress uniform.
Riker stood up and gave Troi a smile as the maitre d’ pulled the chair out for her to sit down.
“What are you up to?” Deanna yawned and then slumped into the chair.
“You said I had to figure out what a girl’s dream was.” Riker replied and sat back down in his chair.
Deanna shook her head, trying to stifle another yawn. Then the waiter came by. “Coffee?”
Deanna nodded and gratefully took a sip from the mug that was handed to her. “I only said that, Will, to”
“Shut me up. I know.” Will replied as he laid his napkin across his lap.
Troi took another sip of coffee and suddenly remembered something. “You were supposed to relieve me this morning. What excuse did you give Data before handing the job to him?”
Riker shrugged. “The truth.”
Deanna raised her eyebrows above the coffee mug. “Which was?”
“I had a clandestine rendezvous to keep.” Will replied with a smile.
Troi set her mug on the table. “You didn’t.”
“You didn’t want me to lie; did you?”
Deanna just stared at Will, wondering how he could be so nonchalant about this and then she realized this was Data they were talking about. “He didn’t even ask what you meant by it; did he?”
Riker shook his head in response as their waiter arrived with their food and set it in front of them.
Throughout breakfast, Deanna kept waiting for Will to make some sort of move. However, all he did was make casual conversation with her and after some time, Deanna began to relax. She had forgotten how nice it was for the two of them to be able to just sit down and talk. By the time the waiter came to clear their plates, Deanna had forgotten Will asked her here with an ulterior motive in mind.
“Strawberries, Madame?” The waiter asked.
“No thank you.” Deanna replied and wiped her lips with her napkin.
The waiter gave Riker a nervous glance, and he simply smiled. “I believe they’re dipped in chocolate.” Will said and Deanna looked at him.
“I don’t believe I’m going to say this.” She said and missed the slight nod Will gave the waiter. “But it is too early in the morn…” A small plate with three chocolate covered strawberries was placed in front of Deanna, and her eyes caught sight of something glittering on top.
Troi couldn’t believe it, and somehow she had stopped her mouth from hanging open when she dropped the rest of her sentence. For on top of the strawberries sat on old- fashioned diamond engagement ring.
Meanwhile Riker’s smile kept growing larger. He picked up the ring and got down on one knee in front of her just like the night before. He took hold of her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Then he looked up at her face her black eyes were made even larger with astonishment. “Now, will you say yes?”
Troi took a gasp of air and brought her other hand up to her mouth as her eyes began to fill with tears. After a few seconds, Will gave a nervous laugh, “I hope you were rendered speechless in your dreams.”
Deanna couldn’t help but laugh to that, as well, and she sank to her knees. “Yes.” She whispered as she buried her face in the crook of his neck and hugged him tightly.
End