"Different Choices I"
Author Pia Pedersen
Feedback: Most appreciated, as it always is.
Summary: Deanna is presented with a choice that could change hers and Will's lives forever
Disclaimer: It's not mine; it never was, and it never will be.
******************
The laughter of the Enterprise's officers has drawn me out of my self- induced solitude, and I find myself sitting among them in Ten Forward.
I have never felt so alone.
She's here, with Worf.
Of course she is.
I can't look at her, so I turn away from them.
Infinity – that's what I see, looking at the stars out there.
Eternity is what I see when I look at Deanna, an eternity of love.
When I look at her, that's what I see – even now.
I have to tell her.
I can't keep waiting.
"I … "
Her voice … the softness of her words …
It calls me back, and I look at her, at them.
He's on his knees, holding her delicate hand in his.
~ No! ~
I open my mouth to speak, to scream …to do something to stop this.
And she looks at me.
She's smiling.
***
I'm aware of him, of his presence, the way I always am.
The way I always have been.
He looks so sad, and he won't look at me.
I miss him, desperately.
I must tell him.
Tonight.
I have to …
Worf is in front of me; he's on his knees.
My mind is in turmoil.
He's asking me to marry him.
~ Oh, Will, where did we go wrong? ~
"I … "
I know I must refuse.
I know there's only one man I could ever marry.
In this moment, for the first time in forever, I hear Will in my mind.
I hear his plea, his desperation.
And I look at him.
He's smiling.
***
I heard her, in my mind.
It feels incredible.
I smile.
I really smile.
It's time to break down the walls between us.
Now is the time.
She turns to him again.
I hold my breath.
***
Worf deals with my answer the way he deals with everything else – with honorable stoicism.
I respect him very much - I love him, even.
But not like I love Will, never like that.
It's time to make some different choices.
Now is the time.
I rise from my chair and cross to where he is.
I know everyone is watching us, but I don't care.
I don't want to wait any longer.
***
I see her coming my way and decide to meet her halfway.
That's what I should have done years ago.
But I don't want to focus on the past anymore.
From now on, I will look to the future.
I will focus on Deanna.
She is my future.
"Will," she says, and I reach for her hand, unable to keep from touching her.
"Deanna."
She's smiling, and I lose myself once again in the depths of her eyes.
"Come with me."
She follows me out of the lounge, and I feel every pair of eyes on us.
It doesn't matter.
She's all that ever really mattered to me.
It's time to tell her.
It's time she knew.
[-end-]
Author Pia Pedersen
Feedback: Most appreciated, as it always is.
Summary: Deanna is presented with a choice that could change hers and Will's lives forever
Disclaimer: It's not mine; it never was, and it never will be.
******************
The laughter of the Enterprise's officers has drawn me out of my self- induced solitude, and I find myself sitting among them in Ten Forward.
I have never felt so alone.
She's here, with Worf.
Of course she is.
I can't look at her, so I turn away from them.
Infinity – that's what I see, looking at the stars out there.
Eternity is what I see when I look at Deanna, an eternity of love.
When I look at her, that's what I see – even now.
I have to tell her.
I can't keep waiting.
"I … "
Her voice … the softness of her words …
It calls me back, and I look at her, at them.
He's on his knees, holding her delicate hand in his.
~ No! ~
I open my mouth to speak, to scream …to do something to stop this.
And she looks at me.
She's smiling.
***
I'm aware of him, of his presence, the way I always am.
The way I always have been.
He looks so sad, and he won't look at me.
I miss him, desperately.
I must tell him.
Tonight.
I have to …
Worf is in front of me; he's on his knees.
My mind is in turmoil.
He's asking me to marry him.
~ Oh, Will, where did we go wrong? ~
"I … "
I know I must refuse.
I know there's only one man I could ever marry.
In this moment, for the first time in forever, I hear Will in my mind.
I hear his plea, his desperation.
And I look at him.
He's smiling.
***
I heard her, in my mind.
It feels incredible.
I smile.
I really smile.
It's time to break down the walls between us.
Now is the time.
She turns to him again.
I hold my breath.
***
Worf deals with my answer the way he deals with everything else – with honorable stoicism.
I respect him very much - I love him, even.
But not like I love Will, never like that.
It's time to make some different choices.
Now is the time.
I rise from my chair and cross to where he is.
I know everyone is watching us, but I don't care.
I don't want to wait any longer.
***
I see her coming my way and decide to meet her halfway.
That's what I should have done years ago.
But I don't want to focus on the past anymore.
From now on, I will look to the future.
I will focus on Deanna.
She is my future.
"Will," she says, and I reach for her hand, unable to keep from touching her.
"Deanna."
She's smiling, and I lose myself once again in the depths of her eyes.
"Come with me."
She follows me out of the lounge, and I feel every pair of eyes on us.
It doesn't matter.
She's all that ever really mattered to me.
It's time to tell her.
It's time she knew.
[-end-]