Ok, this is my first attempt at writing a Troi/Riker story so be nice to me :P

The stars stretched out in front of her, never-ending in their brightness. But the view, even if it was supposedly the best one on the ship, couldn't calm her frustration. She could remember when he had been aboard the Enterprise, he seemed so... she shook her head. What did she know?

She felt him before she heard him.

"Penny for your thoughts."

Deanna turned to smile at Will. "You can take them for free."

He stood beside her at the viewport. "You heard about Tom then."

She sighed and returned her attentions to the viewport. "I don't really want to talk about him, Will."

A long silence fell between them.

Will looked around Ten Forward. It was quiet, being so late, and only a few late night stragglers were sitting at tables. Guinan was chatting to a lonely looking lieutenant, recently transferred to the Enterprise from Earth. Will smiled as the lieutenant started to relax and open up to the wise bartender.

Turning back to Deanna, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and steered her over to a table. She let him pull her along reluctantly and sat down as Riker went to order, slightly annoyed at the sympathy she knew he was feeling for her.

He appeared opposite her quickly with two chocolate sundaes and grinned as he set them down.

"Eat up."

She pulled a face. "I don't really feel like chocolate right now."

He clutched at his heart then pretended to take her pulse. "You don't feel like chocolate? Are you feeling alright? Maybe I should go get Dr Crusher-"

She held up her hands to stop him and picked up her spoon in defeat. "Alright, I'm eating!"

Will grinned and tucked in to his own sundae. "Happy to hear it. But if I ever hear those words come out of your mouth again..."

His attempts to coax a smile out of her failed, and she stared at the table top as she half heartedly dug into the chocolate ice cream. Will's own smile faded.

"He didn't hurt anyone. Be grateful for that at least," he said quietly.

"I don't understand why he did it," she whispered. "He had a life, he was back in Star Fleet, he was going to go places! Why did he throw that away for the Maquis?"

Will shrugged and took another bite. "Maybe it wasn't his life at all. Maybe... it was my life, and he got tired of leading it."

"So instead he decided to live his own life... in a Cardassian prison camp."

"He obviously decided it was worth the risk, Deanna. People will sacrifice a lot to preserve their own indiviuality, even their freedom. Whatever he thought he was doing, I know he didn't want to disappoint you." He pushed the half empty bowl away from him in disgust. "I still can't understand how you can eat so much of that stuff."

"It's better than gagh!" she retorted, at last rewarding him with a small smile. "At least chocolate isn't alive..."

She finished up the sundae and touched Will's hand.

"Thank you," she said.

He smiled and squeezed her hand in return. "Any time, Counsellor."

"When did you get so good at giving advice anyway?" she asked with a playful smile.

"I learned from the best," he replied. His communicator beeped.

"Commander Riker, report to the bridge."

"On my way." He stood up. "I'll see you later?"

She nodded. "See you later."

So? What did you think?