Ode to Mrs. Troi
by Starsinger
This is dedicated to the wonderful woman, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who recently passed away. I had the opportunity to be her companion at a convention one Saturday just after Gene died and she was an incredibly lovely woman. I know she's gone to be with her husband, but she will be sorely missed. No, I don't own them.
Deanna Riker sat at her mother's favorite café. It was here that Will had asked for her hand, here that she told her mother she was expecting, here that… Her thoughts trailed off as the aforementioned offspring decided to make her presence felt with a kick. Will joined her with a cup of tea in his hand. "I can't believe she's gone," Deanna whispered.
Will reached over and grasped her hand. He allowed his love and own sorrow to flow through their link. He knew what it was to lose your mother. Her mother's valet, Mr. Homm, approached them and bowed her brother in tow. Will looked at both of them and motioned them to join them. Mr. Homm chose to stand next to Deanna's chair. She supposed that he was her valet now, if he chose to stay.
"Do I have to come with you on the Titan?" Samby asked. He looked more like their mother than his father, which was fortunate to Deanna's frame of mind. At fifteen he was old enough to make his own decisions but still too young to be left unsupervised.
Two days before Mr. Homm had called the Rikers to say that her mother had passed away in her sleep. They had made all possible speed for Betazed, and called Picard and the others on the Enterprise to let them know. Beverly said she was on her way, Picard conveyed his condolences. The Enterprise was in the middle of negotiating yet another treaty and unable to get away. Chandra, Deanna's old friend, joined them at the table.
"If you would like to stay, Chandra has volunteered to be your guardian. You'll be staying at the house with Mr. Homm with Chandra to be there if you need anything," Deanna said. Her voice was surprisingly calm. "You are more than welcome to come with us if you wish." Will laid his hand on the boy's shoulder to reinforce her statement.
"May I think about it?" he whispered.
"Of course," Will replied, "We'll be here a few weeks to get the estate settled." They watched as he struggled with his grief. They watched as the boy headed home with Mr. Homm. Will's hand traveled to Deanna's abdomen to feel the baby kicking. She was clearly annoyed with her mother's distress. "I wish she was here to see her granddaughter too," he whispered. Deanna smiled through her tears as they both rose.
They walked through the city streets remembering her mother. They stopped at the temple where they had been married two years before. They had also met there at Chandra's wedding. Along the way various neighbors stopped to give their condolences and congratulations alternately. They were honestly saddened that such a joyous event should be darkened by a sad one. They went to the park where Deanna once played as a child. She leaned into his embrace as he put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a little squeeze.
As they sat on a park bench to watch children play Deanna once again brought up the on going name battle. They couldn't decide on a name they both liked, "I found a lovely name, that is rarely used now. It wasn't used often back then either." Riker sighed, then smiled encouragingly. "It's Majel."
Startled, Will turned to her, he actually liked it himself. "Majel Riker?" he asked. "You know, I like it," he said quietly. They quietly spent the afternoon at the park. Deanna knew that her mother was there, watching. She would always be there and that in spite of all the arguments, she always loved her.
Thank you Majel.