by antoa
Keywords: R/T Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Yes please! I live for feedback. Drop it here
Disclaimer: In the form of a really bad haiku -
Paramount owns them
If I did, they would have been
Hitched long, long ago
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Bright. Blinding light. Reflex brought Riker's arm up to shield his eyes against the assault. As suddenly as it came it was gone, replaced by an all-consuming darkness.
Sickness. Spinning vertigo. Closing his eyes and placing his hands on his knees,
Riker forced himself to take deep breaths. As his body began to calm again,
a strange sensation washed over him. The darkness that had threatened to overtake
him was gone, but something was wrong, very wrong. Using Betazoid techniques,
he focused his mind, trying to calm the turmoil that was attempting to devour
him.
What the hell is going on, thought Riker.
All he could remember was that he had been on an away mission on Hervegla VI. He was working crowd control when all hell broke loose.
And where is everybody?
Taking in his surroundings he found that he was now standing on the edge of a beach, and he was still wearing his Starfleet uniform. The calm blue water lazily lapped at the shore in front of him. Shining brightly in the sky, the sun's rays of heat were quickly dissipated by the gentle breeze that came off the lake. He suddenly realized he was at Lake El Nar on Betazed. The rest of the away team was nowhere in sight.
What could have happened to them? More importantly, what is happening to me?
His worries over his crewmates and his situation were quickly quelled by a reassuring warmth that washed over him.
Light and floating, a beautiful song reached Riker's ears.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's going to buy you a mocking
bird."
The woman's voice was calm and beautiful. Riker turned, searching for the source of the soothing song.
An exquisite old-fashioned, Victorian style house stood majestically before him. The large white porch, running the entire length of the bright yellow three-story house, made the house very welcoming and inviting.
Riker had never seen this beautiful house before, but the same strange sensation washed over him as he took in the scene before him. A vague sense of familiarity- maybe - he couldn't quite pinpoint exactly what it was.
The beautiful voice continued its song as Riker walked towards the house.
"And if that mocking bird don't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring."
A young woman was sitting in a swing on the porch. Her black hair fell in soft curls around her face and shoulders. Hanging from her slim shoulders was a simple blue sweater, and a pair of black slacks completed her ensemble. Her attention was focused on the small bundle that was in her arms. They gently swung back and forth as she sang quietly.
"And if that diamond ring turns to brass, Papa's going to buy you a looking glass."
She looked up at him as she finished the phrase, a beautiful smile brightening up her face. Although her smile was genuine, her crystal clear eyes told the story of an exhausted new mother.
I have never seen eyes so blue, Riker thought, they're bluer than mine even.
"I just got Andrew to sleep." The young woman stood up slowly and delicately placed the small bundle into the bassinet that is next to the swing. Turning towards Riker, she extends her hand.
"Come with me. I have to find mother."
Without knowing why, Riker took the offered hand and allowed the young woman to lead him across the porch to the house. As he stopped to look at the tiny sleeping form in the bassinet, he didn't even notice when the woman's hand slipped silently from his. Looking into the bassinet Riker reaches out his large hand to gently caress the baby's cheek, being careful not to wake him.
What a beautiful baby, he thought. Suddenly the strange sensation washed over him once again.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird."
There is that same song again.
Looking towards the house for the mysterious young woman, he realized that he was now alone on the large porch. Even the bassinet and the baby were gone.
What the hell is going on, he questioned once again. For a moment his mind spun with confusion. The confusion was quickly replaced by a sense of reassurance and peace.
"And if that mocking bird don't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring."
The song continued and Riker turned towards the new source of the serenade. The voice now belonged to a little girl who was no older than nine. She was on the walkway leading up to the house playing with a hovering skipping rope. The slap of the plastic rope against the stones kept a steady beat for her song. Dark shiny curls bounced around her shoulders every time the little girl expertly jumped over the rope.
"And if that diamond ring turns to brass, papa's going to buy you a looking glass."
The girl's game came to a sudden stop when she spotted Riker on the porch. A bright smile lit up her face as she ran to him at top speed.
"I can sing the song five times without missing a jump or getting tired. I'm hungry now though." Her blue eyes sparkled as the words tumbled from her mouth so quickly that Riker had a hard time understanding her.
He couldn't help but smile along with her. What a charming little girl, Riker thought. And she has the same beautiful blue eye as that young woman.
Slipping a small hand into his, she pulled him towards the house. "Come with me. I have to find Mom."
The little girl lead Riker trough the front entryway and into the large living room. The room was tastefully decorated. A dark green and blue couch sat along the wall with an oak coffee table in front of it. Opposite the couch there was a loveseat of the same color. A beautiful antique winged-back chair and an end table were situated at the far end of the room. The wall directly in front of him held a wood fireplace under a simple oak mantle that complemented the rich wood floor wonderfully. Sunlight from the large window over the couch filled the room with a warm glow.
As he looked around at his new surroundings, Riker's attention was drawn to a small holo sitting on the table at the other end of the room. Releasing the little girl's hand, he walked towards it, trying to see who was pictured. He got close enough to make out three figures in the holo before he senses were assaulted once again with that strange sensation.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird."
The young voice that began singing the song came from behind Riker. When he turned around he saw that the young girl was no longer with him, but an even younger girl around the age of four was sitting on the couch. The little girl gently rocked her doll back and forth as she sang to it.
"And if that mocking bird don't sing, Papa's going to buy to a diamond ring."
Riker was amazed that a girl so young could sing a song as well as this child did. The bright sunlight from the window illuminated the mop of dark curls on top of her head. She looked up and before Riker could say anything she placed a finger over her mouth.
"Shhh. The baby is sleeping." The little girl's clear blue eyes sparkled with the seriousness and innocence of a child playing. Carefully getting up off the couch, being careful not to disturb her doll, she placed it in the small cradle that sat on the floor.
She has those same blue eyes again, Riker realized. His questioning mind was quieted again as he watched this beautiful little girl walk up to him and place her tiny hand in his.
"Come with me. I have to find Mommy." Once again, he followed willingly.
The doorway next to the far end of the couch opened up into a smaller room. There was a couch against the opposite wall and a massive desk sat in front of the wall on the right.
"Mommy! Mommy!" The little girl yelled as she bounded towards the woman sitting behind the desk. Lifting her head from her the PADD she had been looking over, Deanna pulled the energetic child into a tight hug.
Riker froze. A barely whispered "Imzadi" was all that managed to get past his lips.
"I found him mommy. I brought him back to you just like I said." The girl took her mother's hands and pulled. Deanna got up from behind the desk and walked towards the stunned Will Riker. Her dark eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird."
Her sweet voice filled Riker's senses. Something was different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Then it hit him. As she sang her right hand absent-mindedly rubbed gentle circles on her slightly swollen abdomen. It was very clear that Deanna was at least seven months pregnant.
"And if that mocking bird don't sing, papa's going to buy you a diamond ring."
Taking Riker's hand, she placed it over her stomach and looked up at him with her most radiant smile. A slight flutter was felt under Riker's hand as another wave assaulted his senses. The dizzying confusion was too much for him to handle and he succumbs to the blackness.
Deanna's voice penetrated the darkness surrounding Riker. Soft beeps were now the accompaniment for Deanna's serenade.
"And if that diamond ring turns to brass, Papa's going to buy you a looking glass."
Opening his eyes, Riker pulled all the information together. He was now in sickbay on the Enterprise.
How in the universe did I get here, and what the hell happened? Frustration and confusion threatened to overwhelm him, but he calmed when he felt the soothing wave of comfort that Deanna sent over their link. He looked over to his left and saw her beautiful smiling face. She was sitting in a chair next to his biobed holding his hand against her rounded stomach. Another flutter was felt against his palm. Looking down at his hand and then back up to Deanna's beautiful face, his jaw dropped.
Deanna's silent laughter echoed inside his head. **Welcome home Imzadi,** she thought cast to him. **A lot has happened while you were gone. We have to talk.**