Authors Notes: This story was semi inspired by the song of the same title by Garth Brooks. It has such a great story, I decided to Imzadi-fy it a little. The timeline for this chapter is season 2, when Will is offered the command of the Aries. Instead of turning it down, he accepts it. Chapter 2 will also be set in season 2. Beginning with Chapter 3, all chapters will be set 10 years after chapter 2. It is rated T fo a bit of sex but there is nothing graphic about it. Also, this is my first attempt at a Star Trek story, so please be kind! I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing Star Trek related...I don't own the characters or the ship or anything. I'm not making anything off the story, I'm just playing with the characters in my own little Imzadi world for awhile.

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Will Riker sat alone in a back corner of Ten Forward, staring at his empty glass. He had been offered his own ship, the USS Aries, and had decided to accept it. A bit earlier he had shared a celebratory drink with his fellow bridge officers; even the captain had joined them. Everyone had been there…everyone but the one person he wanted there the most; his best friend, his Imzadi. Yet the ship's counselor was nowhere to be seen. He hadn't seen her since she hurriedly left the bridge two days ago after Captain Picard made the announcement.

He would never forget the look on her face when she heard he was accepting a command position, not from him, but from the captain. Running a hand over his face, Will sighed. He couldn't fault the captain for making the announcement on the bridge after the commander had informed him he would be accepting the Aries; Will could have asked him to hold off a few days on making any kind of announcement to give him time to get his affairs in order, or more accurately to tell Deanna Troi he was leaving…again…and yet he hadn't. He hadn't even asked the captain to give him five minutes to pull her aside and tell her himself so she wouldn't be completely blindsided. He hadn't even told her he'd been offered a promotion and his own ship. And the consequences of that action, the look of pain and betrayal etched on her beautiful features as she quickly made her escape from the bridge, would be forever engraved in his memory…and he hated himself for it.

Of course he knew she had been on the bridge in the past two days, however Deanna was a very careful woman. She had obviously checked to make sure her being on the bridge wouldn't coincide with his bridge shift, save an emergency situation. He, in return, had respected her right to privacy and decision to distance herself from him and hadn't tried to approach her. Will knew she needed time to come to terms with the news, to process and sort out her feelings, but he was scheduled to leave in a few days, and more than anything he wanted to make sure things were right with her before he did that; he didn't want to leave things the way they had been left the last time they were separated by his career.

In one swift motion he slammed his hand down on the table and stood, resolving to at least try to speak with Deanna. He understood completely if she refused to see him, but there were things he needed to say to her, and he was determined to say them, even if it meant standing outside her quarters and saying it all through a closed door. He found his way to her quarters quickly, having been a regular visitor hundreds of times within the last two years. He had always been welcome; this time, however, he had no idea how she would receive him.

Deanna sat on the other side of the closed doors, sipping her third hot chocolate of the evening curled up on her sofa. She had scattered PADDs on the table in front of her, but had long since given up on trying to work. She couldn't focus; she hadn't been able to focus for two days. Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly. She knew he was standing outside her door; she sensed him trying to compose his thoughts and figure out what to say to her. She had known he would come find her…had been preparing for what she would say, how she would face him. Grateful he had shown her the courtesy of waiting two days before tracking her down, she placed her mug of cocoa on the table and approached the door. She took one more deep breath before pushing the button to open it, stepping aside and gesturing with her hand for him to enter, her silent invitation to him.

Will entered and watched her, closely studying her as the doors swished shut behind him. She was trying to hide how much this was affecting her, but he could still see the hurt in her dark eyes. Deciding his best bet was to throw himself on the mercy of the court, he sighed. "Deanna, I'm sorry," he finally said softly, his eyes begging her to at least give him a chance. "You should have heard it from me, not in an announcement with the rest of the crew. You mean more to me than that, I owed you more than that, and I'm sorry."

Crossing her arms in front of her, she was silent for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Will…" she started, changing her mind a few times on what she would say, and having to start over. "Not hearing it from you hurt, but not as much as you leaving me…again," she stated quietly. "I don't want you to leave, Will," she added, looking at him with tears in her eyes.

Immediately the commander took her in his arms, embracing her tightly, relieved that instead of fighting his touch, she returned it and slid her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. Will hated making her cry. He knew he was being selfish, he knew he hadn't thought of anyone other than himself when he'd accepted the command. It was what he had wanted for so long, or at least what he thought he wanted. Now he couldn't help but realize that maybe it wouldn't be enough. He might get his command, but he wouldn't have anyone to share it with...not the person he wanted to share it all with. "Come with me."

Deanna looked up at him, her dark eyes red from crying. "What?"

"Come with me," he repeated, bringing a hand up to her face, gently wiping the tears off her cheeks with his thumb. "Put in for a transfer and come with me."

His assumption that she would just drop everything in her life to pick up and move with him simply because he asked ticked her off a bit. Pushing away from him as her temper flared, she managed not to slap him for being such a jerk. "You expect me to just quit…to walk away from everything I have worked so hard to achieve, just so you can take command of your new ship with a clear conscience? I have a career too, Will, and I for one like it here! I'm not going to give it all up because you decide you want a familiar face to stroke your ego. I'm sure there are plenty of eager women on board the Aries and in deep space who would happily become a familiar face to warm the bed of the legendary Will 'The Thrill' Riker, I don't have to be there to see it."

"Deanna…Imzadi…" Will tried to calm her down, only to be interrupted.

Fire flashed in her eyes as he used the term of endearment they so frequently used with each other. "Don't. Do not call me that right now. You don't have the right to use that word with me," she stated lowly, angrily. "Since you have been on board this ship, you have slept with more women than I can count, and that's not including your away missions. So don't waltz in here calling me Imzadi and expect me to give up my life to go watch you bed half of deep space!" she balled her hands into fists and took a deep breath to help control her anger. She hated being angry, and right now she hated him…hated that he could get this type of reaction from her.

Will lowered his head slightly. She was right. They had no claims on each other; she had probably tried in the beginning, but he had brushed it off. He figured fate had brought them back together for a reason, that she would always be there for him, so he admittedly took her for granted. He had more than a few girlfriends, even more flings and one night stands…she had every right to be angry he'd just asked her to walk away from where she'd become comfortable and made friends, made a career, just to follow him. It would be different if they were married or engaged, even seriously dating. But he hadn't seen fit to commit to her yet, just assuming when he was ready to settle down, she'd be there. And in all honesty, he wasn't sure he would stop his womanizing ways if she did join him on his new ship. "I'm sorry, I had no right to ask that of you. I do care about you, though…very much. And I will miss you. You're my best friend."

"You'll find a new best friend," Deanna shot back quickly.

Shaking his head, Will risked touching her again, gently lifting her face with his hand under her chin. "No one can beat you, though," he said honestly. "I know you're upset with me, Deanna…I understand that, and I don't blame you. I'll leave you alone…but I don't want to leave it like this. There is a going away celebration of sorts in Ten Forward tomorrow night. It would mean a lot to me if you could be there." He waited, expecting an answer. When he got nothing but silence, he sighed. "I'm sorry," he said again, once more taking his life in his hands and pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "I hope to see you tomorrow night," he said, exiting her quarters then and mentally kicking himself for making an even bigger mess. That hadn't gone at all how he had planned it.