Future Perfect
Author's Note: This was first published in 1992 in the fanzine Idylls 7.
Disclaimer: The crew of the Enterprise doesn't belong to me.
"Who's his mother?"
"I am."
Will Riker's eyes widened, and he drew in a sharp breath.
Deanna Troi remained calm. "You and I were married a little over twelve years ago. Jean-Luc was born a year later."
"You're..." Riker hesitated.
She smiled slightly. "The captain's wife."
"Why... why weren't you here?"
Her smile faded. "I've been on a special assignment for the past three weeks, helping the Admiral with the negotiations. Oh, Will..." She leaned forward, rested her hands on his knees. "I was so worried when Beverly contacted us. We got here as soon as we could." She moved over, sat on the sofa beside him. "I wanted to be with you and Jean-Luc so badly." She wrapped her arms around him, rubbed her hands along his back.
"Mom?"
They both looked up. Jean-Luc stood in the doorway.
"It's all right, honey." Troi held her hand out to him. He came, knelt on the floor beside them, buried his face against his mother's arm. Riker laid his head heavily on her shoulder. And she held them, her husband and their son, as they wept. "Shh," she soothed, "we're all right now."
Riker awoke with a start, sitting straight up in bed with a gasp.
Deanna Troi stirred beside him. "Will, are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
She sat up, placed her hand on his bare shoulder. "Are you sure?"
He turned, stared into her dark eyes. "I'm sure."
"Was it a nightmare?"
"No," he murmured, leaning over, kissing her. He rested his forehead against hers, breathed in the sweet scene of her hair. "It wasn't a nightmare. Just... just a nice dream."