"How are we today?" asked Troi. Her smile seemed to light up the whole ship.

Picard filled his mind with absurdly happy thoughts. Although Deanna would not intrude, it would be difficult to avoid exuding negativity if he thought too much on what had happened the previous evening. "I'm so glad for you, Deanna. You and Will." He glanced fleetingly at the back of the man who he had given the ring to at the ceremony. "After all we've been thru, it's wonderful to have these sorts of occasions."

"I will speak to you soon, Jean-Luc," she said kissing him on the cheek. "I have to keep an eye on my mother. Not just at weddings, but particularly at weddings."

Riker turned from his small talk, a glint in his eye and a broad grin on his lips. He still looked magnificent in his Dinner Dress uniform, but to Picard's eye it now looked a little less well fitting. Something definitely borrowed.

"Ah, Jean Luc," said Riker. "A wonderful end to a wonderful day. Don't you agree?" He had the same bright smile that Troi had exhibited.

Picard's mind full of happy thoughts cleared rapidly. "A few of the details were not as planned, perhaps," he suggested. It still seemed odd to be looking at Riker in the face. But he had seen the tattoos. It was clear what had happened.

"The odd flower here and there," said Riker. He winked. "Nothing to worry about."

"The odd guest who wasn't invited?" Picard suggested with a raised eyebrow.

Riker laughed quietly. "You look like that Vulcan legend, Spock. You've met him, right?"

"We both have," Picard confirmed. He fixed his gaze on Riker's dark eyes. "Did the research get a bit boring around that time?"

Riker raised his own eyebrows. A slight pressing together of his lips suggested a hidden train of thought. "Of course. We both have."

"You're not William Riker," Picard hissed. He tried to keep his face turned away from the rest of the guests.

"I was certainly born under that name," Riker shrugged. "Mostly I like the name Thomas, but it sometimes helps to draw on the past."

"You can't marry a woman who thinks you're someone else." Picard was ready to explode.

"It wouldn't be the first time that had happened," Riker smirked. "I'll be whatever she wants me to be. Probably more than that other Riker could say." His eyes focussed in the distance, looking intently at the faces in the crowd. "You didn't let him out too soon did you? It could all get a bit messy if he starts any trouble."

Picard gripped the groom's forearm. "We have to make this right. Come with me." He could see the anxious faces of Crusher and Worf waiting in the corridor just outside the function suite.

Riker looked down at the hand of the man who had never been his Captain. "I don't think you get to give orders at a wedding." He pulled his hand away. "Particularly not mine."

:::

Where is Will?" asked Troi. "He was here a moment ago." She looked around the milling crowd of faces.

"He wanted to have a chat with Worf and young Wesley." Picard smiled. "Probably just thanking them for everything they've done." He hoped that the commotion of the alternate Riker's abduction would not stand out above the noise of the party.

Her eyes sparkled. "He does seem very happy. I've not seen him smile that way in a long time." Picard thought to himself that he had not seen Troi smile that way either in such a long time. He was about to talk. But he did not know what he would say.

She hugged Picard again. "Send him to me when he's done. I don't want to let go of him ever again."

"I will do my best," he replied.

:::

"I have no wish to see two naked human males fighting in a latrine again," said Worf. "Most upsetting."

"You saw the tattoos?" asked Picard.

"Yes," said Worf with obvious distaste. "The other Riker had the marks of the Potemkin and the Gandhi. But also…"

"What?" Picard hoped things had not taken a turn for the worse. He was running out of bottled water to slake his nervous thirst.

"There was a vain allusion to the USS Defiant below his regulation postings. How he can claim to have served aboard that ship is most disrespectful. An act of minor piracy should not be honored in such a way."

Picard nodded. He had read the original reports from Deep Space 9 with dismay. "And where is Thomas Riker now?"

"Wesley is taking him to Security," Worf said. "It was for the best. I would not have been polite or patient."

For a second, Picard froze. "Is that wise?"

"I'm sure Wesley has learnt his lesson." His mind was turning to salvaging some entertainment from the fading hours of the celebration.

"With some luck we may salvage some dignity from this mess." Picard watched as Riker, his Riker, Will Riker, approached Deanna and caught her attention. He looked just right in his Dress Formal uniform. "Once we get to Betazed and the official wedding, no-one needs to know anything out of order happened here." Picard's firm glance to Worf told him everything he needed to know.

Crusher appeared behind Picard's shoulder. "Did someone mention a naked wedding?"

"In good time, Wesley," Picard replied. "We need to know that Thomas Riker will be no further trouble."

"I can't guarantee that," said Crusher. "Maybe my mother will have a word with him?"

"And I suppose execution is out of the question?" Worf said aloud. Picard's scowl set him straight.

"No," said Picard. "We shall have to rely on Riker's common sense prevailing. Once he has sat in a cell for a few weeks for impersonating an officer, hopefully he'll realize this could never have worked. Then the formal wedding on Betazed between Deanna and the real Riker should close the matter for good."

Crusher smiled. "I'm sure it'll all work out for the best. This time, make sure I'm invited, alright?"