"Deanna! What are you doing back on the Enterprise? I've been worried sick about you!" Will exclaimed.
"Really? I thought that you were too busy with Wendy to even notice that I was gone," Deanna said curtly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Dee." Will looked baffled. "The reason I didn't contact you before now is that I've been very ill with an intestinal virus. It started at Matthew and Amy's reception. I suddenly felt sick and didn't even have time to excuse myself before I threw up all over my clothes. Wendy happened to be standing nearby, and it splashed all over her dress, too. I had to take her back to our quarters for clean clothes. I knew you wouldn't mind loaning her one of your dresses temporarily, given the circumstances."
The reality of the situation hit Deanna all of a sudden, flooding her with a mixture of relief and shame.
"So that's what happened!" she exclaimed.
"What do you mean?" Will was puzzled.
"When I went into our quarters that day and saw Wendy sitting on our bed in just her bra and underwear, I thought...I thought..." Deanna began stammering and couldn't finish.
"You thought that Wendy and I were having sex?" Will asked incredulously.
"Well...yes. That was what it looked like to me," Deanna mumbled miserably.
"Oh, Dee." Will laughed softly. "You do have quite an imagination."
"So that was all it was," Deanna whispered.
"That was all it was. I swear on my mother's grave," Will replied. Will's mother had actually been cremated and the ashes had been sprinkled, but Deanna saw no need to mention that fact. "So, now that that little misunderstanding has been cleared up, will you come back home now?"
"As soon as I can. I have something important to tell you as well, but I want to wait and tell you in person."
"A baby!" Will's face registered first surprise, then joy. "Wow!" He laughed, hugged Deanna tightly, then looked into her eyes. "A baby!" he repeated, as if he had to say it twice to make himself really believe it.
Deanna nodded, tears streaming down her smiling face.
"Oh, Deanna!" Will whispered, covering his wife's face with kisses. "When did you find out?"
"Right before I talked to you. I went to sickbay on the Enterprise."
"Deanna, I am just so happy. We've both been wanting this for such a long time."
"I know we have. I'm happy too, Will."
He took her hand and began to walk back to their quarters with her. "Do you feel all right?" he asked her.
"Sure, I'm fine. Maybe just a bit drowsier than usual."
"I'm going to take good care of you. Both of you." He gently lifted her chin, brushed a stray hair back from her face, and kissed her lips.
As she lay cuddled in bed with Will that night, his arm around her holding her extra close, Deanna thought about how nice it felt to be back home and in the arms of the man she loved.