Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own this show. I wish that I did, but I don't.

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"Beginning message playback," the computer's female voice replied.

Theresa ran up to the screen as the messages began to play back.

She smiled broadly as the first message appeared on the screen, it was from her grandmother: Victoria, who was a retired Star Fleet admiral.

"She hasn't changed a bit," Riker commented lovingly, looking at the woman who was appearing in front of them. She had fierce green eyes and grey hair which was pulled back into a bun.

She's also smiling, Lisa thought, now I remember how mom got hers.

"Hello," Victoria began, her smile widening, "I'm sending this special message for a special girl," she went on.

Theresa's smile began to grow and she started to jump up and down. "It's me! It's me!" she exclaimed.

Riker let out a soft chuckle, he was always happy to see his children smiling, especially on days like this one.

"Happy Birthday Theresa!" Victoria went on, "may this year bring you everything that you both want and need! Remember this, both your grandfather and I love you very much."

Theresa waved at the screen as her grandmother's image faded.

"Now playing message two," the computer reported.

Theresa almost shrieked when she saw who it was.
"Aunt Maria!" she jumped.

Lisa smiled, Maria was their mother's twin sister, and was serving as third in command of the Kewshue.

"Hello Birthday Girl!" she beamed. "I know that you must have had a wonderful day," she went on, "I hope that you got everything that your little heart wanted today."

She took a breath and went on, "I hope that you have a wonderful year and remember that I love you munchkin," she finished as her image faded.

Before they could absorb what she had said, a man with red hair and brown eyes appeared on the screen.

"Uncle Leo!" Theresa smiled. Leo was their mother's younger brother. When Laura died, he was one of the pallbearers'. He also cried and gave a very moving speech about her. At the end of the speech, there wasn't a dry eye in the chapel.

"Hello Birthday girl!" he greeted. "I hope that you had a good day today," he went on.

"You must have had a good party," he continued. "I hope that you got a lot of presents and that you had a lot of friends there to help celebrate your special day," he said, growing more emotional.

"I have to get back to my people, but I wanted you to know that I love you little peanut," he said as his image faded.

Lisa had to hold back her own tears; she loved her uncle very much, so much that she wished that he was serving on the Enterprise instead of the Tolstoy.

"There's another message," Tom said as the screen flashed.

"Computer, continue message play back," Riker ordered.

When the next person appeared on screen, Lisa felt waves of tension come off of her father.

There was only one person that could make him feel that way. She turned and looked at the person that appeared on the monitor.

He was an older man with cropped white hair and blue eyes. He was slouching abit.

"Happy Birthday to one of the most intelligent Rikers in the known universe," Kyle Riker said.

Lisa and Tom exchanged looks while Sammy just looked at the older man on the screen. She was confused, "Who dat?" she asked.

Lisa cleared her throat, "that's Grandpa Kyle," she answered.

Sammy looked back at the screen again. Her confused look didn't fade. Finally she gave up and walked to another part of the room, dragging Frank behind her.

Lisa looked back at her grandfather. Kyle had tried to contact her when she was sick. When her mother was alive, she tried to keep Kyle informed about what the family was up to. Both of them seemed to get along, which made Lisa all the happier whenever she got a message from her grandfather. She knew that whatever problems her father had with him, she could still talk to the man.

When the elder Riker's image faded, Theresa turned and looked at her father. "Daddy? Are you ok?" she asked.

Riker bent down to her eye level, "I'm fine honey," he said. He tried to smile.

Lisa also bent down, "Theresa, why don't you go and play in your room for a while?" she suggested.

Theresa looked at both of them for a moment, and then gave Riker a quick hug before heading towards her room.

"Come on Sammy," she called.

Sammy gave her a look and said, "No go".

She slammed a tiny fist on the couch.

Lisa turned and looked at her, "you can play with Frank in Theresa's room," she said.

Sammy shook her head, "stay," she repeated.

Tom sighed and went over to the couch. He picked her up and placed her beside Theresa, who took her hand. Sammy cast a look at Tom as they walked off.

When they were out of sight, Lisa got back on her feet, "You're not fine," she said. Riker looked up at her, but didn't say anything.

"He's our grandfather," Tom chimed in, "She shouldn't have to ask whither or not your ok every time we talk to him".

Riker got up to his feet, "I know, I know," he said. "He's always been a good grandpa to you kids, but he wasn't such a great father," he went on.

Lisa was about to say something, but she was interrupted by a tiny voice.

"Daddy?" Theresa began, "are you mad at me?"

Riker looked at her, "Why would I be mad at you?"

Theresa shrugged, "because I talked to Grandpa," she said. Riker walked over to her and bent down.

"No," he replied, placing his hands on her shoulders, "I'm not mad at you".

"I'm mad at Grandpa Kyle," he went on.

Theresa looked at him, her young face showing confusion. "Why?" she asked.

"Grandpa and I just don't get along," Riker answered simply.

"Did he hurt you?" the younger Riker asked.

The question through Riker for a loop.

He didn't answer her for a moment. "He wasn't a 'Daddy' to me," he answered finally.

Theresa, seemingly understanding what he had told her, reached out and hugged him.

"I love you Daddy," she said, kissing him on the cheek.

Riker returned the hug, "I love you too honey". He kissed her on the forehead, just as Sammy appeared in the arch way.

"Da-da," she said, springing her arms out and walking towards him.

Riker smiled and used his free hand to reach out and hug her. Lisa smiled as she watched him, hopping that she would be half the parent that he was.

-End of Chapter-