Chapter 14

Deanna and Will along with Kathryn and Chakotay arrived at the restaurant. Kathryn was surprised to see that it looked deserted. "Are you sure this is the right place?"

"Oh, I am sure."

Just then an elderly man unlocked the door and hurried them in. He was as short as he was round. His thick hair was a deep shade of silver. He looked human but Kathryn was not sure. He then relocked the door and turned to Deanna and trapped her in a fierce bear hug. After he put her down he shook Riker's hand. Deanna turned to her guests. "This is Pungelo. These are my friends Kathryn and Chakotay." He approached them and hugged each person heartily and then slapped each of them on the back. "Pungelo, when I asked for a special table I never meant for you to close the restaurant."

"It is not everyday that my Deanna gets married. Come, come your table awaits." He led them to the left where a large round table was set for six. The table cloth was a deep blue while the china was white with small blue flowers on the outer rim. "Sit, sit, I will bring the wine." The old man scurried into the kitchen and then back to the table with a bottle and poured each of them a glass of deep red wine. "My son and I will serve you tonight. You do not order. I have made all my special creations for my child and her friends." With that said he escaped into the kitchen.

Kathryn raised her glass. "A toast," she looked at Will, "to old friends," then her eyes went to Deanna, "and new ones." They all touched glasses and took a sip of wine.

"Wow, this is some strong stuff. No synthehol here."

"Will, you know him. He is as proud of his wine as he is of his food. It's his Italian heritage." Just then they heard a rap on the door. Will got up and walked over and unlocked the door once again. Picard walked in followed by a woman. As he arrived at the table he leaned down and kissed Deanna's cheek. You could see the genuine affection between the two. Then he straightened and faced Kathryn who was to his immediate right. "Captain, Commander, I'd like you meet my wife, Beverly."

They all shook hands. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Chakotay remembered a little of the teasing the Captain had thrown his way this afternoon concerning Kathryn. He saw an opportunity to get even. "But Captain Picard I thought you said your wife was very pregnant! That can't be true. Beverly is barely showing. Besides that she is a good deal younger than I expected from the description you gave me !"

Picard tried to glare at Chakotay but he could take as good as he could give. Finally he smiled, "Touché Commander." Beverly laughed. "I love that man already."

Everyone at the table joined in laughing as they sat down. Just as they did a young man brought out a plate of salad for everyone. He served Deanna first then went around the table serving Riker then Beverly followed by Picard and Kathryn and finally Chakotay. While his son was attending to the salads, Pungelo filled the wine glasses.

As they began to eat Beverly addressed Kathryn. "Captain Janeway, I am dying to hear about how you stood up Will."

Jean-Luc eyed him curiously. "You, Number One?"

Will's face turned a little red. "Deanna, did you tell everyone?"

"Anyone I could find who would listen." She smiled at him sweetly as she spoke.

Kathryn quickly recounted the story. Leaving out the parts about her own fears. By the time she was done everyone was laughing at Will's expense. Will tried to remain stoic but it didn't work. Even he laughed when she described how arrogant and cocky he seemed. He was those things in his youth but hopefully time had tempered him.

"It wasn't the last time I made a woman run out on me!"

Kathryn leaned into the table just a little showing her interest. "Do tell Commander."

Beverly added, "Yes Will, I don't believe I have ever heard this one." It was very enjoyable sitting with colleagues swapping stories. Kathryn couldn't remember the last time she had done this.

"Well, actually it was Deanna who ran out on me."

"I think you have that backwards Commander, you ran out on me."

"Shush, this is my story. I first saw her when I attended a wedding when I stationed on Betazed. My commanding officer was complaining that he didn't want to go to another blasted wedding so I volunteered. In fact, his daughter escorted me. So we get there and everyone is mingling in the hall and all of a sudden everyone undresses and enters the other room. I mean everyone!"

Chakotay eyed Kathryn carefully.

"Don't look at me. I told you what informal meant."

Chakotay was stunned. "You mean you were serious? I thought you were just teasing."

"Afraid not Commander."

"This is great!" Will was laughing out loud. "You look exactly like I must have all those years ago."

Suddenly Chakotay let out a strange sigh.

"You're not backing out are you Commander?" Picard asked him.

"No, I just remembered something Deanna's mother said." He was too out of sorts to remain silent. "She told me she thought she would enjoy seeing me at the wedding. I never realized…"

"I am sorry Commander. Mother can be, well she can…"

Will finished Deanna's thought. "She can be her!"

Picard chimed in, "Welcome to the club Commander. We have all been there."

Chakotay's face had turned a dark rust color. "I think I could use some more wine!"

Kathryn tried to rescue him and asked Will what happened at the wedding.

"I watched a beautiful woman come down the aisle and I was dumbstruck. She was the most heavenly creature I ever saw, very womanly yet ethereal. I was sorry to think she was the bride. Then she called a girl up to be joined and I realized that she was not the bride but what we would call the maid of honor. That's when I indulged myself in a few fantasies about what we might be like together. I pictured very vividly what it would be like to bed this beauty." Will paused and waited. No one understood yet.

Suddenly Kathryn's face broke into a wide grin. "Oh my god you were at a wedding full of Betazoids!"

"And everyone could read your mind!" Beverly added.

Even Captain Picard couldn't contain himself. He was laughing so hard that there were tears coming from his eyes. "Number One- interesting first contact!"

That only made them laugh all the more.

Once he caught his breath he continued. "Needless to say I did not make a very good first impression. Add to that, the fact that her mother hated me instantly and Deanna ran like hell from me."

"Yes, I ran at first, but you never gave up. You pursued me relentlessly!"

The two other couples were watching the playful exchange between Deanna and Will. The fact that they were deeply in love was obvious but Kathryn thought there was more. This wasn't the reckless love of youth but a love that had been fought for, a love that endured many hardships, a love that was real. She hoped that she and Chakotay looked like that when they were talking.

"You had your moments too Deanna! Why don't you tell them about the psychological experiments." He smiled in defiance.

"Okay, I will!" Will settled back in his chair and let Deanna have center stage. It should be interesting to hear her version of this, he thought.

"When I met Will I sensed right away that he had tremendous inner strength." AT this Will beamed. "But he had no inner discipline." Deanna turned to see Will frowning. "You can tell from the way he reacted at the wedding that there was basically one thing on his mind. I thought that if we were ever going to become involved that he had to break himself of the hold that his body had on his mind."

"Sounds like a very noble idea counselor."

"I thought so Captain Picard."

"Oh, please! Tell them what you did to me."

Everyone's attention was focused on Deanna. "I tried to make him hang from a tree to prove that his mind could outweigh his physical pain."

"What else Deanna?" Will demanded.

"I asked him read the about Betazoid philosophy."

"And" Will sat up straight and demanded more strongly.

Deanna felt like the tables had turned on her. "Okay, I took him to the top of a beautiful hill in a very secluded place. Then we both got undressed. Once we were naked I made him lay on his side facing the moon. Once he was settled I laid down in front of him in the same position." The table was silent as they waited to hear what happened next. Each person had a vivid picture of the couple in their brain. Final, Chakotay broke the silence. "Then what happened?"

Will spoke before Deanna could. "Then she wanted to discuss philosophy!"

Chakotay laughed out loud. "You're kidding?"

"No, I am not. She gets me naked, snuggles intimately against me and then she wants me to forget about her body and concentrate on her mind."

"Did it work?" Kathryn wanted to know.

"Look at her. What do you think?"

Chakotay answered. "No, I don't think so."

"That's not true Will! It did work! We did talk about philosophy and other things. You were able to separate your mind from your body."

"Your right. It did work after awhile. It was very hard to forget about my naked body pressing against your nakedness." He was trying to torment her just a little. "Why don't you tell everyone where you got this great experiment idea?"

To everyone's amazement she began to blush and looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap. She finally spoke very softly. "I made it up."

"So, basically you did it all so you could see me naked."

"Will Riker you are a cocky son of a b.." She never finished because Will swept down and kissed her. Deanna protested for a second and then melted in his arms.

"You always did have the knack for getting out of trouble Number One!"

Will lifted his glass, "One woman who runs out on me, to Kathryn; one who gets naked and only wants to talk; to Deanna, and one…"

"No you don't Will Riker, leave me out of it!"

Picard reached over and put his arm around his wife. "Yes Number One, leave my wife out of it."

The conversation stopped as the next course arrived. Everyone took a few mouthfuls of soup before they continued talking. "Bev, how are you feeling?"

"Not too bad Deanna. It is a lot different this time around. Since I am so much older it is much harder on my body. But at the same time I am wiser and that makes me enjoy it more. I don't have that nervousness that I had the first time around."

"That's because I have it all!"

Beverly stroked her husband's face. "He is a nervous wreck. We never thought about having a child. We both just assumed we were too old. It kind of makes me believe in fate."

Chakotay reached under the table and took Kathryn's hand. He could feel the tension in her body. Even though they never discussed it directly he knew this was a touchy subject for her. "If you don't mind my asking how is it that a captain comes to marry his ship's doctor?"

Beverly and Jean-Luc eyed each other and Beverly decided that she would tell the story. "Well the long and short of it is that I told him he better move it or lose it." Even Deanna was surprised by her friends comment. She had heard bits and pieces of how they had gotten together but never the whole thing. "It happened after our mission that involved the Baku. When we were there, Jean-Luc had a little fling."

"I did not have fling!", he protested.

Both Beverly and Deanna rolled their eyes. "After Jean-Luc had his little fling I told him that enough was enough." Kathryn and Chakotay were watching her with interest. Even Will was glued to her every word. Although they served together for years much of Jean-Luc Picard's life remained a mystery. Beverly looked at Commander Chakotay and realized that he and his Captain did not know anything about them. "I knew Jean-Luc because he was my husband's good friend. When I was assigned to the Enterprise we slowly became friends ourselves. At first it started because I was the only one who would stand up to him instead of to agree with everything he said just because he was the captain."

Chakotay looked directly at Kathryn. "I know the feeling."

"Soon we were having breakfast together every morning and sometimes dinner at night. He would discuss many things with me including the times when he had feelings for other women. I sat back and watched as he got involved with a few wrong women. Finally after this last incident I told him that I had enough. I would not be his substitute wife anymore. If I was going to perform all the other duties of a wife then the least I wanted was a good roll in the hay!"

Deanna was astonished. "Beverly, I can't believe you said that."

"What did you do sir?"

"Well, I did the only thing I could think of. I kissed her!"

Will smiled. "It works every time!"

Both Beverly and Deanna spoke in unison, "Men!"

"Kathryn, you are awfully quiet. We've all told our stories. How about yours?"

"What story?"

"Oh, come on. What does Chakotay have that I didn't have all those years ago?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kathryn teased.

"Be careful Number One. You can barely handle the one you did get!"

"No changing the subject Kathryn. Spill the beans."

Before anyone could speak the main course arrived.

Chakotay could sense how nervous she was, so he squeezed her hand and took the lead. "It's a lot like your story Beverly. Well, without the roll in the hay thing. You all know that she came to the Badlands to capture me." Both Beverly and Deanna looked surprised. Somewhere they had heard about his past but they both never really paid attention. "I was a wanted criminal and they sent Voyager's crew to arrest me and as many of my Maquis friends as they could find. But you also know we got sent to the Delta Quadrant. We were stuck there with one ship."

Kathryn broke in, "Because you destroyed your ship to save Voyager."

He smiled lovingly at her showing his deep dimples. You could almost hear the other ladies at the table sigh. "We had one ship, two crews, and no way home. So Kathryn proposed that we merge our crews and I become the first officer. Even though I was wary of everything Starfleet, something in my gut told me to trust her. From there we worked together and became friends. It was hard being out there all alone. The two of us and Tuvok were really the only senior officers. We turned to each other for support and friendship. There were a lot of working dinners and breakfasts together every morning. And when I could convince her, we took some shore leave together."

Deanna smiled. "That sounds so sweet."

Chakotay and Kathryn both chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, we fought. In fact, we fought a hell of a lot, very passionately but the friendship remained. We had many ups and downs but through it all the foundation stayed intact. When we returned we each went our separate ways."

Beverly didn't understand. "Why did you break up?"

Chakotay continued. "We did not break up. We were never together."

Will could not hide his amazement. "You mean you never… you know… you never were …together… all that time you were stranded in the Delta Quadrant?" Will was shaking his head in disbelief as he asked. Even Jean-Luc was a little shocked. He had heard plenty of rumors around Starfleet headquarters about their relationship but the subject was never brought up during the debriefings.

"Actually Will, we have you and Deanna to thank. Kathryn invited me to the wedding. The rest is history."

Kathryn looked up and saw that Beverly had tears in her eyes. "That is an incredibly romantic story. I can't believe I am crying!" She wiped her eyes with her napkin.

Not moved at all by the romance of the story. Will was still stuck on the celibacy issue. "I cannot believe that nothing happened!"

"Sweetheart, not everyone is as physical as you." Deanna's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Still, you were stuck out there all alone. You waited for seven years like a monk."

"NO!" Kathryn shouted. While Chakotay blushed the entire table broke into raucous laughter.

Deanna added, "What is it about these handsome first officers?"

"We have all had to sit back and watch our men dally with other women."

Picard looked at his wife. "At least I didn't dally with a ghost!"

"Or with a hologram," Chakotay added. Now Kathryn was blushing.

Beverly put her arm around Jean-Luc. "You both should have skipped the first officers and gone right to the captain."

Chakotay nodded in her direction. "I couldn't agree more." They both kissed their captain's on the cheek.

"I could have been a captain."

"Oh, poor baby, feeling left out." Deanna leaned over and planted a kiss smack on Will's lips.

The table was silent as everyone was collecting their own thoughts. Will's thoughts wandered to Captain Picard. 'He is in a very friendly mood.' Even though they were friends there were still some things that they never discussed. "Why did you wait so long, sir?"

The table got very quiet. The people who knew him knew that the captain did not like talking about his private affairs. "That is a difficult question Number One." Picard sat and thought for a few moments. His friends continued eating and sipping their wine. They waited until he was ready to speak. "There were complications with me being the captain. You know Starfleet Protocol."

Kathryn and Chakotay both coughed at the sound of that word. Shaking his head, Chakotay concurred, "Don't I know it!"

"There was also Wesley."

Deanna addressed the Captain softly, "Wesley idolized you."

"As a captain, not as a father." Beverly placed her hand on her husband's arm. Before he continued Jean-Luc took a long sip of wine. "I think the real reason was her first husband. I always felt like I was betraying Jack."

Picard stopped. Deanna and Will noticed his discomfort. Kathryn and Chakotay did not understand. Beverly patted his arm in a reassuring manner and then she continued for him. She looked at her two new friends and explained. "As I said before Jack was my first husband and Jean-Luc's good friend. When he was killed it was Jean-Luc who brought the body home to us. It was a difficult barrier to cross."

Very quietly, Will asked, "How did you ever get over it?"

Picard smiled just a little. "Beverly gave me her ultimatum. I knew I either needed to leave the past behind and move forward or lose her. So as I said before I threw caution to the wind and kissed her." He leaned over and repeated the gesture. "And I couldn't be happier."

Each person had a sweet smile on their lips except for Kathryn. "Weren't you afraid that Starfleet wouldn't allow both of you to remain on The Enterprise after you were married?"

"Captain Janeway, things have changed some since you left. Since being consumed by the war many of Starfleet's opinions have changed. In fact Captain Calhoun and his wife Commander Shelby, are the Captain and First Officer on the Excalibur."

"Ugh."

Deanna rubs her hand up and down Will's arm. "Don't mind Will. He had a bad experience with Commander Shelby."

"That's putting it mildly."

Picard addressed Kathryn directly. "Besides, there are some powerful advantages to being Captain of the Flagship of The Federation.' He catches her eye and winks. "Not unlike being a Captain who returns to her quadrant as a conquering hero."

Kathryn seemed to find comfort in his words. She relaxed and smiled along with everyone else.

After a few more sips of wine Captain Picard eyed his First Officer curiously. "Now Number One, why did you wait so long?"

As was his long standing habit Commander Riker deflected the question with humor. "Stupidity." He grinned that grin that usually allowed him to escape trouble. He sat back and extended his legs. He folded his hands and placed them in his lap as if to say that was all. But just as everyone waited for Captain Picard they waited for Will Riker. The table remained quiet. Deanna sat perfectly still. She could read his emotions and knew he was engaging in an inner battle between truth and fiction. Finally he sat up and looked her in the eye for strength. They had had this discussion a thousand times with each one hiding behind a different reason. His eyes remained locked with hers as he spoke. "The main reason is that more than anything else I thought I wanted to be a Starship Captain." Only he and Deanna remembered the words she had said to him when she saw him on the Enterprise for the first time since Betazed. He just quoted them word for word only this time he added the word 'thought' because now his desires were different.

Chakotay leaned into the table. He found Will Riker very interesting. He was a man of contradiction. He appeared to be light hearted and carefree yet he was intense and driven. He too began his career wanting to be a Starship Captain but he had lost the taste for command when he was in the Maquis. He was happy now serving as second in command. Maybe he had matured or maybe like Will there were other things keeping him in that position. "I noticed Will, that you said thought. Does that mean you no longer want to be a captain."

"That is a good question Chakotay. It is one I have asked myself over and over. It is not as if I have not had the opportunity but it never felt right. Growing up I dreamed of being the captain of a great ship. It was my ticket out. So I went to Starfleet and worked hard. When I was young I was brash and reckless. I drove myself unmercifully because in my plans I would make captain by the time I was twenty-five."

"Twenty-five! That's a little young. I don't even think Kirk was that young!"

Picard who was a student of history added, "Kirk's age has always been in debate. No one is exactly sure how old he was when he made captain. Legend says 25 but you know how legends are."

"You can laugh now Kathryn but you were no different. I remember you at the academy determined, driven. So driven you passed up a date with me to study!" Will smiled at her. There was no malice in his voice only laughter. "Life was much simpler then. I knew where I was going and what I wanted. It's funny, you wish for something your entire life and just when it is within your reach you realize that you are not sure if you want it anymore."

"You know what they say Number One-be careful what you wish for."

"My people believe that despite your plans and machinations the spirits will always lead you to your true destiny."

Will shook his head in agreement at Chakotay and then picked up Deanna's hand and brought it to his lips for a tender kiss. "When I was offered the big chair it never felt right. I thought the question to ask was 'is it better to command a lesser ship or remain the second in command of The Flagship?' I decided it was better to remain on The Flagship."

Now Kathryn leaned in and spoke. "But that wasn't the real question was it? The real question was whether you should embrace your destiny or continue running from it."

Riker was stunned as was Deanna. If she didn't know better Deanna would have believed that Kathryn had read Will's mind. "You're right. I spent my entire life running. First from the shadow of my father and second from Deanna and the relationship that we could have had and finally from myself. It took a lot of years for me to realize that duty was not everything and that it was okay to let my guard down and let someone else lead for awhile. Once I understood the real issues the answer was easy. The best decision was to remain where she was and convince her that I was a fool all those years ago."

"You were not a fool. You were just raised in Starfleet." Kathryn revealed a little of herself in that comment. Quickly the conversation turned as Kathryn began to laugh.

It seemed strange to everyone that she would laugh. It was not a nervous laugh but a genuine old fashioned laugh. Finally, Beverly asked her what was so funny. "I am just remembering a conversation that I had with my helmsman a few weeks ago."

"Oh spirits, this should be good," Chakotay chuckled.

"Do any of you know Owen Paris's son, Tom?"

"No, but I know Owen." Picard answered

"Trust me, there is little resemblance." Chakotay nearly grimaced.

"Chakotay and Tom have had a few tense moments. On Voyager, Tom was the one in the know. If there was gossip to be passed around he was usually at the heart of it. Anyway, when he found out I was coming to your wedding he filled me in on what he called 'the wedding of the century.'" Deanna and Will eyed each other with surprise. "He talked about how you had passed up numerous promotions to stay on The Enterprise. I explained that you probably enjoyed being Number One on such a great ship. Now let me think of exactly what he said. He said, 'I have seen pictures of both Picard and Deanna Troi and my money is on the girl!'" Now they were all laughing. Chakotay was laughing the loudest as he added, "Leave it to Tom to know gossip about people on another ship!"

"That's exactly what I said!"

"He sounds like quite a character." Picard noted.

"You don't know the half of it. He was also the resident bookie. He had a pool going for everything. In fact, he had a very large pool running on when exactly Captain Janeway and I would get together. I don't think anyone every collected on that one."

"If I am correct Chakotay he had bets going on more specific details of our relationship. Who would touch who first on the bridge, first kiss, first..well you get the picture."

"Sounds like a lot of people could have lost a lot during that long seven years." Riker faced Chakotay. "Why did you wait so long Chakotay? If you had planned it better you could have scored big time."

The double meaning did not escape Chakotay. "I did score big time, when she invited me to the wedding."

"Seriously, what took you so long?"

"That's simple. She wasn't ready."

"That's it?"

"That's it from my point of view. I was gone the minute I met her." That was all Chakotay had to say. He picked up his fork and continued eating.

Will refused to let it go. "Okay Kathryn, why did you wait so long? There has to be more to your story than he is letting on."

Chakotay waited. He wasn't sure she would say anything. This relationship was so new that he didn't know if Kathryn was ready to talk about it yet. Joking was one thing but the question Will had asked was the one question that plagued their relationship from day one.

"Just like you Will I had two sets of reasons. The ones I verbalized and the ones I hid. There were many official reasons. First and foremost I leaned on Starfleet regulations. As the captain it would be unethical for me to become involved with any member of my crew."

Picard interrupted. "Kathryn, you had to know that those were just suggestions. Starfleet would never dictate a person's personal life."

She held up her hand as if to stop him from speaking. "I know, but it was an easy excuse. Add to that the fact that I had been sent there to capture him for committing crimes against The Federation and it did not bode well for us."

Now Deanna spoke up. "But yet you made him your first officer."

"I'll admit that that was selfish. I knew that I needed his crew in order to run Voyager. So many people had died." Kathryn got misty eyed. Chakotay moved his arm from the back of her chair to her back where he rubbed lazy circles. They both still felt the pain of lost crew members. "I was anticipating a 70 year journey. I needed a replacement crew and his crew provided me not only with valuable replacements but trained replacements. I needed Chakotay in a position of authority in order to effectively merge the two crews."

Beverly, who had been watching her carefully, noticed how Janeway smiled just slightly when she spoke about Chakotay. "But things changed, didn't they?"

"Yes. I came to the conclusion early on that Starfleet had been less than truthful in the information they gave me concerning the Maquis. Chakotay proved himself over and over to me. We became friends. Not casual friends but real friends. You know the one person in the world who accepts you as you are but still has the strength and confidence to disagree with you. He was often the difference between a good decision and a bad one. His mere presence provided me with a sense of strength that carried me through many bad times. Even though things were very good between us I was petrified that if we deepened our relationship it would compromise our professional interactions. I didn't think I would be able to separate the two. I also worried about what the crew would think. Add to that the tiny fact that I was already engaged to someone on earth and you could see that there were many obstacles."

Still rubbing her back with one hand Chakotay made a dismissive motion with the other. He still did not like to think of her with Mark. "All of her reasons seemed valid but they did not sit well with me. I knew I loved her. We were constantly striving to get home but I felt like I was already there."

Kathryn reached over and ran her fingers across his tattoo. Deanna was watching the couple with interest. She could feel the intimacy of Kathryn's last action. "As I said Will, there were these reasons, then there were the real reasons. Like you I spent a good deal of my life running, running from involvement. I was obsessed with being the best Starfleet had ever seen so I spent years pleasing everyone but me. Perfection was my only goal. Anything that did not lead me toward achieving that goal was of no interest to me."

"What made you change your mind?" Will was truly interested. He knew even as early as their academy days that they had a lot in common. Now he observed that they were both so Starfleet yet they both picked mates that were completely different from themselves.

"After I was home for awhile I realized how lonely I was. I missed the simple things, breakfast in the morning, sitting next to him on the bridge, just having someone to talk to." Kathryn smiled shyly. When I woke up in the middle of the night and reached for my comm badge to call Chakotay to see if he was up too, I knew I had to do something. That was when I invited him to the wedding."

Chakotay knew she really had not answered the question. She had avoided it, He didn't know if this was intentional or not but he was not going to ask. He didn't have to. Will did.

"You know, you never really answered the question. What took you so long, for real?"

Kathryn looked Will right in the eye because she knew he would understand. "I needed to get over my fear and let go. I knew that this involvement would not entail just my body and mind but also my soul. From the moment I first saw him I felt the sheer power of his emotion. Unlike me he was not guarded. He hid nothing. In order to have a romantic relationship with Chakotay I would have to give up all the control I had spent years building. I knew if we got involved it would be all or nothing. So I chose the safest route, nothing. Once I was away from him I realized how much I missed him. Like you, I had found the one person in the universe that completed me. I could not envision a future without him." All the women at the table had tears in their eyes. Even Will was moved. He knew exactly how she felt. When Deanna touched his mind it was like nothing he had ever experienced. When he was finally honest with himself, he admitted that he could not live without it or her. Deep in their own thoughts they did not hear Pungelo and his son as they came in and cleaned up the table.

Once they were finished the owner returned and spoke to the guest of honor. "Deanna my love, dessert is in the fridge in the back. You and your friends can choose what you want. We are going home. Here is a key. You and your future husband can lock up when you leave."

Deanna stood and hugged and kissed the man. "I can't thank you enough."

He leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "Enjoy life little one." With that said he left with his son. Deanna locked the door then turned to the table, "Who is up for dessert?"

Beverly jumped up. "I am and I could use a little walking. My back is getting stiff."

"We will be back with some treats for everyone."

"You want to bet they only bring coffee."

"Right you are Number One, I better get in there and commandeer some Earl Grey. Tea anyone?"

"I would love some tea."

"I could probably use a hand Chakotay if you don't mind. We'll let the ladies handle the dessert. We'll handle the drinks."

"With Deanna, it is bound to be chocolate."

"Chakotay, see if you can find…"

"I know coffee ice cream!"

Both men left the room. Will got up and sat next to Kathryn effectively invading her personal space. He placed his arm around the back of her chair and leaned into her. "Alone at last after all these years."

Kathryn playfully slapped him on the chest and smiled. He settled back into the chair. "Seriously though, I have never seen you this happy."

"Will, how often have you seen me?"

"I have a little confession to make. That blind date we had wasn't so blind. I had my friend arrange it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I wanted to met you so I had my friend set it up."

"Why would you want to meet me?"

"I had seen you around campus. I heard a lot about you. You were different than the girls I dated. You weren't the pretty cheerleader type."

Kathryn scowled at him. "I wasn't the pretty cheerleader type. What does that mean?"

"That didn't come out right. People called you the perfect one. Nothing but perfection was good enough for you. I recognized that for what it was, a Starfleet upbringing. I knew instantly that we had a lot in common. You would understand my ambition, my desires, and my dreams of being a Starfleet Captain. I thought we would be perfect together because we were both so similar."

"Little did you know that what you needed was someone who was not so similar to you!"

"Isn't that the truth."

"She is wonderful Will. Did Deanna tell you we met at the museum yesterday. We had a marvelous time together. She is special."

Will smiled. "Yes, she is. It took me a long time to finally realize just how special. When I think of all the time I wasted."

Kathryn touched his arm. "It wasn't time wasted. You are not the same person now that you were then. What if you had married her when you were young? Who is to say how your lives would have turned out. You're together now because the time is right. You are both ready."

Will laughed. "I could say the same for you. He is the one, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. The connection is strong. It is a pull that I could no longer resist, nor did I want to."

"Remember when I was on Voyager and we talked about Deanna and me?"

"Yes."

"Remember when I explained the word imzadi to you."

"Yes."

"He is your imzadi, I can feel it."

"Yes, he is. He has reached a part of me that I never knew existed. In his culture he calls it a soul mate. It is a bonding so strong it can never be broken. I hope you don't mind but I used your word. I called him imzadi."

"Did he understand?" She shook her head yes. "It's not my word. It is a Betazoid word and it means exactly what you described. A connection so strong that time nor trials can break it. That is what Deanna and I have and I can see that is what you have." Will leaned over and hugged her. "I am very happy for you both."

Just then Chakotay and Captain Picard came back in the room.

"Hey you two, break it up." Chakotay placed the tray he was carrying on the table and walked behind Kathryn. Even though he knew it was nothing he felt a pang of jealousy. He placed his hand on her shoulder. Kathryn reached up and held it. "We were just discussing soul mates."

"Oh."

"We both know how lucky we are to have found ours."

"Speaking of mine, where is she with that cake?"

"Looking for me or dessert?" Deanna asked as she and Beverly returned with the sweets.

"Both!" He went to her and helped her carry the plates full of desserts.

The new friends settled back down to share their coffee and treats.

Kathryn tasted a forkful of what looked liked chocolate cake. She closed her eyes as the warm sweetness slid down her throat. "Not bad for chocolate."

Deanna tasted the same cake. "It's not just chocolate. It has some mocha in it."

"That explains it!" Chakotay leaned his mouth over and snatched the cake off her fork as Kathryn brought it to her mouth. Each couple was enjoying the easy camaraderie.

"Are you nervous about the wedding tomorrow? Beverly asked.

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Well, that is interesting. Why are you nervous Deanna?"

"Isn't every girl nervous about her wedding?"

"Will, why aren't you nervous?"

"How bad could it be? I already made the worst possible impression I could to all the people on Betazed at the last wedding I was at. What could be worse?"

Deanna quietly spoke. "Mother."

Will hugged her. "Deanna don't worry. Your mother won't do anything to ruin this day for you. I think she has finally resigned herself to the fact that I am going to be your husband." He looked around the table and winked. "Besides, I have a surprise in mind that should keep Lwaxana happy."

"Will, don't do anything that will upset her."

"Relax sweetheart. Would I do that?"

Both Beverly and Jean-Luc answered a resounding yes!

After a few more bites of cake Captain Picard noticed how tired his wife looked. "I think I better be getting my wife home to bed. Maybe we can do this again before the next wedding. " He looked over at Kathryn and Chakotay.

"I don't know Captain. After all we have only been dating for five days." He stood and shook hands with Chakotay. "Don't wait too long Commander. Will, I'll see you back at the house."

"No, I am staying at the Starfleet Embassy tonight. Some earth tradition about not seeing the bride until the wedding. It is suppose to be bad luck."

He leaned over and kissed Deanna on the cheek. "I didn't think Betazoids believed in luck."

"I am half human Captain."

When he got to Kathryn she stood up. The Captain took the Captain into his arms and hugged her. He whispered a final message into her ear. "Be happy. If anyone deserves it you do." He turned and placed his hand on the small of his wife's back and led her to the door. "We'll see you tomorrow at the wedding," Beverly called.

"Will, let them out please. Kathryn and I will clean up and then we can all go."

Kathryn joined Deanna in carrying the plates into the kitchen. "Kathryn, he is everything you said he was and so much more. I can see how you fell for him."

"He is kind of handsome isn't he?" Kathryn was smiling like a school girl with her first crush.

"Kind of! He looks like something you would see in a museum."

"I felt a very strong connection between the two of you. I think it is very possible that you are reading each other on some level. He loves you very much."

"I know. I can't believe that I am this lucky. Deanna, thank you so much for everything! Without you and Will we would not be here today."

"I think I have to agree with your handsome man out there. Somehow our destiny finds us. Mine certainly did and so did yours.

Much later that night Kathryn and Chakotay were lying wrapped in each others arms.

"I had a wonderful time tonight. It was nice to talk and laugh again. There were a few times during the night that it struck me that I had not sat and talked with a group of friends in a long time."

"There were always friends available to you on Voyager."

"I know Chakotay. I just wasn't ready to be both friend and captain. Things will be different this time around."

He snuggled her even closer and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, things will be different this time."