The End

h Katara-Trilogy

Author:             D. Destiny

Summary:         Imzadi is forever....or is it? First story of the h Katara Trilogy

Paring:             T/R

Timeframe:        Post Insurrection. No notion taken from Nemesis spoilers.

Author's Note:   I know, I know...but I *had* to write at least one story like this.

Disclaimer:       The characters belong to me...oh wait, to Paramount. The story *doesn't* belong to                      Paramount; THANK THE DEITIES. And if they ever adapt a story line anything close              to this I *will* kill the writers personally :o

WARNING:       If you're a happy-endings-person do NOT read this...although :rolleyes:

The End

On her way to his quarters she thought of what to say to him, how to make up for last night, how to control her own anger and hurt. For tomorrow they would have to have resolved all their problems, for tomorrow would be their wedding.

~*+*~

They had a fight yesterday. A heated one at that and the truth to be told she was still hurt and angry. He had been mean, meaner than she had ever known him to be. 'Goddamn it Deanna! For once step out that superior Betazoid philosophy and act like a damn human!' His words sliced through her mind and heart like a newly sharpened knife and they had, as they still did now, hurt beyond expression.

Will was one of the few privy to her lifetime feeling of inferiority opposed to other Betazoids, telepathic Betazoids. He had always accepted her for who she was and not for who she was supposed to be. But yesterday... 'Shut down that damn empathy of yours Miss the Empathic Betazoid!' Closing her eyes she willed her memories to stay away from her conscious for she could not risk loosing her temper again.

The things he had said were hurtful, but she too had said hurtful things in return. And whether or not he liked it, they were going to talk *now*. Captain Picard had given them, as well as Data and Beverly the day off to prepare for the wedding. Yesterday she had been on the verge of calling the wedding off, but she hadn't. When she had awoken late that night she had realized that she already missed him.

Arrived at his doors she took a deep breath and quickly steadied herself before 'ringing the bell' as he loved to call it. She rang once, twice and a third time when there was every lack of response. 'Maybe he's still asleep.' Carefully she lowered her empathic blocks, trying to figure out if he *was* still asleep.

He wasn't. His emotions poured into her before she could reinstall her blocks. William Riker was definitely *not* asleep. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart rate quickened until she was sure her heart would jump out her chest and hop through the corridors of the Enterprise. Her entire body tensed and her hands clenched into fists. Tears welled up in her eyes but she did not allow them to fall. With an unsteady, trembling voice she gave the computer his access code and almost immediately the doors slid open.

It was silent, extremely silent. Slowly she entered his quarters and couldn't help but feel like an intruder. As soon as she had cleared the doors they closed behind her. His quarters were dark, the stars outside provided the little light there was. "Computer: quarter lights." Complying with her order the computer dimly illuminated the quarters.

Slowly Deanna looked around her, still perfectly aware of his emotional state for he was making no attempt at all to hide it. What she saw confirmed her suspicion, but still she couldn't bring herself to believe what she already knew.

His shoes lay next to the couch, one on its side the other in the middle between the table and couch. On a nearby chair lay a black heap of what she knew to be his trousers. On the table...her breath staggered in her throat...on the table lay a bra. One that definitely was not hers. Tears rolled down her cheeks. 'He wouldn't...would he?' Wasn't there an old Earth saying about history repeating itself? The phrase sounded through her psyche in perfect clarity.

Wiping her tears away she advanced towards his bedroom door. It was closed. Will never closed that door. Unless... Shaking the thought out her mind she raised her hand to the panel. Even though there was barely enough light to see she could see her fingers trembling as she reached for the panel.

Scared to death for what she might find behind those doors, part of her wanted to turn away and run, yet the rest of her decided against it. She had to know, had to be sure. Shaking Deanna Troi pushed the key to his bedroom door and mere instances later the orange door slid aside. But Will didn't notice it.

She eyed him, lying naked on his bed. On top of him was a woman she had never seen before, also naked. Deanna just stood there, frozen, numb, her mind trapped in her body, the dimmed lights shining behind her, creating a mysterious glow around her. 'What should I do? Should I walk away and just not show up tomorrow? Should I stand him up as he stood me up on Risa?' Although that scenario sounded appealing she decided against it. She would not treat him like he had treated her.

Neither of the two occupants of the bedroom had noticed her, both to busy with each other. The usually vibrant twinkle in the empath's large black eyes faded away and eventually disappeared. Her facial expression turned from surprise to anger to a mere state of shock. And still the other two persons didn't notice her presence.

Strong white blocks slammed around her mind, protecting her. And bit by bit her heart cooled until eventually it froze. The tears that had been brimming in her eyes disappeared and her eyes dimmed. But she couldn't look away and frozen, watched the couple in front of her finish what they obviously had started a while ago. Not even when the unknown woman rolled to his side did they notice her. Softly she coughed. Immediately the woman's head snapped up.

"Oh hello." How she did not know but Deanna managed to smile back.

"Hello." The blonde made an attempt to get up but Troi quickly gestured her to stay where she was. By now Will had broke through the daze he was in and realized that his fiancée was standing in front of him...and a naked woman.

"Deanna...I, I can explain."

"It's alright." He frowned. Alright? He just cheated on her, two days before their *wedding* and she had said in a perfect sweet and polite voice that it was alright?! But Deanna continued with an icy voice.

"Please," she gestured at the woman, "You can stay in bed if you like, for the rest of the day if you want. Tonight wouldn't be a problem either. And tomorrow morning you two love birds can sleep late." Will was too confused to say anything. Deanna slowly pulled her engagement ring off her finger. "You see, he originally had a wedding to attend tomorrow, but considering the current stage of affairs, that won't be necessary."

Gently she laid the ring on his chest and gave the two a bittersweet smile before she spun around and exited the room. For a moment Will didn't know what to do. Deanna had sound so…polite, yet empty. Sweet, yet sarcastic. Calm and unhurt.

"She was kind. Who is she?"

"My fiancée." Was all he could reply.

~*+*~

In some kind of shock Deanna walked through the corridors of the ship. Not knowing where to go or what to do. Her vision was blurry and vague, as if she was dreaming. Blank minded she wandered from deck to deck, occasionally bumping into other crewmembers. Her mind spinning with questions and memories. Her heart cold and insensitive. She could not allow herself to feel the same pain as she had felt nearly twenty years ago. She could not allow herself to stand still or to go to her quarters. Until she bumped into Beverly Crusher who was just on her way to Deanna's quarters to ask her advice.

"Ah Deanna. Just the lucky lady I was looking for. Come with me, I need your opinion on the flowers." Before she could utter as much as a sound Beverly grabbed her sleeve and pulled her along to the Holodeck. The doors opened and revealed probably the most beautiful scenery she had ever seen.

In the middle of the lush green landscape there was a white chapel…a replica of the chapel on Betazed where she had met Will a lifetime ago. Thousands of razor-sharp knives cut through her heart, almost sending her down to her knees. Tears threatened to spring to her eyes and her throat knotted. But she showed none of it, keeping her posture perfectly serene, as she kept her face.

"Don't bother Beverly. Delete the program and enjoy your day off." And with those, strangely enough normal sounding words Deanna spun around on her heels and walked out the Holodeck.

Open mouthed Beverly watched her leave. She knew Deanna had had her doubts about the wedding, about trusting Will with her heart again. But Beverly was sure that if there were two people in this universe destined to be together, it was Will and Deanna. After a while Deanna has seen that too and accepted his proposal.

The empath had teased that the Doctor was even happier than herself. And somewhere Beverly agreed with her friend. 'Did she just *cancel* the wedding?!…She did, didn't she?' Dropping the PADD she had been holding Beverly went after her friend.

~*+*~

Will lay frozen in his bed, the haze of alcohol still clouded around his vision and mind. Deanna had just left and he still wasn't sure whether it had been a dream or not, until Trylk turned around and seized him quizzically.

"Shouldn't you go after her?" Confused he looked up before he softly stammered that he probably should. With a heavy heart he climbed out his bed and began to collect his clothes that lay scattered throughout the room, ignoring the headache caused by his hangover. With his mind he reached out to her but strong empathic blocks held him away.