The Wedding

h Katara-Trilogy

Author:             D. Destiny

Summary:         Six years ago Deanna caught Will in bed with another woman the night before their wedding. Hurt she called off the wedding and left the Enterprise to assume a teaching post at the Starfleet Academy on Earth. Will took the Captaincy of the USS Titan. Now both return to the Enterprise for a long awaited wedding. Second story of the h Katara Trilogy

Paring:             Guess…

Timeframe:        Six years after The End

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

Archive:            Sure, leave my name on it and for all I care you throw it into the fireplace ;)

In 'The End'

~*+*~

"I understand that you aren't coming with me to the Titan. But you don't have to leave." He didn't say what he had planned to; in fact he said pretty much the opposite. But as always Deanna knew. She stood up with the elegance of a swan and walked to a window. He wanted desperately to go to her and wrap her in his arms, smell the sweet scent of her hair. As if she knew his thought, she locked her dark, luminous eyes on his. Conveying her desire and love to him. In her eyes he also saw her pain and distrust.

"I do." Her voice was barely a whisper, a faint reminder of her usually bright and cheery voice. "Everything here is a reminder to what was and could've been."

- - -

With pride, love, sadness and guilt in his heart, he watched her shuttle move away from him. He watched until the red lights at the back of its warp engines were no longer visible. Things would never return to the way they once were between them, but someday, somewhere, they'd see each other again. And he'd be waiting for that day.

The Wedding

~*+*~

In the Enterprise's lounge, several engineering teams where busy decorating and furnishing the large room to accommodate the guests for the wedding. Their actions carefully supervised by Lwaxana Troi; the eccentric Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. In the far corner, near the viewports, Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher watched the scene before them.

"God, I feel sorry for Deanna." A sharp look of the Telepath in their direction kept Picard from commenting and instead he grabbed Crusher's arm and led her out Ten-Forward.

~*+*~

"Kyleigh Felisia Troi, you'd better get over here and in this dress or I'll leave you at home tomorrow!" Almost instantly a little dark-haired and black-eyed beauty came running into the living room.

"I'm here Mommy! I'm here! I'll promise I'll be good! Please don't leave me here tomorrow!" Deanna smiled and swept the girl in her arms to give her a tight hug.

"Alright then, you can come. Now..." Putting her daughter on the couch Deanna grabbed the dress that hung behind her and laid it next to the little girl. "...Lets see if this fits." Quickly Kyleigh began to undress; not wanting to miss the wedding that'd be on the next day for anything in the galaxy.

"You must wear your dress too, Mommy!" Troi chuckled at the child's enthusiasm and nodded her agreement as she walked to her bedroom to get her own dress. While she dressed she watched Kyleigh struggle with her own clothing. With her five-and-a-half years Kyleigh Felisia Troi, usually called Lishia, was an extremely bright and cheery child and according to Lwaxana very much like Deanna had been at that age. Deanna loved her daughter dearly and enjoyed motherhood just as much as she always thought she would. In her struggle with her dress, Lishia lost her balance and landed on her behind on one of the large, furry cushions on the couch. Chuckling, Deanna walked to her and picked her up to put her back on her feet.

"Having a little trouble with the dress, Little One?"

"Yes Mommy; the holes are all in the wrong places." The girl replied with an even face. Laughing Deanna shook her head and helped her daughter put on her dress. When she was done, she turned her back towards the little girl.

"There Little One; now it's your turn to zip me up." Carefully she studied the zipper of her mother's dress. Determined to fulfill the task up ahead. Her tiny fingers grabbed the silver zipper and pulled it up.

"Mommy! Pull your belly in, I can't get your dress closed!" Deanna's eyes widened briefly at her daughter's command, but she did as asked. With her five-and-a-half years, Kyleigh had her mother, grandmother, Auntie Beverly and Uncle Jean-Luc wrapped around her little finger.

~*+*~

"Captain, incoming message from the Enterprise. They want to know our ETA."

"McKenzie?" The young female at the helm turned around to face her Captain.

"Fourteen hours and thirty-seven minutes, Sir." Nervous, Riker nodded at her and instructed his communications officer to rely their ETA to the Enterprise. He couldn't wait for the ceremony, yet at the very same time he dreaded it immensely. His suit had been hanging in his bedroom for the past three weeks now and he had gotten at least four communiqués from Lwaxana Troi about what to do and what to say and perhaps more important; -when- what to say or do. Curiously, the woman at his left watched him.

"Nervous for the big day, Will?" With a lopsided grin, he regarded his CMO.

"Very." Serah smiled and squeezed his arm assuring.

"There could be worse fates y'know."

"Yeah, I know." She almost believed him, were it not for the desperate look in his eyes.

~*+*~

Beverly Crusher raised her hand to tap the panel in front of her, but before her hand was even at the same level, a musical voice came though the Commsystem and invited her in. Immediately the doors in front of her slid apart and allowed her access into the quarters of her closest friend.

Upon seeing the scene in front of her, Beverly placed her left hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing out loud. Deanna was kneeling on the floor; her long dark curls spilled over her face and behind her a red-faced tiny copy of Deanna was trying to get Deanna's zipper up, the tip of her tongue caught between her teeth in the process.

"Beverly, maybe you could help Lishia out?"

"I can do this Mommy! I can!" The two adults exchanged a knowing look, and Deanna reached behind her to squeeze her daughter's hand.

"I know you do, but we've got to get ready; your grandmother is expecting us soon." Putting on a pouting face, Kyleigh jumped of the couch and motioned Beverly to take her place. Within seconds, Deanna's dress was zipped up and she was being pulled to her feet by Crusher. Smoothing the skirt of her dress, Deanna glanced at her daughter and then at her friend.

"Bev! You're not wearing your dress!"

"Which is my very right. Now let's go before your mother comes hunting for us." The women exchanged a knowing look and each grabbed one of Kyleigh's tiny hands in their own and headed to the door.

~*+*~

"My, my, this must be my lucky day." Broadly grinning, Jean-Luc came walking up to them. "Three beautiful ladies and they're all mine." Defensively, Kyleigh jumped forward.

"No! Mommy's mine and Daddy's." Surprised, Beverly and Jean-Luc diverted their gazes to Deanna, who quickly turned her head to hide the solemn tear that slid down her cheek. A silent message passed between the two officers and together they walked away; giving Deanna the opportunity to compose herself.

Troi looked down as she felt short tugs to her skirt and looked into the large black eyes of her daughter. She wiped her tears away and lifted the child up to hug her closely. "I'm sorry Mommy, I didn't mean to make you sad."

"It's alright Little One, and I'm doing better already." Giving her daughter the most genuine smile she could manage, Deanna hugged her again. "Why don't we go and see your grandmother? She must be really anxious to see you in that pretty dress." The words had barely left her mouth, when Lwaxana's voice rang through their heads.

~Well of course I am! Come here Flower Girl and show me that beautiful dress. Oh and Little One, I'd appreciate it if you'd teach your daughter some traditions before the ceremony tomorrow.~ Kyleigh rolled her eyes and looked up at her mother.

"Hurry on" Deanna whispered, "Before she comes after you!" Giggling the child left off and Troi wisely decided not to answer her mother.

~*+*~

"She hasn't told him, has she?" Beverly shook her head sadly while answering her Captain.

"No, she hasn't." Both watched Kyleigh as she ran towards her grandmother.

"Kyleigh is a very beautiful child. So much like her mother."

"Yes. And just as stubborn." The couple chuckled softly. When he heard Beverly's soft sigh he turned towards her and captured her face in his hands.

"What is it?"

"Nothing...I was just thinking how different Deanna's life was six years ago."

"Yes...tomorrow promises to be an interesting day."

"Oh it better!" Crusher accompanied her answer by a playful poke between Picard's ribs and then grabbed his hand to drag him towards the three Troi women. "We'd better put Deanna out her misery." It was obviously to the Enterprise officers that mother and daughter were having yet another argument; a sight not as uncommon as they would've liked.