~*+*~

"Pfeww, I'm glad this day's over." Deanna and Beverly walked into Deanna's quarters. The Betazoid was carrying Kyleigh, who was almost asleep; exhausted by the day's events. When Deanna started walking to Kyleigh's bedroom, Beverly stopped her.

"I'll do it. You look just as exhausted as she does." Thanking her friend with just a look, Deanna handed her the treasure she was carrying and then headed for her bedroom to change. Quickly she peeled her dress off and slid into a silk bathrobe. While walking back to her daughter's room she pulled her thick, dark hair back into a ponytail and fastened it.

Reaching Kyleigh's room, she leaned against a bulkhead and watched as Beverly tucked her goddaughter in. "Goodnight Lishia." Quietly the Doctor backed away, making a place for Deanna. The empath gently caressed her daughter's face before leaning down and placing a tender kiss on her forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my Angel." Watching the little girl for a few more seconds, she eventually turned around to follow Beverly into the living area.

At the same moment that Deanna let herself fall onto the couch, Crusher returned from the replicator with a mug of hot chocolate and a cup of tea. She handed Deanna the mug and sat down on the other end of the couch.

"So, all set and done for tomorrow?"

"I think so. And if not, we'll find out soon enough." Smiling, Troi shook her head.

"You're taking this so easy. If it'd be my wedding, I'd probably be wound up tighter than Jean-Luc at the annual Admiral's banquet." Beverly decided not to reply and instead studied her best friend's features for a while.

"What about you? How do you feel about tomorrow?"

"Oh, I'm thrilled! You two are *long* overdue and I *know* the ceremony will be very special and beautiful." But the Betazoid refused to look at her friend; knowing she'd find the unvoiced question in those blue eyes. But Beverly was Beverly and there wasn't a chance she'd stop prying.

"And further?" Deanna sighed deeply and reluctantly raised her eyes.

"And further. I am nervous, scared to death and angry. I'd like to be able to predict how we'll react to each other, but I can't. I don't know him anymore; it's been six years since we've seen each other, or said more to each other than standard pleasantries." Angrily, Deanna wiped the fresh tears off her face.

"You haven't told him, have you?"

"No, I tried and gods I wanted to, but I couldn't. Not back then, not now and I'm not sure I ever can." Without saying another word, Beverly moved to Deanna and enveloped her tiny form in her arms. In the safety of her friends embrace, Deanna let her tears flow freely after keeping them back for far too long. "I don't know if I can face him Bev...It still hurts...*so* much!" Harsh sobs racked the Empath's body, interrupting her words. "I-I still miss him...l-love him...but I *hate* him!"

Crusher stroke Troi's hair in rhythmic, soothing moves while she listened as the Counselor finally let out the emotions she'd hidden for almost six years. For the first time did Beverly begin to remotely understand the agony Deanna had been through the first months after she'd left, the shock when she had find out she was pregnant. Beverly had been in touch with her best friend at least once a week through her pregnancy, but the distance between them --Deanna was stationed at Earth at the time-- had put some kind of strain on their talks.

At the end of the term, Deanna returned from Starfleet Academy to the Enterprise. She was seven months pregnant at the time and Beverly insisted on being the one to guide her through the last months. Beverly knew all too well that the child was just about the soul reason that kept Deanna going at the time.

Not only had Will's betrayal robbed her of her trust in him and in love altogether, it had also forced her to leave the only home she'd known for the past decade and a half. Leaving her with nothing but memories of what once had been.

About to be married herself, Beverly could only imagine how she'd feel and react if Jean-Luc would pull the same stunt on her as Will had on Deanna. Keeping her temper in mind, she smugly admitted to herself that she'd probably kill him or do something *very* painful to a certain part of his body.

She was pulled from her thoughts when movements behind her drew her attention. Before turning around she looked at the dark haired --and now sleeping-- beauty in her arms. Only to find herself staring at her replica when she did turn around.

"Lishia, why aren't you a sleep yet?" Without saying a word the little girl, clad in an ankle-length, white nightgown, walked towards them and kneeled next to the face of her mother. She studied her features for a while and gently wiped away the paths tears had made before she even acknowledged Crusher's presence.

"Why does she hurt so bad?" The sorrow over her mother was clearly visible in Kyleigh's soulful eyes, eyes so much like her mother's. Beverly slid a comforting arm around her goddaughter and hugged her tightly.

"Your mother has some sad memories..." The Doctor diverted her gaze from child to parent and back and let out a soft sigh. "The wedding tomorrow made her think about that a little more."  The girl nodded her understanding and bent to kiss her mother on her forehead. A nostalgic smile crept over Beverly's features as she recalled how Will Riker used to do exactly the same thing when Deanna needed comfort.

Careful not to wake the Betazoid, she stood up and scooped Kyleigh in her arms. "Why don't you go back to sleep as well? I do need you to rise and shine early in the morning, Flower Girl."

~*+*~

"Geez Bev, calm down!" Half-smiling, Deanna watched her best friend furiously trying to get a stubborn lock of auburn curls to go where she wanted them to be.

"Now you either stay put or I'm going to cut you off! You hear me?" But instead of doing as ordered, the lock simply fell back in front of Beverly's eyes. "Argh!!!"

Kyleigh left Crusher's side and walked to her mother. Covertly she whispered in Deanna's ear "I think Auntie Bev is a little nervous." Deanna stifled a laugh, "I think so too," she whispered back. Deciding it was time to make an end to Beverly's frustrations; she walked to her friend, took the stubborn lock between two fingers, and twisted it around another lock which already had been fastened.

For a moment Beverly was rendered speechless, then she turned back to the mirror and studied her hair. "Thanks Dea." The empath smiled and picked up the make-up. She began to apply the different colors to Beverly's face, humming while she did so.

"We're never going to make it, I'm sure."

"Make what?"

"The aisle," Crusher answered on a sigh, "we'll never make it." Deanna barely managed to contain a chuckle. "Why wouldn't you?" she questioned.

"Why not? Well, I'm sure some 'ship's-business' will come in between, or a medical emergency, or new orders from Starfleet Command, or we run into a hostile vessel, a new space anomaly..." Troi was about to cut in, but just then Beverly seemed to end her sum. "*But*, most likely I'll sprain my ankle and break my neck as I fall. I'll *never* be able to walk on these high-heeled shoes!"

Dumbfounded, the empath stared at the reflection of her best friend in the mirror, but soon she couldn't help but laugh at the bride-to-be's defeated eyes and her desperate words. With her arms folded across her chest, Beverly impatiently waited for Deanna to stop laughing.

"I'm sorry...Bev, but you should hear yourself talking." Deanna was still chuckling when she heard her daughter calling for her. "Mommy, may I have some of those pretty colors as well?" With pleading eyes, Kyleigh pointed at the little boxes of make-up scattered on Deanna's wash-table. Thoughtfully, the elder Troi looked at the make-up. "All right, because it's such a special day today." Excited by her mother's agreement, little Kyleigh jumped up and down.

Seeing the little girl so happy made Beverly forget about all that could go wrong and for the first time that day she smiled genuinely.

~*+*~

~Little One, the ceremony starts in ten minutes dear.~ Deanna rolled her eyes and she fastened the last tendril of Kyleigh's dark curls. This was only the tenth time her mother had given her such a warning and it was becoming pretty damn annoying. "All right Little One, you're all set and done." Thrilled and hardly being able to wait for the ceremony to start, Kyleigh ran to the adjoined room to get her flower petals and dress.

Slowly Troi walked over to Beverly, the latter was anxiously looking out the window, watching the final preparations being made in Ten-Forward. Deanna sat down on the bench next to her friend and picked up a package from a nearby shelf.

"Beverly Howard Crusher," at the mentioning of her full name Beverly turned so that she was facing the small Betazoid. Deanna opened the package and carefully took out the golden bracelet within it. While holding the bracelet in her right hand she reached for Beverly's left arm and made her turn her palm towards herself. Crusher somehow sensed the empath was performing some kind of ritual and therefore she kept silent and docilely followed Deanna's unspoken instructions.

Troi bent forward and placed a tender kiss on the inside of Beverly's wrist, then she fasten the golden bracelet around it. "This bracelet is given to each Betazoid bride by her best friend at the day of her wedding.  I give you, Beverly Howard Crusher, this bracelet today.  For you will always remember that, aside from your husband, I will always be there.  If you need a shoulder to cry on, someone to laugh with or to be angry at, I'll be there. Just as this bracelet will always be within reach."

As Beverly looked into Troi's dark eyes, a sudden feeling of content and peace flooded through her body and mind, taking away her anxiety and fear over the upcoming ceremony. "Stryhila, Ktariy kai betajhin. Forever friends and confidants." Her last words were spoken on a breath of mystique and calmness, making Beverly feel almost light-headed. The two women hugged each other tightly as a tear slipped from each black and blue eye.