Holodeck
Deanna kept her eyes closed, waiting for the doors to open before he led her in. He glanced over at her; she was now wearing a purplish, blue dress flowing all the way down to her feet. She held tight to his arm, still not able to see anything.
"Can I open them yet?"
"Ok, open them."
Her eyes opened to see the expense of the holodeck. They stood on pure white sand, stretching on as far as she could see, only halted when it met a clear, crystal blue ocean, water lapping over the sand in steady waves.
Her breath caught as she looked out at the horizon. Two suns appeared stuck in mid-setting, causing the sky to glow in beautiful hues of red, pink, purple, and blue. The clouds themselves changing colors to match the sky.
Finally, her eyes caught Will's, a smile in his eyes as he saw how she liked it. "Will, were did you find this?" He shrugged, laughing as she smacked his arm, looking back over the view.
"This way, madam," he said lightly, turning her farther inland.
And that's when her eyes fell upon a small, circular table set with a white table cloth, burning candles, red wine and a meal she had not had in a long time. It was an old Italian food she had not eaten in years- not since after Will left Betazed. She could never quite remember the name but she did recall that it was Riker who had given it to her.
Deanna smiled, leaning into Will. Looking up at him, her lips tugged with a smile, reaching her brown eyes. "You shouldn't have done this."
"For you, I would do anything. Besides, you're eating for two now. I thought you might need some help in the eating part." Riker grinned and placed his hand on the small of her back. Leading her to the table, he pulled out her chair, Deanna laughing as he pushed her in.
Ten Forward
Geordie sat on his barstool, sipping slowly at his drink. The bar was filled with dozens talking noisily, Data only added to that annoyance as he was chatted endlessly. Geordie groaned suddenly, his throbbing temples spiking in pain.
"What is it, Geordie?"
"Just a headache." He closed his eyes tightly, scrunching his nose as he massaged his temples. One day he wished that his actions would actually serve to help his aching head.
"Perhaps you should go see Dr. Crusher if your head is bothering you," Data suggested, looking with as much concern as his emotionless face could produce.
"No, no, it's fine. I'll be ok. I just need some rest. I'll see you tomorrow, Data. But thanks." Data nodded as Geordie stood and walked away, frowning as he attempted to disconcert what had happened.
It had most likely been his VISOR that had hurt his head; a sensory overload or a problem with his interface- as had happened many times before. Then, perhaps it was just the stress he was under. Or it could have just as easily been a simple biological problem that his sleep would cure.
Data stood without farther pause, walking the same path his friend had just walked.
Holodeck
Deanna walked along with beach, her shoes in her hands as she allowed the sand to slip between her toes. She smiled, spinning in circles and splashing in the water.
Will followed close behind her, his own shoes and socks tossed farther up the shore. He ran up, grabbing her waist, spinning her arm before setting her feet back on the ground.
Deanna turned in his arms, her hands on his chest. She was still short of breath from laughing, soft giggles still escaping her. Even Will was breathing hard, laughing with her.
Looking down at her, he suddenly realized how close he was to her… how her breath felt on his face. He bent lower, his lips capturing hers. Deanna's hand reached up to her neck, no longer noticing as the waves hit her feet.
They broke apart, Deanna's hand sliding down his chest as she stepped away from her. Will just watched her as she sat down in the sand, pulling her skirt up so that the waves hit her pale legs.
"It's lovely," she whispered as Will sat next to her.
He nodded his agreement. "I came here as a kid, year after year. It wasn't exactly like this but… very close."
Deanna smiled, watching the suns as they grew closer and closer to the ocean. She leaned into Riker, her head resting against his shoulder, as he wrapped his arm around her.
Geordie's Quarters
Geordie's hands pulled off his VISOR, setting it carefully onto the sink counter. He felt around, quickly finding the faucet. He felt the water, waiting a moment for it to cool down, before splashing it over his face.
He rubbed his eyes, willing the pain to go out of them. And then he felt his temples, his skin burning around where his implants were. Some days, it seemed, it wasn't worth the pain and work to be able to see. Some days… some days he'd really give it all up.
His fingers brushed along his skin, feeling his skin burning as if he had a fever. But it was no matter to him; he had fevers constantly because of his VISOR.
He rubbed his neck, wincing as his palm touched a sensitive spot. A bruise or something. But he just ignored it, reaching around for a towel to dry his face.
He cracked his neck, setting down the towel just as he picked up his VISOR. With his hands out as his guides, he walked skillfully out of the bathroom and to his bed. He just hoped he was able to get some sleep that night.
Deanna's Quarters
Riker walked Deanna door the hall, heading towards her quarters. They spoke quietly of this and that and of the night. He stopped once they reached her door, a feeling of deja vu washing over him. How many times had he stopped there?
"Tonight was a lot of fun," Deanna declared, smiling her thanks.
"Yeah it was. Would you like to have dinner tomorrow night?"
"Sounds like more fun."
He smiled with her. "Good. So, are you going to be alright… alone?" His subtle question was left hanging in the air, but Deanna decided not to go there that night. Instead, she mocked him with:
"Yes, mother."
"God no." Deanna rolled her eyes and he kissed her forehead. "Good night, then."
"Good night, Will." She walked into her room, throwing her shoes into her room. She slipped out of her silk dress, letting it pool down at her feet before she tossed on her pajamas.
It was a wonderful evening but she was exhausted, the days of sleepless nights catching up with her. Will had been too gracious; she wished she could repay the favor.
Deanna pulled back the sheets to her bed and climbed in. Her blankets were cold, as she felt the loneliness of sleeping alone. It almost made her wish that she had invited Will to stay with her. She sighed and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to calm down and rest. And, before long, she was fast asleep.
Deanna sat at a long table, watching people around her dance to soft music in the background. Around her, people drank and ate and laughed contently with the excitement.
She laughed herself, speaking with a woman beside her as she drank her own drink- a blue nectar many others shared. It was thicker than she was used to, but good enough to finish off.
She looked to her side, watching as Will leaned over the table to better see the young woman beside Deanna. He tried to speak over the music, asking her, "Do you know how far along your pregnancy is?"
Deanna looked back to the woman, seeing how obviously pregnant she was, and watched as the man beside her wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Oh, five months, will be any time now," the woman answered with a smile. That was when Deanna noticed how her eyes glowed with a deep blue, none of the white of her eyes able to be seen. The same for the man.
"Congratulations," Will said, sipping at his own nectar.
"Wow, five month pregnancies. You guys are lucky," she stated.
"How long yours?" The male asked.
"Well, for a human it's about nine months. For a Betazoid: about ten," she answered.
Deanna's eyes snapped opened as the computer announced, "The time is 0500 hours."
Deanna groaned and put her face in her pillow and tried to fall back asleep. She had forgotten to deactivate her wake up call, not needing to be awake for another hour or two.
Her only problem was that, at that moment, she felt the beginning of her morning nausea. She groaned again, knowing she'd never be able to sleep.
Bridge
"Morning," Riker grinned as Deanna walked down the ramp, sitting in her chair next to Will. Deanna glared at him and he teased, "Not feeling well?"
She leaned on the arm of her chair and said, "I had a weird dream. Then woke up at five because I forgot to change my wake up call and then couldn't get back to sleep. Which is when I started to puke my guts out." Riker couldn't help but laugh at her out burst. "It's not funny! Will," she hissed, not able to stop her own laughter as she slapped his thigh.
"Is to. And you should have called me."
"I didn't want to be a bother-"
"You wouldn't have been. Next time, please do, ok?" He caught her eyes before he would say, "Promise?"
"Alright."
"Do you promise?"
"Alright, alright. I'll wake you up every morning at four so that you can come clean up after me."
"Good." He leaned over his armrest, whispering in her ear, "I'd kiss you but I don't know if you'd like me to on the bridge."
Deanna to gave a short giggle, replying seductively, "I don't mind." Will smiled, giving her a quick kiss on the lips just as Picard walked on the bridge.
"Commander Riker, Counselor Troi, I am very pleased to know that your personal life is working out nicely, but not on duty, please."
Both Riker and Deanna blushed as they moved apart. Riker stood up, tugging on his shirt as he said, "The bridge is all yours, Captain."
"Thank-you. You're dismissed, Commander." Riker nodded and headed up the ramp to the turbolift. Picard just sat down in his chair. "I see that things are going well between the two of you."
Deanna smiled at her Captain. "I think so."
"Good, can't have a heartbroken First Officer and depressed Ship's Councilor now can we?"
