Disclaimer:  The Crew of the Uss Enterprise 1701 – d do not belong to me, they belong to Gene Roddenberry.  I'm just borrowing them for a little while.  When I'm done they will be put back in one piece.

Authors notes:  The events described in this fic take place in an alternate universe after Decent Parts one and two.  "All Good Things….", "Generations" and the Dominion never took place here.  Most of the events in this story take place two years after Decent Parts one and two (Flashbacks take place at least two weeks after Decent Parts one and two, and are from Deanna's point of view).  All right then, enjoy the show.

Love Knows no Time

Deanna Troi walked silently across the Federation Cemetery, careful not to step on any graves.  I should have let Beverly come with me, Deanna thought as she felt the ghosts and memories close in on her. Her best friend Beverly Crusher offered to go with her, but this was something Deanna wanted to do herself.

She stopped at one of the headstones that carried the names of Starfleet's honored dead.  The person who this holographic marker belonged to meant more than anything else to the crew of the USS Enterprise 1701 D and Deanna in particular.  This one held her soul.

"Imzadi", she whispered as she found the person she was looking for.

 Cmdr. William Thomas Riker

"Beloved Number One"

          Deanna smiled sadly.  The captain had picked that particular phrase out for the marker himself.  Jean – Luc Picard would always consider Will Riker his "number one."

          "Hello Will," she said as she kneeled in front of the grave and remembered that horrific day two years ago.  The day she lost her Imzadi forever.

*         *       *

          It began as a simple First Contact mission.  A recent Federation research team had made preliminary contact with a race with an enormous amount of Dilithum, which the Federation could always use for its Starships and other Federation technology.  The mission was a welcome respite from their recent encounter with Data's brother Lore and a group of individual Borg.

          The Away Team Consisted of Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, Will, as the Ship's First Officer, Chief Engineer Geordie Laforge, and Security Chief Lt. Worf.  Data, who was still feeling guilty over his actions while Lore was manipulating him, opted out of the Away Mission.  Deanna was counseling him, trying to help him get past the incident.  Captain Picard had wanted to conduct the initial First Contact in Will's place, but eventually conceded to let Will, as first officer, lead the Away mission in case all was not as it seemed. 

In this case it wasn't.

          The mission seemed to be going smoothly with no complications.  Deanna and Picard were scheduled to go down to the planet to finalize agreements to begin trade relations and maybe, eventual admittance to the Federation.  The Merconta, as the race called them selves, were very friendly to the Away Team and it's government very agreeable to the terms of the preliminary treaties.  The Away Team had been gone five days and Deanna was very eager to see her friends again.