SSsssoooo…first of all; sorry for not updating this earlier; but my comp has been in the repair store for a month and a half and I didn't have another way to upload my stories *hmpf* but I'm back J

This is the last chapter of this little story; rating and disclaimers still apply J

Jenni & Illman; thank you both for reviewingJ

Everyone else; reviews are still welcome y'know *g*

3.

Following the feel of her mind, Will walked through the garden until he'd reached the section with roses. There he found Deanna sitting underneath a huge Terran Willow tree; her dark hair plastered against her face and her clothes against her skin. She looked as soaked as he felt.

He sat down a few meters across from her and chose to wait for her to break her trance, rather than interrupt her. He would sit there for as long as needed, but she decided to go easy on him and opened her eyes only a scarce few minutes after he'd joined her. "Will."

"Vashintï Troi" he greeted her in as a husband was to address his wife in the ancient tradition of the Houses. A tradition long broken, but up kept in a few rare rituals. Surprise flickered across Deanna's face and a small smile fought for release. She contained it however and fixed him with an ice cold, black stare. "Deanna, what can I do? I can promise never to go against Doctor's orders again, to limit the number of Away Missions I lead, but I don't know how to make up to you."

Her gaze remained unchanged and unnerved Riker. Seeing Deanna so unemotional remained a scary sight, no matter how often he saw her like that. Nervously he began to play with his hands. "It's not about making promises." She told him eventually, her voice still quiet and subdued. "Or about making it up to me. I want you to *understand* because as long as you don't, nothing I say or do will have any real impact."

Her voice, the way she held her head and the soft tears in her eyes finally told him what he'd so desperately been looking for; she wasn't angry anymore. Or at least not as angry as an hour ago. Pleased with the progress he reached for her hands and held them tightly in his larger ones. "I do understand, honestly. I just needed a little push to see it from someone else's point of view. I'm sorry I never thought about it before, but it just seemed so natural."

Deanna started to speak, but he silenced her quickly by placing a single finger against her lips. "I know, I really do and I'll do whatever it takes to keep the promises I made to you."

"Will, it's—"

"No! It's not okay Dea, I should have thought about how you would feel and now that I realize that mistake, I won't make it again. We're in this together Imzadi; you, me and our Little One."

She tried to read him but found that her response to his heartfelt promise clouded her senses and she found herself caught in a vortex of insecurity. Did he understand? Did he *really* understand or was he just trying to appease her? His words, his voice, they sounded so honest, so…naked and she wanted to believe them, more than anything. Yet the insecurity remained and with it now came fear.

How would this change them? Him specifically. Would he feel forced to give up going on the Away Mission? Would he resent her for tying him down, however minimal and logical?

The warm contact of his hand against her cheek halted her thoughts and she couldn't help but lean into the contact. Despite the front she'd put on, she had missed her husband terribly and was yearning for his touch more than ever before.

Riker dared to smile when his wife slightly rubbed her jaw against his palm, pleased that she had missed his touch as well as he had missed hers. When he tried to look into her eyes however, he saw that she was still upset. Slowly he moved his hand from her jaw to her chin and gently tilted her head upwards and waited until she looked at him. "I love you, I always will. You know that right?"

Captured by his intense gaze Deanna was unable to respond. "Are we all right?" This time she managed a miniscule nod and was rewarded with a strong flow of love, relief and happiness. "Thank God." He murmured and quickly pulled her against his chest into a tight embrace; one hand resting on her belly and the other buried in her hair.

She on her turn had wrapped her hands around his upper body, holding on for dear life. "I missed you."

"No divorce then?"

She blushed furiously and was grateful that he couldn't see it. "Not for now" she joked, simultaneously allowing the barriers around her mind to drop. {I could never part from you ever again}

Will's heart throbbed with excitement in his chest when their minds intertwined yet again and he held on to the sweet sound of her voice in his mind for as long as he could, feeling truly mended again for the first time since the away mission.

They just held onto each for several long minutes; ignoring the electric currents running between them. Deanna then turned and reached up to capture his lips with hers, hungrily exploring their familiar feel and taste. When her tongue had finished the exploration of the soft skin her teeth gently caught Will's lower lips and pulled on it, drawing a groan from deep within him. It had been too long.

She released him and firmly forced him to open his mouth by wriggling her tongue between his lips, and when he cooperated beyond his teeth. She closed her eyes to experience the kiss as fully as she possibly could and found her hunger only increasing when he offered what she so desperately wanted. The rubbing of his beard along her sensitized skin was driving her nearly insane.

Will had a hard time to allow the slow and passionate attack to run his course; his hands clenching and unclenching to keep them from pushing his wife on her back and ravish her fast and furious. He deepened the kiss, pressed harder into her and brought his hands up to her head to hold her close to him. {Imzadi} He would do anything she asked…anything at all at this moment when he was consumed by a need, a hunger, so strong he thought he would burst.

{Take me home Imzadi} Deanna told him, deciding with what little rationale she had left that continuing in their quarters would be safer where interruptions and uninvited guests were concerned. The passion that was burning in her husband's mind was hard to resist and felt so addicting that she wasn't sure she could wait long enough to reach their home.

Will Riker quickly scrambled to his feet, never letting go of his wife and lifted her securely in his arms. He ran out of the holodeck as if the devil was on his tail, drawing amused glances from the crew that saw him.

Mr. and Mrs. Troi-Riker had a long night of making up ahead.

[Semi-End]

In case anyone's interested; the NC-17 rated epilogue (my first NC-17 piece!) can be found at seeing how this site doesn't support anything above R-rated ;)

And please, reviews will be so very much appreciated…I've had to do without for a month and a half *sniff*

Good to be back though *g*

D.