6.

Waking up from restless slumber Deanna found herself alone in her bed and within seconds she also found herself alone in her mind. Her nightmare was still reality. She forced her tears back and tried to ignore the emptiness inside her, but like before she failed. Like any Betazoid she carried part of the minds of her Mother, half-brother and daughter within her own and now that they were gone those parts where like bubbles of acid and each time she allowed her pain more than a fleeting thought she would remember the terrible fear they had felt when their ship had been attacked.

She closed her eyes and meditated fruitlessly for nearly an hour, failing to reach a level of trance that would help her to calm down. If only the pain wouldn't be so sharp, if only she didn't remember how they had felt; how the smoke had blinded their sight and how, eventually, the ship had exploded around them. Tears fell down again, soon wetting her nightgown.

Numb, as she had been ever since her family had been taken from her, she climbed out of bed and aimlessly wandered around her quarters. Accidentally stepping on one of her daughter's toys brought new tears and with them she felt the pain all over again.

She'd been there before; dealing with the pain of death and being remembered of lost loved ones at every turn. Her grandparents, her father, Ian…all had left her to deal with the pain, but never had it hurt as much as now. Life had seemed so perfect and then in one moment her dream had turned into a nightmare and she was left alone.

So alone.

Her legs were no longer able to carry her and she sank to the floor. Why did they have to die? Why was she left with the pain? .::.You're not alone Imzadi, please let me in.::. The voice fluttered inside her head, like Shye-wings along her skin, and reminded her that she wasn't alone indeed. She had her husband at her side, her Imzadi, her soulmate…human. How could he possibly understand how she felt?

Arms slid around her waist, almost startling her, but not quite strong enough to make the fog that clouded her senses go away. His mind touched her, trying to cover up the bubbles of acid but failing; the pain too strong…or his love not strong enough?

She was too weak to fight the doubts, too scared for him to be nothing but a dream to reach out and allow him to help her. Her sight came back into focus and fell on her surroundings. This was Anna's room she realized and remembered how happy her little girl had been with her new room. She'd run around the ship, telling everyone she encountered that she had a new and bigger room because Mommy and Daddy would make another baby.

It had taken so much time and so many disappointments before she had conceived Anna.

Her hand drifted to her abdomen and came to rest on the fabric of her nightgown. Was she pregnant again? .::.Oh Anna, my Little One, I miss you so.::.

===tbc...===

5 more chapters to go I think :)
I'd planned on updating this yesterday, but I got caught up in updating my site instead *blush*. Anyhow, I hope you'll 'enjoy' and review, of course *g*