The Rainbow Connection
~*~Alas, a thanks to Dusha, for beta-ing my stories. And I don't own Star Trek, in any incarnation. If I only did, what wouldn't I do...And the title "The Rainbow Connection" is in fact a song title, unowned by me, and I suppose you'll just have to see if the lyrics make a gratuitous cameo.~*~
Commander William Riker shifted in his chair. First he stretched out his legs, then crossed them, then finally settled to sit ramrod-straight. It made it easier to think.
His experience on the Ba'ku homeworld had done nothing to soothe the uneasiness that had filtered into his mind occasionally since Tom Riker's appearance several years ago. Tom represented the Will Riker he'd once been, the one who was still resolute in his love for a certain Betazoid. The Will Riker he was today was no longer sure if his career deserved the importance he'd placed on it so many years ago.
A small part of him thought that perhaps the renewed blossom of love he and Deanna had shared had to do with the youthful energies of the planet. He knew damn well that he'd always love her; it was merely a question of how he loved her. Was it the romantic nature of the past few days, or was it the comfortable feel of friendship deeper than an ocean?
Not for the first time did he wish he could accurately examine his feelings and pronounce a sentence on them, like a judge at the trial of his emotions. His thoughts were muddied, as though he'd taken a tumble and was now giddy from the fall. It was unlike him to second-guess himself this way, but under the circumstances he felt justified to do so. Things had changed between him and Deanna, of that he was sure. In his mind, it was enough to reexamine the way their relationship was going.
Her mother wouldn't be a problem. Lwaxana adored him; everyone on the ship knew that. She would approve of their marriage...
He sighed, seemingly loud because of the silence in his quarters. He wasn't even sure if he wanted a relationship, yet here he was, daydreaming about marrying Deanna, just as he'd done since leaving the Ba'ku planet, since leaving the Briar Patch, since the senior staff meeting this morning...
Deanna was no fool; she'd know what he was thinking about. She'd seen through every ploy when he met her, knowing in her gut that he was lying when he said he wasn't thinking about her. She was probably aware of his conflicted emotions even now, wherever she happened to be.
From his perspective, he'd better talk to her before she began to think that he didn't care. That was the last thing he wanted. After all, it would be nice to be romantically involved with her again. Of all the women he'd dated, she was the only one who was on his mind more often than not. The others had all passed into the golden land of fond memories, but Deanna was split between this wonderful land and the land of daydreams.
He really needed to find her.
* * * * *
To be continued when I find the time. :) What did you think? Does it suck? Do you like it? Should I even bother to keep going with it? Review, people!
~*~Alas, a thanks to Dusha, for beta-ing my stories. And I don't own Star Trek, in any incarnation. If I only did, what wouldn't I do...And the title "The Rainbow Connection" is in fact a song title, unowned by me, and I suppose you'll just have to see if the lyrics make a gratuitous cameo.~*~
Commander William Riker shifted in his chair. First he stretched out his legs, then crossed them, then finally settled to sit ramrod-straight. It made it easier to think.
His experience on the Ba'ku homeworld had done nothing to soothe the uneasiness that had filtered into his mind occasionally since Tom Riker's appearance several years ago. Tom represented the Will Riker he'd once been, the one who was still resolute in his love for a certain Betazoid. The Will Riker he was today was no longer sure if his career deserved the importance he'd placed on it so many years ago.
A small part of him thought that perhaps the renewed blossom of love he and Deanna had shared had to do with the youthful energies of the planet. He knew damn well that he'd always love her; it was merely a question of how he loved her. Was it the romantic nature of the past few days, or was it the comfortable feel of friendship deeper than an ocean?
Not for the first time did he wish he could accurately examine his feelings and pronounce a sentence on them, like a judge at the trial of his emotions. His thoughts were muddied, as though he'd taken a tumble and was now giddy from the fall. It was unlike him to second-guess himself this way, but under the circumstances he felt justified to do so. Things had changed between him and Deanna, of that he was sure. In his mind, it was enough to reexamine the way their relationship was going.
Her mother wouldn't be a problem. Lwaxana adored him; everyone on the ship knew that. She would approve of their marriage...
He sighed, seemingly loud because of the silence in his quarters. He wasn't even sure if he wanted a relationship, yet here he was, daydreaming about marrying Deanna, just as he'd done since leaving the Ba'ku planet, since leaving the Briar Patch, since the senior staff meeting this morning...
Deanna was no fool; she'd know what he was thinking about. She'd seen through every ploy when he met her, knowing in her gut that he was lying when he said he wasn't thinking about her. She was probably aware of his conflicted emotions even now, wherever she happened to be.
From his perspective, he'd better talk to her before she began to think that he didn't care. That was the last thing he wanted. After all, it would be nice to be romantically involved with her again. Of all the women he'd dated, she was the only one who was on his mind more often than not. The others had all passed into the golden land of fond memories, but Deanna was split between this wonderful land and the land of daydreams.
He really needed to find her.
* * * * *
To be continued when I find the time. :) What did you think? Does it suck? Do you like it? Should I even bother to keep going with it? Review, people!