Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: I'm usually not good at updating chapter stories on a regular basis, but since I have this one pretty much mapped out already I don't feel I should have too much of a problem updating regularly. However, I will be moving back up to school (college life, wahoo!) in two weeks, I ask that you be patient with me while I find time to update. Thank you. Also, if anything is spelled wrong or descriptions a bit off, if you want correct me (I appreciate it!), and please bear with me on this. Thank you.

- Torn -

Deanna sat next to Beverly in Ten Forward as they listened to Will play his saxophone. He had recently mastered another brand new tune and wanted to show it off, for all who would listen. She gave him an encouraging smile as he continued to play and somehow she felt that he was playing for her.

After the recent attacks on the Enterprise from the Romulans, Will and Deanna had gotten closer than they had ever been before. Will had almost died during that attack and Deanna told him she loved him and only him, no matter what had happened in the past or what would happen in the future. He had heard her, even in his unconscious state, after he awoke he told her so, and that he still felt the same.

Deanna bent her head down to hide her smile, she was happy with Will. They were enjoying their time together and she believed that the years they had spent apart had been good for them. Will finished off his piece and the room exploded with applause. He set down his saxophone, took a bow, and headed off to join Deanna and Beverly.

"Well done, Will," Beverly complimented.

"Thank you," he replied sincerely, he turned to Deanna, "Well what did you think?"

Deanna hid her smile, "Not bad."

"Not bad?" he asked in his usual tone of playing hurt.

"Well you certainly have done better," She said, returning the playful tone. She stood up off of the stool and took his hand, turning to Beverly she said, "Would you excuse us, Will owes me a chocolate sundae." And she led to Will to their usual table.

"I owe you a chocolate sundae?" He said, as if surprised.

"One chocolate sundae coming up," Guanian said, walking by, a smile on her own face.

Deanna almost chuckled at Will's sincere look of stunned surprise, but deciding that she had insulted him enough for one evening, she held it in. Guanian handed them a large chocolate sundae. "Thank you," Deanna drawled out.

She scooped up a large spoonful of sundae and held it out to Will, he opened his mouth to say something and Deanna shoved it in. Will's eyes bugged out at the amount of ice cream she had shoved in there. Deanna laughed at his expression and Will chocked out, "Cold!"

Will wiped his mouth off with a napkin and when he regained his composure he said, "Tomorrow the captain wants you and I to evaluate all the new personal coming on board."

"How does this relate to ice cream?" Deanna asked, frustrated that he could bring work into it.

"Because tomorrow we were going to-"

"Oh! we had plans tomorrow!" Deanna said, "I had completely forgotten."

Will raised an eyebrow, "You forget something, especially something as that?"

Deanna shrugged, "I've been so busy going over new personal and crew files I've hardly had time to think about anything else. There are so many new ones coming aboard this time."

Will bent his head and spooned out a small bit of ice cream and fed it to Deanna before saying, "Yes, the attack by the Romulans left us rather short handed."

"I suppose that means I'm going to have to pull an all nighter to finish going over all these new files."

Will smiled and spooned out some more ice cream, "May I join you?"

"If you join me, I will never get anything done," Deanna protested and laughed as he fed her again, and then suddenly she froze, her eyes grew large and simply stared over Will's shoulder.

"Deanna?" Will asked, his heart jumping to his throat at the sight of her. She looked shocked and she was staring at something over his shoulder, he turned around and he too froze.

Staring at back at them, his face filled with a mixture of hurt and anger, was Thomas Riker.