Author's Note: Thanks for all the reviews and correction guys! I really appreciate it! Here's a small post to tide you over. : )

Deanna sat; her hands folded on the table, as she listened to Admiral Backlard give the briefings for this mission. She could hardly pay attention. Her focus was stretched too thin and she was trying to avoid both Tom and Will. Tom had passed his Commander Exam and was now, currently wearing the red uniform of a Bridge Commander.

They would arrive at Sabre V early tomorrow to drop Will off and then Thomas Riker would assume Will's uniform. Deanna felt uncomfortable in their presence.

"Dismissed," Backlard barked.

Deanna scurried out, walking closely beside Geordi, "Deanna could I speak with you for a moment?"

Deanna stopped short and Geordi gave a small, sly grin. Tom looked back at Will and Deanna before leaving the conference room. "Yes, Will?"

Will pulled her tightly against him, "You're ignoring me."

"I am not," Deanna insisted. Will gave a knowing look and she sighed, "I am."

"Why?" He asked, pressing his lips to the top of her hair the scent of her shampoo washing over him. He loved the way Deanna smelled.

Deanna detangled herself from Will's arms, "I think you know why," she stated.

Will studied her face for a moment, "I do know why and but I don't understand. Thomas knows that you and I are together, what else to be done about it?"

Deanna knew he was right but somehow she just couldn't avoid avoiding them both. "Will, it is hard for me, to have the two of you onboard to together, it's confusing."

"Well I'll be on the planet tomorrow," he snapped in a defensive tone.

"Will-"

Will turned to face the window, watching the stars glide by them, "Deanna, what do you think would happen if we had gotten married? We wouldn't have invited him or even told him?"

"Marriage?" Deanna asked, stunned.

He turned to face her, "Deanna it's something I had always thought about, even when we weren't together. I know we've just gotten back together and I'm not asking you to marry me at this exact moment, but I'd defiantly say it was a possibility."

Deanna sank down into a chair. The thought of marriage hadn't actually occurred to her in any form before. Deanna felt the tears well in her eyes. She had done more crying in the past two days than she had in the past two decades. She felt like she was five year old child again. "Will," she chocked back her tears, "You're right." Deanna squared her shoulders and stood up.

Will stared at her, "What?"

Deanna grabbed him by the front of his uniform, "Come on Commander."

Deanna slipped her hand in his and she took him down to Holodeck Four, she ordered the program for the Betazaid Falls, where they had spent many times together. Both on the planet of Betazaid and in the Holodeck Rooms.

Will gave a chuckle as she led him to their rock. He smiled and sat down next to her, tightly wrapping his arms around her and together they fell into the grass, both laughing. They laid there for hours, just enjoying holding each other and knowing that together they could accomplish anything.

Deanna soon fell asleep in the comfort of Will's arms and Will used this time to reflect on what had happened the past two days. Thomas' arrival had caused a dent in Will and Deanna's new relationship, a dent that Will was afraid couldn't be fixed.

Will understood what Deanna was going through, to a certain point. He was just as confused with Thomas onboard, as most of the crew members were. Beverly had explained to them that he and Thomas were both the real William T. Riker, but somehow that didn't answer their question or fix the problem.

Deanna stirred slightly and Will quieted his thoughts. That's the worst part of being in love with a woman who was emphatic, he thought. You could never get away with anything. Will loosed his hold on her a little, afraid that he was holding her too tight. He was afraid to lose her, not just to Thomas, but to lose her in general.

They had been friends for so long but underneath that surface there had always been love, despite what they said. Deanna's eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him, "Hey there."

Will kissed the top of her head, "Hey."

"Even in my sleep I can sense your tension and fear," Deanna said.

Will sighed, "I hate that. I'm just glad you can't read minds."

Deanna gave him a smile, "So am I." She pulled herself up and stretched, "I fell asleep for far too long." She glanced at her watch, "I have an appointment with Lt. Callaway in thirty minutes." She brushed her lips across his, "I'll see you later."

After she left, Will sat, staring at the falling water. He heard the doors of the holodeck open and close. Will knew without evening looking that it was his double, "Hello, Commander Riker."

Thomas sat down next to him, "Commander."

Neither one had anything much to say. They sat there for nearly five minutes before Will turned to him asked, "What can I do for you?"

"Why?" Thomas asked, "Why are you and Deanna back together?"

Will stared at him, anger welling up quickly in his chest and he nearly burst. Instead he spent a minute calming himself down and asked, "Didn't Deanna explain this to you?"

"Yes," Thomas replied, "But I want to hear it from you."

Will stood up and Thomas quickly joined him, "Well Commander it is not your business," he snapped and left the holodeck headed up to the bridge as fast as he could go without knocking other people down. What right did Thomas have to show up like this and ruin everything? His temper had gotten the best of him. It always did for some reason when his double was around.

Deanna stood next to Picard and Backlard in the transporter room while O'Brien waited to transport Will to the planet's surface. Will clasped hands with both Picard and Backlard before turning to Deanna.

Deanna wished Picard and Backlard would just go away so she could privately say goodbye to him. "Good luck Will," Deanna whispered as he came near her.

With no though of the others in the room Will pulled her tightly to him and kissed her, hard, on the lips. Deanna's knees felt like putty. Will pulled back and then embraced her tightly, "Take care while I'm gone."

"You know I will." Deanna whispered. She felt jolted at the feelings radiating off of Picard, Backlard, and O'Brien. O'Brien felt pleased and Picard was amused, while Backlard was in stunned shock. Deanna wanted to laugh at Backlard's feelings but instead gripped Will tightly for another second before pulling back.

Will pecked her on the lips one more time before stepping up on the platform. He gave Deanna a nod and Picard turned to her, "Councilor?"

Deanna sucked in a breath and then slowly and calming said, "Energize." Picard and Backlard left as soon as Will disappeared. Deanna stood there for a moment, staring at where he had been.

Somehow she got the feeling that that would be the last time she would ever see him.