Disclaimer: See part 1

"Illusions of Grandeur"
By Jaclyn Riker

The instant they were on aboard the Enterprise, Deanna led the way to the ready room. Arriving, the doors opened automatically to reveal Jean-Luc and Beverly, sitting at the table along with Lt. Hawk, Data, Geordi, Teri, and a stunning brunette.

"What's going on? Where's Lily?" Deanna demanded and the brunette rose as if on cue. She was dressed in a long white robe-like dress, tied around the waist with a dark blue sash so that it showed off the womanly curves of her body. Her hair was thick and light brown, flowing to her waist like a waterfall. She wore white sandals made of a leather-like material on her tiny feet and she had silver rings on her toes. The lady looked to be no more than 30 years old, with wise silver colored eyes that seemed to take in everything.

"You are Deanna Riker, am I correct?" She asked, stepping around the table and coming forward.

"Yes. Who are you?" Deanna asked cautiously.

"Oh, that's right. I forgot that your species label each other. Oh, well. You may call me...Iyana." The woman said and Deanna frowned.

"You're a Q, aren't you?" Deanna asked, her eyes widening, and Iyana shrugged.

"As a matter of fact I am. I am also the compliment of the individual being you call Q. In humanoid language this term is most often translated into the word 'wife'." Iyana told them, many eyes widening at the statement.

"Someone actually married him?" Beverly muttered under her breath, making Jean-Luc shush her. She did as he asked, but still glared at the brunette.

"Then you have been with our daughter for the past 2 weeks." Will accused, but Iyana shook her head.

"No, I have been away from the Q for quite sometime on a special mission for the counsel. I am one of its head members and I am often needed elsewhere. I just arrived home." Iyana told them and suddenly her eyes softened from the know-it-all expression she had been wearing. "Your daughter is a wonderful person. You have raised her well."

"Please, can we at least see her?" Deanna pleaded and Iyana frowned.

"I'm not sure you want to do that..." Iyana started, but Will interrupted her.

"Why? What have you done to her?" Will demanded and Deanna gripped his arm as fear rose in both of them. Iyana sighed greatly, as if expecting more from them.

"I can see why my...husband...is amused by you. I can also see that you are not going to listen to reason. Very well, but remember that you were the ones who wanted to see her." Iyana cautioned and then gently waved her hand. A flash of light appeared to next to her and then a being took form.

A young girl, almost a woman since she looked to be about 17, stood next to Iyana. Long brown hair, that seemed to be almost auburn, streamed down her back stopping just above her waist. Like Iyana she wore a shimmering white robe-type dress with a light blue sash tying it shut, to symbolize that she was still a young girl and not yet married. The sash was the same color as her crystal blue eyes, which almost looked clear in the light.

Lily's eyes.

"Oh, God!" Beverly gasped, her hand shooting up to cover her mouth as realization dawned on them all.

"Lily?" Will whispered, his heart in his throat.

"Daddy?" The girl replied, her voice just as shaky. Her blue eyes flew to Deanna and they filled with tears. "Mommy?"

Deanna's mind screamed that it was impossible, but her heart and soul told her the truth.

"Oh, Gods. Lily? My Little One, what have they done to you?" Tears filled her own eyes and Deanna held out her arms. Lily ran into them as if she were still the six-year-old child that had been taken away two long weeks ago. Will wrapped his arms around them both and held them as close as possible.

"Time is different in our world than in yours. About three quarters of a day in your world is equivalent to one year in ours. We are not affected, but a human is. Lily has not yet decided to become a full Q and therefore the aging process still affects her." Iyana explained, calmly.

"Can you change her back?" Will asked quietly, brushing his hand over Lily's long silken hair. Iyana's eyes flashed and a smug came across her lips.

"I knew it. Q was right. You are such a savage race, so full of primitive ideas that you can't even accept your own child based on looks. I should just take her back with me now and forget about you all." Iyana said and Will felt Deanna tear out the three-way hug. Just in time he realized what was about to happen. Wrapping one arm around Lily to pull her to the side, his other hand shot out to grab Deanna by the arm. The dark eyes of his wife glittered with more anger than he had ever seen before.

"I dare you to say that again. I can promise you that you won't be able to utter the first syllable." Deanna growled menacingly and every person in the room knew that she meant business.

"You're saying you don't care that she is now 16 and a half years old and just barely still a girl? Look at her!" Iyana demanded, pointing to Lily. The young girl shrank back into Will's side and he held her closer.

"She is our child! Yes, I am sad that I was not be able to see her grow and shape from a child into the beautiful woman that she is obviously becoming. But that doesn't make one damn bit of difference in the way that we love and accept her. It doesn't matter if she is 6, 16, or 60; you are not getting her back. Ever!" Deanna stated, her tone leaving no room for argument. Iyana studied her hard and then waved her hand in the air. Lily disappeared from the shelter of her father's arms and reappeared next to Iyana. They all blinked in surprise, but Lily just frowned and sighed.

"I hate it when you guys do that." She said, folding her arms haughtily and glaring at Iyana.

"I know. That's why I do it." Iyana said, playfully. It was obvious that the lovable child that was Lily had gotten to even the members of the Q.

"Please..." Deanna began, her voice having lost all its animosity. The fear that she was going to lose Lily again had taken over every fiber of her being. Iyana held up her hand for Deanna to be quiet and Will pulled her back to him.

"I am going to give you a choice, Lily. Do you wish to stay in this world, beginning life all over again in this form or do you wish to return to the Q world? You have seen what we can offer you and if you return and choose to be a Q, you won't have to worry about being accepted. We already think of you as one of us." Iyana told her and Lily bit her lip. Deanna sucked in her breath at the familiar gesture that their daughter made when she was nervous, scared, or concentrating very hard. Lily's eyes flew over the officers in the room, resting briefly on Jean-Luc and Beverly, before finally landing on Will and Deanna.

"If I stayed like this, could you still love me?" Lily asked softly, her old insecurities obviously just buried and not forgotten.

"Forever times infinity." Deanna told her without hesitation and Lily's eyes widened. A small smile graced her lips and the old gleam in her eyes, that they thought was gone, sparkled again. She waved her hand and a Betazoid Chameleon Rose appeared in it. Taking a brief sniff and smiling when it turned a deep blue, then into dark purple, ending finally in a deep pink color, she handed it to Iyana.

"I want to stay here with my family." Lily said softly. "I don't care what I look like or how old you make me. I want to come home."

"Lily, many humans would not be able to live in such a way with such a change being thrust upon them nor would they give up the power you have been given the chance to receive. Illusions of grandeur can sometimes blind, if one is not careful. You are indeed a very special girl. Never change...on the inside." Iyana said, cupping Lily's beautiful teenage face and then there was another bright flash. Iyana looked down into the still beautiful face of a tiny 6-year-old Lily. The child's eyes widened and she looked down at her self, then back up to Iyana.

"Thank you! Oh thank you so much." Lily cried and turned to a stunned Will and Deanna. "Mommy! Daddy! I'm home!"

With a deep soulful cry, Deanna dropped to her knees as Lily launched her small frame into her arms. Will dropped to the ground too, gathering them up again and this time refusing to let go. They were both crying as Deanna rocked Lily in her arms, the child letting loose her own tears.

"Take care of her and always take care of each other." Iyana told them, smiling at the scene. "I'll explain to the Q what happened. It won't take them long to see things my way and they wouldn't dare argue with me."

A flash and she was gone only to reappear a second later, floating cross-legged in the air.

"I forgot to mention that if you see my husband, try not to judge him to harshly. He was he one who wanted to give her back after that first day when she cried her eyes out and pleaded to go home. It was quite amusing actually from what I understand. He was putty in her hands, so much so that the counsel needed to change guardians for her. It was them who kept her in our world. Not Q. Now he's asking about when we are going to have children of our own." Iyana gave a laugh and with it ringing in the air, left for the final time.

"Q having children? There goes the future of their civilization." Beverly muttered, but her comment turned into a squeal of surprise when Jean-Luc picked her up and swung her around in a circle.

Jumping to his feet, Will lifted Lily high into the air and spun around in a circle much like his best friend. Deanna laughed at hearing Lily's silver bell laugh once again, the tracks of her joyful tears still on her face. Teri, Geordi, and Lt. Hawk were all cheering and shouting their congratulations. Even Data was grinning from ear to ear as he watched the happy scene. Will settled Lily onto his hip and pulled Deanna to him again, kissing her passionately. Lily made a face before laughing and wrapping her own arm around Deanna's neck. Suddenly, Jean-Luc made everyone quiet down and hit his comm. Badge to address the entire ship.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Enterprise. We have news regarding Captain and Counselor Riker's daughter." Jean-Luc grinned and nodded to Lily. She grinned back and raised a triumphant fist in the air.

"I'm home!"

It was late when Deanna and Will finally decided to let Lily out of their sight and arms long enough to let her go change for bed. She would sleep with them in their bed tonight, just to make sure that it wasn't all a dream.

After the enormous cheer of entire ship died down when Lily announced she was back, Beverly insisted on throwing a party. Jean-Luc and everyone agreed emphatically and it was great chance to celebrate the miracle they had been given. Besides Will, Deanna, Jean-Luc, and Beverly, the one person who wouldn't be dragged away from Lily was an ecstatic Lissa. The reunion between the two girls was quite a scene and many had to hold back tears. But now it was way past everyone's bedtime and everyone was where they belonged.

Deanna snuggled into Will's side, where they lay on the bed waiting for their daughter to change. Will kissed her softly on the lips, then caressed her face his hand.

"I love you so much it hurts." Will said and she gave him a smile.

"I love you too, Imzadi." Deanna echoed and kissed him again. Lily chose that moment to bounce in onto the bed, dressed in her pajamas and carrying her teddy bear.

"Goodnight, Daddy. Goodnight, Mommy." Lily said, giving each a kiss respectively. Then she surprised them both, by leaning down and kissing Deanna's stomach. "Goodnight, Ky."

"Ky?" Will asked her and Lily nodded.

"It's short for Kyle. My baby brother." Lily said and snuggled down into the pillow.

"Your what?" Deanna exclaimed, her astonished eyes meeting the similar gaze of Will. Lily just giggled and closed her eyes.

"You'll see..." Lily whispered softly and that was all they got out of her for she had already fallen fast asleep.

THE END...Epilogue to follow as soon as I get some reviews :-)