Change One Thing: Lifetime Worth of Memories
Chapter Seven: Passing the Torch
Disclaimer: Nope, not claiming any ownership here. They're different events, but the same people and we all know how Star Trek loves their "Alternate Universe(s)"
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Their children grew much quicker than they should have been allowed, but Will and Deanna learned to adjust. Kali was a big sister four times over and was getting the joke of things. When the baby was four months old Deanna got an urgent communiqué from Betazed.
Lwaxana was dying.
Will took his wife and his family off the Endeavor and took them to Betazed. They went to say good-bye to the great Matriarch of the Fifth House of Betazed.
"Mother," Deanna whispered at Lwaxana's bedside. Will waited outside with the children.
"My Little One has grown, and had little ones of her own. I've always been proud of you, Deanna. You've always been the Daughter of the Fifth House you thought you weren't."
Deanna wrapped her arms around her frail mother. Lwaxana had never seemed old or frail before, but she certainly did now. "Thank you, Mother."
"Grandma!" four little Rikers ran into the room. Will followed his children in, carrying the baby in his arms.
"Lwaxana." Will smiled and kissed his mother-in-law as the children piled around her on the large bed.
"Hello, Little Ones," Lwaxana touched each of her grandchildren that she could reach.
"I missed you so much, Grandma!" Canan exclaimed, hugging her grandma tight.
Deanna turned from her mother and walked into Will's embrace. She laid her head on his chest, next to the baby he was holding. Will held her tightly, feeling her tears: almost as if they were his own.
"It's not all bad, Deanna," Lwaxana said, still holding the hands of the two younger children. "Now you lead the Fifth House and the planet—the galaxy—will look up to you."
Deanna left the safety of her husband's arms and joined her children on her mother's extensive bed. "Oh, Mother," she whispered. "I'm going to miss you so."
Lwaxana let go of her grandson's hand to touch her daughter's face. "I know, Little One. And I you."
Deanna leaned into her mother's touch. She wasn't ready to be the Matriarch yet. She wasn't ready for her mother to leave.
"Believe in yourself," Lwaxana said.
She died two days later.
The Rikers stayed in a hotel and out of the Fifth House Manor. When the funeral was over they went home to the Endeavor. Deanna was quiet for a very long week. She was distant, void, away from her family.
One night Will sat Deanna down on their bed and knelt in front of her. "Your mother died," he said. "But that doesn't mean you should stop living too."
"Imzadi," she sobbed, falling into his arms. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
He smiled and kissed her hair. "Don't be sorry, Imzadi. Just be here."
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