Change One Thing: Lifetime Worth of Memories
Chapter Nine: Daughters of the Fifth House
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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Will and Deanna were happy has the heads of the Fifth House. Will fit in well with the other husbands of the Matriarchs. They all liked him and he enjoyed spending time with them at the various dinners and outings.
Deanna was fabulous taking her mother's place. Mr. Homn had fitted a few of Lwaxana's things for her and she looked absolutely radiant. It took a short while, but Deanna fell into the pattern of the other Matriarchs and she became everything her mother said she would.
Deanna was the youngest of the Council of Matriarchs, and the others coached her through it; never treating her like a child.
They respected her as a Daughter of the Fifth House and the daughter of Lwaxana Troi.
Two years after they moved in to the Fifth House Manor Will remembered sitting in their living room playing his trombone, as he often did those days. He felt the familiar twinge of his daughter coming home.
A second later the door opened and sixteen-year-old Kalila walked in with an extremely nervous boy in tow. "Daddy?" she called.
Will put his trombone down. "I'm in the living room, Sweetheart," Will said loud enough for her to hear.
Kali hurried lightly into the room and kissed her father's cheek. The boy followed shyly and stood nervously in the middle of the room. He looked around and shuffled his feet.
"Daddy, this is Rem Larax. He's one of the boys from school."
Will stood up and the boy held out his hand. Will shook it firmly.
"Captain Riker," Rem said in an almost firm voice.
Kali stepped between them and looked at her father. 'Be nice,' she mouthed to him. "Where's Mom?" she asked.
Will didn't take his eyes off Rem. "She's in the rose garden, Sweetie."
She kissed her father again. "I'm going to talk to her for a minute." She turned back to Rem and smiled. "Then I'll change and we can go." Kali ran out of the room towards the gardens.
"Our daughter is home, Imzadi," Will sent to his wife. "She brought a boy home with her and she is laying on the 'daddy's little girl' pretty thick. Apparently they're going somewhere tonight."
"Be kind, Imzadi. I can feel the boy's fright from here."
"So, Rem. Where are you taking my daughter this evening?" Will asked.
Rem cleared his throat and spoke clearly. "There's a small café on the campus. My cousin works there. Tonight there's a poetry reading and I thought we could go."
"The campus is a dangerous place," Will challenged.
"Not for a Daughter of the Fifth House, Sir. People often recognize her. She is . . . um . . . very beautiful." Rem cleared his throat again. "Sir."
Will smiled. He could see it in the boy's face. He was smitten. "She looks just like her mother. Will shook his head and remembered himself. "Keep her safe, Rem. I'm trusting you."
"Yes, Sir."
Will shook Rem's hand as Kali came down the stairs. Rem stared at her in a trance, Will glared at him.
Kali skipped over to Will and kissed his cheek. "I'll be back before 2230, I promise."
"Have a nice time, Sweetheart," Deanna said, coming into the room.
"Be safe, Kali," he said.
"I will, Daddy," she called walked out the door with Rem.
"That young man is smitten," Deanna said, still looking towards the door.
Will turned and wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her close to him. "You 'Daughters of the Fifth House' are irresistible." Will began to nibble at her neck. "I can't wait until you go through the Phase. Then we'll have so much fun."
"Ah, yes." Deanna ran her fingers through Will's hair. "I remember, I'm no fun." She sent a few images of her being 'no fun' through Will's mind."
Will became a little more aggressive on her neck and pulled her body flush against his. "Where are the kids?"
Deanna pushed him back. "Not now, Imzadi. We have a Matriarchal dinner to go to. After that," she winked her before turning from him. "I'm all yours."
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