Change One Thing: Lifetime Worth of Memories
Chapter Eleven: A Natural Part of Life
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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The next several years brought Will and Deanna good fortune. All their children grew up and moved away. Canan and The Baby joined Starfleet, Aaron was an analyst for the Federation Special Ops, Little Brother was a professor at one of the quadrant's prominent engineering colleges, and Kali was an accomplished writer.
The morning Deanna didn't wake up was one day that none of them would forget, except Will.
There had been a terrorist attack on the base. Will had already gone home for the day, but Deanna stayed late and was in the heart of the explosion. She lived sixteen more hours.
She was only sixty-nine, but she wasn't strong enough to fight burns of that nature.
Kali, her husband, siblings, and their spouses all went to the Fifth House Manor for the service. Kali and Rem stayed a week with Will, who seemed to be acting just as a man who lost his beloved wife should.
Kali and Rem left to their own home, but returned for a quick visit three days later. "Dad?" she called as she walked in.
Will almost leapt down the stairs. "There you are! Where have you been? I was so worried." Will wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
"Dad? Are you alright?" Kali asked.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Imzadi," he whispered.
"Imzadi?"
Will didn't seem to hear her.
Over the next several days Kali and Rem stayed at the Manor with Will. He seemed content being near Kali, thinking she was his Deanna; his Imzadi. He often saw Rem and asked where Kali was. He sometimes realized who Kali was, but forgot as soon as Deanna was needed in his mind.
Kali and Rem slept in the guest room and Will didn't notice anything was different at night.
Until one night; about a week and a half into his dementia. Kali kissed her father's cheek and went to bed. She curled up in her husband's arms. "Oh, Remy, what are we going to do? We can't keep going on like this. Dad can't keep going on like this."
Rem kissed her hair and tightened his grip on her. "We'll think of something, Sweetheart."
About a half-an-hour to an hour later Will walked up the stairs in the Fifth House Manor. Tonight, he didn't walk all the way to his bedroom, the one he shared with Deanna, but he stopped at the guest room. He opened the door and saw his wife, or who he thought was his wife, lying in bed with another man.
He grabbed the blanket and ripped it back. "What is this?" he yelled.
"Dad? What are you doing?" Kali asked, getting out of bed.
"Deanna, Imzadi? Why? Why would you do this to me? to us?" he pleaded.
"Will," Rem said, getting up, "it's alright."
"Stay out of this!" Will turned a landed a punch on Rem's jaw that send his sprawling back.
Kali screeched on impact. She clutched her father's chest. "Daddy," she sobbed. "Look at me." She turned his face to meet her gaze. "You have to remember," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face. "It's me. Your daughter. Your Little Kalila. Daddy, please, remember."
His eyes seemed to clear. "Kalila?" He looked off; Kali could tell he was searching for his bond. "Where's your mother?"
Will remembered from that day on.
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