Oops. Accidentally posted part of the previous chapter in this one. Fixed.

Oh, and for reference, Picard and Data's exchange about legends and Riker's harp show were in the original "Haven." It was a strange episode.

Lilith Kayden: Actually, it's better than that. Starfleet retirement age is based on the aging rate of each species (some Vulcans, for instance, can spend upwards of 100 years in Starfleet.) Since Riker won't be aging...

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"Now entering Haven orbit, sir."

Finally, Picard thought. Of all the weeks to have to go without Troi... and besides, he had to admit that Riker's comments about a 'personal matter' had piqued his curiosity. He looked up at the sparkling blue-green planet on the viewscreen.

"What a beautiful world," Picard said, mostly to himself. "It's said that it can heal wounds, or even a broken heart..."

"Such legends, sir, have no basis in facts," Data pointed out.

"No, but... that's not the point, Data. And what makes those sort of stories fascinating is that every so often, they come true." He paused. "While we're here, we should see about getting some shore leave. After our latest run-in with Q, I know I could use some leisure time."

"Sir," Worf said abruptly, "we are receiving a message from the planet surface." He squinted at his control panel, reading it carefully. "It says that they are ready to beam the Troi... wedding party aboard."

"Wedding party? What the devil...?" Picard stood up and turned to look at Worf. "Wedding to whom?"

"It specifies that we will also be receiving the Miller family," Worf said. "Captain, did no one notify you about this?"

Picard thought back to that scene with Riker in his ready room a few days ago-- one of many. A personal matter, indeed. Perhaps he'd been a bit harsh on Will; one could hardly blame him for being upset about that...

"Not exactly," Picard said. "Tell them that we'll be ready to beam them up in a few minutes." He tapped his combadge. "Picard to Riker. Meet me in transporter room one."

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The routine cruise through known space left Riker with plenty of free time. He spent most of it well away from Picard's stern gaze, practicing minor tricks with his powers-- nothing too major. He didn't want to risk draining himself and getting hauled off to the Continuum again. Admittedly, things like peeking into subspace and fixing pancakes without using his hands were a long way from matching an out-of-control nova burst, but without knowing what the limits were or how they worked, even Riker could see that it was best to be careful.

It was also something to do to take his mind off Deanna.

As Riker was creating a small image, a harp duet he'd once seen on Dessa IV, his combadge suddenly beeped. "Picard to Riker. Meet me in transporter room one."

Riker groaned inwardly. He had a feeling he knew what this was about. "Aye, sir. On my way."

With a snap of his fingers, he dispelled the image and teleported himself to the corridor outside the transporter room.

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"It's Deanna, isn't it?" Riker asked when Picard arrived, several minutes later.

Picard nodded. "Something about a wedding and the Miller family. I trust this is the matter you referred to several days ago?"

"That's right," Riker said. "Apparently Deanna's mother arranged for her to marry a man named Wyatt Miller. I have to admit, I'm not exactly eager to meet him."

"I understand, Will," Picard said, giving Riker perhaps the first friendly look he'd given him all week. "But we do what we must."

"Indeed," Riker said. "By the way, have you met Mrs. Troi?" He felt it was only fair to give Picard some warning of what to expect. "She's quite a... formidable individual."

"No, I don't believe I have," Picard said. "It should be most interesting to meet her."

"I'm sure it will be," Riker said, somewhere between fascination and dread.

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Mrs. Troi was quite a sight to see. Adorned with extravagant clothing, flanked by a tall servant and several imposing suitcases, she stepped regally off the transporter pad and greeted Picard. "Ah, hello! You must be the captain."

"Indeed," Picard said. "Mrs. Troi? I've heard of your telepathic prowess..."

"Oh, that wasn't telepathy," Lwaxana said. "I just knew the captain would of course be the one to greet me." She turned to Riker. "And how nice to see you again. You left so abruptly, I wondered if something was wrong..."

"No," Riker said thinly. "Nothing wrong." He was grateful for Mrs. Troi's inability to read him.

"And how is your liaison thing with the L going?"

"Q," Riker corrected her.

"Oh, yes, Q, of course. Anyway, I'd love to stay here and chat, but I simply must be getting to my rooms. Would you get my bags?"

It was more of an order than a question. Picard bent down to pick up a bag-- and stayed hunched over it, his face turning red with exertion, for several moments before managing to lift it. His back made a distinct creaking sound, and he shot a brief glare at Lwaxana before staggering to the door.

Riker gingerly reached for the other bag, trying to think of a subtle way to use his powers to avoid spraining something...

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"As soon as our guests are all welcomed aboard," Picard said once he and Riker were safely clear of Lwaxana's quarters, "I am going to Sickbay to see about having my spine reassembled. I can't imagine what she would be bringing that would be so heavy; I suppose there must be all sorts of special outfits for the wedding..."

Riker, knowing something of Betazoid wedding customs, snickered to himself, covering it with a not-entirely-convincing cough.

"You're just fortunate you got the suitcase with wheels."

Riker decided against telling Picard that he had added the wheels. "I suppose we'll be beaming up the Miller family next?"

"That's right," Picard said. "And then the... couple themselves." He paused. "If you'd prefer not to be there..."

"No, I'm... interested to meet Mr. Miller," Riker said. "But thank you."

They entered a turbolift. "Transporter room one," Picard said. He turned back to Riker. "One other thing. How did Mrs. Troi know about your association with the Q? Telepathy, or did she somehow already know?"

"I was telling Deanna about it," Riker said. "Mrs. Troi was in the room. Is it supposed to be secret?"

"Information like that could lead to trouble if the wrong people hear about it," Picard said. "We'll have a staff meeting about this as soon as we can make the time. How much did you tell her? Does she know about your powers?"

Riker thought back to that conversation. "I don't think so. I didn't mention that part."

"Good," Picard said. The turbolift stopped, and they got out. "Of course, keeping secrets from a telepath like Mrs. Troi is an uncertain business at best. Not that I suspect that she's a security risk, but... I don't like to think about what would happen if it became widely known that we have on this ship a force that can--" He looked around, realizing that they were no longer in the privacy of the turbolift. "We'll talk about this later."

Wonderful, Riker thought. Another thing to look forward to. "Understood, sir."