Alaska was every bit as lovely in the summer as in the winter, Soren thought, gazing at the blanket of little purple wildflowers covering the valley against the backdrop of the stately mountains. Or perhaps the joy in her heart made the whole world seem more beautiful to her, she reflected, as she stood side by side with Will, exchanging wedding vows.

The minister, a friend of Will's father, said "You may kiss the bride." Will lifted Soren's veil and tenderly kissed her lips as the celebrants cheered and threw rice.

Soren beamed up at Will. "Well, we did it," she said.

"Indeed we did." Her new husband was grinning from ear to ear. He put his arm around her as they both turned to face their guests.

Soren was aware that the guests were all Will's people; none of them were hers. Needless to say, she was no longer in touch with any of the inhabitants of J'naii, and had had very little contact with anyone outside the crew of the Enterprise since her rescue, in large part due to Will's concern for her safety.

Not that that fact diminished the happiness of this special day in any way, Soren thought. Everyone was so very nice to her, as they always had been. Whether out of compassion for the ordeal she had been through on J'naii, or because of their fondness and respect for Will, Soren didn't know. She was just deeply grateful to each and every one of them. She also sorely missed Deanna Troi, who was finally enjoying her long-delayed vacation on Risa with her beloved Thomas.

The reception took place on an open-air pavillion. Captain Jean-Luc Picard sat to Will's right, and on Captain Picard's right sat Beverly Crusher, the matron of honor. Geordi, Data, and Worf also sat at the bride and groom's table.

"A starship captain's life is filled with solemn duty," Captain Picard said. "But none compares to my solemn duty as best man." He raised his glass and smiled affectionately at Will and Soren. "Will Riker, you have been my trusted right arm who has helped keep my course true and steady. You and Soren are my family. I wish you clear horizons. My friends, make it so." Captain Picard and the others upended their glasses.

A band began to play, and the guests began to mingle.

"I want you to meet my father," Will said to Soren. The older Riker was standing quietly to the side, holding his drink and observing the crowd.

"Dad, this is Soren," Will said. "Soren, my father."

The older man smiled politely. "Nice to meet you, Soren. I am Kyle Riker."

"Nice to meet you too," Soren said with a smile. He was tall like Will, with intelligent-looking dark brown eyes and Will's winning smile. His handshake was warm and firm. Soren immediately liked him very much.

"It was a beautiful ceremony, son," Kyle said to Will. "If only your mother could have been here. She would have been so proud of you."

"I know," Will said softly, looking at the ground.

"So you are from the planet J'naii," Kyle said to Soren.

"Yes. It's a very beautiful planet. I miss its trees and flowers very much." Suddenly a sob caught in Soren's throat and tears sprang to her eyes.

"Soren?" Will's voice was full of concern.

"I was just thinking of how badly I wish my parents could have been here today."

Will embraced her. "Soren's parents were killed in an accident," he explained to his father.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Kyle said. "I know that I could never take the place of your father, but I am here for you any time you need me. I would be honored to consider you to be my daughter, if you would like that."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Riker." Soren threw her arms around him.

"Please." He laughed. "Call me Kyle, or even...dad."

"Does this make you my brother then?" Soren teased Will.

Will laughed out loud. "The way I feel toward you right now is anything but brotherly, Soren," he said, winking at her.

The band stopped playing, and Data began to speak. "Ladies and gentlemen, in my studies of Earth's marital rites I have discovered it is traditional to present the happy couple with a gift. Given Commander Riker's love of twentieth century jazz, I have chosen to present the following as my gift in honor of his and Soren's union."

Data began to recite a verse and the band joined in. "Never saw the sun shining so bright, never saw things going so right, noticing the days hurrying by, when you're in love, my how they fly."

He began to sing. "Blue skies smiling at me, nothing but blue skies do I see, bluebirds singing a song, nothing but skies from now on."

Will bowed to Soren. "Madam, may I have this dance?"

"With pleasure, kind sir," she laughed.

Gracefully they moved in time to the music, their bodies in pefect rhythm. Soren felt as if she were dancing on clouds. Will's strong arm around her felt so comforting, and as they moved together, distant memories flooded back to her. One of the very first questions Will had ever asked her. "Who leads when you dance, if you dance?" "We do, and the taller one leads," she had replied.

"What's so funny?" Will's question brought her back to the present.

"I was just remembering when we first met on the Enterprise, and you asked me who leads when J'naii's dance, and I told you that the taller partner leads."

"Which is usually true of dancing on Earth as well," Will laughed, looking down at the top of her head.

All three of them were very quiet on the short drive to the cemetery. Kyle parked the car under a large tree beside the front gate, and the three of them walked toward the mausoleum. They found the niche in the wall behind which was the urn containing Will's mother's ashes. Quietly they stood looking at the engraved memorial on the mausoleum wall. "Elizabeth Catherine 'Betty' Riker, 2305-2337, Beloved Wife and Mother."

Kyle spoke quietly. "Our boy got married today, Betty. He has grown up to be such a fine man. How I wish you could see him now." He lovingly touched the cold gray stone just as he might have touched her hair if she had been standing there. In his mind he could see Will as a chubby two-year-old crying for his mommy, and he could feel his own shameful sense of inadequacy. It still hurt even after all these years.

Soren, in the meantime, was thinking of her own parents' resting place on far away J'naii, a site she could never visit again. She did not regret the choice she had made, but oh, how sad she felt about certain things left behind forever.

Will was lost in his own thoughts, wondering what it would have been like if she had been there to tuck him into bed on those cold Alaskan nights, and to read him a bedtime story and kiss him good-night. He sighed deeply as he realized that he would never know.

Will placed the flowers in the receptacle provided and touched the cold gray stone himself, lightly tracing the engraving with his finger. He said but a single word. "Mother." The look on his face broke Soren's heart.

Will took Soren's hand and they silently walked back to the car. No one said anything on the ride back to Will's boyhood home. Soren rested her head on his shoulder and held his hand for the entire trip.

The next day Kyle accompanied Will and Soren to the airport.

"It was wonderful to see you again, son, and to meet your lovely wife," Kyle said to Will. To Soren he said, "It was such a pleasure to meet you, dear. Please take good care of Will, and if you ever need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."

Soren stood on her tiptoes to give him a big hug. "Good-bye...dad." She kissed his cheek.

"Good-bye, sweetie." As she turned away she thought she saw tears in his eyes.