Chapter 3

Several days had passed at the Rozhenko homestead; life there was quiet and simple, which was a welcome respite for two busy Starfleet officers. This morning when Deanna woke, the spot next to her in the bed they shared was empty (Worf never did make it to the couch he'd planned to sleep on). She knew Worf was an early riser, so she collected herself and headed down the stairs to find him.

"Good morning," Helena said with a bright smile. She barely looked up from her work of kneading what looked like some type of dough on her kitchen table, "There is fresh coffee, still hot," she said gesturing to a pot on the counter.

"Helena, it amazes me that you cook like this every day."

"Oh, I don't do this every day," she said, "The replicator gets used most of the time when it's just Sergey and I. But for my Worf, and for Alexander," Helena smiled, "And for you, I cook."

Deanna blushed, "Does Worf prefer this?" She asked as she took a seat at the table, a cup of steaming raktajino warming her hands.

"Oh yes. Klingons do not eat replicated food unless they have to. At least, that's what Worf likes to tell me, though it's probably just because he likes the taste better. So when he is here, I cook."

Deanna shook her head, "In all my life I have never cooked a single thing."

"Well then, maybe it's not so important to him after all," she said with a reassuring smile, "We farmed our own food for many years when we lived on Gault. Worf grew up on fresh air and fresh food."

"Gault… is that here on Earth?"

Helena stood erect and stretched her back, "Goodness, no. It's a small Federation colony, it's where we first lived when Worf came to us."

"Oh, I see," Deanna could sense that Helena was surprised she didn't know that, "But then you eventually came to Earth?"

"Yes," Helena paused as she pressed the dough ball into a pan, "Worf has not spoken of our time on Gault to you? Or of why we moved to Earth?"

Mrs. Rozhenko's tone had changed. She was being cautious of her words, trying to see what Deanna knew so as not to reveal too much, "No, he has not. I guess I assumed he always lived here on Earth with you."

"No, not always, Sergey and I are from Earth, we met in this very village a lifetime ago. We left when he joined Starfleet. We eventually settled on Gault and did not return here until Worf was about thirteen years old," one more probing pause from Worf's mother, "And he has never told you why?"

"No," Deanna answered honestly.

"Well, it is not something I need to speak of. He tells me I talk too much anyway."

Sensing how uncomfortable this, whatever this was, was making her, Deanna changed the subject, "Where is Worf, anyway?"

Mrs. Rozhenko placed the pan into the oven, "He left at dawn and took Alexander with him. I tried to talk him out of it," She shook her head, "It has been years since he's been in those woods, and never with Alexander. But he is as stubborn as anyone I have ever known."

"They're in the woods?"

Helena pointed out the window to a thick row of trees 100 meters beyond the house, "Back there, it goes on forever. They're hunting."

Deanna gasped, "Hunting? Animals?"

Helena laughed, "Well, not people! When we first moved here it scared the neighbors to no end to see Worf walking around with whatever animal he'd just killed. That is until he started giving away the fresh meat and pelts, then they loved him."

Counselor Troi was truly taken aback, "Why would he do such a thing?"

Her reaction was a little unsettling to Worf's mother. Helena instantly defended her son, as she was always quick to do, "Worf has been hunting as long as I can remember. On Gault, he and his brother and father would go. Nikolai never much liked it but Sergey did. When we moved here, Worf preferred to do it alone. Sometimes he would be gone for days in those woods. There was one time I was sure he'd been killed but three days later he showed up with a full grown bear and claw marks all along his leg."

The bear pelt they slept on. Deanna couldn't believe it. Her mouth fell open at the realization.

"Worf is a Klingon. I don't always understand all the things he does or the instincts he has, but I love my son. If this is something he needs to, I support it as I always have," her words were biting and finite. She was not going to allow this woman to question her son, even if she was in a relationship with Worf.

Deanna got the message loud and clear, "Yes, of course. I agree."

"They will probably be gone most of the day, but with you here I doubt he will stay out overnight. Hopefully he gives me enough time to cook whatever he does bring back."

The two weren't gone very long at all. Early in the afternoon, while Deanna was curled up in a cozy chair with a book, she could see two dark figures coming out of the trees and trudging through the snow. Sergey had spotted them as well and went to the door, "Helena, they're back. And they've got dinner!"

He threw open the door and the cold air filled the room. Deanna stood and watched from the porch as the blood of the animals Worf and his son had killed stained the pristine white snow.

"Grandfather, I got one too!" Alexander exclaimed as they drew closer to the house. His face was beaming. Over his shoulders was a small animal Deanna didn't recognize, but she could see it's lifeless eyes as if they were staring right at her.

Helena joined Sergey and Deanna on the porch. The three of them looked down at the two Klingon men and their fresh kills, "And it looks like you did pretty well yourself, Worf."

"Yes, Mother," Worf replied, "It has been a while but we did well."

"And it's been awhile since I dressed a fresh deer. It's a lot of work and I am not as young as I used to be, you know."

"Then we will help you."

"Good. Take them around the back,"

"Yes, Mother," Worf replied again. He hoisted his animal back across his broad shoulders and stole a glance at Deanna, who had been completely silent. He'd walked up to the house with his son feeling triumphant, but just a brief glance at her face turned that feeling to something else. He felt embarrassed. Deanna would never understand this, and would certainly never approve. Worf silently scolded himself for not thinking of that before traipsing off into the woods this morning. Maybe his mother could just give it away to the neighbors like she used to years ago

Dinner the night of the hunt had been awkward. Deanna, politely of course, declined any of the meat. She had never eaten fresh meat, only replicated, and she wasn't sure she could stomach it. Deanna commented on how killing innocent animals when it wasn't necessary seemed inhumane to her. Helena reminded her that Worf was not Human. Whether or not she intended it, he felt judged by her and as a result Worf's emotions that evening ranged from embarrassment to annoyance.

When he woke up the next morning, Worf decided he needed to reset things somehow. Things had been going so well that he didn't want this to somehow upset that. Worf offered to take Deanna into town for lunch and she happily accepted.

The small town was unlike any place Deanna Troi had ever been, it looked as if it hadn't been touched by progress in four hundred years. Despite the cold, the inhabitants walked casually through the streets, all humans who reminded her of Worf's parents. Not a single alien and certainly no Klingons. That is, except for Worf. She could feel the eyes on them as they walked. Troi stole a glance at Worf, he didn't seem to notice. That, or he was just used to it.

The restaurant, like most everything else here, was small and unimposing. But it was warm and that's all Deanna really needed right now. They were quickly seated and Worf took the lead in ordering for them.

"You have been here before?" Deanna asked as she looked around. The establishment was about half full and just like on the street, everyone was looking at them.

"Oh yes, many times. It is my parents favorite place to come to celebrate when anything happens. When my brother got into Starfleet, when I got in, when I graduated and got my first assignment, we always came here."

"Please forgive the intrusion," came a voice that approached their table, "But I just had to come say hello, Worf."

Next to their table stood a woman about Worf's age. She was dressed modestly and spoke with the same thick accent Helena and Sergey had. She wore very little adornments but Deanna couldn't help but notice her striking green eyes and thick black hair. She also couldn't help but sense Worf's immediate discomfort. His eyes darted from the woman's to Deanna's and back again.

"Lana, what an honor it is to see you. It has been a long time."

"Too long," The woman paused, waiting for Worf to introduce her.

"Svetlana, this is counselor Deanna Troi. She and I serve together in Starfleet."

"Nice to meet you," Deanna replied, "How do you know Worf?"

Lana laughed, "Everyone knows Worf. He and I we went to school together years ago. That is, before he aced the academy entrance exams and took off for the stars. Most of us never even leave Earth. So Worf's somewhat of a local celebrity.

"That is an exaggeration," Worf said to Deanna.

Lana laughed again. Deanna sensed her laugh was designed to create an illusion of levity that was not actually there. Svetlana was actually quite nervous, "We are all proud of you. Whenever I see reports of the Enterprise in the news service I always think of you."

Worf shifted anxiously. This was a new set of emotions that Deanna was getting from him. If she didn't know any better she'd say this Lana lady was an old flame of his.

"Thank you,"

"Of course. Well I'm not going to keep you, I just had to say hello. How long will you be here?"

"I... I am not quite sure."

"Well, it's really good to see you," Lana placed a hand on Worf's shoulder and looked him right in the eyes, "Perhaps we can get together before you go."

"Perhaps."

Lana smiled politely at Deanna before walking away.

"I am sorry for that interruption," he said.

"No need to apologize… though I get the feeling there is a story there…"

Worf sighed, "It is nothing that matters now. We were practically children."

"Oh so there is a story. Come on Worf, don't be shy."

He sighed, "We were school mates in our teenager years and we developed… feelings for one another. I was hesitant to act on them for many reasons but Lana was not. It turned out that I was right. When her parents found out about us, they did not approve, to put it mildly. She wanted to defy them but I could not dishonor her family."

Deanna frowned, "Did they ever say why they disapproved?"

"They did not have to, I knew why. My father was furious but I implored him to let it go. As she said, most people here never leave Earth let alone imagine their daughter will fall for an alien. And certainly not a Klingon."

Deanna didn't sense any of the heartbreak or sadness that would usually accompany a story like this. Worf had long ago accepted the fact that this was simply the way of things for him.

"It must have been very difficult for your being alone here."

"I got used to the stares and the whispers long ago. It wasn't as bad on Gault, that was a Federation outpost and though mostly human it wasn't entirely so. No other Klingons but the residents were open minded."

Deanna saw an opening to ask about that which Helena had hinted at, "Why did you leave then?"

Worf froze but then spoke very measured words, "My father had been stationed there and his time was up. They decided to come back home."

He was hiding something, something he was ashamed of. What Deanna couldn't tell was whether that shame was over something he had done or something done to him.

"That's it? Just a change in assignment?"

"Yes. My parents did the best they could for me and I will always be grateful for that." Worf's answer was definitive, it was clear he was not going to say anything else.

Deanna decided to let it go for now, "Speaking of assignments, did you see the communique from Captain Picard this morning?"

He had, but he'd been avoiding reading it, "I have not yet read it."

"Well then I'm glad I get to be the one to tell you," she began, her face beaming, "There will be a new Enterprise, the E, Captain Picard will command and he has been given the authority to reinstate his entire senior staff."

Worf' face did not reflect her excitement, "Are we being ordered back or simply given the option to return?"

"I'm not sure, but I can't imagine any of us turning it down."

Worf was silent.

"Oh my god… You don't want to go back," Deanna stated rather than asked. She could read him like a book right now.

"I did not say that."

"You didn't have to."

"It is not that I do not wish to serve on the Enterprise-"

"Then what is it?"

"It is complicated...

"I'm listening."

Worf did not want to have this conversation right now. He'd brought her here to get back on common ground after the hunting incident. Talking about this was not going to help, but he also knew they needed to, "I have been considering the future of my career for some time now. When I joined the Enterprise crew I was on the command track. I got the opportunity to serve as security chief and I gladly accepted. However, after seven years of that, it is time for me to make a change."

Deanna was truly taken aback, "You have never once mentioned this to me. How long had you felt this way?"

"I did not know how to approach it. I have been thinking about it for about a year, but putting in for a transfer seemed disloyal to Captain Picard. Now that the Enterprise is gone I have the opportunity to move on."

"A year," Deanna whispered, shaking her head. She was quiet, her appetite disappearing. A moment passed and she looked directly at him, "What about us?"

Worf sighed, "That is why I did not know how to approach this. I do not want to lose what we have."

"Well, let's think about this then. What would it take to keep you on the Enterprise?"

"There is nowhere for me to go on the Enterprise. No room for advancement. At least, as long as…"

"As long as Will is there," she finished his thought for him.

"I am certain he is being offered command of his own ship as we speak, but if history proves true he will not take it. If he does, I would apply for First Officer. I know Commander Data is next in line for it, and if he wanted it the Captain would most certainly defer to him. But even still, that would allow me to move up to the position of second officer," Worf sighed, "Do not misunderstand me, it has been an honor working with Commander Riker all these years and I consider him a friend. But I cannot stay in his shadow forever."

His words hung in the air, their double meaning not lost on either of them. Maybe Worf was right; maybe stepping out of Will's shadow is what they both needed.

"Then I will come with you," Troi declared.

Now it was Worf's turn to be shocked, "What?"

"If you apply for a transfer, I will too."

"Deanna, I cannot allow you to do that. You are the counselor on the flagship of the Federation. There is no better position for you than that. It is common for Starfleet officers in relationships to serve apart from one another. We can take holidays together, or-."

"No," Deanna shook her head. She didn't want to say it, but there was no way their relationship would survive with her on the Enterprise with Will while Worf was stationed elsewhere, "I don't want to try to make it work by juggling leave schedules. I have been on the Enterprise for eight years, a change would do me good as well. We can request to be assigned together."

"Starfleet only honors that type of request for married couples," Worf replied dismissively.

"Then maybe that's what we should do."

It was hard to say who was more surprised by what came out of Deanna's mouth. She certainly didn't plan to imply that they should get married. They'd never really spoken about their future, they hadn't even decided what to do after leaving the Rozhenko's. But now that she put it out there, they had to address it.

Worf was speechless. He had given some thought to making Deanna his wife and had decided that he couldn't decide what to do. He had even avoided physical intimacy with her so as to honor Klingon tradition. When they made love the first time, Worf told himself he'd just given in to his physical impulses and that it would not happen again. That said, he had no such explanation for the second and the third times.

"Deanna, do you really mean that?"

Troi looked around the restaurant. There were a few couples, but mostly there were families. Mothers, fathers, children, even some grandparents. Deanna had spent her whole life waiting for the fairy tale, waiting to be swept off her feet by her one true love. Maybe that wasn't what she needed. Maybe what she needed was the comfort and stability that Worf could offer.

"If it keeps us together, I think we should consider it."

Worf nodded, "Alright. Let us see what happens and we will consider it."

Did we just get engaged? Deanna smiled brightly, "Yes. I think it's a good idea."

"Alexander will certainly be thrilled. You being there with us would make the idea of moving elsewhere much easier for him."

"I hope he's not the only one happy to have me."

Worf reached across the table, "No, of course not. That you would give up your position so that I can pursue my career is more than I could ever ask. I am honored to have you by my side."

Deanna looked down at their intertwined hands. She had hoped to hear him finally say that he loved her. Perhaps honor was worth more to him than love.

"Brother, it has been a long time."

Days later, Worf accepted a subspace transmission on the monitor in his parent's kitchen. To his surprise, it was his brother.

"Too long," Kurn replied. "I heard the news of what happened to your ship. Have they reassigned you to a new post?"

Worf shook his head, "Not yet."

"Then come to the Homeworld. Things for our house have never been better and you deserve to be a part of it. There is only so much that I can do, I need my elder brother here to stand with me for the House of Mogh."

"You have done a fine job of managing the affairs of our house."

"A duty that is after all yours. Our family has a seat on the High Council, and you have not even been to a session. We own lands that you have never seen, I have a wife you have not met."

"Yes, I know," Worf said defensively, "I have had duties of my own to fulfill."

"And I respect that. But those duties are done. And you are needed here," Kurn paused, "With your people."

His words hung in the subspace between them. Worf had been living in idyllic isolation here on Earth for the past two weeks. He had forced himself not to think beyond the snowy Russian village because out there were more questions than answers. Here were his parents who doted over him, his son was happy and his relationship with Deanna had grown in ways it had not before. But this was not real his real life.

Worf nodded, "Alexander and I will come."

"Excellent!" Kurn exclaimed, "We look forward to seeing you both. Qapla, Brother!"

"Qapla."

Worf stared at the black screen and sighed. His eyes wandered from the screen to the room he was sitting in. The irony of talking to his Klingon brother at his Human mother's kitchen table was not lost on him. It was the story of his life, really.

The kitchen door slowly creaked open. It was Deanna, "Are you okay in here?"

"Yes."

She slowly sat across from him, "What's going on?"

Sometimes the way Deanna always knew when something he was wrong was comforting, it meant he didn't have to put up a facade with her, "That was my brother Kurn. I am needed on the Homeworld."

"I see. When?"

"I will arrange transport for Alexander and I as soon as I can."

"Just the two of you?" she asked.

The question surprised Worf, "Yes. But perhaps you can use this time to visit your mother on Betazed."

Deanna was speechless, "I don't… where is this coming from?"

He looked around the kitchen again, "We have been here for quite some time now-"

"And I have enjoyed it."

"-But we cannot stay here forever. We must to get back to our lives."

She nodded, "Of course. This just seemed sudden, but you are right," Troi paused and took a breath, "I want to come with you."

"What?"

"You invited me here to meet your family. In the process I have learned so much about you and we have grown closer," Deanna reached across the table and took his hand in hers, "But there is still a big part of you that I don't know and that part of you is on the Klingon Homeworld."

"Have you ever even been to Qo'noS?"

"No. Well yes, when the Enterprise was in orbit. I did not go to the surface though."

Worf shook his head, "This will not be like visiting my parents here on Earth. Not at all."

"That's okay."

Worf stood, "No, it is not a good idea."

"Are you embarrassed to take me? Does your family there even know about me?"

Silence.

"That's it, isn't it?"

"You do not understand. In fact, there will be much that you won't understand."

"Then show me. Teach me."

The kitchen door opened again and this time it was Alexander. He stepped into the room and saw Deanna sitting at the table and his father standing across from her. The tension was palpable, "Hey, what's going on?"

They looked at one another. Neither spoke.

"Are you guys okay?"

"I got a call from Kurn. We are going to Qo'noS."

"We? All three of us?

More silence.

"Yes," Worf replied, his eyes focused on Deanna's, "All three of us."

A smile spread across the boy's face, "Then it won't be so bad."