"Earl-Grey. Hot."

A glass with the hot liquid appeared in the replicator. Jean-Luc picked it up with a sigh of relief. He was standing still for a while, just listening to the gentle, rhythmical noise of the Enterprise engines. That sound was to him like a lullaby, always calmed him down.

"Captain," Riker´s voice sounded on the private communicator channel. "The ferengi have received our message. They agreed to meet on the Enterprise, tomorrow at Ten Hundred Hours."

"Excellent. That gives us some time to rest."

But he couldn't fall asleep that night. The unanswered questions and doubts were rushing through his head and having the admiral on board didn't make it easier. Kinsky seemed to put the diplomacy and avoiding conflict with ferengi as the top priority. Over the safety of Dee. It was against Picards' own understanding of the federation ethics. On the other hand, he had to admit that he had lacked the objectivity in the past more than once. How honest was Dee with them, anyway? Wasn't there something deceiving in her appearance? She wasn't human, no matter what her current form was. Her brain waves worked differently, according to doctor Crusher. She had powerful telepathic abilities. Could she have control over Troi? Could she control them? The readings doctor Crushed showed him in the sick bay were somewhat familiar. He had seen similar data before, but he couldn't recall when. It bothered him. He reminded himself to ask Data to compare the readings with everything they had in the Enterprise's computer first thing in the morning. Solving this one problem, his thoughts came back to the expected meeting with the ferengi. He wanted Troi to take part in it, of course. But, another disturbing thought returned, how much he could rely on Troi's judgement in this circumstances anyway? She was copying Dee's behavior like a mirror, although she claimed she could control it. And the ferengi. There, the emotional part of Picard took charge. He despised them. He knew whatever Dee was saying, might have been true. He knew their attitude towards women too well. Whoever Dee was, he knew he wouldn't let them hurt her. His instincts called out loud, to protect every woman from being sexually assaulted, that was who he was. Who he wanted to be. But sometimes, it was also against the Prime Directive. Too often. He wanted to learn more about her. To protect her. But also, to convince the admiral of her good intentions. To convince himself of her good intentions. He sighed. The asteroid rescue mission happened in a bad timing. Bad for him and for the Enterprise.

"How are you feeling, Dee?"

The girl smiled back to Dr. Crusher and counselor Troi that stood by her bed.

"Much better, thank you. I think I can get up again."

Dr Crusher scanned her for the last time. "Great. But do not strain yourself, alright? Well, I don't see any reason to keep you here and I am sure you could use a good meal. Why don't you let Deanna take you out for supper? You haven't been to our Ten Forward yet.

"That sounds great!" Dee brightened up. Crusher and Troi exchanged amused looks.

"Wonderful! I am sure you will like it. Shall we?"

„She is lovely," Dr. Crusher thought, watching them leave.

It was a busy time on the Ten Forward, but Deanna managed to find a free, little and cozy looking table on the side where they couldn't see the ferengi ship behind the window. They sat in front of each other. Dee was still wearing Deanna's pink dress and was now looking around, with shining eyes and watching the relaxed crew members with a smile.

"I could just stay here forever," she confessed with a hint of longing in her voice.

"Actually, why not? You could sign up to the Starfleet. Of course, it depends on your qualifications and everything you've done in the past and such…" Deanna added and watched her with attention.

"Oh, as far as I know the Academy wouldn't accept me," Dee chuckled and silenced, as if she realized she had said too much." Deanna took her by the hand. She felt how the barrier Dee made between them was vibrating as if Dee couldn't decide if she wanted to open it or not. It felt hot as if the temperature in Ten Forward had rapidly increased.

"What can I get you, ladies?" None of them noticed Guinan neither watching them from behind the counter for several minutes, nor her approaching the table, so the sudden question made them both jump. Deanna laughed, trying to cover her embarrassment. She didn't know why she felt like a child that got caught playing in a forbidden place.

"Guinan! Oh my, you have startled me." El'Auran didn't answer and just watched them both, turning her head from Deanna to Dee, and back to Deanna. Dee didn't say a word and stared back at her. Her tension increased Deanna's awkward feeling. "I didn't notice you, I am sorry." Troi continued, trying to sound cheerful and relaxed. "I'll have the Chocolate Sunday of course, I so need something sweet to relax a little…"

"I'm sure of that." Guinan replied slowly and turned to Dee.

"And you?"

"I'm not sure..." She hesitated.

"Chocolate Sunday twice, then!" Deanna shouted enthusiastically. "This is an excellent dessert, you need to try it. It will make you feel better, it does it always to me."

"Then I'll have one, please." Dee agreed politely, but the tension didn't leave her voice.

"Coming right up." Guinan replied and glanced at them one more time, holding her eyes on Dee a little longer. Deanna rose her eyebrow.

"Chocolate Sunday twice, to that table in the corner," Guinan instructed the waitress. She looked at them again. "Déjà vu," she said to herself.

As the dessert was delivered to the table Deanna seemed to forget the awkwardness. She looked at her portion with delight and took the first spoon.

"On my planet, eating chocolate is almost like a ritual," she said, eating the ice cream part in a very slow, sensual way. "Come on, try it."

Dee picked up her spoon and put a big portion in her mouth. A drop of the chocolate sauce rolled down her chin. Deanna laughed.

"Oh dear. Let me," she removed the sauce with her finger. Dee didn't move, she stared at her and seemed to forget about everything in the world.

"I didn't know the eating can be so… pleasant," she whispered.

"It can," Deanna took another spoon, not breaking the eye contact.

"Isn't that interesting," Guinan thought, still watching them from behind the counter.

"Dee?" Deanna said, taking the last spoon of chocolate.

"Yes?" Dee's voice was barely audible.

"Who is Nert?" She whispered as well, not stopping to look deeply in Dee's eyes.

"Not here," Dee replied after a few minutes of silence. Deanna nodded. Holding hands, they walked out of the Ten Forward. Guinan watched them till the elevator door closed.

They came back to Deanna's quarter. Dee caressed an orchid standing on the window sill and stared at the stars. Deanna stood behind her and put her hand on the girl's shoulder. She waited for the reaction. To her relief, Dee relaxed and snuggled up to her. Deanna felt like a wave of an inner warmth and a feeling of safety and hope, mixed with sadness and loneliness, spread through her and was getting stronger. She closed her eyes. She felt as if she was floating in space. She lost the feeling of her own body. She was flying through stars with a great speed. It was wonderful. She felt free and omnipotent. It was an ecstasy. She forgot about the Enterprise, about the laws of physics, everything. She wondered how she could ever not know that she was a pure energy, brighter than stars and the universe was her playground. She wanted to explore it, she knew so much about the galaxies, their countless civilizations, yet she craved to know more. That knowledge fulfilled her and made her feel even more powerful, but also lonely. She felt isolated and abandoned. She could meet anyone anywhere within a second, yet she was alone because there was no one like her around. So, she explored the planets deeper, she had memories about countless forms she assumed, to make contact. She wanted to influence them, to help them to understand more, to evolve more quickly. She could see their future, she could travel in time. She could do simply everything.

Then she stopped. Deanna – the light, woke up hanging in space and felt an overwhelming sadness. It was so intense that in the physical body she would have started to cry. The feeling of isolation grew stronger. She knew she had left the other beings like her, to explore the universe and now she was afraid they would punish her if she would come back home. But there was someone among them, she missed. The one, special entity that would understand. Who was even more curious about the universe and stronger than her. If she could only find this person, everything would be alright. She tried to make the connection with her mind. She found that being and the being found her. She felt an overwhelming joy. Now when she was finally found, she felt calm and safe again. So much that she suddenly felt sleepy. The stars whirled around her and disappeared. Deanna woke up in her bed. Dee was sitting beside her, smiling.

"How do you feel?"

It took Deanna a long while to remind her own name. She tried to sit up but her head was hurting and the room was spinning.

"Wow," she said finally. "It was… I can't even describe it!"

"Take some more rest. I hope I didn't hurt you. I let you enter my mind. At least as far, as it was possible. Your betazoid abilities let you see more than it would be bearable for a human anyway."

Deanna rose her eyebrow.

"Dee, can you read my mind? I never mentioned the name of my home planet to you."

She felt Dee building up her mental barrier again. But then she looked at her with an expression of having decided.

"Deanna, do you believe I am no threat to the Enterprise?" There was a desperate hope for a no in her voice, it was even visible on Dee's face. Troi took a deep breath.

"I believe you don't want to be one," she replied slowly. "But you cannot convince the captain not revealing the truth about you. Dee. Who are you and where do you know us from? I know you do."

Dee stood up and pointed the space behind the window. Before Deanna's eyes, like a holodeck program, appeared the Farpoint Station and her first day of service on the Enterprise. She saw Q, his energy net chasing the ship, she saw the two alien beings reuniting. More and more scenes appeared before her, speeding up and suddenly disappearing. Deanna stared at Dee and held her breath.