Chapter 6

"Are you sure you're up to this Data?" Will Riker asked.

"Yes captain. I am capable of caring for children." Data answered matter-of-factly. "I have downloaded several child care programs and read every book on child care in our computer record."

Will looked past him to the two cribs where he could hear the babies cooing. "Well don't forget to feed them every two hours. Kestra always drinks a little less than Jean-Luc so don't force her if she doesn't want anymore. Oh, you do know how to change diapers right?"

"Yes captain." Data answered. "We'll be fine. Go see Deanna."

Will nodded. "Right. Ok." He slowly began to walk away then turned back again. "It's just, I'm nervous about leaving them, I've never left them with anyone before."

"May I remind you that you've only had them for four days?" Data reminded him.

"Yes I know. I would only leave them with someone I trust. You know that right Data?"

"Good-bye captain."

"Wait! I forgot to tell you-" Will called as Data shut the door. "Never mind." Will irritably grumbled as he strolled through the corridor and into the Turbolift. "Deck 8." He called. After the turbolift stopped moving he sauntered towards Sickbay.

He took a deep breath before entering Deanna's room. As he walked in he gazed at the sleeping form of Deanna. He knelt by her bed. He sat for a while with her. "Imzadi," He attempted to speak to her telepathically. "I miss you. Jean-Luc and Kestra miss you too. I doubt that you can hear me but, it makes me feel better to at least try to communicate..."

Deanna Riker slowly opened her eyes. She blinked in confusion trying to remember where she was and why she was here. She was in Sickbay.

"My babies!" She said suddenly recalling her reason for being here. She quickly tried to sit up but soon realized that something was prohibiting her. She looked down into the sleeping face of Will. She smiled sweetly as she noticed that he had pulled up a chair next to her bed, enabling him to be closer to her. She ran her fingers through Will's dark hair.

"Imzadi." She whispered. Will shifted his head on her leg a little and snored loudly. Deanna suppressed a giggle before shaking him gently.

"Will?" She called a little louder. He stirred a bit and briefly opened an eye before closing it again. A second later both of his eyes shot open and he was fully awake.

"Deanna!" He cried happily. "You're awake, you're alive!" He leaned forward and wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I've missed you." He whispered. He pulled back and gave her a nasty look. "Don't ever do that to me again!" He demanded. "What happened to you anyway? Alyssa couldn't find anything wrong with you."

"The stress of the situation put me into a temporary coma." She explained. "It happens sometimes in Beta-zoids when they reach their limit in stress. It probably happened to me because I was carrying twins."

Will looked astonished. "How did you know that? Did you hear me trying to communicate telepathically?"

"Well yes and no." Deanna answered simply. "Yes I could hear some of your attempt at telepathy but that's not how I knew."

"How then? Did the Doctor tell you?"

Deanna smiled in her usual calm manner. "I could sense the two lives within me." Her calm soon melted into anxiety. "The children, are they okay?"

Will nodded vigorously. "Yes they're just fine and ready to see their mother."

"Well then," Deanna began as she swung her legs over the side of her bed. "I am certainly ready to see them."

"Not until I've looked you over you're not." Alyssa corrected as she walked into the room.

Deanna sighed heavily as Alyssa scanned her with the medical tricorder. Will smiled at her from behind Alyssa. She grasped his hand and gently enfolded it in her own.

"Well you seem to be just fine." Alyssa announced clearly puzzled. "Do you have any idea what happened to you?"

Before Deanna could respond Will jumped in. "It's a Beta-zoid thing."

Deanna gave him a disgruntled look as she filled the doctor in on the rest of her condition. "Can I go now?" She asked Alyssa after she finished.

"Yes you may." Alyssa nodded smiling. "Go see your little ones.

Upon returning to their quarters, they were met by Data in the nursery. He turned and put his finger to his lips. "Shh. They are sleeping." Data whispered. Deanna attempted to repress her excitement as she quietly walked over to the cribs.

"Oh Will!" She gasped at seeing them. "They're beautiful." She reached down to gently stroke Jean-Luc's cheek. The motion awakened him and he opened his dark Beta-zoid eyes. He yawned and began to kick his feet. Deanna softly scooped up the baby from his crib. Deanna grinned from ear to ear as the baby sucked on his fingers and cooed quietly. Deanna kissed his baby-fine wavy black hair.

"He's wonderful!" Deanna exclaimed never taking her eyes off of him.

Data leaned toward the baby and tickled his chin. "Oochie-coochie-coo!"

"I think he likes you Data." Deanna commented as Jean-Luc shifted his attention to the android.

"I believe they both do." Data answered. "After all I have changed their diapers three times, fed them five times and sang them to sleep four times."

"Well," Will remarked. "I do believe we've found our permanent babysitter."

"Babysitter?" Data repeated obviously thinking. He opened his mouth as if to explain the definition but changed his mind last minute. "Well, you probably already know the definition." After saying he began to walk out. "I will leave you now."

"Thank you Data." Will called after him. At that moment, Kestra awoke and began to cry. Deanna gently handed Jean-Luc off to Will and lifted her daughter from her crib.

"Shh, it's ok." She whispered to her. "She's a little smaller than her brother." Deanna commented beaming. "But very energetic." Kestra began to cry harder.

"I think she's hungry. "Deanna commented as she sat in the rocker. She attempted to nurse her but Kestra just kept crying harder.

Will carefully lay Jean-Luc back in his crib where he played by himself. He walked over to Deanna and bent down. He gently stroked Kestra's wispy light brown hair in an attempt to calm her. "Daddy's here; don't cry." He whispered. Kestra whimpered for a bit longer but finally began to suckle never taking her eyes off of her father.

Deanna contorted her face. "Now I'm jealous." She teased.

"Yes I like to think of her as a Daddy's girl." Will grinned teasing.

Deanna gave him a face.

"But she'll love you too." He added quickly. "Eventually."

Deanna smiled and continued to rock the baby. "She looks so much like you, Will. She even has your eyes."

"Yes, but I do believe that she has your nose." Will pointed out. "Jean-Luc looks just like you too."

Deanna nodded beaming and continued to rock the baby.