February 18, 2381 USS Titan
Later that night after the couple left the USS Enterprise, they went back to their quarters in Titan.
Troi sat on the couch and read the latest articles from the padd about psychology after a sonic shower while Riker was taking a bath. She had difficulties focusing herself on the reading, feeling the urge to cry for no reason, so she stared at the padd trying to shake the urge away.
" Deanna~ Deanna~ Deanna?" sitting beside her, Riker was worried.
"Are you alright Deanna? you seemed to be frozen there for a while."
"Yeah, I am fine, I guess."-she put down the padd and lay back to the couch
"I guess I'm just tired."
Deanna landed on the bed and suddenly tears rolled down from her eyes. Riker knew from his heart, that she is overwhelmed both physically and emotionally. He lay down beside her and hugged her, hold her body close to himself. "Imzadi, it's okay. Computer, lights out." As the light turned out, he gently wiped her face. His breathy voice told her it's okay to cry now.
She started sobbing in Will's arm, warm and safe. The sobbing subsided and she drifted asleep.
February 19, 2381 USS Titan
The next morning, Deanna woke up at 0600 and suddenly felt the urge to cry again. trying not to wake up Will, she got out of the bed into the bathroom. She lashed out the urge and cried. Half an hour had past she was still sobbing. Will woke up when he tried to hold Deanna to find nothing but empty sheets beside him. He went to the bathroom and found Deanna nearly out of breath. When he reached out his arms, Deanna was too weak to stand up, so he squatted down and hold her in his arm.
"When you told me you Betazoid would have severe emotional sickness during your pregnancy, you weren't kidding. "Will said, padding her back.
"Not like this, th tha lst..." sobbing and out of breath, Deanna wasn't able to finish her sentence. Finally she caught up her breath and said "It wasn't like this the last time. But I've never gone this far with our last baby..."Speaking of their last baby, tears rolled down from her eyes again. Struggling, she contained her emotion and looked into her husband's deep blue eyes and said: "I'll be fine." Feeling the deep concern from her husband, she squeezed his hand, "Really Will, I will be ok."
"We are arriving McKinley Station in two hours, after that, we can have a short break, and I am planning to use some holodeck time, so we can finally relax ourselves after so long a time." asked Riker, hugging his wife. "What do you say?"
Deanna Troi nodded and pressed her face on her husband's chest .She took a deep breath to inhale the smell combined with sweat and soap, some how, it made her feel safe.
On the bridge, the gamma shift was relieved by Riker and his senior officers. Vale notice the swollen eyes of Troi's, concerned, she gave her a comforting look.
"I'm fine Christ, you know when human female is pregnant, they have morning sickness in their first trimester. Well, we Betazoid tend to cry instead of vomit."
Relieved by that, Christine Vale sat on her chair. After witnessed so many things her friends went through, she hate to see anything bad happen to them again.
They arrived at McKinley station on time, after putting up a stay-watch schedule, the personnel aboard Titan were all permitted to take short leaves either go down Earth or remain on Titan when all the supplies and repair being tended to.
They went back to their quarters to change for the holodeck.
"What program do you want to use this time?" said Troi, looking for her clothes in the dressing room.
"How about that jazz program I produced two years ago?" Riker said, closing up to Troi from behind and hold her by her waist.
"The program in which you play night bird?"
"That's the one" said Riker.
"But I thought you've given up on that."
"I've given up giving things up." Riker smirked. So naive a face, it's hard to think that this is the captain who helped defeat the borg.
Finally, they decided to wear civilian clothes instead of those fancy costumes. Will Riker put on the deep blue T-shirt, and Deanna Troi chose the blue dress she used to wore to the bridge on the Enterprise. When she tried to put on that dress, she couldn't help but noticed that the waistline has given in to her forming little bun on her stomach. In the end, she replicated a new dress without bellyband, just loosely cover her body. Will Riker loved this kind of casual wear of his wife's, "It suits you, no more serious psychologist." he joked about it. "And it matches your office well."
They walked to the holodeck holding hands. On their way, they greeted several young ensigns planning to go parachute jump from a shuttle.
"We used to be one of them," Troi looked back from her shoulder. "Exciting, vigorous, and brave." she looked down at her belly, and now, I'm just not so sure I can be as brave as I used to be. She thought, contemplating the days lay ahead. Riker noticed Troi's unsureness, and he touched her shoulder and put his hand around her waist.
Holodeck One. Riker run the program, and began to pick up his trombone, finally he made it to the solo part, and again, he didn't get it right. Troi was amused, and finally she laughed out loud, in nearly half a year, the weight in her heart lower a bit. They enjoyed their whole morning in holodeck, with only music and jazz and laughter. "You know, Will, for a moment, I was convinced that all the borg thing had never happened and everything is fine."
"Everything is fine, and it will be, Deanna, the borg will no longer be a problem."
Troi looked at Riker and said: "But there are still many planets to rebuild, many cities to reconstruct, many families that can never be reunited again, and many wounded hearts to heal, I guess it's not possible for people to come out of this easy. And the president is asking us to what? Go away and not help at all?"
Riker was equally concerned about the rebuild of the Federation, "To be honest, I don't like the decision better than anyone, but as we keep exploring, hopefully, we can find some new solutions helpful for the Federation." he combed his fingers across Deanna's beautiful black hair, and said: "And with a ship's counselor as capable as you are, healing hearts wouldn't be a problem."
Troi smiled, " You are right, I am good at healing hearts, in fact, I will start making appointments for the crewmen in need, and with the Huilan taking a short leave to his home world, I will cooperate with Haaj starting tomorrow. We also considering some group therapy, if you are interested, you will be more than welcome to join!"
"Come on Deanna!" Riker grim and hold Deanna down from the table she was sitting on, they ended the program and left for dinner.
As usual, they had their dinner in their quarter.
Computer voice: "Incoming subspace message from Vulcan, T'Pel to counselor Deanna Troi. " Putting down the meal, Deanna stood up and walked to the big screen in the living room "display." On the screen the Vulcan woman talked in serenity, expressing her concern about her husband, as much as she tried to control her emotion, Deanna can still sense the deep sorrow from her. "Counselor, this is T'Pel, I am a bit concerned about my husband Tuvok. He tried not to show, but I can tell the desperation in his heart is choking him, the loss of our youngest son and his old crew on Voyager took him so hard, combined with his neuro conditions, he can barely meditate. I'm afraid that he can not get out of this and step into a deep hole." computer voice :"Message displayed." Deanne Troi sat on the couch, frowning, thinking what she can do to help the friend and colleague who helped her so many times. Thinking , she lost track of time, she even didn't heard Riker calling her name. Riker went to the living room to found Troi frowning with one hand under her jaw, the other supporting the elbow. Riker teasing at her post, saying: "Turning into Le Penseur?" Troi narrow her eyes: "Who on earth is … well, never mind. It's Tuvok, T'Pel said he's having trouble meditate."
"A Vulcan without his meditation, is he alright?" Riker lifting his eye brow in both surprise and concern. Slowly, he turned into the same post as Troi
"That's what I'm trying to find out." Sighed Troi.
February 28, 2831 USS Titan
The couple didn't get much relaxing before getting busy again, Riker was needed on the bridge to over see the new crew rotated from the McKinley station and several new cadets on their way from Earth. Meanwhile, commander Troi resumed her duty as a counselor. They are so close to Earth that she wasn't needed as a diplomat officer. Less challenge, less excitement, less fun, but more safe, she thought.
In transporter room One, Riker greeted the crews from McKinley station, they were here to help with the up grade of the warp core intending to speed up a little and create a more stable warp field with less side affect to the space. Riker said in a warm welcome face, trying to get the technicians relaxed: "In the next two weeks, our chief engineer Dr. Xin Ra-Havreii will be working with you." He presented Ra-Havreii to them. The technicians immediately felt interested that this lovely looking creator should be the chief engineer onboard such a magnificent ship. Riker continued: "Although our chief engineer appears cute enough to be picked up and huddled, I assure you, he has incredible bone density and very sharp mind that he is capable and qualified to pick up any trouble and shove it through the air lock. So, be good, and good luck!" He nodded to Ra-Havreii: "Doc, you can have it from here." The chief engineer took the lead down to the engineering and stared to work. Beep ~ comes the voice of Christine Vale: "Captain, there is a transmission from Earth for you, it is your father."
"Put it through to my ready room please." Riker sighed and walked to his ready room, although he had tried to remain contact with his father, his old man could still make up billions of reasons not to talk to him." Yes, Dad?"
"How have you been, I heard you did a fine job defeating the borg."
"I did what I could."
"How long are you going to be in the McKinley station?"
"I don't know, Dad, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I heard that you're near by, just want to know if you and Deanna are doing well."
"We are fine, dad." Not wanting to spend the whole morning doing those chitchat with his father, Riker asked:" Why are you really calling?"
"I … I haven't seen you for a while, do you think you can take some time and come home, with… Deanna?"
"I'll see if I can spend some time off ship, ok? Is there anything more?"
"No, that's all, goodbye son."
It is certainly strange that my father is asking me to go home. Riker confused as he stared to read the personnel dispatches on his padd.
Getting people trying to get help out of their griefs to talk in front of people is not a very difficult thing, and it is good for them to heal together, especially when their griefs had a common cause: the Borg. But for those who is truly depressed and had lost to much to live on, and there for refused to attend to any therapy at all, regular personal counseling is ordered and demanded. For now, the crewmen signed up for group therapy had gather together in Counselling Room Two.
Doctor Haaj and Deanna Troi were standing in the middle of the circle formed by the crewmen. Taking turn, they introduce the road they are going down together.
"It is proven effective and beneficial for a group of people who suffered from one disaster to attend group therapy." Deanna Troi started.
"Coming here is to reveal your scars and heal them, at the same time knowing that you are not doing this alone." Follow by Haaj.
"Together, holding your hands, you can try to stand on your feet again. Do not be afraid to stumble or fall. We will be there to help you."
"If one man's strength is too weak, then ten of you can support one another through the journey."
"And always remember, Dr. Haaj and I am always here so you don't get lost."
Dr. Haaj changed his straight forward method and joint Deanna into this warm welcome and non judgmental way of counselling. It almost made Deanna doubt if he is some evil duplicated Haaj trying to do something to this crew. She continued "In this room, you are all welcome to tell the things that weight on you, but if you are not ready just yet, it is ok to wait and listen to the others first."
An hour later, this session of group therapy ended. Deanna Troi and Dr. Haaj stayed in the office discussing the session.
Haaj: "This group of crewman is wounded, but they still have the instinct to survive, how ever, there are specific individual besides this group or the next to come, shows no signs of getting help at all, those are the ones that I am most worried about."
Troi nodded: "I noticed the same thing. We need to get them the help they need. I received a message from T'Pel. If and when Tuvok report for duty, I will start counselling him. As for other crewmen, we should recommend them to choose one of us."
"My point exactly. Now if you excuse me, I have some other things to attend to, counselor."
Haaj left the office, Deanna went over the personnel files and sat back in the couch, feeling a little stretch at her waist. She looking down her stomach, and stroked it smiling. This regular uniform still fits, but not for long. If everything goes well. She thought, putting one hand atop it and feeling the vigorous life growing inside her. In this terrible time for all of us, you are a treasures gift to Will and me, little one. Then she sat up and focus on reading and analyzing the files for the rest of the day.
Deanna Troi and William Riker never seen each other since they kiss goodbye in their quarters this morning. Now their shift was finally over. Troi entered their quarter to fine Riker already set the table with plenty of food, and there was always chocolate. Sensing the mischief in Riker, Troi smiled at him and flirted: "Is there something I can do for you Mr. Riker?"
"Why don't you sit down and have dinner with me, Ms. Troi?"
Feeling strange but also amusing, she sat in front of Riker with both hands supporting her jaw, elbows on the table, looking at her husband with love. "What is it? Will?"
"My father called me today, he wanted us to go home and spend some time with him."
"That is great! But it is unusual for him to ask that, I mean, he didn't even come to our wedding, and the last time you saw him he ended up in the ICU for weeks."
"That's my point! After he tried to save my life I thought he would at least contact me more often. But, he just cut off from me ever since!"
"Wait, you don't want me to…"
"Just want to make sure he is alright." Riker said, with a boyish smile.
No one can ever say no to that face. Deanna gave in, "Fine." She scooped a spoon of chocolate dressing onto her pancake.
After dinner, Will Riker put on some jazz music and twitching his body to dance. Deanna just sat on a chair and watched grinning.
"Come on," Deanna stood up and pulled him along "I want a bath."
In the bath with her husband, Deanna Troi relaxed into Will Riker's arm "When do you want to beam down?"
"We need to set new course in the middle of April, so we still have plenty of time left."
"What do you say we go down next week and stay for a week? I'll talk to Haaj and try to find one of my colleague to steep in for a week."
Will looked at Deanna with an unwilling face. Deanna looked back at him tilted her head.
"Fine, let's rip off the Band-Aid." Will sighed and shook his head.
March 07, 2381 USS Titan
"Will, you look so tense, and I don't need to be an empath to tell that you are very anxious, why don't you sit down and take a deep breath?"
After pacing back and forth in their quarters for an hour, Riker sat down next to Troi. "Why does my father asking us to beam down? He's never done such a thing before. I mean, is it possible that he is sick or even dying? But he looked just fine! What else could it be? No, he is not marring again…"
"Oh, come on, Will" Deanna sat on his laps and wrapped him in her arms. "I have never seen you so nervous before. We will meet your father tomorrow morning, and no matter what it is, we can face it together, you are not facing anything alone anymore."
Riker pulled Deanna closer and took in the gardenia smell on her hair. (After living with her for two years, he finally learnt that the gardenia is from the hair conditioner oil she frequently used to prevent her hair from tangling together. Anyway, it is quite good.) He looked down and saw her protruding abdomen. "My father didn't even have any picture or video tape for my mom when she was carrying me."
Troi looked down at her belly as she softly put a hand on it, then she looked up, and meet Riker's eyes without saying anything. Feeling very emotional for both the boy and the man in front of her. Tears welled in her eyes and she held Will in her arms tightly.
March 08, 2381 USS Titan
Will was up early that morning, he tried not to wake up Deanna, the increasing metabolism weighed her down constantly, even though she had trying not to show her exhaustion in front of the crew. Riker knew how tired she was and that she needed those extra rest. He sneaked around their quarters packing their stuff.
She fell asleep in her office twice this week alone, Will stopped by her office to pick her up after shift for dinner, only to find her asleep. The first time was four days ago. Deanna finished her shift and wanted to review a paper on deep space psychology but she fell asleep. When Will came into her office, he could only saw his wife asleep cuddling the padd curing up on the couch facing opposite of the door. She didn't even notice him coming in until she felt a blanket gently cover her with a pair off firm hands on her shoulders. She woke up with blurry eyes. Will would like to let her sleep but they both need some food. Two days ago, Deanna fell asleep recline on the wall near the door. Will was shocked when he came in her office, he though she collapsed but found her breathing even and slow. He gently woke her but she was tired and wanted to continued sleeping. She got grumpy and emotional and finally cry in her office for being woken up. Will sat on the floor holding her to calm her down only to make her cry even harder in his arms.
Computer voice: "It is now o seven hundred hours in the morning."
Deanna Troi opened her eyes and stretched herself like a cat. "Will ~"
Riker came to her and lay down huddling her, touching her beautiful hair. With breathy voice he said. "I wish I can stretch this moment into eternity."
"Last time I check, it is still impossible to go back in NEXUS. And I've noticed that somebody had packed their bags. It seems to me that you are ready to see your father." Troi sat up and reclined on the bed, clasped her hand with his. "Let's go to meet him."
March 08, 2381 Alaska Earth
They rematerialized on the plain where the grass could be merely seen, and there was still frost dangling from the tip of the grass and on the hard frosted dirt ground. Deanna Troi inhaled a sip of the cold fresh air enjoyably she asked "This is where you grew up? It's beautiful!" Then she shivered with chill. "And it's really cold." She said as she wrapped her arms to get warm.
Riker held Troi with one hand the other holding the luggage. He rubbed her arm to create a little heat. "I forgot how short the winter is in Betazed, come on, our house is not far away."
So, they walked holding each other very tight, Riker was feeling fine, being brought up in this environment had given him the ability to withstand even lower temperature. On the other hand, Deanna was shaking the whole time. They walk past a frozen lake. Riker pointed over, "My father used to teach me how to fish in that lake. And I loved swimming in it on summer, as if I can spend a whole day in there." "I never thought that tree would still be there for this many years, I used to climb atop it at night and dream about being among the stars." Riker walked fast with Deanna but still had the time to be nostalgic.
Deanna smirked: "And now, it is your job to adventure through the stars."
"To be honest, I never thought the trip would be so dangerous and rewording the same time."
Troi felt the extraordinarily joy in her husband when he talked about space: "You certainly love exploring in space, don't you?"
Not far from them, stood an old cabin in front of it was an old man, old, but sill in shape and looking very strong. He was chopping woods. Riker shouted out to him: "Hey! Dad!"
He turned around and put down the axe and shouted back: "Welcome home son!"
Troi felt the light mood in both the father and the son. She waved at old Riker and looked at Will with pleasure: "He looks good!"
What a relief. Will smile and walked to the house with Deanna tightly holding in his arm.
Kyle stepped up and gave each of his children a hug. Then he picked up some firewood and shepherded the couple into the house. He stepped into the house and shook off the frost on his shoulders, and he found that his son is tapping some frost out of Deanna's hair. Too good for an old man's eyes he thought, so he watched them finished tapping off whatever was on their hair or shoulder, with admiration.
Troi noticed that they were being 'watched', with some embarrassing, she felt like a high school kid with her boyfriend caught by his parent. With red face from both the cold air and embarrassment, she said: "Hi, Kyle, nice to see you again!"
Kyle looked at the couple with amiable eyes: "It is so nice to have you both here!" He gestured them to sit on the coach, and he continued: "I know it must have you feel odd for me to ask you to come home, but when I thought that I lost you both in that battle to the Borg, I just could not breath. I am just so happy to see you both safe and well!" And he noticed: "Deanna, are you…" his eyes fixed on her belly.
"Yes, Kyle, we are expecting a baby." Deanna told him.
Kyle was shocked and overjoyed the same time, he just looked at Deanna out of words.
Deanna Troi was, of course, still shivering because of the weather. Will Riker held Deanna closer and asked his father for a blanket.
Kyle got some blankets and handed to Will, smiling and said: "When my wife was with William, she felt hot all the time, and I had to set the thermostat lower and I had to wear extra clothes in the house, ha…ha…ha, I still remember the look on her face…" and then a sadness feeling overtook the joy in him: "My Betty was too young when she left, she never had the chance to see her boy grow up to be such a fine man."
Will Riker was shocked at his father's word: "How come you never talk to me about this?"
"I was so hurt to talk about it to anyone, and you were too young to understand." He continued: "When I thought I would loss you to the borg, I just can't shut all the feelings out again." The old man's eyes went wet, but he held back the tears in front of his children: "So, I'll let you two walk around the house, I have a meeting this afternoon, I'd better get ready for it." He walked on the stairs heading his room, and turned to them: "Oh, I forgot, I had brunch not long ago, you two can have some lunch using the replicator, make yourself at home."
Will protested: "This is my home, dad!"
The old man made a face to Riker and walked away.
Will turned to Deanna: "Well, this is him, and I bet no more than two days, he will have me do all the house works for him, just like I was ten."
Deanna wrapped in a huge blanket, sitting on the coach looking at Will, said: "He is a funny old man, I finally know where you get your humor from."
Will shrugged and said: "Not from him I hope."
The couple went into William Riker's old bed room, all the furniture were extremely well preserved.
Wooden floor like the rest of the house, a window that can see the sky from his stainless-steel bed, pictures of William Riker when he was a boy, and some graffiti carved on the wooden wall. Deanna tried to read them, I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom, from me and you… what a … world.
"It an old song I used to listen every day, I used to dream that I can life in a world like that." Riker told Deanna: "computer, play what a wonderful world."
Deanna looked into Riker's eyes with love, as if she could see the little William Riker walked around this room singing the song, and learnt to play trombone. Although she felt warm inside her heart, the temperature was till too low for a Betazoid. She cocooned herself with the blanket and shivered. Riker was holding Troi's shoulder the whole time and he started to concerned if she caught a cold. So, he led her to his bed and put another blanket on her, and told the computer to raised the temperature to 25 degree Celsius. Computer's voice: "Unable to comply."
Startled both of them, Riker said: "Computer, run a level two diagnostic on the thermostat." "Unable to comply." Puzzle run from each other. Riker shouted: "Dad! What' wrong with the computer?"
Kyle popped his head from his room upstairs: "What? Nothing is wrong with the computer!"
"Then why is the thermostat not working?" Will shouted louder
"Because the thermostat isn't part of the computer calculation, it is embedded on the wall! Don't you remember?" As if for a competition of loud voices, Kyle yelled out even harder.
Will shrugged and told Deanna with his lips: "It' been nearly thirty years."
Deanna did the same with extra dramatic expression: "I know."
Will finally located the thermostat, which read 13,and set it on 25, not for long, it dropped back to 18. Deanna walked closer to Will: "I think I can cope with that." And she patted him on the shoulder.
They continued going over Will's old belongings. They even found the little star ship model Will built when he was six. "Very impressive, Will" Deanna flirted with him. Kyle could hear their laughter down stair from time to time. Youth, he thought, how pressures.
Dinner time. Kyle made them pizza by hand, with some homegrown vegetable and replicated meat. He introduced the pizza to Deanna as the favorite of the young William Riker "He used to beg me to make him pizza for breakfast, but who would have pizza for breakfast?" "Don't flatter yourself, dad!"
That night, Deanna and Will snuggled together on Will's little old bed, going over an ancient photo album, and talking. She covered herself with a fuzzy blanket cuddling a pillow, using her husband as a couch, while Will showed her the album. Deanna looked at all those photos and learnt the long and interesting history about his family: "The cowboy spirits certainly run in the family." She joked.
…
About an hour later, Deanna was so tired that her conscious drifted between dreams and reality. Riker closed the album and helped Deanna lie down on the bed. He turned out the light manually and cuddled Deanna into sleep.
"We are the borg, surrender your vessel and prepare to be assimilated, resistance is futile." Deanna struggled to run away, but there was no where to go, "Annika! Annika!" "Mommy!" "Where is my son, did you see him." "Your logic is foal." Million voices poured into her ears; million souls cried out for help; million drones lost their orientation. Deanna tried to cover her ears, but she was restrained on a cold bed and her body out of control. Drilling sound near her head is coming closer and louder. "NO!" she screamed out as she perked up from the bad, gulping in air. "Deanna, are you alright?" Will sat up and checked on her: "You were screaming." Tears poured out her eyes, but she didn't even wince a little. Fear had taken control. She sat on the bed looking numb, she could not feel any part of her body. Numbness spread over her body. Tears rolled down and wet the blanket. If not for the tears, Will would assume that she was stun. "Hey, imzadi, it's me." Will kept trying. And he embraced her with his broad shoulders. Gradually she could feel her toes and then fingers and legs and arms. At last, she felt her baby and her husband. And the smell of soap. She started sobbing, with her head deep into Will's chest. "Having a bad dream?" Will asked.
"Yes."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No…Yea… no."
Will looked her in the eyes under the shimmering starlight. He gently caressed her hair and touched her face: "My god! Deanna! You're ice cold!"
"Yeah, I guess."
Will held her hands and tried to warm them up: "Do you need anything? Hot chocolate maybe?"
"No, I think a glass of milk will do."
Will turned on the lights, and walked to the replicator and returned with a glass of warm milk. Deanna smiled and took it. After taking a sip of the milk, she felt a little warm up. How the hell did this happen? She thought. Riker sat in the bed and rubbed her shoulder: "Feeling a little better?"
"Yes, thank you." She gave him an assuring smile, and said: "I was haunted by the Borg."
Riker looked at her with sympathetic eyes: "I hoped I could be there for you. Is this because of your unstable psionic barrier?"
"Could be, and with this baby growing inside," She looked down and touched her stomach. "I am afraid the barrier is getting even more unstable." Then she looked at Will's concerned eyes and smiled "It's alright, I'll be fine, really" she kissed him again.
They decided to went on to sleep. Deanna curled up like a fetus with Will's arm protectively around her. No more bad dreams, I hope.
The following days, Kyle was working during the day while the couple spent most of their time reading the book collection in the study room. Real books! At night after dinner, Kyle told stories about little William Riker. It was not until then, did Will realized how important he means to his father and how struggling it is for his father to keep on his life after they lost her mother. All in all, this family trip is a real family reunion for both the father and the son.
They stayed in the Riker's old house for a week, then they went back to Titan.
March, 2831
Riker and Troi beamed up back to Titan, their vacation had ended with joy and love. They were ready to meet more challenges in there life.
As the repair went on track, Riker had more personal time to spend, he began to practice new songs when he is off duty, but what he wanted most is to spend more time with his wife. Deanna, on the other hand, was more then busy. With Huilan off the ship, she and Haaj had to take extra time in the office, sometimes she didn't even have the time to have lunch. More then once, Will had to brought food to her office and urged her to eat, and more then once, she was so occupied by the work on hand that she didn't even noticed what she was eating. But her body protested for her eating manner, which led to several episodes of serious vomiting.
With her belly growing larger every day, she had to give up her standard uniform and change to a loose maternity dress.
In the mean time, the extra working hours was giving her more pressure then ever. She kept being professional in her office, but she was found weeping in the shower or on bed. One night, Will was reading when Deanna was taking a sonic shower, he heard her sobbing in the bath room. He found her squatting on the floor, her head against the wall. Will came in the bathroom with a towel, and he dry her body and led her into her rope. Held tightly in his arm, she finally calm down and regain her balance of mind.
March 29, 2381 USS Titan
Deanna seemed to forget her own birthday. In the morning, she woke up at seven and prepared herself for work. She replicated some random food and grabbed a few bites. Will spent the night on meeting with Admiral Hayes and didn't wake up until she finished her 'breakfast'. Without too much words for Will, she simply gave him a hug and a goodbye kiss, leaving Will with puzzled look and the "happy birthday" he didn't have the chance to say.
For Deanna, it was just another day in the office, group therapy sessions at eight hundred hours and ten hundred hours, some personnel file study, evaluations of the crew, personal therapy sessions every hour in the afternoon. Although Haaj and Deanna had been working for more then they usually did, the crew still need a lot more therapy then they could ever imagine.
After working for ten hours straight, Deanna finished the last therapy session with an ensign who lost the whole team to the Borg in an away mission. She said her goodbye at the office door. Due to the extra work and the extra demand from the baby, she felt exhausted both mentally and physically. She returned to her office. Glanced at the couch. She found a blanket and went straight there and lay down flat with one hand on her belly the other cuddling the blanket. She didn't want to talk and she didn't want to sense. She didn't want any sentience being around. I wish I could sleep here for ever. She couldn't fall asleep with so many thoughts in her mind, but she was content to just lying there without doing anything.
Twenty hundred, Riker was off duty. He went back to his quarters, no sign of the birthday girl at all. "Computer, locate counselor Deanna Troi" computer voice: "Counselor Deanna Troi is in her office." "is she alone?" "Positive"Riker opened the drawer and picked up a little box.
Deanna noticed the presence of Will before the door chime sounded. She was still lying on the couch, "come in Will." Will walked into her office, and the door shut behind him, with the mysteries box behind his back, he asked with a light mood "Hay, imzadi, what are you doing." "I am doing nothing." Slowly and awkwardly, she sat up on the couch cuddling the blanket. "It is a tiring day." She sad with a bittersweet smile. "I thought that I needed a little reboot time for myself."
"So, you were rebooting yourself?" Riker smirked and Deanna felt a little expectation in him.
"Do you have anything to talk to me about?" she smiled with flirting eyes.
Riker took out the box from his back. "Happy birthday! Imzadi!"
"Oh my god! I forgot!"
"Open it, birthday girl!"
"Is this… real…" she looked at Will with stars in her eyes. "CHOCOLATE!"
"As real as this ship" He gave her a bear hug and sat on the couch, with Deanna on his laps
"Where did you get them?"
"Last time we beam down earth, I went to the candy shop I used to be fascinated about, and made it under a teacher's watch."
"But we were together basically the whole time."
"I sneaked out in the morning when you were asleep." Will said with a proud face as if he was a cat who successfully caught a fish in the pond.
Deanna took a little piece in the box, "This is the best chocolate I have ever tasted in my life! Thank you Will, you just heal my heart!" Deanna smile with tears rolled down her face. After days of emotional overloading, she lash out the pressure and lower down the barrier all together
"You've been working for so much extra hours these days, I barely had the time to see you during the day, I wonder if I can do anything at all, to help you, especially you are with child now, I know that you have a lot of work these days, but I don't want you to work yourself out too much." Riker cuddle her in his arms.
Deanna was sobbing in the arms of her beloved one. It was hard enough to do her work after these much disaster, not to mention her unstable psionic shield was making it even harder to be subjective in her job. She was hanging on like the rest of the crew, yet she needed to heal those broken hearts.
Riker waited until her crying subsided, holding her in his arms and giving her supports silently. Then he went on, "The rest of the crew will report for duty and reassemble for departure in a week, with Dr. Huilan back on board, it could make it easier for your work, and I really want you to go easy on it."
Deanna snuffled and put a smile on her face, "I will go easy on it, I promise."
They went back to their quarters just in time as computer voice sounded: "A transmission from Betazed to counselor Deanna Troi"
Good, Deanna thought, I was about to call my mother.
"Hello! Little one!" Her mothers face on the screen vividly greeting her daughter and son in law.
"Hello Lwaxana!" Will went on first to greet her.
"Hello mother, how have you been? And how is my little brother?" She randomly picked up a pillow and press it softly against her stomach No, I don't think I am ready told my mother yet.
"We are perfectly fine, and I think, from what I can tell, your little one is fine too." Lwaxana smiled warmly as usual. "Don't try to hide it from me, little one, mother always knows."
"Mother!" as if for protest, Deanna grimed. And held the pillow tighter
"Come on, little one, show me."
Deanna looked at the screen and then at her husband. Will gave her a encouraging look.
"Fine." She put aside the pillow, shaking her head.
"Little one, I am so happy for you!"
Deanna looked down at her belly and touched it, she looked at Will and smiled. Will smiled back and they saw her little brother running to the screen, "Deanna! I am having a nephew!" "Actually, it's a niece." Deanna corrected him. "Even better!" her brother jumped with excitement.
Lwaxana went on and told the couple the stories Deanna had heard a thousand times when she was a child, about her pregnancy with Deanna; all the bitterness and the sweetness to become parents. Everything Will needed or might not need to know, blah…blah…blah.
And just before she ended the conversation, Lwaxana yelled out "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LITTLE ONE."
April 1, 2381 USS Titan
After another tiring day, Will and Deanna were about to head to the mess hall for dinner, they held hands walking on the corridor, suddenly, Deanna stopped. Last second, she was talking to Will, smiling, the next, she stood there, frozen. She felt a little tremor on her lower abdomen. She put a hand on it, and she felt it again. Will was pulled back by Deanna, "What was it? Deanna?" through their bond, he felt her curiosity.
"Well, the baby… I think the baby is moving." She looked up at his eyes, surprised.
Will's eyes widen, he put his hand on her belly, a strong kick. They giggled like kids with their new toys. The new rotated crewmen were smiling passing by.
April 2, 2381 USS Titan
Riker was in his ready room when Tuvok reported for duty, "Captain, you wish to see me?"
"Yes," Riker stood up from his seat, "have a seat over here." He motioned Tuvok to sit on the couch.
"Thank you, captain, but I prefer to stand."
"So, how is T'Pel." Riker stood beside the brown skin Vulcan.
"She is fine and she had reported for duty in sick bay."
"How are you?"
"I still ache for the loss of my son, but I am capable of fulfilling my duty."
"Good, but I want you to see a counselor regularly, ok?
"I doubt it would do me any good."
Riker tilted his head and smile. "I don't want to make it an order Mr. Tuvok."
"Than I will do as suggested."
Over lunch, Riker told Deanna that Tuvok had reported for duty and he expressed his concerned for Tuvok.
Deanna put down the utensils on the plate, "I was just talking about this with Dr. Haaj, we agree to let Tuvok choose one of us instead of assign him to either one. But I really want to help him myself."
"He has been a dear friend to both of us since he came aboard a year ago. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."
Deanna smiled and kissed him on the face, "Aye sir." She finished up lunch and gave Will a good bye kiss and left for her office.
She finished three counseling session in the afternoon, just as she thought she could be off duty and go back to her quarters to be with her imzadi, the door chime sounded, "Come in."
It was Tuvok. He stood there with his usual poker face. "The captain suggested me to seek for counseling session, and I wish to have it with you, should you not want to do it, I will find Dr. Haaj instead, but however, counselor Troi, you are my first option."
Deanna stood on her feet, "It is my pleasure to work with you, when are you available? I will schedule a time for you." She picked up the padd and ready to take notes.
"I…I got plenty of free time for now, with the Titan still in the station, I do not have too many assignments."
"Well, then, see you tomorrow at sixteen hundred hours." Deanna said with her warm counselor's smile.
April 14, 2381 USS Titan
For the last an hour, Deanna had been trying to removed her self's feeling from Tuvok about the loss of his youngest son, Deanna and Will had lost their first child less then half a year ago, and her heart was till aching. During the whole session, she had put her hand on her now pretty rounded belly, feeling her daughter's kicking and rolling around, trying to remind herself that her child is safe now. She could feel the hole in Tuvok's heart was too deep, but he was reluctant to even face it, which made it even more difficult to heal. "Tuvok, I am so sorry that you still have trouble with meditation, did you talk to Dr. Ree about this?" A sudden kick from her daughter disrupted her thought, and Deanna put her hand on her belly trying to calm down her daughter but with no avail.
"I did, although physically I have fully recovered from my disease there are till some after effect mentally."
Troi looked at her chronometer. "Well, we have to get to the briefing room." As she stood up from the couch, her eyes went black for a second and she felt a sudden dizziness.
"Are you alright counselor? You look a little pale comparing to your normal skin tone."
Steady her feet she replied "I am fine. Come, let's go."
They head to the briefing room, when they run into Christine Vale, as usual she had changed the color of her hair again, this time, it was lime green. Tuvok greeted Vale, and they talked their way to the briefing room.
As usual, Deanna sat on the left to Will. Will noticed that Deanna was very pale. He touched her hand under the table and whispered to asked if she was ok. Deanna nodded and lower her head with her hands on her laps, as if contemplating something. They waited for a while and when all the senior officers were all there, they started the briefing.
The captain started: "According to our order, we will leave the station in 5 days to the beta quadrant, along our way we will meet with some familiar friends, we will drop by and invited them to join our mission of charting the sector…"
As Will Riker go on talking, Deanna felt disorientation and she got distracted, she shook her head to regain control. Tuvok bent over, "Are you alright counselor?" Deanna took a deep breath, "yeah, I think so." Riker gave her a worried look and patted her on the shoulder, she smiled and looked at her husband, whispered to her husband, "I'm ok." But then she had difficulties focus on the briefing.
Riker finished his statement of the order from Starfleet. "And now, tell us about the ship, first of all Commander Vale, any changes in the personnel list?"
Christine Vale began: "Most of the member…"
Deanna tried really hard to listen to commander Vale. And Riker had been keeping an eye on her.
"…And officer Fo Hachesa will not be joining us anymore. And that's all."
Riker went on: "Thank you commander Vale, counselor Troi, do you have anything to report?"
Deanna's eyes got blurry and she didn't heard what the captain had been saying.
"Deanna?"
Everything faded out around her. She was enveloped by a black box in an instant.
"Deanna!" As she lost conscious Riker caught her in his arms just in time before she fell from her chair. "I got you imzadi" Will squatted down with Deanna in his arm. The other officer hovered around them as Ree run to them pulling out a medical tricorder.
"Ree to sickbay, we have a medical emergency in the briefing room."
Two medics showed up with an antigravity cart a minute later.
Deanna found herself lying on a bed, she could smell the sterilizer and the medicine. Her head was still ringing, and she knew that she was naked except for the blanket on her. The blanket… why is the damn blanket so heavy that I could barely move. Why am I here? What the hell happened? I am so cold; I want more blankets. The briefing room! And what happened? No! Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself in sickbay. She still looked very pale, and her lips were creaked and without color. Will was by her side, holding her ice-cold hand.
She put her free hand on her stomach and trying to get up, "The baby…"
Riker held her back gently: "Easy, imzadi."
"What happened?" she lay back down slowly.
Doctor Ree showed his head and flipped shut his tricorder, "Calm done, counselor. You fainted, due to your low blood pressure, anemia and very low blood sugar. I gave you a glucose hypo, it should help you feel batter. Your baby is fine and you can return to your quarters when your vitals are stable enough. I know how much you hate to be confined to sickbay. But I do recommend you to take some time on your bed." He turned to Riker: "She is all yours".
"Will, can you help me up." Riker helped her up and put his jacket over Deanna, helping her reclined on the bio-bed's head board. Nurse Ogawa came up with a glass of water and handed it to Deanna. She nodded her head murmuring "Thank you." Ogawa smiled and walked away.
Deanna held the glass with her shaking hands, made an effort to take a sip and then put it down on the counter. She felt her belly with her hand. No movement. She closed her eyes trying to feel the baby. Foggy. Will felt her panic and squeezed her hand gently, "Are you alright? Do you want to lie back down?"
"The baby, I…I can't feel her." Tears rolled down her face. She could not control the fear, the desperation, the feeling of loss deep inside her heart. "No!" she cried out, her palms cover her face, weeping. Will rubbed her back trying to calm her down.
Ree came up, "Counselor, you need to calm down. Your baby is fine, her vitals are pretty stable, but I can not say the same thing with yours. Your blood pressure is still low, and there is not enough improvement to your hypoglycemia."
"Perhaps if you can show her the baby, she will be less worried, doctor." Will rubbing her back with eyes fixed on Deanna.
"Ah, well, I can help with that." Ree turned on the monitor above the bio-bed and take out his tricorder. Waving the rod above her abdomen, the monitor showed them their baby in her womb consuming the fluid and sucking her fingers. Ree smile at Deanna, "See, there she is."
Will was at awe with her baby girl, he smiled back to Ree. Deanna lowered her palms to her heart and looked up at the monitor, with tears still streaming down her face. Will stroked her face and wiped her tears. He huddled her and whisper in her ear. "It is ok, Deanna, it is ok now."
"Will…" Deanna's voice trembled, "I was so scared." She put her hands round his neck, with her head buried in his chest.
"It is ok now imzadi, take some rest" Riker held her tighter, and kissed her on the forehead.
Deanna seemed to calmed down a little. Ree gave Will a satisfying look whispering to her "Keep at it, captain, it is working" and he walk away.
Will put Deanna down on her side facing himself. He stroked her face with affection and watched as she relaxed herself and closed her eyes to preserved her energy.
Latter that night, Deanna was released from sickbay, Will helped Deanna dress up again and ease her to her feet. As she put her weight on her feet, she felt light headed and stumbled. Will steady her torso, and wrap his arm under her armpit around her waist supporting most of her weight, inching back to their quarters. They went into their quarters and sat on their bed. Deanna was still shaking from the fear she could not control. Will had to held her very tight to prevent her from hyperventilation. She never felt so out of control of her emotion before, but it was a good thing that Will was there all the time.
The following two days, she had to cancel all her appointments and rest on bed, she finally regained control of her psionic shield from Betazed meditation.
April 29, 2381 USS Titan
Deanna went to sick bay for her regular physical check up, then she learnt the news that the baby is growing faster and will come early. She was shocked of course, but it also explained the usual fatigue she was having. Her belly was really big already. Every night before they went to sleep, she and Will would have the computer play jazz music and Deanna could feel the comforting mood from Will and the baby.
At the mean time, Titan was on her way to the Beta quadrant. And they are meeting a species they had made first contact few months ago.
"Riker to Troi"
"Troi here."
"Deanna, when you are released from sickbay, we need you on the bridge."
"I'm on my way, captain."
She went in the bridge with one hand on her baby. As she went in, Will and Christine all rose to their feet. Riker asked her: "Deanna, we will enter the orbit of Chir'vaji's home world, last time we made a pretty pleasant first contact with them, and this time, we want their help in charting the sector."
"And you want a diplomatic officer down there to talk to them?" Deanna helped Riker finished the rest of his word.
"Do you want to go down there?" Christine stepped up and ask, "Or maybe I can go instead, with your help from the bridge, of course."
Deanna looked at both of them, and then she thought for a moment when she unconsciously covered her belly protectively. And she said, "I think I'll remain on the bridge." She obviously didn't look happy with the decision and she sat down on her chair next to the captain's. Vale and Riker sat down and looked at Troi, but she just sat there quietly avoiding eye contact.
"ETA ensign Lavena?"
"We will enter orbit in an hour an we are within communication rage."
"Hail them" Riker rose from his chair.
"Hel low cap tan RRIker." A Chir'vaji scientist showed up on screen. Lia Malady played an important part in their first contact and developed a fast friendship with Deanna Troi. The Chir'vaji scientist was very intelligent and open minded, more importantly, like the rest of the Chir'vaji, very kind.
"Greetings Dr. Malady, is the universal translator down again?" Riker said with his usual charming smile.
"No, no, no cap tan, I have been plactsing your language." The scientist said, with gentle manner. "O vi se ley I need more plactsing." And she turned on the universal translator. "So, captain, I've been informed by our minister that you will be working with us to chart this region. I am more then happy to help, now, can I work with Deanna again?"
Troi stood up from her chair with a little difficulty and she walked front near Riker. She put on her diplomatic smile and said: "I am sorry, Lia, I'm afraid I have to be on board the ship, I am not in a condition to go for an away mission."
Lia Malady nearly scream with joy over the screen, she called up the scientists near her and told them: "Hey! Guys! Our friends are going to be parents!" As she said, a flock of Chir'vaji scientists gather on the other side of the screen, and they yelled out happily: "CONGRATULATIONS!" Lia continued: "I will be waiting here for your arrival. Lia out… ouch"
Riker turn to Troi: "Did she just fell over from her chair?"
Troi chuckled, "I think so."
Riker continued as he ushered her back to her seat, "Are you sure you don't want to do down there?"
Deanna put on a bitter sweet smile, "No, Will, I don't think I'm going."
Nineteen hundred hours Riker-Troi's Quarters
"So, I heard from doctor Ree, is the baby really growing that fast?" Riker took a mouthful fish and looked at Deanna surprisingly.
"He did say that, and he prescribed me with this." Deanna picked up a padd and handed to Riker. "He seems to overestimate my appetite." She made a funny face imitating Dr. Ree. "You will need the extra food and fluid to balance the increasing growing rate of your daughter."
"I could see his face in front of me right now." Riker took a sip of the jasmine tea, and looked at the padd, "wow, did he really ask you to drink that much fluid a day?"
"Yes, he did. If I could only keep down what I eat now without vomiting, I would consider his prescription, but right now, I will just eat whatever my body intends to keep." Deanna sighed and picked at the food and tried to hold back the urge to through up. She decided to slow down the eating process to take in more food, but it hardly worked.
Will finished his meal and put his plates back into the replicator, then he sat beside Deanna and read his padd.
"Chris told me they will start charting the area tomorrow. The scientists will remain on surface when the engineer take readings in shuttlecraft. She will be on surface the whole day, and wanted to know if there is anything she should know to 'deal' with them."
"Well, they are pretty nice people actually, I wouldn't worry to much if I were you, and they talk pretty frankly so she doesn't have to be walking on eggshells with them. They will tell you what they want. And I think Chris can use some diplomatic practice." Deanna continued picking at her food. "In case she gets cold feet, I will be on the bridge whenever she is down there."
"What about the counseling sessions?" Riker asked.
"I don't take group therapy anymore, Huilan had taken over, so I can spend more time on the bridge." Deanna turned to Will with a flirting smile and touched his neck. Will looked at her pretended to be shocked, NEVER get tired of this kind of flirting game from Deanna.
April 30, 2381
Three hundred hours, Riker-Troi's quarters
It is extremely weird for a Betazoid to have insomnia, but as she is half human, it seems not so abnormal. Deanna stared at the bulk head, after trying every forms of meditation she can recall, she gave up and decided to spend the night awake. She got up, and walked to the window admiring the view of the Chir'vaji homeworld from up above the space. Someone is talking in the dark. A surge of heave rose from her stomach. She hurried to the toilet and vomited. Dizziness struck her by surprise. I guess I'd better try to get some rest anyway. She got back to bed and Riker turned around and hug her in his dream. At least one of us can sleep. She let Will hold her and closed her eyes to rest, but still, she felt pretty restless.
Seven in the morning, they woke up, or, accurately, Will woke up and Deanna got up from the bed. "Deanna, you look like hell!" "Thanks, Will. I am sure I look good for a person who was up all night. Something about this system, it just doesn't feel right." "Did you sense anything unusual?" "Maybe, I am not sure."
On the bridge, Riker and Troi took their usual seat. Vale was down on the surface and Tuvok and working behind the tactic console, monitoring the charting process.
"Sensors are picking up energy fluctuation, origin unknown." The Vulcan said without looking up from the console. "And the fluctuation is gone." Riker stood up and look at the view screen.
Christine Vale reported from the surface: "Station picked up the same fluctuation."
Riker turn to Deanna, "Counselor, do you sense anything?"
She awkwardly stood up using the chair as support, "I am not sure, captain, something, or someone was definitely out there. I think I felt something coincide with the fluctuation, but now it's gone."
They finished their first day's charting work. Without any other abnormal situation.
Riker and Troi went to the mess hall to have dinner. They saw Christine Vale sitting alone on a table, so they served themselves some food and went to join her. Christine stared at her pancake silently, with fingers playing her green hair. Riker took the seat opposite Vale and Troi sat next to her, "Penny for your thought." Christine turned to look at Troi, wanting to say something but she swallowed the words back. Troi sensed the curiosity from Christine, her eyes fixed on her round belly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to stare at you that way." Chris flushed.
"It's ok, here." Deanna picked up Christine's hand and put it on her stomach. Smiling, "She is resting at the moment, but when I was doing counseling sessions or when I walked around the ship, she would kick me like kicking a sandbag." Troi told Christine with a warm smile.
Christine can almost see the radiation of some angelic light from Troi with her bare eyes. "What is it feel like to have a life within you?"
Riker leaned forward, obviously shared the same interest to the answer of the question.
Deanna glanced at both of them, certainly felt their expectation. Her face flushed a little, "Well… it is…magical." She sighed and put her hand on her stomach. "And it could be difficult and scary…When I was first pregnant with Ian, the alien entity, decades ago, there was no discomfort of any kind, and it was a rapid and fluent experiment, I could feel his emotion all the time, and the delivery was without any pain. But it was in the control of the entity the whole time. Unlike this one." She felt sudden sadness from both of her companion. "Although I know logically that she has a big chance to live to term, and we can have a girl in our life, but emotionally, I couldn't be more scared that she would have the same faith as our last unborn child. The conflict between logic and emotion is companied by a great deal of physical discomfort."
Christine looked at Deanna with unbelievable look. "I couldn't tell from your face."
Deanna felt the admiration from Christine, she smiled and continued. "It is nothing, really, despite all the discomfort, I am happy to have a girl growing in me and depending on me…it is…an intriguing experience."
Riker asked Christine with smile, "Are you considering having a child yourself? Or you're being affected by our Chir'vaji friends?"
Vale leaned foreword, "It's just the way they value parenthood, it's like the most glorious and beautiful thing in the universe."
Riker and Deanna looked at each other and smiled.
"Our friend did bombard you with their idea of parenthood, didn't they? The thing is," Deanna took a deep breath and continued, "You have to find out what you want in your life, I mean, having children is not an easy thing and requires tons of commitment and responsibility." She held Will's hand, "And your life would never be the same."
Christine contemplated the counselor's suggestion seriously and said. "Well, I know I certainly don't want any kid in the near future."
An entity flew though the mess hall hovering above their head for a f seconds. Christine almost jumped to her feet when suddenly the entity disappeared.
Tears rolled down from Deanna's eyes.
Riker held Deanna's hand. "Are you alright imzadi?"
"It's alright Will, it's Ian, he said he was sorry to caused me pain, He didn't know it would do such harm to my body." Deanna said with her eyes moist.
Riker gave Deanna a bear hug, out of words, he realized now, in his life, Deanna and the baby are the most important things and he would not change it for the universe.
Later that day, Tuvok confirmed that Ian was the origin of the energy fluctuation.
They finished there charting mission and left to the next unknown realm.
May 18, 2381 USS Titan
Deanna Troi entered her quarters and was greeted by Will's warm smile; her huge abdomen had been giving her difficulties in many movements but she managed to reached to Will and gave him a kiss on the face. She had just finished working with ensign Doug, who lost her brother to dominion war and her twin sister to the Borg. It was 1900, one hour late for dinner, but she had no appetite for anything. However, her ashen face indicated her poor blood sugar. "Deanna, are you alright?" Will asked as he held her shoulders and pulled her out of the hug. Suddenly, she felt sting on her abdomen. "Ouch." She let out her voice unconsciously and grabbed her belly.
"Wow wow wow, Deanna are you ok?" Will grabbed around her tighter on the shoulders and guided her into the living room.
He quickly eased her to a chair and hovered his hand over hers on her stomach, his voice gentle but his expression gave away his concern, he asked: "Deanna, do you need to go to sickbay?"
"No, Will, just a strong kick. I think I will be fine with some resting." Deanna replied with a weary smile.
"Let me get you something to eat, ok? Anything you want particular?"
"Not really." She rubbed her stomach to eased the pain.
Will came back towards Deanna with some food on a tray; he knew that Deanna could only eat salad without throwing up these days, so he prepared some fruit and a little piece of toast. Deanna took over the tray with thankful smile and put it on the chair arm. Will took the chair near Deanna to supervise her and make sure she ate at list a bit of the food.
But the sting turned into pain, she could hardly eat anything and the pain grew stronger. She kept wincing and massaging her stomach. "Will…I …I think the baby…" she couldn't complete the sentence.
Will was certain that his wife was in labor, so he put the food away and tabbed his combadge, "Riker to sickbay."
"Sick bay, Ree here, can I help you captain?"
"I think Deanna is in labor, but shouldn't we have at lest another two months?" Riker said with grateful concern in his voice. And on the background, Deanna was groaning.
"Calm down, captain, now, put her on bed, I'll be there in a minute. Ree out."
Gently Will grabbed Deanna's arm with one hand, and held her knees with the other. He scooped her up and eased her on their bed. He put a blanket on her as she curled up on the bed. He bent down and reached to her face whispering to her, "Imzadi, hold on, Dr. Ree is on his way here."
Deanna couldn't hold back the tears of fear, "Will, it's too soon, the baby won't survive."
He didn't know what he could say to make her feel better, all he could do was just caressing her face and put a small strand of hair back from her face.
The door chime sounded and Will let Ree in.
The doctor scanned Deanna and the baby with his medical tricorder and put his hand on Deanna's abdomen to feel the baby several times between each reading. The frowning face eased to smile, "You are going to have a healthy baby girl, in about two months. Even they feel like contractions, those are Braxton hicks' contractions you are having, my counselor. Just lie back and relax and it will subside."
Will was relieved by the doctor's diagnosis but still, his heart ached to see Deanna still in pain. "Doctor, any idea why this happened?" He asked the doctor with his hand still touching Deanna's face.
Ree gestured Will aside and told him "It could caused by long hours of working." The doctor said as he snapped of the medical tricorder. "Or, it could also be dehydration. You can start with giving her a glass of warm milk or water, and try to lie down and relax, if the pain doesn't go away, you can still try to put her in hot tub for twenty minutes or so. If the pain intensifies, I can give you something for the pain, but from what I can tell, the baby is fine and will not be here in short time. My guess the pain is caused more likely by psychological factor then physical ones. However, Deanna's blood sugar is very low, captain, you need to have her at lest eat something anything will do. And if she past out again, page me immediately"
Ree left their quarters after he told the captain everything that he knew about Braxton hicks' contractions.
Will went to the replicator and got a glass of warm milk and a chocolate nuts bar to Deanna. Will sat by the bed and help Deanna recline on the pillow behind her. She was pale and her hands were shaking when she took over the glass. She took a sip of the milk and took a bit on the chocolate bar. She gently stroked her belly to ease the cramp away. Ten minutes later, her ashen face finally started to pink up a bit. Will held her shoulders, "Tough day huh?"
Deanna wiped the tears from her face, and looked into Will's eyes, "Yes." She leaned towards Will reaching out her arms. Will hugged her tightly in his arm, and as his body press against their daughter, he got a gentle kick from her.
"I wish I can help you with your burden, Deanna." He held her face as he pulled away from her.
"You already did, Will, I love you." Tears still streaming down her face, but Will knew it from their bond that she felt better now, emotionally and physically. Will sat on the bed. Deanna rested in his arm. They enjoy each others silent company for a while.
"Do you want some jazz music?" Deanna sat up from Will's cradle, "I kind of miss that song you carved on your bedroom wall."
Will smile, "I am happy to use some music now. Computer, play what a wonderful world, by Louis Armstrong."
I see trees of green. Red rosses too, I see them bloom from me and you, and I think to myself, what a wonderful world…*
Deanna eased back into Will's strong arm, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the music. SOOTHING! I LIKE IT! Came an unfamiliar wave of emotion. She opened her eyes and looked at Will, no, it was not from him. She put a hand on her belly. Will could sense her amazement flew through their bond. "Imzadi?" he looked back at her.
"She thinks this music soothing, and… she …she likes it!" Deanna's eyes widened.
Will put his hand above her womb, they were both at awe how their daughter enjoys his father's childhood favorite song. "She certainly is her father's daughter!" Deanna smiled fondly.
When Deanna was well enough to sit on the bed without snuggled into Will's arm, he picked up the trombone and played. Their daughter was quite amused by jazz music. Deanna could feel their daughter's enjoyment blew like warm breeze in her stomach and the feeling flew through the bond between she and Will.
"Do you think she will become a jazz musician when she grows up?" Deanna shifted her position on the bed, and put both her hands on her belly.
Will put down the trombone and sat by Deanna, "If she does, I certainly hope she doesn't inherit her trombone skills from me."
Deanna frowned, "Don't be ridiculous, she likes your playing!"
Will pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, then on her belly. "Then I hope she can play better then me."
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