"Mom, Dad," Miral stepped around D'stil to greet her parents. There was a frown on her father's face and on her mother's, face was a secret smile. B'Elanna glanced between the couple, and she did a little dance in her head. She was happy for her daughter.
B'Elanna went and hugged her daughter. "Hello, dear." She said for the room to hear. "Finally," She whispered in Miral's ear. B'Elanna turned to her husband. "Come and greet your daughter," Tom mumbled something under breath. "Tom," B'Elanna warned him.
Tom stepped forward and hugged his daughter. He knew that his daughter was a grown woman and had feelings for men. It was he just remembers her as a little girl. The little girl who would fall asleep on him as he read a story to her or push on the swing. He looked over her shoulder at the man she choice as her mate.
D'stil stood there strong, but Tom could tell that he was uncomfortable. Tom smiled a little. Tom didn't think that D'stil wanted to meet the parents this way, even those he has known them since he was a kid. Tom was glad that he didn't have to go through this when he met B'Elanna's dad. One they were sixty light years away, second they were married by that time, and third it was a big screen. Tom let go of Miral and make his way to D'stil.
Before Tom could greet D'stil, D'stil made his way to the door. "Miral, I'll talk to later," Tom could see that he wanted to kiss her goodbye. Miral nodded.
He was almost to the door when Miral. "Oh, D'stil we will get married when I'm ready," Tom thought he heard a growl from the man. He let out a little laugh and his wife elbowed him in the stomach.
"What?" Tom asked his wife. B'Elanna shook her head.
Miral turned from the door. "Who is ready for dinner?" She smiled at her parents.
"I am," Tom said. He had a feeling that it would get weird. B'Elanna and Miral gave him a strange look. "So where are we going?" Tom headed for the door. Tom had a feeling that mother and daughter traded a look before following him.
The restaurant was loud when they got their seats. They ordered family style. Tom was wondering how long it would take B'Elanna to speak. The waiter was barely gone before she spoke. "Are you sure this is what you want?"
Miral took a drink of her wine before answering her mom. "Yes." B'Elanna opened her mouth to say something, but Miral held up her hand. "I know that Klingons mate for life. I wanted D'stil as my husband since I was seventeen."
Tom choked on his wine. "Seventeen," Miral rolled her eyes at her mom, like you deal with him. B'Elanna shook her head. "I hate when you do that," Tom said.
Miral smiled at her dad. "What?"
"Talk with each other with only looks. It's even worse when your sister is around. Xavier and I don't what to do." Miral and B'Elanna laughed. "So back to when you knew that you wanted him."
"It was the summer before my senior year…"
Miral didn't want to be here, she would rather be home, working on her Starfleet application. She had first gone to her dad about not going, but he told her that she had to talk her mom. There were fights until her mom put her foot down. Now she was here on Q'onoS and making to her way to her mom's cousin home.
They had come here every couple of years since she was seven. As they arrived, Miral saw her older cousin, Vom with a young man around his age. She looked him up and down. He looked good. He growled at Vom as Vom stopped to greet her parents. The young man looked over at her, Miral could feel his eyes looking straight inside her. She felt her insides melting. In replace was a fire that was only building. He said something to Vom before walking away.
Later that night, Miral took a seat next to Vom. He gave her a look. Over the years they had become friends, so he knew when she was up to something. "So, you know when we got here," Vom lifted one eyebrow. He knew where this was going. "Who was that guy you were with?"
Vom rolled his eyes. "D'stil of the house of Qok, my best friend," Miral could hear the warning in his voice. He wanted her to stay away from his best friend.
"Is he with someone?" She asked. Vom shook his head. "Have I met him before?"
"Yes, you beat his butt the first time you came here," Vom smiled.
"That was him. He is very cute," Miral looked away.
Vom made puking noises. "Please go and talk to some female about how cute you think he is," Miral laughed before leaving him in peace.
Miral watched D'stil whenever he was here. He would avoid her whenever he was there. When she would hang out with Vom, D'stil would find a way to leave them. Miral was getting frustrated with him. It has been two weeks and she hasn't spoken one word to him. It was getting close to them leaving and she wanted one word from him just to hear what his voice sounded like.
Miral was walking around the garden when she saw him alone by a wall. Miral took a breath before making her way over to him. "Why are you avoiding me?" She asked as she stood next to him. He turned around and looked at her with dark chocolate eyes. Miral breath got caught in her throat. He turned and away. "Why are you running away?" Miral shouted after him.
D'stil stopped and turned around. He made his way back to her. He backed her against the wall, he lifted her chin, he leaned closer. "I want you so bad that it hurts, and I can't have you, Miral Paris," Miral thought he would kiss her, but he pulled back. "Stay away, Miral," He started to walk away.
"What if I don't want to stay away?" Miral shouted after him.
He stopped and said, "I can only be your friend," He walked away before Miral could say anything. Miral leaned against the wall. She had a feeling that they were to be meant to be together. She started to plan and right now she could only be his friend, so she would be his friend.
B'Elanna smiled. "Well, I hope all your planning worked."
Miral smiled and nodded. "We'll marry when I'm ready."
Tom listened to the woman talk, but he had to wondered what D'stil was thinking about this. Tom known D'stil since he was a young boy and knew that D'stil had the making of great warrior. Tom a had a sense that D'stil had a plan for himself that didn't include Miral. Tom hoped his daughter didn't push D'stil into something that he wasn't ready for.
Later that night, Tom was enjoying a drink before bed. B'Elanna was asleep in the bedroom. She was happy that Miral was happy. Tom wondered what D'stil was thinking about all this. Tom knew that Klingons mated for life, he just wanted both parties to be happy about this or someone was going to have heartache.
A knock came on the hotel door, Tom glanced towards the bedroom to see if it woke B'Elanna. It didn't. Tom made his way to door and open it to find D'stil there. "Sir," Tom moved out of the way to let the man in. "Is Dr. Torres around?" He looked around the room.
"She's sleeping," Tom went over to the bedroom and closed the door. "What can I do for you, D'stil?" Tom held up his glass to see if D'stil wanted a glass. D'stil shook his head. He started to pace the room.
"I came to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage," D'stil stopped and looked at Tom.
Tom choked on his drink, he glanced at the door to the bedroom before answering. "You don't need my approval for you marrying my daughter."
"I know, but…" D'stil ran a hand threw his hair, Tom could feel that he wanted to scream, but with B'Elanna in the other room it was hard.
"She forced your hand." Tom finished for him.
"Yes," D'stil said. "I want to know what she is getting into marrying me. She would be here and have to quit Starfleet. I don't want her to give up her dreams for me."
Tom nodded. He understood. "My daughter is mixture of good and bad things from both my wife and me. Once she sets her mind to something, she goes all out. I think that she was tired of waiting for you to make a move."
"I wanted her to have a chance at a life that was different from what I could give her," D'stil stopped and looked at his future father-in-law.
"Miral knows what she wants, and she wants you," Tom drained his glass before setting it on an end table. "I have a question for you," Tom looked at the young man. "Do you love my daughter?"
"Yes, with everything inside of me," D'stil supplied.
"Then treasure every moment you have with her and show her how much she is loved. I almost lost that woman in there," He pointed to the bedroom door. "I was caught up in my own things to see that she was hurting until she said something. I didn't want to lose her because I knew that she was the one I wanted to see the end of the world with," Tom twisted his wedding ring. It was the same ring that B'Elanna placed on his finger twenty-six years ago when the captain married them.
"Miral told you the story of my wife and me," Tom looked like he was in different world like seventy light years away. "There were so many times that we almost lost each other even before we were a couple," A small smile play on his face. "I fell in love with a woman, who has a temper like no other," D'stil laughed. He thinks that Miral has the same temper. "I learned when to give her space and when not to. One of the happiest moments was when she said I do. So, take some advice from an old man like me. I know that Miral is like her mother and take this time with her to love her. She will learn to love you too. Get married when you both are ready. Also talk to her."
D'stil nodded and headed for the door. "Thank you," D'stil left the hotel room. Tom had a feeling that D'stil would be going to Miral's place. Tom locked the door and headed for bed. He saw that there was crack, and he thought that he had closed the door all the way. He entered the room and saw B'Elanna sleeping on her side of the bed. He shook his head, striped off his clothes, and climbed in bed. B'Elanna wrapped her arms around him.
"You are an amazing man," She whispered. Tom smiled before wrapping his arms around her.
D'stil knocked on Miral's door and waited for her to open the door. She opened the door with a smile on her face. "I didn't think that I would see you tonight," She let him in.
"Miral," He closed the door behind him. "As you know Klingons mate for life and I want to make sure that you know what you are getting into marrying me," D'stil wanted to tell her more when she put a finger on his lips.
"I know and I want you because I love you, D'stil and I want a life with you."
D'stil pulled her close. "I love you, too." He set his lips on hers.