Issues

Final Chapters

Chpater 10

Sevek and her daughter were on their way to a session with Counselor Troi-Riker, when they ran into Spock and M'ret. They had stayed aboard the Valiant so they could hitch a ride back to Vulcan.

"Sevek." M'ret greeted her. "And this must be Te'la. I've heard a lot about you and it's nice to finally meet you."

"Hello." came her tiny voice.

"Spock," M'ret said, "could you excuse us for a moment?"

"By all means." Spock agreed and left the three of them alone.

"M'ret," Sevek began, "We're on our way to meet with someone. If you would like you can walk with us while we talk."

"I'd like that." he said. Then he got to the point. "It has been suggested by Spock and Captain Riker that I should talk to you about Te'La."

"What about her?" she asked.

"Well," he started rather slowly not knowing how to say it. "You know, I have no family and seeing how you've lost your husband and you have very few family members, I thought maybe I could help you care for Te'La."

"M'ret," she started, but he interupted.

"Oh, it's not what you probably think." he said. "I'm almost as old as Spock. I figured I could be a grandfather figure to her and then she could have the best of both worlds. She would learn about her Romulan heritage and still learn about her Vulcan side."

"Really," she said, "You don't have a clue about what you're getting into. Her emotions can be very irrational and illogical at times.

"So you've told me." he reminded her, "But I don't see her any different from her father or any other Romulan for that matter. She could probably use a little guidance from her Romulan side to understand and take a little more control of those emotions that you consider irrational and illogical."

Sevek thought for a moment. She then stopped walking and turned to him to ask, "Are you sure you want to play grandpa to someone you hardly know and isn't even related to you?"

"I have worked with her mother off and on long enough to know something about her." he said, "As for being blood, well, neither of us have our Romulan relatives and we are both Romulans. Therefore, I say that makes us related enough and close to family."

"You do propose a most logical argument." she said, "But you do understand she is very emotional."

"Not unlike her Romulan side, I'm sure." he said, "Wait until she hits puberty."

"It gets worse?"

"I don't want to alarm you." he said, "She is part Vulcan, so it may not be so bad. However, even Vulcan girls do go through Ponn Farr, too, I hear. It can't be any worse, surely."

The little girl tugged at her mother's uniform. Sevek turned to her to see what she wanted. All Te'La said, with a big smile was,"I like him, mama."

"Well, Sevek, it seems she likes the idea." M'ret said, "Now all we need is your approval."

"We could try it." she finally said, "After all, some people have also pointed out to me that this maybe what she needs, that and my understanding."

"So it's agreed?" he asked.

Sevek nodded and Te'La said, "I have a grandfather!" in a very happy and excited voice and jumping up and down.

M'ret smiled at Te'La and said, "Well, I'll let you two be on your way." and then he left the two to continue on their way.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riker was currently in Ten-Forward seated at a table talking to Geordi about the feelings he had at Romulus. He could not for the life of him figure out what he had missed.

"Geordi, I was sitting in the command chair and I knew I had forgotten something about Romulan ships." he informed him. "But I could not remember what it was for the life of me. You're the expert, what did I miss?"

"It's simple really." he said. "Remember a while back I devised a way to detect cloaked Romulan ships?"

"Yeah." Riker said.

"Cloaked Romulan ships give off tachyon particles." Geordi informed him.

"That's it?" Riker said. "How could I have forgotten that?"

Geordi shrugged his shoulders and Corbett walked up to Riker and addressed him. "Captain, I wanted to thank you for what you did on our last mission."

Riker shook his head not understanding and said, "I didn't do anything special."

"Yes you did." Corbett assured him. "If it hadn't been for you I would not have known Romulans to be any different from the ones who killed my mother. I'm glad I met them.

"You see, Corbett." Riker smiled, "They're no different from anybody else."

"I do have one question." Corbett said, "Would you have really thrown me out of an air-lock?"

Geordi took this moment to jump in, "I wouldn't try and test Captain Riker, Crewman. He just might do it."

"He can't do that, can he?" Corbett asked confused and walked away talking to himself about whether or not the captain could do that.

Riker and Geordi sat there laughing. Riker said, "I remembered when I was in my early twenties."

"The higher ups played with our minds all the time." remembered Geordi.

"Yes, they did." Riker confirmed with a jovial smile.

"Now that we are the higher ups, it's our turn." Geordi smiled.

"There's one problem though." Riker informed.

"Yeah, what's that?"

"Deanna has to straighten them out, after that." Riker said with a grin.

"Well, at least she has plenty of work to do." and the two of them just laughed.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Troi's office Sevek told her about M'ret's proposal and that she agreed to it. Troi was rather glad Te'La was going to get this opportunity.

"I am glad you decided to take him up on his offer." Deanna stated. "I think it would be a good opportunity, not just for Te'La, but for all three of you."

"I just hope it is not an error in logic."

"You know, Sevek, maybe things can't be always logical." Deanna suggested. "I heard you are thinking about staying on Vulcan to work with Spock and M'ret. I don't know if that is logical or not, but Vulcan can be rather logical to other Vulcans. The question is, is it logical for everyone?"

"Counselor, the most logical answer would be, no." Sevek said. "Not all Terrans can live a life like that and on Vulcan. It can be difficult for them."

"So when does the illogical become logical and vise-versa?"

Sevek sat for a moment to think about the counselor's question. Then she responded, "I do not understand."

"Well, is it really all that logical for you to insist that Te'La act as if she were all Vulcan, when if fact she is not, just because you are Vulcan?"

"Spock is part human. He manages very well." stated Sevek.

"Yes, he is part human, but I have seen emotion in him creep up from time to time." Deanna said. "He would never admit it of course, but ask him how he feels and he will reply with a most human statement. This is because his mother was there to teach him about his human side. Romulans just express themselves more strongly than most humans. Logical or not, Te'La does have feelings and you need to learn how to acknowledge them."

"But what about the children who make fun of her at school?" Sevek asked. "You know she doesn't want to go because of it."

"I think, the more people she has around her, that accept her for who she is, will help her enough to be able to deal with children who do make fun of her. Not all children make fun of her and not all adults ignore her. She'll be better in the long run once her self-esteem is built up and she doesn't constantly hear illogical from you."

"I do get tired of that, mother." Te'La said.

"Well, the logical solution." Sevek started to say, until she saw Te'La roll her eyes. "OK, let's try and rephrase that." She paused briefly to think of different words. "Let's make a deal. I will try and not say your behaviour is illogical so much, if you promise to not have so many temper tantrums. Is that better?"

"Yes." Te'La smiled. "And I'll try not to have so many temper tantrums.

"Well," Deanna said, "It's a start, but you two and M'ret now. Have a lot of work ahead of you if Te'La is going to grow up to be an emotionally healthy adult."

"So, she may never act completely Vulcan?"

Deanna had no answer except a frustrated one, at first. Then she said, "Does Spock always act like he is all Vulcan?"

There was a brief pause as Sevek contemplated Deanna's question. Sevek did not answer, but Deanna continued.

"Since you will be working with him quite a bit from now on, observe him and see what you see in him. I would bet you will see some of his human mother's traits from time to time." Deanna requested of her. Then Deanna added "Well, I have to end here for now. Will I see you two next week?"

They agreed that they would be in her office again next week and departed. Deanna then thought, "Now I can spend sometime with my Imzadi." She smile at the thought.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, Geordi" Riker said. "I have to go. I promised to meet Deanna after she got off duty and she's suppose to get off duty any minute. I'll catch you tomorrow."

"OK" Geordi smiled. "You two love birds have fun."

Chapter 11

Will and Deanna met at the door of their quarters at the same time. The past week had seemed like an eternity.

"Hello my dear Valiant captain of this Valiant ship." Deanna greeted him as seductively as a pregnant woman could her husband and threw her arms around him and kissed him.

"Ooo!" Riker responded jokingly. "With a greeting like that I'll go away more often."

She playfully smacked him on the arm and said, "You better not or you'll probably just get yourself hurt again and spend part of your time home in sickbay."

"Moi?"

"Yes, you." she laughed as they entered their quarters together.

The door slid shut behind them and then Will got serious. "Deanna, I would like to finish our discussion about our kids."

"And so would I." she agreed softly. "Will, as far as my patients go, this has been a grueling week and throw in not having you here and worrying about you. It was very stressful, but it also gave me time to think."

"And what was it you were thinking?" he asked.

"I so desparately want our children to know both sides of their heritage and enjoy both to the fullest extent." she said.

"Why do I get the feeling there's a but coming." Riker said.

She ignored his statement and continued, "But if anything were to happen to you, I don't know if I could pick up where you left off. When my father died, my mother was strictly Betazoid. Everything had to be Betazoid."

"Maybe that's all she really knew." Will said.

"I don't want to be that way." she said. "Easter, Christmas all those Earth holidays I know little about and you know little about most Betazoid traditions."

"We can always learn." he stated.

"That's what I'm saying. We need to learn more from each other, so that if anything ever happened to the other, the children would still be able to grow and learn both cultures and be able to choose when they grow up. If they want."

"Deanna," he said and pulled her in close to him. "I would die without you."

"And I you, Imzadi." she said.

"Then we agree we will raise them to appreciate both sides of their heritage, regradless if they are empathic or not." he asked.

"Yes, Will." she said and laid her head on his chest."I think it's the best way for them to grow up happy. The only way. I don't want to force them to be one or the other. I want them to be themselves and be able to make informed choices. Not say you have to be Betazoid because I am or human because you are. That's not the whole truth. It would only be part of the truth."

She raised her head and Will kissed her and said, "Spoken like a true Betazoid. I love you." Then he bent down and kissed her on each side of her belly.

She laughed and said, "Will, what are you doing?"

"I'm kissing our babies."

"And what if they are lying sideways and not up and down?" she said. "You could be kissing just one."

He stands up, puts his hand on her face and says, "Or I could have kissed one's feet and the other's head."

She laughed and said, "Will, I thought we were having a serious discussion."

Still holding her face he leaned his head down to kiss her again even more passionately and said, "We were, but I for one have gotten other ideas." trying to be suggestive. Then he placed his hand on her stomach and said, "Are they kicking yet?'

"Will," she giggled. "I'm only a little more than four months a long."

"Oh, well then, please let me know when they are." and he kissed her again and again, while she melted in his arms. He didn't want to let her go, even for a minute.

Then she said, "Well, if this is how we're going to be when you leave and come back, we should do it more often."

"Not on your life! I missed you too much." Then he added, "And soon I'll be missing the children too, when and if I ever have to leave again."

"Will, you're too much!" she said with a smile. "But don't stop. I'm enjoying this too much."

"OK, I won't." Then he kissed her again. This time he did not stop. They longed for each other and wanted to make up for lost time of being apart. They were not worried about anything, for they knew that together they were the best team possible. They agreed on parenting, on being together and holding each other in their arms. They were not afraid of the past or the future or anyone's opinion as long as they had each other. They never wanted to be apart again.

Then Deanna broke the blissful passion. "Will, I have a craving for something chocolatey."

He looked at her and smiled, "Hold on. I have an idea. Meanwhile, you go in and lie down. You need to get off your feet."

He was up to something, but she had no idea what. As she watched him go to the replicator, she thought, "Well, he is right about one thing. I do need to get off my feet. They're very tired tonight."

Moments later, Will came in with chocolate covered strawberries."Just the thing for a pregnant woman craving chocolate." he said. "See you have your fruit and you satisfy your craving at the same time."

She smiled. "You are too much!" Deanna said and then, Will fed her one of the strawberries. "And service with it, too. You are more than too much!" she exclaimed.

"Anything to please the mother of my children." he said with a big grin.

Back to Fanfic Menu

Back to Main Menu