Coming home has never felt so good.

Deanna Troi Riker collapsed on the living room sofa, overcome with fatigue. It had been a very, very long week. Ugh, Deanna thought, I detest psych conferences. Since Deanna was the only available counselor in the current quadrant, naturally, she was to participate in the annual Phychology Conferences that took place on the nearby starbase. It was apparent by the exhausted look on her face that the endless days, hours and hours on end listening to professors and collegues lecture, was beginning to take its wear on her.
"I'll be so much happier when this is over." She spent a few mintues sitting on the couch, remaining absolutely still, until she couldn't stand the silence any longer. With an almost Herculean effort, Deanna got off the couch and went over to the replicator for a drink. "Hot Valerian Root tea, please." She took the cup and sipped, slowly. "Mmm..." The steam had a way of invigorating her tired senses. She wandered aimlessly for a minute or two, but the urge to check in on her sleeping son, Andrew James (or A.J., for short) in the next room got the better of her.
Sure enough, in the room that always smelled of talcum powder, two month old Andrew slept soundly on his stomach. She reached over the side of the crib and stroked the soft, dark hair on his tiny head. A smile easily made its way to Deanna's face as she did so. She stood there for a while, just watching the baby. Listening to the sound of his rythmic breathing, observing the gentle rise and fall of his chest with each breath.
The sight gave her such peace, and filled her with a sense of happiness indescribable. The urge to have him closer to her began to swell inside her heart (much like he had in her womb), until finally it seemed to burst into a light rush of anticipation. Deanna reached over with both hands, and carefully lifted A.J. out of the crib. The baby stirred as he was moved from the bed, but did not wake. She looked at him as she held the baby above her, so innocent and lost to the world. It made her smile again. Simple joys of motherhood. Placing a kiss to his head, she brought him down to her shoulder. "I missed you, today," she whispered in her son's delicate ear. She began stroking his back, and rocking him in her arms.
A shadow fell in behind her, where she knew her husband stood. Will Riker spoke in hushed tones, but with humor in his voice. "You never hold me like that when you miss me." He crossed his arms as Deanna turned around to face him. "I do believe I am just a bit jealous."
She gave him a smile, the exhaustion showing in her luminous eyes. "You look tired," Will commented.
"Well, hello to you too, dear," Deanna remarked, laughing a little. He smiled back at her, and came over to where she was. Bringing her and the baby into his arms, Will said, ›Hello, sweetheart." They shared a kiss, then turned their attention back to Andrew. "Was he much trouble today?" she asked.
Will shook his head and laughed, "No more than he usually is. After all, he is one of the Riker boys. I wouldn't expect anything less."
Joining in his laughter, Deanna said, "Right. I should know that by now..." She sighed after a moment's pause. "He's so handsome, even for a baby."
"I know," he agreed with his wife, glancing behind her to look at Andrew's face. "He has his mother's beautiful eyes."
"And his father's contagious smile." Deanna looked up with a hint of mischief in her eyes as she stared up at Will. He flashed her that same smile she knew and cherished all too well.
"Imzadi?" There was a question that came to mind as he stood staring back at her.
"Yes, my love?" Deanna returned to him.
"Are you happy with the way things turned out? Even though it took us this long to get to this point?"
She chuckled, and shook her head at him as if he were talking nonsense. "Of course I'm happy, Imzadi. In fact, I'm more than happy. I don't care that we took forever to make it happen. All that matters is that it did."
Will brought his wife and his son into his arms again. He sighed with content. "Right." He kissed her on the top of her head, then held her face in his hands as he looked in her eyes. "I'm so glad it happened...WE happened. Nothing in the world has made me happier than being here with you, my Imzadi, my wife, and our son. "
A kiss was shared between them once again, and all three stood embraced. A.J., Deanna, and Will. "Computer, play a song for us, please."
"Specify," the system replied.
"How about... 'Spend My Life With You. Twenty-first century. Year, 1999."
The song came on, and they swayed to the music. Imzadi and baby. Life doesn't get much better than this...
Can I just see you every morning when I open my eyes? Can I just feel your heart beating beside me every night? Can we just feel this way together till the end of all time? Can I just spend my life with you?

END