This story was a challenge story from one of my Imzadi writing groups. A what if story.

Reunion

It was several hours after Will' s shock on the bridge when he had seen Deanna getting off the turbolift. "Ten years later and I see her again." He thought, " This is either a miracle or a dream. She still looks like she did ten years ago and as beautiful as ever."

"Something on your mind?"

"Huh?" Will was startled out of his deep thoughts. "Oh, yes. I was just thinking."

"Mighty deep thoughts for someone who just arrived on a new ship." The woman stated, "Wanna talk about it?"

"With a total stranger?"

" I'm only a stranger right now, but I won't be when we talk and get to know each other."

"Who are you?"

" I'm Guinan, I attend the bar here. And you are?"

"Commander Riker, first officer."

"Nice to meet you."

" And you too." said Will Riker.

"So what's on your mind?"

"You don' t let up, do you?" Will accused.

" No, I come from what people call a race of listeners. I like to listen to people."

"I see."

"So can I listen to your thoughts?"

" Are you telepathic too?" Will asked.

"Not exactly, but I do feel things or sense things."

"Sounds like someone else I know." said Will.

"And who might that be?"

"OK, I give, I' ll talk." Will said trying to joke with this new person he had just met. "It's this woman."

"Yeah?"

"We met ten years ago and now we run into each other again, here on this ship."

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?" asked Guinan.

"Well, neither." he paused. "I think."

"You seem uncertain. Was there something that happened between the two of you? " Guinan asked.

"Yes, and it was good. Until"

"Until what?" Guinan shook her head as to say "I don't understand."

"I messed up."

"Well, you're a big enough man to admit it, at least." she stated, "I gather you two had a relationship."

"Yes, we did and I blew it."

"Well, it seems fate has given you another chance to make up for what you did."

"One can't make up for what I did." Will stated.

"Oh, I don't know. If one wants to clear the air and apologize for something they did it would be a start. An opening to make a new beginning or have closure on the past, if you would." Guinan counseled. "You'll never know, until you try, what will be the next step with this person."

"Guinan, you maybe right. As you said, "It's worth a try." I'll go talk to her." Will said getting up from his barstool."Oh and thanks for the fine drink and nice conversation."

"Anytime." Guinan nodded and smiled as Will backed a couple steps. Then he turned and the doors of ten-forward swooshed open and shut behind him.

Will walked down the corridor hoping Deanna would be willing to talk to him. Then he stopped his thoughts. "Why wouldn't she be willing to talk? She did ask if I remembered what she taught me years ago." he thought, "She was trying to make an opening to talk at sometime."

He arrived at her quarters. Paused for a moment, then summoned up the courage to ring the chime to her quarters.

Deanna's heart leaped for joy and in anxiety as she raised from her resting position on her couch. She sensed it was Will. "What will Will think after all these years and the secret I've kept from him for ten years?" she thought. "Well, I'll never know until I answer the door, now will I?"

She stood and walked to the door. She opened the door for Will and tried to act surprise. "Oh, Will, it you. This is a nice surprise."

"Yes, I realize it's a little late, but I wanted to talk to you."

"It's only nine o'clock in the evening. It's not that late."

"That's not what I meant." Will responded.

"I know what you meant. I just wanted to lightened the mood a little."

"Deanna, I am so sorry."

"I know."

"How can I ever make it up to you?"

Just then I a small sleepy young male voice came from the doorway of one of the other rooms in Deanna's quarters. "Mama, who was at the door?"

"Deanna? Who? What? Where? When?" Will stammered in complete shock.

"Will Riker" Deanna started, "Meet William Thomas Riker Jr."

Will was completely speechless and quite stung with shock.

"Honey, I want you to come on in and meet someone." Deanna requested of her son.

"Who's this man, Mama?"

"He's your father."

"My father?"

"Yes, hon."

Will was still in shock.

"He doesn't speak much, does he Mama?"

"Well, son, he's in shock right now and you'll have to give him time to recover."

"Will he be OK?"

"Yes, in time he will be. Now, you can talk to him some more another time. Run off to bed and try to go back to sleep"

"OK Mama." Junior hugged and kissed his mother good night and strolled off to bed.

Deanna gave Will a few moments to recover.

"He's my son? Our son?" Still shaken from the little surprised.

"Yes." Deanna confirmed.

"Why, why, why haven't you said anything sooner?"

"I wasn't sure how you'd feel." she answered.

"Ten years, Deanna and you couldn't at least mention it some way. A communique or something? Anything?"

"Will, the way we left things, I wasn't sure about anything."

"But this is my son! Our son!"

"I know."

"You've spent ten years keeping this from me and that's all you can say?"

"I didn't know where you were all these years!" Deanna stated." I've looked for you ever since I entered Starfleet! It's not easy to find someone, you know!"

"OK, so where do we go from here?" Will asked.

"I don't know." she refuse to say, "What do you want?"

"You know what I want. I want to get to know my son and .." he paused, "and I want you. I've never stopped thinking about you. Nor have I stopped kicking myself for what I did to you. I'm very sorry."

"Why don't we start over from square one, Imzadi, and get to know each other again?"

"Imzadi." Will said in wistfulness. "It's been a long time since I've heard that word. It's nice to hear again." He smiled, pulled her closed and kissed her.

Deanna did not resist. She melted in his arms. Then she sent to him, "And I have missed you, too, Imzadi."

They kissed, held each other, and talked for many hours. It was as though the years lost had never happened. They decided to start over with their relationship, get to know each other again and of course Will had a son now. He had made many plans on what all he wanted to do with his son. Although Fereesy Squares was not an activity that Deanna was excited about the two guys playing together. Will had his heart set on teaching Junior the game, though.