Imzadi: My Version

Chapters: Twenty-nine and Thirty

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Will." It was two o'clock in the morning and Deanna was trying to wake Will. She was ten months and three days.

"Will." She said again.

"Huh?" He said half awake.

"It's time."

"What!" Will's eyes flew open.

"It's time." She said a little louder.

Will jumps out of bed. "We've got to get you to a medical facility now!"

"Well, it's not that far and I timed them at fifteen minutes apart."

"Fifteen minutes! We have to hurry!"

"Will, you're half dressed!" Deanna told him. "I really don't think you want to go like that. It's not very becoming of a Starfleet officer."

"I don't think I need my uniform for this."

"No," Deanna said. "But I do think you need some clothes."

Then Deanna suddenly cringed with a labour pain. "Huh!" It wasn't a loud sound, but enough to get Will's attention.

"Are you going to make it?" Will asked.

"Yes, it's not that bad."

Will got Deanna's bag and got her to the nearest Medical Center. Lwaxana had met them there.

"Mrs. Troi?"

"Yes, it's amazing what a mother can sense, isn't it?" Lwaxana explained. "This is a joyful moment and experience!"

"Mother!" Deanna said with pain in her voice. "If you call this a joyful experience then you are NUTS!"

"Deanna, I'll let that one go since you are in labour." Lwaxana said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Deanna was prepped for labour and placed in the birthing chair.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" She screamed. Will was right by her side.

"That bad?" He asked.

"That bad?" She screamed at him. "You try pushing a watermelon out of your penis and see how you feel!"

"Will, you're not helping." Lwaxana frowned and pushed her way past him. "Let a mother take over. Mother's generally know what they are doing."

"Right! Mother, you couldn't help if you tried!" Deanna said crankily. "You rarely even lift a finger in the kitchen!"

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "I am just trying to help! Now why don't you try breathing."

"Why don't you try not breathing for a change, Mother!" Deanna said and screamed in pain again.

"I think it's time for some pain medicine." The doctor stated. "An epideral maybe. Women's personalities do change drastically when in labour."

Deanna just looked at him then screamed with another contraction.

"Deanna, your mother is right." Will said. "You need to try to breath."

"And why don't you try to be quiet!" she said. "You should taaaaaaalk!" She screamed. "You put me in this condition! You can give birth to them for all I care!"

Lwaxana replied, "Now Little One, it took two and you know it. It's just not possible for him to give birth now is it?"

"Mother!"

"Yes, Little One?"

"Don't call me Little One! I'm giving birth here, for gods saaaaaaaake!"

"You know, Lit." Lwaxana started. "Deanna, I'm letting all this go because you are in labour. Otherwise I would be having words with you, right now."

"Mother! Out!"

"What?" Lwaxana asked in shocked.

"Get out!" Deanna said. "You're not helping!"

"Deanna, I was just.."

"You were just nothing! Out!"

"Deanna." Will said. "Your mother is trying to help in her own way."

"And yoooooou!" Deanna screamed with another contraction. "GOOOOOO!" Pointing at a corner.

"I'm now a lieutenant commander and she's throwing me into a corner?"

"Yes!" she said. "GO!"

"Don't feel so bad, Lieutenant. Your wife maybe throwing you into a corner, but me, her mother! She's throwing completely out!" Lwaxana said indignant.

"Mother!"

"Yes, dear?"

"OUT!" She screamed with another contraction.

Lwaxana looked at Will. "She's serious!"

"Don't look at me." Will shugged. "I'm in the corner."

Lwaxana walked out of the door feeling dejected, but she stayed near by the room, just in case Deanna changed her mind.

"Not much longer." Stated the doctor. "She's dialated seven centimeters."

"AAAAAAH!"

"OK" said the doctor. "It's almost time to push."

Will speaks again. "Did you hear, Deanna. The first one is coming soon."

"Haaa! What do you know?"

"Well, the doctor just..."

"Screw the doctor!" She said and another contraction came.

"Alright, push!"

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

"You have to breath, Mrs. Riker."

"Right!" She yelled angerly.

"Deanna, " Will walked over to her. "You really do need to breath. Let's try it together and see if that helps." Then Will makes breathing noises.

"Will!"

"Yes, Imzadi."

"First of all, don't Imzadi me!" Deanna shouted. "Second, AAAAAAAH!"

"Push." Said the doctor.

Deanna screams, "It hurts!"

"Push!" Will couched.

"Screw you, too, Will Riker!" Deanna said to Will.

"Sorry, I could almost comment on that, but I won't at this time." Will said trying to hold back his laughter.

"Good, because I don't want to hear it right now." Deanna said. "Because YOOOOU!"

"Time to push, Mrs. Riker."

"DID THIS TOO ME!"

"I can't argue with that." Will replied with a smile, still trying not to laugh at what his wife was saying. "Now push."

Fifteen minutes past and Deanna was getting very tired. She had sent him back to the corner once again, but now she was wanting him near her.

"Will, Imzadi." Deanna reached for him.

"Am I out of the corner for good this time?"

"Yes, I'm sorry." She said with regret in her eyes.

He kissed her on the forehead. "It's ok. I can't say I really understand, but I.."

"AAAH!" She let out a tired scream of pain.

"He's almost out." The doctor said. "Now push."

"I can't." Deanna said tiredly. "I'm too tired. The baby can come out on his own."

"Deanna!" Will said firmly. "Push!"

She tiredly complied.

"OK." the doctor said. "You can stop pushing.

Deanna let out a sigh of relief. "Where's Mother?"

"Remember, you threw her out of the room?" Will replied.

"Yeeeeeesss!" She let's out another scream of pain. "Get her!"

"Push, one more time." Said the doctor.

Deanna did and a loud "WAAAAAAA!" Came from the baby.

Will got Lwaxana, who had been standing outside the door.

"It's a boy!" Announced the doctor.

"Oh, do becareful with him!" Lwaxana demanded as she fretted and followed the nurse, who was cleaning the baby, around.

"Mrs. Troi, if you don't let us do our job here, I'll throw you out myself." The doctor warned firmly.

"I'm Lwaxana Troi, Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed." She said insulted by the doctor.

"I don't care if you are the Queen of Egypt. I'll still throw you out, if you don't let us do our jobs."

"AAAAAAAH!"

Will got to her side quickly and Lwaxana turned and walked quickly over to Deanna.

"This one is following quickly behind!" Said the doctor.

"No, no. This one can give birth to itself." She said tiredly. "AAAH!"

"Time to push!" Said the doctor.

"No, I can't." Deanna said again tiredly.

"Push!" Will ordered.

Again Deanna complied and let out a sigh of exhaustion when she stopped pushing.

"Oh, Deanna." Lwaxana smiled. "You're doing well."

"Mother, please." Deanna was exhausted and it could be heard in her voice.

"Mrs. Troi." Said the nurse.

"Yes?" Lwaxana turned to the nurse.

"You want to hold your grandson, since the mother is kind of busy?"

"AAAH!"

"Push!"

"Oh, yes!" Said Lwaxana excitedly and took the baby from the nurse. "He's beautiful!"

"AAAH!"

"Push, should be the last time." Stated the doctor.

"That's what you said a few minutes ago!" Deanna said tiredly.

"Push, Deanna." Will coached.

"I can't." Exhaustion filled her voice.

"Oh, yes you can, Lit."

"No." Deanna whined.

"Push!" Will coached.

"WAAAAAAAAA!"

"It's a girl!" The doctor again announced.

"Huh!" Deanna sighed. Then she fell quickly off to sleep due to exhaustion.

The nurse handed the baby girl off to the father and he turned to offer the baby to Deanna, but noticed she was asleep. So he addressed Lwaxana.

"They're beautiful!"

"Yes, they are." Lwaxana agreed with a smile, still holding her grandson.

"So," The doctor addressed them. "What are you going to name them?"

Will tilted his head toward his son. "William T. Riker Jr." Then tilted his head to his daughter, "And Kestra Deanna Riker."

"Kestra? That was Deanna's sister's name." Lwaxana replied with a tear in her eye.

"We know." Will smiled at her.



Will stayed by Deanna's side and several hours later she finally woke up. Will was holding their daughter by this time.

"You still here?" She asked.

"Yes." Will smiled.

"Did Mother go home?"

"No, she went down to demand better food service, I think." Will replied.

"She didn't!" Deanna exclaimed.

Will chuckled and tilted his head a little one way and then the other. "She complained something about the food service before she left out of this room."

Deanna sighed, then asked, "Who do you have bundled up there?"

Will brought her over to Deanna and place her in Deanna's arms. "Kestra."

"She's beautiful!" Deanna exclaimed.

"She looks just like her mother." Will replied and kissed Deanna on the forehead.

"Where's Will Jr.?"

"Right here." Will walked over to one of the baby beds and lifted Will Jr. out of it. Then he showed Deanna their son.

Deanna smiled. "And he looks like his father."

Will leaned over and gave his wife a long passionate kiss. Then he said, "We make beautiful children don't we?"

"Yes, we do." She smiled, then playfully grabbed him by the collar. "But don't think you're getting anymore, anytime soon."

Chapter Thirty

The twins were now one year old and also talking, babbling, and toddling around. Will did not want to have the traditional betazoid gathering for the twins' birthday and Deanna had agreed with him. Instead, they had a small get together of their grandmother, Chandra and Teb. Will was really not thrilled about Lwaxana being there, but she was their grandmother and so Will allowed her to be there.

"Really, William Riker!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "You are neglecting their social development, by not having a Betazoid gathering! You know we like large crowds of people when we get together and you having a small group of people for their birthday is just neglect!"

"Mother, please. I really don't think that is Will's intent." Deanna stated. "After all they are just babies and they really don't need all that stimulation."

"Oh, please!" Lwaxana exclaimed. "They are also Betazoids."

"Only 1/4, Mother." Deanna reminded. "The other 3/4 is Human."

"Yes. Don't remind me." Lwaxana said with an arrogant attitude.

Deanna and Will frowned at her statement. Will was about to say something, but Deanna stopped him. Now, it was Deanna's turn to get a look from Will. His looked basically said, "We'll discuss this later."

Deanna sensed his irritation with everything and so did Lwaxana. "Well, if you want to say something, don't let Deanna stop you!"

"It's not important." stated Will.

"If wanting to tell me that being Human is not that bad and to butt out is not important, then why did you think it?" Lwaxana asked.

Will was ready for his mother-in-law to go home. Luckily, before Lwaxana could comment on his last thought, Chandra changed the subject.

"Teb and I have a big announcement!" She boasted cheerfully.

"Oh, we know already." Lwaxana said still irritated with her son-in-law. "Your pregnant and we're all very happy for you."

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra said with resentment. "I really wanted to announce it myself and next time I would appreciate it if you would allow me to say what is on my mind."

Sensing her mother was about to explode on Chandra next, Deanna replied, "That's wonderful, Chandra!"

"Listen young lady," Lwaxana retorted. "Have you forgotten that I am the Daughter of the Fifth House? You need to show some respect!"

"Mrs. Troi," Chandra starts to remind her.

"Mother, Chandra." Deanna started. "Please, it's the babies' birth..."

"My mother is the Daughter of the Third House." Chandra stated. "Regardless, I was still trying to be respectful and still state my feelings. I apologize if you can't handle it."

"Well, I never!" Lwaxana said, taken aback. "I will inform your parents of your attitude!"

Lwaxana then departs with anger, while Chandra says quietly to everyone else, "My parents will probably get a laugh out of it."

Then everyone giggles and Lwaxana sends to Chandra, "We'll just see about that!"

Chandra paid no mind to what Lwaxana sent to her, but instead went on about her being pregnant. "We are so happy about this and can't wait for the ten months to be over with."

"I'm sure you can't." Said Deanna. "I remember how I was with the two of them."

"Well, Teb and Chandra," Will began all smiles. "Congratulations! And thank you Chandra, for getting my mother-in-law to leave. Cake?"

"Will!" Deanna said while poking him in the ribs.

"Ow!" He said in response. "Well, you have to admit, she was striking a nerve with everyone of us."

"That may be, but you don't have to enjoy it so much, when someone succeeds in getting Mother upset enough to leave."

"Moi? Enjoy it? Whatever gave you that idea?" Will said teasingly.

"Cake!" Will Jr. said.

"Oh, Will." Deanna said with a little chuckle in her voice. "Just cut the cake and let the children have some."

"Cake!" Echoed Kestra.

Will looks at his children and smiles. "Sounds like the natives are getting restless. Maybe you're right. I do need to cut the cake."

"Cake!" They both said in unison.

"All righty!" Said Will to the twins and gave them both a piece at the same time. He had learned long ago that if he did not give them both something at the same time the other threw a fit. So he made it a habit to give things to them at the same time.

Later, that evening, when the twins' party was over and they were in bed sound asleep, Will was out back looking up at the night sky. Deanna sees him, walks out and puts her arm around his arm and then lays her head on his shoulder.

"Will?"

"Hum?"

"Is something bothering you?"

Will looks down at Deanna. "Oh, no. It's nothing. Just looking up at the stars and enjoying the night air."

"You miss it don't you?" Deanna asked.

"Miss what?"

"Being on a starship."

"Maybe a little." Then turns towards Deanna, wraps his arms around her, holding her close and says, "But not nearly half as much as I would you and the kids if I were up there."

Deanna smiles. "Yes, but you still wish you could be up there."

Will did not deny it. "A part of me does, yes, but only if I could have you and my children with me."

Deanna's statement changed. She worried about the part that wanted to be on a starship and flying through the stars. She worried that there could come a day that part of him would desire to be up there, more than down on Betazed with his family. She clung to him tighter and hugged him.

Will noticed her statement changed just before she hugged him. "Hey, Imzadi. My goddess of the moon. I could never give up my family to be up there."

"You know," Deanna began softly. "Things are changing. Some ships are starting to have families aboard."

Will pushes her back a little, but did not let go. "We discussed this already. We decided it was best we stay on Betazed until our children were much older."

"But you're not happy here." Deanna said.

Will pulls her close again and says, "Deanna, I am very happy here with you three. It's your mother that bothers me."

Deanna pulls back and releases him. "That reminds me. Why do you find it so hard to keep from wanting to say something to her that you know would start an argument between you and her?"

Will shakes his head. "Maybe the children come by their stubborness rightly. Maybe we all three are stubborn and hard head. One thing I know for sure is your mother and I are both very opinionated and sometimes it just strikes a wrong chord."

"Can't you let some things go?"

Will shakes his head again. "Not when it comes between how you and I agree to raise our children. Then it just irks me when she criticizes Humans. Think how it could affect them."

"Will, you know she doesn't mean anything by it."

"Does she?" Will asks. "I sometimes wonder how it affects you even, when she says things about Humans like she does."

Deanna looks down to the ground forlornly. "I've learned not to let it bother me."

"Have you?" Will asks, then continues, "After all, it was you who reminder her that our children are more Human than Betazoid."

"That was just a statement of fact!" Deanna said defensively, while raising her head up to look at him. "It meant nothing more!"

"Didn't it?"

"Will Riker! If you're insinuating that I have learned to be ashamed of my Human side, you're wrong!" She said angrily and still defensive.

"Am I?" Will asked.

"Yes you are!" Deanna said with a lot of wrath. "To say that I am, would mean I didn't appreciate my father for who he was and I resent that greatly. It also says something about how I feel about you and my children. I also resent that!"

Now Will was on the defensive. "I was not trying to insinuate that at all!"

"Weren't you?" Deanna turns and walks angrily back into the house.

Will sighs and thinks, "Oh, Imzadi. What happened?"



A little while later, Will walks back into the house only to find his pillow and a blanket were on the couch. "Well, I don't need to be telepathic to know what this means." Will thought to himself. Then laid down on the couch and pulled the cover over himself.

Deanna was in her room. Her eyes were red with tears. She thought to herself, "He is my Imzadi and I love him greatly. I know he loves me, but were we really ready? Was I really ready? Maybe he's right. Maybe I have learned to be ashamed of my Human side and that's not something I want my children to learn."

She sat on the edge of her bed and sent out to Will, "Oh, Imzadi. If you can hear me, I'm sorry." Then she laid down and tried to go to sleep, but sleep was not forth coming.

Will stirred as he tried to sleep, but he did not quite hear her. Only felt the distant touch of her presences and that was all.

Two in the morning rolls around and the two of them receive a wake call, even though neither of them were really asleep. First Kestra cries and then Will Jr. follows suit, in empathy for his sister. Both Deanna and Will go in to check on them and soothe their cries.

After the twins were asleep again, Deanna turns to Will, with a sad apologetic look on her face and touches his cheek. "Imzadi," she says, "Come back to bed. I need you to just hold me."

Will smiles and goes with Deanna to their room and cradles her in his arms the rest of the night.

Go To Chapters Thirty-one and Thirty-two

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