Chapter Text
Two months later…
Deanna was waiting when her girlfriend was released for her first leave. As promised, she had planned something special. She arranged for them to revisit the place of their first date, New Orleans. The restaurant where they ate had a special table with candles set up for them. There was a jazz band playing and they danced late into the night until they went back to their hotel in the French Quarter.
“Was this a good enough surprise for you?” Deanna asked.
“Better than the first time when we were here,” B’Elanna answered with a kiss. “I’m just glad you didn’t invite my father along.”
This comment sent them both into hysterical laughter.
Two Years later…
The couple had spent every available moment they had together as well as communicating constantly. The day finally came when B’Elanna graduated the Academy. Her parents had come from Kessick IV for the ceremony. They even took her father sightseeing in San Francisco. He would get a strange look on his face as the two women would giggle for no reason when they would take him to a different tourist spot.
B’Elanna was afraid to tell Deanna that she was posted on the exploration ship the USS Butler because she would be gone for months at a time. When she did she was surprised by her lover’s response.
“You were assigned to the Engineering Department of a Starship. My father said the Chief Engineer is one of the best. You will probably be able to make Lieutenant under her,” she said with a wink.
“Maybe you can come visit me when I get leave?”
“That sounds great if I can get someone to watch the shop for me.” Seeing her surprised look, she continued. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, but my aunt and uncle retired and gave me their shop to run. So, I’m like a business woman now. Not sure how long I can handle it, but it keeps me out of trouble.”
She smiled brightly as she gave her a hug and kiss, “I’m so happy for you.”
“When do you have to report to duty?”
“In two weeks. Why?”
She took her hand as they walked across the Golden Gate Bridge and Deanna nonchalantly said, “Well I need a date for my sister’s wedding. Fancy a trip to Betazed? Or is it Bajor. Damn I guess I should remember what planet it’s on especially since I’m in the wedding.”
“I’m glad you and your sister have been getting along so well. By the way, it’s on Bajor. Your sister invited me six weeks ago. She thought you might forget where it’s at since she wants you to wear a frilly dress. So, I guess I will get to meet your mother finally?”
“How long have you and Kestra been talking?” Deanna asked surprised.
“For about a year. She’s really sweet. I have my Papa and you have your big sister looking out for us. Are you going to invite me to your parent’s wedding?”
“No. Before you get upset, Kestra and I weren’t invited either. They ran off and got married in New Vegas like a couple of lovesick teenagers. They will be back from their Honeymoon on Risa a week before Kestra’s wedding,” she said with an annoyed tone of voice.
B’Elanna smiled at her girlfriend knowing that her air of annoyance was an act. She has never been happier since she had her family back. And she has never gone back on her word in supporting her.
Four Years later…
Deanna was sad that she wasn’t able to be there when she received her Lieutenant, Junior grade PIP. She was given the promotion aboard the ship. B’Elanna sent her a Holo-image of the Captain pinning on the PIP and another of her and the Chief Engineer. She was so proud of her and wished she could have been there to share in the moment that she had worked so hard for.
She was getting another posting to another Starship but would not tell her which one. The good news was that she had a full month before she had to report as she had to wait for the ship to come to Earth.
Deanna was waiting when her shuttle arrived with an arm full of red roses and a pendant she had made with the symbol representing the Klingon house of her mother. When she gave her the pendant, B’Elanna cried for what seemed like ten minutes. She was so touched that Deanna would do something this special for her she couldn’t wait to get her alone.
The next day B’Elanna had arranged a special dinner in Spain at the restaurant where they had their second date. She arranged for them to have the same food and drink.
After they finished their dinner, Deanna reached across the table and took her girlfriend’s hand as she gently rubbed her thumb across her palm. “I was supposed to take you out to celebrate Lieutenant.” She brought her hand to her lips and kissed her palm.
All of a sudden, Deanna got this panic look on her face. “This wasn’t so you can soften the blow. You got assigned to a deep space exploration ship that will take you away for years. You haven’t met someone else?”
Not wanting to see Deanna make herself sick with worry, B’Elanna took the hand that was holding hers and went and kneeled next to her. She took a ring out of her jacket pocket and placed it on her finger.
“Remember what I said to you right before I went to the Academy?” The questioning look caused B’Elanna to smile as she kissed her hand. “I said that I would ask you to marry me when I made lieutenant. I love you. Deanna Troi will you do me the honor of being my wife and making me the happiest person in the universe.”
Deanna never really thought she was serious when she told her she wanted to marry her all those years ago. But here she was on her knee, putting a ring on her finger and asking to marry her. Her eyes began to flood with tears that she could barely see the ring.
“Yes, Yess I will marry you. Oh, baby I love you.” Deanna pulled her up into her lap and they kissed passionately. Later that evening they had dessert in Paris. I have to call my parents and Kestra to tell them. We can let Kestra know when we get back but I already told your parents. I had to ask their permission. Besides that’s how I got the idea about the ring. Deanna really looked at the ring for the first time and noticed that it was the crest of her mother’s family. She looked at her confused.
“Your mother sent me the ring to give to you. It belonged to your great-grandmother. She gave it to your mother with instructions to pass it on to her child. She tried to give it to Kestra when she got married but she wanted you to have it.”
“Oh baby…” Deanna cried.
“Not that I don’t want you to enjoy this moment, but I have something else to tell you.”
“Okaay…” she said cautiously.
“We have to get married before the end of the month.”
“What!! We have to arrange a wedding in a month. Not that I want some big and flashy ceremony like my sister’s wedding but a month…Why so quick? You do have a deep space assignment.”
B’Elanna kissed her passionately in order to stop her from rambling. “Deanna, sweetheart. The reason we have to get married so quickly is because I want our family to be there before we have to leave.”
“Leave? Where are we going?”
“I have been posted to the USS Enterprise. I will be working with Commander LaForge who is head of Engineering.” Seeing that she still did not understand, she continued. “The Enterprise is a generational ship, so we can be together.”
Understanding finally registering, she got a huge smile on her face and kissed her wife to be. Her happy expression then quickly turned to concern.
“We have so much to do in a month. We have to pick a place and then make sure your folks can get here as well as Kestra and her husband and my parents. I have to talk to my cousins to see if they will run the shop. We have to create a guest list, menu…”
Deanna continued to rattle off a list of things to do talking rapidly and walking circles around B’Elanna. B’Elanna just watched the beautiful woman and smiled feeling happier than she has ever felt in her life. She thought to herself, ‘And Deanna said that I talk a lot.’
~The End~