The BLTS Archive - Soliloquies
#6: Secret Smile
by Mari (mari1529@my-deja.com)

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Disclaimers:  Paramount owns 'em, I'm just airing them out.

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Jean-Luc and Beverly Picard asked me why I was grinning like the cat
who ate the canary. And hadn't been caught.

Escorting the Admiral to Earth, to his new post as Commander,
Starfleet, gave me the chance to spend time with my friends. Something
I haven't done in nearly four years.

I just smiled. And invited them to dinner in San Francisco. Gave them
directions and everything.

I was so excited when they got out of the cab.

They liked my house. Jean-Luc was completely flummoxed. He was
surprised to learn that he's not the only new Admiral in town.

I take over as Admiral-In-Charge of Security and Intelligence on
Monday.

That was a good moment, telling him that we'd be working together as
C.O and X.O. again. But the best was yet to come.

I got to introduce Jean-Luc and Beverly to my family. My wife, my sons
and my daughter.

They were completely gobsmacked.

Because of the Hood's last mission, we were not allowed contact with
anyone in order to ensure our success in developing the new weapons
technology.

Five years.

I'm nearly 57.

I finally got married. Emma's wonderful. Commander Emma Barton-Riker.
She could've gone on the Lexington to conduct more research into warp
field dynamics in pulsar clusters, but she stayed here. To teach at
the academy.

She didn't leave me.

We have three kids, Dad. Robbie is 4. Announced that he wants to be a
doctor. Ever since he got to see how babies are born, he's been nuts
about medicine. Bev's taking him to Starfleet Medical on Monday. He's
over the moon; his Aunty Bev runs Starfleet Medical. She's a doctor.

Zack is 2. I think he's going to be an engineer. He loves to take
apart his toys. And he can fix them, Dad, unlike yours truly. It's
frightening in a way how technically-oriented he is.

Hannah is 7 months old. A complete daddy's girl. My little pumpkin. I
hope she goes in for the fleet. I want a Riker to captain the
Enterprise one day.

Bev told me that Deanna and Worf have permanently separated. I didn't
ask for details. I really couldn't care less.

I don't love her anymore.

I don't want her anymore.

I have Emma.

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The End