## Reunion

The moment Will Riker stepped into the Enterprise's transporter bay, Deanna Troi's eyes lit up with a warm smile. It had been a while since they'd seen each other, and the Betazoid empath in her couldn't help but sense the mix of excitement and nervousness in Will's demeanor. They'd been friends for years, but there was a time when their friendship had blossomed into something more. A time that, despite its end, had left a lasting connection between them. As Will materialized, his eyes scanned the area until they landed on Deanna, and he flashed a charming smile. "Deanna, it's been too long," he said, striding over to her with a confident swagger that hadn't changed. Deanna's cheeks flushed slightly as she opened her arms for a friendly hug. "Will, it's great to see you. How was your time on...?" Their conversation flowed easily as they made their way to her quarters, exchanging stories of their adventures apart. The talk was light and filled with laughter, reminiscent of old times. When they reached her quarters, Deanna invited Will in with a warm gesture. "Make yourself at home," she said, already knowing the way to her quarters was familiar to him. The warmth of the quarters welcomed Will, and he took a seat on the couch, looking around at the familiar surroundings. Deanna busied herself in the kitchen area, her thoughts momentarily on the evening ahead. She had invited Will for a quiet dinner, hoping to reconnect on a personal level, away from the duties and demands of their Starfleet careers. A simple yet elegant meal was prepared, and she chose candles to create a cozy atmosphere. The gentle flicker of the candlelight could perhaps help ease any awkwardness, she thought. With a deep breath, she prepared to join Will in the main area, where he had made himself comfortable. Their eyes met, and Deanna felt a spark she hadn't expected to still be there. She pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the friendly reunion. "Shall we?" she asked, gesturing to the dinner setup. Their small talk continued as they sat down, making an effort to treat the evening as just a friendly get-together. Yet, the undercurrent of something more was undeniable, lingering just beneath the surface of their casual banter. The evening had just begun, but for both Will and Deanna, it felt like a journey back to a part of their lives they thought had been left behind. As they settled in, Deanna couldn't help but notice the way Will's eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled or the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck. These small details brought back memories, and with them, a host of emotions. Their dinner conversation danced around the edges of their past, touching on crew gossip and ship happenings, but always circling back to safer topics. The ease with which they interacted was evident, a testament to their years of friendship. But beneath the surface, a myriad of unspoken thoughts swirled. For Deanna, there was the concern about how their rekindled feelings might affect their professional relationship on the Enterprise. For Will, there was a balance to maintain between his growing feelings and the responsibility that came with his rank. As the evening wore on, they found themselves lost in the simplicity of the moment—a moment filled with the warmth of old friendship and the possibility of something more. Little did they know, this quiet dinner would mark the beginning of a delicate dance between duty and desire, between the comfort of familiarity and the thrill of the unknown.