"Will!" The musical, but disembodied voice of Deanna Troi rang through the captain's quarters aboard the USS Titan, reaching the ears of the captain sitting in the living section.

"What?" He asked a little impatiently, Deanna and he had a dinner date that should have started ten minutes ago.

"Story time" she clarified, apparently ignoring his mild irritation.

"How could I ever forget" he muttered under his breath, his irritation already fading. A ripple of amusement from Deanna's side touched his mind as he pushed himself to his feet and began to make his way into the bedroom.

Once there he took a moment to appreciate his wife's beauty, as she was standing with her back to the viewport. She had changed into a shimmering blue gown, the one he had give her for her birthday two weeks earlier. Of course it had been more of a present for himself, but she seemed content with that.

Come my love, I'll tell you a tale
of a boy and girl and their love story

He couldn't believe it had been six years since their wedding. Sensing his change in mood Deanna smiled brightly and stepped aside to make room for him to reach the crib behind her. But instead of shifting his attention he remained staring at her.

He still wasn't quite used to the new hair-cut she'd adopted. It wasn't exactly straight, yet it didn't have the natural curl either. Usually she swept it up and fastened it loosely with clips and pins, allowing stray stresses to dangle down and although it looked beautiful on her, he still preferred her natural hair. Of course the current style was easier for the hectic life they lived.

A sparkle of amusement shining in her eyes reminded him of the wonderful times they'd had together and as he did so her smile softened, tugging at his heart.

And how he loved her oh, so much,
and all the charms she did possess

"The story" she reminded him gently, arching an eyebrow to add a little drama to her statement. More amusement trickled into his mind. Will stepped to her, instead of past her and demanded a kiss, gently nibbling on the skin of her jaw. "Will" she objected reluctantly, tilting her head towards the crib.

"I think I'd rather tell you a story" he told her mischievously "about how the toad and the princess fell in love." As harmless as he made that sound, Deanna knew better and swatted his arm in mock-annoyance.

"A prince, mister, and a *children's story*."

My love is like a storybook story
But it's as real as the feelings I feel

He grinned happily and covered her mouth with his own, gently exploring the sweet offering. "You're beautiful you know." He sighed against her lips, searching her black eyes for the love he knew he'd find.

"I know you think so, and that's what matters." He didn't like that side of her, the one that thought she was no longer attractive. She could still turn the heads of the men, and some of the women onboard; a reason for him to feel just a touch of jealousy and a big deal of satisfaction. The vision was his and no one else's, and no matter what she'd look like, he'd always love her.

Now this did happen once upon a time
when things were not so complex

"Will" she chided when his thoughts turned to her body, her naked body to be precise.

"Maybe we should call the 'sitter off." He opted aloud.

"Maybe you should tell your daughter her bedtime story." Troi countered without mercy, shoving him to the edge of their four-year-old daughter's crib. He turned and watched the sway of her hips as she left the room, mesmerizing the ticking of her heels on the floor.

And how he worshipped the ground she walked on
When he looked in her eyes, he became obsessed

He studied his little girl with wonder. She bore a remarkable resemblance to Deanna at that age --if Lwaxana's opinion was valid--; curly dark hair, though not quite as dark as her mother's, her skin a slightly more colored than Deanna's, but to Will's gratitude Latheia --Betazin for 'precious treasure'-- had inherited her mother's coal black eyes. "All right Little One, what bedtime story do you want?"

"The pwince and pwincess!" She squealed happily and turned expectant eyes on him. Eyes he couldn't deny anything.

This love was stronger than the powers so dark
A prince could have within his keeping

Engrossed in telling Latheia her story and keeping her attention to him, Will didn't notice Deanna had returned from the nursery and now stood --leaning against the doorframe-- admiring her husband with a content little smile. She could tell that right now Will wasn't aware of anything around him, other than his daughter's smiling face.

Liam Thomas, their year old son was sleeping peacefully in the adherent room. As pleased as Will was that Latheia had Deanna's eyes, so pleased was Deanna that Liam had inherited his father's eyes, although they were a shade darker.

"--ly ever after" Will finished and tucked the sheets tightly around his little girl. After placing a tender kiss on her forehead and stood up and turned, freezing when his eyes fell on his wife.

His spells to weave and steal a heart
Within her breast, but only sleeping

"You have to stop stealing my breath Dea" he told her sternly after taking a couple of gulps of air "or I'll suffocate." She answered with a tiny smile and beckoned him closer with her eyes. When he was within reach she lifted her hand to trace the edges of his face, closing her eyes as his hot breath raked across her forehead.

"I cancelled the 'sitter and our dinner." She admitted meekly while pulling him into their bedroom. After all these years he still managed to set her on fire with a simple look or touch.

"Hmm." He approved, nuzzling the column of her neck and working on the one catch fastening of her dress.

He said, "Don't you know I love you oh, so much
And lay my heart at the foot of your dress?"

With her hands Deanna forced her husband to lift his head and reclaimed his lips with her own, determined not to let go until stars were sparkling around them.

Will had in the mean time succeeded in loosening her dress and carefully, but hastily pushed it down her body. She used his shoulder for support as she, in turn, lifted each of her feet to step out the dress and kick of her shoes. All the time watching with lustful eyes as Will did away with the shirt he was wearing.

"I love you Imzadi" she murmured before crushing her naked body to his, reclaiming what was hers.

She said, "Don't you know that storybook loves
Always have a happy ending?"

Deanna's fingers slid down over his chest, drawing a trail of gooseflesh, to the fastener of his trousers, fueled by a passion unlike she had ever felt before.

Not allowing his wife to have all the fun, Will bent to nibble on her tender earlobe and simultaneous cupped one of her full breasts in his hand, eliciting a sigh from deep within her.

As grin spread around his face as Deanna pulled his trousers and shorts down in one swift motion and drew a hand up the inside of his thigh to his chest, carefully avoiding his hardening desire.

~You're in the Phase, aren't you?~ he asked half coherently, already drunk with lust. And by sliding her arms around his neck and pressing herself closer to him Deanna gave her husband all the clues he needed.

Then he swooped her up, just like in the books
And on his stallion they rode away

End