Traditional Betazed Dinner, Take Two "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.12 1900

==holodeck 4 -- Childhood Home of Patia Zoei==

Silvio looked out at the activity on the bay. Patia had invited him back to the holodeck to treat him to that betazed dinner she had promised him. Silvio was feeling much better about Patia; he felt that perhaps there might be hope for a relationship with her, he had even managed to finally get some sleep the night before.

Looking over at her he said, "So, here we are again."

Patia chuckled. "I feel like we are back in school, in the theater. 'Traditional Betazid Dinner, Take Two'. Do you see the boat over there, the small trawler?" Patia pointed to a boat just coming into the bay.

Silvio's eyes followed the direction Patia was pointing. "Yes, I see it."

"The man who worked on that ship used to deliver fresh fish to our home. He worked in the old style. It certainly wasn't the most effective or efficient method he could have used, but he loved what he did. He was the most joy filled person I have ever met."

"My mother always told me that there is nothing wrong with the 'old ways' of doing things if they make you happy to do them." Silvio smiled.

"Sounds like something my mother would say," Patia chuckled. "Are you ready to eat?"

"Yes, I am looking forward to it."

Patia turned back toward the house. The table was spread with a red and white checked cloth. On top of it rested a basket. The blended scents of the foods wafted on the light breeze.

"Mmm... That smells good. What is it?"

"You will see. One must not rush a traditional meal with such questions," Patia winked.

Silvio smiled, "Yes, Ma'am. I would not dream of rushing through this."

Patia looked back over her shoulder, shook her head slightly and chuckled. Slowly, she opened the basket. First, she pulled out a platter of chicken. Next, traditional potato salad came out of the basket. Biscuits and fresh fruit followed. Efficiently, she laid out place settings. Gently, she grasped a wine bottle by the neck and handed it to Silvio. "Would you do the honors?"

Silvio carefully took the bottle from her while studying the food she had brought. "Interesting," said SIlvio has he worked a corkscrew into the wine bottle, "a traditional Betazed dinner looks a lot like a old fasioned earth dinner." SIlvio pulled the cork out of the bottle with a soft pop. He filled two glasses and handed one to Patia.

She shrugged slight, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lip, "I am a Betazid. This was a traditional dinner. What can you expect when you transplant a Betazid to Earth?"

Silvio smiled warmly at her. "Shall we," he asked gesturing towards the picnic on the ground.

Patia nodded. She sank gently to the ground. She sat, her back straight and her legs folded. The coarse fabric of the picnic blanket abraded her fingers slightly as she rubbed her hand against it. She held her wine glass up to eye level. The sun sparkled through the bubbly liquid.

Silvio sat down next to Zoei and stretched his legs out in front of him. "So, what are you thinking, right now?"

"I am thinking this is one beautiful day. The sun is gorgeous, the food smells delicious, and the company is good. What are you thinking?"

Silvio smiled at Patia, "I am also thinking that the weather is wonderful, the food smells great and the company is beautiful." Silvio actually blushed slightly.

She smiled slightly in return, "Thank you." She tipped her glass slightly toward him in acknowledgement of his compliment.

Silvio smiled as he took a drink of the wine. "This is very good. It cannot be replicated."

"Actually, Lio and Trina gave it to me for my birthday close to ten years ago. It is the last of a case my parents had while we lived on Earth. You are very astute. Tell me what it was like for you growing up."

"I had a happy but abnormal childhood," said Silvio chuckling. He picked up a plate and began putting food on it. "My parents were both teachers; so my life too, revolved around education." He handed the first plate to Patia and then started one for himself.

Patia plucked a strawberry from her plate. She popped the stem off and bit deeply into the juicy berry. "Are you an only child?"

Silvio watched as she ate her strawberry and then said, "Yes, I guess one was enough for my parents. I never asked them who I had not siblings." Silvio ate some of his potato salad.

"Did you enjoy that it was just you? Or did you wish you had a brother or sister?" Patia asked.

"I liked having my parents all to myself," admitted Silvio. "How about you? What is it like to have siblings?"

"I had the best of both worlds. Lio is 15 years older than I am. I had our parents all to myself. It is different, though, knowing I am not alone. I know I can always count on him. No matter where he goes or what he does, I will always be his little sister, the one he has to protect," Patia chuckled lightly.

"I can see where that might be an advantage." Silvio wondered what it would have been like to have an older brother.

"Most of the time, it is. I did find, though, that occasionally, it was like having a third parent. It is a good thing he was benevolent," Patia grinned.

Silvio chuckled and then finished his wine. Picking up the bottle, "Would you like some more," he asked.

"A little more would be wonderful," Patia said, reaching out to hand him her glass. "I am also very fortunate to have a wonderful sister-in-law. She is just as much family as Lio is. They have provided me with two nephews and a niece. They are the lights of my lift."

"Do you want to have kids of your own someday," Silvio asked, as he poured her more wine.

"Maybe. I am getting older. My career is important to me. Right now, I am not in a position to have children. I am not sure I would be the proper nurturer to children, if you understand what I mean? I guess what I am saying is, I would love to have them, but I am not sure it will happen. How about you?"

"I have not given children much thought. Some day, yes," said Silvio

"How many?"

Silvio gave it some thought, "More than one. I think our child should have a sibling." He smiled, then realizing the slip he just made his eyes got wide. "Oh dear, I'm sorry, I should not have... I didn't mean..." Silvio was very flustered and his face was a dark shade of red.

Patia's eyes opened very wide. "I can see where you would make that mistake, considering the conversation we were having. Do not worry about it." She settled her glass on the blanket next to her and shifted slightly.

Silvio took another drink from his glass. He did not know what to say, "I am sorry."

"I told you, don't worry about it. You have many years before children to decide who, when and how many," Patia smiled slightly. "The next time you go home, whenever that will be, what do you want to do first?"

My mother makes the best baked mostacholi," Silvio sighed, "I will eat it until I can't eat anymore." Silvio chuckled. "How about you, your home was Earth too, what would you do?"

"If I ever get back to Earth, I would go back to Washington DC. I would walk along the Potomac when the cherry trees were in bloom. If I went home to Betazed, I would sit in my mother's kitchen, drink tea and talk until the wee hours of the morning. It has been a long time since I have seen my mother face to face." Patia said.

Silvio held up his glass, "To home."

"To home," Patia clinked her glass against his.