Aaaaaay "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.19 1200

== Patia's Office ==

The gentle whoosh of the door, as it slid closed behind Commander Wright, echoed in Patia's ears. Rumors were a fact of life. To have avoided them as much as she had was practically unheard of, she should be grateful.

It was her day off and she had spent the morning in reports. There were probably other rumors out there about her, anyway. Most of them probably revolved around her workaholic tendencies.

With a sigh, she stood up and brushed her pant legs to smooth out the creases. Rumors be damned, her lunch date was on his way. Miranda's sounded like just the place to lay the rumors to rest, or prove them true, as the case might be.

As we made his way to Patia's office, Silvio had passed Commander Wright. He was smiling ear to ear and carrying a hook. Silvio decided he did not want to know about the hook and kept going.

Silvio had just reached out to ring Patia's door chime when her office doors slid open. He found himself standing face to face with her. "Hi," he said, trying to hide his surprise.

"Hello, yourself," Patia smiled broadly. She shifted her position slightly and leaned one hip against the door frame. "Are you having a good day?"

"I am now," he returned her smile. "How about you, are you finished working on your day off?"

She nodded deeply and wiggled her eyebrows slightly. "Uh huh. There is always more to do, but for today, I am calling it good." She pushed away from the wall and slipped her hand lightly through the crook of his arm. "Ready for lunch?" She tilted her head slightly to look up at him and arched her eyebrow.

"Yes," said Silvio, "Let's go." The two fo them made their way to the turbolift. "Deck 10," said Silvio as the turbolift doors closed.

Patia leaned against the wall of the turbolift. "So, I hear we are the current topic for the rumor mill."

"Really," Silvio chuckled, "I am always the last to hear the good rumors." Silvio smiled, "Have they set our wedding date yet?" The turbolift arrived on Deck 10 and they walked towards Miranda's.

"Not that I have heard yet, but Commander Wright was my source. Generally speaking, men are not as interested in weddings as women. Miranda might be better able to fill us in on that," Patia nodded slightly.

Silvio paused just inside the door and took Patia by the hand, "Oh well, let's go in and give them more to talk about then." Silvio looked Patia in the eyes and smiled.

Patia laced her fingers in his and inclined her head slightly. She didn't smile, but there was a twinkle in her eyes.

Silvio was cleary captivated by the sparkle in her eye. He leaned over and gave her a short kiss and then led her to an open table with a good view of space.

"It is a beautiful view, isn't it?" Patia gazed out the window.

"Indeed it is, almost as beautiful as you are," said Silvio.

Patia winked at him. "You seem to be in a fine mood today."

"I am! I decided to take the rest of the day off and I am sitting here with my favorite chief counselor." Silvio looked at Patia, "What about you? You seem to be in a good mood as well."

"I have decided to take the advice of someone much older and wiser than I," Patia smiled, "and I am sitting here with my favorite chief engineer. What are you going to do with the rest of your day off?"

"I have not decided yet," replied Silvio, "Perhaps spend it with you?"

Patia propped her chin on the palm of her hand. "I am going to the holodeck. It has been awhile since I have strolled through the Smithsonian museums and I thought I would spend the afternoon puttering around there. Would you like to join me?"

Silvio, who had sent much of his early life studying history did not really relish the idea of spending time in a museum, however, it did mean spending more time with Patia and to Silvio that was most important, "Certainly, I would love to join you."

Patia chuckled softly. "I can tell the idea thrills you to no end. You are more than welcome to pass on the excitement, Guiseppe. You are not obligated to torture yourself with unpleasantness. If you would prefer, you could join me in my quarters for some pleasant conversation later in the evening instead."

Silvio smiled, "Who said anything about torture," he asked. "I thought I said that I would love to join you."

"You may not have said anything, but sometimes you don't have to say a word." Patia winked. "I want to tour the American History building. I love the Presidential displays, Dorothy's ruby slippers and the Fonz's leather jacket. I am not up for the nitty gritty Natural History museum today."

Silvio wondered if Patia was reading his mind. She is a Betazed, so she could probably could do it. He wondered how long she has been listening to his thoughts. "Great, I am glad you are not up for natural history." he paused. He wondered who the heck this Fonz character was.

Patia chuckled. She held her arms to her sides and gave him a thumbs up sign with both hands. "Ay!" She could hardly contain her giggles. "Did you want to eat before we strolled through the great halls of American History or would you rather just get on with our tour?"

*Ay? What does Ay mean*, thought silvio. Not to be outdone, he mimiced her thumbs up gesture and said "Bee." Silvio smiled.

Slowly, Patia lowered her head to the table. Her whole body shook with laughter, tears streamed from her eyes. "Ay is what Fonzie used to say." She gasped for breath. "I am sorry, I know you didn't mean it to be funny," she broke off with another round of the giggles, "but it was just so darn cute."

*Way to go Guiseppe, now she is laughing at you*, thought Silvio. He tried to hide his embarrassment and said, "How about we go see this Funzie's leather coat, then when we are finished we can have that pleasant conversation in your quarters you mentioned." Silvio was not very hungry anymore.

Patia leaned back in her seat. Gently, she reached her hand out and laid it on his arm. "I am sorry. It wasn't right of me to laugh the way I did. Let's have a sandwich, then stroll, then pleasant conversation."

Silvio placed his hand over hers and held it for a moment, he did not know what had come over him. Silvio had never in his life been embarrased by a little laughter. What was it about Patia Zoei that made his feel so different? He was not at all sure, but he knew two things for certain; first that he was going to enjoy these new feelings and second he was going to learn more about this Funzie guy. "Ok, sounds like a plan," said Silvio.

"What are you in the mood for? I was thinking shaved rare roast beef." Patia said.

"I'm going to go with a pastrami on rye," said Silvio, motioning to get the attention of a waitress.

"I have never had pastrami," Patia said. She shifted slightly toward the waitress as she approached. "What does it taste like?"

Silvio did not know how to answer that, "It tastes, Good," he said with a smile as the waitress took their orders. After the waitress left Silvio gave Patia's hand a gentle squeeze, "So, how long have you been listening to my thoughts," he asked.

"You make it sound so," Patia paused, "devious, Silvio. Normally, I don't. Today was so nice and relaxed, it just happened."

Silvio wondered if she knew all his secrets now. "What is it like being able to do that," he asked, "I would think that with so many people on the ship it would be pretty loud in your pretty little head."

"I can tune it in and tune it out when I am thinking about it. If I am one on one with someone, I can just focus on them. Even if I am in a crowd, I can do that. Sometimes it is convenient, other times it can be embarassing. Since I look human, most people don't realize I have this ability. I don't like to draw attention to it." Patia shrugged.

"I see," said Silvio, "Remind me never to play poker with you," he said with a chuckle as their food arrived. "I hope you do not think that I am angry that you peeked into my mind, becasue, I am not." Silvio made a mental note to make sure he was no where near Patia on those occasions when he thought about his ordeal on the USS Kittyhawk. He would not want her to have to see those memories and thoughts. Silvio pushed the Kittyhawke out of his mind and continued, "I was just curious, that's all."

"I don't play poker, ever. I wouldn't want someone to think I cheat," Patia teased. "I also don't see as much with you as I do with others. I have seen nothing related to me, only general things, like your enthuisiasm for the museum."

"That is interesting,"said Silvio, "Why would I be any different?"

"Not sure, and haven't really thought about it too hard, to be frank. I don't need to see what you are thinking, you will tell me on your own, eventually, anyway." Patia shrugged.

Silvio chuckled, "I have nothing to hide. I would go with you to any boring museum you wanted to see, becasue the important thing is that I get to spend time with you. That is what it important to me."

"Well, I wouldn't consider any museum which featured Fonzie's leather jacket as boring," Patia winked, "but I think you make a lovely point. I am looking forward to this afternoon."

"Me too. I am all yours." Silvio wondered if she knew just how true his last statement was.