Pleasant Conversation? Try Foot in Mouth... "
By: Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]
Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]

Stardate: 58205.19 1800

==Holodeck 1== "That was an interesting visit," said Silvio as they exited the museum. They were once again standing in the Mall. All around them people were having a good time.

"Yes, it was," Patia smiled softly. The sun was dipping below the architectural marvel that was the Smithsonian. Long shadows stretched their stately fingers across the luxurious grass. She sighed gently as she drank in her surroundings.

"Is there anyting else you would like to do while we are here," asked Silvio.

"Do you see that food stand there? Corn dogs, cotton candy, caramel apples? How do you feel about the worst possible food choices for your health for dinner tonight?" Patia asked.

"I'm game if you are," said Silvio, he happy to keep their afternoon going.

"Uh huh," Patia nodded. "It isn't often I have blatent disregard for healthy eating habits, but today I will. Come on!" Patia slipped her arm through the crook of his elbow and tugged him after her as she briskly walked down the path toward the vendor.

Togehter they looked over the menu, "What are you going to have," asked Silvio, "I think I am going to have a chili dog and some fries."

"That's it?" Patia asked, incredulous. "I want, hmmmmmmmmmm. I want a corn dog and a funnel cake, a pickle on a stick, and a caramel apple. Oh, and most importantly, I want a very large glass of fresh squeezed lemonade. On second thought, it is good you just want that. I might need your help to carry things!" Patia winked.

Silvio laughed, "You are going to be sick if you eat all that." They got their food and moved to a bench. Silvio did help her carry some of it.

Patia spread out several napkins between them. She carefully cut the funnel cake in half and slid one portion to Silvio's side of the bench. Then, she bit into the juicy dill pickle. The sharp bite of the crisp flesh flooded her senses with the mouth puckering which only comes with high quality pickles. She held out the pickle. "Want a taste?"

Silvio took a bite from the pickle, "That is good he said."

Patia arched her eyebrows and smiled broadly. "Food on a stick is always good." Her even, white teeth cripsly bit into the pickle again. A smattering of pickle juice ran down her chin. Unselfconsciously, her tongue darted out to capture the tiny droplet of liquid. "It is messy, though," she giggled.

"I think this is the most relaxed I have ever seen you," said Silvio, taking a bite of his chili dog.

"Really?" Patia pulled her feet up so she sat cross legged. She propped her elbow on her knee and took a bite of her corn dog.

"Yes, does it have something to do with that old couple we saw in the museum," asked Silvio.

"I hadn't thought about it. It could be. They were such a sweet pair, weren't they?" Patia asked.

"They seemed to be very much in love," repleid Silvio. "I had never thought about having someone to grow old with, someone to love like that."

"That they did. I had long ago given up that dream, but seeing them like that almost makes me think it could happen." Patia smiled slightly.

"It can happen," Silvio blurted out.

"Think so?" Patia cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Absolutly, look at today, you are happy, vibrant, and fun to be with. On top of that, you are a very beautiful person, and I love you." Silvio held his breath, he could not believe he had added that last statement. Silvio closed his eyes and counted the beats of his heart which was suddenly beating very hard.

Patia's lips drew together in a small, "Oh." Her eyes widened and she leaned back against the support of the bench.

After several hearbeats Silvio opened his eyes. *At least she is still there," he thought. "I'm sorry," he said, "That did not come out right... I mean... well, it came out right, but perhaps not the right way." Silvio was flustered, so far as he could remember he had never uttered those words before; except to his parents, but that was different.

"Don't be sorry, I was just surprised. And, I am not going anywhere," she softly smiled.

Silvio did not know what to say, he at Patia, "I am glad you are no running for the door." He smiled.

Patia glanced around, "No doors on the Mall, Guiseppe, so you are safe for now. What made you decide this?"

Silvio paused a moment before answering, "Looking back on things now, I believe I have been feeling it for quite some time," Silvio thought back to the time he and Patia had spent the night watching the stars from the Captain's Yaght.

"I have never thoguht myself to be the type of man who would ever fall in love, so I tried to deny it --that can not happen to me," Silvio paused and focused his attention on Patia. "That old couple in the museum, they sort of opened my mind to it, I had to admit it, at least to myself, I had not planned on telling you so quickly though." Silvio was on awkward ground now, he was no longer the confident engineer.

"How did they do that?" Patia tugged her leg up and rested her chin on her knee.

"They looked to be very much in love, and had been for a good time. You noticed it too. You commented about their enduring love," Silvio smiled, "I found myself wanting to volunteer for the job of providing you with a life time of love," he chuckled, "It was hard to continue to deny it at that point."

"I can see where that would make it a challenge," she smiled wryly. "They were a sweet couple, I have to agree. Their communication with each other was the kind that doesn't just happen in a day or a week."

"True," agreed Silvio, "It is something they worked at I am sure, but they had to start somewhere."

"Of course, they had to start somewhere," Patia smiled. "I was referring more to the bonds they had developed than anything else. Can you see yourself acting that way thirty or forty years from now?"

"I can. Can you?"

"Hard to say, actually. At one time, yes, that is how I saw myself at that stage of my life. It has been a long time since I have even tried to picture myself that far into the future." Patia answered

It was clear to Silvio that Patia did not, or at least not yet, share his feelings about their relationship, he would respect that, however, he did not know what to do now. "What shall we do next," he asked.

Patia shook her head lightly. "It isn't about sharing or not sharing feelings, Silvio. Just as you have a past to assimilate into your current feelings, so do I. What I feel is far different than I have ever felt in my life. As you know, that isn't an easy, one day, process to work through. What would you like to do next?"

Silvio was startled that she had again pulled the thoughts form his head. He was surprised becasue earlier she had said she could not read those kinds of thoughts from him. "I guess we could just take is a day at a time."

"I think that might be for the best," Patia smiled.

"So, shall we call it a night, or are there more sights you want to see while we are in Washington DC," asked Silvio.

"There is one last sight I wanted to show you, but you can see it from here." Patia swept the remnants of dinner from her lap and stood up. She brushed her hands along the denim. The material was well loved and faded. It felt as smooth as velvet against her sweaty palms. She grasped Silvio's hand and tugged him to his feet. She leaned against him as she stood on tiptoe and pointed to a building with a tall spire poking up from behind the American History building. "Do you see that?"

"Yes," said Silvio, "I can see it." Silvio, was relieved, he did not really want the evening to end, expecially with his foot in his mouth. "What is it?"

"That was my boarding school. Can you imagine? An entire school of telepathic girls all confined to several building, our poor teachers!" Patia slipped her arm around his waist and settled back to her flat feet.

"Telepaths... on Earth," Silvio was confused.

"A bunch of hoity, toity diplomats' daughters," Patia slid her other arm around his waist and tilted her head back to look up at him. "Aren't you glad you missed out on it?"

"I never knew there had been a bording school for telepaths in DC," he replied.

"Might have been before your time, Guiseppe. It hasn't been in existence for quite some time. There probably isn't anyone left on Earth from Betazed." Patia stood on tiptoe again, and placed a gentle kiss at the corner of his mouth. She rocked back to her flat footed position. "The school went away ten or fifteen years ago. You weren't old enough to care," Patia winked.

"I was also a half a world away," he said. Silvio turned to look her in the face, "Has my revelation tonight harmed our relationship?"

Patia shook her head. "I will be honest and say we are not in the exact place as each other, but we are probably closer than either of us realize. I also feel we will wind up in the same place as we work through this portion of our life. Does what I say offend you?"

"No," said Silvio. Inf fact, Silvio thought it gave him something to work towards. He smiled and gave her a kiss. "We will get there," he said.

"I have no doubt," Patia said, as she laid her head against his chest. The beat of his heart throbbed steadily against her ear.