Mamma Silvio Would Not Approve "
By: Giuseppe Silvio, Chief Engineer, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58205.28 2300

==Patia's Quarters==

Patia loaded a series of jazz tunes into the sound system located in her quarters. She dimmed the lights to one quarter intensity. Wrapping a soft green fleece blanket around her shoulders, she settled into the corner of her sofa to wait for Silvio's arrival. Quietly, she closed her eyes as the soft notes tinkled lightly along her nerves.

Silvio stopped outside Paria's quarters. He had finished work in Engineering and returned to his quarters to change out of his uniform and into more comfortable clothing. Silvio reached out and rang the door chime.

Patia turned slightly and looked over the back of the couch. "Enter," she called, her voice slightly hoarse.

Silvio entered the the sound of jazz music softly playing. Seeing Patia looking at him over the back of her sofa he smiled and walked towards her. He leaned over the back of the couch and said , "Hi there."

"Hello to you, too," the words whispered across the space between. "Have a seat," she patted the couch next to her.

Silvio moved around the couch and sat down next to her and looked at her. He decided that he liked it when she wore her hair down. "How was the rest of your day?"

"Busy, busy. It was good to get back here and put my feet up. How about yours?" She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"We got the ship moving again," he said, "Ready for the next thing, whatever that might be."

She nodded. Unconsciously, she pulled the blanket up under her chin. The scent of gardenias wafted under her nose. "I can't believe you are as awake as you are. I would be so tired."

Silvio chuckled, "I am a little tired, but you promised me a snuggle, that has givem me the strength to make it thought the day."

Patia chuckled in return. "Did you need something to eat or drink while we have that snuggle?"

Silvio laughed, "Nope! Just the snuggle, Ma'am."

She lifted the edge of her blanket and patted the soft cushion.

Silvio moved closer to Patia, put his arm around her and drew her close to him.

She tipped her head back to glance back at him. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

"Hmmm, let's see," Silvio thought about it, "Would it surprise you if I told you that I would like to see this war over, be the chief engineer on a exploration vessel and married to the ship's Betaziod counselor, whom I love very much?"

"An exploration vessel? What would a Betazoid counselor do on an exploration vessel?" Patia pondered the rest of his statement as she waited his response.

Silvio said nothing at first, confused by her question, then he said, "Counsel them?"

Patia shook her head. "Counsel them? What would I counsel them regarding?" She sighed. She had trained long and hard to be prepared to deal with the issues of a people inundated with war type conditions. She hadn't considered what would come after the war was over.

"Is something wrong, Patia," asked Silvio?

"No, nothing is wrong. I just realized that once that situation is over, I will have outmoded myself. I might as well pack it in and move back home for all the training I have outside of what we are dealing with right now. That is a bit of a jump to make in the thought process."

"Patia, have no fear," said Silvio sadly, "Counselors will be dealing with the effects of this nasty war for years after it is done." Silvio had hoped to concentrate on the last part of his five year plan.

"True. And don't get me wrong, I want this war over as much as the next person, I just hadn't thought about it being over in our immediate future. So, married, eh?"

"Yeah," said Silvio, "Does that surprise you?"

"A little. How familiar are you with Betazoid wedding customs?" The corner of Patia's lip curled slightly as she surpressed a snicker. It was always possible he was well versed in the traditions, but they could be a nasty shock for some.

"Weddings are all the same aren't they?"

Stifling a chuckle, she said, "Most Betazid weddings are the same, but they are not the same as most, shall we say, traditional humanoid weddings."

"Oh really," he asked, "What makes them so different?"

"What would you expect to wear to a wedding, if you were the groom?" The giggle was getting harder to suppress.

"I would suppose that I would wear my dress uniform," said Silvio.

"Oh, dear. You would be a might overdressed," the muscles along her back rippled at the hidden giggle. The warm expanse of his chest felt solid against her as leaned back.

"In my dress uniform," asked Silvio, "What does the groom usually wear?

"Yes, overdressed in your dress uniform. Usually," she cleared her throat, "actually, always, Betazoid weddings are conducted with the primary participants," she cleared her throat again, "you know, the bride and groom, basically everyone, nude." She barely finished speaking before the laughter bubbled out of her. She leaned forward and rested her forehead on her knees as the laughter shook her body.

"Oh, well," Silvio cleared his throat, "I see. Nude." Silvio did not know whatt to say, "Umm, isn't that a bit awkward... and chilly?"

"I can see where it would be awkward for someone not accustomed to it, but no, it isn't. I feel quite uncomfortable at a wedding where clothing is required. It is just a matter of what you are comfortable with and what you are familiar with from past experience. Also, with the number of people that attend traditional weddings, it doesn't get chilly. There is too much body heat. So, still see yourself married to a Betazoid counselor in five years?" She arched an eyebrow as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"For you Patia, I would do it," declared Silvio. THen a terrible thoguht crossed his mind, "Oh dear, Mamma Silvio would not approve, we might need to have two weddings. Oh boy, this would be a problem for her."

"Guiseppe, do you think we might be jumping the gun just a tad here? We are not even bethrothed. Besides, my mother has powers of persuasion the like you have never seen before. She can talk to your mother."

"You are right, we are jumping the gun," he paused, "Ok, where do you see yourself in five years?"

"Right now, I have to formulate a new plan. I had always assumed I would be a single individual whose only obligation was to serve the Maquis. Now, I don't know how accurate that would be."

"You'll let me know if I can be of any help wont you," asked Silvio.

She smiled softly. "Don't worry, you will be the first to know." She leaned her head back against his shoulder and tugged the blanket up against her chin.

Silvio smiled and gently stroked her side as they sat listening to the music playing softly in her quarters.