RikerYou Oneshots

Use Your Imagination

"Mommy, but you promised!" Your seven-year-old daughter with long blonde curls whines to you for the fifth time today.

"Annie I told you we can't go camping this weekend. There are predicted thunderstorms."

"So!" She has been asking to go camping for weeks now. Ever since her teacher read that book in class.

"I'm sorry honey. You can talk to your father, but it's to dangerous outside."

Her eyes light up at the glimmer of hope. "Where is he?" She asks jumping up and down curls bouncing.

"Daddy is at uncle Rocky's working on new songs. He'll be home before dinner.

"Yeah!" Annie runs up and hugs your waist tightly.

~~~~~~

That evening you're in the kitchen finishing up dinner when you hear the sound of a door opening then closing.

"Smells delicious." Riker says setting his things down and walking over to you. He wraps his arms around your waist gently from behind resting his chin to your shoulder.

"Watcha makin'?" He asks curiously, voice like a small child's.

"Lasagna. Mama's old recipe." You turn around to face him his body against yours.

"How was your day beautiful?" Riker leans in closer.

"Wonderful." You peck him on the lips smiling.

"Eww!" Your daughter exclaims from across the kitchen.

Giggling Riker and you pull apart smiling at her.

"Come here princess." He kneels down to her level as she rushes towards him leaping into his strong arms.

"Hi daddy."

"Hey sweetheart. How are you?"

"Mommy said we could go camping!" She wiggles in his arms.

"Oh really." He sets her on her feet again.

"No I did not. I said she could talk to you about it. There are predicted thunderstorms. I don't think it's safe." You look at him telling him with your eyes, "No"

Annie on the other hand gazes up at him with hopeful puppy dog eyes. You and her both know very well that's one of Riker's weaknesses.

He finally answers voice soft, "Well, I don't see why we can't. How about tonight?"

"Yay!" Annie jumps up and down hugging his legs.

"Riker," You say sternly. "Thunderstorms."

His only reply is, "Don't worry."

"Don't worry? It's dangerou-" You're cut off by a strange smell, a smell like burning.

"My lasagna!" You run to the oven opening the door and pulling out the now slightly blackened dinner.

"Oh great. Now what are we supposed to eat?" Tossing the ruined food in the trash you cross your arms shifting your weight to one foot.

"This is perfect!" Riker's overwhelming enthusiasm surprises and infuriates you. He can see the unimpressed expression forming on your face and offers an explanation.

"About the camping I was talking about indoors. We can set up a tent in the living room right in front of the fireplace. And by "perfect" I mean we can roast hotdogs for dinner instead. Almost like real camping."

Thinking for a second you can't suppress the grin forming on your lips. It is a pretty good idea.

"What do you say?" His eyebrows rise.

"Okay. Let's do it." You sigh, actually quite excited.

"Yay!" Annie shouts a final time.

~~~~~~

Thirty minutes later the living room is transformed. Couch and chairs pushed against a wall, tent in it's place. About six different blankets are scattered everywhere making a little nest.

Riker starts up the fire with his little blonde helper while you bring hotdogs and buns to your "campsite."

Once the fire is crackling and the three of you are cozied up together amongst the blankets and each other you begin roasting the hotdogs.

"Careful Annie. Don't get to close to the flames." You caution, gesturing Riker to help her.

The three of you laugh finishing up cooking dinner. Sitting together in a circle while eating Riker and you tell stories, jokes, and memories simply enjoying a relaxing evening with the other and your only daughter.

"How about some music?" Riker suggests when things start to settle down.

"Play me a song daddy." Annie asks already beginning to sound sleepy, yawning at the end of her sentence.

A soft melody plays as he strums. Fingers dancing across strings and music bouncing off the walls filling the room.

You close your eyes picturing a real campfire, moon high in the sky, and the faint sounds of wildlife in the distance.

When the song ends you open your eyes seeing a small body lying down by your leg. Annie's fast asleep.

Without either of you saying a word both of you put out the fire and crawl inside the tent. Riker carries Annie settling her inside under blankets then lying down too next to her.

You slide under the blankets as well, on the other side of Annie's frail body. Three warm body's keeping each other toasty.

"Goodnight princess." Riker breaks the silence kissing the top of her head smoothing the wild blonde curls with his fingers.

"You're so good with her." You gaze at him through the dim light.

"You are too."

"Whatever, I'm always the bad guy. You're her knight in shining armor."

"What are you talking about? She adores you. Just wait until she's about twelve. Then you can say she sees you as the bad guy." He chuckles staring at you with soft eyes.

"I love you. Wait, if she's the princess does that make me the queen?" You can't help but laugh at the little comparison.

"You're not my queen. You're my goddess and no one can compare."

Even though it can't be seen you blush deeply nudging his shoulder. "You're too sweet."

"You know I've always been a bit of a hopeless romantic." It's true, when you we're dating he always had the most romantic places to take you and the cutest things to say.

Feeling a rustling against your body you look down at Annie her eyes clenched shut. "We should probably let her sleep. Goodnight Riker."

"Goodnight love."

Hugging your family tightly you drift asleep imagining all the other family activities possible with your beautiful husband and daughter.

~~~~~~

So I can see Riker being a really good dad and if he ever has girls I bet they'll have him wrapped around their little fingers.