Snow Falling Softly XXVIII
The sun on Dorvan V hid behind the mesas, hesitant to make its appearance, the gray twilight before dawn beginning to erase the darkness of night. One light penetrated the gray of the pre-dawn, the warm light from the home of Anthrawa and Wakasa. Jean-Luc Picard and his family moved towards this light, Andrew and Wesley leading the way. When the door opened and Wakasa stood before them, each of them said nothing aloud, their eyes saying all that needed to be said. One at a time, Wakasa cupped their cheeks with her hands, kissed their foreheads, offering them peace and forgiveness. Anthrawa motioned the boys inside, towards the room where he and his wife had kept vigil with their son's body. The rest of them entered the home, each of them greeted by Wakasa the same as Andrew and Wesley. Lakanta's mother bid Picard, Beverly, Allie, and Gracie to sit and watch, Allie between her mother and father, Gracie moving to her father's lap.
A soft knock at the door, another kiss of peace from Wakasa, and Gul Evek entered the room of the vigil. Picard and Evek exchanged nods, each knowing why the other was present: Nor should any man have to bear his son's death alone. Wakasa asked Evek to sit near the others on the bench, the Cardassian sat hesitantly next to Picard and Gracie. The little girl watched Evek curiously; she had never seen a Cardassian before. The captain turned his attention back to Wakasa, at her eyes, her face, her posture as she watched the ceremony for her son begin. Nor should any woman have to bear her son's death alone. Anthrawa exchanged a look with his wife, offering her comfort through the warmth and strength in his own eyes. Picard exchanged a similar look with the woman who would become his wife in the near future.
Wakasa asked Andrew to hold a bucket of suds for her, then handed it to him. He took it and held it without trembling as Wakasa carefully washed her son's dark hair. Once she had finished, she toweled it dry, folded the towel back up slowly, set it and the bucket aside. She then braided his hair and placed the braid across Lakanta's shoulder and down to his chest. As Wakasa and Andrew worked together, Anthrawa had Wesley hold a cup of ink. The colony leader took a slim brush and wrote words in his ancient language on Lakanta's hands and feet and forehead. He began with Lakanta's left foot, writing words and chanting in his ancient language, then repeating the chant in Standard.
The left foot, "In the house made of dawn."
Then he moved to the right foot, continuing. "His feet, my feet, restore."
Left hand. "His limbs, my limbs, restore."
Right hand. "His body, my body, restore."
The man moved up to his son's forehead, wrote in old script with the dark brown ink. "His mind, my mind, restore." He placed the brush in the cup, took the cup from Andrew, set it next to the towel.
Wakasa chanted, "In the story made of dawn, on the trail of dawn." She moved to a shelf, took out a long white cloth, a shroud. Quietly, she gave instructions to Andrew and Wesley, and together with Anthrawa, they wrapped Lakanta in the shroud. Last they drew the shroud to cover the boy's peaceful face. Together, the boy's parents said, " To the house of your kindred, up there you return. To the house of happiness, up there you return. To the house of the sky, up there you return. To the house of the rain, up there you return. To the house of your kindred, the rain will return."
The colony on Dorvan V believed the white shroud covering the body represented the cloud spirit that would return to the sky and bring good rain upon the village. Anthrawa turned to Wesley and Andrew. "Sit with me, in front of my son's body," he said, lowering himself to the ground to sit cross-legged. Wesley and Andrew followed suit, sitting as Anthrawa was. Behind them, Wakasa stood next to her son's body, her hand on his chest, over his stilled heart.
The captain felt Gracie move, her hand stretch out to touch the face of the Cardassian beside them. "It's okay," she said. "I'm sad, too." And she wiped the tear from the stranger's cheek.
"I will tell you a story of the dawn," said Anthrawa. "You must listen closely. This is how Kotcimanyako scattered the stars: As the tribe started south a little girl was left behind. Our Mother called, 'Kotcimanyako, come here,' and she gave her a little bag made of white hand-woven cotton to carry on her back. 'Do not unwrap what is in this bag, no matter what happens.' The girl promised she would keep it wrapped carefully. Kotcimanyako started off."
" 'Be careful, little daughter. Do not unwrap what is in your bag,' Our Mother repeated. Again, Kotcimanyako promised not to uncover it. She did not know what it was she was carrying. As she went along, she began to wonder why she couldn't unwrap her bundle, why she was strictly forbidden to peek into it. At last Kotcimanyako thought she would peek and see what she was carrying. She stopped, put her bundle on the ground, and stooped over. She untied the last knot and then the bundle was overflowing. Still, she didn't know what it was that came out from her bag. She was frightened and tried to put everything back into the bundle, but they all flew out into the sky and scattered all over the heaven. They were all to have had different names, and be put in special places, but now they were scattered. A few she succeeded in getting back into her bag, and when she came to the end of her journey, she unwrapped the few stars she still had in her bag and they were put in their right places. For this reason we know only a few stars by name." Anthrawa stopped speaking, studied each boy before him intently.
In return, each boy did the same, studying Anthrawa. Picard thought that the little girl in the story could easily be Gracie, her curiosity and innocence taking over a promise she might have made, he could see her accidentally spilling the stars into the sky.
Anthrawa spoke again. "This story is for each of you. Wesley, this is the story of a child who thought they knew their path until she found the courage to take one of her own. Without her courage, we would not have the stars to explore." Anthrawa turned to Andrew. "Andrew, this story is also for you, that if the child had not veered from her path, these stars would not be set out before you, a large expanse of discoveries to be made." The colony leader gestured to them both. "You each must take the path that is meant for you, do not dwell on the past except to bring you into your future." The man stood, followed by the two boys.
"Come," said Wakasa. "Let us bring Lakanta to his future in the Sky City."
Anthrawa asked Picard and Evek to come forward. The captain handed Gracie over to Beverly, stood with Evek. They would carry the bier along with Wesley and Andrew. Wakasa would lead them, Anthrawa would follow. They left the adobe home and found the rest of the colony gathered outside. The gray of the sky nearer to dawn was the same color as the eyes of Picard, of his son and daughter. The entire colony processed before them along the path leading up to the nearest mesa, all of them listening as Wakasa and Anthrawa told the tale of their culture's first experience with death.
"They were coming up from Shipap. One of their children became sick and they did not know what was the trouble with him. They had never seen sickness before. They said to the Shkoyo chief, 'Perhaps our Mother in Shipap will help us. Go back and ask her to take away this trouble.' He went back to our Mother and she said to him, 'The child is dead. If your people did not die, the world would fill up and there would be no place for you to live. When you die, you will come back to Shipap to live with me. Keep on traveling and do not be troubled when your people die.' He returned to his people and told them what our Mother had said. In those days they treated one another as brothers, all of them," Lakanta's parents said.
The last line brought them to the base of the mesa, where a grave had already been dug, waiting for Lakanta. Slowly and carefully, the body was lowered, then colonists bearing shovels began to throw dirt over the shrouded body. At the foot of the grave, Anthrawa lit a fire, saying that it would burn for four days to help Lakanta in his journey to the sky.
A moment held as the small group watched the flame, thought of the boy and his spurious charge, of the flash of light that had been his life. Picard looked at son and stepson, knowing that it could have been either of them to whom people would be saying farewell. Wesley and Andrew, both staring ahead at the flames, eyes traveling up with the smoke as it rushed towards the sky, reaching for the Sky City of Lakanta's tradition. The muscles in both of their jaws worked, their eyes glistened with rain they would not shed for their friend. Then Gracie's small hands reached up and grasped one hand from each of her brothers. Picard heard her whisper to to them, all of them heard her whisper. "It's okay to say good bye," she said. "He lived for his purpose. So you say good bye now."
The captain watched as the tears fell from every adult in the group, from every child in the group, like rain pattering the ground to bring about new life. The larger hands of the two boys tightened over Gracie's small ones, their tears fell as they said good bye. Between him and Beverly, Allie reached for their hands, held them, crying and not knowing exactly why. They all were, as they all made their farewells to everyone that had left them behind for their new life.
The negotiations began when they returned to the village, between only Picard, Anthrawa, and Evek. The rest returned to their homes, whether it be within the village or on the Enterprise, the two boys walking with their heads down, arms around Allie, Beverly holding Gracie's hand tightly. The three men found themselves once again in the austere surroundings of the meeting room for the Tribal Council. "I have been given authority to speak for the Council," Anthrawa said when Evek and Picard gave him questioning looks over the absence of the others. "Please, sit down."
Anthrawa sat at the head of the table, Picard and Evek on either side. "In those days," Anthrawa said, "They treated one another as brothers." The man looked from Picard to Evek. "And that is how I wish to conduct these negotiations today. We hold our family sacred, gentlemen. You have shared a sacred moment within my own family, you were witness to my son's death. I do not wish for his death to be in vain and I do not wish to have any more deaths as result of this colony's actions. You see, in his pursuit of independence, my son became blinded to our founding tenet of peace. This adherence to peace is why we have moved to many times, that if our difficulty with a people could not be solved without violence, we left rather than incite it. While we do not wish to move, we also do not wish to have war."
"There is another possibility," Picard said. "It's one that my son and stepson brought to my attention yesterday, before all of this happened. Wesley has told me it is why he came here in the first place, to tell Lakanta the entire truth. You see, there is one possibility that has not been mentioned, and that possibility is that you have an option to withdraw from the Federation and join the Cardassian Union."
"This is true," said Evek. "Our side also neglected in our duty by not mentioning that option. We extend that to you now, Anthrawa."
The leader nodded, looked from Evek to Picard. "Then that is the option we must take. There would be no more bloodshed, nor would there by any more moving. We would get to stay on our home."
"Anthrawa, I want to makeabsolutely sure you understand the implications of this agreement. By giving up your status as Federation citizens, any future request you or your people make for assistance from Starfleet will go unanswered. You will be on our own and under Cardassian jurisdiction," said Picard. "I say this because I will not allow any more truth to be held from you."
The colonist nodded. "I understand, Captain, and my people are willing to take that risk." He turned to the Gul. "Will the Cardassian government honor the agreement we've made here?"
"I believe that I can convince themthis is an equitable solution. I cannot speak for every Cardassian you will encounter, but if you leave us alone I suspect that we will do the same," Evek replied. "Captain, will this be acceptable to Starfleet Command?"
Picard sighed. "I will take some doing," he said. "But with Admiral Necheyev's support, I think they'll go along with it in the end."
Gul Evek stood. "Then if there is nothing else, I will return to my ship." He gave a small smile, sharing the frustration of the constancy of bureaucracy. "I have a lengthy report to write." Evek started towards the door, then stopped. "Anthrawa, I mourn for your loss." Turning to Picard, he said, "Picard, I was truly pleased to hear of your son's safe return and I am grateful for your daughter's sympathy this morning." With a nod to both men, he departed.
The captain rose from his chair. "I have a long report to write as well, Anthrawa," he said.
The leader rose as well, taking a long look at Picard. "You have wiped clean a very old stain of blood," he said. At the captain's surprised look, Anthrawa smiled. "I knew about your ancestor since I found out the Enterprise was assigned to help with the negotiations. I knew we would not lose our home, that you would erase that stain on your family's history. Your son and stepson did well to remind you of your task towards history, as mind did for me. I had been blinded as much as he had, to forget peace in the name of independence. He made me remember." He extended his hand. "I wish you well, Picard."
The captain shook the other man's hand. "I wish you the same, Anthrawa." Then he left the room and departed for his ship.
Once he materialized in the transporter room, he made his way up to the bridge, to his ready room and started in on the report while everything was fresh in his mind. He went between two PADDs, typing in the experience from the funeral and the impact it had on the negotiations afterward. The impact the boy Lakanta had on all of them, the hole it left in Anthrawa and Wakasa's fabric of life. He had only gotten two paragraphs into the report when the terminal next to him beeped to notify him of an incoming communication. Turning, Picard saw Admiral Necheyev on his screen. "Admiral," he said.
She nodded. "Captain. I wanted a preliminary report on what happened during the negotiations, especially when I found out you had already returned from the colony."
"They have decided to withdraw from the Federation," Picard answered.
Necheyev sighed. "I suspected they would. The Council will fight this."
"I believe once the Council reads about the death of the boy that they will agree to the terms. It is a way of peace and we shouldn't let our own prejudices against the Cardassian Union force another people to reject their home," said Picard.
"Yes," said the Admiral. "I read your report. How are Anthrawa and Wakasa?"
"As well as can be expected," Picard said. "Their burial rites leave plenty of room for hope on both the part of the deceased and those left behind. Gul Evek also took part. It was a...moving experience." The words he used couldn't come near the fullness of the experience. But for some things, there were never adequate words.
"Well, I look forward to your report," said Necheyev.
"Admiral, I have a favor to ask."
"Yes?" She quirked an eyebrow.
He drummed on his desk with his fingers. "Would you be able to officiate a wedding the day after tomorrow?"
She blinked, staring at him momentarily. "Isn't that a bit soon, Captain?"
"I was outvoted," he said, his voice plain.
The admiral smiled. "As I said before, I would love to. Send me the details. Necheyev out."
The screen faded to the Federation symbol, then darkened. The captain picked up the PADD once again and returned to his report. It had to be finished before he could turn his concentration to the other matters rushing up. Three more paragraphs into it and the door chimed. "Come," he said.
Andrew strode in. "I heard a stuffy old captain is cooped up in here," he said.
"I have no idea who you're talking about," Picard said, keeping his eyes on the PADD after hearing who it was. "And how did you manage to get on the bridge?"
"You might want to get a better first officer," Andrew said, settling himself into a chair.
The captain dropped his PADD with a clatter. "Riker. Damn him." Andrew lifted an eyebrow. "Don't give me that look," Picard said. "It's bad enough that your mother and sister do. Please tell me you have a good reason for coming up here and interrupting my work."
"I do. Worf's free for the next few hours, I have some things to work through, so I figured he could have his first fencing lesson. Then I remembered that you wanted to see it, thought you probably had a few things to work through, too, found out you were here, and came up to ask if you wanted to go," Andrew said.
The captain crossed his arms. "The ship has a comm system for a reason."
"It's much easier to say no to a voice disassociated from a body. I thought maybe I could charm you into it."
"The answer is no," Picard said, picking up a another PADD. "I have to finish this report."
Andrew heaved a dramatic, stretching his long legs in front of him. Picard was suddenly and distinctly reminded of Beverly. "This means I'm sending Gracie up next," said Andrew.
The captain paused mid-movement. "You know as well as I do that's not fighting fair."
The boy stood up. "I never said I'd fight fair. So, that report'll take you what, another hour? Meet me in the gym in about an hour and a half?"
"Fine." If he wasn't finished with the report in an hour, then he writing skills would have vanished anyway.
"Two hours maximum," said Andrew. "Then I sent the short one." He grinned.
The captain started waving him out, then stopped. "Do me a favor?" he said. "Please try to look properly chastised for coming up here and disturbing me. It might deter my first officer from allowing my children on the bridge in the future."
Andrew nodded his agreement, composed his face into what looked like a sincere sorry, and left the ready room. Picard made a note in his head that if he saw that look on Andrew's face again, that it wouldn't be sincere. Within forty five minutes, he'd transmitted the report, spoken with Guinan about the wedding, then transmitted those details to Necheyev. Picard left the bridge to his second officer and went down to the gymnasium, still in full uniform. Entering, he found his son kneeling at a bench, working on the tip of one of his foils. Andrew must have caught the movement out of the corner of his eye because he flinched in his ministrations on the foil's tip, let go of the end, and the spring went flying across the room.
"Shit," said Andrew. "I'll never find it now." The boy looked at Worf standing in the corner. "We'll have to fence epee," he said.
"As long as it's a warrior's weapon," Worf said.
Andrew rolled his eyes.
"I do not understand why you cannot replicate another spring," said Worf.
Andrew scowled. "You should know as well as anyone that parts of weapons, especially bladed ones, aren't the same when they're replicated instead of forged." The boy looked over towards the door, finally noticing his father. "You know how to fence epee, right?"
The captain nodded.
Andrew turned to Worf. "Care for a demonstration of your warrior's weapon?"
"I would," said the lieutenant, then he walked into the main fencing room. Picard quickly changed into his whites, grabbed one of his epees and joined Andrew and Worf in the main room. Worf stood next to one of the spectator benches as the captain and his son hooked up to the scoring boxes. Picard hadn't fenced epee in awhile, the other fencers on the ship tended to fence either exclusively foil or saber. He took a few minutes to warm up, then stepped onto the strip. After saluting and donning their masks, they began moving up and down the strip, sizing each other up. They looked for shoddy footwork, open target, tempo changes. Andrew had explained to Worf while the captain changed that the entire body was target in epee. Picard feinted at Andrew's shoulder, drawing a slight parry from the boy. The captain feinted towards the same place again and Andrew caught him on the underside of his arm, getting a touch.
The walked back to the middle of the strip, starting again. They went up and down the strip, trading touches, keeping fairly even. Picard realized that the rule of three didn't apply to Andrew. Normally, you could set a pattern of two and break it on the third, or make a mistake twice but not three times. Andrew, however, could see mistakes immediately. Picard made a mistake in his extension, exposing his hand. Andrew nailed the tip of his father's thumb. The score box lit up.
"That was not honorable!" said Worf.
Andrew took off his mask, frowning. "Why not?"
"You got a touch on his thumb. That does no significant damage."
The captain removed his own mask. "Actually, lieutenant, if he'd cut off my thumb, I would find it hard to wield a weapon."
"That is true," said Worf.
"You willing to learn yet?" asked Andrew.
Worf indicated that he was and the two Picards began to teach their Klingon friend how to fence.
Beverly Crusher tapped the PADD in her hand against the desk in her office. The terminal next to her held information on some report she'd read at least fourteen times in the last hour and had retained none of it. She had no idea why she even bothered to try and work this afternoon, with all the preparations she had to finish for tomorrow, except Deanna and Allie had said they would gladly make the preparations for her. Then this morning she'd had Dr. Selar perform a checkup to make sure the baby was developing properly. Though very early in the pregnancy, with DNA scanning, Selar had already determined the baby's sex. The PADD contained the report of the checkup and the doctor had spent the past hour trying to decide if she wanted to know. Her eyes locked onto the caduceus on the window, PADD continuing to be tapped on the desk.
"I didn't realize this what how you got so much work done," Deanna Troi said from the doorway.
"That's because it isn't," Beverly replied.
"I just spoke with Guinan," said Deanna, settling herself into a chair in front of the doctor's desk. "Everything's all set for tomorrow."
"Mmm."
"Gracie told me that she wants a pet tarantula," Troi said.
"Gracie hates spiders," Beverly replied, finally looking away from her window and at her friend.
"Oh, good, you were listening," said Deanna. "Gracie actually came with Allie and me to help find and fit dresses. She's terribly excited."
"I can imagine." Beverly continued to tap the PADD.
Deanna leaned over and snatched the PADD from her hand. "What's this?"
"Report from this morning. I had Selar do a check up on me." Crusher drummed her fingers on the desk. "Jean-Luc finished moving his things this morning. I think. Though he insists on staying in his cabin tonight, something about it being his last night as a single man. However, Andrew and Wesley said they're going to stay with him. I think they're doing some sort of father-son bonding or something. I don't know. Male-oriented. They're even taking the dog." Beverly frowned.
"Conal is male," said Deanna, reading over the report.
"Mmm." Beverly frowned again. "Will's not involved in this is he? I mean, I trust him with my life, but there's things in life that I don't trust him with. Like my younger son's innocence, for example."
"I don't think you have much to worry about yet. Andrew hasn't even realized how attractive he is, so I don't think Will would have much influence over him."
"So Will is involved?"
Deanna put the PADD down on her lap. "Do you want to know or not?" she asked, smiling.
Beverly placed her head on the desk. "Yes. No. If it's a girl, I'm afraid she'll turn out like Gracie or Allie. If it's a boy, we'll just be horribly outnumbered." The doctor moved her eyes to look at her friend while keeping her head on the desk. "Tell me."
The counselor grinned and set the PADD down on the desk next to Beverly's head. "You're officially outnumbered," she said.
The doctor closed her eyes. "I don't know if that's good or bad."
"Ask the captain," came Deanna's lilting voice, then changed the topic to the schedule for the next day.
Beverly decided to tell Jean-Luc that night as they finished sorting through the rest of his things. Gracie pulled his sextant from a bin and ran off with it. Andrew and Allie had gotten ahold of the Picard family album and were leafing through it on the couch, drawing glares from the captain every time they snickered. "Hey, that's a Jesuit," Andrew said, pointing to one of the photographs, a man in a long black cassock.
"Gabriel Lalement," said Jean-Luc, not looking up from his book. "His mother was a Picard. Gabriel entered the Jesuit order in Paris and was sent to Canada as an assistant to John de Brebeuf. They were both taken prisoner and killed by the Iroquois."
The doctor watched as the twins considered this. "We should name this next kid after him," said Andrew. "I mean, Gabriel, not Lalement."
"Could work for a girl, too," said Allie. "It makes sense. He or she came about as this whole Dorvan V situation was made and resolved and the mistake of that one Picard was wiped off the slate. Seems only fair to wipe the slate for the other side."
"Exactly," said Andrew. The boy noticed his father wasn't paying the best of attention. "And it won't be one of those silly sounding French names." And he started reading off each of the names he found in the album, exaggerating the French accent.
Jean-Luc snapped his book shut. "Enough. I heard you," he said. "I think you and I will have a little chat about the French language tonight."
Andrew made a face.
Beverly studied the captain as he studied their son with that annoyed crinkle in his brow. Andrew returned the same look as Allie ignored them both. The doctor wondered who the next child would look like. If he would have darker hair like Allie, or some shade of red like Andrew or Gracie. If he would have blue eyes or gray. If he would be as stubborn as the rest of them, as inquisitive as Gracie, as fiery as Allie, as strong as Andrew. Smiling, Beverly went and sat on the arm of the chair Jean-Luc was in. "It's a boy," she whispered in his ear.
"Thank God," he whispered back, looking at Allie, then over at Gracie, who was returning with the sextant.
"Jean-Luc!" Beverly said, smacking him playfully on the arm. "That's an awful thing to say."
Gracie put the sextant down on the coffee table. "What'd Papa say?"
The doctor opened her mouth to give her youngest a truthful answer, but Jean-Luc cut her off. "Papa said that he is very happy to find out that you'll be getting a little brother because he couldn't bear to have another daughter as pretty as you."
The little girl beamed.
Beverly let loose a curse under her breath. Gracie was absolutely wrapped around her father's finger. He could do no wrong. The father in question gave her a self-satisfied smirk. The rest of the information seemed to finally work its way into Gracie's head and she gave a shout. "I'm getting a little brother!" she said.
"Named Gabriel," Andrew and Allie said in unison.
"I like that name," said Gracie.
The name argument continued until Gracie started falling asleep on the floor. Her father tucked her in, then headed back to his quarters for one last night, accompanied by Andrew and Conal. Beverly fell asleep on the couch to be woken by the chime announcing Deanna's arrival for breakfast and the sounds of Allie and Gracie running about their morning routine. The smallest girl seemed a bit out of sorts without having her brother to torture. She went over to her mother. "Get up," she said. "Deanna's here and you're getting married today!"
"To Deanna?" Beverly asked, doing her best to wake up.
Gracie's brow crinkled. "No. To Papa," she said.
"Oh, right. Him," Beverly said, getting up and making her way to the lavatory as Deanna laughed. She was awake when she came back out and tore into the late breakfast. The rest of the morning passed quickly as the final touches were made. Gracie had to make a last minute trip to the arboretum to steal a camellia and found her brothers on the way back.
"Are you ready yet?" Wesley asked when they came in behind their sister. Both boys had on dark suits chosen by Allie.
Beverly glared at her oldest son.
Wesley balked. "I guess not," he said.
"Dad's ready," Andrew said. "He complained that you weren't there to fasten his collar. I don't understand why he can't do it himself. It's the wrong size anyway, too small."
"Vanity," said Deanna, making a couple final touches to Beverly's hair.
Andrew and Wesley snorted. Beverly stood up. "I'm ready," she said, turning to her sons. Wesley let out a whistle while Andrew raised an eyebrow. "I'll take those reactions as compliments," she said.
Her second son walked over and gathered her into a hug, lifting her off her feet. "You look great," he said. "I'll go tell Dad you're ready."
Wesley escorted her down to Ten Forward where everyone waited. When they entered, everyone stood, and Beverly saw all of her friends, their eyes shining in reflected happiness. Jean-Luc was standing in front of the admiral, Will and Andrew next to him. Deanna, Allie, and Gracie waited across from them, Gracie holding a camellia in her hands and grinning from ear to ear. The girl had explained earlier that it was for Nana, that this camellia had its own purpose of watching the wedding for her great-grandmother. Beverly saw Jean-Luc holding in a grin as wide as his daughter's, the smile on his face genuine, the grin lighting up his gray eyes. Wesley shook the captain's hand and then Beverly took Jean-Luc's hand as her son went to stand next to his brother.
They exchanged their vows in front of their friends and family, became husband and wife. Jean-Luc and Beverly Picard shared their first dance together, then those friends and family present joined them on the dance floor, equally celebrating the new beginning. After a few dances, Gracie cut in on her mother to dance with her papa. She squealed when Jean-Luc lifted her up and spun her around. Andrew asked Beverly to dance and she happily agreed. "Thank God you're having a boy," Andrew said quietly, watching Gracie. "I don't think I could take another sister."
Beverly slid her look over to her husband and younger daughter. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing's wrong with that," Andrew said. "It's Allie. She keeps making girls ask me to dance. It's awful."
The doctor smiled at him and knew the girls must find his complete ignorance at his own good looks incredibly attractive. The dark suit brought out all his features, the reddish tint to his fair hair, the sharp gray eyes, the chiseled lines of his face and body. Nothing arrogant about him at all. Allie swayed by with Wesley and Beverly exchanged one son for another, keeping her eye on Allie and Andrew to see what would be said. The poor boy was trying to look inconspicuous, the attention getting to her quiet son. But when dancing with Allie, his opposite, relishing in the attention the boys lavished on her, flirting madly with each of them, he had no chance of going unnoticed. Allie whispered something in Andrew's ear and his face flushed a deep scarlet and his sister laughed, her laughter carrying across the room like a choir of bells. She'd told him. Beverly laughed as well.
"I see she finally told him," Wesley said.
Beverly lifted an eyebrow at him. "You knew about that, too?"
"There's only so many times you can be asked by girls if your brother is attached before you figure it out," Wesley said. They watched as the captain switched partners with Andrew, saving Andrew from further torment from his twin sister, the boy obviously preferring to be tortured by the younger. His face was still red.
"I have an evil stepfather now," Wesley said.
Beverly turned toward him, thinking he was serious. Then she saw his grin and returned it.
"Except he isn't very good at being evil," said Wes.
"I'll let him know," Beverly replied.
"I'm glad it's a boy," Wesley said abruptly, his eyes on Gracie. "Honestly, another sister would be awful. Allie and Gracie are bad enough."
The doctor poked her son in the shoulder. "What is it with the men in this family?" she asked. "What's so bad about the women?"
Wesley shook his head and sighed. "Nothing, Mom. That's the problem." Beverly's laughter mirrored her daughter's.
Before they spent their first night as husband and wife, Jean-Luc and Beverly added a new, final entry to Nana's journal: the date of their wedding. Then they placed a photograph of them from the wedding into the family album. In the ambassadorial cabin they decided to stay in that night, they looked through the album together after they made the new entry. "I'd like the baby to be born in La Barre," the captain said quietly. "We could take a couple months leave, centered around the due date. All of us could spend time together, the children could learn about their roots in France--."
She cut him off with a kiss. "Jean-Luc," she said. "You're babbling. I've already decided that's what I wanted to do." Beverly followed her statement with another kiss, one that he deepened, and she led him to their bed. They would talk in other ways for the rest of the night.
Three days later, they arrived on Caldos, beaming down soon after the ship entered orbit. The moon peeped from behind the cloud cover to reflect brightly on the slow, lighting a path across the yard to the house. Gracie pushed Wesley into the snow, he whispered something in her ear, and the two of them began to make snow angels. Allie shoved her twin into the snow next to them, Wesley whispered something to the two of them. Then Beverly realized that Wesley remembered.
She reached out and took Jean-Luc's hand, and they went into the yard to join their children, a light snow greeting them from the night sky above. It was snowing...and Beverly had no ending to her sentence, the future open, no longer tied to the past.
End.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my two beta readers BONCPC and Naraht (named in no particular order of importance aside from alphabetical) who provided ideas, feedback, and one line that made me giggle.
Naraht for the idea of other cadets seeing Wesley as Picard's stepson.
Gates Girls for help when I needed it.
Websites
Memory Alpha
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Sacred Texts
Catholic Online
Vulcan Language Institute
Voragh's Notes on Klingon Cursing