Chapter Text
"Can I sit in that big room with all the cadets again today?"
Picard focused his gaze on his grandson, who was looking up at him expectantly. "Julien, I'm not sure I can persuade them again to let you sit in one of the interstellar relations classes..."
"But I was there last time you took me here!" the eight-year-old protested.
Picard sighed heavily. "I simply don't know if I'll be able to get permission..."
"But you're Captain Picard! They can't tell you no!"
"You'd be surprised," Picard remarked dryly and looked at the huge Starfleet Academy building across the lawn in front of them. "Alright, I'll see wha-"
"Now hold it right there - don't you dare cross that lawn!" a cranky voice suddenly sounded from behind, and Picard - not believing his old ears - whirled around as fast as he still could to see a person who, by all logical means, could and should not be there and yet was.
"Boothby?!"
"What does it look like - the Federation President?" the old groundskeeper huffed and then looked at Julien. "And who might you be?"
"My name is Julien Picard," the boy said proudly.
Boothby looked back at Picard. "Your grandson, huh?"
"Yes." Picard returned Boothby's stare. "I really don't believe this..."
"Don't believe what?" Boothby asked grumpily.
"That you're still here, and still looking just like you did when I was a cadet."
"Are you insulting my age now?" Boothby complained. "You're as rude as ever!"
"My grandfather is not rude," Julien piped up from below.
Boothby looked down at him. "You're quite fierce for a little boy who has no business walking around in this area."
"We really had no intention of crossing your lawn," Picard assured him quickly.
"That's what they all say," Boothby shot back. "Maybe I should complain to Admiral Jenkins about this, but then, she won't listen to me - she's busy with her interstellar relations class. And she's way too nice to guests like you anyway."
Picard smiled slightly. "Jenkins, hmm? Thanks, Boothby."
"What for?" the old man huffed and then turned around and walked away, muttering to himself.
"He's not very nice," Julien remarked.
"It only seems that way," Picard said absent-mindedly and then took Julien's hand. "Come on, let's go and find Admiral Jenkins."