Chapter Text
The Picard family materialised in front of a large half-timbered house in the South of France. Annisyn gaped at the house. “You grew up here?”
“Yes.”
“Wow.” Wesley tugged on Jean-Luc’s hand. “Papa, can I go see the horses?” Beverly sighed.
“Wes, let’s meet your aunt and uncle first.”
“Ok, Mommy.”
Jean-Luc gazed at his childhood home with trepidation. He and his brother hadn’t spoken in three years, not since their father had passed away. Robert had shoved a box into Jean-Luc’s hand as he was leaving, telling him it was all their father had left for him other than his shares in the vineyard. Marie, Robert’s wife, continued to send letters to Jean-Luc to keep him appraised on the vineyard and life in La Barre, and he had sent back short letters to her, too. Most recently he had told her about his marriage to Beverly and his adoption of Annisyn, but hadn’t gone into any detail. He wondered what Robert was going to say once the whole story came out.
The door to the house opened and a lithe red-headed woman came out the door. “Jean-Luc! Je suis tellement content que tu sois là!” She held out her hands for Jean-Luc and kissed both his cheeks. Wesley made a face. “Yuck. More kissing?” Marie bent down to Wesley’s level and gave the boy cheek kisses. “You must be Wesley. I’m your Tante Marie.”
“Tawnte? I thought you were my Aunt?” Marie and Jean-Luc chuckled. “Wes, Tante is the French word for Aunt. You may call Marie Aunt or Tante, it’s up to you.” Wesley scrunched up his face in throught. “Tawnte Marie!”
Marie then held out her hands to Beverly. “You must be Beverly. I’m so glad to meet you.”
“Thank you for letting us come to your house. Jean-Luc has been telling me about La Barre for years. I’m glad I’m finally here.” Jean-Luc reached for Annisyn’s hand and tugged her forward. “Marie, this is my daughter, Annisyn and my granddaughter Katrynska.”
“Katie!” Wesley cried out. Jean-Luc patted Wesley’s head. “The family calls her Katie, and Annisyn goes by Ann.”
“Hello, Ann. May I hold Katie?” Annisyn passed the baby to Marie and she cuddled her close while looking over at Beverly. “Holding a baby makes you want one, doesn’t it?” Beverly could only grin.
“Marie, where’s Robert?”
“Out in the vines, but I told him to be here when you arrived,” Marie scanned the horizon. “There he is.”
A tall, burly man approached with the same receding hairline Jean-Luc had. As the introductions were made to Robert, he paused when Marie introduced him to Annisyn and gruffly said to his brother, “A daughter, eh, Jean-Luc? Are you sure she’s the only one? You were a bit wild back in those days...” Jean-Luc contained his rage and clutched Beverly’s hand. He knew his brother would have something to say about the situation, but he foolishly had hoped for compassion. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Jean-Luc quietly responded to his brother. “Robert, I think we need to tell you the full story...”
“Let me clean up a bit and we can all talk over a bottle of wine. You do still drink, don’t you?” Jean-Luc nodded and allowed Marie to usher everyone into the house. Marie paused at the bottom of the steps. “Right then, young man. You’re going to stay in your Papa’s old room.”
“Really? Papa are your toys still in there?”
“Wesley, I was a little boy a long time ago.”
“Oh.” Marie patted Jean-Luc’s shoulder. “Your chest is still at the foot of your bed. We haven’t touched it.”
“In that case, Wes, there might be a few toys and books up there for you.”
“Annisyn, I’ve given you and Katie the guest room. And Jean-Luc...I thought you and Beverly might like a bit of privacy, so I’ve given you Aunt Adele’s apartment.”
“Aunt Adele’s apartment?” Beverly raised her eyebrows.
“When my grandparents died, Father insisted that Aunt Adele live with us, but she said she only would if he made her her own apartment upstairs, so he converted the attic for her. We’re in luck, it has the only replicator in the house too.”
“Um, you don’t have a replicator? I didn’t pack enough nappies for Katie...I planned on replicating what we needed...” Marie saw the panic on Annisyn’s face .“Don’t worry, my dear. We can get a supply from the village and the worst case scenario, I will show you how to use cloth diapers.” Annisyn’s eyes went wide. “Cloth?”
“You’re in the country now. We still do things the old way around here.” Jean-Luc leaned down to Annisyn’s ear and whispered “by old, she means 600 years ago. Robert and my father....well, they’re not a fan of modernisation.” Annisyn giggled, but her eyes went wide. She had never even been camping, let alone had to live without 24th century amenities.
“I heard that, Jean-Luc.” Marie admonished him with a glare. “We have some modern amenities. I managed to get a sonic shower. Besides, I enjoy cooking.”
“Marie, Is it alright if Walker, his girlfriend, and her mother come next week?”
“Jean-Luc, this is your home too. You don’t have to ask permission. Of course it’s fine. We have plenty of room.”
“Ah, Walker Keel. And...your other friend? Jack, was it? Will he be coming too?” Jean-Luc, Beverly, and Annisyn all exchanged uneasy glances. “Robert, let me get Wesley settled in my old room and we’ll open that bottle of wine...this could take some time...”
###
Robert eyed his brother over the rim of his glass. Two empty bottles littered the small table in the lounge and they were halfway down the third. Beverly and Jean-Luc were nestled together in an oversized chair, while Robert and Marie were on the settee. Annisyn had found herself a small chair in a corner, not wanting to be in the way. She still wasn’t entirely sure how she fit in with the family, and didn’t want to get in the way.
“Let me get this straight, if I can. Beverly was married to Jack and Wesley is his son biologically, but when you married Beverly, you adopted Wes.” Jean-Luc nodded. “And little Anna here was involved with Jack, and was the reason for Beverly’s divorce...but you adopted her as your own because she had no family?” Robert indicated Annisyn, who smiled slightly at being referred to as ‘little Anna’ by her new Uncle. She was slowly nursing a single glass, as Beverly had told her a single glass wouldn’t hurt Katie.
“Annisyn wanted Beverly and I to adopt Katie and I realised what Annisyn really wanted was to be part of a family.”
“So Katie and Wesley are...siblings?”
“Half siblings.”
“And you adopted Annisyn, so that makes her Wesley’s sister too?”
“Err...yes. And Katie is my granddaughter.” Robert rubbed his head. He could feel a headache coming on. What had his brother gotten himself into?
“But Walker’s girlfriend...is also Jack’s daughter?” Beverly picked up the narrative. “I didn’t know Jack had been married previously or that he had a child. Abby didn’t even know who her father was until recently, and she and Walker were already involved by that point. Suzanne, Abby’s mother, was a childhood friend of Walker’s, but he hadn’t known about her marriage to Jack or the baby, either.”
“And all of this came out because Jack had an accident?” Beverly blushed. “I had divorce papers ready. I was going to divorce Jack anyway. He and I had been drifting apart. I wanted more children, he didn’t...of course at the time I didn’t know about Annisyn. Knowing about Annisyn is really what sealed the deal for me. And Jean-Luc...well, Robert, I’ve been in love with your brother for a very long time.”
“Hm. And now, you seem to have accumulated some children.” Beverly laughed at her brother-in-law. “Yes, though both my step-daughters are only a few years younger than me!” Robert shook his head at his brother.
“Well, Jean-Luc, this definitely is a tangled family tree you have here. I’m not entirely sure what my relationship to everyone is.”
Jean-Luc chuckled at his brother. “Truth be told, Robert, I’m not entirely sure what mine is to everyone most of the time, either.”
Their discussion was interrupted by the baby’s wailing, and Wesley’s feet thundering down the stairs. “Annie, Katie is crying!” Somewhere over the past few weeks, Wesley had dropped the ‘syn’ from Annisyn and started calling her Annie instead. She wasn’t bothered by it, but her nickname should really be Anna. Still though, Wes was only five. She sighed at her ‘little brother’.
“Yes, I can hear that, Wes. But thank you for telling me.” Annisyn rose from her seat to tend to the baby but Marie held out a hand. “Oh, let me look in on her, Annisyn. We don’t...well, we haven’t been blessed with a child yet.” Beverly noticed the pain in Marie’s face and vowed to speak with her new sister privately.
“Wesley, what do you have in your hand?”
“I fixed it, Papa!” Wesley proudly held out a model starship and Jean-Luc gasped. It was a model of the Enterprise he had built when he was a child. The following morning, he had found it broken and he had thrown the pieces in his toy chest. Wesley had found the pieces and managed to repair it. Where did he find glue from? Never mind, I’m not sure I want to know. Jean-Luc gently took the ship from Wesley and turned to his brother. “You know, Robert...I always thought you had broken my model out of spite, but did I ever tell you I was sorry for accusing you?”
“I didn’t break it.”
“I know that now. Did you know Father....Papa had wanted to attend the Academy but had been rejected?” Robert looked at his brother incredulously. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not. Do you remember the box you gave me after Papa’s death?” Robert nodded. “The box contained his rejection letter. “ Beverly glanced at Annisyn and led her out of the room with Wesley. Obviously, this was a conversation Jean-Luc needed to have with his brother alone.
“So...all that time...all those times Papa admonished you for wanting to join Starfleet and his treatment of you was simply because Papa was...jealous?” Jean-Luc slowly nodded. Robert frowned.
“Papa never wanted to run the vineyard.”
“I don’t know, Robert. It’s possible he changed his mind later. He certainty made me think he loved running the vineyard.”
“He made me hate you.” Jean-Luc looked up sharply. “What?”
“Papa. He used to say nasty things about you, and told me you had no family pride since you wanted to leave and he encouraged me to pick on you and I....I let him. Jean-Luc, I’m not sure if I can ever repent for all those years of bullying.”
“Robert, it’s enough that you’re sorry now.” The men embraced.
“So, ah, more wine?” Robert picked up the bottle and refilled their glasses and the two brothers sat down to have their first real conversation with each other since they were small.
Beverly glanced through the doorway and smiled. She told Wesley to go back upstairs and she and Annisyn followed him and went into Annisyn’s room where Marie was gently rocking Katie.
“She’s alright. Just a little startled, that’s all. No doubt she is used to the hum of your starship as she sleeps and it must have frightened her when she woke and it was quiet.”
“I hadn’t... I hadn’t thought of that. I’m a terrible mother!” Annisyn wailed.
“No, you’re not. When Wesley was a baby, I dropped him. Twice.”
“No!”
“Yep. Once was when I was giving him a bath...he was slippery and just slipped out of my hands and his head went under the water.” Annisyn stared at her pseudo step-mother. “You’re making that up.”
“Ask Jean-Luc. I called the Stargazer in a panic because I didn’t think I was fit to be a mother. Jack was, of course, no help but Jean-Luc managed to calm me down and pointed out that there wouldn’t be any lasting damage and Wes was fine.”
“So Jean-Luc has been part of Wesley’s life since he was a baby? I didn’t think he liked children. Then again,” Marie said smiling at Beverly, “I don’t think Robert and I thought he would ever get married.” Beverly grinned at her new sister.
“Truthfully, Jean-Luc saw Wesley more than Jack did. I know now why...” Annisyn looked at the floor. “I’m sorry, Beverly.”
“Annisyn, it’s not your fault. Jack didn’t tell you he was married and had a child, and he was cheating on me long before he met you.”
“I always thought Jack was a nice man. I only saw him a few times, mind. But Jean-Luc, Jack, and Walker always made me think of the three musketeers the way they gallivanted around.” Beverly burst out laughing. “I called them that too! Even when Jack and I were dating, the other two were always around!” Marie grinned at Beverly.
“So tell me about you and Jean-Luc. How did it happen? How long had you been together? Jean-Luc doesn’t tell me anything in his letters!” Beverly blushed and sat down on the bed. Annisyn started to back out of the room. “I’ll just go play with Wesley for a while...”
“No, don’t be silly! Come on, we’re having girl talk.” Annisyn grinned at her friend/step-mother. “Well, alright.”
“And don’t worry about Katie. I’m content holding her for you!” Beverly rubbed her hands together. “Right, so where do I begin?”
“You said Jean-Luc saw Wesley more than Wesley’s father. What happened?”
“When I gave birth, Jean-Luc immediately brought the ship to the starbase I was stationed at so Jack could be there....only Jack never came to see me and Wes. Wes was three days old when Jean-Luc came to visit and I lied to him and told him Jack had only stepped out for a bit....and that pattern continued for...well, all of Wesley’s life. Jean-Luc would always give Jack a few days shore leave before he would come see me...and every time, I made up a reason why Jack wasn’t there. Do you know, Wesley actually called Jean-Luc ‘dada’?” Marie smiled. “Bet that was a shock!” Beverly nodded.
“I wound up telling him Wesley was calling all men ‘dada’. He hadn’t, but it would have been awkward...one of Wesley’s first words was ‘Jean-Luc’. Well, that’s not entirely true. It was ‘Ja-oo’,” Beverly smiled remembering. “He still can’t say it properly. Used to call him ‘Uncle Jawn Loo’. Perhaps being in France will help his French pronunciations.”
Marie got up to place Katie in her crib. “So, you and Jean-Luc saw a lot of each other then?”
“Oh, yes. Even before I started dating Jack. Jean-Luc was my best friend. I think I had feelings for him back then, but well, Jack asked me out and then a few years later, I fell pregnant with Wes and....well, I made some terrible choices. Not that I regret Wesley, I just wish his father wasn’t Jack Crusher!”
“I wish he wasn’t Katie’s father, too.” Annisyn finally spoke up. Beverly reached over for Annisyn’s hand. “I know, but...in a way, Jack brought you into our family and I wouldn’t trade that, either. “
“Thanks, uh, ‘Mom’.” Beverly hung her head. “Oh, that makes me feel old. 29 and I’m grandparent,” Beverly stole a glance over at Katie, “But at least my granddaughter is adorable.”
“Alright, so how did you and Jean-Luc finally get together?” Marie pressed on with her questions. Beverly turned bright red. “Uh...I sort of...seduced him in the shuttle he came to pick us up in after Jack’s accident.” Beverly ducked her head to hide her smile. “You didn’t!”
“I did. I just...took off my clothing and kissed him. He said no at first, but then I cornered him in the shower and....oh Marie, it was wonderful.” Marie grinned. “Well, if he’s anything like his brother....” the two women shared a laugh and Annisyn felt slightly out of place. Marie stood up from the rocking chair she had been in.
“Well, I must be getting some supper on for all of us. Annisyn, if you need anything please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thank you...Tante Marie.” Marie beamed. “I do like being called Tante.” Marie left the room leaving Beverly and Annisyn alone with Katie. Beverly touched Annisyn’s arm lightly. “I’m going to check on Wesley and then go see this attic apartment. Do you want to come with me?” Annisyn shook her head. “If you don’t mind, Beverly, I think I’ll take a nap while Katie is...”
“Good idea. I’ll call you for Supper if I don’t see you before.”
###
Walker was at his parent’s house. His parents were in their 80s, but still quite active, and quite proud of their children. Walker and his sister, Melissa, had both gone into Starfleet, while Anne had gone into teaching. Walker was more than a little bored, if truth be told. There was only so many times he could drink iced tea out on the veranda with his mother. It was a shame Abby and Suzanne were visiting Suzanne’s mother. On the other hand, this did mean they were only next door. He could just pop over, but he didn’t want to interrupt Abigail’s time with her grandmother. But then again....
Walker threw his book on the settee and headed outside. It was a very short walk between the two houses and he was soon pressing the doorchime outside of the Yugen’s house. Marianna Yugen answered the door. She was just as formidable as his own mother, and growing up she had been like a second mother to him. Walker leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Hello, Mother number two.”
“Oh, Walker. You do make a fuss. Now, are you here to see me, my daughter, or my granddaughter?”
“Err...” Abigail arrived at the door at just that moment. “Grandma!” Abigail gave Walker a quick kiss. “Hi, Wally.” Walker reached for Abigail’s hand and gave it a squeeze and Marianna Yugen sighed. “Ah, young love. Well, you’re not so young, are you, Walker?” Marianna poked at his chest.
“Grandma.....”
“We can’t control who we fall in love with, Mari.”
“I suppose you’re right. Certainly couldn’t control Suzanne from falling for Jack,” Marianna sighed, then patted Abigail on the arm. “Not that I regret you coming into our lives, dear.”
“Of course not, Grandma. Right, I’m going to go on a walk with Wally....”
“Of course, dear. I’ll tell your mother.”
The door closed and Abigail was in Walker’s arms immediately, kissing him soundly. “I missed you.”
“I’m only next door, you know.”
“I know, but I didn’t want to leave Grandma. She’s been pretty lonely since Grandpa passed away. Mom’s actually thinking about moving in with her.” Walker shuddered. “I don’t think I could ever live with my parents again. Staying with them occasionally, sure...but live? No. Your mother is a brave woman,” Abigail smiled. “Now, why don’t you let me take you out to dinner....”
###
Beverly was unpacking hers and Jean-Luc’s belongings when Jean-Luc came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist to kiss the back of her neck. “Hello, my love.”
“Hello, yourself,” Beverly turned in his arms to face him and wrinkled her nose. “You smell...boozy.” Jean-Luc trailed kisses along her jaw and lightly sucked her neck before replying. “Robert and I may have opened one of Papa’s bottles of whisky...”
“Mm-hmm.” Jean-Luc’s fingers reached for the zip on Beverly’s dress and dragged it down and pushed it off her shoulders so it fell to the floor. Beverly smiled, but pulled away. “I suppose you think we’ll be having sex now?”
“Well...”
“No.” Jean-Luc’s face fell. “No?”
“No. At least, not right now. Right now, we need to feed Wesley some dinner and get him in the bath and to bed.” Beverly bent down to retrieve her dress and Jean-Lu took the opportunity to reach behind her and unhook her bra. Beverly couldn’t help but laugh at her husband’s antics. “One track mind on you right now.” Beverly pushed her bra off her arms and reached for the claps on Jean-Luc’s trousers. “I suppose...we have time...if we’re quick....”
That was all the invitation Jean-Luc needed before he backed Beverly towards the bed, taking off his shirt and kicking off his trousers in the process. He flung them around the bedroom as he gently laid down on the bed with Beverly in his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
###
Jack was laying on a biobed in Starfleet Medical. He had finally had his liver repaired after having half a lung replaced, but he still needed surgery to replace his spleen, one kidney, and one of his coronary arteries was bruised. The doctors also were talking about replacing one of his knees, even though he hadn’t been having trouble with it, apparently he had damaged it and it had repaired itself incorrectly while he had been unconscious. He also couldn’t feel his left pinky, but they weren’t sure yet how they were going to treat that. It might be a pinched nerve, but it might be a dead nerve, like the ones in his feet and he had countless other issues that needed to be fixed. He had saved the Stargazer and what thanks did he get ? A divorce, a broken body, and a pink slip. Well, it wasn’t really a pink slip since he was still in Starfleet, but he felt like he had been fired from his job when Jean-Luc told him he wouldn’t be welcomed back.
He was strapped to the bed, unable to move, and turned his head away from the door when it slid open to reveal the psychologist assigned to him by Starfleet Medical.
“Commander Crusher, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Doctor M’Prol. I have been assigned to you by Starfleet Medical.” Jack moved his head back briefly to glance at the doctor. His pointy ears and name gave him away.
“Vulcan?”
“Yes, Commander. I am a Vulcan. But I assure you, I will not use my telepathic skills unless absolutely necessary. “ Jack grunted in response and turned his head back to the wall.
“Commander, why don’t you tell me what happened to cause your accident? What were you doing at the time?” Jack remained silent. M’Prol stood still. “Commander, I can remain here all day if need be.”
Jack merely grunted again.
“I know you are capable of speech, and I know you understand what I am saying. I’m going to just take a seat here, next to your bed, and when you feel like speaking, I’ll be here.” M’Prol sat down in the chair and glanced down at his PADD to continue to take notes. Facing the wall, Jack scowled. He wasn’t going to talk to a shrink! He didn’t need a shrink, he needed Beverly. He needed to see his son...and his daughters. And he really needed to punch Jean-Luc Picard! But maybe...if he talked to the doctor, he might be able to see them....