Chapter Six
Deliver(ance)

After the formalities were handled they sat down to a wonderful home-cooked meal. Picard was pleased at how well-behaved the children were. He couldn't recall the last time he shared a table with so many young people. The oldest daughter, Anna, was fifteen. Andre was next at twelve (and a half - he kept adding) and then the twins, Claire and Sara, at five years of age. He wasn't sure why he was so surprised to discover the twins. Not that it made any difference but it seemed a peculiar detail to leave out when Marie had told him about the family.

Tereasa was younger than Marie but she explained that she and Edgar had gotten a head start in the baby business. Her current condition came as a complete surprise but they were happy none the less. It was evident from the look in Edgar's face that he was indeed very proud of his family.

Picard decided that he liked this man very much. As they discussed the changes in the town since Jean-Luc had last visited he found Edgar to be rather open-minded in regard to new technology but he maintained a healthy respect for tradition.

Andre was questioning Beverly again while the girls listened attentively to both conversations. Marie and Tereasa tried to deflect some of the boy's questions but he was determined to extract every bit of information he could.

"I'm sorry you couldn't make it for dinner last night," Andre said as he and Anna began clearing the dishes. "We stopped by after school yesterday but we couldn't find you."

"We must have been in the back," Jean-Luc explained, "we went for a walk yesterday afternoon. That must have been when you left the message."

"Yes, I'm sure that's what happened," Marie said quickly hoping the boy would drop the topic.

Andre looked at her puzzled for a moment. "I still don't understand why Marie wouldn't let me go to the back. I could have sworn I saw someone in the kitchen."

Jean-Luc and Beverly's eyes went wide for a moment as they suddenly realized the real reason dinner had been postponed. He tried not to react but he could feel the deep blush warming more than just his ears. At his side he heard Beverly cough as she tried to clear her throat. Suddenly several of Marie's earlier comments made sense to both of them.

Jean-Luc didn't know where to look. Thankfully Anna had disappeared into the kitchen with the dishes and Picard slowly brought his eyes up. He could see Marie smiling into her teacup, trying to control her laughter. He wondered just exactly she had seen. He was positive Tereasa and Edgar were laughing as well but he couldn't bring himself to look at them. Surely Marie wouldn't have said anything he thought. But then she didn't have to - his and Beverly's reaction said enough.

"Are you all right, Doctor?" Andre asked reaching to take her plate.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said still avoiding Marie's eyes. She wanted to crawl under the table but couldn't resist a glance to see how Jean-Luc was reacting. She had never seen such a deep blush from her Captain and she took some consolation from his embarrassment. Still avoiding everyone's eyes Beverly asked herself, How do you apologize for making love in someone's kitchen?!

Attempting to ease some of the tension Edgar said, "Why don't I bring out the dessert. Girls will you help your father?" He stood and the twins dutifully followed him into the kitchen.

"Doctor, I really appreciate you answering all of Andre's questions," Tereasa began. "He can be very persistent."

"Really, it's no trouble at all. And persistence is an excellent characteristic in any good doctor." She was almost recovered enough to look at Marie again but the Doctor in her kept her attention on Tereasa. "How long have you been having contractions?" she asked to the surprise of both Marie and Jean-Luc.

"Just a few hours, the baby's not due for another week so I'm hoping they'll stop soon. Please don't tell Andre or Edgar, they'll just over react," she said calmly sipping her tea.

Jean-Luc's eyes turned to Beverly. How could she be so calm. Both of them were sitting here discussing labor contractions as calmly as any other subject. She could sense the slight panic in his eyes. "It's perfectly normal," she told him reassuringly. Then turning back to Tereasa, "How long were you in labor with your other children?"

"They were all different. Anna was about twelve hours but a week late. Andre was the worst at thirty-six hours and the twins came a month early with only 4 hours of labor. After that I wasn't expecting to go through the experience ever again but here we are." She smiled over her stomach.

Beverly wanted to ask about the difficulties she had heard from Andre and Marie but dessert arrived with the rest of the family. Picard was relieved that the talk of labor was put away for the moment.

After dinner Edgar offered to show Jean-Luc where the horses were being kept so that he could ride if he wanted to. The children went up to work on their studies while the ladies took to the comfortable living room. Beverly could tell that the contractions were getting stronger and closer but Tereasa waited until her husband left before she let it show.

The Doctor took her tricorder out of her small handbag and went to her side. "I thought you were taking a break from being a Doctor?" Marie asked.

"Doctors never get a break," she smiled and checked her readings. "I don't think these are just going to go away. Marie said this pregnancy had been difficult for you, why don't you tell me about it?"

"It's nothing really. Just some problems regulating my blood cell count and a slightly elevated pulse rate. Everything checked out just fine at my last appointment just two days ago. It's been a difficult time for all of us. I think Marie and Andre are just over-reacting" She tried to smile but had to grip the chair as a strong contraction took hold of her.

"It looks as though we should get you to the hospital and contact your regular Doctor."

"Everything is already arranged. We have a room here prepared. We just have to notify the Doctor and he'll be right out." Tereasa said as her breathing returned to normal.

"I'll contact Doctor Cassell," said Marie going into the other room.

"All the children were born here," Tereasa began to explain. "It's a tradition in many families. And now that medical technology makes it so easy I see no reason to travel to a hospital."

"Well, it's still a lot of work as far as I'm concerned. I have one son and I wasn't the most congenial person during my delivery."

"Yes, well the result makes it all worthwhile. Losing Rene and Robert was such a terrible blow to all of us but this child reminded us that we had to go on - especially Marie. I was so worried about her but now that you and the Captain are here she feels much better about staying here."

"I'm glad. I understand why she wants to be with you and your family right now. Babies don't give you much time for anything else," she smiled and held Tereasa's hand as another contraction came and went.

"Well at least this is just one. They twins, now that was a handful."

"I can imagine," said Beverly.

"At least Anna was old enough to help and Andre insisted on being the big brother. Of course he would have liked it better if at least one of them had been a boy but then he had Rene." She didn't even try to hide the sadness in her eyes.

"I assume your Doctor told you what you were having?" Beverly asked trying to keep Tereasa's mind on happier things.

"No, actually we decided to let this one be a surprise. I know Andre is hoping for a little brother. He feels a bit out-numbered at times."

Marie came back with a slight worried look on her face. "It seems as though tonight is a popular night for having babies. Dr. Cassell is at the Travant's delivering their first child. He's sending his assistant until he can make it."

"There's a full moon tonight isn't there?" asked Tereasa. "I should have checked more closely."

"Now Tereasa," Marie began, "the Doctor said that there was no truth to that old tale." They both looked at Beverly for verification.

"Well no one can claim to know all the secrets of the planets," Beverly acknowledged. "Personally, I think a full moon can have many unknown effects."

Another contraction seized Tereasa. "Perhaps we should move into the nursery," offered Marie. They were helping the very expectant mother down the hall when Edgar and Jean-Luc came back into the house.

"What's wrong?" Edgar asked moving to his wife's side.

"She's having contractions and I don't think they're going to stop," explained Beverly. "Marie called her Doctor and he's sending his assistant right over."

"Tonight, it's too early?" the husband said as he was instantly transformed into a nervous jumble of emotions. "And why the hell can't Cassell be here? . . . His assistant? Not that boy, he's barely old enough to grow a beard!" His voice was audible throughout the house now causing the children to race down the stairs to investigate. Picard was still standing uncomfortably in the entranceway.

There was quiet a bit of confusion as the children demanded on knowing what the problem was and the adult sisters attempted to calm them while their father became more distraught by the minute. Once Tereasa had been made comfortable in the nursery Beverly considered throwing the whole family out. They, not the onset of labor, were beginning to upset the expectant mother. She tried to tell herself this wasn't her patient but she wasn't about to leave.

She suddenly noticed that Jean-Luc was the only person not in the room. Every now and then she would see a shadow hovering just beyond the door; she knew it must be him. He had overcome some of unease with children but she wasn't sure how he was going to handle seeing one at this stage. She tried to excuse herself but Andre pleaded with her, "Please Doctor, don't leave. Everything will be all right if you just stay. Please."

How could she resist? But there was something more in his voice, a fear that went much deeper than his concern for his mother. "Of course, I'll stay but you and your sisters should wait outside for now." He nodded and the girls followed him after they each placed a kiss on their mother's forehead. Jean-Luc was standing in the doorway smiling at her, letting her know that he understood. She walked over to him and he kissed her cheek.

"I'm sorry," began Marie joining them. "The Doctor should be here soon enough if you two want to leave."

"No, it's all right Marie," replied Beverly. "I promised Andre I would stay and besides delivering babies is my favorite part of being a Doctor."

"And she's the best," Jean-Luc added, the pride evident in his voice.

"I'm sure we'll be able to use an extra hand with Edgar. He hasn't' made it through to end yet although he's determined to try again." Marie glanced toward the husband who was already pacing rapidly.

"Where is that boy? It doesn't take that long to get here," Edgar said to no one in particular.

Andre ushered in a young man who Picard thought could have been one the boy's schoolmates. Everyone turned and stared at the young Doctor who was becoming very uncomfortable under the silent scrutiny. "I'm David Asante- Dr. David Asante . . . Dr. Cassell's assistant," he said finally.

They all had they same thought and fortunately it was Andre who said it for them, "How many babies have you delivered?"

The young Doctor was not sure if he should answer that question but when the boy's father repeated it he was left with no choice. He decided to be honest even though he knew it wasn't what they were hoping for. "The computer simulations were very realistic and we went through several variations - "

"How many real babies have you delivered?!" Edgar asked his voice rising in pitch and intensity.

"Well, this will be my first." Edgar sank into a chair and began taking deep breaths. "But I've read your wife's file and Dr. Cassell wouldn't have sent me if he didn't have complete confidence in me."

"Yes, your quiet right," said Beverly taking the young man by the arm and smiling warmly. She was trying to reassure the family and the Doctor but she wasn't about to disappear now. For a few moments she debated the merits of informing the Doctor of who she was. She decided that someone would tell him soon enough if she didn't.

"Dr. Asante, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Beverly Crusher, a friend of the family."

Again Andre filled in the missing pieces, "Doctor Beverly Crusher, you know of the Enterprise, former head of Starfleet Medical." Asante looked at her with a new interest. He wasn't sure whether to be delighted or frightened; he decided on a combination of the two.

"Dr. Crusher, it's an honor to meet you. I'd be honored to assist you," he said at last.

"No, Doctor, I'd be honored to assist you," she smiled at him letting him know she also had full confidence in him as well. "If this is your first delivery, then you're in for a real treat."

In the background Picard watched as she skillfully handled the situation. She never ceased to amaze him. He felt as though there was so much he still had to learn about her. "Come on, Andre. Why don't we wait outside with your sisters?" The boy smiled at him bravely and with a final backwards glance toward his mother left the room.

The twins were sitting on the sofa in the living room while Anna paced slowly. Andre took a seat between the twins and told them that everything was going to be all right. Picard watched as he switched into his 'big brother' mode and began relating everything that had transpired.

"Rene talked about you all the time," Anna told him after a few minutes. It appeared as though she had been sizing him up trying to discern just what his role was going to be in all this. "Why weren't you here for the funeral?"

Her words shocked him but she had every right to inquire. "We were in a distant star system when we received a distress call. We were called away and I was unable to leave until just a few days ago. I would have been here if I could have." That was the truth wasn't it. He hoped she would be satisfied with his answer.

"You lost your ship didn't you?"

"Yes." So why is she asking, he thought.

"Are you going back into space soon, Captain?"

"I don't know. I'm waiting to hear from Starfleet regarding my next assignment." He couldn't tell if she was being accusatory or if she were merely interested.

"I have several classmates who are applying for the Academy. Would you be available to meet with some of them before you leave?"

"I - I . . . sure, I'm certain I can make some time next week perhaps." Yes, I'll be available for show-n-tell next week, he thought. Just what you need a whole group of teenagers asking questions- that will certainly prepare me for the court-martial.

He smiled at her; he wasn't sure why it was important that she not dislike him but for some reason it was. Why not Jean-Luc, it's not as though you have a full schedule. You and Beverly will have to come up for air some time, he reasoned.

"Maybe Bev-, Doctor Crusher, can come to my school? Will you ask her Captain?" Andre said making the most of the opening.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we ask her nicely," Picard replied.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Anna asked flatly.

His mouth dropped open as if to speak but he was suddenly unsure of just how to answer that. Girlfriend, he tried the word out in his mind. That wasn't right; Lover, Friend, was there a term to sum up what she was to him? And if there was would a fifteen year old understand it - hell he sure didn't. Finally he said, "She's much more to me than that." He hoped she would drop the subject but if he remembered anything about teenage girls it wasn't likely.

"Anna, why don't you take the twins upstairs? They're falling asleep on me," Andre said trying to free himself from becoming a human pillow. Picard was growing very fond of this boy. He was extremely direct and they shared an interest in a certain red-haired Doctor.

The twins were fascinating in their own right. He had watched them finish each other's sentences and move in mirror-like precision. He knew of the special bond between twins.

They stopped and looked at him curiously on their way out. "Good night, Captain," they said in unison. They each took one of his hands and squeezed it gently. He was puzzled by the gesture as he watched them smile knowingly at each other before turning away.

"Good night girls," he called after them as he ran his hand over his smooth head. Women, he thought, even at that age they're a mystery.

Tereasa's cries could be heard into the living room as the contractions became closer. Andre's eyes went wide and Picard could feel the short hairs on his neck bristle with every passing contraction. He wondered how Edgar was holding up. For a moment he let himself imagine how he might react if it were he and Beverly. Another scream pierced the air and he stood up pushing away the image of his Beverly in any pain.

"I wish I was a Doctor already. Then I could be helping instead of just sitting here." Andre said pacing across the room.

"You shouldn't be in too much of a hurry to grow up. You should enjoy this time while you can." Picard couldn't blame him; he remembered feeling much the same way at that age. His goals were already set and the only thing that stood in his way was time.

But Andre just shook his head, "You don't understand. I could already be helping people, saving them." He was pacing furiously his eyes darting around looking for something that wasn't there.

"If I were a Doctor then I could have saved him." He looked deep into the Captain's eyes pleading for forgiveness, "I could have kept him from dying but I didn't because I didn't know how. I'm so sorry." The tears began streaming down his cheeks but he didn't make a sound.

The reason behind the boy's urgency became clearer now. He looked into the face of innocence and tried to find the words that would absolve him from his imagined guilt. "Andre, there was nothing you or anyone else could do to save Rene. It was an accident - a terrible accident. Beverly will be the first one to tell you that not even Doctors can make the difference when someone's time is up. His time came too soon - much too soon."

Picard held the boy, soft sobs shaking his body. He seemed so small to have such big concerns. Marie was right - he could feel a part of Rene still very much alive in this boy, the dreams, the sense of wonder. It was such a large burden for the tiny shoulders.

"He was going to be a Captain just like you and I was going to be the ship's Doctor. I was supposed to take care of him," he said through his tears.

Remembering all the times he woke up in Sickbay to Beverly's worried face he realized how difficult it must have been for her. She took care of him, that was her job. How could he put her through something like that again.

And what about all the others? He was the one who gave the orders and ultimately took the responsibility when crew members were injured or killed. But she was the one who fought for each life and had to share the guilt when one of them was lost.

He knew it was never easy for her to accept but she went on - always ready for the next battle. How many times had he stood by helpless as she waged her war against death. How did she feel when it was him on the table?

"Andre, Rene wouldn't want you to feel guilty. He's always going to be with you in a different way now. You still have other family members who need you. A big sister who loves her little brother more than she'll admit and two little sisters who need their big brother. So please for their sakes don't be in such a hurry to grow up that you leave them all behind." He let his words drift off and as he repeated to himself, there was nothing you or anyone else could do . . . Maybe soon he would believe it himself.

"Whaaa! Whaaaa!" came the sound of the newest family member.

Jean-Luc and Andre both looked up, "The baby," the boy said wiping his eyes and running for the Nursery. Picard followed him at a slower pace.

Edgar was smiling broadly as he told them, "It's a boy! Andre you have a little brother!" And he slumped to the floor.

Dr. Asante and Picard moved the new father into a chair as he slowly came around. Marie was holding the little boy next to his mother while tears streaming down both their cheeks. "He's so beautiful," said Marie kissing the tiny forehead as she handed him to her sister.

"Is everything all right, Beverly?" asked Tereasa examining each little feature.

Yes, he's perfect," said Beverly smiling at them both.

"He's so little," said Andre standing by his Mother's side.

"Yes, it's a good thing he has such a strong big brother to take care of him," Edgar said now mostly recovered.

"Well, you did make it all the way through this time Edgar - barely," Marie looked at him and laughed as she wiped away her tears. He just sat there still dazed but smiling broadly.

"Andre, give the baby to your father," Tereasa said handing him to the boy. He held him carefully and presented him to his father.

"Papa, your son."

"His name is Francois. Francois Rene," he explained taking his son in his arms. "Andre was after Tereasa's father but this one is after my father and the cousin he'll never know."

Jean-Luc watched the whole scene entranced by each person's response. How could Tereasa look so serene after what she had just been through? How must Edgar feel after watching his wife suffer only to be holding his son now? His eyes kept going back to Beverly and the glow in her eyes. He had never seen them sparkle so brightly. And there was something more there - something he couldn't interpret.

By the time the congratulations were all said and the formalities were all attended to by the Doctors it was past 3 AM. Jean-Luc and Beverly slipped away under the magical full moon.

Approaching the door to the house he pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the porch. "Are you tired?" he asked.

"Not really, somehow escorting a new life into the world gives me renewed energy. It really is my favorite part of being a Doctor," she said rocking herself in his arms.

"Take a walk with me then."

"Jean-Luc, it's a little cold out tonight."

He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Come on, just to the back garden. I'll keep you warm." But something in his next words frightened her, "There's something I need to tell you." He felt her hesitate and he turned to reassure her. How could she resist those eyes?

Trust me, he said without speaking this time.

With all my heart, she replied - her lips never moving.