This is my very own slightly alternate trek universe where everything is exactly the way I want it. The story doesn't fit in anywhere in the usual Trek timeline. That's the beauty of writing. You get to have your own way.

Caysia:A Little Princess

"Adda, that ship looks awful!" the blue eyed child whispered urgently to her father.

"I know Caysia, but it will get us where we need to go. It looks a little better on the inside and it 'll only take a few days anyway."

But Teless Karek had to agree with his daughter. Ugliest ship he'd ever seen. The Captain was competent though and once they reached the colony they wouldn't have quite so many worries. The post-occupation refugee camp on Bajor was not an acceptable environment for Cay to grow up in. A child should be able to run and play without a thought for stray mines. She should be able to have clean water, doctors enough to go around, medicine if she needed it...

He had found hope in space. A colony had sprung up in the Belem system and Teless, along with a few other families (most missing one parent or the other thanks to the Cardassians) had pooled their resources, sold everything they had worth selling, and booked passage off Bajor. They loved their home planet, but they loved their children more. The boxy old ship was their only way off world and they were taking it.

Teless watched his daughter as she stood at the bottom of the ramp leading into the small ship. She was trying to get a look inside without having to climb in. Oh, but she was beautiful! Her little face was all but twitching with curiosity and her red-gold hair shone in the early morning sun. She looked back over her far too thin shoulder and smiled at him.

"It's not too bad I suppose." she said bravely. Cay had always been brave. She'd handled the loss of her mother better than he had.

"Where is everybody, Adda? Aren't we supposed to leave soon?"

It was getting late. Maybe he should send Caysia to look. He was just about to tell her to go when her usually soft voice cried out shrilly, "Here they come !"

Tears filled his eyes as he watched her pelt across the barren area to greet the others. Cay was so bright both in heart and mind. There was a school in the colony. A real, permanent school with real, permanent teachers and everything else a school should have.

As their traveling companions reached the craft one of the boys called out, "Sure is ugly!" and Karek had to laugh

"Yeah," said a cheerful, gravely voice from inside, "but she'll get you there! Gotta come aboard though."

There wasn't much to load and soon Bajor was just another point of light in space.

*************************

"Beverly Catherine Crusher!" Deanna Troi blurted.

"Sh-h-h!" Beverly cautioned suppressing a giggle. "All of Ten Forward does not need to hear our private conversation!"

"But you never said a word!" Deanna pushed her still full cup of hot chocolate aside and stared at her friend's tranquil face in utter disbelief.

"It's not that big a deal, Deanna. It was just a passing remark he made over dinner one night." Beverly sipped her iced tea and picked up her fork to start on her salad.

"No you don't! I want to hear everything and you can't talk around all that lettuce!"

"All right, all right. We were having dinner and I said something. I don't even remember what anymore but it made him laugh. He almost fell off his chair, actually. Then Jean-Luc said he was going to remember it and when we were old and gray and watching the grandchildren he would call them over and tell them what a raunchy old lady their Grandmere really was. Close your mouth, Deanna. You're gaping like a cod fish. Can I eat now?"

"Well, I wasn't a bit surprised when the two of you finally put us all out of our misery and got together, but.."

Beverly wasn't listening any more. Deanna had just brought to mind the memory of the night she and Jean-Luc 'got together'.

His kisses and tender caresses. Gentle hands sliding beneath her clothes, removing them, touching her. He'd trailed his fingers over the curve of her cheek and neck, across her collar bone. His hands covered her breasts and then moved lower to stroke her Oh! there. His strong warm body above her, inside her. The shared peak left them both breathless. She'd cried and he kissed the tears away, the sweetness of it making her want him again.

"Beverly?" Deanna's voice reached her.

"Hm-m?"

"Your face is flushed. It's very pretty, really, but maybe you ought to think about something else for a little while or I'm not going to be the only one in the room who knows what's going through your mind."

Beverly smiled softly at the gentle warning.

Have I ever told you how special you are to me?" she asked.

"Not in so many words," Deanna admitted mirroring her friend's openly affectionate expression. "But I knew anyway. Now eat your lunch. We have lots more to talk about and you're going to need your strength."

"You're more like your mother than you know." Beverly said, amused.

Deanna, however, was the one who barely heard this time. She was already back to the original subject.

"He said Grandmere? It has a sort of permanent sound to it if you ask me!"

"Deanna!"

"Well don't you think so?" Deanna reached for her sandwich and now cold chocolate.

"You are way too excited about this. Jean-Luc was just teasing me." Beverly stated, but she knew Deanna knew better.

*************************

A weak, incomplete distress signal had led the Enterprise to this sector. The ship generating it hung listing to one side in the blackness, a hole torn in the aft section like a gaping wound.

"We are reading three life forms," Data reported. "They are very faint. The ship is losing life support rapidly."

"Is the air still breathable?" Riker asked, rising.

"Yes, but it will not be much longer." Data replied.

Riker tapped his com badge while heading for the turbolift.

"Dr. Crusher meet the away team in transporter room three. Data, Geordi, you're with me."

Beverly stood wrapped in a towel at the viewport near her bed, the tips of her long fingers pressed against the cool pane. Her terra cotta hair was slicked back revealing the delicate curves and angles of her face. To Jean-Luc Picard she had never been more beautiful.

He went to her, wrapping his arms around her slim waist from behind. He could see her reflection in the glass. In her azure eyes was sorrow.

She allowed herself to lean against him and her head dropped back against his shoulder. He didn't need to ask to know that things had not gone well with the three who were still alive when the away team reached the Bajoran craft. She would tell him when she was ready.

"We lost the woman right away," she said softly, "and the man died while we were operating. The little girl is hanging on but it doesn't look good. She had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic while we were repairing some of the internal injuries. Her heart stopped twice." As she drew in a deep, shuddering breath, a tear slid down one pale cheek. "She's just a baby, Jean-Luc."

He led her to the bed and pulled back the coverlet.

"Give me the towel, love. It'll get tangled."

Beverly sank onto the edge of the bed holding on to the head board with one hand. With the other she loosened the towel and held it out to him as if it were far too heavy.

"Nightgown?" he asked.

She shook her head and slipped under the sheet. He watched for a few seconds, aching for her.

He took the towel to the recycler and went back to the bedroom. Beverly was lying there, eyes closed, but the tension in her body told him she wasn't asleep.

"Would you like me to stay?"

He almost missed her whispered yes, but he undressed and joined her ordering the lights off. Beverly went into his arms, nestling as close as she could. He brushed a kiss against her temple as he began to rub her back with long, slow strokes. Gradually he felt her relax and her breath came deep and regular. One last kiss to her now peaceful brow and Jean-Luc allowed himself to sleep as well.

*************************

"We have identified the woman we brought aboard as the ship's Captain." Data reported in the morning staff meeting. "The passenger list indicates that the man was Teless Karek. The child is his daughter, Caysia, nine standard years old. They were on their way to a colony in the Belem system."

"Were you able to discern what happened?" Picard asked.

"All the evidence suggests a Cardassian attack." Geordi contributed. "But there's not much to go on."

"Perhaps the girl can tell us more when she awakens." Data suggested.

"Yes, perhaps," Picard agreed grimly, "but I can't help wishing there were other options. She's been through quite enough already."

"You might have a wait ahead of you." Beverly said. "She made it through the night but she's not conscious yet. Even when she is she's not going to be in any shape to answer questions."

Beverly had that I'm not budging on this so don't even try look about her. Picard heaved a silent sigh. It wasn't worth the argument and Dr. Beverly Crusher was right anyway.

*************************

She didn't want to wake up. Everything hurt. If she could just go back to sleep it wouldn't hurt any more but someone was calling her name.

"No." she whispered in protest.

"No, what, sweetheart? Caysia?"

The face above hers, when she reluctantly opened her eyes, was the prettiest she'd seen in all her nine years. One of the Prophets, maybe. But that would mean, "No!" she tried to cry out.

"Sh-h-h." the Prophet said and gentle hands settled comfortingly on her shoulder and forehead. Not one of the Prophets then.

"I'm Dr. Crusher. You're on a starship and you're going to be all right.

It wasn't all right. Now she remembered what happened.

"Adda!" she tried to make herself loud enough to be heard if her father was nearby. The doctor looked sad. Caysia had seen that look before in lots of people. Lots of times. Times when someone had died.

"Gone?"

"I'm so sorry, Caysia. We did everything we could." Beverly cringed inside. It was such a pat thing to say to a child who had just lost her father.

Caysia nodded but tears flowed down her small, pale face. The doctor didn't say anything more but those gentle hands were back stroking her hair, offering silent comfort.

"I was sitting next to the Captain. I wanted to see how everything worked. She was so nice to me. Adda was standing behind me watching. She was telling me how the navigation system worked. Then this little light came on and something beeped. Captain Malix said it was a hail and that it meant that another ship was there and wanted to talk to us." Caysia faltered, voice cracking, chin quivering. She twisted the sheet between trembling fingers.

Beverly shot a warning look at Picard and Riker who stood at the foot of the sickbay bed.

"If you don't want to do this right now you don't have to." She told the little girl.

"No, I want to do it now so it'll be over."

"All right, but you can take your time and remember you can stop if you change your mind. Beverly began to pat her hand and found cold little fingers clinging tightly to hers.

Caysia took a deep breath and continued, telling them how the Cardassians on the other ship had refused to believe they were just going to a new colony and that they wouldn't believe they weren't Maquis. How they opened fire and the emergency door clanged shut and the noise and screaming from the other side. And the burning, exploding panels that knocked the Captain back. The bid heavy pieces of something that fell on top of Adda. And how it felt when the same flying pieces of panels and things slammed into her. Then the terrible, cold quiet when it was all over and she was the only one still moving. The dizziness and the chill and knowing no more until she thought it was one of the Prophets waking her up.

"That's all I remember." She finished wearily.

"You did fine." The tall man with the beard reassured her. She liked him. He had a kind way about him.

"I'm sorry we had to ask all these questions." The other man said. "I know it was difficult."

She liked him too and she tried to smile so he would know it was all right. "I think Caysia's had enough for one afternoon." Said the pretty lady with the big dark eyes. She was always worried about other people's feelings. Counselor Troi. That was her name. She was nice.

They all started to leave except for Dr. Crusher.

"Do you think I can have my hand back now?"

Caysia let go quickly.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

"It's OK. I'd want someone to hold on to if I were you." She straightened the covers. "Maybe you should rest now, hmm?"

"It's called gelatin." Beverly said, trying to hide her amusement as Caysia eyed the dish of wobbling, clear red cubes on her tray.

"It's kind of pretty," the girl said, "but it doesn't look like something you ought to eat."

"Try it." Beverly encouraged. "It's fruit flavored and it's good for someone who hasn't had solid food for awhile." She leaned one hip against the bed and offered a spoon to her young patient. Trustingly, a quivery square was tasted.

"That's the strangest thing I've ever eaten and I've eaten some pretty strange stuff!"

Beverly couldn't help it. She laughed until her sides ached.

"You're doing fine, Cay." Beverly encouraged. "Just two more steps and you're there."

"Hurts a lot." Cay gasped as she struggled with learning to walk again.

"I know. One more."

The last painful step was taken and a worn out child allowed her doctor to catch her. Beverly smiled as slender arms circled her waist. She smoothed the damp bangs away from Caysia's forehead. She hadn't done this since, well, since Wesley was little. It felt wonderful. She should be getting her patient back into bed, but instead she let herself enjoy the warm weight of a child's body and the trusting sweetness of the embrace, rocking her gently for just a little longer.

"What's the hold-up now?" Beverly asked Jean-Luc over dinner. "This is the second time we've been diverted from our course to Bajor."

"An admiral needs to get to a diplomatic conference post haste." Jean-Luc replied. "We're closest. Unfortunately for our little passenger, his destination is at the back of beyond."

Beverly sighed.

"I suppose we could leave Caysia at the space station when we pick up the admiral," he suggested pushing his empty plate away.

"Oh, Jean-Luc! That would frighten her half to death."

"I suppose I should have thought of that."

"That's why you're the Captain and I am the doctor" she teased.

"How is she doing by the way?"

Beverly leaned back in her chair. "Oh, pretty well, considering the extent of her injuries. It's still going to be a while before she's one hundred percent. Emotionally she's healing too, but it would help if she had some stability."

"Perhaps when she's back on Bajor," he began but Beverly shook her head.

"Her mother died when Cay was six and their closest friends were all going to Belem with her and her father."

"Any relatives?"

"No."

Jean-Luc blew out a long breath. "It's just such a shame. She seems like a very nice child."

"She is. In fact, she's made quite an impression around here."

"Oh?" he asked.

"Mmm. Will comes by every now and then to tease her a little. He says she's his 'best girl'."

Jean-Luc grinned. "Wasn't it Will who found her?"

"Yes. She's well enough now to be getting bored so she and I both appreciate the diversion. Geordi came in for a headache yesterday and before I knew it she had him telling her all about the warp drive. He had me put her in an antigrav chair and he took her down to engineering to show her around. They were gone for over two hours."

"Tired little girl, I'll wager."

"She slept all night." she said, "Not one nightmare."

"What does Deanna say about those?" he asked, frowning. He'd had ample cause for nightmares himself over the years. Poor little mite to have them too.

"Just that they're to be expected. She's not worried yet. Caysia just needs to keep working through them."

Jean-Luc was a little surprised when Beverly laughed.

"What?"

"Oh, it's just Cay and her curiosity. Half the time when Deanna comes to work with her, she winds up talking about Betazed instead of getting anything done. She's almost as bad as Wes was at that age."

"It sounds like it." he agreed. "Are you ready for dessert?"

Beverly stretched and moved to stand behind his chair. She bent and clasped her arms around his shoulders so that her cheek rested against his.

"That depends on what you'd like to have." Her breath tickled his ear as she kissed him.

"Why don't we go in the other room and I'll show you."

"Oh, you smooth talker. Let's go."

Jean-Luc Picard, favorite old book in hand, stopped in sickbay the next morning looking for his coffee break companion. He followed the sound of her voice back to one of the private rooms. Beverly was standing by watchfully as Caysia carefully levered herself onto the bed.

"Well, that looks promising." he said.

"She's getting better all the time." Beverly replied. Caysia looked pleased and embarrassed all at once.

"I'll be ready for a break in just a minute. I have to check something in the lab first." Beverly hurried out leaving the Captain with her patient.

"Well Caysia. . ."

"Is that a real book?" she asked, wide eyed. "With paper pages?"

"Um. Yes. It is." Books. This was good. Books he could talk about. It wouldn't matter that the other person was only nine. "It's called 'A Tale of Two Cities'."

"Oh." Caysia said. "I've never heard of that story before."

"I'm not surprised." He replied feeling more comfortable. "It's very old and from Earth."

"May I look at it please? Her eyes, he noticed, were just a shade darker than Beverly's and her long hair a shade lighter. She had those wonderful cheek bones too. He couldn't have denied her even if he wanted to. Wordlessly he held the volume out to her.

"I'll be very careful." she promised opening the cover. "Oh my. This is wonderful!"

Jean-Luc smiled, watching her page through.

"Can you read Federation standard?" he asked her.

She nodded, her eyes still scanning the page.

"Why don't you keep it for a while then." He suggested.

Her head came up suddenly.

"Aren't you reading it?" she asked, astonished.

"I'd only just started," he said not quite truthfully, "and I've read it before. Several times."

When Beverly returned, expecting to find two very uneasy people, Jean-Luc was sitting in the bedside chair looking right at home and his beloved Dickens was lying open in Caysia's lap.

"When you've finished this one, I have many more you may choose from." He was offering.

Beverly went to the replicator, ordered two coffees and took them back to Caysia's room. She doubted she was getting out of sickbay any time soon and she wasn't about to miss her morning coffee.

"What's shore leave?" Caysia asked as she finished another round of exercises.

"You are full of questions, do you know that?"

Cay giggled and nodded and Beverly gave her the short version answer.

"So the Enterprise is stopping somewhere so everybody can have some time off?"

"Yes." Beverly answered. "The Captain is going off to some dusty old archaeological dig so I am going shopping in a place called Little Terra."

"Terra. Like earth?"

"Mm-hmm. Want to come with me?"

"Really?!"

"Sure. It'll be fun. We'll take an antigrav chair."

Caysia crinkled her already crinkled nose. "Guess I wouldn't last long without one, would I."

"Not for one of my shopping trips!" Beverly confirmed. "OK, that's enough for today. You're going to need your rest because tomorrow we are going to be having a serious good time!"

She held Cay's elbow as she slowly made her way back to her room.

"Is Captain Picard really going on a real archeological dig?" Cay asked looking up at the doctor.

"Sweetheart, is there anything you're not interested in?"

*************************

"I've never seen so many wonderful things all in one place!" Caysia exclaimed as they came out of yet another shop onto the sunlit street.

"It's fun getting off the ship, too." Beverly agreed, suddenly feeling heart-full.

Cay was still too thin and just a little pale sometimes but she looked wonderful today. Her thick bright hair hung down her back in a glossy braid and the cream colored t-shirt and navy leggings were just the right shades for her. The real sunshine and fresh air had put some color in her cheeks.

"How about an ice cream cone?" she asked. She knew exactly what would come next. Cay didn't disappoint her.

"What's that?"

"Wait and see!"

Beverly left her under a shade tree with the packages and went into the tiny shop grinning with the knowledge that curiosity was eating her little companion alive.

Half way through her cone, which she had pronounced marvelous with the first tentative lick, Caysia giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"You have some on your nose." Another giggle.

Beverly dabbed at it with a paper napkin as she scanned Cay's features.

"So do you. Sit still." And she removed the white stickiness from Cay's nose too. Their eyes met and held, sharing the fun of a perfect day and a first taste of ice cream.

"Your daughter is lovely." The store clerk commented to Beverly as they watched the child carefully open another music box. "Bajoran daddy?"

"Yes. And thank you." It wasn't worth correcting her, Beverly rationalized.

The woman approached Caysia asking "Do you know that song, honey?"

Cay shook her head no.

"It's called When You Wish Upon A Star and it's from a very old movie called Pinnochio."

"What's a movie?" Cay asked.

Beverly looked around for a place to sit down. They were going to be here for awhile.

Caysia held her package carefully in her lap and yawned hugely.

"Tired?" Beverly asked.

"Yes, but it's been so much fun!"

It was early evening and the two of them had packed as much into the day as they possibly could. The music box was the only thing Caysia had allowed Beverly to buy for her. The only thing Cay knew about any way. There were quite a few discreetly made purchases discreetly sent up to the Enterprise. She was going to need her own things when she arrived on Bajor.

Suddenly, the thought made Beverly feel ill. No, not suddenly. She just hadn't allowed herself to admit it before.

Caysia was settled in bed and Beverly thought she'd just make a quick stop in her office to see if anything required her immediate attention. It wasn't very late. Only 2100 or so. Before she knew it she was engrossed in desk work.

She stretched and checked the chronometer. 2304! Jean-Luc would be wondering where she was. Beverly put the PADD away and got up to leave. A quick peek at Cay just to be sure she was all right and she'd go back to her quarters.

Caysia moaned softly in her sleep, then jerked as if trying to escape something terrible. Beverly went to her.

"Cay." She whispered, shaking a narrow shoulder gently. "Sweetheart? It's Beverly. It's only a dream, baby. You're all right."

Caysia opened her eves, hot tears streaming from them, and launched herself into Beverly's arms.

Jean-Luc hurried to his quarters. It was late and Beverly was probably wondering if he'd fallen into one of the trenches, never to be seen again. The truth was that he couldn't quite bring himself to spend an entire day of shore leave without bringing something back for her. It didn't mater a bit that he knew very well she'd indulged herself quite nicely.

"Computer." He called out dropping his bag on the couch. "Location of Dr. Beverly Crusher."

"Dr. Crusher is in sickbay," the flat female voice reported.

Desk work, he thought. That's my Beverly. Well, he'd go down and roust her out before she forgot everything else and spent the whole night there.

He stood a few paces back from the open door of Caysia's room, certain that he'd never seen anything quite so beautiful in his entire life time.

Beverly sat with her back resting at the head of the bed holding Caysia close. Tears streaked the child's face. Her eyes were closed, her breath coming in shuddering little puffs. Her head was cradled against Beverly's breast and the terra cotta hair fell around Cay like a sheltering curtain. She spoke comforting words, too low for him to hear and brushed tender kisses against the little girl's forehead as she quieted.

He knew as he watched them that Beverly had been born for this: to nurture and heal and to love. A great many things were suddenly very clear.

It wasn't a surprise to Beverly to find Jean-Luc waiting for her when she returned to her quarters a few minutes into the new day. The white Eternity rose on the table next to a gift wrapped box on the table was.

"Hi." She said, not knowing what else to say.

He held out a hand and she went to him, sinking onto the couch beside him.

"Is Caysia all right? I, um, I came to sickbay looking for you, but when I saw the two of you, well, I didn't think I should interrupt."

"Just another nightmare." She told him. "They're not happening as often any more but this was a bad one."

Jean-Luc brushed her hair away from her cheek admiring the almost other worldly quality she had sometimes.

"Did the two of you have a good day?"

"Oh, yes. It was lovely. I wish we could do it again." she replied wistfully. She didn't sound any older than Cay to him. It was irresistible.

"We're not due to leave orbit until 1600 tomorrow. Or is it today? Perhaps the three of us could go back for a few hours." He suggested.

"You're wonderful. Do you know that?"

"Why don't you open your present and then you can tell me how wonderful I am." He teased, handing the box to her.

The blue satin ribbon fell away under Beverly's graceful fingers and was swiftly joined by the snowy paper. She lifted the lid and gasped.

Jean-Luc smiled, pleased. "Try it on for me?"

She didn't say a word as she carried the box into the bedroom. He heard the shower run for a few minutes and in just a few more she re-entered the room.

She took his breath away.

Yard upon yard of very delicate, hand made ecru lace had been fashioned into a nightgown that looked as if it had been made only for her. It clung to her, the soft shadings of her body subtly visible through the fine weave.

He went to her. "You are exquisite." he said so softly she almost didn't hear and his hand came up to trace the deep curve of the neckline. He looked into the deep blue of her eyes and found there what he most wanted to.

"Lord, but I love you." he whispered. He lifted her in his strong arms and carried the short distance to her bed. He lay her down gently and she took him into the welcoming softness of her embrace.

Jean-Luc lay propped on one elbow watching Beverly sleep. His throat tightened and tears clouded his vision. He wondered if there were even words to tell her how much he loved her.

He reached over to the night stand and opened the drawer, removing the tiny box he'd placed there last night before her return from sickbay. The ring inside had been Mamman's. He hoped she would accept it.

His movements had awakened Beverly and she smiled up at him.

"I love you." she said, her voice warm and sleepy.

"I love you, too," he replied as she sat up.

"So serious this morning." She commented gently. "Is everything all right?"

He sat up too, leaning over to kiss her.

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just feeling very hopeful." He held the box out to her.

She took it from him slowly and opened the hinged lid.

"Oh." She breathed.

"I love you, Beverly." He said again. "Marry me. Please."

Her hand stroked his face, fingers gliding over his lips, quieting him.

"Yes." She whispered as the tears spilled over. For the second time in their life together, he kissed them away. Only this time she kissed away a few of his, too.

*************************

Beverly watched as Jean-Luc added another book to the already impressive stack on the counter. It was almost time to go back to the Enterprise, but she couldn't bring herself to break the magic.

She had taken Jean-Luc up on his suggestion to return to Little Terra only this time it was Jean-Luc who guided Cay's chair and answered her innumerable questions. Quite patiently, too, she thought.

The book store was their last stop. She had thoroughly enjoyed their discussion of various authors and themes. The shop keeper, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed the thought of the large number of Federation credits he would have once the pair of bibliophiles had left his place of business.

Caysia looked back at Beverly, big blue eyes aglow. Then she noticed the pile of books they'd amassed and her expression turned to one of dismay.

"What is it?" Jean-Luc asked, dropping to Cay's level.

"That's an awful lot of books." She said in a too grown up tone. "It's not right for me to let you buy them just because I like them."

"I'm buying them because I like them." He reassured her, but she was having none of it.

"I don't really think you're planning on reading A Little Princess or Mary Poppins."

"I might."

Beverly fleetingly considered intervening but this was far too entertaining.

"Oh, you will not!"

"Well, maybe not" he conceded. "But we're sharing, remember?"

*************************

Jean-Luc watched as Beverly pushed the vegetables back and forth on her plate. He couldn't blame her, really. He'd found he hadn't much appetite himself. The ship was finally on an uninterrupted course for Bajor and she'd become more quiet each day of the journey. He knew what was bothering her, but he was getting rather tired of waiting for her to work it out far enough to discuss it.

"Beverly?"

"Hm?"

"Don't you think we should send a message ahead to find out what needs to be done?"

She stared at him in surprise.

"If Caysia is going to stay with us we really ought to take care of the legal aspect, don't you think?" he questioned reasonably.

"Jean-Luc Picard! I have been struggling to find the just the right way to bring this up and you. . . Oh for pete's sake! What am I doing? Yes! Let's go!"

*************************

"What's the most likely place they'll go first when they get back?" Deanna asked the group assembled in her quarters.

"It would be most successful if we could be certain." Data contributed.

"Then we'll have to give them a reason to go - damn, we're back to square one." Will said in mild frustration.

"Perhaps the initial surprise will have to take place in the transporter room and the actual celebration progress elsewhere." Said Data.

Jean-Luc and Beverly materialized on the transporter platform with their new daughter between them to find their friends waiting for them and a large pink banner on the wall reading "It's A Girl!"

Deanna Troi watched the newly married doctor cross Ten Forward to meet her for lunch. Being a wife and mother certainly agreed with Beverly Crusher-Picard. She all but glowed with it.

As Beverly settled into her chair, Deanna remarked "I don't need to ask you how things are going. You're exuding happiness from every pore!"

"I know." Beverly said. "I love them both so much it almost hurts."

"You might as well tell me what that little "but" is. I can sense it's there." Deanna requested gently.

"I know it's only been a few months, but I keep on thinking she ought to be calling me Mom or something."

Deanna reached over and squeezed her hand. "It's a little awkward for an older child to do that right away, Beverly. Give her some time. You know she couldn't love you any more if she tried."

"I know. It'll come."

"How's she doing otherwise?"

"Pretty well, actually. She hasn't had a nightmare in quite a while and she's doing well in school. You'll never guess who her best friend is so far."

If I'll never guess, you had better tell me." Deanna teased. "What are you having, by the way?"

"Wild rice soup."

"I'll assume you're not answering the questions in order."

Beverly gave her a dirty look, then laughed. "No, I wasn't. Cay's best friend is a Vulcan boy. I think she said his name is Jevek.

"It does seem rather an odd match, but if it works- Where is Cay today anyway. There is no school on a Saturday."

"Believe it or not, she's on the holodeck with Jean-Luc. She talked him into a program of the dig he went on that last shore leave we had." Beverly smiled fondly remembering when Cay had asked. "She didn't have to try very hard. In fact, it's entirely possible that he thinks it was his idea."

*************************

"There you go. See that little bit poking out of the dust?" Jean-Luc pointed at a tiny shard of something.

"Yes! There!"

"Take the brush, the soft one, and sweep the dirt away. Very gently."

The simulated sun was warm on their backs and the air was dry. Jean-Luc Picard watched his daughter's face as she unearthed the little piece of pottery. From the look of her, you'd think she was digging up jewels. He remembered the feeling well.

The dusty shard lay in her small palm as she stared at it in fascination.

"Look!" she exclaimed. "There's something on it. Part of a picture, I think!"

She stood up far too quickly and a little off balance. She tried to catch herself, but there was a rock on the ground behind her. Cay went down hard, her ankle twisting beneath her.

"Ouch! Ooh, it hurts!"

Jean-Luc knelt beside her.

Can you move it?" he asked, helping her extend her leg.

Caysia blinked back tears and gingerly rotated her ankle.

"Well, it doesn't seem to be broken, but your Mamman is not going to be happy with me for letting you get hurt!"

"Mamman?"

"That's what I called my mother when I was growing up." He said, helping her to her feet.

"Ow! I shouldn't have tried to step on it. What did you call your father?"

He picked her up and her still thin arms went around his neck.

"I called him Papa." he replied and then called out, "Computer, end program and save."

As he carried his slight burden toward the door, she rested her head on his shoulder. She smelled of dust and sunshine.

"Would it be all right if I called you Papa?" 

*************************

Papa was right. Her physician/mother was not happy. She wasn't mad at him, though. She just didn't much care for the fact that Cay was hurt.

"There you go sweetheart. Does it feel better?" she asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Good. Now next time watch where you step!" she said sternly and promptly spoiled the effect with a smile. "I love you and I hate it when you're hurt." She smoothed Cay's red -gold hair and tapped the end of her crinkled nose with one finger.

Caysia reached up for a hug, nestling into Beverly's shoulder.

"I love you, too, Mamman."

*************************

Years later, three children played on the lawn of a very old house in LaBarre, France. Two boys, each with glossy black hair and a delightful little crinkle to the bridge of his nose, ran back and forth in a game of their own invention. The girl sat under a large old tree, red-gold hair gleaming in the late afternoon sun. She absently pushed a lock of it back, tucking it behind one delicately pointed ear. A battered, often read copy of A Little Princess lay open in her lap.

On the front porch were their parents and grandparents. A tiny baby girl who looked a great deal like her older sister was cuddled in the crook of her grandfather's arm.

He called their names and all three children came running, full of youthful joy and energy.

"A story, Grandpere?" asked the older boy. They had him all figured out and wound around their small fingers besides. It was just the way he liked it.

"Of course." He confirmed. "Now sit down and listen carefully. This one is about your Grandmere."

So it was that Jean-Luc Picard told a tale of their very dignified grandmother and what a raunchy old lady she really was.