Next story in the "Generations" series. The Picard's receive a surprise visit from an old friend.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to CBS, its parents and affiliates. Just taking the characters out for a jaunt around the galaxy, I warrant they will be returned in the same condition I borrowed them.

Part 1

""If you want to go, you should go," Walking back to the kitchen table with a damp wash cloth, Jean-Luc watches as Beverly sets the empty bowl that had contained pureed carrots and sweet potatoes onto the table.

Accepting the cloth from Jean-Luc, Beverly turns to the high-chair beside her to wipe her one year-old daughter's face of the remnants of dinner that had not made it into the baby's mouth. "I don't know. It's three days. I don't want to be away three days."

"It would be good for you to have a little holiday with Marta, have a few days break from the children," remarks Jean-Luc, lowering himself onto the chair next to Beverly at the table. They had just finished dinner and cleaned up the dishes , their older three children having departed to wash up. Now, Beverly is cleaning off their twelve-month old daughter, Rene.

"She thought we should take Deanna, too," adds Beverly, lifting Rene out of the high- chair.

"Go!" induces Jean-Luc, shoving aside the discarded bowl and spoon from Rene's dinner. "You need a vacation."

Sighing, Beverly transfers the baby onto Jean-Luc's lap. "I don't know. I can't leave the kids that long."

"You know, we'd make out perfectly fine without you for a few days," Jean-Luc points out with a smirk.

Shaking her head knowingly, Beverly giggles. "That's doubtful. You're going to care for four kids for three days?"

Rolling his eyes, Jean-Luc bounces his toddler on his lap. "I am their father, Beverly. I think I can manage."

"You wouldn't last three hours, my dear," retorts Beverly, softening the blow with a kiss to his cheek.

"We finished our homework after class," announces Maurice loudly, entering the living room, Paul a step behind his twin ten year-old brother.

Looking over at his sons walking toward them, clutching PADDS in their hands, Jean-Luc waves his spirited ten year-old, Maurice, over to the table. "Let me see. I know Paul did. I want to see your assignment."

Rolling his eyes, Maurice leads his twin over to the kitchen table. "We finished. Can we go to the holodeck now? Please?"

Balancing the baby on one knee, Jean-Luc accepts the PADD from Maurice, briefly glazing over the screen as the boys pile around him. He glances up at Paul questioningly. "Did you do this for your brother?"

"No," answers Paul quietly, his hands behind his back. "He did it."

Exhaling audibly, Jean-Luc hands the PADD back to Maurice. "I hope so. Maurice, your brother can't write your tests for you. He can't get you an acceptance into the Academy. You say you want to be a Starfleet Officer. You must be prepared to work for it."

Lacing his fingers together, Maurice hangs his head. "I know, sir."

Beverly frowns in sympathy for the boys, knowing that Paul is only trying to help his twin. Maurice, mean while, is merely a normal ten year-old boy who wants to play Parisses Squares and hang out with his friends, rather than put his nose to the books. Usually, Beverly is the first one to jump to Paul's defence. However, Jean-Luc had opined that the boys needed to work things out for themselves. Maurice had to learn he could not take advantage of his brother's good nature, and Paul had to learn to be assertive and stick up for himself. Sometimes, the dynamic between the boys led to disagreement between Jean-Luc and Beverly, but the twins are developing their own characters as they grow.

Sighing, Jean-Luc is too tired to delve into a long lecture. "Go on, then."

"Thank you, Papa," says Paul softly.

Rising out of her chair, Beverly steps over to ruffle Paul's head of light brown hair, her eyes fixing Jean-Luc with a knowing smile. "I'm going to get pyjamas for Rene and change her. I'll be back in a minute."

As Jean-Luc nods and Maurice turns to head to his bedroom, Claire comes barrelling into the room, her arms stuffed with a large tray of colourful mouldable clay.

"Papa! Can you help me build a castle for my little dolls?" the six year-old asks sweetly, depositing the tray onto the kitchen table beside Jean-Luc.

Shaking her head, Beverly buries her hand in the girl's long red locks. "Not right now, love. I'm going to change your sister and then you're having a bath. Your hair needs a good wash."

"Later," requests Claire, sliding onto the chair Beverly had vacated. "I wanna build a castle."

"You can build your castle after I've washed your hair," Beverly tells her firmly.

Pouting, Claire's shoulders sag. "Fine."

Raising a brow, Jean-Luc looks at his tired wife, a confident smile tugging at his lips. "Take that vacation, Beverly."

Sighing in resignation, Beverly puts her hands on her hips. "Jean-Luc, how would you manage?"

Laughing lightly, Jean-Luc shifts the fussing baby in his lap. "You don't believe I can last three days without you?"

"No," Beverly shakes her head simply. "I don't believe you'd last three hours."

Their good-natured bantering is interrupted by the sudden apparition of a tall man in a red command uniform with captain's pips in the chair next to Picard. Completely startled, Claire screams, while Paul jumps back toward his mother in fright.

Whipping around, Picard comes face-to-face with an old nemesis, one whom he had not heard from in ages. "Q!"

Grinning broadly, Q crosses one leg over the other on his chair. "Oh, I do apologize for my tardiness. It appears I missed dinner. What's for dessert?"

"Papa, who is he? How did he do that?" Maurice points at Q, his hazel eyes wide.

Frowning with displeasure, Beverly puts one hand on Claire's shoulder and reaches for Paul with the other.

Lips tight, Picard stares directly at the entity beside him. "To what do we owe this unexpected visit, Q?"

Smiling goofily, Q straightens. "Oh, I have been remise, Jean-Luc. I haven't called, haven't dropped in. No sub-space communiques, no inter-dimensional travel. Oh, forgive me. I just had to stop by and see you, your family."

As Q jumps to his feet, Jean-Luc secures his hold on his baby daughter, gradually rising to his feet. "I really wish you'd call first."

Q pads over to Beverly and the children, smiling mischievously as he extends his hand to Beverly. "My good doctor! How are you?"

Face set passively, Beverly keeps her hands firmly planted on her children's shoulders. "What are you doing here, Q?"

Whipping around to Picard, Q hitches his thumb in Beverly's direction, a sarcastic look on his face. "Just as sweet as ever. I can see why you married her, Jean-Luc."

Rolling his eyes, Jean-Luc follows Q, Rene in his arm. "What do you want?"

"It's been so long, Jean-Luc!" cries Q, slinging an arm around Maurice. "You have progeny! I mean, fallible human, mortal progeny, yes. But, progeny nonetheless."

Racing over to Maurice, Jean-Luc grabs for his son's arm. "Leave my children out of this, Q! Do not touch them."

Beverly's heart beats profusely against her chest as Paul clings to her and Maurice looks to Jean-Luc uncertainly. "Stop it, Q. Just tell us why you're here."

Putting his hands out, Q sighs with mock annoyance. "Must it always be something? Can't I just visit my friends on this quaint little hunk of metal you call a vessel?"

Pulling Maurice to his side, Jean-Luc fixes the entity with a look of daggers. "You're trying my patience, Q."

"Fine," exhales Q dramatically. "I saw the conversation between you and Doctor Feel Good. I'm here to set the record straight."

"What do you mean?" presses Picard, staring incredulously at the entity.

"You said you could live without the Missus for three Ice Queen here disagreed," Q reminds them. "Let's find out who's correct."

Shaking her head furiously, Beverly steps away from the kids and toward Q. "No, Q. If I want to go on a holiday that's between Jean-Luc and I. Mind your own business."

Pursing his lips, Q strokes his chin. "Hhmmm…no, I don't think I will. Because, I don't think you'll go. I challenge the good captain to command this household on his own, without his better half." Snapping his fingers, Q makes Beverly disapparate.

Throwing her hands to her face, Claire screams at the sudden disappearance of her mother. Paul jumps over to Claire, scared and wanting to calm his sister.

Rushing to Q, Picard reaches for the entity's collar. "What the devil have you done? Bring her back!"

Rolling his eyes, Q carelessly shoves Picard off. "You tell me humans have evolved, but your most primal instinct is to defend your mate and offspring using violence."

"Damn it, Q!" growls Picard, ignoring the now crying baby in his arm.

"Calm down," urges Q. "Prove to me that you're a good Papa, you can mind your home without your wife, and I'll bring her back."

"Papa!" Maurice cries, reaching for his father, growing frightened.

"I won't be a pawn in your juvenile game," retorts Picard, taking Maurice's hand. "Bring Beverly back immediately."

Shrugging, Q exhales boredly. "Fine. Then, I'll be on my way."

"No, Papa!" sobs Claire, clutching Paul's hand tightly. "Where's Mama?"

Gritting his teeth, Jean-Luc is beyond annoyed or agitated. Now, he is abolsutely fuming. "You've upset my children, Q. Bring their mother back."

"I will," agrees Q. "If you can survive without her."