Adjustments III – Anniversaries and Birthdays
Thanks for the reviews – and I don't own them or any of the characters except the few I created.
The books don't have the dates for when Jean Luc and Beverly got married but by the timeline it puts it about sometime in August and then the same for Rene's birth. If you go by what Jean Luc said in 'Great than the Sum' that they 8 ½ months to pick a name you would put the baby due in mid August and so I went with that and chose 8-1-2481 for the boys birthday and then 8-2-2480 for their anniversary. I just thought 8-1-81 was cool.
I also have some more chapters written that will take us back and forth in Rene's life
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0530 Picard Quarters
8-2-2481
It was still dark in the cabin as Captain Jean Luc Picard sat awake staring at the stars as the flashed by the ship at warp 3. He was lost in the emotions of the events of the past year and how much his life had changed in that year. Then there were new challenges he would be facing in this new day. He was a father, a father with little background in how except the memories of a man who lived over a thousand years ago.
It was the memories of helping his wife bring the baby into the world was still overwhelming him too as she had decided to play doctor to herself with his help to do some pushing prior to having their little world intruded upon with her staff to help with the birth. But she forgot one player, Rene and he seemed eager to be born as her body seemed more than ready to be getting rid of its little passenger. It took five pushes for Rene crown and two more to be born into his father's waiting hands.
Jean Luc had given her a hard time as all she could say was "well when I got to that point with Wesley he took over 30 minutes, not 1."
His rebuttal was "at least our son knows how to be on time unlike his mother." And the comment earned him one of Beverly Crushers famous glares as he gently laid the baby on her chest.
Of course none of the humor was taken well by Beverly's second who had been so looking forward to delivering the little guy. Beverly's flippant remark to Dr Tropp when he asked 'why they hadn't called when she was going to push' and she replied 'who was watching the monitors', needless to say he did sort of get the last laugh when he ordered her to stay the rest of night in the recovery ward.
And here he was after leaving his sleeping family in sick bay to come and get the few things they had gotten for the boy when she went into hard labor in the middle of dinner. It was an outfit for Rene and robe for her. It also gave him time to set up the anniversary present he been planning on giving Beverly today for dinner had Rene not decided to join them three weeks early. It was like he knew that it was coming up and wanted to be here for it and he would be.
He got up and quietly got to his mission of making sure his wife was surprised.
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Sickbay
An hour later
Beverly looked down on her newborn son as he finished feeding. She was still amazed at over all how easy his birth had been compared to her firstborn over 32 years prior, just six hours of labor verses nearly twenty-eight with Wesley and that instead of her husband passing out, this time he delivered the baby himself. Chuckling silently, and not because he wanted to but because you were playing doctor instead of patient and instead of paying attention to your own body went with your brain saying it will take awhile. Well it was worth it to be able to share something that special with Jean Luc and then see his face moments later after Rene had been cleaned up as his son was placed in his arms.
"We are going to have to work hard at making sure your Daddy doesn't spoil you rotten. He is walking on cloud nine right now and I am not sure when he will come down." Seeing that he was done suckling, she moved him to her shoulder, "and please tell me what was so important that you scared him to death in coming early? It was enough to make me nervous but after a quick scan I knew all was well but your Daddy didn't. I really didn't think I would get him through the whole process without medication and he was a better trooper than I have seen lately in new fathers." And Jean Luc had been after about an hour of her labor in addition to his calm he became a great coach being everything she had needed. "Just what got into you to be in such a hurry to get here hmmm?"
Her smile grew as she heard the small belch given by the baby and then little shutter as he settled down to sleep.
"So are you ready to get out of here now Mrs. Picard?"
Her smile went from happy to sarcastic as Dr Tropp entered her room with scanner in hand. Not too many braved calling her Mrs. Picard since she went professionally by Crusher; not that she didn't get a secret joy when it was used but she sure as hell didn't let anyone know it, including Mr. Picard, "well, as soon as my doctor decides to release me and my husband returns, unless you plan on using your temporary power as CMO to keep me here?"
"While that sounds like fun I am sure the ship's captain would have my head.
Only catching that part, "Your head for what Dr? Being late to a birth?"
Beverly didn't hide her laughter and brought a scowl again to Tropps face as it seemed that being a minute late would be a humorous remembrance for his commanders for some time to come. "I was just asking the new mother here if she wanted to go home because I am ready to clear them both as healthy and ready to leave."
"I guess my timing is fortuitous then," Jean Luc said as he looked from the doctor to his wife and son, "I have her robe and his going home outfit."
Setting the items on the bed, he took the infant from Beverly and cuddled the boy close as Beverly got up gingerly and put on her robe. Then taking Rene back, she dressed him in the small onsie that Jean Luc had brought, it was a deep purple and made the baby look like a huge grape at all of 6lbs. Then wrapping him in an equally purple with green trim baby blanket, she picked the baby back up she glared at her husband over his choice and got a 'what?' innocent look from him.
"Come on dear before I have to violate my leave and become captain when the good doctor here decides to keep you longer."
"They are both fine Sir, and trust me when I say that keeping Mrs. Picard here any longer might not be good for my health, and to you ma'am, since you like being your own personal physician, you know what to look for and please come back if you need us. Otherwise I don't plan on seeing you in uniform for four weeks." Then Tropp turned and left the room.
Beverly came over to her husband's side, "Shall we?"
Pulling her close and in a totally uncharacteristic show of affection, placed his arm over her shoulders leading her from sickbay to their quarters. Mainly because it gave him a better view of looking at his son as the tyke slept peacefully in his mother's arms but it also felt great to just be a man, husband, father and not Captain for the first time in years.
Arriving to the their quarters with the rare chance on running into no one, unbeknownst at the orders of his Number One to clear a path for the new parents, Jean Luc ushered them inside to the candle lit room, "Happy Anniversary dear and happy birthday son"
Tears coming easily, "Oh Jean Luc," she turned to him and kissed him. "I completely forgot…"
"Well you were a bit busy and Rene caused a change in plans but I didn't want to completely let them go." He stated as he guided her to the couch and assisted her in sitting, then joined her, pulling her as close as he could. "I will just have to relegate the romantic part to another time for a few weeks." And get used to making love to you with someone else in the room.
Sensing his thought, "Only a few days dear and then we can remember the better part of our honeymoon." She said as she bobbed her eyebrows at him, "I actually had a great outfit for tonight that will never fit again."
"Who said it will never fit again?" Missing the meaning of what she was hinting at.
"Besides the obvious, do you really want two?"
Still reeling at being a father, "I really haven't given it much thought but the final decision lies with you as you are the one going through nine months of pregnancy and then birth." Reaching down to gently slide a finger over his son's face his voice caught as he continued, "I never imaged in my wildest dreams of being a father at all but a father to two?"
"Well technically, you were a father to Wes in his teen years and Wes is your stepson so technically you are the father of two boys. So essentially another would make three." Knowing that in some way she would be more than willing to have another child if he really wanted to but deciding to let him off the hook, "I say we see how you do with late night feedings, dirty poopy diapers and my moods as we navigate our new life with Rene before we discuss another one."
Nodding in agreement, "That's fine with me but just to let you know, I am happier than I ever thought I had the right to be thanks to you and your love. And I do love you Beverly, more than you can ever know."
Hormonal tears welled up in her eyes at his statement as she turned to kiss him, telling him how she felt back without words. Finally the need to breathe caused them to split, "I love you too Jean Luc." Then turning to lean back on him again, she sighed in contentment and closed her eyes.
Letting her rest there for a few minutes as he saw how tired she was, then, "Why don't we put him down for as long as he will sleep and catch up on some ourselves too?"
"Sounds like a great idea." Letting him up and releasing Rene to him, then taking his other hand as he offered it to pull her up off the couch. Seeing him frown when she winched, "its okay, modern medicine can heal me in hours compared to weeks like when you go all natural," remembering the conversations of how his mother went all natural and no medical aides because of his father. And very thankful that Jean Luc didn't hold those same beliefs, "but they can't take away every ache instantly. Plus my age has something to do with it too since I'm not a young woman anymore." Lifting a hand to Jean Luc's cheek in a comforting move, "I'll be fine by tomorrow."
Knowing it was better to remain silent he lead them to the master bedroom, let go of his wife to settle his son in the bassinet that he had moved earlier by their bed. The proud parents stood there for a few more minutes gazing at their little miracle before the exhaustion of the past 12 hours took over and they retired to the bed cuddle up together.
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Maybe more later…