"Captain Raymond, you have a subspace communication from the USS Enterprise."

"Thank you, ensign, send it to my ready room, on visual."

A communication from the Enterprise was a surprise, and the face on Raymond's viewscreen no less so.

"Jean-Luc! It's been millennia since we've spoken."

"Well I wasn't feeling quite that old, but I suppose it's been a while. Not so long we don't still command our ships of choice, though." Like Picard, Raymond had eschewed promotion to remain in command of his own ship. The Avalon was his, and its captain he would remain until his forced retirement (or death).

"Haven't you heard that deep space exploration prevents aging? Or maybe it accelerates it, I can never quite remember." The two starship captains laughed in unison. Like most former classmates the career choices that set them on a common path at the Academy also prevented keeping in touch once they'd been "launched". "So tell me, Jean-Luc, to what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?"

Picard began casually, "Justin, I don't suppose you remember the 'present' you deposited on my doorstep a few years back, that 21st century Earth woman with a thirst for knowledge and a barely-controlled tendency toward insubordination?"

It took a moment for Raymond to grasp the reference. "Hey, I didn't deposit her on your doorstep, I just delivered her to the Academy. Where she ended up is strictly between the Academy and you." He paused for a moment, and continued uncertainly, "Not that I've been hanging on every development, but I thought that worked out okay? I mean you managed to accept the first admin exec posting without resigning your commission or defecting to the Cardassians."

"You did a little more than 'deliver' her, Justin, you wrote her a recommendation. A rather impressive one, as I remember."

"Well I didn't think it was fair to just dump her on a starbase for orientation. Think of the hell she'd have raised!"

Raising an eyebrow Picard responded, "Yes, much better to confine hell-raising to Starfleet where it can do the most good." Giving up the charade, both Picard and Raymond laughed again.

"Really, Jean-Luc, I've heard things have improved since the admin exec function has settled in. Not just the Enterprise, but quite a few other starships as well. I congratulate and admire you for being the first to explore that uncharted space."

"Not so much that you've ventured there yourself though, eh?" He couldn't resist. Since the pilot project was declared a success, further postings were encouraged for every ship but were mandatory only on the larger class starships. Being an Intrepid class ship with smaller crew complement, the Avalon wasn't required to post an administrative executive officer.

Raymond didn't rise to the bait. "My, how the high and mighty have fallen. But you still haven't told me why you contacted me. What assistance can my humble little understaffed ship offer the mighty Enterprise?"

"You may have heard that my first-of-her-kind administrative exec and my first-of-his-kind second officer have decided to get married. She'd had her heart set on Boothby walking her down the aisle and since his death she's on the verge of doing it solo."

Raymond let out a low whistle. "From what I heard it took a lot more than 'deciding'. I'm flattered, but why would she want me?"

"Sorry, Justin, that's not it. Lieutenant O'Reilly isn't even aware of this communication. What I was thinking was perhaps it might be symbolically appropriate if one," here he consulted an Avalon crew list drawn from the stardate of Leo's first contact, "Lieutenant Andrew Lewis were to do the honors. After all, his visit to Leora O'Reilly's front yard was the catalyst for this whole event. I know it sounds a bit of a stretch, but Commander Data and Lieutenant O'Reilly are particularly mindful of the chain of events and people who brought them to this juncture, and are expending some attention and effort to include as many as possible. I thought even if Lewis was no longer aboard, you might point me in the proper direction and explain the reason for the invitation."

"You could have gotten that information from Command, Jean-Luc."

Picard smiled a bit smugly. "It's safe to say that Starfleet Command is one element of the chain of events that the happy couple is not inclined to include in the occasion, in any capacity. Anything I can do to aid in that exclusion wouldn't displease me in the least."

The grin that spread across Raymond's face was wide, and genuine. "You old humbug, Picard, you've gone romantic in your old age. As a matter of fact Lieutenant Lewis is now Commander Lewis, my first officer. Like your Will Riker, he's foolish enough to think this is where he wants to spend his career."

"If it weren't for like-minded fools, where would we be? If he's agreeable, can you ask him to contact me on a secure channel? I'd like to keep the arrangements a surprise as long as possible."

"My pleasure. And may I be so bold to ask if I'm invited to this grand affair? After all, I did deliver her to your doorstep."

"I'm certain the lieutenant would be pleased to see you again, as would I. I'll keep you advised. Picard out."

"A romantic, I don't think so," Picard grumbled to himself as he returned to his work. Still, he hadn't felt quite this pleased with himself since he'd succeeded in cutting Anthony Haftel out of Data's Starfleet-ordered fitness evaluation. In a career full of life-and-death accomplishments sometimes the sweetest ones came quietly, with no medals attached.