Casualty reports filled his desk for the first time since the end of the war. Jean-Luc Picard's tea had gone cold while he read the biographies of the officers dead of the tevelalam ak virus brought to Deep Space Five by the SuHn'Nos. Many of them had been young, the virus had spared no one, and it seemed to have worked especially hard to destroy young, healthy lives.

He knew intellectually that there were some things in the universe that had no logic behind them, and though they contained no malice or conscious thought, they were cruel and unnecessarily destructive. There was no compassion in nature, and the universe was without meaning or reason. The poet in him reminded him that the darkness of the universe was why those who lived in it sought the light.

He finished the last death certificate from sickbay and stood, cold tea in his hand. He'd barely reached the replicator when his comm chirped.

"Captain Picard, Captain Riker wishes to speak with you."

"Put him through, Number One."

Seemingly nonplussed by looking out at Jean-Luc's empty chair, Will spoke without hesitation.

"Captain, the Romulan Vice Admiral brought along the historical team that found the reference to our deadly viral outbreak in the ancient Imperial database. I thought I'd give you first shot at them."

"The Romulan historical team is here and willing to meet and share information?"

"They're quite willing. You may beam over to the Romulan flagship or they will come to you."

The Enterprise was still conducting repairs of their entire propulsion system, perhaps he would be better served if he took up the Romulan's offer to host.

"Worf won't let me leave without a security escort."

Will chuckled. Over protective first officers were now his problem too, not only Jean-Luc's.

"She suggested two security guards, to see to your safety."

With a fresh cup of tea, Jean-Luc settled down in front of his former first officer. "Well, someone's mission to Romulus must have made quite an impression."

Will shook his head. "I get the impression that her openness is her own form of rebellion. Vice Admiral or not, she hasn't long been free of the Tal Shiar, being honest with us is the ultimate slap in the face to their memory."

"A rebellious Romulan history buff." Jean-Luc raised his eyebrows and grinned. "I shall have to meet this Vice Admiral."

"Toreth."

Jean-Luc pondered the name for a moment. It sounded familiar but surely...

"Not that same Toreth, Commander Toreth of the Khazara?" He remembered her from Deanna's report. She'd been the commander his former counsellor had faced off in order to save a party of dissidents while she'd been disguised as a Romulan against her will.

"Looks like she got promoted."

"Indeed." Jean-Luc indulged himself with a dry chuckle. "Please, send her my acceptance. I'll beam over at her convenience."

"You'll have to tell me all about it."

Before shutting the channel, Jean-Luc indulged his curiosity. He'd assumed that no news was the best news when it came to Beverly, but no one seemed to know where or, more importantly, how she was. "Will, is Admiral Janeway with Beverly? Is she all right?"

Snapping his fingers, Will winced in apology. "Right. Sorry. Admiral Janeway went to find Beverly right after the station was cleared. She reported in that Beverly is recovering. Oddly enough, she's also on the Romulan flagship. The Romulans have been dealing with a good deal of the critical patients."

"And she's all right?"

"Seems like it. Most of the cases in my sickbay need some kind of kidney or lung support, but my CMO thinks it'll be temporary for most. I imagine Beverly's in a similar position."

"And Admiral Janeway is with her?"

"Couldn't keep her here."

Jean-Luc shared a smile with his former first officer. "Good." Beverly was nearly a sister to both of them, and if she was recovering and safe with the woman she loved, then there was cause for celebration.

Her mouth still tasted of blood. The dry, metallic taste coated her tongue and clenched her throat. She didn't know how to stop it. If she'd ever be able to make it stop, but perhaps if she could open her eyes, she could find something. Somewhere. Where ever she was.

Her eyes opened slowly, and focused even slower. Beverly blinked several times, marvelling and the golden lights in the ceiling before it occurred to her that she saw. It wasn't just light she saw, as she had before, but detailing in the dark metal ceiling, and the line of a air vent running along the side of the wall. Turning her head, she found shapes that slowly coalesced into forms. Humanoid forms that moved around her with familiar purpose.

Sickbay. She was in a sickbay. The forms above her wore dark uniforms of an unfamiliar cut. Aliens? At the last moment unknown aliens had arrived to save them? Maybe she needed to put more thought into the idea that she was dead.

One of the medical staff passed close to her and her eyesight improved enough to notice he was a familiar alien race after all. He was Romulan.

The Romulans? How could they be behind this? Why would they have saved her?

"You are conscious." The voice on her left was female and calm, like a doctor. Her doctor, most likely.

Beverly tried to speak, but her voice failed her utterly. Her strangled croak was progress. She'd barely managed that before she'd passed out in the laboratory.

"Drink. Spit it out if you cannot swallow." Strong hands lifted her head, and held a cup to her lips. To Beverly's shock, she remembered how to drink ad water ran down her throat, clearing some of the metallic taste of blood.

With a few swallows down in her stomach, Beverly tried again. "Who?"

"The Imperial Romulan warbird Khazara. We detected your distress signal and my commander decided to assist you."

"Thank your commander."

"I will pass along your sentiment." The Romulan doctor had kinder eyes than Beverly had before seen in her species. "You are also a doctor?"

"Yes." Being Head of Starfleet Medical seemed unimportant now; what mattered was that the virus had been eradicated.

"May I update you on your condition?"

"Please."

"I have implanted four synthetic organ support units into your abdominal cavity. Two nephritic supports, and two hepatic supports. You liver should recover in the next few weeks, but your kidneys make take months to fully regenerate. I have stimulated the formation of new tissue as much as I could, but they were severely damaged."

Beverly had known that. She nodded weakly, marvelling at the way the motion caused her no pain.

"Your lungs were also affected, though they will heal without biomechanical support. Your connective tissues, your dermis and small capillaries suffered severe degradation, as well as your bone marrow and spleen. You are lucky the Empire requires us to know so much of your physiology."

Beverly's lips quirked, feebly remembering how to smile. "Very lucky."

"Your body suffered extensive damage."

"Stimulants. I had to find the answer."

"That would explain the condition of your liver and spleen." The Romulan doctor raised her eyebrows, then nodded, as if agreeing. "I would have done the same. It will take you some time to recover. Do not over exert yourself."

"Yes, Doctor."

The Romulan paused, trying to plan her next few words. "You should not carry offspring until your kidneys have had time to fully regenerate. I am sorry."

"No, no. Thank you. You saved my life. I was not planning on..." Beverly trailed off. The thought had crossed her mind, and lying to the Romulan doctor who's name she didn't even know, didn't seem important. "My partner will carry the child."

For some reason, that brought a bright smile to the Romulan's face. "Good."

She guided Beverly's hand, moving the limb Beverly had forgotten she had until it rested on a familiar head buried in her side. Sitting up slightly, Beverly stretched her neck and saw Kathryn, fast asleep in a chair next to the biobed. Her head was tucked up against Beverly's naked side, and the puffiness around her eyes was still there, even in sleep.

"Kathryn."

"She arrived shortly after I finished your treatment. It seemed cruel to ask her to leave."

"Thank you." Beverly ran clumsy fingers over Kathryn's soft hair, and they slowly returned to usefulness. Eventually she had the dexterity to roll Kathryn's hair between her fingertips.

"Thank you."

"Rest. One of my nurses will bring you more water and a nutrient drink. I know the taste is bland, but-"

Beverly nodded, resting her eyes for a moment. "I'll drink it."

"Perhaps we will get along better than I thought, Doctor."

"Beverly."

The Romulan tried the name on her lips, then smiled. "Veddra."

"Good morning, Captain." Tom Paris sauntered out of his chair and handed Chakotay a PADD of information. "The weather in the Alpha Quadrant today is clear with a chance of new orders."

"Oh?" Chakotay set down his coffee, white with two sugars, and looked at the PADD. Instead of the mapping mission of the Cyrissil Cluster, they were being diverted to the relief effort on Deep Space Five.

"Finally."

"I thought that would cheer you up, Sir." Tom settled back into his chair and let Chakotay finish reading.

"The death toll went as high as eighteen hundred?"

Tom nodded, frowning. "No one's seen anything like that virus for a long time. If so many ships hadn't been in the area..."

"Romulans?" Harry's voice cut through the bridge. "Five Romulan warbirds crossed the Neutral Zone to help the Admiral Janeway?"

Tom chuckled. He'd been waiting for everyone else to get that far in the note. "She does occasionally have that knack with people. Apparently even Romulans can't say no to her."

"Apparently so." Chakotay continued reading, then scanned the casualty list desperately for Beverly's name.

Seeing his sudden change in demeanour, Tom reached for his shoulder. "Doctor Crusher is all right. Tuvok sent us a subspace message. The Admiral is fine, so is Doctor Crusher. The latter hasn't been released from sickbay yet, but Tuvok said her prognosis was good."

"It was kind of him to let us know."

"He knows we worry."

And they did, collectively. B'Elanna, Tom, Harry and Chakotay had been in the mess hall just last night, hoping that both of them had been spared. Once the epidemic spread on the station, it had seemed impossible that anyone would survive. He'd suspected Kathryn would come up with something, and knowing she had lifted a weight from his chest.

"He humours our emotional fallacies." Tom's smile softened the comment and Chakotay felt his affection for their logical friend.

Knowing someone so dear to Kathryn's heart, and his own, had been in such great danger had weighed on all of them, and knowing she was safe, and that Kathryn was with her, his day couldn't have begun better.

"Helm, alter course to sector six-two-four, Deep Space Five. Warp eight."

"Romulans."

Tom shrugged. "I can't wait to hear that story. I've always wanted to get my hands on the helm of a Romulan ship. Those D'deridex-class warbirds are some of the biggest ships out there. Yet, you can still corner them in the time it would take to turn a Galaxy-class. Voyager would still beat both of them, but...it would be fun to try."

"I think they'll be gone by the time we arrive."

Tom drew out his sigh. "I know. Can't hurt to dream, can it?"

"Tuvok might have some scans you can look at." Harry's optimism sounded cheerful, but Chakotay knew teasing when he heard it.

"Now you're just trying to placate me." Tom rolled his eyes and then glanced back at Harry. "You can't tell me you've never wanted to be on a Romulan ship."

"No, not really."

Tom made another sound of disbelief and returned to extolling the virtues of a number of terrifying alien vessels, including Borg spheres and the bioships of Species 8472.

Chakotay settled back in his chair, mentally preparing his ship for the relief effort. He'd have a plan to write later, once they were closer, for the moment, he intended to enjoy the moment of knowing the people he loved were safe.

"Beverly."

"Don't Beverly me." Even though she teetered on her feet, she was stubborn, and doubly determined to stand. "I can do this."

The Romulan doctor, Veddra, who had been treating her since she arrived, stood back and watched. When Kathryn looked to her for help, she shook her head once and rolled her eyes. "Doctors."

Beverly stared down at her hands, both of them wrapped tightly around the edge of the edge bed for balance. "There's no medical reason I can't stand."

"Other than the damage to your muscle tissues."

"Out of all the damage to my body, my muscle tissue is one of the last systems I'm worrying about. "

Veddra intervened when Kathryn looked at her desperately. "She can't do any real damage to her muscles, if she managed to fall and hit something sharp, especially near her implants, then I'd be upset."

"Upset meaning restraints?"

"Sedatives, restraints, bribery." Veddra tilted her head to the side, something that seemed to pass for a shrug. "Threats of the ghosts of the Tal Shiar."

Beverly's half-chuckle was worth the aggravation of her trying to walk. Mentally at least, she was well on the way to recovery. When Kathryn woke up on the biobed next to her, apparently courtesy of some very stealthy Romulan orderlies, Beverly had been smiling.

Her lips had still been stained with blood. The fragile skin still cracked whenever it was stretched, but her eyes were hers again. She was there, really there, even if she was a dreadfully stubborn woman who seemed bound to put herself back on that biobed. It was entirely unfair that Kathryn had fallen for her.

"Kathryn."

Beverly wanted her; that meant she had to stop staring in disapproval, arms crossed over her chest and rush over to take Beverly's outstretched hand. Which she did, because she was far too soft for her own good and she couldn't maintain her distance.

"Don't push yourself."

"I'm not pushing."

"You are pushing. Trust me. If our positions were reversed, you'd have me sedated by now."

Letting go of the bed, Beverly grabbed Kathryn's shoulder with her other hand, using her for balance. Looking straight into Kathryn's eyes, she shivered, struggling with some deep emotion.

"I don't know if I could have handled our positions being reversed."

Steadying herself over her feet, Kathryn squared her small form. "You would have saved me. I have no doubt."

Beverly nuzzled her cheek, touching her just long enough to stop herself from crying. Both of them had been wrecks, teetering on the verge of tears since they'd been reunited. Not that either of them would admit it, and in the quietest part of her heart, she enjoyed it. It was cathartic: all the naked emotion flowing between them was something they needed.

Sliding her hand through Beverly's hair, Kathryn held firm. "Why are you rushing this. You're all right. It doesn't matter if you leave sickbay today, or tomorrow, or the day after..."

Beverly released her shoulder, finding her feet in an impressive display of strength. "What if there's something I want today, and I don't want to wait for tomorrow?"

"You don't trust your research to the Romulans, Voyager's EMH and Doctor Ree?" The joke made Beverly smirk just a little.

"Kathryn, I haven't thought about research since I woke up with your head under my hand."

Kathryn's heart thudded in her chest, echoing up into her ears like thunder. She should say something witty, something profound or romantic. All she managed was "oh?"

"You'll have to forgive for failing tradition. Going to one knew would be the end of my balance." Beverly caught Kathryn's chin, lifting her eyes when she tried to look down. "Marry me."

"Beverly-"

"I know you've had terrible luck with engagements, and I didn't want it to last any longer than it had to."

Kathryn's traitorous eyes were damp again and they stung as she held Beverly's gaze.

"I think even I could make it through a day."

"I don't want you to have to."

Kathryn swallowed, kissing Beverly's cheek and holding her far tighter than she ought. "Then yes."

"Yes?"

Giggling just a little, Kathryn kissed Beverly quickly, before she could tease her further.

"Yes, but you have to explain to my mother why she couldn't be here. I doubt she'd listen to any explanation from me."

"With the power invested in me by the United Federation of Planets and with due respect to the Great Klingon and Romulan Empires, I now pronounce you, Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway, and you, Beverly Cheryl Crusher, wed, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities therein."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow at Kathryn's side. "A less than traditional benediction."

Smiling the bright grin of the long-suffering from her place just behind Beverly, Deanna nodded. "I can't trust him with anything."

The recently cleared promenade on Deep Space Five was packed with grey and black Starfleet uniforms, as well as a few armoured Klingons, and a small delegation of Romulan personnel. Dress uniforms had been in short supply, and with Admiral Jellico still recovering, Will had volunteered to perform the ceremony. Federation civil ceremonies were brief, and Will's flair for the dramatic had made it cheerful.

They all needed a chance to relax, to be merely people once more instead of the heroes facing incredible odds. News of Beverly and Kathryn's wedding, however impromptu, had spread and even those who knew them by reputation only, were pleased to have the break from the business of death.

It was a brief respite, a few hours stolen from the necessary work of healing the sick, and repairing the damaged vessels. Deanna watched without looking away, as Will allowed the traditional kiss to go on far longer than usual.

Tuvok continued to look on, and Deanna laughed.

"Our captain is incorrigible, isn't he?"

"I believe that adjective is appropriate." Tuvok inclined his head, and clapped with the rest of the assembled when Kathryn finally stopped kissing her new wife. "Under the circumstances, I believe some leeway is allowed."

Deanna patted his shoulder, as close to an embrace as one got with a Vulcan, and let the feelings of the crowd wash over her. Captain Picard had graciously donated part of his private stock, and not to be outdone, the other Federation captains, as well as the Klingon and Romulan commanders had followed suit. The already overworked medical staff would have their hands full in the morning, but treating hangovers would be a welcome break from autopsies.

Her mother would have approved, of course. Betazoids believed in any excuse to celebrate life, even life at its most banal was to be honoured, and weddings, even weddings with clothing, were something she approved of greatly.

Finding Will in the crowd as it swarmed the newlyweds and the libations, Deanna wrapped her arms tightly around him and kissed him.

"Your first wedding."

"The Head of Starfleet Medical and an admiral no less." Will's arm remained firmly around her back as Jean-Luc approached them.

"I don't know how you'll follow this one up, Will."

"I'm sure I'll find a way."

"That does seem to be your way."

Through the crowd, Worf's head was visible with the Klingon's, laughing over a barrel of blood wine. On the other side of the promenade, as far as possible from the Klingons, the Romulans also seemed to be enjoying themselves. Though the Tal Shiar agents of the past were probably reeling in their urns, it seemed right.

Passing both of them a glass of wine, Jean-Luc surveyed the scene with a diplomat's eye. "The Emergency Relief Act of 2379 seems to be passing the Federation Senate, and the Romulan Star Empire has decided to formally maintain negotiations with us in the hopes of a mutually beneficial treaty."

Tuvok inclined his head slightly, a Vulcan nod of approval. "The Romulans have been surprisingly helpful. Their organ support units are slightly more efficient than our own, and require less energy to replicate."

"Captain, your service was charming." Captain Chakotay arrived through the crowd, with most of his senior staff behind him.

Will beamed, offering a hand to the other captain. "Thank you."

Chakotay shook it firmly, radiating a calm good humour that Deanna immediately liked.

"Captain Riker, Captain Picard, Counsellor Troi, I'd like you to meet my first officer, Commander Tom Paris, my Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander B'Elanna Torres, their daughter Miral, and my Security Chief, Lieutenant Commander Harry Kim."

Kim seemed a little starstruck by the legendary Captain Picard, and even slightly so with Will. Paris' face was permanently set in a boyish smile and his thoughts were a pleasant mixture of love for his family and pleasure at his former captain's wedding. The half-Klingon engineer shook their hands last, meeting all of their eyes with respect.

"We heard a few stories of your time on the Enterprise just a few weeks ago."

"None of them good." Paris added, beaming.

"All of them true." Will agreed, lifting his glass.

"Did you get something to drink?" Jean-Luc, always a perfect host, gestured at the table piled high with drink and the barrels of bloodwine beside it. "The captain of the Nairobi had a few exquisite bottles of Aldeberan whiskey that you might be able to get a taste of if you hurry."

"Bloodwine for you, dearest?" Paris asked, passing Torres their daughter.

"Anything but." She winced and shook her head as he disappeared. "I can't stand the stuff."

Jean-Luc smiled at the little girl, who seemed quite taken with him and had been following him with her eyes. "I actually don't mind it, once I get past the assault on the nose, it's quite robust."

"That's one word for it." Torres shifted her daughter, who'd just dropped the stuffed puppy she'd been clutching and seemed about to wail for its return. "Captain, would you?"

Three captains were around her, but Jean-Luc was the one who ended up with the child. Deanna smirked as the little girl took hold of his collar, and Will's grin could not have been brighter. Even Chakotay seemed amused.

Torres retrieved the toy and handed it to her daughter, who'd found new fascination in Jean-Luc's commbadge and seemed quite determined to test its mineral content by gnawing on it.

"I'm sorry, Captain."

"She's quite intelligent, isn't she?"

Jean-Luc was enamoured, and Deanna had to bit her lip to keep from laughing. Will shared her amusement, but not her control and chuckled.

"Just enough to get herself into trouble whenever we're not looking."

"She's the first toddler to escape the nursery on her own." Chakotay offered, accepting a tumbler from Paris as he returned. A dark blue liquid clung to the sides of the glass. Chakotay sniffed it, and then raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Do I even want to ask?"

"Best not too." Paris handed his wife more of the same dark beverage. She seemed less apprehensive and took a sip. The jolt of surprise that ran through her almost made Deanna jump.

"What is this?"

Paris shrugged and swirled his. "Got it from the Romulans."

Kim frowned at the glass. "I thought Romulan ale was bright blue."

Will, of course, was well versed in the beverage. "Ah, but they don't just have ale on Romulus, this-" he reached for Harry's untouched glass and sniffed it, then grinned. "This is Romulan winter cider."

Kim wasn't convinced. "Winter cider?"

"It was, once, something much like an apple on Romulan. Big, blue fruit. Supposed to be delicious."

Paris and Kim continued to talk to Will about the wonders of various alcoholic beverages, with Will and Paris doing most of the talking and Kim listening in surprise and occasional wonder.

Seven of Nine approached with a glass in hand and a look of apprehension.

"Nice to see you too, Seven." Torres teased her, sipping her Romulan winter cider.

"I have been requested to 'mingle'. I believe that requires I engage in conversation with people I do not know. I am most pleased to see you, Commander Torres, as well as you, Captain Chakotay."

"Ranks aren't important while you are mingling, Seven." Chakotay assured her, taking a moment to hug her hello. "You look well."

"I have been functioning adequately."

Deanna watched the small talk with amusement, graining equal pleasure from the way Jean-Luc expertly distracted Miral by pointing out various things of interest around the room. His enthusiasm was appreciated by the toddler, who clung contentedly to his neck with one arm.

When it was her turn to speak, she smiled warmly at the young woman. "Did you like the wedding?"

"It was pleasant. Captain Riker's choice of blessing was not traditional."

Will chuckled and winked at her. "Thank you."

"I am-" Seven paused and Deanna reached for her emotions. It was difficult for the young woman to articulate what she was trying to say; her heart was in the right place. "I am very pleased for Admiral Janeway and Doctor Crusher."

"Doctor Janeway," Tuvok corrected. "I believe the former Doctor Crusher voiced her decision to take Admiral Janeway's surname while we were preparing for their wedding. She mentioned that it seemed appropriate."

"What did the admiral think?" Will asked, curious.

"She was emotionally affected by the decision."

Deanna remembered now. She'd been rather distracted by the idea that Beverly had so abruptly and absolutely decided to marry Kathryn. When they'd briefly discussed surnames, Kathryn had nearly been in tears.

"It's a sign of affection, a gesture of forming a new family. Not every couple does, but those who do make the choice because it means something to them."

She lifted her glass and smiled over it towards Beverly and Kathryn, through the steady crowd of well wishers. Kathryn's hand was around Beverly's waist and she showed no sign of letting go.

"And we wish them well." Chakotay lifted his glass and clinked it against hers. "In everything."

"Admiral Janeway?"

Jean-Luc appeared behind her in the corridor, startling her out of her thoughts. Kathryn had, more so than usual, an unending list of things to do. There were vessels to repair, parts requisitions, the enormous and terrifying in its complexity: pile of paperwork required to have Romulans on board Federation vessels and stations.

She was just coming up from the engine room of the Enterprise, where Seven of Nine and Commander La Forge had been explaining what the nacelles would need to return to normal running, and what recommendations they were going to make to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers. Prepared to sign off on whatever they put in front of her, she had been pleasant distracted by the excitement they both had for the specifications of the ship. Engineers could be so charming when they were excited.

Jean-Luc fell in step beside her, smiling in welcome. "Enjoying your walk?"

"I am."

Returning his smile was easy, Kathryn had been in the best mood of recent memory since the wedding. Even with the problems of dealing with that kind of loss of life, and the necessarily memorials, she had been unable to contain her joy. Beverly was hers, and she belonged to Beverly right back.

"I'm enjoying everything today, if I'm honest."

"As well you should." Jean-Luc waved her politely in front of him into a turbolift. "It's splendid to see you both so happy, and the wedding was deeply enjoyable. Allow me extend my congratulations again."

"Thank you. I heard you made a friend in Miral Paris."

Jean-Luc chuckled and glanced at his hands. "She is a very sweet child."

"That she is."

The turbolift hummed alone for a moment, neither of them speaking. It was a comfortable, companionable silence, and Kathryn remembered the friendly affection with which Beverly always spoke of Jean-Luc Picard. He was a good man, an excellent captain and they were both fortunate to have his support. Turning, ready to tell him something to that effect, Kathryn stopped when he spoke instead.

"Speaking of children," he paused, swallowing and lifting his gaze from his hands. "I've agreed to Beverly's request."

Beverly's request for what? What had Beverly asked for? What was Kathryn missing? It was something important; something that would make Jean-Luc so suddenly shy.

"Oh." Her eyebrows shot straight up and she blushed. Not the soft, delicate blush of mature surprise, but the deep red, hot, completely consuming blush of much younger years.

She had to say something else. "Thank you." That was a start. "That means a great deal to both of us."

Jean-Luc and Chakotay were their top two choices to father their children. Both of them were single, intelligent, attractive, healthy, and close enough to them that they could trust the experience to be a positive one. Chakotay had expressed his doubts that he would ever have children, and what tiny trace of regret Kathryn heard, she thought could be erased by his taking part in the life of a child he would share with them.

Beverly had known Jean-Luc for decades. She was aware that never having a child was one of the few regrets of his life, and she knew being part of a new life, even one that was not his to raise, would mean much to him. He'd be an excellent uncle, both there when they needed him and comfortable enough with their parenting to let things be. He was an ideal father.

It was a deeply personal choice, and Kathryn could read the gravity of it in his eyes. He had such expressive eyes. Would their child share them? Genetically, a child she had with someone with Jean-Luc's hazel eyes had a good chance of hazel or green eyes. Phoebe had green eyes. She liked green eyes.

He reached for her shoulder, touching her with great gentleness. "I hope I-"

"Oh no. Jean-Luc, I'm very touched. Incredibly so, that you'd do this for us, I just." In a moment of clarity, Kathryn realised that having a child with Beverly, mixing her genes with his, implied a gigantic amount of trust on all their parts. She trusted him; she could talk to him.

"I thought she'd go first."

There was logic in that. Beverly was older; she'd had a child before. Letting Kathryn watch a pregnancy up close before she engaged in one of her own made sense. She'd planned it to be that way.

Now that option was gone. Beverly needed a year to heal around her implants and have them removed. She couldn't have a child now, and they both wanted one very much. They'd talked about it, purely in the hypothetical of course, but they wanted a child as soon as they could have one. Kathryn had already put it off for so long, and Beverly wanted to be a mother again, and had for some time.

The turbolift stopped abruptly, dumping them out on deck eight: Jean-Luc's destination. KAthryn hadn't voiced hers.

"Would you like a cup of tea?"

She could have gone for something much stronger, but tea might calm her nerves.

"Yes."

Nudging her back, Jean-Luc led the way. Once seated on the sofa in his expansive, tastefully decorated quarters, Kathryn stared down at her tea and still sat lost for words.

"I was dumbfounded when she asked." His hesitation drew up her gaze.

"Oh?"

"Completely."

Kathryn had to chuckle, however weakly. "You're a well decorated, intelligent, attractive Starfleet Captain with an extensive list of accomplishments. Who wouldn't want your genes in their child, given the opportunity?"

Now he flushed, just enough to be modest. "It is not every day that one is asked."

"Beverly mentioned you first, when we discussed the idea. Starfleet Medical has catalogues of donors of course, but we know you. Our child could know you, and know you were her biological father. That would mean a good deal to both of us, not to mention the child. You wouldn't be donor five-eight-five, you'd be a face and a name, and someone we could have over for birthdays and graduations."

He nearly choked on his tea. "You'd want me there?"

"Of course we would. That's the point of having someone we know. You can be there, with us, and we'll... parent, somehow. I don't know, really. Parenting is Beverly's area of expertise." She gulped her tea, counting on the bitter liquid to stop her from digging a bigger hole.

"Beverly's a wonderful mother."

"No pressure there." Kathryn muttered into her tea.

"Kathryn-"

"I know. I know. Parenting is something you learn by doing, each child is different for the parents and the child, having a baby is a unique and beautiful experience."

Jean-Luc patted her hand. "That you thought you'd be on the other side of."

"Yes."

"You could wait."

Shaking her head, Kathryn turned her hand up so her fingers met his. She needed something to hold and his hand slipped into hers with warmth and caring.

"We- I- don't want to."

"You'll be incredible parents, Kathryn. I have every faith in both of you." Squeezing her hand, he smiled. "You'll see."

Looking away just for a moment, Kathryn sighed down into her cup before she looked at him. "You might need to remind me."

"I'm sure Beverly will, but I'm quite able of reiterating the fact."

Kathryn set down her tea and wrapped his hand in both of hers. "Thank you, Jean-Luc, for this, for your genes, for the tea, everything. You've been such a good friend to Beverly, and to me and now..."

"Now you're going to go home and have a child with your wife." Jean-Luc clasped her smaller hand in his, entwining them completely together. "I envy you that adventure, Kathryn, and I could not be more grateful to be asked to share this small part of that with you both."

zzzz

For two people who left with very little baggage, they returned with their two suitcases, and several crates shipped via freight. They'd been stacked neatly in the living room when they'd arrived home.

Kathryn claimed to have little interest in shopping, but, once she'd been free on Andoria, with little to do and plenty of unspent credits, Kathryn had actually enjoyed herself. The sculptures were very beautiful. Though the crystalline pieces of swirling colour Kathryn had surprisingly decided to be buy were lovely and delicate in appearance, they were surprisingly sturdy, and Beverly approved.

With the Maestro around, and Kathryn's unmentioned surprise, sturdy was a good thing.

There was nothing in her bag other than uniforms and the three civilian outfits she'd bought on Andor, so Beverly dumped the whole thing into the laundry while Kathryn smirked from the other side of the room.

"Classy."

"I thought you'd approve."

Kathryn's methods of doing laundry ranged from waiting until Beverly did it for her, to wearing her uniform into the sonic shower, to, and these were the rarest of occasions, taking the time and energy to fold her things herself. Her mother was in those moments, and Beverly found it adorable. Not that it happened very often; it was still cute.

"It's going to take us hours to put all of this away. Did we really buy all of this stuff?"

Kathryn went straight to the coffee pot on the counter near the replicator and replicated not the coffee itself, but the component parts so she could watch it brew. Her one complaint about the beautiful resort on Andor was that it had only had passable coffee. Beverly had found it delicious, but she was still coasting on the sensory high of surviving a plague and the emotional one of being married, everything had an extra level of wonder to it.

"I think you bought cases two, three and eight, I bought case four, and we bought the other five together." Lifting the first case and placing it on the coffee table to open, Beverly perched on the sofa.

"Do I still need to tell you to take it easy?"

Rolling her eyes, Beverly shook her head. "First of all, I'm opening a box, that's hardly running a marathon, second, no, it's been more than six weeks since I had my organs enhanced-"

"Replaced with glowing Romulan time bombs-"

Laughing, Beverly tossed a chunk of packing fibre towards Kathryn and dug into the box. Her support units did glow, faintly. In the full dark of their bedroom at the resort, when she was naked, and if Kathryn was close enough, the nephritic support units glowed faintly green with each pulse of her heart, and the two hepatic units were pale pink, and went in tandem. Kathryn did have to be incredibly close to her skin to see it, and she'd made a observing them as often as possible.

It was a minor miracle they'd done any shopping at all, or seen the mountains, for all the time they spent in bed. Part of Kathryn's concerns for Beverly's health, her excuse for checking the implants, were mildly justified. Beverly hadn't had the pulmonary or cardiovascular strength for more than a leisurely walk through the fabled mountains surrounding Harbourtown. Her lungs were improving steadily and her skin had lost the bruises weeks ago but the lingering traces were still there.

Much as she'd been acutely aware of her leg after the incident on Minos, Beverly was overly sensitive to the way her eyes worked the first time she opened them each morning, and especially grateful that her fingers were nimble once more. Running marathons would come later. She'd have to start with calmer workouts and ease herself back up, but she'd have time. Everything would be fine.

Kathryn sniffed her coffee, then stared at it with the same expression Da Vinci used for an empty food dish. Leaving the vases Beverly had great plans for in their crate, she pulled Kathryn's head into her lap instead, then kissed her forehead.

"What's wrong with your coffee?"

"It went stale while we were gone."

Coffee packed in stasis units, as Kathryn's was, had no chance of going stale. That logic would be entirely unappreciated, so Beverly left it unmentioned.

"Want to beam down to Matagalpa and get more?"

"No, no." A wistful glance crossed Kathryn's face, but she shook her head. "We just got home."

"Maybe someone will send us coffee as a wedding present."

That perked Kathryn up, and she pulled Beverly's face down to kiss her. "Do you really think so?"

"If I was buying something for us, it would be the first thing on my list, because you love it so and I'll need it to keep up with you."

Kathryn rolled to her side, keeping her head in Beverly's lap as she curled up on the sofa. "I'm not so terrible."

"Not at all, but your reputation leaves out little things."

Idly stroking Kathryn's hair, Beverly wondered when her wife would realise she'd been successful. Jean-Luc had reported the entire experience, and Beverly could picture him holding Kathryn's hand while one of his medical officers inseminated her. He'd probably offered to go, read the vulnerability in Kathryn's face, and then decided to stay. He was a trustworthy friend that way. Only telling Beverly the story in his letter because he assumed Kathryn already would have, Jean-Luc was an ideal third parent. One of high moral calibre, good genetics and complete faith in the couple to whom he'd entrusted his DNA.

Not that Kathryn was going to admit it. Synthehol demanded little of Beverly's still-healing liver, so they both drank that. Kathryn was going to have a harder time cutting back coffee than Beverly had when she'd carried Wesley, but if It continued to lose its flavour, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.

"Are you all right?" Beverly's question was more invitation than query.

Kathryn bit back her initial assertion that she was fine. She'd learned the folly of that quicker than Beverly expected. "I'm tired."

"You're allowed to be tired."

"It's not even time for dinner." Kathryn sat halfway up, then gave up and lay down again, staring up at Beverly. "We still have to go get the Maestro. What's he going to think if we're home hours and we haven't collected him?"

"Cats have no sense of time."

"He's not an ordinary cat."

Smiling and nodding, Beverly kissed her forehead. "Now that's true. Alynna will bring him over."

"Did you contact her?"

"No, but-"

"How will she know we're back?"

"She's a Starfleet Admiral, dear. It can't be difficult for her."

Their door chimed, and it was either Alynna Nechayev and their more than ordinary cat, or yet another crate from Andoria. Kathryn frowned at the door, so Beverly slipped herself out from under her and answered the chime.

Alynna stood on their doorstep, cat carrier on the floor next to her, mewling loudly in displeasure, and a elegantly wrapped parcel in her other hand.

"I hope I didn't-"

"We were just talking about you and our little boy. Come in." Beverly waved her in, and picked up the carrier herself. Da Vinci had been well fed at Alynna's and he was just as heavy as he'd been when she'd left. Once the apartment's door was shut, Beverly opened the carrier and let out the terribly unhappy Maestro. He eyed her with great distaste, meowing spitefully, before dashing off to the bedroom to recover his self-esteem.

"I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Alynna smiled graciously and eyed the pile of crates in the living room. "Oh no. He got along with my two surprisingly well. He may have had a little more affection than he wanted, but he learned to cope with it."

"We both appreciate you taking care of him. I'm sure Kathryn knows I never would have forgiven her for dashing off and leaving him in a shelter."

Kathryn left the sofa and glared at Beverly as she entered the kitchen. "Dashing off to save you."

"Which you did."

"And a great many others," Alynna said graciously. "Also made quite an impression on the Romulans, who are agreeable with opening diplomatic channels for the first time in recorded history."

Beverly kissed Kathryn's cheek and circled to the coffee pot. Kathryn always made a pot, and Alynna was fond of coffee.

"Black?"

"With cream actually."

Kathryn's eyes widened in shock. "Cream?"

"Blame the Betazoid Ambassador. We spent so much time in little cafes in France, drinking coffee with cream between sessions of the Federation senate that I've grown to like it."

Beverly ordered cream from the replicator for Alynna and drank her own black. There was nothing wrong with the coffee, as she suspected, and Kathryn buried a yawn behind her hand. She was tired and had been for the last week or so. Under other circumstances, Beverly would have been sympathetic, as it was, she found it endearing.

Da Vinci emerged slowly from the bedroom, sticking close to the walls as if someone were about to grab him and stick him back in his awful prison at any moment.

Watching him over her coffee, Kathryn smiled softly. "He looks wonderful, thank you, Alynna."

Alynna waved off Kathryn's thanks and smiled playfully. "I'm sorry I missed the wedding."

"It was quick, but charming. You did get our invitation to the reception in Indiana, didn't you?"

"I'd never refuse the Dowager Madame Janeway's hospitality. Gretchen would kill me."

Kathryn did that little double take which meant she'd remembered that Alynna had known her parents before she'd left the Academy. Beverly caught her hand, then kissed it, making her smile.

"When we told her, Kathryn's mother refused to speak to either of us again if we didn't immediately agree to let her throw a wedding reception when we arrived home."

Mentioning Kathryn's mother usually didn't make her go pale; Beverly watched sympathetically as the blood drained from her face. She was more than tired, and her reluctance to admit it had let her down.

"Excuse me," Kathryn managed before she fled. Beverly watched her go with a warm knot of sympathy lodged in her chest, then turned back to a very confused Alynna.

"Is she all right?"

Beverly shrugged and sipped her coffee, smiling as she tried out the word. "Pregnant."

Alynna's eyes widened in surprise, then she laughed: a far cheerier sound than anyone would have guessed. "You were in a hurry, weren't you?"

"Patience is not one of her virtues."

"So you-"

"Oh I know, we talked about it at great length. If we were married, we wanted a child soon. Neither of us is getting any younger, and we've both been putting it off for a long time."

"But she-"

"Hasn't told me yet."

"But you know."

"I am the Head of Starfleet Medical." Beverly teased kindly. "I know her. If the opportunity presented itself, she'd have to try, whether or not she thought it would work."

"Which it did."

"I believe so."

"And she-"

"Never thought it would." Beverly offered Alynna more coffee, beaming. "She really is endearingly intense, isn't she?"

"You're good for her."

"We work together." Beverly watched the cat slip into the bathroom after Kathryn and mentally rubbed his furry little head. "It's an incredible thing."

Alynna drank her coffee thoughtfully, letting the companionable silence float between them. "I'm glad you made it home. This is a far better outcome than I feared when Kathryn left."

Beverly met her eyes, sharing the unmentioned gratitude that she was here, and everything wonderful about the last few weeks had not been lost to the virus and the cold darkness of space.

Setting down her empty cup, Alynna moved her parcel from the counter to the stack of crates. "I'll see you both at the reception and I'll congratulate you again, properly." She squeezed Beverly's hand before she left, "I couldn't be happier for you both."

"Thank you."

After Alynna left, Beverly finished her own coffee and followed Kathryn and the cat into the bathroom. Kathryn sat with her head against the wall, legs folded beneath her and her eyes tightly closed. She didn't seem to have vomited, and Beverly was only too familiar with how she must have felt.

Da Vinci sat next to her, a supportive paw on her leg and a slow, comforting purr rumbling in his chest. He looked questioningly up at Beverly, and settled once she rubbed his soft head.

"You're worrying the Maestro."

Kathryn opened her eyes warily and then shut them again. "I don't know what's wrong."

"Your head spins with your eyes open and it feels like your stomach wants to crawl out of your throat."

Her eyes snapped back open, suddenly suspicious. "Yes."

"And it happened yesterday, and the day before, but it wasn't that bad so you didn't say anything or think much of it."

"Don't tell me I have some kind of terrible Andorian infection."

"Not Andorian."

"Beverly" Kathryn rarely whined, but on the rare occasion she stooped to it, she did it well.

"You're pregnant."

Kathryn shifted position, startling the cat who retreated to a safe distance on top of the sink. "No I'm not."

"You spoke to Jean-Luc on the Enterprise and while you were there, since he was there, you had one of the doctors inseminate you in sickbay. It wouldn't work, of course, so you didn't tell me."

"Deanna told you."

"She's not a full telepath."

"Then you found one on Andoria."

Beverly sat down next to her, putting her arm around her when Kathryn rested her head on her shoulder. "I don't need a telepath to know what you'd do, Katie-dear, I love you. I just know."

"That's cheating."

"Marriage has its quirks, to be sure."

"But I don't-" Kathryn stopped protesting and swallowed, hard. "I can't do that to you."

"You knew hiking would make me dizzy but that I'd want to go anyway, so you said you'd rather go shopping in town."

"That's not the same."

Beverly ran her hand slowly across Kathryn's cheek, smiling. "You knew I needed help and came to rescue me with Romulans and Klingons in tow."

"Jean-Luc's Worf brought the Klingons."

"You knew I'd say yes."

Kathryn let her head sink even lower, completely confused. "What?"

"If you asked me about trying for a baby weeks ago, right after we were married, you knew I'd say yes."

"Of course you would." Lifting her head, Kathryn glared at her suspiciously. "You've known the whole time?"

To be fair, Beverly ran her memory back then nodded. "Maybe not the exact day, but more or less."

"And you didn't say anything?"

"Katie, my dearest, you didn't say anything."

"I didn't think it worked!"

Laughing into the back of Kathryn's head was less than sympathetic, Beverly couldn't help herself. The situation was incredibly charming, Kathryn was absolutely overwhelmed and everything was right. With an entire universe of Delta Quadrants, killer viruses and paperwork allied against them, for the moment, everything was blissfully all right.

"I love you."

Kathryn nuzzled her neck, trying, without much success, not to cry. "I know that."

"Then it's all right."

"It's not all right."

"You'll be fine."

"I'm-"

"Pregnant," Beverly finished for her. "And that's wonderful."

Still pouting, Kathryn reached up and tugged the Maestro's tail. He flicked it angrily and glared at her with contempt as he tucked it out of the way.

"Okay."

Beverly kissed her head, then her cheek. "It will be."

"If you think so."

"I do."

"I love you." Snuggling in closer, Kathryn wound herself into Beverly's arms. "I really love you."

"I knew that too."