After a quiet lunch, the children went back to school, Jean-Luc returned to the bridge, and Wesley headed down to Engineering to give Geordi some help on a warp drive project. Beverly rested for a while, but was pleased when Deanna came for a visit.
"Alyssa comes by, and the nurses check in every now and then, but I can't remember when I've ever been this alone," she laughed as Deanna settled into the chair by her bed. "In the cabin, somebody was always under foot – usually Walker or Jean-Luc."
Deanna smiled in understanding. "I know. Thank goodness I'm beginning to schedule more counseling appointments. With the boys in school, and the girls at childcare, I think I'd be totally lost without something to do. Of course, the past few days have been rather busy."
Beverly frowned slightly. "I haven't had a chance to thank you for helping Jean-Luc with the children."
Deanna shook her head. "It was no problem. Having Mother here has actually been wonderful. I think being a grandmother has brought out a side of her I've never seen."
Beverly smiled knowingly. "I think you and Will being together has eased her mind a little. She was always so worried about you."
Deanna nodded in agreement. "You're right. It's been really nice being with her without the constant pressure for me to find a man!"
"And to think, the one you found was right under your nose the whole time!" Beverly laughed.
And Deanna laughed, too, before suddenly turning quiet and thoughtful. She smiled over at Beverly. "Mother knew all along that Will and I would end up together. We were talking about it just the other day. She knew that we'd finally admit the truth to each other."
"I knew that, too, but… Well, sometimes you have to let others find their own way," Beverly said softly. "As a counselor, you know that."
"Just like I let you and Jean-Luc figure it out on your own?" She raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
And Beverly laughed again. "Just like. Although, if we hadn't ended up on the mountain, I don't know how long it might have taken. We just kept… stepping around each other. One of us was ready when the other wasn't and vice-versa." She sighed. "I'm just so glad that we're together now, and we have the children, and Wesley." She grinned. "I still can't believe he's back. And he wants to return to the Academy."
"I heard. Will told me. It's wonderful news, Beverly."
She nodded. "So we'll be heading back to Earth in a few days. Jean-Luc and I are a little concerned about how the children will handle a 24th century Earth. What do you think?"
Deanna thought for a few moments. "It will definitely be an adjustment, but being on the ship has been quite an adjustment, and they've all done remarkably well. Don't forget, there's not much of Earth they've actually seen – just the Gap and El Pano. San Francisco would have been quite different during the early 1900's even if we had ventured that far."
Beverly shook her head. "I remember how we pored over the El Pano newspapers when the earthquake struck in 1906."
"But we didn't save any of them, so the children never saw those pictures or articles. And they were too young to remember them at the time. San Francisco will just be another futuristic place like the Enterprise. And you can see how well they've adjusted here."
"Unbelievably well," Beverly agreed. "I sometimes wonder if that's normal."
"Apparently, it is for them. Since we have no basis for comparison, it's difficult to say what's normal in a situation like ours. I'm just relieved that they're thriving and they seem to be happy. I feel like the entire crew is becoming an extended family for them. Did you know that Data is giving Thomas violin lessons?"
Beverly smiled. "I heard. Margaret told me at lunch today. She wants to learn to play the 'fiddle' too! I'm afraid Data's going to have several new students."
"I don't think he'll mind."
Beverly was quiet for a while, thinking about their trip back to Earth, thinking about going home, and she finally brought up the topic that she'd been the most worried about. "Should we take them back to Cutter Gap? I think they'll want to go, and… I've done a little research. About a hundred years ago, the area was renovated and turned into a living history museum. They rebuilt the original buildings to show what life in the early 20th century was like in that area of the mountains."
Deanna nodded. "I know. I've done some research on my own as well. I've seen the pictures on the data base. It looks like home. The mission house, the school, even the stables – they're all there."
"But the people won't be. They've been gone for over 400 years. That won't be an easy thing to explain to children."
Deanna hesitated, pressing her lips together in thought. And then she replied, "Maybe some children would have difficulty understanding. But… I have a feeling that ours might not. Think of all they've already had to accept." She sighed. "I think if we go back to Earth, then we have to go back home." And she smiled. "I don't think our journey will be complete until we make a full circle."
~vVv~
