Disclaimer:
I obviously don't own Beverly or Jean-Luc or Deanna (etc.), I'm not usin' this for money, yatsa, yatsa, and yatsa.
Claimer:
I own Quinn Charlotte Altson, Dr. Marie Lynna Altson, and Dr. Fitzpatrick L'Angley.
Also:
I am not a French student at school – I take Spanish. I found a French dictionary online, which I am using, though if anyone knows French and can help me with my usage of the words, the help is gladly accepted!
This takes place toward the end of season Two. And two weeks after Maman part one.
And just so everyone knows, this is roughly based on my real-life friend Quinn. She is deaf, signs, knows French, and reads lips. That's why the people can talk about Quinn around her without signing.
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Dedicated to the real Quinn Charlotte Altson and to Guinevere Grace Anna Jacobsen.
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Maman
Part Two
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Quinn Charlotte Altson eyed her uncle Jean and Auntie Beverly. She knew the look in their eyes – the same one her parents had when they had to leave her behind with somebody. She was curious why they had this look, but she couldn't remember what pourquoi was in English.
~ Oncle Jean, Pourquoi tu as that look on ton visage? ~ She asked, in her usual half-French, half-English.
~ Quinn, I know you know English. You must use it. ~ He said, not answering the question.
The little girl made a face, and then began again, ~ Uncle Jean, pourquoi do you have that look on your face? ~
Jean-Luc smiled, ~ Pourquoi means why, first of all. And second, I look like this because you and Deanna are going to live together for a while. ~
~ Really? ~
~ Really. Just promise me that you'll be a good girl. ~
Quinn smiled her reply, and looked around her. The two were in a large room, with a long table and a bunch of chairs. A screen was on one wall, and windows were a long another. A door at least ten times her size, was on another wall.
~ Where are we? ~ She asked, curious.
~ On a starship. This is the room where I talk to my officers. ~ Jean-Luc replied.
~ Officers? Like the policier? ~
He smiled, and picked up Quinn. He put her on the table, sat down in a chair, and looked at her. ~ No. Officers are people who are very important to the ship. ~
Quinn shook her head in understanding. Her long blonde locks were falling around her face, making Jean-Luc sigh. It had taken him twenty minutes that morning to get the four-year's hair into a ponytail – Quinn had taken it out almost as soon as he had gotten it perfect.
The door chimed, bringing Jean-Luc's attention to the person entreating entrance. "Come."
Deanna, Beverly, Commander Will Riker, and the rest off the senior staff walked in. Each stood next to their chairs, and looked at the two already in the room.
~ Are these your officers? ~ Quinn asked.
~ Yes. ~ He said, before picking her up and putting her in his lap. He gestured for the people to sit, and they readily complied. "I know some of you are curious why this meeting has been called." He looked at each in turn, "This meeting is a briefing, of sorts, on Quinn."
Everyone nodded. Each knew who Quinn was, and that Jean-Luc had to find her a home.
"There has been an interest in her by a member of this crew. I have gotten permission from Starfleet to let Quinn stay with this person, as a trial. In a few days, if Quinn or Counselor Troi aren't happy together or if Counselor Troi decides she can't take care of Quinn, I will return to Earth indefinitely to find her a family."
Will looked at Jean-Luc and then at Deanna. His expression was one of shock. "Deanna?"
"Will. I want to try this. I really do." Deanna said, knowing his thoughts.
"Are you sure? This could just be a rebound from Ian."
"This isn't a rebound from Ian. Ian was never meant to be part of this life. Maybe Quinn was." She replied, "Will, I saw her and I loved her at first sight. I want to see if I can have her in my life."
Will jumped up, "Do you even hear yourself? This is crazy!"
Deanna got up, walked over to Quinn, picked up the child, and walked out of the room. Will dared not follow her, but just looked at Jean-Luc, annoyed.
"She asked to do this. I asked her the same thing as you." He sighed, motioned for Will to sit down, and continued, "Because of Quinn's lack of hearing, I want you all to keep an eye out of her. She can get into anything and everything, and I don't want her wandering into anything dangerous."
Each person nodded their head and stood up. Jean-Luc dismissed them, and they left. He sighed again, before leaving himself.
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Geordi and Data helped Deanna assemble a small bed. After a fight with Will over Quinn, she had asked the two to help her set up a bed in her quarters. They had agreed, enjoying the Quinn's antics as they walked out of ten-forward.
Quinn was, in fact, now playing with a magic set her uncle had dropped off on the floor nearby. She was currently trying to use a mirror to help her say abracadabra. Geordi figured she was trying to see her lips move, instead of hearing the words. "Where does this go?" Data asked, holding up a metal piece the size of his head.
Deanna looked at the directions, and then pointed to the spot, "There."
"Thank you." He replied, fitting the last piece in place.
"Thank you for your help." She said, looking at Quinn. She caught the girl's attention after a moment, and signed to her. ~ It's done. ~
Quinn smiled, got up off the floor, and ran over. She put her hand on the mattress for a moment, before plopping down. She bounced up and down on it, and smiled. What could be argued to be a giggle, escaped her throat, and she reached to hug Deanna. She released the Betazoid, ~ Thank you. ~
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Deanna wandered into ten-forward. It was four in the morning, and Deanna's shift was in a few hours, but she was restless, which had led her to want Guinan's company.
"Hello, Counselor." Guinan said, seeing her friend.
"Good Morning, Guinan." Deanna replied. She gestured for her friend to sit down, and she did.
"Shouldn't you be with Quinn?"
"She's sleeping with the captain right now. She had a nightmare and begged for her uncle. I didn't know what to do." Deanna sighed, "Maybe the captain and Will were right. Maybe I'm not the mother Quinn needs."
Guinan looked at Deanna, "Do you love her?"
Deanna smiled, "I do. As strange as it sounds, I love her already. She's so beautiful and she's so happy. I want her to be my daughter so very much."
"Then you'll find a way to make it work."
Deanna smiled again, "Thanks Guinan." She got up and left, en route to Jean-Luc's quarters.
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Jean-Luc was waiting for Deanna when she arrived. "I figured you'd be back." He said, handing her the child.
"Thank you." She said, looking at him and then Quinn.
"She loves you too. The nightmare she had. It wasn't about her parents, as I'd assumed, it was her fear of losing you. Quinn knows that if you don't take her, I'll have to go back, find her a family, and then leave. She's afraid of losing me and losing you." Jean-Luc said, his serious tone in play.
She looked down at her feet for a moment, and then reached to hug Jean-Luc. "Do you think I can handle her? That I can live up to what Marie would've wanted?"
He smiled, "I'm sure Marie is happy that her Quinn is going to be your Quinn."
Deanna nodded and smiled back. She thanked Jean-Luc once again, and went back to her quarters. She laid Quinn back into the silver bed, covered her with the white comforter, and then walked to her own room. Deanna sat on the edge of her bed for a while, gazing at the child. After an hour or so, she smiled and moved to get dressed.
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Deanna stepped onto the bridge with the gold-haired Quinn holding her hand. Deanna was wearing one of her usual outfits, while Quinn was wearing a white short-sleeve sundress with white sandals. Her curly hair was held back in two pigtails with white ribbons.
"Good morning, counselor." Will said, his annoyance at having Deanna and Quinn on the bridge fairly obvious.
~ Hello. ~ Quinn signed.
Jean-Luc walked over just as Will was about to ask what she had said, saving the argument that would've been had. "Hello, Deanna." He said, then switched over to sign language, ~ Hello, Quinnie. Did we have a nice night? ~
~ Yep! I love my bed. ~ Quinn signed back.
~ That's good! ~ Jean-Luc smiled. He looked back at Deanna, "The papers will be ready in a day or so."
"Thank you, sir."
Jean-Luc just smiled, before picking up Quinn and sitting down in his seat. Deanna followed, too happy to let Will Riker ruin it with his sourpuss face.
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The next day
Deanna picked up the pen and pulled the paper to her. She pressed the writing utensil against it, began to spell out her name, and smiled as she dotted the i in Troi. She handed the pen to Beverly, who did the same, and she then passed the pen to Lwaxana Troi.
While the others were signing the papers, Deanna took Quinn from her uncle and smiled again. Quinn would be her's after Jean-Luc signed the papers, and the woman couldn't have been more happy. Quinn would still be called Quinn Charlotte Altson, though her name legally was Quinn Charlotte Altson-Troi, and she would be told about her parents, Marie and Fitz, but Quinn would be Deanna's to raise and to love. And Deanna loved that.
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Quinn smiled at Deanna while her uncle signed the papers. She was so happy to have a mother again. She didn't care what she was called, and she didn't care if she lived in France anymore or not – all that mattered to her was that she had a mother. Someone to love her, someone to take care of her – someone who wouldn't leave her behind or die on her birthday.
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CASSIE JAMIE
I know it's really short. I did this in about a half hour after three finals – my brain's shot for the day.
I plan on writing a few more Quinn/Deanna stories.
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A big thank you to Misty_Bay. Thank you for your help!!!