Chapter 2

Diane and Picard were waiting in the sick bay office.

Dr. Crusher entered the room with a datapad in her hand.

"The analysis is finished. Captain, there is a 99.9 probability that you are the biological father of Miss Diane Vigo...may I congratulate?"

Diane and Picard just glared at each other for some seconds. Then Diane began to speak. "So what does that actually mean now? Am I supposed to stay here now, or what?"

Beverly smiled. "Well, it's all not very easy. You're not of full age, so according to the laws of the federation, your legal guardian has the right to determine your domicile. Who is this actually?" Diane gave a shrug. "I lived alone since my mother died", she answered.

"You say you lived on your own since you were ten years old?" Picard asked.

"Yes, exactly. Maybe you don't know how it's like on Daranos IV. No-one cares about young people living on their own. If you think you're old enough, you can do whatever you want."

"But you did not leave your mother because you decided to, she died", remarked Beverly. "Put it however you want. I can take care of myself. I don't need any legal guardian. When this whole business with this ferengi is over, I'll return to my own life again."

Picard showed Diane her quarters. She entered the room and looked around. "This is pretty…large. Does anyone else live here?"

"No, not at the moment." Picard answered.

"And I have my own replicator? Now that's really cool. This ship isn't as bad as I thought."

The captain smiled. "I'm happy to hear that." He paused. "Diane, this situation is not easy for both of us. But maybe you can understand that I am now responsible for you. I don't now why Miranda never told me about you, I guess she had her reasons. But now you are here, and although you may be very independent and confident for your age, you're still a child that deserves guidance and protection."

"Says who?" Diane interrupted him. In that moment, Riker spoke through Picard's communicator. "Sir, we just received a message for you over subspace."

"Acknowledged. On my way. Picard out." He looked at Diane. "Do you have everything you need? I hope we'll have the opportunity to talk later. I'll come back as soon as possible."

Diane nodded. As Picard was about to leave the room, she said: "Is here some place that is more…animate? I think I'd like to be among people rather than all alone here…"

"You can go to Ten Forward…the computer will tell you the way. What about meeting there in about an hour?" Diane nodded again. Suddenly she appeared kind of small and young to him, and he remembered her age. For a girl whose whole life was turned around within few hours, she reacted pretty calm. "So I'll see you there" Picard added. Diane smiled. He realized that this was indeed the first time he saw her smiling.

The subspace message was from Bok. It only said, "Take good care of her as long as you can". Picard checked the latest information about ferengi's ship, but it hadn't been recognized in this region for months. Picard ordered to conduct an intensive long range sensor scan for any kinds of alien ships. He didn't have a good feeling about that ferengi.

After getting lost for several times, Diane entered Ten Forward. She was surprised of finding a place like that in a starship. At that time, the bar was crowded with officers who just finished their shift, and with officers who just had a short coffee break before starting their work.

Diane sat down at a free table and looked out of the window. She hadn't been on a spaceship for years. The last time was when she and her mother went to Daranos IV. Actually, she felt like she spent her whole childhood in spaceships, moving from one planet to another. Her mother was a dancer and singer, and enjoyed the freedom of an artist's life…Diane on the other hand remembered how much she hated to move every few months.

She was absorbed in thought, when she suddenly realized that someone stood in front of her. It was some young Ensign with dark hair and twinkling eyes.

"Excuse me", he said with a grin "I never saw you here before. Are you new on the Enterprise? Maybe you are searching for some company?"

Diane raised her brows. "And you're convinced to be assigned to this job, aren't you?"

The Ensign laughed and sat down in the chair next to her. "Do you mind when I take a seat?", he asked.

"You're already sitting, so why do you ask at all?" Diane replied.

"I think a sweet girl like you should not spend her time alone. Maybe you want to join me and my friends? We have this evening off…or maybe you would rather like to spend the night in a more…private atmosphere? In my quarters, pobably?" With that he gently put his hand on Diane's knee.

Diane, actually, was stiftling her laughter and couldn't say anything. Then, suddenly, Picard stood in front of them. "May I sit down?" he asked.

The Ensign stood up immediately. "Sure, Sir, Captain, Sir…" he stammered. Picard took a seat.

"Seems like you get along with my daughter, Ensign."

The young man turned pale. "Of course, Sir, erm….your DAUGHTER, Sir? I didn't know you have a….daughter."

Now Diane couldn't help but laughing.

"You may leave, Ensign" Picard added as the fuddled boy returned to one of the fully occupied tables, where his – highly amused – friends were sitting.

"You really shocked that poor boy. What will his friends now think of him?" Diane asked grinning.

"Well, what else what I supposed to say? Or would you rather date him than me? I'm sure I can arrange that", he winked at her.

They ordered something to drink and and talked about this and that.

Diane told him some things about her life on Daranos IV. She talked surprinsing lightly and cursory about the fact she had to live all on her own since her mother's dead, always fighting against the trouble of the everyday life on a planet like Daranos IV.

Picard was still unsure about the whole situation. He never wanted to have kids, at least in this state of his life…and since he gave his work and carreer always the first priority, he felt like the crew was like his family he had to care for.

Besides, he still felt like he couldn't deal with children. Although this sixteen-year-old girl was not exactly a child anymore, he felt that a lot of her self assurance was a self protection she had to develop while she had been living among thugs, gangs and outlaws with only very few friends to trust. Picard looked at her pale skin and her collarbones emerging underneath her small, silver necklaces. It didn't seem like she've had enough to eat in the last time. But in her eyes he could see the same vivid spark that he had known from Miranda. In spite of all that trouble he felt he was coming into, he thought that this girl may bring something into his live he wouldn't have experienced at any time.

That's it what I've written so far…please review if you like!