They reached the Picard home around 1630 and Deanna had a fluttering in her stomach at the thought of seeing her old friends again. She glanced at Will who gave her a wide grin and winked.

"Oh, please!" Kelly said in a disgusted tone, followed by a loud sigh. Without a glance she roughly opened the hover car door and then stepped out, slamming it shut behind her. Will and Deanna shook their heads and Will asked Deanna to get Jessie out of the car. He got out and walked over to where Kelly stood, looking out over the small town from the large hill the house sat on. She saw his shadow approach and turned her gaze to follow the flowered path leading towards the top of the larger hill directly next to the house. It was her and R.J.'s favorite place, for it had a large oak tree that had an old fashioned swing that could seat two.

"Kelly there is one thing we need to get straight. I know you are mad at us..." Will started, but Kelly cut him off with a scoffing noise and crossing her arms.

"Mad?" she repeated. Looking at him, she saw he wore his "you're crossing the line" look and lowered her gaze and her arms once more. "Sorry."

"Like I was saying, I know you are more than mad at us, but that is no excuse for you not to remember your manners while we are here. Do we understand each other?" Will asked her, eyebrow raised and arms crossed.

"Yes, sir." Kelly said softly and he nodded, running his hand over her hair. She looked up again and gave him a tentative smile, a truce offering. He grinned back at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. The sound of the front door opening caught everyone's attention. A familiar face appeared and Kelly's smile turned into a full fledged grin. She and Jessie exchanged elated looks and they both bolted for the being that now stood fully outside the house.

"Uncle Jean-Luc!" They cried simultaneously and leapt into the open arms of a smiling Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. He laughed and held both giggling girls to him in a huge hug.

"I thought I heard voices out here." He said, giving Jessie a kiss and then Kelly.

Will came up to where they stood, Deanna slightly behind him. Jean- Luc and Will exchanged hearty hugs, before Will stepped back and gently pulled Deanna into view. Jean-Luc's eyes widened and he stood there in shock for a good minute before giving into his instincts and clasping Deanna into a hug.

"Mon Dieu! I thought we'd never see you again." Jean-Luc said and Deanna hugged her former captain, but lifelong friend, just as hard. Jean- Luc pulled back and then smiled. "I know who you want to see."

Jean-Luc turned towards the house and called out, "Beverly! Mon cherie, come here, quickly."

Beverly Picard appeared not a moment later, her previously auburn hair now more of a golden color from age and wearing a dark green dress very similar to Deanna's own outfit. She quickly dropped a kiss hello to Kelly and Jessie before looking up to see what her husband was yelling at her for. Her eyes caught sight of Deanna and her hand rose to cover her mouth as a gasp escaped.

"Oh, thank God! You're okay." Beverly said, tears falling down her face and she rushed down the stone steps to embrace Deanna hard. Deanna clung to the woman she thought of as a sister and felt her own tears falling. "We were so worried about you. How did you...? When did you...?"

Deanna pulled back and shook her head at Beverly, shooting a glance towards Kelly and Jessie. Beverly looked their way as well and realization dawned on her. She nodded at Deanna and said, "We can discuss it later."

Kelly frowned at the odd conversation and studied the four adults. There was something they all knew and she was determined to find out what it was. However her thoughts were broken when Jean-Luc loudly cleared his throat and gestured towards the house.

"I say we head inside for a small spot of brandy before we go out to eat." Jean-Luc said and they all agreed.

"Oh Uncle Jean-Luc, children aren't allowed to drink brandy." Jessie told him calmly as if he was a child who needed this explained to him. They all laughed, including Kelly, and Jean-Luc lifted Jessie up into his arms and carried her football style into the house. Kelly, rolling her eyes, followed them into the large den area but didn't sit when everyone else did.

"Aunt Beverly, where is R.J.?" Kelly asked, tracing the antique candlestick holders on the fireplace mantle. She knew that this room had been designed to look like the den of a room her uncle Jean-Luc had loved. He never told her where, but she overheard him tell her dad that it was from the time he had time-shifted. It had been in Mr. Data's future house.

"He should be here any second, Sweetie. He had to finish up some chores and just got around to getting ready for dinner." Beverly said smiling at her "niece" from her spot next to Deanna on the couch and Kelly smiled back. Footsteps could be heard above them and Beverly nodded her head towards them. "Here he comes now."

The footsteps were heard on the main staircase and then headed this way. Kelly straightened her dress and consciously smoothed a hand over her hair as the door to the den opened up. The young and handsome prodigy of the Picards entered and gave a smile to all in the room. It was obvious the young man had inherited the best traits form both his parents.

His hair was a thick brown, as his father's once was, and his eyes were a brilliant blue like his mother's own gaze. A sparkle of mischief was in them as well, but he was very courteous and always had the right manners. Robert Jean Picard, had no trouble getting along with others for he had a quick smile and great sense of humor. However that was sometimes overpowered by his temper, which was could easily be displayed if he thought something unjust was going on or against his morals and values.

"Hi, R.J." Will said and R.J. smiled, walking over to give his Uncle Will a hug. "How is your summer vacation going?"

"Great, Uncle Will. A little boring at times, but I love getting to be around my horses more." R.J. replied, a bright smile flashing.

"Hi-hi, R.J.!" Jessie said running over to the thirteen year old boy, who bent down to receive her hug.

"Hey Half-Pint." R.J. said and gave a small laugh at the face that Jessie made. She laughed too a second later and went over to stand next with her favorite "uncle". R.J. looked over to where Kelly stood and gave her a soft smile. "Hi, Kel."

"Hi, R.J." Kelly said, giving him a soft smile back. She walked over to him and they hugged.

"R.J., there's someone I want you to meet." Will said and R.J. felt Kelly stiffen in his hug. She pulled back and he tried to catch her eye, but she didn't meet his gaze. Kelly just walked back over to stand at the mantle again, looking deeply into the hearth as if a fire were burning right then and there. R.J. frowned slightly before turning his attention to her father. Will walked over to stand behind Deanna's seat on the couch and he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"R.J., I would like you to meet Deanna Riker." Will said and R.J. smiled at her, bowing slightly.

"Hello." R.J. and Deanna smiled warmly at him.

"Hello, R.J. You don't remember me, do you?" Deanna asked and R.J. straightened, frowning. He studied her and then his eyes widened, shooting from Deanna to Will, then Deanna to Kelly, and finally back to Deanna.

"You're...you're Kelly and Jessie's mom, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am." She replied and he tilted his head studying her some more, before smiling a bit.

"You used to make the best chocolate mousse cake. I remember coming over to eat it all the time." He said and Deanna laughed, her eyes sparkling much like Kelly's did when she laughed. However, Kelly wasn't laughing now and R.J. could see that she was frowning and biting her lip as she often did when she tried not to cry. He knew that she was uncomfortable and his heart ached for her. He couldn't imagine what she must be feeling at the moment.

"Uh, Dad, can Kelly and I go for a walk before we leave for dinner?" R.J. asked and Kelly looked up in surprise. He gave her a look that conveyed the fact that he understood she wanted to get out and she gave him a grateful smile. Beverly and Deanna watched the interaction between the two with mild expressions, but deeper curiosity lurking just below the surface.

"Of course, just be back in about 30 minutes." Jean-Luc said, oblivious to what just what on.

"Daddy?" Kelly asked Will, quietly.

"Sure." Will said, before turning to Jean-Luc and beginning to discuss Federation business.

"I wanna go too!" Jessie piped up and Kelly couldn't hide her stricken look. Deanna could see she was searching for the right way to let her sister down easy and decided to step in.

"Jessie, you stay here with Beverly and me. I want to show her your pretty outfit and hair style." Deanna said and Jessie, frowned before nodding and skipping over their way. Kelly gave her an unknown look at the help, but to Deanna's surprise and elation, a small smile appeared on her lips.

Thank you, Kelly mouthed and turned to go out the den door that R.J. held open for her. Deanna heard the front door open then close again, and rose to get Beverly and herself a glass of brandy. From the window facing the front courtyard of the house, Deanna could see Kelly and R.J. heading for the top of the hill that Kelly had admired earlier. She gave a slight smile when she saw R.J. gently took Kelly's hand in his and then grabbing the now full sifters of brandy, walked back to where her younger daughter was talking Beverly's ear off.