AN: Here we are, another piece to this one.

I hope you enjoy! Please don't forget to let me know what you think!

111

"Eldinean wine," Picard said, showing Raffi one of the bottles that he had chilled in his quarters. He gestured to her to sit, and she did. She watched as he went about preparing drinks for them.

"Admiral's quarters are pretty nice digs, JL," she teased.

Picard laughed quietly.

"The Soñador is a completely modified ship," Picard said. "Every part of it was planned for this mission. There are two Admiral's quarters, for that reason, instead of the traditional Captain's quarters as well. There is little need for it when the Admiral and the Captain have been happily married for so many years." Raffi smiled at his explanation, not that she needed it, and reached for the glass that he offered her. "Your beautiful wife won't mind me offering you a drink?"

If anyone else had asked it, Raffi might have found a reason to find offense in the question. Coming from Picard, though, with that particular expression on his face, she found the question somewhat warming.

"My beautiful wife won't mind at all," Raffi said. She accepted the glass with thanks. "Since we've been involved, I honestly haven't felt the need to really overindulge. Not like before—not unless we were celebrating, together, a bit too much." She sucked in a breath and held it. She let it out with a contented sigh and sunk into the comfort of her seat. "I used to use things to escape my life. There's nothing I want to escape anymore."

Picard smiled at her.

"Then—perhaps we should drink to happiness," Picard said. Raffi smiled at the suggestion. "You wear it well, if you don't mind my saying."

"To happiness," Raffi said, clinking her glass with his. She tasted the wine. She coughed a little, surprised by the flavor and the pungency.

"This is strong, JL," she said.

"It has a certain quality to it," he said with some amusement. "Will Riker said it was no wonder that the Eldinians are such a pleasant species. They have this beverage with every meal as an aperitif."

"It has a nice flavor," Raffi said. "Seven would like this."

"Kathryn and I were each gifted a case," Picard said, "in addition to the gifts made from the Eldinians to the Federation. I will make sure that some of it makes its way to Seven as a gift."

"For after the baby comes," Raffi said.

"Of course," Picard agreed. "I have heard that this pregnancy is going remarkably well."

Raffi smiled at him.

"I can just imagine who might have told you that," she said, teasing him.

"I never reveal my sources," Picard responded. Raffi laughed.

"Seven is healthy," Raffi said. "She's strong. She's enthusiastic about every single aspect of the pregnancy. There are normal hiccups, I guess you could call them, but she's happy—and we're already planning our second as close to this one as is possible."

"Which could be very close," Picard said, "or am I incorrect?"

"You're correct," Raffi said. "I don't know how much interest you actually have…"

"I am always invested in your experiences, Raffi," Picard said. "And I do care about Seven, as well."

Raffi smiled and nodded her acceptance of his sincerity.

"Seven's nanoprobes are very active right now. I guess that's where some of the hiccups come in, if that's what we're calling them. They seem to be advancing the pregnancy rather quickly. She's adapting comfortably enough, and there are no negative effects to her or the baby, so far, but I think that it's making Seven feel especially…" Raffi hesitated. She chewed on her thoughts a moment, washed them down with a swallow of the sweet wine. "Borg," she said, finally.

"I imagine that the interests of most of our researchers aboard the ship aren't helping her with that feeling," Picard said.

Raffi shook her head.

"We got test results back not long after I returned from the final negotiations today," Raffi said. Picard's face communicated his question. She smiled again and shrugged. "Healthy mama. Healthy baby."

"My congratulations to you all. That's precisely what you want," Picard said.

"If the pregnancy continues to advance as it is," Raffi said, "then the Doctor and Doctor Crusher estimate that our baby will be born in four months. Give or take." She cleared her throat. "There's—a new implant forming. Another that showed up on scans that B'Elanna did with Seven this evening. It's—on her uterus."

"Your baby is not at risk…?" Picard asked.

"No," Raffi said, shaking her head. "It appears to be benign—even positive in function. B'Elanna believes that—it's likely an enhancement to make the pregnancy easier for Seven and, by extension, the baby. It may make another pregnancy even easier as it…you know…advances and…adapts to Seven's needs."

"Seven is handling this information well? I would understand if you needed to cancel this evening for personal reasons, Raffi," Picard said. Without Raffi asking, he topped off her glass of wine and served himself some more. Raffi made note of the strength of the alcohol. She would, if she finished this drink, definitely be fully feeling the effects of the wine. Another glass or two, and she'd likely be putting all of her effort into getting back to their quarters without looking undignified.

Seven had given her permission to drink and relax. She'd assured her—with a very, very convincing kiss—that she would be there when she got back, and she'd be happy to take care of her. She'd regenerated during the day, while Raffi had been working, simply to be available to her during the night. The memory of Seven's affection, even now, warmed Raffi more than the wine.

"She's doing fine," Raffi said. "She's doing better than I expected when B'Elanna said there was another implant developing. B'Elanna's with her, now. She wanted to do some things, and…I think Seven welcomes her company. I like knowing she's there for a while. Miral and Owen will be there, and Seven enjoys their company, too. If the Doctor and Crusher are correct, our baby should be born in about four months…as I said. Seven's nanoprobes are very active right now and will likely help to heal her biological systems…meaning that it shouldn't be long at all before she can do this again, if that's what she wants."

"That sounds like a joint decision," Picard said.

"Don't misunderstand me, JL," Raffi said. "We both want the same thing. There's no disagreement between us on that. The only reason I even say it the way I do is that—it's Seven's body. I'll let her make the decisions about how quickly things move."

"I'm sure she appreciates that you give her autonomy," Picard said.

Raffi laughed quietly. The teasing was impossible to ignore. Still, there was a touch of sincerity there.

"I couldn't do anything else," Raffi said. "Though—some people on this ship would try to take away Seven's free will, if given half the chance."

"I know to whom you're referring," Picard said. "Seven isn't a threat. She has been a cooperative and valuable ally to Starfleet for many years, and the research of a certain group will only advance as far as she allows. They may lose interest if we encounter other Borg. I have it on good authority, though, that Starfleet will support the research on Seven for as long as Seven consents, but they will not allow anyone to go against her personal wishes, or the advice of her medical team, without truly just cause."

"You have that on the authority of your secret source?" Raffi asked.

"I know that with a great deal of authority," Picard said. "From multiple sources, shall we say."

"Permission to speak freely, Jean-Luc?" Raffi requested.

"Granted," he said. "Always granted, Raffi."

"Even if what I have to say wouldn't be especially pleasing to Starfleet?" Raffi countered. He laughed.

"I'd expect no less from you, as an old friend," Picard said.

"I have so much right now," Raffi said. "I do. My life is so…full. And I mean that in the best way, JL. When I was married to Jae, I thought I loved him. I wanted to love him. Maybe I did love him, for a time. But—there was always a distance there. I couldn't explain it. I wasn't even always fully aware of it."

"I remember," Picard mused. "Even when you were the happiest that I ever saw you with Jae, there always appeared to be something missing."

"There was," Raffi said, "and, now, I can't help but sometimes wonder if that something was Seven. It feels so ridiculously cliché, but I feel complete in a way that I've never felt before. I feel—understood. Even when we're in the middle of a misunderstanding." She laughed to herself and shrugged. "It's like deep down, I know it's going to be temporary. Seven supports me, too, in ways that Jae never did." Picard refilled both their glasses, and Raffi thought about refusing only a half-second before she simply thanked him. She reminded herself, quietly, that his systems were a great deal different than her own. But Seven would be waiting for her, and if she needed to, she could call for an escort. "I know how to do emotionally distant. Jae taught me that. Unavailable. Always—always feeling like you have to scramble to get somewhere. You have to beg to be…accepted. Loved. I was too needy, and I wasn't needy enough. Too clingy and then not-present enough."

"Your relationship was tumultuous," Picard offered.

Raffi hummed and nodded. Picard would know. He would remember. He had been there, in some capacity, through most of Raffi's relationship with Jae.

"At the end…I couldn't do anything right," Raffi admitted. "I could feel him slipping further and further away from me, but there was nothing I could do to pull him back. And, if we're being honest, there was a part of me that was so tired of fighting to keep my head above water that…I didn't know how hard I was really willing to fight." Raffi swallowed down the lump in her throat. She cursed the wine, for a second, that was making her feel hot and making it hard to swallow. Then, she washed down those feelings with another swallow. "I was willing to let him go. I guess, I didn't realize he would take Gabe with him."

"If I may," Picard said. The words were more to draw Raffi's attention than anything else, and to pull her out of her own head. He smiled at her when she looked at him, already feeling thankful for the help leaving her own mind. "Things can always change, Raffi."

"Things have changed, dramatically," Raffi said. Her pulse kicked up, but it was a pleasant feeling, and she appreciated the swing in emotions. "Seven—makes me feel needed. Appreciated. Every kindness is appreciated. I can never be too close for Seven. And—even when she's being a little distant, I know there's a reason for it. I know that we can grow, together. We can get past it. I have Seven, now, and Elnor. And our little girl. We have plans for a future. Real plans. We talk about them, and they feel real, JL, and I feel included in them. Even though it's Seven who should decide how we proceed with the growth of our family, I'm never left out. Not for a moment. And if I feel left out? She hears me. That's the most beautiful thing about it—no matter how messed up my head is, sometimes, Seven hears me."

Picard smiled at her.

"Perhaps you should talk to Deanna," Picard said. "Not to push, but it does help, Raffi, to explore those feelings with a very empathetic ear."

"I have an appointment," Raffi assured him, laughing to herself. "So does Seven."

"Good. I don't know anything you've said, though, of which Starfleet would not approve."

"Because I was going to say that—if anyone tried to take that…if they tried to hurt Seven…"

"There's no need to continue," Picard said, cutting her off. "I believe that I can fill in the rest of your musings on the matter, Raffi, without the need for you to incriminate yourself in any possible crime."

Raffi laughed and shook her head.

"I'm serious," she said.

"I have no doubt you are," Picard said.

"And that feeling only grows," Raffi said. "Every day. Every hour. And—even if it wasn't me, I don't think that these researchers want to stir up Elnor's need to take on a cause."

"I don't believe it will come to that," Picard said. "However, I do agree that we may need to caution them that Elnor shouldn't be made to feel threatened."

"Or to feel that his family is threatened," Raffi said. "Elnor adores Seven."

"You can relax, I'm sure, as can Elnor. There's no reason to worry about something that is unlikely to come to pass. You and I both know that negative emotions can eat you alive, and there's no reason to believe that any damage will be done to Seven. Still, I understand your concern. Love is an intense emotion," Picard said. "There is a lot to be said, too, for security and stability. Happiness is powerful."

Raffi hummed.

"It's stronger than this wine," she said. "And that's saying a lot."

Picard laughed.

"I forget the limits of human tolerance," Picard said. "Would you like me to call Elnor, when you're ready to leave, to serve as an escort?"

"I'll call Seven," Raffi said. "She'll come. Maybe with B'Elanna."

"If the two of them can't get you back to your quarters," Picard teased, "then I doubt even an inner-ship transport would suffice. Seven will see to it that you make it to bed safely."

"What about you, JL?" Raffi asked.

"What about me?" He asked. "You may have had a bit too much if you've forgotten that—I'm already in my quarters."

"Is there anyone you want me to call for you? To make sure you get to bed?" Raffi asked, laughing to herself. He recognized the challenge.

"At my age…"

"There are years left," Raffi finished, cutting him off. "You never know when you're about to start the best years of your life, Jean-Luc." She shifted in her chair. She drank a little more of the wine. Now, she could imagine she felt it running through her veins. She imagined she could feel it relaxing her, inch by inch, as it flowed through her body in unison with her blood. She was almost dizzy, but Seven would come for her—Raffi would ask her to bring B'Elanna for support, afraid that she might fall and pull Seven down in the process, and afraid that she might hurt her—and they would go home to the quarters they shared, their temporary home. Raffi felt relaxed and content. "You once told me that…the reason there was never anyone was that…that there had been someone. You said it didn't work out. You told me that you weren't sure if there was ever more than one truly great love granted to anyone."

"At any rate," Picard said, "it appears you've found yours."

Raffi smiled and nodded. She hummed.

"I have," she said. "But—I get the feeling that yours isn't quite as far away as you may have made it seem." Picard opened his mouth like he might protest, but he didn't. Raffi knew him well enough to know that he was really bad at lying—especially in a personal setting. She smiled, knowing she hadn't read things wrong. "Clock's ticking, JL, but that doesn't mean that the time's run out. Some people could criticize Seven and I—what are we thinking starting a family now and planning to raise a few kids together. If you know what you want, though, and you can have it? You shouldn't waste any time going after it. It feels good, JL to finally feel like you've got what you want. You should have that. I'd like to see you as happy as I feel."

For a very, very long moment, silence hung between them. Raffi wasn't sure if it was quite as long as she perceived it to be, or if it felt longer simply because of the wine that made her head swim in a pleasant way. Picard held her eyes until, finally, he stared off across the room like he was contemplating something on a far wall. Raffi didn't even look over her shoulder to see what it was—she already knew that he was simply seeing something in his mind's eye.

Finally, he looked at her again. The smile he gave her was soft—barely there.

"What if she doesn't want the same things that I want, especially after so many years of me telling her that…it never could be what she wanted?"

"The only thing you can do is ask her," Raffi said. "Advice from an old friend? The reward of getting what you really want is far greater than the risk of rejection. And, either way, you never have it if you don't go after it. Go out on a limb, JL."

"If we never pursue our desires, we'll never hold them," Picard said.

Raffi responded only by holding her glass up in a mock toast before she drained the strong Eldinian wine. Picard reached for a bottle—the first or the second, Raffi really wasn't sure—to refill her glass. She waved him away.

"Where's my combadge?" She asked, looking for the item she'd taken off when she'd first come into his quarters. She laughed at the thought that flickered across her mind. Picard laughed simply at hearing her, and he brought her the combadge. "This has been—wonderful. We should do it again. But—I'm feeling the need to…hold my desires, as you say."