Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own any part of the Star Trek series.

Author's Note: Thank you guys for your wonderful reviews and support of this story. I wanted to clear some small things up real quickly. Wesley was not Picard's best man because Picard is not 'friends' in the traditional sense with Wes so Riker or Data would take that place, but because Riker was administering the wedding he couldn't be best man. Picard was in very important diplomatic meetings and it would have been inappropriate if they interrupted him, so he missed the birth and Beverly knew her child was sleeping so she was 'tame' when Picard came to see her. I hope you enjoy the next adventure.

Building a Life

Chapter 4

He had jumped over many hurdles in his life, sometimes literally as he was a great runner in the Academy, surprising the senior competitors and professors in his first year. This was one hurdle he was having a particularly difficult time overcoming and he was determined but his energy had been waning as late. Who could blame him though? Not that he wanted any kind of sympathy, in fact most times going so far as frowning upon it, especially from his crew. He let out a sigh of frustration, loud enough to reach the other end of his cabin.

"Angelique, please hold still," he pleaded with the ever squirming and giggling 10 month old. All she did in response was blow a raspberry and giggled again. He smiled at that but shook it away because he couldn't just let her go around without a diaper. The first-time father held one tiny ankle in his hand as he attempted to grab the other so he could place a diaper under the baby the way he had seen Beverly do so adeptly. Of course, this was her second child and she was a doctor so she was somewhat of an expert on the subject. Every time he went to grab the other foot though, she jerked and his hold on her other foot released.

He groaned, rubbing a hand over his face, unaware his wife was leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom watching his struggle. A small smile spread on her face as she brushed aside a lock of auburn hair. Deciding he had endeavored alone long enough, she approached the table and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Together, Jean-Luc," she suggested, smiling at him. He nodded slowly as she reached for Angelique's feet, holding them still as she lifted her bottom up. Jean-Luc grabbed the diaper nearby and placed it under their child and began to fasten the container to his daughter.

He chuckled when they finished. "How are you so good at this?"

"Lots of practice, my dear," she said pecking him on the cheek before moving over to their shared closet to pick out some civilian clothes. He watched her for a moment and then turned his attention back to the now relatively still baby. She laughed a little when their gaze met.

"And what are you laughing at Angelique?" he asked picking her up and holding her on his hip for a moment as he sifted through the various baby clothes they had replicated a few days ago. "It amazes me how often we have to get her new clothing," he informed his wife.

"Children are in a constant stage of change and development, babies in particular. Their heads develop quicker than their bodies so you're always going to need new shirts for them at this age. Why don't you put her in the little pink frilly dress Marie made and sent us with the wine Robert insisted you needed. She has a date later today," Beverly said as she multitasked with changing her own clothing.

"Date?" Jean-Luc asked standing up after finding the piece of cloth.

The CMO chuckled lightly. "Some of the kids invited her to their tea party this afternoon. Of course, I will be there as well, but the invitation went to Angelique."

The Captain stared at the woman for a moment, wondering why their daughter, unable to talk or really interact with the other children was going to a tea party. Deciding he would never really understand, he shook his head of it and placed the baby back on the changing table, sitting up this time. "Alright. Let's get you dressed," he told the girl, first pulling the dress carefully over her head and then negotiated one arm than the other through their respective holes. Sensing a presence beside him, he turned his head to see Beverly at his side again.

"Aren't you the prettiest little girl on the ship," she cooed at her baby before picking her up and cuddling her. Angelique giggled back in response, happy to be in her mother's arms and receiving the attention she always received in the mornings when both her parents were around. Jean-Luc marveled at mother and daughter for a moment before wrapping an arm around his wife.

"She's going to be a heartbreaker. Just like her mother," he informed her.

"No, she'll just be playing hard-to-get," Beverly quipped back.

"That was playing hard-to-get? Beverly..." he chastised good-naturedly. She laughed lightly.

"Hey. I came around. Eventually," she admitted. "Breakfast now, Jean-Luc," she told her husband, handing their daughter to him. She was attempting to get him better acquainted with baby duties, but it was a slow hard learn. He got frustrated easily and kept the steam in so as not to frighten Angelique, so he became quite annoyed when relieved of baby watch by her, but he needed the practice.

He sighed, breakfast duty being the most troublesome with their constantly fidgeting child. He knew she was hungry because she pawed at the spoon when he came close to her mouth but that turned into a messy affair because she would shake it loose and the food would spill onto the high-chair table. Thankfully they had a good-coverage bib to protect her princess dress, as he called it. "What shall we have this morning, Angelique? Bananas? Cereal?" He replicated both as well as a small bottle of room-temperature milk to wash it down. After bringing them to the table and out of reach of his daughter he returned to the replicator, asked for hot Earl Grey and a couple of croissants for himself. "Beverly?"

"Hm? Oh. Ham and cheese omelette and coffee please," she requested, picking up their quarters of disregarded clothes and some baby toys in order to find the two work PADDs she had brought the previous night. She needed to prepare for a surgery today and she wanted a quick reminder of things. Once she found the PADDs she returned to the table and took a sip of the coffee first, eyes glued to the device, both because her desire to refresh her memory and to subconsciously tell Jean-Luc he was on his own feeding Angelique.

Jean-Luc also took a sip of his drink before spooning into the banana food. He reached out for one of his daughter's hands in an attempt to keep it from the utensil as he guided it toward her mouth. Immediately Angelique's other hand reached for the spoon and took a grasp but it was in her mouth before she could shake it for fun. The father sighed, hoping this was a good sign. He took another spoonful and led it to her mouth again, not holding her hand this time. Angelique giggled and grabbed on with both hands, preventing the man from moving it any closer to her mouth. Before he pulled away or let go, Beverly piped up.

"Let her try and bring it to her mouth. Just keep a light grasp on it." Jean-Luc nodded slowly in ascent, turning his attention to the bubbly child, letting her pull on the spoon. Her mouth opened wide and the utensil entered, lips clamping down as she suckled the food down her throat. He pulled the spoon carefully out of her mouth with a pop and he grinned. "It's good for her to learn to feed herself. She's watched us all this time and now wants to do it herself, but you need to be there so she doesn't swallow the spoon too. Remember when I told you she was at the grasping stage early? Picking toys up and letting them fall again? That is why she reaches for the spoon and because it is near her mouth."

"I see," Jean-Luc said in amazement, wiping the corner of his daughter's mouth with a smile. Beverly watched the two interact, a warm glow in her heart at the sight. He was going to become a great father; she could already tell. Her gaze soon returned to the PADD as the man began feeding their child again.

"I have a feeling you'll enjoy that tea party."

I hope you enjoyed the fourth installment.