Thank you, Lindsay for your lovely comments! I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much! More to come :). -Becca

I'm still not used to the early sunrises and the late sunsets of summer. I feel the warmth of the sunbeams that dance on the walls of our bedroom, and the rays on my eyelids wake me and usher me into a new day. I feel his warm body next to mine. It's unconscious on his part, but I'm still flattered as I feel his arousal pressed against my back. My husband is truly unquenchable.

I had always suspected that he would be a passionate lover. When we were younger, everything that Jean Luc did he did with enthusiasm and fervour. His passion for certain things dwindled over the years and when I met him again on the Enterprise, I felt that a part of him had died. I understood that he was in a position of command and esteem, which did not lend itself to as wide an array of interests and hobbies that he had when we were younger. But, now, he's reawakened.

I used to think that Jean Luc's sole passion was for the stars and space exploration, but now I see that he's so much more multi faceted. I knew that his knowledge of archaeology was broad, but I had no idea just how extensive his interests are. He gets so excited when he talks to me about ancient Milean cultures. And you should see the wonder that spreads over his face when he talks about the spread of technology from the Asosians to the Minaltins!

And literature! He's always been fond of Shakespeare. In his quarters on the Enterprise he had a bookshelf filled top to bottom with the Bard's stories and Sonnets, but as I glanced at his side of our office yesterday, I realized that his taste is even broader. He consumes everything from Chaucer to Homer to CS Lewis.

I can't wait for him to start teaching. I know how compelling his students are going to find him. I remember my favourite professor at the Academy, Instructor Langley. She reminded me a lot of the character played by Barbara Streisand in one of my favourite old films, The Mirror Has Two Faces. Instructor Langley taught Comparative Species Anatomy and it was one of the hardest courses I took.

I remember downloading the course information and scanning through it before the first day of classes. I distinctly recall looking at that padd and thinking what a hard time I was going to have with that course. The material was daunting and the syllabus was intimidating. Having to learn human anatomy is one thing, but then having to memorise degenerate Klingon anatomy is quite another. Even Vulcans have some variety of organs and nervous pathways that humans don't have. Anyway, I was sitting in class on the first day, fidgeting in my seat and steeling myself for what I thought was going to be the most boring set of lectures in my life. But then, Instructor Langley walked into the lecture hall and my eyes nearly dropped out of my head! Most Starfleet instructors are very straight-laced and serious. They have no time for jokes and games or humour.

But, Instructor Langley walked in and her hair was all a mess around her head, her uniform was disheveled, her shirt was much too large for her and it was un-tucked and hung just above her knees. I didn't think that she could possibly have been for real. But when she started talking – I was drawn in. She made everything a story. She even came up with a song about the Vulcan gonadal glands and she made the whole class learn it! She made what could have been the most atrocious class one of the most enjoyable that I ever took. She was a magnificent woman.

I suspect that aside from the crazy hair and the disheveled uniform, Jean Luc's students will be just as captivated. His excitement is palpable and they won't be able to resist.

I can tell from his even breathing that my husband is still fast asleep. I slowly disentangle myself from his embrace and I quietly make my way down to the kitchen. I still can't believe that we own this house. I still can't believe that it was just over a month ago that we were still on the Enterprise. I could never have predicted this type of change in our lives.

Something this morning feels different, and it isn't just the weight of an extra ring on my left finger. I can't exactly pin point what it is. The more hopeful side of me wants to think that I'm pregnant, but that would be too good to be true. I don't think that the universe would allow so much happiness for one person in such a small amount of time.

I smile as I walk through the kitchen, scrutinizing it closer this time. In my mind's eye I can see Jean Luc and I cooking meals together. I can see highchairs with babies. I can see party platters filled with hor d'oeuvres. I can see guests and hear laughter and joking.

I leave the kitchen and saunter into the living room. I'm still blown away with how Jean Luc managed to have all of this arranged in the hours that we were away from the house. I suspected that he was up to something yesterday. I put it aside, though, when I saw the car. I thought that was the big surprise.

All through lunch, though, he couldn't sit still. I should have suspected something but I was just too damn happy to finally be married to him to think about what was going on in his head. Yesterday was a beautiful day, though. I don't regret not having a big wedding, and I don't think Jean Luc does either. What we had was absolutely perfect. I wish that Nana and Jean Luc's brother and his family could have made it. But, it's harvest time in LaBarre and Robert couldn't leave the winery. He did, however, transport a case of Jean Luc's favourite vintage.

Will and Deanna couldn't stay long. We asked them about their new orders and who was receiving captainship of the Enterprise. Will relayed that the admiralty was considering giving it to him. However, he told us that Nechayev mentioned to him in passing that they were already considering giving him the Titan – a newer ship. Deanna will most likely remain on the Enterprise.

I laugh for a moment remembering the moment in the courthouse where Judge Murphy offered to marry Will and Deanna. I hope they don't take as long as Jean Luc and I did to act on their feelings. I worry about Will, though. Without a solid relationship, he's given to wandering. I used to roll my eyes when we would come in contact with a new species and Will's first response – if it was a female- was to flirt. Do you know how much havoc Will's reckless romances wreaked on the Enterprise? I know that Jean Luc was reluctant to address it, but if it got any worse, I was about to say something!

I smile, looking down at myself. I don't think that I've put clothing on since my wedding gown was peeled off of me yesterday. That will have to change soon, though. Hope was sweet when she said that she wanted to give me as much time off as I wanted before I started working. I spoke to Jean Luc about it briefly. We both agreed that I should start working as soon as possible. He knows how restless I'm prone to be if I'm idle for too long. Also, Hope's patient load is enormous for one woman. I don't think that I've seen 50 patients by myself since I was a resident and I was on the on-call shift. And she's been doing it now for years!

I continue my saunter through the house. I'm amazed by how wonderful it looks. Our walls are adorned in artwork that I thought I'd never be able to display. Nana gave me some pieces a while back, but like the rest they were placed in storage. Now, though, the walls are resplendent with colourful canvasses.

I smile as I hear footsteps behind me, ushering into my line of sight my very handsome and very naked husband. He moves in to kiss me, "I woke up and you weren't next to me."

"Lonely?" I ask between kisses.

"Insufferably." He moves lower to kiss my collarbone, my breasts, and lower.

"Jean Luc! Don't you want to make it to the bedroom?" I laugh as his kisses tickle the soft skin of my stomach.

"No," he shakes his head, "we're christening the house."