Sophie," I gesture to the couch, "please make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything?"
"No, Dr. Picard. Thank you. I'm really fine." She sits uncomfortably on the edge of the large sofa. I feel bad. I know that we haven't been as warm and welcoming as we should have been at the transporter station. And the car drive home was all but silent, bar small muffled cries from the baby.
"Beverly, please. Sophie, I'm sorry to be so brusque, but we're eager to hear why you called Wesley 'William', why we haven't heard from you," I look over at my son, "and why you had to transport to Ellensburg rather than Yakima."
"Mom, I'm really sorry that you've been worried. I knew you would be but I had no way of contacting you." He repositions the sleeping bundle on his arm as he continues, "Something's going on at Starfleet, there's a lot of gossip, and everyone has his or her own theory. I'm sure you've heard that Command is trying to make a military alliance with the Cardassians in order to intimidate the Romulans. No one knows really what's going on, but we all suspect that Starfleet is trying to plant moles in the Romulan High Council. And, we think that they're planning an overthrow in an effort to weaken the their government. Then, once the government is fragile, the Federation and the Cardassians will start attacks in an effort to intimidate and weaken the Romulan fleet." He turns his gaze to Jean Luc, "I'm sure you know that the Romulans have access to technology that the Federation would love to get its hands on."
"That's nothing new, Wes, the Romulans have always had a slight technological advantage over Federation ships. Not only did they developing cloaking devices years before the Federation was able to produce technology that detected the cloaked vessels, but their War Birds have superior warp capability!"
"I know. But that's not everything. There's something else and whatever it is the Federation wants access to it badly."
That's all well and good, "but why did you transport to Ellensburg and use the name William?"
Wesley gestures at the young woman sitting next to him, "Sophie is from Ellensburg. I had to think of something that wouldn't throw up a flag when I told Jeff, our Resident Director, that I was leaving for the night. So, I uh, told Jeff that I was going to meet my girlfriend's parents".
She must have seen our eyes open in surprise at the beginning part of his statement. She holds up her hands, "we're not dating. We're just good friends. We met a few years back when Wes entered the academy. We, uh, met at a local coffee shop in San Francisco."
She must really think we don't like her! Jean Luc senses her discomfort as well and chuckles, "at ease, Sophie." But that still doesn't answer our lingering question, "why couldn't you just say you were coming home?"
"I didn't want to make any trouble or draw any attention. We don't know exactly what Starfleet is monitoring and we just wanted to be on the safe side."
He's still confused, "Wes, you're our son. I don't see why it would draw attention if you were coming to visit your family?"
I grab hold of Jean Luc's knee, "Wes, what are you afraid of?"
"I just don't want to make any trouble for you two. Things are getting really bad and, like I said, I just wanted to be on the safe side. They really want you back, Jean Luc. They think that having you back will be instrumental to their plan. You're well known and you've even won battles against the Borg. They think that by using you to intimidate the Romulans, they might have a better advantage. I don't know, I just didn't want to draw any attention."
"Thank you, Wesley. I don't know if we mentioned it, but we spoke with Admiral Paris. We asked him if they planned to go through with denying you graduation and he said he didn't know. He said that Nakamura and Nechayev were adamant. And I know what you said," he puts his hands up as Wesley tries to interject, "I know that you said that you were going to try to find-"
"Jean Luc," Wesley interrupts anyway.
"No, Wes, let me finish. I think that it will behoove you to have that degree even if you won't use it."
"No, Jean Luc. Stop. Wait. Remember when I left here four nights ago and I told you I had to speak with some people?"
"Yes?"
"I spoke with the directors or two labs: one at California Technical and one at the Daystrom Institute. Both have offered to let me finish my degrees at either of the universities."
"Wes, I'm impressed, but uh-"
"No Jean Luc. I'm settled with my decision. If I were to graduate from Starfleet, I'd be obligated to serve for a minimum of two years – as you know. And right now I can't see that happening. I wanted to tell you that I accepted the offer from Cal Tech and tomorrow I'm withdrawing from the academy. Then they'll have no more leverage and they'll leave you alone. Please, Jean Luc, let me do this for you. For all of us. You've been more than a father to me for as long as I can remember and you've done so much for Mom. I know that you want to see me graduate from the academy, but that's not what I want. Please understand."
I didn't realize how tense my husband's form was until I felt him relax in defeat, "all I want for you, Wesley, is to be happy. That's all I ever wanted. I'm sorry if I pushed you or made you feel that you had to graduate from the academy to please me. That's never been the case. You make me proud because of who you are, not where your degree is from."
"Thank you. That means a lot." His beautiful boyish features light up and I can't help but sit back and enjoy this moment. My love for both of these men is overwhelming and I just can't help but wonder what I did to deserve this much love and happiness in one lifetime. I just hope, however, that this will be the end of our worries.