"Well," Two green eyes stare wide-eyed at the scene. It is as I suspected from the car: a disaster. "Saoirse?"
"Kitten," she calls back.
A smirk plays at me amid what is settling in to be utter desperation at the amount of work that needs doing. "Well, Kitten," I kiss her cheek. "What are we going to do about this mess?"
Her only response is to survey the scene in front of her. It's not much different than what I saw from the car window: the couch cushions are all over the floor, books are scattered every which way, padds lie broken underfoot, pictures hang precipitously crooked…
I'm overwhelmed. Well, "We have to start somewhere, huh?" I whisper rhetorically.
"Book," she points proudly at the floor.
"Too many," I kiss her cheek. "And we have Papa to thank for that; you know how much he loves books!"
"So is that all it said?" I hear Wesley's angling in the study as I bend to pick up the cushions.
"Yes, Wes," Jean Luc exasperates. "That's all it said."
"Well," I can just see Wesley pontificating as I hear him browse the console. "I wonder who it is? Why wouldn't she just tell us?"
"I don't know," He responds, almost listlessly as hardcovers resume their place on the vast white shelves.
"Are you sure having them come to the house is the best idea?" I laugh to myself at how whiny he's getting. But can you blame him? He almost died last night! And now coming home to this…
"Wes," More books and padds hit the bookshelf. "Will you help me with the books?"
"Just a minute," he sighs. "Let me finish modifying the scanners."
"Oh you're doing that now?"
"You asked me to! Oh and," I hear more beeps from the console. "You know, we really should install subunits at every window."
"Okay, but…" I hear exasperation setting into that deep contralto.
Their familiar bickering is soothing; it's a sort of melody that grounds me and keeps me company while I work. Saoirse toddles around amid the fallen books, handing them randomly to me as I try and regain some order to the room. I roll my eyes at the ensuing disarray; my medical texts and padds are scrambled among engineering manuals and archaeology reviews. And what's worse, I'm not even trying to be organized about this; I just want the mess off the floor.
I would be angry if I wasn't so damn tired, or antsy about meeting Kathryn tomorrow. Tomorrow. Sleep. I shudder to think what our bedroom looks like. My head falls into my palm as I rub my face; all I want to do is sleep until this whole debacle is over!
"Well," an arm comes to rest on my waist. "Saoirse," a beleaguered voice starts, looking down at the two year old. "What have we got here?"
"A mess!" I sigh, turning my body in towards his.
A kiss plants itself on my hair line, "it's looking much better; at least we have a couch and a floor now."
"Well," Wesley plops himself down on the newly rearranged sofa. "The computer files were wiped…"
"All of them?" I gawk through the slits in my fingers.
"All of them. Everything that Data sent us from the Daystrom Institute, Starfleet, everything…"
"Oh Wes!" Is that what they were looking for?
His hands rise nonchalantly. "Not a big deal, Mom." He exhales, "But if that's what whoever was here came for, why tear up the house?"
The couch suddenly looks so inviting as I leave my husband's side and saunter over, plopping myself down with a veritable thud. "I don't know, Wes." I laugh. "Do you think Kathryn would notice if she came tomorrow and we just left the house like this?"
"I don't know," Wes shakes his head with a grin. "But I don't know if Dad could handle it…"
"What are you saying, Wesley?" A teasing smile laces his nearing voice before another weight depresses the couch.
He holds up his hands in surrender, "Nothing! Nothing! Not a thing!"
I love my son's smile, I think, as their banter fades into background noise. For a moment, the shambled mayhem circumambient the couch fades, and all I see is the two of them laughing and teasing one another. A little red head patters over to us, using her whole body to propel her developing little body onto the couch. A hand comes up to help her, lifting her bottom up the rest of the way and she settles herself comfortably into her father's side. Aaron bounces energetically in his play chair by the fireplace. Oh, I smile, to be young and so easily amused as these two little ones are. We've had so many close calls – too many, I lament. But somehow, even in the midst of this home – this life – we're still together. Happy. Fulfilled.
"Beverly?" A familiar rumble permeates my fancy.
"Hmmm?"
"Shall we prove Wesley wrong: that I'm not a neat-as-a-pin stoddy old-"
"I didn't say that!" Wesley laughs, Saoirse playing at his attention.
Jean Luc brushes him off as he continues, "ex-Starfleet captain turned boring archaeology professor, and go to bed and leave the mess for tomorrow?"
"Oh Jean Luc," I raise my eyebrow sarcastically. "Are you sure you're up for it?"
"Well," he muses humorously. "Just this once."
"Alright," I practically peel myself off the sofa. "Was the bedroom as destroyed as the living room and the study?"
Wesley shakes his head. "Your bedroom was untouched. Mine on the other hand," he rolls his eyes. "Was ransacked."
Oh Wesley! What could whoever did this have been looking for? "Wes, do you want us to help you clean it?"
"No," he indicates, picking up Saoirse. "It's late," he motions to the chronometer. "And we should get up early and finish with this before Kathryn comes with her mystery guest."
"We'll put Aaron to bed," Jean Luc picks up the ever-tired little baby, propping him over his shoulder as we leave the living room.
"Ok," Wesley yawns in return. "I'll put this little Kitten to bed." He looks at the door warily. "I upped the sensors. We should be fine for tonight, but-"
"We should, Wes," Jean Luc yawns in response as he takes his advice from earlier: "Tomorrow. We'll put conduits by every window."
The house is still light and rays still bleed in through the many windows, a testament to the never-setting sun of the summer months. But, despite the brightmess, we're tired. My legs feel like leaden weights as we ascend the stairs. I smile as Jean Luc leads the way, continuing to yawn all the way up.
"Goodnight," Wesley disappears into Saoirse's room.
Aaron is practically asleep as we summarily remove his clothing. Jean Luc applies a fresh diaper as I look around the room. Our house, I think. This is our house, but somehow it doesn't feel like it. The surroundings are the same; everything is the same. But it feels different – or at least I feel different in it. I feel like some prized element has been shed – something dear has been lost. Yes, nothing physical has been taken, bar the computer files. But, I conclude, something even more precious has been stolen: our sense of security and peace in our own home.
I hear frantic footsteps outside the door. "Wesley?" Jean Luc calls before he makes his way through into the room.
"Wes?" Jean Luc repeats, laying Aaron softly in his crib.
"Saoirse," Wes goads, his face pale. "Show mama and papa what you found."
She looks confused and pained as she senses her brother's disquiet. "It's okay, Kitten," he kisses his little curls. "Show them."
A tiny fist unfurls, revealing an object still unseen albeit a tiny glimmer over a pink palm.
Wesley takes it from her, holding it up in the dim light. "It's a rank pip."
Sorry for being so lax today everyone! I'll write more tomorrow- PROMISE!
Martin: Thanks a million for pushing me to get this done today! here you go :) Can't wait to hear from you.
Linds: For you Linds! Thanks for being my motivator - Don't know what I would do without you, like I've said :). Thank you
Meg: Why thank you! So glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Oh my goodness! I love all the questions! So much anticipation - trust me I am just as excited as you to find out!
Mels: So many things to work out! So much angst! I love it! I love that you guys are practically writing this story with me - every new chapter is an adventure for me as well! Keep your feedback coming - it HELPS!
Alex: Thank you thank you, my dear. I know- who did ransack the house? This is the great mystery right :) thank you for commenting. Love the feedback :)
Tiffany: Thanks a million for reading and keeping up - it's much appreciated! So, more Bev and Jean Luc scenes? Is that what you're hinting at, you little minx ;) well I have plans - oh do I have plans... Love hearing from you :) Thank you again
Reagan: Ohfavouritenamefriend, I have designs. I get the feeling that you'd like some more Bevs and jean Luc scenes? Hmm? Alright noted. And I've written down your other requests for later chapters - duly noted. But, you know how much I need more goading so keep it coming!
Bekkah (how I wish my name was spelled - love the K)- Oh how I've kept you wondering my little name twin, hmm?! I can't wait for you to see how this pans out! Thank you for reading and giving me so many predictions! They help - believe me! :)