"Wesley?" Owch! Dammit! I should have put my earrings on after my shirt. What time is it? "Wesley?" I call again, looking back and projecting my voice down the hall.

"Mom," As a turn back I hear his voice and his padded feet come closer down the hall to our room. "What?" He exasperates standing in the doorway shrugging on his sweater. "It's not like I can't hear you," he smirks and rolls his eyes. "I hear everything..."

"Hey, Smart Alec," I smile into the mirror, seeing his blushed complexion. "Do you and Dad have the kids today, or do I?"

"No," he ambles over to the made bed as he makes himself comfortable on the newly made surface. "Dad and I are taking Saoirse and Aaron to school with us."

"Are you sure?" I caution.

"Sure about what?" The bathroom door clicks open and a flood of moist warm air tingled with the rich smell of Jean Luc's soap and aftershave waft out, steeping me in his scent. When I don't immediately answer, a wet kiss plants itself on my cheek, "Sure about what?" He repeats.

"Taking Saoirse and Aaron to school with us," Wesley retorts as a strong arm winds itself around my waist. "Listen," he gets up heading towards the door. I see his amused smile in the mirror. "Can't you two wait until I've at least left the room?"

Laughing, Jean Luc looks back at his son. "Well?" He motions towards the door expectantly. "What are you waiting for?"

Wesley just throws up his hands in mock indignation. "Okay, Okay," he snorts. "I can take a hint."

"So," Warm breath warms my neck. "First day back at work." His smile hasn't faded.

"Mmm," I lean into his embrace as warm breath morphs into warm, gentle kisses. "I'm excited. It's been too long and things are finally back to normal!" It really has been too long: a full two months. I've missed my patients, my routine. More than that, I've missed the normalcy that being able to go back to work brings. It means that things in our life have resumed their stability.

Moreover, it's the start of a new semester. Jean Luc's classes have resumed and happily he's fitted himself back into his old routine. Wesley's finishing his degree this year and the school has already granted him a spot for a PhD, if he'll take it. I smile – he will. Jean Luc and I are loath to see him leave us-leave home. He told us that he wants to stay with us for as long as he can – to help with Saoirse and Aaron, and just to be physically together for a while longer.

The Starfleet trial ended last week. All three of us were called to testify. Though we had all been aware of Starfleet's corruption, none of us had any true idea regarding the extent of the depravity. Programs like Jack's Advancement were rife, and most were funnelled through the Daystrom Institute where technically they weren't subject to Starfleet regulation. Advancement, however, was the most barbaric.

It came out that Jack was able to garner huge funds to support his maniacal dream of seeing humanity reach its next stage of evolution. Dozens of doctors were involved, as well as a handful of drug companies. Participants in his program would start out as volunteers. They were carefully chosen from the population – mostly young men and women with particular talents who were lured by Jack to participate in what he hailed was the opportunity of a lifetime. Living contributors came forward at the time of the trial and detailed how methodical Jack was in his recruitment – how enticing his offers.

Participants in Advancement were incrementally drugged with experimental medications meant to bring forward their more 'super human' abilities. However, the drugs were unregulated and soon deleterious side effects began to manifest. To cover his tracks, Jack preemptively murdered many of them.

Starfleet itself is going through a restructuring. Admirals like Nechayev, Hayes, Nakamura, Jones – they've all had their ranks stripped from them for their involvement in the corruption. However, it's not only Starfleet that is being systematically reorganized, the government is as well. It turns out Jack's little black book was quite accurate; those contained within were indicted and are now being prosecuted.

"Where are you?" He whispers, holding me to him as I try to make my way.

I turn to him, pressing my body intimately against his, feeling his waves of heat, and smelling that deliciously intoxicating scent that's familiar only to him. "I was thinking…"

He smiles, kissing the bridge of my nose. "About?"

"These past couple of months. The trial," I nibble along his strong jawline. "Everything."

Hands slide down my arms, coming to rest on my side. "I love you," a warm Shakespearean baritone whispers into long burnished hair.

"I love you," his neck is warm where I kiss it, but goosebumps raise and seemingly mark the outline of my lips.

"Dad!" We look at each other and laugh at the mutual thought: he sounds like a petulant teenager. "We're going to be late!" Wesley calls exasperatedly from downstairs.

"Don't want to keep the boss waiting," I smile, tearing myself away from his embrace before grabbing my sweater off the bed. "Oh, Jean Luc," I turn back, bumping into him.

"Hmm?" He ushers me forward, calling off the bedroom light.

"When is Fall break again?" I just remembered, "I have to tell Hope when we're going to France to see Marie and Robert."

"We're going back to France?" Wesley looks up while arranging the closures on Saoirse's jacket. She looks down, whimpering as she fusses with the small zipper. "Wes!" She demands, riveting his attention to her as she points at the hair caught in the teeth of the zipper.

"Oh!" Wesley's face is penitent. "Kitten," he fiddles with the device, freeing the offending strand. "I'm sorry!"

"I'll see you later, Kitten," I bend down, kissing her tiny forehead. Jean Luc holds the baby up to me. "Bye, baby boy," I lavish his chubby cheek with the same wet kisses. "I love you."

The front door opens, heralding in a gust of cool, autumn air. "What time are you going to be home tonight, Mom?" Wesley turns back at the bottom of the steps, Saoirse propped on his shoulders.

"I don't know. Six?" I fumble with the antique house keys. Why is it, again, that we don't voice-lock, or key-code the door like all the neighbours?

"We've got to go," Another kiss finds it way onto my cheek before he too hurries down the steps. "In the car, Wes. You're going to be late for lecture."

I hear one last "Bye Mom," before the car turns, heading for the driveway. I'm going to be late, I know. But, I can't help sneaking a last look at them. Wesley and Jean Luc in the front, talking, laughing about their day, their students. Kitten and Aaron sit in the back car seats, smiles plastered to their faces as they watch the passing trees.

All this love, I think. It's what I wanted all along. Life, I smile to myself as I too amble down the big, rough-hewn stone steps, making my way to the car, is a funny entity. I never thought it would take me over 20 years to admit loving Jean Luc. More than that, I never imagined this life for myself. But now, when I look back, I can't see it being any other way. I can't see a life without him – I can't see a life without loving him.

Yes, I laugh, starting the ignition as thoughts of my own day start to swirl. Life is a distinctly choleric, at times inscrutable, entity. At times, it presents itself as a taunting beast, forcing you – without mercy – to change your perspective. I shudder when I think that it took nearly dying to admit to Jean Luc how much I loved him. And that beast keeps on presenting itself: as anaphasic life forms, or as terrible trials that test your resolve. But life is not so harsh as I'm making her out to be; for she can also be incredibly kind, which I'm reminded of every time that I look at my children, or every time that I'm close to my husband. What is more, she is dynamic, fluid, vibrant, and ever changing. And do you want to know something? I'm terrifyingly ecstatic to see where she'll take us.

The End (for now).

Alright! That's a wrap! I just want to thank you guys for hanging in there with me all summer. You've all been my friends and have made my last summer break as a medical student the best one that I've ever had. Big thank you to Linds without whose encouragement this would have never taken off. Also wanted to thank Martin, Meg, Tiffany, Reagan, Mels, and Sasha and Jordan for keeping me on my toes this whole time. I love all of you and you can always comment here for the next story which I am going to write - per all of your request from Jean Luc's perspective on the Enterprise (that'll be quite the undertaking). That will be my next project so hopefully I'll get that going soon. Really, really, really want all your input on that so I hope you'll follow me over to that one. One last thank you again to everyone who commented and kept me on track and gave me so much encouragement. I think of you guys as my friends, really.

Thank you!

Oh and if you comment here, I'll try to get back to you in the next story!

Much love,

Becca