Part 9

"She looks like she's doing so well," remarks Zara, watching nine-month old Adele walk tentatively around the coffee table, gripping the edge of the table as she takes tiny steps.

Beverly, perched on the sofa next to Picard in the living room, keeps a watchful eye on the baby as Adele reaches for a piece of sliced up banana on a small plate on the coffee table. "She wasn't always. She was born with a heart defect. She had to have corrective surgery. She's growing, but her physical development is a little delayed."

Zara, in the arm chair, leans forward, watching Adele munch on tiny banana pieces that Beverly had cut up for a snack to tide the baby over until they would sit down for dinner. "Right. I forgot. You're the doctor."

Stiffening, Beverly straightens in her seat. "Yes, and I'm also her mom. I'm watching her development closely."

Briefly glancing at Picard, Zara is coy. "Right. You're getting married."

Nodding, Jean-Luc smiles awkwardly. "Yes. In three weeks."

"Well, that's nice…" Zara mumbles.

Beverly studies the young woman closely, taking in her petite stature and dark features. Zara is short, olive-skinned with large black eyes and short black hair styled into a bob. Being an engineer, Zara is sporting her standard gold jumpsuit. Adele, at nine-months old, is fair-skinned with light brown hair and hazel eyes. Beverly feels guilty, but a part of her is almost glad that the baby seems to resemble Jean-Luc rather than this young woman sitting with them now. This gives her hope that Adele's temperment and good character will come from Jean-Luc, as well.

"Yes, just a small ceremony here on the ship with our comrades and friends," elaborates Jean-Luc, turning to Beverly with a smile

Adele crawls over to the sofa and pulls herself up, using Beverly's knees as support. "Mama."

Smiling, Beverly lifts Adele into her lap. "Well, sweetie. Do you think we should call your brother? It's past dinner time and we're starving."

Adele toys with Beverly's hair as Zara looks on, mesmerized.

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"Your son, Wesley, he wants to be an officer when he's older?" Zara, seated in the arm chair, balances a squirming Adele on her lap.

They had just finished dinner and are gathered in the living having tea. Wesley had excused himself to work on a school project, leaving Picard and Beverly on the sofa. Zara had wanted to try to interact more with the baby, but Adele had been fussing and fidgeting as the evening went on and her energy waned.

Nodding, Picard sets his mug on the coffee table. "Oh, yes. He's training with our officers. He'll be applying to the Academy. He's exceptionally bright, very hard-working and driven."

Half-smiling, Beverly briefly glances at Picard and then to Zara to reply. "I'm lucky. He's had great role models."

Smiling lightly, Zara shifts Adele in her lap. "Well, he's a really smart kid. Sounds like he's got a really bright future ahead of him."

"Thanks. I hope so," replies Beverly positively.

Adele whimpers before immediately throwing up all down the front of her and over Zara's knees. Shocked, Zara gasps, eliciting a startled cry from Adele. "Whoa!"

Beverly jumps off of the sofa and over to the arm chair. She scoops the now sobbing baby off of Zara's legs and into her arms. "Hey. It's okay, sweetie."

"She…she just…." Black eyes as wide as saucers, Zara stutters.

Rolling his eyes, Picard rises to his feet and joins Beverly. "I'm sorry, Zara. I'll get a couple towels for you to get cleaned up there."

"It's okay, honey," Beverly coos, holding Adele close, impervious to the mess that's being transferred from Adele's shirt to her uniform. Beverly doesn't care if she gets covered in a little baby spittle, it's happened before and it'll happen again.

"Is she sick?" Picard inquires, putting a hand on Adele's head as the baby curls into Beverly's shoulder.

Frowning, Beverly shakes her head. "I think it was the yogurt. This happens every time. I think she has an allergy, Jean-Luc."

Nodding, Jean-Luc purses his lips, retracting his hand. "Yes, you're probably right."

Dropping a kiss to the baby's crown, Beverly exhales. "I'm going to throw her in the bath and clean her up. She's almost ready for bed anyway. "

Bobbing his head, Jean-Luc gently squeezes Beverly's shoulder. "Sounds good, dear."

"I'm sorry, Zara," sighs Beverly, turning to Zara still frozen in the chair. "If you'd rather take off your uniform, you're welcome to look through the closet for something of mine to wear."

Slightly embarrassed, Zara shakes her head.

"I'm going to clean her up. I'll be back shortly," says Beverly, leaning over to peck Jean-Luc's cheek.

Jean-Luc tilts his head and gives her a quick kiss back in return. "Thank you, dear."

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Beverly brushes her lips over Adele's forehead and lays the dozing nine month-old baby in her the pink blanket around her torso, Beverly watches Adele silently turn, sucking contentedly on her pacifier.

"She's already out," remarks Zara, a couple feet behind Beverly in Adele's room.

Rotating around, Beverly walks to Zara, folding her arms over her chest. "She was tired."

"Hey, I'm sorry I kind of freaked when Adele threw up earlier," says Zara quietly, crossing her arms.

Shrugging, Beverly pauses in front of Zara. "It's okay. You're not accustomed to babies. You were just surprised."

Letting out a long breath, Zara relaxes her stance. "I…I don't think I can do this."

"Do what?" asks Beverly, raising a brow.

Gesturing with her hand, Zara points between Beverly and the crib. "This. This…what you do every day. Being a parent."

"Because Adele threw up on you?" asks Beverly incredulously. "Honey, that's not the half of it. You haven't seen anything. You do everything for your kid, because you love them unconditionally. They're your baby, and they're your world."

Swallowing hard, Zara nods. "Yeah, I know. And, it's obvious to me that I'm not ready for that. I can't do that."

Eyes dilated, Beverly's lips part. "You can't be a mother?"

"I'm not a mother," murmurs Zara ruefully. "Look, Beverly, obviously you adore your children, Wesley and…and Adele. You're a wonderful, giving, selfless mother. I…I can't do that."

"Zara…." Utterly floored, Beverly's jaw drops.

Grimacing, Zara shakes her head. "Adele has two parents who love her more than anything. She couldn't have it any better. That makes me immensely happy. There's no room for me here. I'd only be a distraction. I think the best thing I can do for Adele is stay the hell out of your way."

Sighing heavily, Beverly looks to Zara earnestly. "Zara, if you make this decision, that you don't want a relationship with Adele, I want it to be final. I don't want to hear from you in a year, or five years, or ten years, because you're older and think you've made a mistake. I do consider Adele my daughter, and I want what's best for her. If you walk away now, there's no turning back."

Swallowing hard, Zara grimaces. "Yes. I know. This is best for Adele. My decision is final."

Exhaling audibly, Beverly nods, gesturing to the door. "Let's go talk to Jean-Luc."