The smell of pancakes wafting through the room woke Elnor the next morning. Candor was gone, presumably to see if something other than pancakes was available for breakfast. Elnor dutifully followed the doctor's orders, putting the sling back on before silently padding barefoot towards the kitchen.

"There you are, sleepyhead!" Laris nodded at him, "Just in time to help me carry dishes out to the veranda. Or not," she added as she saw the sling around his left arm. "I won't ask," she said. "That'll save you the trouble of explaining it twice."

"It's really not a big deal. I can carry dishes," Elnor said as he scooped up a tray loaded with glasses and a pitcher of orange juice. He deftly balanced the tray one-handed even as he said, "I can use my left hand to carry things, too."

Laris shook her head no, "There's no need to risk dropping anything. Almost everything is already out there." She spared a nervous glance at the ornate Wexford crystal pitcher and matching glasses. She had to remind herself that Elnor knew what he was capable of doing, even if he did like to sometimes show off a bit.

He disappeared out the door to the veranda, ready to come back and carry another load. Seeing the table already set, he realized that wouldn't be necessary. Laris was right behind him with the tray of hot pancakes, blueberry by the smell of them. Butter and maple syrup were already on the table.

Picard's head was under the table as he placed bowls of food for Number One and Candor. For this meal, at least, it seemed the cat might find food more to her liking under the table rather than on it. Number One, being much better behaved than Candor, never tried taking food from the table. He knew his master would slip him tasty morsels from time to time and was content with that.

Picard finished his under-the-table chore and straightened back up in his chair as Laris and Elnor took their seats. He started to ask his usual Saturday morning question, "How are your classes?" then trailed off as he saw the sling. "Perhaps," he began again, "I should ask, 'How are you?'"

Laris' already high, arched eyebrows crept a notch higher in anticipation of Elnor's answer.

Elnor repeated what he'd already told her earlier, "It's really no big deal." As Picard started to scowl at him, he elaborated, "The doctor at the infirmary said she wants me to wear the sling for a few days just as a reminder to take it easy. She mended my fractured shoulder blade without any trouble. It's as good as new already. The sling is just a precaution."

"Yes," Picard answered slowly, "but how did you fracture your shoulder blade?"

"In a sparring match in my hand-to hand combat class." For reasons Elnor didn't understand, he felt reluctant to mention that it was Worf who had injured him.

"I thought you were finding that class to be unchallenging, too easy for your skill level," pressed Picard.

Realizing he couldn't keep Worf's name out of it, Elnor said, "That's usually true, but yesterday we had a guest instructor." He paused, then added, "Captain Worf."

Picard's eyes widened and brightened. "Worf's here? On Earth? And he did this to you?"

Elnor couldn't help laughing a little at Picard's mixed expressions of delight at hearing Worf was on Earth and dismay at finding out Worf had injured him. "Yes," he said, "Worf had been planning to teach his fighting style, Mok'bara, to the class, but some of the students were already well versed in it, while others knew nothing or next to nothing. While he did teach all of us the warm-up exercises and some basic moves, he thought it might be more beneficial for the class to see how masters in very different fighting styles might interact with one another."

"I'm not sure I understand," Picard replied. "How did this result in you getting injured?"

Elnor knew nothing short of a full explanation would do. "As the only student in the class who has mastered even one form of martial arts combat, Worf asked me to engage in a demonstration match with him."

Picard's eyes widened in horror. He still hadn't touched his rapidly cooling pancakes. "You and Worf fought?"

"Yes," Elnor couldn't help adding, "but not to the death."

Laris couldn't contain a small snicker at Elnor's dry sense of humor, but otherwise refrained from saying anything.

"I should hope not!" exclaimed Picard.

Elnor grinned as he took a bite of his own pancake, unwilling to let it cool completely. "I think Worf now has bragging rights about having fought a Qowat Milat and lived."

"Did he know your training was as a Qowat Milat?" questioned Picard.

"Yes. He asked about my training and seemed familiar with the Qowat Milat, although he did say he'd never fought one before."

Laris finally couldn't contain herself. "So who won? I mean, since it wasn't a fight to the death. . ."

"It was just a demonstration fight for the class," Elnor said. "I'm not really sure if you can say anyone won. Worf and I went to the infirmary together afterwards, so I think that makes it a tie if anyone is keeping score."

"Wait, back up," said Picard. "You and Worf went to the infirmary together?"

"Yes, apparently I cracked his rib. He assured me that Klingon ribs are very hard to crack, but he may have been saying that only to make me feel better about my own injury."

"Oh, I can assure you he wasn't saying that to help you feel better."

"He did say he had some holodeck programs that might interest me and invited me to join him in one if he's here long enough for us to have time." Elnor's expression brightened at the thought.

Picard's expression grew more worried. "Elnor, if you join Worf in any of his holodeck programs, please do not under any circumstance agree to him turning off the safety protocols!"

"Safety protocols do sound like a sensible precaution," Elnor agreed without promising anything.

Picard leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief. "So Worf's on Earth? Do you happen to know for how long? I hope he has a chance to come visit his old captain. It would be wonderful to see him again!"

Elnor realized it hadn't occurred to him that Worf and Picard would probably see each other. For a brief moment, he worried that Worf might stop by for dinner that evening and wondered if he should have ordered an extra lobster. No, he dismissed that thought. Worf knew about the dinner plans and would have said something if he was coming. That didn't discount the possibility of him stopping by the next day though. Elnor wondered what it would be like to witness Picard and Worf reminiscing about their days together on the Enterprise. As much as he would love to listen to them talk, he suspected the two might prefer to meet another time when they wouldn't have him as an audience. All these thoughts raced through his mind in less than two seconds before he answered Picard's question. "I believe he said he'd brought the Enterprise in for some refits. I have no idea what sort of refits or how long that will take, but it would be reasonable to think he'll have time to visit you."

"I think I'll have to give him a call and invite him to stop by. Sometimes refits do require a lot of supervision from the ship's captain, but not always," Picard smiled.

After they finished eating, Picard headed to his study to send a message to Worf, while Elnor helped Laris carry trays back inside.

"What do you have planned for dinner tonight, Elnor?" Laris asked curiously. "I know I said for you to do it all yourself, but I could help if you need or want me to." She filled the sink with hot, soapy water and began immersing dishes. Washing dishes by hand was unnecessarily old-fashioned, but Laris found it to be a soothing ritual.

Elnor grinned again, "I appreciate your offer, but I think I might actually have it all under control. I did bring some dry ingredients with me, but if you have some greens around I could use for a salad that would be helpful. Also, I'm expecting a delivery this afternoon."

"Ah, so you want to keep it a surprise, do you?" Laris smiled at the challenge of trying to guess what Elnor had in mind. "I won't play the guessing game, but a delivery? This must be something pretty special." Laris transferred cleaned dishes to the hot rinse water. Glasses first, then would come plates, silverware next, and cooking pots and pans last.

Elnor was determined not to give away enough for Laris to guess what he had planned. "I don't know about special, but I did ask a number of people for advice. Mostly, they told me to keep it simple, so that's what I'm trying to do." Elnor started taking glasses from the rinse water, drying them with a towel, and putting them away. Washing dishes this way was the only way the nuns had to get clean dishes, so it was a ritual with which Elnor was well familiar.

"Who all did you ask?" Laris glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Elnor smiled to himself. Laris was definitely playing the guessing game despite her denials. He didn't see any harm in answering her question though, "First, I received unsolicited advice from Professor Safaath not to serve raw taspar eggs. I have no idea how he even knew about me being in charge of preparing dinner! Do you have any idea how he found out?"

"Hmmm, he's the Vulcan who's helping you work on unusual and creative scenarios, isn't he?" Laris gazed into the distance as she sank into thought about any possible connections Safaath might have to anyone who worked at the chateau. After a moment, she said, "I don't know how he knew, but I'll find out." The subject of dinner was a small thing, but knowledge of something small leaking out could be indicative of a larger security leak. Yes, she was definitely going to be checking into this. Addressing Elnor again, she asked, "You didn't tell anyone at the Academy?"

"Only Nathan. I immediately assumed he'd told other people, but he says he didn't."

"Well," she patted Elnor's arm with her soapy hand in a motherly fashion to put him at ease, "I'll get to the bottom of it. You weren't thinking of taspar eggs, were you?"

"I had no idea what they were! Nathan told me there's a story behind Picard and taspar eggs. Not a good story. He said many of the details are still classified. This is something I shouldn't ask about, isn't it?"

"You can ask if you want." Laris replied, "I'm sure Jean-Luc would tell you, but it wouldn't be a pleasant conversation."

"Then I think I don't need to ask about it, at least not right now. This weekend is going to be full enough as it is."

"Oh? What else is going on?" Laris transferred the last cooking pan from the soapy water into the rinse water.

"I remembered what Soji told me about meeting Deanna and Will, so I asked them."

Laris looked at him in surprise, "We're not having bunnicorn pizza, are we?"

Elnor laughed, "No, you said nothing replicated, and I'm not sure where I'd get a fresh bunnicorn on Earth.

"Deanna didn't have any specific recommendations, only to keep it simple. It's the other thing she brought up that has had me thinking a lot. She asked why I call Picard, well, why I call him 'Picard'. She suggested that something else might be more appropriate as most people with a close relationship don't call each other by their last names. Honestly, it had never occurred to me to call him anything else, but she seemed to think I should talk with him about it."

"She's right," agreed Laris, wiping the sink clean and wringing the extra water out of the dish cloth before hanging it over a handle to dry. "Now shall we go see what the old fart is up to?" She laughed at Elnor's surprised look, "Oh, don't you try calling him that! Only I can get away with that!"

They found Picard back on the veranda, tossing a ball for Number One to fetch. Elnor knew from experience that the dog never got tired of that game. He spotted Candor stretched out on the low, stone wall surrounding the veranda, soaking up the warmth of the sun on the stones. She blinked in acknowledgment of Elnor, but made no move to come over to him.

"There you two are," Picard put the ball, wet with slobber, away in a sack, much to Number One's dismay. "I was beginning to think I'd have to come looking for you."

"Just taking care of dishes is all, my dear," Laris said, deciding she didn't want to call him an old fart after all. "And now, seeing as how Elnor says he has dinner all taken care of, I think I'm going to curl up with a good book while you two take your meander through the vineyards.

"Oh, but did you get in touch with Worf?" she asked.

"I did, indeed," answered Picard. "As I would expect from any good ship captain, he was back on the Enterprise overseeing every detail of the refits. He tells me the changes to the warp engines will allow for up to twenty percent more emergency speed without straining them at all. Geordi must be drooling over the new design."

Laris laughed, "As lead designer of the new and improved engines, I'm sure Geordi is already trying to figure out what tweaks the various chief engineers on the ships getting the new engines are going to be making to them.

"But back to Worf, will he have time to visit with you?"

"Oh yes! He said he would definitely stop by before he leaves. He also invited me to come aboard the Enterprise to check her out. I admit that's an offer I can't refuse, although I know she's hardly the same ship I knew and loved. Still, I don't think I can resist." Picard's eyes were alight with excitement at getting to see the Enterprise again.

"Men and their toys," Laris sighed. "Off with you two." She made shooing motions with her hands, "I need my relaxation time."

As Picard rose to his feet to join Elnor who was pulling on his shoes, Number One bounded up and raced ahead of them, all thoughts of the interrupted game of fetch forgotten.