Laris looked up from her book as she heard the click of Number One's toenails on the stone veranda steps. Lagging far behind, she could see Picard and Elnor following slowly. She had a good idea what this week's "deep conversation", as she thought of it in her mind, had been about. From this distance, their expressions looked more somber than usual. Often they were smiling and laughing as they returned, but not today. Hmmm, that's not a promising sign, she thought to herself.
Number One lapped water noisily from his water bowl before flopping down next to her chair in anticipation of some soft ear rubs. As Laris started to comply with his unspoken request, Candor rose from her position on the ledge, yawned hugely, stretched with her front paws forward, then again with her back in a high arch. Her limbering calisthenics complete, the black cat jumped down from the ledge and made her way onto Laris' lap. Laris smiled at her and laid her book aside. "You attention hog," she spoke aloud to the cat. "You can't stand seeing someone else get petted and not want to get some attention for yourself." She obliged Candor's request, too, scratching the cat gently under her chin.
"Why the glum faces?" she called out to both Picard and Elnor as they reached the veranda.
"Oh, it's just something Deanna said to Elnor is all. It's got both of us thinking about things," replied Picard as he settled into a chair. "And," he continued, "it's got Elnor calling me 'Gramps'." He sent a disgruntled glance towards Elnor.
"Gramps?" Laris couldn't contain a chuckle.
"Hey," Elnor said in self-defense, "I'm not the one who suggested that you might be old enough for our relationship to be that of grandfather/grandson." He sat on the veranda wall where Candor had abandoned Laris' attentions in favor of seeking attention from him. He paid careful attention to the cat's body language as he gently stroked her from her head down her back.
"Gramps," Laris repeated and chuckled again. "It beats 'old fart.'" She directed a sly smile towards Elnor.
"Old fart?" asked Picard.
"Oh nothing," Laris replied with a grin. Elnor couldn't help but grin back at her. He appreciated how good Laris was at lightening conversations.
"Might I be practical?" Laris asked Elnor with a bemused look. "Deanna's right that calling him 'Picard' does sound too formal coming from someone as close to him as you are, but why not just call him 'Jean-Luc' the way the rest of us do?"
Elnor felt relieved to respond, "You're right. That's probably the sensible thing to do. I think that's a better choice than 'old fart' or 'Gramps'. It doesn't relieve us from the need to consider the nature of our relationship though."
Picard looked from one to the other of them puzzled, "When did 'old fart' come into this conversation?"
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about, you old fart," she said with a smile as she rose from her seat. "Let's go inside and get some sandwiches while we try to wheedle out of Elnor what he's preparing us for dinner?"
Picard and Elnor both followed her inside, Number One and Candor close on their heels, as Picard turned to Elnor and asked again, "Old fart?"
Elnor smiled and shook his head no. "I'm not calling you that," is all he said.
Inside the coolness of the kitchen, Laris efficiently laid out platters containing slices of various kinds of meats, cheeses, leafy greens, sliced tomatoes both red and yellow, condiments, and a loaf of freshly sliced round bread sprinkled liberally with rosemary. "Self-serve today," she announced. "And I, for one, want to stay a bit hungry in anticipation of Elnor's dinner."
Feeling the pressure of his dinner plans a bit more intensely, Elnor remarked, "I'll do my best, but I'm not sure going hungry now is a good idea." He ignored Laris' glare as he plucked a few leaves from her windowsill basil plant to add to his sandwich.
Candor, following the routine she and Elnor had established the weekend before, settled in the chair next to him and tapped his arm with her paw. Dutifully, Elnor tore a piece of roast beef off his sandwich and handed it to her before taking a bite of his sandwich himself. They followed this pattern, one piece of meat for her, one bite of sandwich for himself, until the sandwich was gone.
"I do believe she gets almost as much of your sandwich as you do," Laris said with an amused smile.
"I think you're right," agreed Elnor. "It's amazing how such a small creature can eat so much."
Picard was quiet as they ate, perhaps still thinking on the nature of the relationship between himself and Elnor.
Soon they were finished. Elnor and Picard helped as Laris quickly whisked the leftovers back into the voluminous French door fridge.
"Come now," she said, "let's get a bit more sun before Elnor's delivery arrives."
"Delivery?" asked Picard.
"Yes," Laris said with a degree of curiosity. "Apparently, Elnor is having something for dinner delivered so as to be at the height of freshness."
"It was highly recommended I do it that way," Elnor said, feeling a bit defensive.
They settled once again on the veranda, Candor on Elnor's lap, the relaxed atmosphere an open invitation to whatever topics of conversation might arise.
"You're unusually quiet, Jean-Luc," remarked Laris.
Picard came back from his reverie. "Actually," he said, "I was wondering what the Enterprise is like these days. I know it's hardly the same ship I captained for seven years, but I'm eager to see what it's like now." He sighed, "I know I did the right thing leaving the Enterprise to head the relocation efforts, but I do miss those days of sailing the stars with a good ship and a faithful crew. Little did I know how that decision would bring about an early end to my career in Starfleet."
Laris snorted, "Hardly an early end since you're back in it as Chancellor of the Academy. Not to mention you keep running off on various other adventures to the stars."
"Ah, yes," Picard half agreed, "but those are only occasional adventures and not with my own ship and crew." He took a moment to look at Laris, at Elnor, at his home and the expanse of vineyards. "I have a lot to be thankful for right here and right now, though," he added. "Many would wish to be so blessed as I have been."
Elnor added to Picard's thoughts, "As Zani would say, 'Now is the only moment.'"
"Ah, ever the wise one, Zani. Perhaps one day we should try to get Deanna and Zani together, hmmm," mused Picard. "What do you think of that, Elnor?"
Elnor's eyes sparkled at the thought, "Oh, I would love to see those two interact! I'm sure they would get along very well."
"Did anything else happen at the Academy this week?" Laris asked Elnor.
"Actually yes," he grimaced. "In exchange for Nathan's advice on Earth foods, I had to agree to go on a double-date with him."
Picard's eyebrows crept up his forehead. "You're dating Nathan?"
"What? Oh no! Although I have seen guys together in that way at the Academy, Nathan's tastes firmly run towards girls. Lots of girls." Elnor sighed deeply, "In this case, it seems the girl he wants to date is refusing to go out with him unless her best friend comes along. And her best friend has made it clear to Nathan that she wants me to be the fourth member as her date."
"Most young men would find that quite flattering, you know," observed Picard.
Laris' face was more serious as she knew Romulan customs were not the same as those of humans. She was also aware that the Qowat Milat customs were different even from normal Romulan customs. Dating was not a concept in Romulan or Qowat Milat culture. She wondered how Elnor would handle this aspect of Earth culture in which dating and even sexual relationships were often seen as something casual by many young people. She realized her concerns were well-founded as Elnor spoke again.
"Actually," he said, "I'm very confused by this whole concept of dating, double or not. I see people get together, declare themselves in a relationship, proclaim their love for one another, and then in a week, or a month, or perhaps a bit longer, but never all that long, suddenly they aren't together anymore."
His expression and tone of voice grew more troubled as he continued, "I don't understand how people can leap into relationships so quickly, so intensely, only for those relationships to run their course and burn out as quickly as they started. This behavior seems painful," he touched his heart, "for most of those who engage in it. And yet they continue repeating the same painful patterns.
"It's something I've wanted to stay out of, but Nathan seems insistent on dragging me into it." He added somewhat ruefully, "Being raised by nuns did not prepare me for this!"
"Elnor," began Laris and Picard simultaneously. Both broke off, then Picard motioned to Laris to continue. "Elnor," she began again, "I know you're strong enough to resist pressure from peers to do things you don't want to do. You know our customs and, while the nuns might not have a lot of customs pertaining to establishing relationships of this nature, you might find that some of their teachings apply, especially those about total honesty with oneself and with others."
"In other words," said Picard, "be true to yourself. I trust that if you look inside yourself, you will find what feels right to you. Don't let anyone pressure you into doing anything that feels wrong to you."
Elnor nodded, considering their words. "In this case, I did put myself into a position where I felt like I owed him. I will follow through with this "double-date" since I more or less promised." At Picard's look of disapproval, Elnor continued, "I know, I know, 'Promises are prisons.'
"I won't fall into that trap again. I know I don't want to enter into a relationship unless I have genuine, deep feelings for the other person, and they for me. I don't think I would do well with 'casual.'"
Laris smiled at him, and Picard nodded in agreement before saying, "I think you're right. Your heart is open and unguarded in a way that many people will not understand. I wouldn't want to see you get hurt by someone who simply doesn't know that hearts should be treated with care."
"Have you talked with Zani about this?" asked Laris.
"I did talk with her this week, but not about this," admitted Elnor.
"Well, I hope you know that you can turn to any of us," Laris continued, "myself, Jean-Luc, Zani, Deanna, if ever you are confused, feeling pressured, or just need a listening ear."
"I do know that, and I appreciate it. For now, I'll carry through with my promise," Elnor grimaced at the word, "to Nathan. I'll also be very careful not to let myself get maneuvered into anything similar in the future.
"It's hard enough adjusting to being far away from Vashti, far away from nearly everyone I've ever known, on a very different planet, in a very different culture, and working hard to learn all I can in my classes. I don't think I need the distractions and potential heartache of this 'dating.'"
"Probably a wise decision," agreed Picard as the chime signaling a delivery sounded.
Elnor glanced at the time. He was surprised to see two hours had passed. It seemed as if the three of them had only been talking for a few minutes. "I think that would be for me," he said.
As he got up to claim the delivery, Laris asked slyly, "Do you need any help?"
"I think I've got it," Elnor replied with a smile. "I'll be in the kitchen for a while."
As he left, Laris and Picard turned to look at each other. At the unspoken question, Laris shrugged her shoulders, "No, he's kept this a tight secret. I have no idea what he's doing for dinner. I suppose we'll find out soon enough."
"He seems to have put a lot of thought into this," observed Picard. "I know he wants so much to please us. That doesn't worry me about dinner, but it does make me a little concerned about his skills for navigating social life at the Academy." Raising his hand to forestall Laris' interjections, Picard said, "I remember my own days at the Academy all too well. The hearts I broke. Those who broke mine. Yes, I am somewhat concerned for our boy. I know he's very perceptive, not at all as naive as he seems, still, I'm concerned."
Laris expression softened, "We'll just have to trust that he comes to us for help if he needs it."
The two continued talking about Elnor, Worf, and other topics as the sun drifted lazily overhead.