AN: Here's another piece to this one. There's a little self-indulgent domestic bliss here, but what can I say? I have to do fun things for me, too. LOL

I hope you enjoy! If you do, please do let me know!

111

Beverly woke up and took inventory of herself and her situation. It was morning. Even though they'd completely closed the windows in anticipation of the desire to sleep in, especially after so much time spent awake and languidly enjoying the exploration of pleasure with each other, sunlight was making its way through the edges of the closed blinds.

Beverly felt, immediately, a little sore. This was the longest she'd spent in bed for a long time, and though their son still had a great deal of growing to do, he was starting to make his presence known to her quite well. She had also not engaged in quite so much sexual activity in a long time. They had enjoyed every bit of the time they'd given themselves to do so. She felt that everyone in their little unit could well and truly say that, if there were rules to consummation, they had fulfilled them all and, perhaps, even invented a few new ones to fulfill.

Beverly understood Laris's cake analogy well as she eased out of bed, doing her best not to wake the person on either side of her—they had let her sleep in the middle, after all, just as she'd requested. They would not always have the time or energy to make sure that every person was sated to the point that they couldn't possibly imagine desiring anything more, but they could make sure that everyone got what they needed, when they needed it. Nobody in their triad, they had learned, was a selfish lover. Everyone's needs would, in some way, be met.

Beverly eased out of bed, shrugged into her robe and slippers, and padded through the house, leaving her husband and wife to sleep. She smiled to herself, even as she stretched in the kitchen, started the coffee, and drank down a large glass of water just to begin to quench the thirst of the night.

The first thing they would acquire, after their wedding was official and everyone could truly know that they were married, would be a larger bed. The master bedroom had plenty of room for it, and Beverly thought that they'd all rest much better without being quite so cramped—especially since she knew very well that both her body and Laris's body still had more growing to do, and that wasn't even taking into account the two little ones that she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, would spend time in their bed.

And, perhaps, she let her mind wander just a little to the possibility that the two to come might not be the only ones who ran the halls and fields of the Château Picard.

The thought warmed her and thrilled her more than she was ready to admit, just yet, to her husband and wife. They were building a family—one that they would enjoy together—and she was overwhelmed at the happiness that the very prospect of it brought her.

With the coffee brewing, Beverly took the opportunity to open a few windows to let in the cool breeze. Summer was leaving, and fall was slipping in. The chill was welcomed. She reconnected their communications, but she left their protections in place, for no other reason, really, than she saw no need to turn them off for the time being.

She sat down at the breakfast table and called Deanna, patiently waiting for her image to appear.

"Beverly!" Deanna said, half-scolding, "I've tried to reach you a dozen times!"

Beverly felt amused rather than truly scolded. She laughed quietly.

"Is something wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing serious, I suppose," Deanna said.

"I was completing my bonding, remember?" Beverly said.

"For an entire day…and it's not that early, Beverly," Deanna said.

Beverly laughed.

"Things were a bit more involved than we might have imagined," she said, stretching again.

"So—you're officially bonded now?" Deanna asked.

Beverly hummed happily. Deanna smiled.

"Finally married to Jean-Luc," Deanna said. "I want to say that we always knew this day would come, but we honestly had our doubts, sometimes."

"And married to Laris," Beverly reminded her.

"Of course…it's only, I'm still adjusting to that. Do we say…what? Husband and wife?" Deanna asked.

"That's what I prefer. Partners. Bond mates is also a common phrase." Beverly smiled. "My family, Deanna. Isn't it wonderful?"

Deanna smiled warmly, too.

"It is. Did you forget that you're supposed to have a wedding today?" Deanna asked. "And we know nothing. When should I come to help with preparing things? Even if you're doing the simplest service, you'll want a few things replicated. And—do you care what we wear? Is there a color scheme? Beverly…there's been nothing planned or prepared."

"That's why I was calling," Beverly said. "Deanna—do you think we could wait until tomorrow for the wedding? We can discuss a few things, and I'll send you a message this evening with everything we were thinking."

Deanna smirked at her.

"Overdid it during the bonding moon?" She teased. "Or whatever the proper term is."

Beverly smiled at her, but before she responded, her attention was drawn by Laris. She came into the room, bundled in her own robe. She walked directly to Beverly and leaned to offer her a kiss, which Beverly returned without hesitation or concern for the fact that they had an audience.

"Good morning, Beverly. I'm sorry," Laris said, realizing Deanna was watching them. "I didn't realize you were on a call. Good morning, Deanna."

"Good morning, Wife," Beverly said, winking at Laris. Deanna offered a morning greeting as well. "We were just talking about postponing our Federation wedding until tomorrow."

"If that's what you want," Laris said. "Coffee?"

"Please," Beverly said.

"I'll start breakfast," Laris said. "Jean-Luc was still sleeping."

"Everyone must be tired…" Deanna offered sweetly from her side of the screen.

"Very," Beverly said, smirking at her. "We'll wake Jean-Luc in a few minutes," Beverly said, directing her words to Laris. Laris gave Deanna a friendly wave to take her leave, and headed for the kitchen to start breakfast. Beverly watched her go before turning back to look at Deanna.

"You love her very much," Deanna said. "I can see it on your face."

Beverly didn't hold back her smile at all.

"I'm the happiest I can even imagine being," Beverly said.

Deanna's smile, in response, was unquestionably genuine.

"I'm happy for all of you," she said. "Send me your ideas for tomorrow, and I'll come over in the morning to help you start to get ready. Beverly…enjoy today with your husband and wife."

Beverly thanked Deanna—for both her willingness to help with the wedding and her well-wishes for the day and their marriage—and then she signed off from the call before slipping into the kitchen to help Laris get breakfast ready so that the three of them could spend the day together, drinking in every possible moment of happiness from their first day as a bonded triad.

111

It had taken some convincing to get Laris out of her robe and into the outdoor hot tub. It was chilly outside, the proof that fall would be upon them before long, and Laris was particularly sensitive to the cold. The water, however, was as warm as Jack could stand it, and it was plenty warm enough to keep Laris from freezing to death, as they'd reassured her several times.

Normally, Beverly and Jean-Luc would have never thought it was a great idea to strip down naked and engage in sexual antics in the hot tube in the middle of the afternoon, but with their protections still in place, they were sure that they would be unobserved by anyone—and they were still feeling the high of excitement following their bonding.

Their promise to Laris that they would make sure she was warm had finally lured her into the water.

Now, it seemed that the three of them had used any leftover energy that they had found in their reserves, and they were all simply relaxing together in the warm water. Laris dozed, her head against Jean-Luc's shoulder, while Beverly reclined unapologetically in his lap.

Jean-Luc held Beverly tenderly. She closed her eyes, enveloped in the warmth of the water and the comfort of his embrace. She felt safe like she hadn't felt safe in a long time. She felt relaxed. She had everything she wanted and could really dream of having—there was no need, after all, expending time or emotion on things that were entirely beyond her grasp.

She was surrounded by love, happily bonded to the two people she loved most in the world, and looking forward to a future that was bright—all things she wouldn't have dared to imagine could be hers only a few months before.

"Beverly…" Jean-Luc said, softly, either not wanting to ruin the quiet peace of the moment, or not wanting to wake anyone who was sleeping…or, perhaps, a bit of both.

"Hmmm?" She hummed at him.

"Is Jack moving, by chance?" He asked. He pressed his palm a little more firmly into her belly, where he'd been more or less lazily rubbing her while they all enjoyed the peace of each other's presence.

Beverly tensed, without meaning to, at the question and the realization that Jack was moving. Jean-Luc immediately rubbed her back with the hand not pressed against her belly—the hand that was, in essence, keeping her somewhat grounded in place on his lap.

"Just relax," Jean-Luc said. "I certainly didn't mean to alarm either of you."

"He's moving," Beverly said. "You can feel him?"

Jean-Luc smiled at her.

"I can," he said. "Or, at least, I'm quite sure that I can."

Beverly returned his smile. She brought their lips together, and she lingered there, enjoying the softest of touches between them.

"You can," she assured him, when their lips parted. Even if he couldn't, she wanted him to believe that he could. It didn't matter, in the long run, if he actually could or couldn't. All that mattered, Beverly knew, was that he believed he could and, in believing that, he felt the connection that was growing, at that very moment, between him and their son.

She would never discourage Jean-Luc in any way when it came to being as close to and connected with their son as possible.

She covered his hand gently with her own.

"How does it feel?" She asked. "To feel Jack moving?"

He laughed quietly, her body shaking with the action. She laughed quietly, too, in response.

"Magical," he said. "Truly…remarkable."

"That's your son," she said.

"Our son," he corrected.

"I know," she said. "But—I want you to just…savor that for just a moment, Jean-Luc. Enjoy it. You don't have to be diplomatic for a moment. That's your son."

She felt Jean-Luc relax a little. He leaned back, hugging her against him.

"My son," he mused with a smile. "Jack. My son. Although—I do enjoy the thought of our son, Beverly. Our son. I was just sitting here thinking how beautiful words can sound, sometimes. Our son. Our daughter. Our family. Our home."

"I think those are beautiful words, too," Beverly said. "Our life…together."

"Our life…our everything…together. All of us. And that includes sleepy Romulans playing possum," Jean-Luc said with a smirk.

Laris laughed. She didn't raise her head entirely from where she'd been resting it, but she did turn her face so that she was looking at the both of them.

"How did you know that I was awake?" She asked.

"Besides the rhythm of your breathing," Jean-Luc said, "I noticed you were anchoring yourself a bit better. I'm afraid it doesn't feel as if Jack's moving anymore. You missed your opportunity to feel him."

"Oh—I imagine there will be other opportunities," Laris said, sitting up fully beside Jean-Luc.

"Plenty," Beverly said.

"I do like the sound of our life," Laris said. "Our…home. Our everything." She hummed. "What if you two told me what you wanted for our dinner, so that I could start putting something together while you're floating around out here a little more?"

"Dinner is on me tonight," Jean-Luc said. "No—I won't hear any protests," he interrupted, when Laris threatened to insist that she cook. "I meant to prepare a breakfast in bed for the both of you, but you both beat me to consciousness after wearing me out last night. Dinner is my treat, tonight. And then, I thought…we might spend the evening in bed?"

It was Beverly's turn to laugh. She nuzzled against him.

"I don't know if I have the stamina for another night," she admitted. "I don't," she repeated, when her partners laughed. "Really. You've got that…that Romulan stamina. And you, Jean-Luc? I don't know…what's driving you, but I'm exhausted."

"I admit," Laris said, "I'm tired, too. I was really going to suggest that—I might serve you dinner and let you two enjoy the evening together, while I found a quiet nook somewhere to rest."

"Well—as a matter of fact, as long as we're all being painfully honest, I'm tired, too," Jean-Luc admitted. "So—instead of losing you, Laris, for the evening, which is something I would rather we didn't do, why not allow me to prepare the meal as I intended? I'm planning a hearty beef stew for the evening. Comforting, bound to give us all a little energy, and I know our tiny Romulan has a taste for red meat. Then, this evening, we could spend our evening in bed…just resting, together. Perhaps we could find a good book that we might all like to share, and we could read from it together."

"That actually sounds wonderful," Beverly said. "First, we'll all take a shower. Then, you can prepare dinner, and we'll freshen up the bedroom and put together everything that I was supposed to send Deanna about tomorrow. Then, we'll all find a relaxing way to spend the evening."

Jean-Luc ushered Beverly off his lap and stood up.

"Let me out first. That way I can offer you each a hand. I don't want anyone to slip."