AN: Here we are, another piece to the story.
I'm introducing Felisa Howard in this chapter. She's pretty much an OC, I admit, so I have to get a feel for her. I am not going to be including any of the Ronin stuff here, so please don't expect any of that. Thank you for understanding!
I hope you enjoy! Please don't forget to let me know what you think!
111
Jean-Luc had seen photographs of Felisa Howard, and he had heard stories about the woman that Beverly affectionately called Nana. Jack, too, had called the woman Nana. Jean-Luc knew that Felisa Howard, though not a trained medical doctor, was a healer, and she was often sought out for advice of the medical and non-medical varieties. She was well-loved on Caldos—a very traditional colony that allowed the use of technology, but mostly strived to keep their way of life somewhat akin to the practices of seventeenth century Earth.
Every story that Jean-Luc had ever heard about Felisa Howard made the woman larger-than-life. He was, of course, surprised when she emerged from the house to meet them and she clearly didn't reach five full feet in height.
Still, despite her arguably diminutive size, Jean-Luc could practically feel her impressive presence, the moment that she stepped out of the door.
Felisa Howard, letting her great-grandson slip by her with his mother's bag, didn't immediately smile. She took in her granddaughter as Beverly moved through the gate in front of Jean-Luc, and Jean-Luc felt like all the blood in his body ran to his feet.
The evidence of their little indiscretion was immediately obvious to anyone who looked at Beverly. Granted, Jean-Luc was well-aware that their little one would make her presence much more well-known before her arrival into the world as a fully-formed and independent being, but there was no denying that Beverly was carrying her. Felisa's eyes were immediately and unquestionably drawn to the evidence of their daughter, and Jean-Luc felt warm and uncomfortable—like he was a boy, again, caught having done something that he shouldn't have done.
Something inside of him wanted to interrupt everything, even before there was something to interrupt, and swear to Felisa that he loved Beverly—he'd loved her for as long as he could remember—and, really, everything else had come second to that, no matter how things might appear.
He didn't say anything, though. He followed Beverly into the gate and closed the gate behind him as Beverly rushed toward her grandmother.
"Nana!" Beverly declared, clearly thrilled to see her grandmother.
If Felisa Howard disapproved of anything she saw, she was saving that for later. The resting face that Jean-Luc had mistaken for a scowl—possibly because he was letting his own thoughts get the best of him—changed immediately to a smile and the little old woman wrapped her arms affectionately around Beverly, who bent down to meet her in a warm embrace. For a moment, Felisa stroked Beverly's hair and the two of them made an assortment of affectionate noises, blended with words and declarations, to celebrate seeing each other again after an extended period of time.
"Well—let me look at you," Felisa declared, finally breaking the hug and holding Beverly at arm's length.
Wesley, who had returned from putting down his mother's bag, appeared in the doorway behind Felisa. He didn't say anything, but he leaned against the door jamb and watched.
Beverly smiled. She looked radiant. Jean-Luc, of course, thought she often looked radiant, but he was willing to admit that right now she looked especially radiant. Being back on Caldos suited her, it seemed, as much as—if not more—than being in France had.
Felisa took in all of Beverly, but it was clear where her eyes stopped, and Jean-Luc knew that Beverly didn't miss it, either.
"I've got a lot to tell you about, Nana," Beverly offered. Jean-Luc couldn't read what Felisa might be thinking, but it still made his stomach feel like it might turn inside out. He kept his anxiety as well under lock and key as he could. Beverly smiled at him over her shoulder and reached a hand out toward him to bring him directly to her side. "This is Jean-Luc, Nana. Jean-Luc Picard. He's captain of the Enterprise and…he's my husband."
Felisa turned to face Jean-Luc, and he shifted his bag on his shoulder before offering a hand out to her.
"How do you do, Mrs. Howard?" Jean-Luc said.
Felisa hesitated a moment, but she shook his hand. She was studying him, and she wasn't trying to disguise that in any way.
"Jean-Luc Picard?" She asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Jean-Luc answered.
"This isn't the young man that you used to…" Felisa started, but she didn't finish. Clearly, she didn't have to. Beverly blushed slightly.
"Jean-Luc has been a friend for a long time, Nana," Beverly confirmed.
Felisa smiled. Jean-Luc's heart beat fast at the recognition of some hint of Beverly in her grandmother. He knew, of course, that it was truly the other way around, but his mind couldn't quite grasp that just yet.
"Friend," she mused, glancing from Jean-Luc to Beverly and back again.
"Much more than that now," Jean-Luc offered, smiling at her. He felt a little relief. Her expression gave him the distinct feeling that, though he might not be fully accepted just yet, nor fully forgiven, as the case may be, it was all coming in good time. "Mrs. Howard—I hope you'll forgive our tardiness in sharing the news with you of our marriage. I assure you, however, that I love your granddaughter very much. I have loved her a very long time."
Felisa's smile only grew, and Jean-Luc thought her amusement was palpable.
"Is the news of the marriage the only news you've waited to share?" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
Beverly laughed, but her laughter was stunted—purposefully.
"We have a great deal to share," Jean-Luc said. "However—with your permission…perhaps we should move this inside? You see—we walked from my home to the village, and from the center of town to here, and poor Beverly has needed a chance to…to freshen up for some time."
Felisa didn't need more than a second to understand exactly what Jean-Luc meant to say. She looked at Beverly and raised her eyebrows, waving a hand at her.
"Don't be ridiculous, Beverly," she said, a hint of scolding to her tone that reminded Jean-Luc, immediately, that this was the woman who had been primarily responsible for raising Beverly during the majority of her life. "You know where everything is. Go on inside."
Beverly glanced at Jean-Luc and he nodded at her. She didn't hesitate even a second longer before walking quickly past Wesley and disappearing inside the house.
Felisa looked back at Jean-Luc.
"Well—come on," she said. "You'll want to put that down. See the house. You may want to freshen up, yourself."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Howard," Jean-Luc said, following behind her. Wesley stepped into the house, and Jean-Luc followed Felisa inside, stepping out of her way so that she could close the door behind them.
She faced him, just inside the door. She didn't make a move to show him the house, and he didn't remind her that she'd suggested that only seconds before. Instead, he stood facing her for however long she deemed it necessary or appropriate.
"First thing's first," she said. "You'll have to stop calling me Mrs. Howard. It makes me feel old and like you're a stranger."
Jean-Luc laughed to himself and rested his bag on the floor by his side. Wesley grabbed the bag before Jean-Luc could protest. Jean-Luc looked after him, thinking about whether or not he wanted to tell him that he was capable of carrying his own bag upstairs, but he let him go. Wesley, he decided, was likely looking for something of an escape. Felisa watched her great-grandson go, too. Then, she smiled at Jean-Luc.
"He's kept you a secret," Felisa mused. "He's kept everything a secret. He's refused to answer any question that I've asked with any word that I didn't hear from Beverly, herself, in her message."
Jean-Luc smiled at her.
"It meant a great deal to Beverly to be able to share our news with you, herself and in person," Jean-Luc said. "Wesley was only trying to be a good son and not his rob his mother of her moment of happiness and excitement."
Felisa smiled.
"So—you're married to my granddaughter," Felisa mused.
"I am," Jean-Luc said. "And—I'm not betraying any sort of confidence to tell you that marrying Beverly was the happiest moment of my life. I have always been very career-oriented. Yet, I confess that taking Beverly as my wife was a greater moment to me than accepting even my commission as captain of the Enterprise."
"Careful, Jean-Luc," Beverly said, reappearing from wherever the bathroom was—since Jean-Luc still hadn't learned the layout of the house. "Someone might get a big head from hearing that."
Jean-Luc smiled at her and reached an arm out as she approached him. She sank into it and kissed the corner of his mouth quickly before she rested her head against him. He kissed the side of her face, in response, as she snuggled into him. He only realized it, after he'd kissed her, that Felisa was watching them. For a second, he felt embarrassed, like he shouldn't have kissed Beverly in front of her grandmother. Felisa didn't look like she disapproved, though. Instead, she was smiling.
"Well? What else do you have to tell me, Beverly?" Felisa asked. "Since you want to be the one to share your happy news in person."
Beverly smiled and ran her hand over her belly.
"I'm sorry, Nana. I hope you're not upset," Beverly said. "I wanted to tell you about the baby in person. We haven't had leave since I found out."
"Don't apologize. I'm not upset," Felisa said. She looked at Jean-Luc. He could see it now, standing closer to her, the spark in her eyes. "Am I correct in assuming that you're my great-grandchild's father, or…do you have some other news to share with me?"
Jean-Luc laughed. The knots in his stomach slowly continued to untangle themselves. He rested his hand on Beverly's belly, and she covered his hand with her own. If their little one was moving, he couldn't find it, and she didn't redirect him.
"I am the father," he said. "Though—I have to be honest and admit that I never thought I would say those words. Still, Beverly has given me many gifts."
"We're hoping there might even be a few more in the future," Beverly said. "The Enterprise is a family ship, Nana. There's no reason that we can't be some of the people aboard that have a family—maybe even a big one."
"You always wanted that," Felisa mused. Beverly hummed and nodded, smiling. "It would seem to me that you're off to a good start," Felisa said. "Wesley?"
The question wasn't fully-formed, but it didn't have to be. Wesley, who had disappeared upstairs with Jean-Luc's bag, was nowhere to be seen. He was, more than likely, hiding out up there until he was certain that there was nothing to be anxious about down below. The partially-formed question was directed at Beverly.
Jean-Luc felt Beverly rubbing his back to offer him reassurance, should he need it. He felt his chest swell with appreciation for her over the simple gesture. He'd dropped his hand from her belly, but the other hand, looped around her back, rested on her side. He squeezed her, gently, by flexing his fingers against her side.
"You should ask Wesley," Beverly said. "He can answer for himself. But—he's been very supportive."
"Our intention will always be to include Wesley in every possible way," Jean-Luc said. "Though, I do fear that he's starting to reach an age where he simply wishes to be included less and less. He's seeking some independence, which is understandable at his age."
Felisa nodded and smiled.
"So, you know about Emily?" She asked. Beverly smiled in response.
"What can you tell me about Emily?" Beverly asked.
"Nothing," Felisa said quickly. "That's Wesley's to tell." She sucked in a breath and sighed. She looked at Jean-Luc. "You're family, now. No more calling me Mrs. Howard. You'll call me Nana, everyone else around here does."
Jean-Luc smiled and nodded.
"Yes, ma'am," he said. "I hope you'll call me Jean-Luc."
Felisa nodded in response and extended a hand to touch Beverly's belly. She needed no permission, of course, and Beverly pressed her hand over her grandmother's.
"I think she's sleeping right now, Nana," Beverly said. "She's been still for a while. But—she's usually very active. I can't wait for you to feel her."
"A little girl?" Felisa asked, the question mostly rhetorical.
"Another Howard woman," Beverly said, nodding. She smiled. "A Picard, too, but…still in the Howard legacy, I suppose."
"I want to hear all you know about her," Felisa said. "Come on—you must be tired, Beverly. Let's go in the kitchen, and you can get off your feet for a few minutes and have something to drink. I'll make you a snack."
"Don't go to any trouble, Nana," Beverly said. "I'm fine. I can wait until dinner."
"I haven't started dinner," Felisa said with a laugh. "Do you have any requests? Does my great-granddaughter have any special requests?"
Beverly looked thrilled with the show of affection and happiness from her grandmother. Jean-Luc's chest ached with the happiness he felt just to see her so happy. He had an almost primal urge to keep her in any situation where she would continue to feel as happy as she looked like she felt.
"Anything you make will be wonderful, Nana. I can help."
"Your granddaughter has mentioned your vegetable soup several times over the past few months," Jean-Luc offered. He winked at Beverly when she gave him something of a warning look. "It would seem she's been craving it, perhaps thanks to your great-granddaughter. I would be forever indebted if you would teach me your secrets, so that I could offer her a somewhat suitable replacement in your absence—and I would be happy to assist you in making it, if you would teach me."
Felisa took him in, clearly from head to toe, and smiled.
"Are you any good in the kitchen?" She asked, heading toward the kitchen. Jean-Luc followed her, his arm still around Beverly. "I don't have any of that replicator nonsense in my kitchen."
"I can muddle my way through most things, and I've been told I'm a pretty fast-learner for the rest," Jean-Luc said. "My family, too, has always eschewed the use of a replicator at home. Beverly can keep us company while we prepare the food. She can rest, have some refreshments, and tell you all about our daughter's progress."