The concept of gathering more data for his proposal is a sound one. It makes sense to go out and get a more detailed idea of what the other teenagers want for this recreational area. This will, after all, be for them as well as Jean-Luc. Therefore, they should have some input on what goes into said recreational area. With so many young minds put to one problem, they'll be able to come up with ideas Jean-Luc might otherwise miss.

Such as a juice bar, as Mr. Wesley suggested.

No, it's not the actual data gathering which makes Jean-Luc nervous. It's… if Jean-Luc's honest with himself – if only with himself, and perhaps Deanna – it's the fact that he must admit to this shortcoming on his part. It stings his pride, to know he somehow overlooked these children. Allowed them to wallow in appalling boredom, while he did nothing to fix it until it affected him directly.

So, yes, it pricks Jean-Luc's pride something awful.

Robert would say it's because Jean-Luc can't stand to have flaws.

It's not that.

All right, it's a small part of that.

But the bigger half is solely because he is…no, he used to be captain over this ship. It was his responsibility to watch over it. His duty was to see, not only to exploration and new cultures, but his crew's comfort and wellbeing. He somehow neglected that obligation, in regard to the teenagers stationed onboard.

And now he must own up to that fact to the very people he ignored.

The teenagers.

That, quite honestly, scares him.

And Jean-Luc hates being scared, or unsure.

It's not something he deals with well.

Hence, why he still has nightmares about the Borg.

Hence, why he's brought Wesley along for this outing.


Jean-Luc glances over at the taller teen, walking alongside him. "I must thank you again, Mr. Crusher, for accompanying me on this endeavor."

Wesley gives a lopsided smile. "I told you, it's no problem. I wasn't doing anything anyway."

Jean-Luc barely hides his wince.

Case in point, right there.

Wesley was loitering around the Playground when Jean-Luc found him. Guinan had been summoned by Doctor Crusher for some kind of lessons, which left her son with no one to play with. Jean-Luc wonders if Wesley blames him for the lack of engagement. He wonders how many of the teenagers do, or will.

"Still," Jean-Luc presses. "I appreciate the extra insight you give me."

Wesley's cheeks flush, and he looks away quickly.

As brilliant as Wesley is, the boy has a humility that endears him to all he meets.


"We're here," Jean-Luc says, as they arrive at one of the Quarters. Home to a family with older children.

Wesley presses the admittance pad, next to the door. And they patiently wait. According to the computer, she should be in.

A few seconds later the door slides open, to reveal a blonde girl with blue eyes. She looks to be about 16 or 17. Legally old enough to make her own decisions... but still in need of parental guidance. Still going to school, although she's old enough to drop out, if she wants. Or enroll in Starfleet academy.

She no longer requires her parents to sign permission slips, as she can legally do that herself... although her parents have been helping her understand how to read contracts.

She frowns at them, wondering why a pair tweens would be at her door. Then she sees them, recognizes them, and assumes the Captain is having them run around, delivering messages... probably just so the newly lil-ified kids feel helpful... their situation can't be easy.

"My mother's not here at the moment," she informs them, trying to keep the pity out of her voice. "Can I take a message?"

"No, that's all right," Jean-Luc replies, smiling as best he can. "We're actually here to talk to you, Ms Carlotta."

"Me?"

"Yes." Jean-Luc straightens his shoulders. "Captain Riker has tasked me with gathering data on a teen recreation center."

"A teen…" her eyes widen. "We're getting an area for just us teens?" The excitement building in her voice causes it to become higher pitched.

"It's not approve, as of yet," Jean-Luc warns her. Her grin falls, so he hurries to assure her "But the Captain wanted me to get as many teens input as I could, and put it into a proposal."

She grins again. "Sure thing…Oh! Sorry, would you like to come in?"

Wesley grins back. "Thanks, we'd like that a lot."

Jean-Luc would very much like not to enter her quarters, but civility demands he accept as well. Or else make Wesley look bad. "Yes, thank you, Ms. Carlotta."

"It's Jean, actually." The girl says as she leads them into the tiny sitting room. "No one calls me that unless they want to kiss up to my mother."

Wesley chokes on a snort. "I know the feeling."

Jean-Luc frowns.

He never called Wesley by his surname for such base reasons.

He always considered doing so, as treating Wesley like an adult, instead of a child.

Yet another grain of failure adds itself to Jean-Luc's mind.

It seems he can't get anything right these days – and he's finding he wasn't getting much right when he was an adult either, for that matter.

"So," Jean says, sitting on the couch and waving them to do so too. "What've you got so far?"

"The general consensus indicates that a juice bar and hoverboard skate rink would be accepted." Jean-Luc activates his pad. "Can you think of anything else?"

"The juice bar is neat, and the hover boards sound good, but that's just sports and eating." She blushes. "Not that the bar and hover boards aren't great, or anything, it's just…well…not everyone will want to hover board or just eat and drink. Does that make sense? I'm not making sense, am I…"

"No, no," Wesley puts in. "That makes perfect sense. What would you suggest? We want to make everyone feel welcome, if this is approved."

"Well…maybe a small art studio?" Her whole face brightens. "Or a corner where you could play live music, like the adults do in Ten Forward. We could organize our own concerts!"

Jean-Luc enters that into his pad, noticing the Vulcan lute lying on the table to their right. "That's an excellent idea."

Her smile stretches across her face, almost beaming at them. "Thanks!"

Jean-Luc finds himself smiling back.

"Do you…" Jean bites her lower lip. "Do you really think the Captain will approve this?"

"He gave his word to treat it seriously," Jean-Luc tells her.

"And we'll be sure to word it convincingly," Wesley adds.

Jean relaxes. "That'd be amazing, to have a teen area. Something that's just ours, and not the little kids too."

Jean-Luc steadfastly ignores the pang that shoots through his chest.

He might have failed her, and the others, before, but he's working to fix that now. "Thank you for your time, Ms…Jean. We appreciate it."

She tilts her head to the side. "You're welcome. You should really talk to Gav and Cordell Ryant too. They've been talking about stuff like this for a while now."

Then why didn't they petition for it, Jean-Luc almost asks. He would've given such a proposal the attention it deserved. Wouldn't he?

"We'll make sure we do," Jean-Luc says. "Do you have their quarter numbers?"

"Gav's on desk 7. I think Cordell's with his Dad on 5."

"Thanks," Wesley says, getting up. "We should try and catch them today then."

"I think Gav will be in his quarters, but Cordell might be in the arboretum." Jean shows them to the door, practically bubbling with joy over the idea of having a small concert area for she and her friends.

Jean-Luc can only hope Riker says 'yes' to this proposal. Otherwise, they're in for a lot of upset and disappointed teenagers.


"So," Wesley drawls, hands clasped behind his back as they walk. "Gav or Cordell?"

Jean-Luc steps into the turbolift. "The arboretum is closer. Deck 17."

"Cordell it is then."

The tone Wesley uses does not inspire confidence. Neither does his frown.

"You have some input, Mr. Crusher?"

Wesley blinks and straightens. "No, sir!… I mean, no, Jean-Luc… I… Cordell's just not my favorite person. We don't get along very well."

"How old is Mr. Ryant?"

"15." Almost old enough to make his own decisions then.

"I see. And you think he will give us trouble?" Jean-Luc asks, shifting his stance to better face Wesley. The lift continues to hum as it takes them up the floors.

"Maybe," Wesley says. "I'm not sure. He just…he likes to push people's buttons, if you know what I mean."

Jean-Luc does.


The lift opens. They walk out onto deck 17, and head towards area 21 alpha. Jean-Luc ruminates on the new information Wesley has given him. It doesn't help his flagging confidence.

Jean-Luc shakes his head. No matter. He'll face this head on, as he does all other things.

He can't just skip on asking Mr. Ryant's opinion. Especially not when Jean suggested the older boy to them. Chances are good the two teens are friends, and Jean will ask Mr. Ryant what ideas he gave for the proposal. Which would lead to awkwardness, if Jean-Luc and Wesley never asked him.


They find Cordell at the far end of the arboretum, picking at some blue flowers.

No one else is around the small room.

Jean-Luc restrains the urge to remind Cordell of the rules for not touching the plants – some of which are very sensitive to the corrosive oils on human skin.

"Mr. Cordell Ryant?" Jean-Luc says, instead. Once again activating his pad.

The teen straightens, and Jean-Luc is suddenly very aware that not only is Cordell two feet taller than him, but much more built.

Dark, speckled eyes glance over them both. "You really did shrink yourself, Crusher."

"Yes," Wesley says, body taunt.

"You need something?"

"We're gathering data on what people might want for a teen recreational area," Jean-Luc says, before anything else can escalate. "The captain will look the proposal over, and see if he can implement any of the ideas."

"Finally got his head together," Cordell snorts and shakes his head. "About time."

Jean-Luc's mind somehow fritzes. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me."

Wesley sighs, stepping forward, and shielding Jean-Luc with half his body. "If you're just going to be sore about it, we'll leave."

"Like you haven't complained about it too, Crusher." Cordell leans into Wesley's personal space until their noses almost touch. "Don't pretend to be all golden boy with me. I know you hate the Playground as much as we do. Just because you're younger now, doesn't change that."

Jean-Luc can feel his insides shrivel up.

Wesley never mentioned this.

Perhaps he does blame Jean-Luc, but is only too polite to say anything to Jean-Luc's face.

"Come off it, Cordell." Wesley stands his ground. "It's being looked at now. So, get over yourself and help us."

"Us?" Cordell glances around Wesley and seems to see Jean-Luc for the first time. "Who's this?"

Jean-Luc desperately does not want to reveal his identity, especially not after hearing all that vitriol... But he can't run forever.

He grips his pad tight. "Jean-Luc Picard."

Cordell's eyes widen. A smirk crosses his lips, and stays there. "Huh. Guess justice does happen."

Jean-Luc refuses to let the boy see any hurt those words bring. "Do you have any suggestions for the proposal?"

"Maybe."

Wesley sighs. "We're not playing Twenty Questions, Cordell. Either tell us, or we're leaving."

Cordell's right hand curls into a fist. "Still kissing up, Crusher?"

"Let's go, Jean-Luc," Wesley says, nudging Jean-Luc towards the door.

Cordell pushes Wesley, hard.

Wesley stumbles a few feet, and whirls around. His lips twisted down. Jean-Luc grabs his arm before it can go any further. "Wesley, don't!"

Wesley glances down at him.

"Don't, Wesley," Jean-Luc repeats. "He's not worth it."

"Not worth-!" Cordell steps towards them.

"I wouldn't," Jean-Luc warns him. "One word, and your father will know of your violence here."

Cordell pales.

Good. Jean-Luc thought that might do it.

"Come, Wesley," he says, tugging on Wesley's arm. "Let's go."

Wesley nods, but doesn't take his eyes off Cordell until they are out of the arboretum.


Only once Cordell is gone from sight, does Wesley's stance loosen. He give Jean-Luc a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that." Wesley shakes himself. "Cordell's a jerk."

"He might benefit from some anger counseling sessions."

Wesley's step falters. "I guess. Never thought of that before."

Jean-Luc heads toward the turbolift. "Shall we see if Gav is in his quarters?"

Wesley nods as he follows Jean-Luc into the lift. "Deck 7."

The turbolift plummets down.

After a few seconds, Wesley sighs. "I'm sorry he got into you like that."

"It's an understandable response."

Wesley frowns. "Computer halt turbolift."

"Mr. Crusher, you can't –"

"Captain…Jean-Luc…" Wesley takes a deep breath. "Look maybe you're going to be an adult soon again, and this'll be disrespectful, but…Look, not everyone blames you like Cordell just did."

Jean-Luc finds his boots very interesting. "You needn't lie, Mr. Crusher."

"I'm not!" Wesley moves closer. "Jean-Luc, look at me."

Jean-Luc glances up, but keeps his head down... in shame.

"I'm not lying." Wesley sighs. "Are we all a little upset? Yes. But, mostly because we didn't think of this ourselves. I mean, I've lived on the Enterprise almost all my life, and I never even thought to propose anything like this before."

"I certainly didn't encourage any approaches," Jean-Luc grumbles under his breath.

Of course, with his luck, Wesley hears anyway.

"Maybe, but I know if we'd said something you would've looked into it."

"You do?" Jean-Luc asks, and then kicks himself for the childish response. He doesn't need to be coddled.

"Yes," Wesley grins. "I know you would've."

Jean-Luc finds himself giving a tentative smile. "Thank you, Mr. Crusher."

Wesley shrugs. "Computer, continue, Deck 7."

Jean-Luc ponders just what he's done to engender such loyalty and friendship.

It's something he didn't even know he needed, until now.


With Wesley by his side, Jean-Luc found the rest of his interactions, went by much more smoothly... and Jean-Luc will not admit to the feeling of outright satisfaction he felt. As Wesley told Cordell's father, about the older boy bullying them.

The man looked absolutely horrified, at the idea his son was making a personal enemy, of the former Captain. And promised to take Jean-Luc's suggestion, to enroll the boy in anger management sessions.

Jean-Luc definitely won't admit, to giggling with Gav, when their dad ALSO, promised to give the older boy a "hiding".

Apparently, Cordell had a bad habit of bullying his brother, as well... and Jean-Luc could relate to having a cruel big brother.


Jean-Luc was still grinning, as he walked into his and Rikers quarters. Jean-Luc looked around, expecting the man. Before remembering, as the official Captain, Riker would likely be kept in his office, longer... Maybe Jean-Luc should have warned him, about that.

Wanting desperately to hop up and down, in front of the door until Riker got back, Jean-Luc managed to restrain himself. It be several more hours, before the man got off duty.

Then he would read through the proposals and reports, before playing a few games with Jean Luc. Followed by sending the boy to bed, courtesy of Deanna, insisting that "bedtimes" were vital for Jean Luc's physical and mental development.

It was... nice, in a frustrating kind of way. The crew was trying hard to take care of Jean Luc, and were giving Riker all manner of advice on how to 'raise' him. With their help Jean Luc had a reliable routine.


On the Weekdays Jean Luc was met with a delicious breakfast. Where Riker would replicate the raw ingredients, then cook something up himself. They would talk about various things.

Then the boy was sent to school, which was usually awkward and embarrassing, but afterwards Riker would meet him and they would once again enjoy each others company, usually for an hour before the man went back on duty.

Jean Luc would then proceed to "play" with his fellow de-aged children. Until Riker got off duty again. When Jean-Luc would spend some time doing homework, as the man read over reports.

That was followed by a few hours, where Riker and Jean Luc would go back to enjoying each others company, usually by playing games, practicing their music, or simply just talking.

On the weekends Jean Luc basically did whatever he wanted, although he usually did meet Riker for a Holodeck Novel, but if the man didn't show (due to "Captain-y things") the Holodeck was still reserved for Jean Luc to play in.

Usually they played things Jean Luc had enjoyed as an adult, such as mystery novels (Mostly Dixon Hill), horseback riding, and such. But Riker often made him play programs based on old Terran 'Videogames'. Which were redesigned to be more interactive, and in three dimensions. Although Jean-Luc would rather be riding horses, or solving a murder mystery.


His new life, the whole situation in fact, honestly wasn't too bad. There were some perks, but overall he found it just so exacerbating. Still he was trying to make the most of it, or at least attempt to try. That's part about what this rec center was about. It would give him the chance to enjoy his youth, without losing any dignity in the process.

He was still Jean Luc Picard. His composure meant a good deal to him, but perhaps with this...

This body was practically a teenager, anyway. So it only made sense, if he was going to be forced to "Socialize", he should do so with the older children.

Jean Luc smiled thinking of his teen years. He actually had owned a hover board, when he was a kid, and did more then a few 'reckless stunts' on it. He was quite the ruffian, getting in all manner of scraps and tussles with the other children. He loved a good fight and was always full of himself.

Strange that he would grow up to be a diplomat, who did everything he could to avoid violence, although he wasn't scared to use it when needed.

It wasn't until he was badly injured, during his Academy years, that he gained any insight. If there was one good fortune from getting physically regressed, it was that his artificial heart was gone. The process had fully restored him to his youthful body, with a real flesh and blood heart.

He had always been embarrassed by the thing, and preceived it as not only a weakness, but a mark of his own shortcomings, during his youth.

He accepted his flaws, and realized they were what turned him into the man he was today. After getting the lesson crammed down his throat, by an entity known as Q, but he was still glad to be rid of the thing.

With that smile still in place he stepped into his room. A few of his paintings were hung on the walls, as well as some glow in the dark stickers. Which Riker had put up when he designed the room, probably as a joke. The stickers were even on the ceiling but admittedly Jean Luc did enjoy staring up at them.

Jean-Luc picked up his datapad, from his bedside table, and continued from where he left off. He could have taken the time to do his homework, but since he became physically regressed... he found himself procrastinating more.

It wasn't by too much, as he would do his homework later tonight, when Riker got back. But Jean-Luc normally wasn't one to put things off, til the last minute... or at least he didn't used to.

He had noticed slight changes in his personality. For example he did secretly find the toys, Riker had got him, to be amusing and a good way to pass a few hours. But at the same time, he felt ashamed of the fact he enjoyed them.

He wanted to play on the swings and monkey bars, but he felt too... embarrassed, to be seen doing it. It was down right humiliating, to want to indulge in those things. While the looks from the first time children didn't help.

They didn't look at Wesley like that. Or Guinan. Jean Luc groaned, he also had the most confusing of mood swings. He understood that his body was going through puberty again, and that was hardly a stable time for anyone emotionally, due to the various chemical changes, but knowing that answer hardly helped.

He put his datapad back down, and stared up at the stickers of stars, trying to hold on to that excitement he had only a moment ago. Trying to recapture the fantasy, of enjoying a place he could indulge in his more childish impulses, without feeling ashamed of them. He gave a disappointed sigh, as he was forced to admit the mood had been lost.

He allowed his mind to wander to unpleasant places, and now it was stuck there. This new life was fine, Riker was even spoiling him a good bit. While still trying to look out for his best interest, but...