Jean Luc got up and went to the view screen, on his wall. They didn't even trust him, with his own comm badge anymore.

"Picard to Guinan," He pushed the button and waited a moment. The screen lit up and the image of an extremely girly pink room popped up, with Guinan sitting at a desk, in front of her own view screen.

The screens were limited things. Only good for onboard calls, or reviewing messages. While unlike the comn badges, were far from a secure line. It was a civilian communication device.

"Jean Luc?" Guinan smiled. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I was... hoping you might come over... so we can talk" Picard had often relied on Guinan for council. Even more then Deanna. Guinan was a civilian, never one of his subordinates. He didn't have to... pretend with her.

He could open his soul, and not worry about appearing weak to his crew. He had always been a child compared to her, with the centuries she had lived. And although he admired her wisdom she had always treated him as an equal... One of the few people who had, given as a ship's captain he lived in a world with a very strict command structure.

She was honestly the only civilian, he interacted with regularly. Their relationship really hadn't changed all that much.

"Sure, if we can play with those cool toys of yours. Being the ward of the captain, means your allowed far more toys then me."

Jean Luc groaned, but didn't feel the energy to put up a fight, in a battle he knew he'd already lost. "Very well but... just don't bring those unicorns with you this time."

"Mom got me those," Guinan shrugged. "She thought they would help give me the authentic Terran girl childhood, she promised." she looked around her bright pink room. "It is an interesting experience, but I don't really think it's for me. I do like some of the things though."

Jean Luc stared at her a moment. "You know I don't feel entirely comfortable, When you refer to Beverly as your mother."

"Only because you aren't ready to call Riker 'Dad'."

Jean Luc sighed. "Could you please just come up here? I... I really need to talk." This younger body made him far less confident in his manner, odd seeing how he wasn't at all like this as a real child.

"Sure, it isn't anywhere near my bedtime yet," She hung up

Picard soon found himself, sitting in his play room, with her. They were on benches around his coffee table, playing with his action figures. Many based on Superheroes from the ancient Terran Mythology during the early 20th century.

Jean Luc kept taking little glances at Guinan. He'd asked her here to talk, but instead he was thinking about action figures. Doing everything he could, to avoid talking about what was troubling him. Guinan, of course, was being very patient with him and just playing with the boy and his toys until he gathered his thoughts.

"Riker spanked me," Jean Luc confessed.

Guinan snorted and was obviously trying to prevent herself from laughing. Seeing Jean Luc's face she informed. "I'm sorry but you can hardly just blurt something like that," she smiled, seeing Jean Luc blush. "So what you do?"

"Why do you assume I was the one at fault?"

"Were you?" She asked.

Jean Luc grudgingly admitted. "In a manner, but he was just as in the wrong. Deanna even agrees with that."

"So he dragged you to Deanna, after walloping you?"

"I hardly consider myself 'Walloped'."

"It's what Wesley calls it," Guinan shrugged. "You should probably get used to that. Wesley says he caught it a few times from Riker, when he was an acting Ensign. With Beverly's permission, of course."

"I wasn't aware of that," Jean Luc admitted.

"It was a family matter. You might have appointed Riker in charge of Wesley's training, but with a teenager, Riker thought it best to speak with the boy's mother about it. She's the one that suggested Riker try more... appropriate disciplinary techniques, for a child. A kid's not exactly going to care, about getting 'written up', and putting a child in the brig is too extreme."

"If Riker is familiar with this form of discipline, I wonder why he never brought it up before..." Jean Luc sighed, as the gears in his head turned.

"What's on your mind?" Guinan asked, looking at the action figures. As they continued to fight, despite not being directed.

"Riker told me, Starfleet is no longer, attempting to cure us." Jean-Luc then confessed, "That's why Riker felt comfortable, spanking me... in reaction too a rather unseemly tantrum, on my part. It's why he's the official Captain now. They've decided to keep us, as children, and so he's come to the conclusion that he..."

"Actually needs to start treating you like a kid?" Guinan finished. "He's tried getting you to enjoy this chance, but now it's something more."

"He's never actually disciplined me, before. He's scolded me, and child proofed our quarters, but those incidences were for my physical and mental well being. He's never actively corrected improper behavior." Jean Luc sighed. "And I'm afraid, with this body, that wasn't the first time I acted in a less then befitting manner... We're stuck like this, aren't we Guinan?"

"Not forever, We'll grow up like we're supposed to, they proved that a long time ago. Was that what the sudden urge for a 'teen club' is? Think you might have been trying to accept your fate with some dignity?"

"If I was I failed at it. I actually threw a literal tantrum, when Riker declined to read my proposal... immediately... he said he'd read it later, but for some reason that felt like a refusal."

"Can I take it, that was what the spanking was for?"

"Regrettably... both Riker and Deanna think, I was trying to undermine Riker's authority, with the club. That really wasn't my intention. I just didn't think how it would look to the crew, or the children. I should have though. I'm not one to make such careless mistakes."

"You'll get used to how your mind thinks again. I'm sure the occasional 'Wallop' will help."

Jean Luc groaned.

It wasn't long before Ro and Wesley made an appearance. The de-aged children tended to spend every available moment, together. Misery loves company, after all.

Ro set by Jean-Luc, sending him sly glances. The former captain pretended not to notice her growing romantic feelings... it was too much too contemplate.

Ro held onto a stegosaurus action figure. Speaking, "Yes, yes... this is a fertile land, and we will thrive." She had the stegosaurus hop about. "We shall rule over all this land. and we will call it... this land..."

All the demoted children chuckled. Except Ro, Who blushed.

Jean-Luc decided to take pity on her. Plopping his Tyrannosaurus Rex, next to the stegosaurus. He did his best "evil" voice. "I think we can call it your grave!" Jean-Luc allowed the others to see a playful side of himself. Which he was uncomfortable showing the world... still, it was easier, when it was just them.

Ro giggled, then exclaimed. "Gah! Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

"Maw ha ha, mine is an evil laugh." Jean-Luc allowed himself a giggle. "NOW DIE!!!" With a flick of his finger, on the fully posable action figure, he opened his Dinosaur's "mouth" and had it "bite" Ro's own. "Nom nom nom!!!"

Ro burst into excited screams, and continued to speak for her stegosaurus. "NO!!! Oh GOD!!! Dear God in Heaven!!!" She shrieked in laughter, as her stegosaurus was "eaten".

Then... Jean-Luc caught her eye. They both stopped giggling... and just stared at each other... longingly.

Wesley laughed, as his Captain Kirk action figure, was in a wedding ceremony with Guinan's Pegasus. At least it wasn't a unicorn... and if any Starfleet officer was willing to merry a sapient horse, it be Kirk.

"Just kiss already!" Wesley continued to laugh.

Ro and Jean-Luc froze. The moment destroyed.

"That would be highly inappropriate," Jean-Luc insisted. Feeling a ping of guilt, as Ro slumped.

Guinan insisted, "Maybe if we got romantically interested in the first time children. That would be inappropriate. And clearly sex is off the table for you two. But if we are going to explore relationships. We're probably only going to find such companionship in each other."

Jean-Luc blushed, reminding himself he wasn't a captain anymore... it was okay to form relationships with the crew. And while both the adults, and the first time children, where off the table... it wouldn't actually be inappropriate to engage in more... innocent forms of dating, with any of the other former adults.

"Dibs on Guinan!" Wesley joked... or maybe, half joked. They had gotten rather close, after all.

"Now THAT would be inappropriate," Guinan teased... but at the way Wesley deflated. It was clear he was being somewhat serious. "Wesley..." Guinan gently took the boy's hand. "My people age a year... for every 13 of your own. That would lead to a lot of heart ache."

Wesley sighed. Then looked determined. "The Federation is going to make my Rejuve Pod, standard medical equipment. I..." He got up his nerve. Filling himself with determination. "I could just keep regressing myself, so we age at the same rate."

While the initial use, could only make an adult 12 or younger. Wesley was sure he could regress an already regressed child... although once he wanted to hit puberty, things would get trickier.

"Maybe I could reprogram medical nanites, to slow my aging," Wesley thought. "It may take a decade of research. But I'm sure I could do it." He promised.

Guinan looked genuinely shocked, "You'd be willing to go through all that?... for me."

Wesley smiled, "Getting my mom on-board will be the hardest part."

Guinan chuckled, "We'll talk to her about it, when we get back to our quarters."

Wesley smiled brightly.

Jean-Luc gulped... feeling trapped. Then eyed Ro... and hesitantly admitted to himself... he wanted this.

He leaned into her personal space, practically seeing her heart beat speed up... as she leaned forward. Briefly, they shared a chaste kiss. Jean-Luc was sure to keep it as innocent as possible. Still not comfortable with their child bodies.

And for the first time, since he was regressed... he felt... he felt like things were going to be okay.