Author's Note: Not much was changed. However, chapters were combined, and spelling errors corrected. With only a handful of text altered. I just love what Tamuril2 did with this section. There is very little I can thing to improve it. Outside combining the ideas into one chapter. And that's just to get it to flow slightly better.

Jean-Luc knows he shouldn't eavesdrop on Riker. He knows it. He does! It doesn't matter though; his feet draw him nearer to his bedroom doorway. Riker is making a log, and Jean-Luc desperately wants to know the things Riker is keeping from him – the adult situations that, for some reason, everyone thinks him too young to understand now.

The low tenor of Riker's voice rumbles in the main area of their shared quarters. "…My father somehow found out about my new command, and invited himself to the party. I can't really blame him. He seemed eager to meet his new grandson."

Jean-Luc fights the expression, that threatened to spread across his face. However he can't stop it. He scowls (not pouts) at the memory of such an unpleasant encounter.

• Flashback •

A hand falls heavily on Jean-Luc's shoulder. He jumps, despite himself, his eyes widening at the overfamiliar gesture. Who would…? He glances up. An older human man is smiling down at him, but to Jean-Luc the smile is somehow stiff. The hand lingers on his shoulder, which is starting to unnerve Jean-Luc.

"Sir?" he asks, hoping it'll be enough to get the man talking. Give him some clue as to why he's here, instead of with some other adult.

The man's grip lightens. "You must be Jean-Luc."

"Yes, sir." Jean-Luc struggles to keep the frown off his face.

It won't do to give away such a thing while this man is still an unknown entity. The fact that he knows who Jean-Luc is, while Jean-Luc can't say the same…although…that nose and posture is familiar in some way. Jean-Luc racks his brain. Where has he seen this man before? Has he? Or is he a relative of someone Jean-Luc knows well?

"Quite the shindig," the man says, still holding him in place.

Jean-Luc turns fully to the man, succeeding in getting the hand to release him. "It is," The newly demoted boy states.

"Does it bother you? Knowing this party is also a celebration of your predicament?" The man continues.

Jean-Luc stiffens, anger rushing through him. "Starfleet command has officers working on a solution to my…predicament. Even so, should Commander Riker wish it, I will endorse his permanent promotion to another ship. He's more than earned it."

The man laughs, loud and harsh. "You're quite loyal to him, aren't you?"

Will suddenly appears at Jean-Luc's side. "Dad, I didn't know you were coming."

Jean-Luc can see the resemblance now. No wonder the man looked familiar. Kyle Riker looks a spitting image of an older Will.

Kyle smiles patronizingly at Will. "And miss out on your captaincy? I've waited years for this day, I wouldn't miss it. Besides, I wanted to get to know my grandson."

Jean-Luc flushes. Grandson? The nerve of this man is outstanding. Will and he are colleagues, not father and son. To presume such intimacy is not only forward, but rude.

Jean-Luc can see why Will might not get along with Kyle. While it may be true that Will is something of a…lady's man, Will knows when to be a diplomat. And a good one, at that!

"Aren't you going to introduce us, Will?" Kyle asks, tilting his head to the side like some kind of Klingon bird of prey.

Will's eyes become harder. "I would've thought you had already done so, with how familiarly you were interacting."

Kyle's own eyes congeal to granite stone. "Of course. I'm pleased to finally have a son with ambition."

Jean-Luc has to bite his tongue, to stop the retort that almost bursts out.

• End Flashback •

Jean-Luc knows for a fact Kyle only took to him, so easily, because of his famous past deeds. He wonders if that possessiveness will stay, once Kyle sees Jean-Luc can no longer do any of those great things now? And will this draw an even deeper wedge between Riker and his father?

Jean-Luc doesn't want to be the pawn Kyle uses against his only son, the piece he waves around to show Riker, as Kyle puts it, what a 'true man is like'.

Riker's voice brings Jean-Luc back out of his dark musings.

"My guess would be, the Federation believes Wesley's formula for isolating and removing specific markers during transport, will give them some kind of chance at immortality. Personally, I don't see how turning yourself into a kid could be such a better option then dying. Puberty was bad enough the first time around. And now, I get to enjoy it all over again with Jean-Luc."

"That's not funny, Number One!" Jean-Luc can't help but shout, his child's side taking over for a moment. He regrets it at once. He's outed himself. His lips press together tight as a grin spreads across Riker's tired face.

"Jean-Luc, you know better than to interrupt a captain's log." Riker's thick eyebrows curl down into a frown, but then a bigger grin flashes. "But don't worry, it seems I've captured your comment for prosperity. Computer, end log."

Jean-Luc's cheeks flush, and he whirls about to hide in his room. Of all the childish, irresponsible things! He needn't have spoken out. Riker has all the right in the world to be disgruntled at having to babysit his former captain. And, the heavens know, Jean-Luc isn't looking forward to going through his gangly, teenage years again.

Jean-Luc can hear Riker speaking again to his log, but he ignores his childlike instinct to snoop.

Instead, he sits on his bed and pulls out one of his novels...or a digital copy of it, at least. All his real books are in storage back on Terra Prime, on account of the weight limit. A teenage boy isn't allowed nearly the amount a captain is. Riker has, however, used the weight of Picard's book collection, to buy a large supply of games, instead: action figures, puzzles, etc. He insists Jean-Luc play with them, which Jean-Luc sometimes does…when no one is looking.

Still, he has digital copies of all his books on a data pad, as well as many new files Riker has given him. It's not the same as a real book. The feel of turning the pages, smelling the dust, can't be replicated by a thin pad. Jean-Luc sighs, putting down his pad. It's obvious he isn't in the mood to read just yet.

So many things swirl around his head all the time now.

Going back to school isn't exactly what he'd expected; given he has to sit in a colorful room with the alphabet printed on the wall, alongside zoo animals. It should embarrass him to be there. He isn't, embarrassed that is, but Jean-Luc is bored, and lonely. All he really does is sit there at his computer during 'class time'. True, he gets to interact with the other students during their explorations into the arts (painting, music, what have you), 'story time', and lunch.

Jean Luc's not popular, so to speak, at school, but he is known.

Known as the 'Captain', that is, which means he has yet to make any real friends. The other children maintain their hero worship of his adult self, and keep themselves at a distance. Truth be told, Jean-Luc doesn't mind this very much. While it does isolate him, it also helps Jean-Luc avoid having to…fake enthusiasm for all their tiny games.

The only children he really interacts with: are Wesley, Ro, and Guinan. Who are all more than thrilled with the situation... or, rather, if Jean-Luc is truly honestly, they're trying to make the best of it.

"Jean-Luc." Riker leans into the boy's room. "I need to go do my shift, but I promise we'll play in the Holodeck afterwards."

"You shouldn't make promises like that, Number One," Jean Luc finds himself lecturing. "The life of a captain is too unpredictable, to promise anything to a child."

Riker snorts. "I'll keep that in mind. How about this? I'll try my best to make it to the Holodeck. I found a children's program I think you might like, based on a 20th century videogame."

Jean-Luc stifles a groan. "If it is anything like Tomb Raider, I shall have to respectfully pass."

"No, no, nothing like that." Riker laughs. "You'll like it. Until then, why don't you walk around the ship. You shouldn't stay in here all day. Maybe, Wesley's working on something fun you can help him with?"

"I was hoping to catch up on my reading," Jean-Luc holds up his novel pad.

"You've been reading for a month. I'm pretty sure you're caught up. You need to go out, enjoy being a kid."

This time, Jean-Luc does let out a small sigh. Riker seems to always be trying to get him to do childish things; like play with toys, interact with the other children, etc. It's…nice that he cares, but Jean-Luc really can't be bothered to color yet another picture, or sing yet another cheery song about frogs.

"Number One, I really don't think–" he tries, but is interrupted.

"Jean-Luc, up!" Riker's blue eyes harden. "Out. Walk. Now."

Jean-Luc studies him for a moment, and then sighs. The older man isn't going to let this go. He's in one of his 'moods', again, about Jean-Luc acting his age.

Setting his pad down, Jean Luc stands and walks out of his room, before following his guardian out of their quarters

"What am I supposed to do?" asks the former adult.

"Go to the petting zoo, the community center, the playground." Riker raises an eyebrow. "We have many areas, set up all over the ship."

Jean Luc slumps, but does as he's told. He is trying. He is! It's just…he isn't interested in doing any of these things. He feels silly, as if he's making a fool out of himself that way. The other children stare at him whenever he tries to pet the animals or swing. Counselor Troi tells him they will get used to it the more he interacts with them, but...

"Computer," Jean Luc presses the control screen on the wall. "Where is Guinan?"

"Guinan is in 'The Playground'," the computer answers in that cheerful, female voice.

Jean-Luc winces. He'd rather not go there. "Where is Wesley Crusher?"

"Wesley Crusher is in 'The Playground',"

Jean Luc sighs. Well, that's it, isn't it? His fate is sealed.

When he gets to 'The Playground', Jean-Luc pauses. Wesley and Guinan are laughing as they play on the swings. Some of the older teenagers are 'hanging out' by the monkey bars, talking. Some of them are hanging upside-down from said bars. Most are just lounging around.

There's really nothing for older children to do on this ship, Jean Luc realizes with a start. Well, except play in the Holodeck.

Jean-Luc grimaces. That's a perfect way to create a generation of Holo addicts. Jean-Luc jolts as a thought comes. What they need is a sports area to play European football, or basketball or…or…hoverboard!

The Holodecks are too small for a large number of children to be in at once, in order to play a game. They'd keep bumping into the wall. The force fields and hologram projectors wouldn't be able to compensate.

What they really need is a holosuite! Something big enough to actually hold a small sports area. Of course, something like that can't just be converted. It would have to be a part of the original ship's design. There are other areas to play sports on the Enterprise, Jean-Luc knows, but none of them are built for more than four people.

Jean-Luc glances around. There were currently a dozen teenagers, sitting around doing nothing in the playground.

"Jean-Luc." Wesley jumps off his swing and runs over, Guinan hot on his heels... only she's skipping.

Jean-Luc's still getting used to Wesley speaking with him, in such an informal manner. They're equals now. A strange concept, considering the boy had been his protégé. But, Beverly has scolded her son on numerous occasions. Insisting Weasley stop calling Jean-Luc 'Captain', since he isn't the captain anymore. Therefore, Jean-Luc allows the boy to call him by his given name.

A wave of sadness washes over him, and Jean-Luc makes sure to hide it from his face. It's not any advancement of Wesley's ensign status, that's changed their own. No, it's Jean-Luc's demotion. A lifetime of hard work, reduced to nothing.

"Mr. Crusher." Jean-Luc nods. "Guinan."

Guinan rolls her eyes. Jean-Luc ignores her.

"Wesley," he asks. "When you were a teenager, what did you do for fun?"

"Not much." Wesley shrugs. "After I became an Ensign, I was allowed in Ten Forward, but, usually, I was too busy studying and working in the ship to go there."

"I remember," Guinan says. "You were always busy with reports and shifts. I had to slow you down sometimes, make sure you didn't burn out."

"What about before you became an Ensign?" Jean-Luc presses.

"I worked on my Science Projects to pass the time, or played in the Holodeck."

Jean-Luc thinks again of all the Holo addicts they might be unintentionally creating onboard this ship. "You did nothing else?"

"They don't really have anything for teenagers to do onboard, sir. I even had to pick up my own holo novels at a Starbase." Wesley squirms, but Jean-Luc waves him to continue. He needs to hear this.

Wesley sighs. "Truthfully, sir, everything is either focused on little kids, or the adults here. They only have two art studios, one focused on finger painting and the other on... nudes."

Jean-Luc nods. "I see."

"The Playground is for little kids."

That much is very obvious.

"They don't even allow hover boards on the ship, much less have a skate park for them," Wesley continues. His eyes glaze a little in memory. "They had a really cool set up for hover boards on one of the stations my mom was posted at, but they don't put things like that on Starships. They don't even have a juice bar you can hang out at or a teen club."

"Teen club?" Jean-Luc thinks on that. This might be something Riker can install. They could clear out a storage area, refit it into a juice bar for older children to enjoy. Maybe even put in a dancing area, and a little spot for of 'hover boards'

"Come," Jean-Luc says. "We need to write out a proposal."

"Proposal?" Wesley blinks. "For what?"

Will strides down the ship's hallways with an easy bounce in his step. This morning's been good. Nothing too exciting, nothing wild, just a normal shift. Will chuckles to himself. A month ago, he'd have been making off-handed about being bored. He'd have wanted something new to happen to break the monotony. Will shakes his head.

He'd had no idea what work a captain did for his ship.

Not really.

In fact, looking back, Will's ashamed to admit he basically thought captains sat in their waiting rooms and drank Earl Grey tea, while reading occasional reports.

Will shakes his head. How wrong he'd been. A captain is never off duty, is never 'bored'. There's so many tiny, little things a captain oversees or checks on in one day, Will's surprised Picard didn't go off the deep end years ago. Will knows he feels like doing just that sometimes these days. And he's only been the 'official' captain for less than two days now.

And what's worse, it's as if that title of 'official' made everyone think to triple their complaints/suggestions/reports to him.

Will groans as he stretches his aching back.

He rounds the corner and finds the gangly figure of Jean-Luc waiting for him at Holodeck 3. A smile shoots across the boy's face as he catches sight of Will. It seems the boy's had a good morning then. Will feels a grin growing in return, his day a bit brighter now.

"Number One, I had an idea for the teenagers of this ship," Jean-Luc informs him, his thin shoulders straightening in something like determination.

"Oh?"

"My proposal," Jean-Luc hands over a pad.

Will winces internally. They don't have much time before he's due back on the bridge again. This is his lunch break. He only has an hour. Knowing Jean-Luc/Picard as he does, this proposal is long and very detailed. "How about I read it tonight? I need to get back on duty in an hour."

Jean-Luc deflates, his eyes dulling. "Can't you skim it? I kept it as brief as possible."

Will raises an eyebrow at the childish pout. "I said I would read it, just not right now."

"It wouldn't take that much time."

Will feels the first stirrings of irritation begin. "I said, not right now. Besides, weren't you supposed to be playing this morning? This proposal doesn't count in my books."

"There's nothing to do," Jean-Luc grumbles. "I talked to some of the older children, and they agree, we need a rec center focused on our age group. I spent the morning gathering their ideas for it. I told them you'd look it over."

Riker runs his hand through his hair. His irritation is growing. They don't have time for this. He said he'd read it later. "What if I don't approve this?"

"There's no reason you shouldn't." Jean-Luc smiles, but to Will it looks a hair too smug.

"That's not for you to decide," Will warns him.

"Since when do you ignore my council?"

"I'm not ignoring it," Will says, almost sighing. "I said I'd consider it, but it's up to me if I go through with it or not. You can't just promise the kids a new rec center. You haven't even discussed it with me."

"Fine, don't build the center! Don't even read it!" the pad is snatched out of Will's hand, and thrown down the hall. It bounces a bit, before it hit the ground. Thankfully, it doesn't break.

Will's shock bursts into anger. Enough is enough! Deanna warned him about this. She said Will needed to be firm on Jean-Luc, show him that tantrums weren't acceptable. Very well then. He quickly grabs Jean Luc, lifts him up, and tucks the boy under his left arm.

"Number One? I didn't mean –"

Will ignores him. They're past apologies. Will's hand smacks Jean-Luc's backside, hard.

"W-Will!?" the boy gasps.

Will smacks him again. A pained yelp follows. Will keeps the squirming and kicking boy firmly in place.

"Will! OWwww! Stop! I'm- Eeeek! Not- gasp, Not a child!" Jean-Luc shouts.

"Yes (SMACK) you (SMACK) are! (SMACK)." Will says. "An adult (SMACK) wouldn't have thrown the tantrum (SMACK) you just did! (SMACK)"

He continues the spanking. He can feel the boy heaving silent sobs, but he's not sure the message has gotten through yet.

"I'm sorry!" Jean-Luc wails.

Will gives two last smacks, before putting the boy on his feet. He straightens Jean-Luc up. A quick scan up and down of the boy, shows that he's not hurt. oh, his backside is probably burning, but he'll live.

"Jean-Luc, I am not your subordinate anymore," Will says firmly. It's something he thought they'd already established. Evidently not, if this tantrum is anything to go by. "I'm your legal guardian, and that means you need to treat me with respect."

"Y-yes, sir."

Will almost breaks at the sobbed reply, but forges on. "If you've an idea, I'd like to hear it. I know how clever you are. However, in the end, it's still my decision. If I say 'no', it means no. If I say I'll look at something later, that doesn't make it an automatic 'no' as well. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir." The sniffling is subsiding

"I'm busy right now. My break ends soon. I thought we could do something both of us would enjoy, while I had the time. I can't very well do that, not if I sit down and read your proposal. I was going to read it later, while looking over other proposals from the crew, something you have done in the past."

Jean Luc nods, his hands trying to discreetly, Will is sure, rub his stinging rear.

"Now, go bring me the report. I'll look it over when I can," Will says.

Jean-Luc slowly walks over to where he's thrown the pad. There's a pained gait to his steps, but Will knows this lesson needed to happen, no matter how much he hates doing it. He watches as Jean-Luc picks up the pad and brings it back, red faced. The boy hands it over, his eyes focused somewhere on Will's stomach. Will accepts the pad without a word.

After a few seconds, he tries again. It's not as much time as he'd have liked, but they can still have a little fun in the Holodeck. "All right. How about we check out the program?"

"C-can I just go back to my room?" Jean-Luc asks, now looking at his shoes.

Oh no, Will is not letting this fly.

"Do you really want to waste the rest of the day, sulking?" When Jean-Luc still refuses to answer, Will sighs. He taps his com badge. "Deanna, do you have time for a short session now?"

Jean-Luc's head jerks up fast. "Will!"

Will silences any further arguments with a glare. He's in no mood to deal with another tantrum right now.

"Of course, Will," Deanna replies, her voice already soothing his nerves.

"We'll be right there."