Work Text:
Picard Drabble – Home
The battle had been won. The heroes were now left to come to terms with all that happened and all they had done to secure that victory.
--------------------
Jack had no idea how he was going to come to terms with the lives lost.
Jean-Luc had refused to let them out of his sight. He told himself, wherever they were going, he was following. He didn’t care how old his son was, he felt like he watching a toddler taking his first steps toward freedom. And he wondered if Jack would ever be free of the legacy that followed him.
Beverly’s only comfort to the loss of the Eleos was that almost everything could be replicated. The imaging and other records were easily accessible once she decided where they would be going next. She knew she had a ton of work to be done to eradicate Borg infection fully from the younger generation, not to mention making damned sure nothing from them would be passed from Jack to her and Jean-Luc’s future grandchildren.
She had to smile a bit at the thought of sharing grandchildren with Jean-Luc. Maybe, just maybe it might make up for some of what he missed with Jack.
“It might be a bit presumptuous on my part but if you’re going to be working out of Starfleet Medical headquarters, I have an apartment near there you can use,” he offered to them both.
Beverly and Jack looked at each other, trying to read the other’s thoughts. Jack spoke first, realizing how much this gesture meant to his Father and knowing that his Mother would never take the generosity offered.
“That would be lovely,” Jack began, “If it’s no trouble, that is?”
There was so much to unpack from the prior week. It felt like a lifetime had passed. And indeed it had. Not just for him but for his parents. Jean-Luc Picard was still a mystery to him but one he now wanted, no needed to unravel.
Picard smiled genuinely. “I can think of nothing I would want more than to have you both in my home.”
“Thank you, Jean-Luc. I do need to coordinate my research on the Changelings and I have a very good start on the plan to fully eradicate – “ she didn’t want to mention anything more in front of them regarding the Borg’s assimilation techniques. “And both of you, I need to have some deeper analysis done. It can help with-“ and she stopped herself from finishing the thought again.
“With removing what the Borg might have left behind,” Jack stated softly. She could only nod in response.
“Anything to make sure this ends with us,” Picard said looking at Jack.
“Indeed,” started Jack, “Because I plan to provide you with a whole litter of grandkids to run around and terrorize you both.” His smile was infectious as he watched their mouths drop open. He loved making his mother speechless but the sadness in his father’s eyes was unmistakable.
“Well, if you find the right person, don’t and I mean DON’T let anything stand in your way,” Jean-Luc offered looking at Beverly. He reached for her hand and clasped Jack on the shoulder with the other.
“Now let’s go home.”