"Resistance is futile . . .but appreciated."

Castles in the Sand

M. Chelsea Mack

Chapter One

The crew of the Enterprise was a crew without a ship. Almost seven months had passed since their ship's destruction. Their new ship was nearly finished, the Enterprise-E would be ready for service in two weeks. They couldn't wait to be back in space again.

The crew had all temporarily gone their separate ways. Will Riker had chosen to take a temporary post aboard another ship. Worf used the extended period to take his son, Alexander, to the Klingon home world, to give the young boy a deeper knowledge of Klingon traditions and their people. Deanna Troi had returned to Betazed to visit her mother and friends, mostly she had gone to reassure her mother that she hadn't been harmed on the Enterprise. Geordi La Forge and Data had gone to Utopia Planitia to see the advancements being made and to help build their next ship. Dr. Beverly Crusher had gone on a relief mission to a planet that had been devastated by a massive earthquake. And Captain Jean-Luc Picard had returned to Earth to teach a semester at the Academy.

The senior staff of the Enterprise had decided to meet at Picard's family home in France a couple weeks before the launch of the new Enterprise.

Jean-Luc's sister-in-law, Marie, had been happy to have everyone. The house had been much to quiet and lonely since her husband and son had died. To listen to their stories and to hear their laughter, hadhelped to lighten the grief around her heart.

But what had lightened her heart the most was that Jean-Luc was apparently enamored with the delightful Beverly.

It was the groups last night together in LaBarre, then they would be going their separate ways, again. They would all meet again at the launching of the Enterprise-E. From the launching, with several ambassadors and Starfleet admirals aboard, they were proceed directly to Starbase 56. There was to be a large gathering in honor of the Enterprise's launch. They were going back into space with much fanfare. Jean-Luc Picard was not certain about how he felt about all the grandeur surrounding his new ship.

Beverly sat on the front steps of the house, enjoying the night air. Everyone had gone to bed hours before, but she had been unable to sleep so she had come outside. She found this place enchanting. She had enjoyed being here, with her friends, far away from Starfleet. They had all had a wonderful time together.

Beverly found herself wishing she could spend the rest of her time here, before it was time to report back to duty.

Jean-Luc noticed Beverly sitting on the steps, looking completely lovely. He opened the front door, she didn't notice. He sat down beside her, touching her hand. "Penny," he said, stealing one of her lines.

Beverly jumped, surprised at the touch, she looked, finding Jean-Luc sitting next to her. "I was thinking how beautiful it is here. And that I wish I had more time to spend here, it's so peaceful."

She noticed that he was in his night clothes and had not bothered with a robe on this warm night, he looked gorgeous. Unconsciously, she pulled her robe tighter around her. She thought how relaxed and at ease he seemed here, something that rarely occurred aboard the Enterprise.

"You can stay, if you want," Jean-Luc casually said. Hoping that she would agree.

"What?" Beverly asked, looking into his eyes.

"You can stay here, if you want. I'll be remaining until it is time to return to duty and I would enjoy your company. Marie will be leaving and I will be left here alone to rattle around the house."

Warning bells went off inside Beverly's head. She knew she shouldn't stay here alone with Jean-Luc. Their relationship had continued to teeter back and forth between just being friends and becoming something more. She didn't want to help the something more along, not just yet. Yet, with all her worries about being able to remain just friends, she found herself saying.... "I would love to, Jean-Luc," she said it was such a smile.

*What a beautiful smile,* he thought. *Those lovely lips saying my name. She has always driven me to distraction without even trying.* "I'm glad," he said. "I can't think of anyone I would rather spend my time with."

Jean-Luc gave her a light kiss on the cheek and said good night. Wishing there could be more than just a kiss on the cheek. Beverly followed him into the house and up the stairs. They said good night and parted company, going into their own rooms.