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Rating:MatureArchive Warning:No Archive Warnings ApplyCategory:F/MFandom:Star Trek: The Next GenerationRelationships:Beverly Crusher/Jean-Luc PicardWilliam Riker/Deanna TroiCharacters:Beverly CrusherJean-Luc PicardWesley CrusherWilliam RikerDeanna TroiMarie PicardRobert PicardRené PicardDataGeordi La ForgeWorf (Star Trek:TNG/DS9)Additional Tags:Familyfriends become LoversComfortLanguage:EnglishStats:Published:2018-02-05Completed:2019-01-05Words:27280Chapters:6/6Comments:17Kudos:21Bookmarks:3Hits:696
Family Ties
AnnaOnTheMoon
Summary:
Beverly and Jean-Luc started secretly dating towards the end of Season Three (around Menage A Troi). Then, the Borg happened and their relationship was put on hold. Beverly goes with Jean-Luc to La Barre during his recovery, so this takes place during and after the Season 4 episode, Family, then goes AU.
Notes:
Bold text lifted from the S4 episode, Family
Chapter 1
Chapter Text
"It's Earth...It's home...do I need another reason?"Jean-Luc continued to pack items into his bag as he gazed over at Deanna Troi, his ship's counsellor and one of his closest friends.
"I agree. In fact, I'm delighted you're going. But perhaps the choice of where you're going could stand some scrutiny. You need time. You cannot achieve complete recovery so quickly. Don't expect so much of yourself. It is perfectly normal, after what you've been through, to spend a great deal of time trying to find..."Deanna struggled to find the right words for her captain and friend"...yourself again."
"And what better place to find oneself than on the streets of one's home village?"
Deanna sighed. Obviously, his mind was made up. There was nothing more she could say to him to try to convince him to take an actual holiday somewhere instead of returning to his home village. Deanna wasn't entirely sure it was a good idea given Jean-Luc's history with his brother. Sighing again, she tentatively said"Have a good trip."
"Oh, I intend to."
Deanna swished out of the room and Jean-Luc reached for his communicator. "Picard to Crusher."
"Crusher here."
"I'll be leaving from transporter room three in ten minutes."
"Understood. Crusher out."
A rustling came from the bushes near the footpath. Jean-Luc was immediately on guard. "Whoever it is, show yourself!" A young boy sheepishly appeared from between two bushes.
"I know who you are!"
"Then, you have the advantage."
"You're my nephew, Jean-Luc, from the Starship Enterprise."The young boy just then noticed Jean-Luc had his hand clasped in that of his companion, a tall red-headed woman. "Are you my niece?" Rene asked as he took Beverly's bag from her shoulder. Beverly blushed and Jean-Luc had just opened his mouth to reply when Rene turned and ran off back towards the house shouting "Maman! He's here! And he brought a lady with him!"
Jean-Luc groaned. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"
Beverly squeezed his hand and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "Not really, but I wasn't going to let you come alone."
The couple continued up the path as a two-story timber framed house came into view. Beverly gasped. "Oh, Jean-Luc, it's beautiful!"
Marie came bustling out of the house, Rene fast on her heels."Jean-Luc! It's so good to see you! I'm sorry, I didn't know you would be bringing your..." she trailed off, not sure if Jean-Luc had brought along a girlfriend or a wife.
"Friend. Marie, this is Beverly Crusher, My Chief Medical Officer. Beverly, my sister-in-law Marie. Somehow, she was crazy enough to marry my brother!" Beverly smiled as Marie gathered her into a strong hug. Marie softly whispered "Only friends?" in Beverly's ear. Beverly just grinned back and gave a small shrug. She and Jean-Luc really hadn't defined their relationship yet. In fact, they had only started seeing each other again a few weeks before the Borg incursion.
"Rene will take your things inside. Rene, put the Captain's and Beverly's belongings in his old room, please." Rene, already holding Beverly's bag took Jean-Luc's and scurried back inside the house.
Jean-Luc blanched."Oh, no, really Marie. We can get rooms in the village. There's no need..." Marie raised her eyebrows at the use of the plural.
"Non.I insist. This is your home too."And maybe you'll finally see your Beverly for what she is to you. Oh Jean-Luc, you deserve love. Let her in.Jean-Luc looked around, taking it all in."Do things look that different?"
"No. In fact, the amazing thing is how little it has changed. Everything is exactly as I remember it...the hills, the house...every rock and stone looks untouched by the passage of time."Marie smiled.
"Robert's worked hard to keep it that way. It's very important to him."
"As it was to our father."Beverly stood there awkwardly taking in the exchange. She knew Jean-Luc hadn't gotten along with his father or brother and wondered how much Marie knew.
Marie smiled back "You know, Robert can't wait to see you. He's out in the vineyard tending to the vines. Why don't you go see him while I get to know Beverly better?" Marie looped her arm through Beverly's and leads her into the house. "Tea?" Beverly nodded and cast a glance back towards Jean-Luc, shrugging her arms as if to say "What can I do?" Jean-Luc nodded. "Thank you, Marie. I'll go find him."
"So you're the famous Beverly Crusher. He mentions you in all his letters, you know. Is the young Ensign Crusher he mentions your son?" Beverly nodded, taking in the warm kitchen. The kitchen looked very old fashioned and Beverly was surprised not to see a replicator anywhere in sight.
"Yes, he is. I'm very proud of him. Jean-Luc has always treated him like a son, ever since my husband...well, that's all in the past, isn't it." She continued to look around. "No replicator?" Marie shook her head.
"Robert insists that we keep the old traditions. If truth be told, I wish we had one if only for those moments when I don't feel like cooking!" Beverly laughed.
"I'm not sure I even remember how to cook without a replicator. It's been so long since I lived on Caldos with my grandmother."
"How long ago was that?"
"Oh, before I married Jack...before I went away to the Academy even. I used to visit, but I don't think I've been back in at least ten years."
"Jean-Luc hasn't been here in twenty. You both must be busy with your starship. It must be hard to maintain your relationship when you live where you work."
"Ye...wait, what?" Beverly looked wide-eyed at Marie.
"You and Jean-Luc. He wouldn't have brought you here if he didn't love you very much. How long have you been together?"
"Oh! Erm...I mean, I do love him, but we have so much history...I never know where things stand with him. We had only started dating when he was taken..." Marie patted her arm and led her over to the table.
"Why don't you tell me all about it over a cup of tea. Then, when we're done, we'll get you reacquainted with cooking!"
Jean-Luc found his brother among the vines, on his knees examining some grapes carefully. Robert stopped what he was doing and looked up.
"So, you've arrived alright. Weclome home, Captain."Jean-Luc could hear the disdain in Robert's voice. It was no secret Robert did not approve of Jean-Luc's life.
"Hello, Robert."
"Did you shuttle out from the village?"
"No.Wedecided to walk."
"We? What did you do, find yourself a wife out there in the stars?"
"I brought Beverly with me."
"She the doctor who lost her husband under your command?" Jean-Luc hung his head.
"That was over 10 years ago, Robert. She's my Chief Medical Officer now. You'd know this if you read my letters I wrote."
"Oh, I read them alright. So where is the lady doctor?"
"Ah, Marie said something about tea. I saw Rene too. Nice lad."
"Hmm." The brothers ran out of words to say to each other and stood there in silence for many minutes. Jean-Luc picked up a bit of twine and began to help his brother tie the vines. This went on for over an hour before Robert turned and gave Jean-Luc a dirty look.
"I guess I'll...go see what Beverly and Marie are up to."
"Make yourself at home. You know where everything is."
"Right." And with that, Jean-Luc turned away from his brother and headed back to the house. While he walked, he couldn't help but think about his brother, which naturally brought on thinking about his father. His father had wanted both his sons to follow into the family wine making business, but Jean-Luc had had other ideas. He wondered if his brother resented him still after all these years.
When Jean-Luc entered the kitchen via the backdoor it was to the smell of fresh bread baking. He took a deep breath and savoured it. "Mmm. It smells great Marie. Not much cause to smell fresh bread up on theEnterprise.".
Marie looked up from the soup pot on the stove. "Don't thank me. Your Beverly is making the bread. Go thank her." Marie turned back to the soup with a smug smile on her face.
"Beverly, you baked bread?" Jean-Luc asked, choosing to ignore Marie's use of "your". Beverly swatted his arm.
"You know I used to bake."
Jean-Luc cleared his throat "Yes, but...that was a long time ago...before...before..."
"Jack died. You can say it. It's been a long time, Jean-Luc." A small smile graced her lips.
"Yes. Well, it smells lovely. I can't wait to try it." Jean-Luc gestured to his dirty appearance. "I think I'll wash up and change before Supper." Beverly nodded and stretched up to kiss his cheek. Jean-Luc blushed and glanced over at Marie, who was pretending to be very engrossed in stirring her soup pot.
Beverly wrinkled her nose. "Why do you smell like manure?"
"Ah, that'll be the fertilizer. I met Robert out in the vines." Beverly made shooing motions. "Go. Change. Please. You reek."
"Charming." Jean-Luc commented as he backed out of the kitchen and headed towards the stairs. He could hear the faint laughter of the two women as he climbed the stairs to his old bedroom.
Dinner that night was a subdued affair. Most of the conversation happened between Rene and Jean-Luc, with Rene peppering him with questions about Starfleet, or between Marie and Beverly. Robert remained stoically