Gold
Synopsis: Beverly is gold. Sequel to "Red"
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to CBS, its parents and affiliates. Just taking the characters out for a jaunt around the galaxy, I warrant they will be returned in the same condition I borrowed them.
Swallowing the bite of asparagus, Jean-Luc sets his fork on the table beside his plate and glances across the table at his dinner companion. "It really doesn't matter to me what you look like. But, for what it's worth, I'm glad you abandoned the wig. I think you look lovely the way you are."
Smiling gently, Beverly sets her own fork down beside her plate at the table in Jean-Luc's tiny kitchen. "Thank you. Even though you have a thing for brunettes?"
"Brunettes?" Off-put, Jean-Luc furrows his brows in bemusement.
"Vash," supplies Beverly dryly, brining her wine glass to her lips.
Eyes dilating, Jean-Luc is dumbfounded. "Vash?"
"Your little Risan vacation," teases Beverly, taking a sip of her wine.
Clearing his dry throat, Jean-Luc reaches for his own glass of wine. " Yes, well…that…erm…that was nothing."
"She seemed to be quite taken with you," states Beverly pointedly, watching as Jean-Luc gulps his wine rapidly.
Draining his glass, Jean-Luc formulates a response. "We…uh…we're just friends."
Setting her glass on the table, Beverly relaxes, processing his words. "Really? You…you don't….you're not interested in her?"
Placing his glass in front of his plate, Jean-Luc smirks lightly. "My interests lie elsewhere."
Almost blushing, Beverly averts her eyes, her mind reeling with this new information.
"Is that what all this was about? Vash?" Jean-Luc asks, leaning forward.
Reddening, Beverly bows her head. "I thought perhaps you liked her. It seemed you had so much fun on your little adventure, hunting and digging together. I guess I thought you'd found your treasure."
Lips curling into a grin, Jean-Luc reaches for her hand across the table. "No. She's not my treasure. You are, Beverly. You're not just any treasure. You're pure gold."
Surprised and delighted by his uncharacteristic sentiment, Beverly smiles. "Not diamond? Latinum?"
Shaking his head, Jean-Luc chortles.
Squeezing his hand affectionately, Beverly gazes into his eyes earnestly. "Is that true?"
Retrieving his wine glass, Jean-Luc nods toward the living area. "Let's make ourselves comfortable and discuss it further, hmmm?"
Smiling in relief, Beverly bobs her head. "That sounds like…a golden idea."