I haven't written a fanfiction before so please bear with me through this and all comments are appreciated. This particular fanfiction will be about what happens after the episode "Allegiance" of Next Generation. In this episode Picard is kidnapped and while he is gone a Duplicate takes his place onboard the Enterprise-D. This other Picard starts a romance with Beverly and they never really get into what was said after the real Picard came back. This is an alternate universe because the way I want to take it is not what the writers had in mind. They would not touch on the concept until around season 7 during the episode "Attached".

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own anything Star Trek the only thing I stake claim to is the idea for this story. (Sorry if it has been done before but I really didn't know and if so please tell me.)

Picard had just gotten back from the alien ship and was glad to have some freedom again. According to Star fleet regulations he must go see the counselor before he can be cleared for duty. As he was walking to Troi's office he ran into Beverly.

"Oh Captain… sorry… um… where are you going?" Clearly flustered she stuttered her way through that one sentence. She wasn't planning on telling him about her "date" with the doppelganger, but with the way this encounter is going she may not have a choice.

"To Counselor Troi's office to be cleared for duty. And you?" Noticing the uneasiness she had he decided to wait to ask about her encounter with the doppelganger. He was rather curious about how his best friend did not notice the difference in the other Picard. She was the one he would have guessed to figure it out first. They have known each other for over 15 years.

"Oh… well… Just to my quarters… to get some sleep… long day and all." It was 0700. Beverly almost literally ran away leaving Picard in her wake.

As Picard was going through the motions with Deanna all he could think about was Beverly's reaction to him. What had happened with the doppelganger? Why was she so timid and nervous? Both good questions yet he had no answers. After he was done and was ordered to have 2 days of leave as per regulation, so he decided to go see Beverly.

Beverly was sitting in her quarters thinking. Just thinking. Not really about anything and then about everything. She was startled when she heard the chime. Without thinking she said "Come in" then immediately regretted it, knowing full well who was on the other side.

"Hello Captain"

"I am officially off duty for the next 2 days, so please call me Jean-luc"

"So what are you doing here, if you don't mind my asking."

"Well I noticed that you seemed to run off after seeing me earlier and I wanted to know why my dearest friend is so skittish around me."

This is it you have to tell him. You can't keep this up. If he feels the same way then I will be the happiest woman in the universe. If not then we can just go back to being friends. "To tell you the truth, it's a long story so you might want to sit down."

Puzzled Jean-Luc sits down on the end of her couch and listened as she explained something he thought he would never hear.

"When the other Jean-Luc was here, well he asked me on a date. I accepted because, this is so ridiculous."

"Just say is Beverly it can't be that bad."

"It's not bad really but more embarrassing. See I have wanted you to further our relationship to something more than friends for some time. I just haven't known how to say it."

"Can I be completely honest with you?"

"Yes please."

"You have no idea how long I have wanted you to do the same thing. I always thought that if I made an advancement, you might pull away or worse stop speaking to me. I didn't want to go fast because I didn't know how you felt."

They just stared at each other not sure of how to proceed. Until finally Beverly got up and went over to his side of the couch. "I don't want to wait anymore."

She leans in and kisses him. As lips touch everything just melts away. It seems that all of the pent up sexual frustration is breaking through. Jean-Luc eases her onto her back on the couch; hovering over her, everything is right. He is holding the woman he loves for the first time and it feels great. Beverly had similar feelings, she had wanted this for so long it's hard to pinpoint when she started having these feelings for him. And now that she knows she is never letting him go. It may get bad at times but she knows that what they have is something real. After all they both hesitated in taking that leap into the relationship for fear of losing something good. That proves that they care enough to take the other's feelings into perspective.

Love is the one word to describe their relationship and this is real.

"We have to stop before this goes too far." Jean-Luc said as he tries to back off of Beverly but she holds him to her tight.

"Why? This is what we both want. Why not just let it happen?" She was adamant in her kisses to get him to comply. Sadly it failed. He got up and walked to the other side of the room so as to not be tempted.

"I agree this is what we both want but taking it fast will not help to have a stable relationship. And I for one would rather have a slow stable relationship with you than have a fast flame that will go out."

"We don't know that that would happen. We do know however that we love each other so why not take that love to the next level?"

She walked toward him and starts to hug him from behind while kissing his neck. He is tempted to give in but ultimately doesn't.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow?"

"No why?"

"Good I will pick you up at 20 hundred hours. Goodnight." He quickly leaves in order to not get tempted again.

The next day was agonizing. All Picard could think about was his date with Beverly. When he was on the holodeck preparing he hadn't noticed how anxious he was. When it was 14 hundred everything was set and it was perfect.

Beverly had similar distractions. Every time someone came through the door she desperately wanted it to be Jean-Luc. She was so preoccupied that Alyssa Ogawa had to ask if she was alright. She was so embarrassed that she stayed in her office the rest of her shift. After her shift was over she went back to her quarters and started to get ready for her date with Picard.

Jean-Luc was in a similar situation. Taking a sonic shower he was contemplating if everything was going to be to her liking. This was his chance to finally have the one he loves and he wanted everything to go perfectly. Beverly was the one, he knew this for a long time and even though it hurt him to keep his distance he knew he had to, for her happiness. When she was with Odan it broke his heart for her to confide in him. After his shower he put on his best cloths and went to the holodeck to get everything set up.

Beverly on the other hand was having trouble picking out her perfect outfit. Should I wear the green dress that highlights my red hair or the blue dress that brings out my eyes? Ouuu or maybe I should wear the red dress that highlights my every curve. Wait what is the décor for this evening? Huh, I don't even know.

"Crusher to Picard."

"Go ahead Beverly"

"What should I wear tonight? You never did tell me."

"Oh sorry. Wear something comfortable yet still formal. I have some surprises in store for tonight. Picard out."

Thoroughly confused she decided to go with the blue dress that clung to her torso and flared out at the waist to make a nice knee length dress. It was formal and comfortable so she hoped that it would be acceptable. I wonder what it is going to be like tonight.

As it got closer to 20 hundred hours each of them grew more nervous.

Now it was time, the moment they have been waiting for. As Picard stood outside Beverly's Quarters he was overcome with a sense of joy. At this point he knew that everything was going to be alright, that he and Beverly were meant to be with each other. He rang the chime and waited for the night to begin. The door opened and it showed a beautiful Beverly in the blue dress he hoped that she would ware.

"Shall we go?" holding out his arm to her.

"Yes we shall."

And so they went on their way to the holodeck for the date that they have both been waiting for.

Hope you like my first attempt comments are appreciated and I hope that everyone tells me what they think. Thanks.