I wrote three stories which turned into a trilogy even though that was never my intent... mostly because I wrote them out of order. I apologize for any headaches caused by my attempts to explain how it all happened.

Second in the Accidental Trilogy

I wrote this story first with no inkling I would write the other two, much less tie them together. Since there was no planning involved, there might seem to be a step missing between the getting together in 'Healing' and the baby making here in 'Enciente' (which is French for pregnant for anyone who didn't already know that). If you're the romantic sort who needs a wedding, try 'Dearly Beloved' which was posted previously. It has nothing to do with the trilogy, but it does get them married.

Disclaimer: Paramount owns 'em, we just put 'em to good use.

Enceinte
By E. Wallace
1998

Part 1 - News

Back pressed against the cabinet, she slid to the floor then leaned her forehead on her up raised knees. Her breathing was ragged, but at least her stomach seemed to be steady - for the moment. She heard him call her name, and her head snapped up, a move she instantly regretted. 'This isn't the way it was supposed to go,' she thought forlornly.

Jean-Luc wearily rubbed the back of his neck as he entered their quarters. He stopped short when he noticed the table. It was set more elaborately than a usual dinner required. He panicked as he mentally ran down a list of important dates he might have possibly forgotten. No birthday or anniversary came to mind. Of course, that didn't mean he was off the hook yet.

"Beverly?" he called, as he headed for the bedroom. He glanced at the discarded uniform on the bed then frowned as he spied the black leggings next to it. His wife was one of the few people he knew who was as methodical as he was. It must have taken something drastic to have interrupted a habit as automatic as changing her clothes. He moved toward the bathroom, calling her name again.

"Jean-Luc," her voice was faint through the door. "Go - oh, hell, you might as well come in."

Opening the door, he was stunned to find her sitting on the floor. The unusual paleness of her face was heightened by the fiery hair framing it. His eyes raked over her, taking in the dark green sweater that came to just mid thigh, but could find no visible injuries. He rushed to her side. Her skin was clammy as he brushed damp hair off her face. "Beverly! Are you all right? What happened? Did you fall?"

She waved off his rapid fire questions with one hand while holding her head with the other. "Jean-Luc, don't shout," she pleaded, her voice low and gravelly. "I'm all right, just help me up."

Jean-Luc slipped an arm around her waist and drew her to her feet. She swayed slightly and clutched the front of his uniform to steady herself as she closed her eyes against the wave of dizziness that swept over her. He was good and scared now as he lifted her into his arms. Beverly groaned at the sudden movement, her fingers twisting the uniform material tighter. "I'm calling Sickbay," he insisted as he carried her back into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed.

"No, don't!" She refused to release her hold until he looked at her. Now that the room had stopped spinning, she mustered a small smile. "If you'll get me a cup of tea, I'll explain everything." He hesitated. "It's all right, I promise."

He left, against his better judgment. In the few moments he was gone, she got up and managed to finish dressing. She was putting her uniform away when he returned. "Beverly! You shouldn't be up!"

She took the tea cup, sipped from it and sat back down on the bed with a small sigh. "This isn't the way I had planned to tell you, but you might as well get used to the worst of it up front. It's going to be bad enough without you panicking every time. I just hope it doesn't last as long as it did with Wesley."

"Beverly, nothing you've said has been the least bit informative or reassuring. What is going on? And what does Wesley have to do with it?"

She could feel the fear and exasperation warring within him. Setting the cup on the nightstand, she took his hands in hers. "First of all, I'm fine, perfectly healthy - recent appearances aside. Second," she took a deep breath, "Jean-Luc, I'm pregnant." Beverly watched more emotions flash across his face, confusion, shock, disbelief.

"Preg... pregnant?" he stammered. "Beverly, are you sure?"

She gently caressed his cheek. "Yes, Papa, I'm sure. Even if I hadn't been, this evening's little episode would have convinced me." She saw the disbelief slip away to be replaced by -nothing. He stared at her, his face blank. His lack of reaction was beginning to frighten her. What if he didn't think this was good news? What if he thought it was a mistake? What if - 'Stop it, Beverly!' she scolded herself. 'Just ask him.' "Jean-Luc? Say something." He still didn't move. She shook him slightly. "Jean-Luc! You're scaring me! Say something, anything!"

Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, hugging her close. "Dear God, are people really allowed to be this happy?" he whispered hoarsely in her ear.

Relief flooded her heart. "Of course they are," she replied tenderly. She tried to draw back enough to look at him, but he tightened his hold. "Jean-Luc, I can't breathe!"

He jerked away from her so abruptly that he had to catch her shoulders to keep her from tumbling off the bed. "Beverly, I'm sorry! Did I hurt you? Did I hurt-"

"Jean-Luc, stop! I'm fine. Now take a deep breath. Good." She saw some of the tension ease from his face. "Talk to me. Are you really happy about this?"

Jean-Luc struggled to find the words that could even come close to what he felt. He spoke quietly, but the awe was clear in his voice. "I never imagined anything like this could happen to me. I've been feeling this way since the first day you said you love me. Every time I think there's no room in my heart for any more joy, you turn around and prove me wrong."

The words were perfect. She leaned in to kiss him, and he was surprised to feel dampness transferred to his own skin. He sat back to search her face.

"What is it? Aren't you happy?" he asked worriedly.

Beverly caught his hand and kissed that, too. "Of course I am! For a long time I thought I would never feel again, certainly not this much. That's what you've done for me." She gave him another quick kiss, then wiped a hand across her cheeks. "This is something else you'll have to get used to," she laughed. "There's no telling what's going to make me cry from now on!"

Jean-Luc slipped his hand free to tenderly remove the last traces of tears. "I don't care," he assured her, "so long as they're happy ones."

oxo

All evening, the only thing Jean-Luc could talk about was the baby. Although they had decided to keep the news to themselves, for a few days at least, he could hardly wait to send a letter to his sister-in-law, Marie, to tell her.

Lying spooned together in bed, he tenderly caressed Beverly's abdomen. "How far along are you?"

"I was wondering when you were going to ask that. Almost seven weeks. That puts it about a week before Deanna and Will's announcement."

"And that's important because-?"

"Because, if it happened after, Will would probably try to claim credit as our inspiration!"

"Then we have about seven months before the baby comes?" he asked almost rhetorically. He was considering larger quarters to accommodate a nursery and wondering just what it would take to get the Picard family cradle from France to the Enterprise.

"So I guess you like the idea of being a father?" Beverly interrupted his musings.

"Like the idea? It's almost the best news I've ever heard."

"Almost?" she demanded as she turned in his arms to face him. "That's it?"

He playfully tapped her nose. "Well, it is fairly equal you saying you'd marry me. Still, they both come behind you saying you love me."

She nuzzled his ear then trailed her lips down his neck to trace his collarbone. He moaned under her tantalizing ministrations then abruptly pulled back.

"Beverly," he croaked, "are you sure this is a good idea? I mean now that you- well, that you're—"

"Pregnant. It's a perfectly acceptable word for a rather common condition," she laughed. "Besides, 'this' has been a good idea fairly regularly over the last seven weeks, up to and including last night! And I wouldn't be so willing to give it up too soon if I were you," she teased as she resumed her previous activities. "Besides, you still have a lot to learn about Howard women and their libidos."

Jean-Luc's shock at her words turned quickly to pure pleasure as her wandering hand drifted lower. This was one lesson he was going to enjoy learning!

oxo

One week later

"We aren't going to be able to keep this a secret much longer. Will and Deanna are coming back tonight. She's going to know what's going on." Beverly laughed mischievously as she finished dressing. "And we can't ask her to keep quiet. The others would never forgive us!"

Jean-Luc wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and pulled her back against his chest. His hands splayed out over her flat stomach with a tender protectiveness that brought tears to her eyes.

"We've had plenty of practice this last week at keeping our news to ourselves," he murmured in her ear.

"No, we've just kept the details to ourselves. Even Data suspects something." Beverly turned to face him, draping her arms around his neck. She touched her warm lips to his. "Besides, they'll be delighted with this second 'payoff'."

He smiled at her paraphrased quotation. Six months ago, he had been slightly embarrassed by Will's touching toast, even if he had been acting as best man at their wedding.

'Many of us have waited a long time for the 'payoff' this wedding represents. But none have waited as long as the two people most directly involved. For twenty-five years, they shared hope and joy, fear and tragedy. They took a winding road through friendship to a love that's as perfect as anything has a right to be. No two people have ever entered into marriage with a stronger conviction that this is right. The family and friends gathered here today are honored to be a part of this wonderful day. To Jean-Luc and Beverly, may your love grow and protect you forever.'

Their love had indeed grown, now to include a third person. Jean-Luc still marveled at the very thought of becoming a father. He knew with unwavering certainty that the feeling would never end.

Beverly watched the play of emotions over her husband's beloved face, and tears welled again. She tried to blink them back, but one escaped. Concern now etched his features as he gently wiped the tear away.

"Beverly, what's wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing," she whispered and hugged him close. "I told you to get used to the waterworks."

oxo

There was only a scattering of personnel in Ten Forward. As Beverly sat with Alyssa, she kept a diligent eye on the rest of the room. Geordi sat at the bar, daring Guinan to come up with something new. To her right, Jean-Luc stood talking with Data. She paused briefly to watch her husband. 'What would it be like to see that face staring back at me in miniature?' she thought idly. Her musings almost caused her to miss her cue.

Will and Deanna entered the doors at the far side of the room. They parted, she to greet Beverly, he to join the Captain.

Jean-Luc sighed. 'I guess it's too late to run.' Aloud, he simply said, "Welcome back, Number One."

They watched the women hug as though Deanna had been gone a year instead of three weeks. Will heard the captain grunt and turned to look at him. His expression was unreadable, but there was a slight flush to his skin.

"Pregnant!"

Will's head snapped around, his own greeting lost. He realized he'd heard Deanna's voice distinctly because everyone in the room heard it distinctly. "Beverly, that's wonderful!"

Jean-Luc glanced at Will and Data and shrugged. "Beverly was never very good at keeping secrets."

The news swept through the ship in less than an hour.

tbc