The night was getting cold. Beverly shivered as dusk set upon Caldos. As the goose bumps began to rise on her long arms and legs, Beverly walked into the house. The warmth of the fire instantly welcomed her and her nose was tantalized by the smell of her favourite vegetable stew that was simmering on the stove.

"Nana?" Beverly quested, not seeing her grandmother in the kitchen or the living room.

"I'll be right down, Beverly!" Felisa Howard called from her room upstairs, "why don't you get the bowls out from the cabinet and ladle out some stew for dinner."

Beverly's mind was turning over and over. She was now 23 years old and Caldos – though a lovely and safe planet - was getting dreary and a little boring. Yes, it had been a good place to recover and grow up after what she had witnessed on Arvada 3. The planet's rolling hills, temperate weather, and relative solace had been a good place to forget her childhood and make new, less traumatic memories. She spent her days hiking through the highlands, looking at plants – photographing and cataloguing them in journals. She studied textbook upon textbook – preparing herself for the SFMCEE (Starfleet Medical College Entrance Exam). During her nights, after her studies, she would spend time with Nana, gleaning precious knowledge gained from years upon years of healing and treating various ailments. Felisa Howard was a woman filled with an infinite amount of knowledge and wisdom. She had lived a long life and had seen an experienced more than Beverly would ever hope to. She seemed to have a limitless supply of knowledge from the topics of medicine and naturopathic healing all the way to different types of whiskies and wines. She was truly a Renaissance woman.

Beverly reached up over the simmering stew into the cabinet and pulled out two colorfully decorated pottery bowls. Inhaling in the deeply satisfying smell of the cooking vegetables, she ladled herself a handsome portion. Beverly had always been quite thin, never really gaining weight – but never giving herself a chance to since she was always active.

"Beverly," Felisa called, her voice growing closer as she descended the old wooden staircase, "would you mind pulling the rolls out of the oven? I don't want them to get burned". Beverly quickly set down the ladle and the bowl of stew and promptly turned the oven off. As she drank in the sight of the freshly made bread, she quickly decided that whatever else she valued her Nana for, it was her cooking that she loved the most. The golden brown tops of the freshly baked rolls were making her stomach growl louder than a Cardassian cat.

"Thank you, dear" Felisa said quietly as she tiptoed up to kiss Beverly on the cheek.

"So, Lanky, how was the day? What did you learn?" Felisa smiled as she set the two bowls on the roughly hewn kitchen table and slowly sat down – a testament to her age.

"Well, Nana, I've been thinking and mulling it over and based on my results from the practice tests, I think that I am ready for sit the SFMCEE. If I take it next month, I'll be able to submit my application early, and hopefully that will help me to procure an interview. But, I was reading some of the "testamonials", I guess, from students who have applied and gotten into SFMC and they have all had proper education – going to high school, college, etc. Since I have no formal education because Caldos is a start up colony with no universities, I am guessing that in order to get noticed, I am going to have to really nail that exam…" Beverly looked into her stew, a slightly daunted look settling in her eyes. Felisa reached over, "You, Lanky, I always tell you – are the smartest girl I know. You'll ace that test. And, if by some strange twist of fate, you don't ace it – apply any way, see what happens, and if you don't get in, there are plenty of other medical schools and there is always next year. Don't worry honey, you won't be stuck on Caldos forever." She smiled, and gave Beverly's hand a comforting squeeze. Beverly smiled back at her Nana, a started on her stew.

The shuttle for Utopia Planetia was set to depart in an hour. Since there was no formal testing center on Caldos, Beverly would have to take a four hour shuttle to Utopia Planetia, wait a day for the test to begin, sit the 8 hour exam, and then take the shuttle back to Caldos the following afternoon. The shuttle bay was crowded with visitors and business people leaving Caldos. It was a cold afternoon, which was seemingly unusual for Caldos, since the weather control station usually moderated the temperature, rain-fall, and snow fall. However, Beverly was immune. Her mind was racing with formulas, biology, concepts, drug names, and equations. She was going to give this test everything that she had. She was determined.

As she boarded the shuttle, she took one look back, seeing Felisa wave goodbye. Beverly smiled. She was ready.

The test was long and grueling. 8 hours with one break was enough to make anyone go mad. But it was over. Her work paid off, and she had passed. Not long after her result, she was contacted by StarFleet Medical to interview at the campus on Earth. Beverly, though her family was from Scotland, had never been to the planet Earth. It was daunting. It was exciting. Finally, she thought.

Earth was like nothing she ever imagined. Eagerly, she peered out the window of the shuttle. Most of her fellow passengers had fallen asleep during the journey. But not Beverly – she couldn't stop fidgeting. After long hours, a blue planet had appeared in the distance. She was mesmerized. Clouds. Blue. So beautiful, she thought. As the shuttle drew nearer, the minutes passed by even slower. Finally. The shuttle landed. The clock read that it was seven am. Her interview was not until noon. She scrambled off the shuttle and scurried into the shuttle bay. The station was like nothing she had ever seen before. There were throngs of people milling to and fro. All types of people: humans, Vulcans, Ferengi… types of variety that she could not even begin to fathom. She held her bag close to her body, clutching onto something familiar in strange territory. The crowd began to carry her through the bay and finally she made her way to the outside. Earth, she repeated to herself and smiled.

Jean Luc Picard was an awkward young man. Oh yes he was confident and handsome, but awkward nonetheless. Well, he was only awkward around people of his age. Even his brother Robert thought he was strange and he had known him his whole life. Jean Luc did not prefer to think of himself as awkward, though, but different and wholly unique. He was antiquated – preferring the things of times gone by. He loved paper- something that was passé in the world of padds. More than that, he loved tea. Not just the tea that was programmed into the replicators, but real tea. Tea was such a rarity. No one wanted to cultivate it en masse any longer – not since the 22nd century. But real tea steeped and brewed was a rare treat indeed. His roommate Jack Crusher appreciated his awkwardness – but had decided that it was his personal duty to acclimate Jean Luc to the 24th century. He began with little things – cheap booze and underground parties. Jean Luc hated both. Then, Jack moved onto pretty girls – maybe that was what he was into. Nope. Jean Luc was too courteous – too "respectful", thought Jack. He had brought him to an off campus party – an event that Jean Luc was skeptical of going to because it took away from an evening of study. But, nonetheless, Jack had dragged him. There were so many girls there. All dressed in nothing but the latest Risan fashions and all very kind to the eyes. The instant Jean Luc had entered the room, 5 women were on him like white on rice. But, instead of chatting them up, Jean Luc started a discussion on the merits of the prime directive in obviously failing societies. He never once, Jack noticed, paid attention to their more womanly attributes, or tried to take any of them home! Yes, Jean Luc Picard was unlike anyone Jack Crusher had met before.

Beverly sauntered through the Starfleet campus. So lovely, she thought. The air was warm and a gentle breeze played with her long red hair as she ambled along the sonorous paths. Flowers. So many beautiful flowers lined the paths. They were so carefully planted and cared for. She stopped and bent down. Daffodils. She smiled. Nana planted Daffodils on Caldos. She loved them; so delicate and unique.

"You like my flowers, huh?" Startled, Beverly looked up at the older man, squinting as the sun's rays just past his shoulder hit her eyes. "Yes," she smiled "I was the admiring the campus. Did you plant all these flowers?"

"Every one of them. It's a labour of love. Sometimes these kids can get a little roudy and trample 'em . But, it's OK. Can I help you up?" he smiled down at the tall, lanky red head. Reaching his hand out, she grabbed it and stood. "My name's Richard Booths, but kids 'round here call me Boothby". Beverly smiled, "nice to meet you Mr. Boothby. My name is Beverly Howard. I'm not actually a student here, I just came for an interview at the medical school."

"Oh, a genius!" he chuckled

"Well, sometimes I think it's just luck, but I certainly hope I get in", she looked down somewhat abashedly.

"You will, Ms. Howard. I have a pit feeling. You will most certainly get in." he grinned confidently.

"Boothby!" a voice called in greeting. Beverly turned abruptly to see a cadet dressed in his uniform headed toward the two. "Jean Luc!" Boothby smiled as he extended his hand. "Good to see you. Are you off to class?" "Eh no, actually I was on my way to the dining hall to get breakfast" the cadet answered plainly. Jean Luc had noticed the red headed stranger immediately. Though her back was turned to him, he was mesmerized. Nothing, though, had prepared him for seeing her face. She was beautiful. Absolutely stunning, he thought. Jean Luc had seen beautiful women. He had seen all kinds of beautiful women. But she was different. There was something about her. It was a feeling.

Beverly turned at the sound of the voice. That voice. She's heard accents like it on Caldos. But this one was richer and mellower. She never expected to here it here in San Francisco, so she turned in surprise. He was only slightly taller than herself. He was thin, athletic, but also bald. His eyes. His smile. She drank in the sight of him. He looked at her. Sapphire met Hazel.

Boothby looked on smiling. The two of them just stood there staring at one another. There were no words spoken, just a look. Boothby had seen that look before. But that as a long time ago – another life it seemed.

"Jean Luc," Boothy coughed. Jean Luc jumped slightly, torn from the intensity of the moment. "This is Beverly Howard. She's interviewing at the medical school in a few hours. Why don't you take her with you to get breakfast?"

Still staring at the red head, "w-why yes, of course. Ms. Howard it's a pleasure to meet you" he smiled and extended his hand. Their hands met in greeting. Electricity. He felt it. Well, no it wasn't a physical feeling. But, it was something. She looked down at their joined hands. How strange. Did he feel that too? "Would you like to join me for breakfast?"

They talked. And, they talked. And they kept talking. They talked about everything. They talked about books, tea, theatre, music, and the Academy. They talked for hours. Food grew cold and lay forgotten on the table. He couldn't stop talking to her. She couldn't stop listening to him. After some hours, Jean Luc glanced at the clock behind him. It was 11:40.

"Ms. Howard, what time did you say your interview was at?"

"12:00"

"Ok. Well since I don't want to make you late – shall we "run for it"?"

Beverly looked at the large chronometer in the dining hall "Crap!" She quickly gathered her rucksack and the two ran as fast as they could.

Breathlessly reaching the entrance to the admissions office, they had made it with ten minutes to spare. Jean Luc opened the door and directed her to the waiting area. Four other well-dressed applicants sat nervously fidgeting, shifting about in their seats waiting for the interviews to begin.

"Jean Luc," Beverly looked down, her own pre-interview jitters building, "thank you for a lovely morning –" A soft hand on her shoulder and a reassuring finger underneath her chin, he brought her gaze up to meet his, "Beverly", he whispered, "it's going to be fine. I have no doubt that everything today is going to go perfectly, you'll be-"

"Howard, Beverly" a tall Vulcan stepped into the room with a padd in hand. Beverly turned, Jean Luc's arm still resting on her shoulder reassuring her. "Please follow me".

With one last look back, her smiled at her. Blue once again met Hazel. She smiled back. It was going to be fine.