Between the trill and the tramp, the metamorph and john doe, Beverly and Jean-Luc can always be relied upon to make the most horribly inappropriate choices in their love lives.

When she permits herself truthful reflection, Beverly draws comfort from this constant in their relationship.

Counselor Troi calls it subconscious self-sabotage.

There's a reason why Beverly rarely shares her feelings about Jean-Luc with Deanna.

He has his needs and he indulges them, albeit less frequently these days. He's a different man to the man she first knew in that respect.

And Beverly's been keeping watch.

She knows what first sparks his interest and what draws him to pursue it. Captaincy of the flagship requires a certain discipline and various factors in his life have made him more circumspect than he would have been otherwise, but Beverly knows exactly how far he'll go and she knows that he'll end it. Because he always ends it.

Beverly's never felt threatened.

She knew what course this latest love affair would take from the moment Jean-Luc lied to her about the herbal tea blend he introduced to their breakfast routine. He hadn't found it by chance; Nella Daren had programmed it for him.

Beverly checked the replicator files.

Nella was forthright and determined and undoubtedly brilliant in the field of stellar sciences. Of course Jean-Luc was intrigued by her. But Nella was a pale imitation at best.

Sooner or later, he would realise that - sooner, if past experience was any guide. Although it had been annoying to learn that Deanna had given him her blessing to pursue the relationship.

Jean-Luc's never asked permission before.

And the duets - Beverly had wondered about those. Will Riker said they'd been playing Beethoven on musical instruments in various Jeffries tubes throughout the ship. She hadn't been aware that Jean-Luc could even play an instrument.

But of course it couldn't last. And it didn't.

He called it quits in the immediate aftermath of the firestorms on Bersallis III. Nella had transferred off the Enterprise two weeks ago.

Beverly's allowed Jean-Luc plenty of time to brood and he's taken full advantage of it, barely leaving his cabin outside his duty shifts. But it's time to shift their relationship back into gear and she's invited herself to breakfast in his quarters.

She doesn't expect him to be talkative and she isn't disappointed but there is a sadness about him he's never had in the wake of all the other failed romances.

She thinks it might be grief.

Later, sharing a cup of non-herbal tea in companionable silence, Beverly notices the Ressikian flute, out of its box, resting close by his side.

Jean-Luc meets her gaze.

Speaking softly, he hesitantly braves the question,

"Have you ever wondered what your life might have been like had Jack lived?"

"No," she lies automatically.

And suddenly she realises that it's not about Nella being a pale imitation. It's not about Nella at all.

It's about Eline.

And how can she hope to compete with a woman who never lived but nevertheless haunts him.

Beverly's never felt threatened.

Until now.