Disclaimer: I do not nor will I ever own any part of the Star Trek series.

Building a Life

Chapter 2

"You enjoy it don't you?"

"Hm?" Beverly turned to look at her lunch partner.

"Pregnancy."

"Yes I suppose I do. There's no comparable feeling to being pregnant and for some reason I love that feeling. Some women I've cared for have loathed the feeling, and others are more neutral, but there's a few, myself included, who enjoy being pregnant," the doctor explained, unsure where Deanna stood since she was only pregnant once and for such a short period of time. They had talked over subspace about the experience but they didn't get too far in depth.

"I've heard a few people discuss it before. I can't say for sure myself because my pregnancy was so unexpected and strange, but I can imagine the enjoyment over creating a life. There's a saying that pregnant women glow and that must be the feeling you're talking about. It certainly emanates from you," Deanna said, laughing lightly afterward.

Beverly smiled at her friend before taking in a spoonful of soup. She was now 25 weeks pregnant, just in the beginning of her third trimester, well past morning sickness, but well into back pain. Jean-Luc had been staying up later as her pregnancy progressed, her only guess at his late nights being the clutter of PADDs on his desk. She presumed they were about pregnancy and babies due to his desire for knowledge and preparation. Of course, nothing could prepare their dedicated Captain for fatherhood, but she didn't let him know that.

A month after telling the essential crew and friends about the expectancy, Jean-Luc had insisted Beverly move into his quarters due to its larger size and she had agreed, Wesley and Data offering to assist in the transfer. They replicated a crib and a changing table in her second trimester and agreed on a suitable spot within the bedroom.

The doctor was drawn from her thoughts of the past weeks by the curiously full Ten-Forward. People had been trickling in but she assumed that was because it was the normal lunch period for most shifts, but it looked like there was nary a bare space in the room, except around her. Suddenly a soft hand rested on her shoulder, bringing her attention around. It was Jean-Luc. Smiling. Slowly he lowered himself down on to one knee and held out a box.

"Beverly Crusher," a lull fell over the room, everyone knowing what was coming next, afraid to breath and ruin the moment. "Will you marry me?"

Tears came to her eyes. Happy tears. "Of course!" she exclaimed, holding his face with her hands since she didn't feel comfortable falling to the floor to hug him. He smiled, slid the ring on her finger and stood up to plant a kiss on her lips. Only in an occasion like this, would Jean-Luc ever display affection in front of his crew, but she didn't care at the moment. Beverly looked over at Deanna who had the widest grin on her face and a mischievous look on her face. "You helped with this, didn't you?" the doctor asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about Doctor Picard," she responded.

"It's not official yet," Beverly laughed lightly.

"Well let's make it official," Jean-Luc suggested. She turned to him, having stood up a moment ago.

"Are you serious?"

"Everyone's here and Riker has been officiated in lieu of me so we needn't wait if you don't want to," he stated, a glow still in his eyes from the acceptance. Beverly looked around the room, there was Geordi, Worf, Data, Riker standing beside Deanna, Guinan, O'Brien, and Wesley. When their eyes met, Wesley came to his mother and embraced her.

"Why wait any longer, mom?" he told her, in a sense giving her his blessing. Pulling back she smiled at him.

"Thank you, Wes." Beverly turned back to her lover, a slight blush on her face due to the crowd they had accumulated. "Alright. Let's get married today."

It was quite a quick affair: bouquet provided by the replicator, bridesmaids easily determined and best man serving uncertainly, but really the only choice Jean-Luc could make with Riker serving as Officiator. Despite their joy at tying the knot, both husband and wife held back their passion when required to kiss at the end of the ceremony. They didn't like to put their relationship on display for the entire ship, but this was one instance it was called for.

"Thank you, Data, for serving as my best man."

"You are welcome, sir, but I still do not understand what it was I was meant to do in that position," Data stated, a confused look on his face as he continued to work on the problem.

"Traditionally, if the groom had tried to run before the wedding because of cold feet, you would have been the one to rationalize with him and convince him to go through with it. And as you saw, you held and then gave the ring to Jean-Luc when it was asked for in the vows," Beverly explained to the android.

"I understand, Doctor. Thank you," Data turned to Jean-Luc. "It would be unwise, Captain, to not marry Doctor Crusher for many reasons, one of which—"

"Thank you Data," Jean-Luc said in his typical 'stop talking Data' voice, while the others chuckled at the android's naivety.

Beverly shook her head lightly, still in the captain's arms, unwilling to let him go for the moment. He didn't mind considering the joviality in the room and his own happiness. When they were left relatively alone for a moment, she decided to mention something to her husband. Husband...how great that sounded.

"You know..." she started in a keen voice. "...The honeymoon will have to wait until after the baby is born, right?"

"Hm, that is true, but I thought a portion of the honeymoon could start today," he said in the same conniving voice.

"How so?" she asked, knowing he wasn't referring to making love as she frowned about the practice this late into pregnancy.

"Doctor Selar has informed me that Sickbay is taken care of and doesn't require its CMO for the rest of the day should she wish to take the afternoon off and spend it relaxing with her new husband," Jean-Luc informed her before kissing her cheek lightly.

"I suppose the CMO would enjoy some time off, although with her husband..."

"Beverly..." he warned.

"I'm just kidding, Jean-Luc," she smiled and kissed him briefly. "I'd love to hear some Shakespeare if you don't mind."

"Not at all."

I hope you enjoyed the second installment.