Captain Picard massaged the side of his face as he entered the Bridge. Counselor Troi was already on her feet, eyes narrowed in concern. He waved her off and she hesitantly took her seat, exchanging a look with Commander Riker.

"Sir, I suggest you go to Sickbay and have that eye looked at," said Riker, managing to keep a straight face.

"I have officially been thrown out of Sickbay, Number One." He took his seat, refusing to meet his First Officer or Counselor's eyes.

"And the shiner?"

"Nothing I didn't deserve," came Picard's quick and reserved answer. Will was trying to keep his face neutral, but was failing miserably. Deanna glared in his direction for his lack of tact. He cleared his throat, busying himself with the monitor in front of him.

"Sir, I think maybe the three of you should sit down together and talk about his without physical altercations." Again, Picard put up a hand to stop her.

"Believe me, Counselor, I know." He put his head in his hands and let out a long sigh. "I just can't believe…"

"That your best friend is alive or that your wife's dead husband is alive?" Jean-Luc let out a dry laugh at Deanna's question.

"Why does there have to be a difference?" The bitterness was obvious, but his head immediately popped up at the sound of a new voice on the Bridge.

"Because men are jealous idiots." Beverly Picard stood on the ramp outside the turbolift. "Let's have a look at the eye, shall we?" She motioned to his Ready Room. Picard let out a weak smile and stood up to join his wife.

"You have the Bridge, Number One." Will saluted him as the Captain followed his CMO into his Ready Room. Once inside, she flicked her wrist towards the couch and set her medical kit on his desk. He reluctantly took a seat, glancing at her with uncertainty. Jean-Luc watched her carefully, trying to read his wife's body language. She was past angry now, but she kept running her hand through her hair, something she had picked up from Jack from during the time they were together.

"Beverly…" he murmured, desperate for her to say something. She looked tired and stressed, both emotionally and physically. There was a look of defeat in her dulled blue eyes that told him she wasn't going to pick a fight. She simply shook her head, signally she wasn't ready to talk either. Settling down next to him, Dr. Picard healed the bruise around his eye. Once she was done, she buried her head in his shoulder.

"Oh, Jean-Luc…" He quickly wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her into his lap. Beverly was completely still as he held her there, letting her take in everything that happened.

"I'm sorry," was the only thing he knew to say.

"I know." Her voice shook a little as she finally untangled herself from his arms and looked him in the eye. "It just came as such a shock, seeing Wesley stand there next to his father…"

"He is really excited," said Jean-Luc, trying to keep neutral. She smiled, busying herself by straightening his uniform. A single tear slipped unchecked down her cheek. "Hey, don't cry." She shook her head, a sad smile on her lips.

"I'm sorry…I just don't know what to do." A deep sigh issued from her throat and she brushed the tear aside. Jean-Luc fidgeted a bit beneath her weight and his voice was low when he spoke again.

"I would understand if you decided to…" he trailed off as her snapped up. For a moment they stared at each other before she burst out laughing. Startled he asked, "What?" Beverly arched her back so she could lean back over his leg onto the couch, still laughing.

"You are actually afraid I'm going to leave you for him," she giggled. The confused look on Jean-Luc's face did not go away. "You're threatened by him!" A hard look crossed his face and she tried to diminish her amusement.

"I'm not threatened, I just know that you loved him-"

"A long time ago!" she interrupted. "Goodness, you're worse than Jack. I tried to explain to him how I loved you and he didn't seem to get it either." It was Jean-Luc's turn to grin.

"You tried to explain our relationship to him? In five minutes?" This time they both laughed at the concept. "Beverly, there are some things about us I still don't understand. We led the most confusing love life in the history of the subject. Hell, most of our life on the Enterprise together no one can comprehend and you tried to explain it to Jack?"

"Well, I was mad at him, and you, and I was trying to make him see reason. I didn't go into details or anything…" With a smile she pulled herself back into a sitting position and placed her hand on his cheek. "Jean-Luc, I'm not going to leave you. You are stuck with me, like it or not."

"I love you." Beverly leaned forward to kiss him.

"I love you, too." Foreheads rested together they sat there in each other's arms until Beverly exclaimed, "Oh, shoot!"

"What?" The red head had hopped of his lap and rushed to grab her kit.

"I left Jack in Sickbay all by himself. He has no idea how to get around this ship."

"Can't one of your staff show him around?" Captain Picard raised wearily to his feet.

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of. The last thing I need is him talking to anyone-they think I'm mad as a hatter anyway…Jackson Crusher will not help the situation," she muttered. Placing a quick kiss to his cheek she took her leave of the room and rushed off to locate her ex-husband.

Unfortunately for her, Jack had occupied himself in her absence by talk to her head nurse, Alyssa Ogawa. When Dr. Picard entered her Sickbay, she could hear both of their amused laughter. As soon as Alyssa noticed her boss' presence, she tried to stifle the giggle, knowing Beverly had not had the best day so far. However, years of practice had taught her to read the tempered redhead and seeing the calm demeanor on her face, she allowed herself to finish laughing.

"Mr. Crusher, did I not warn you about harassing my staff?" Beverly tried to sound professional, but Jack saw right through it, and chose to play along.

"I'm not sure you mentioned it, Doctor. However, I will restrain myself from future harassment." Shaking her head as she put away her medical kit she heard him add to Alyssa, "See, she's trying to be mad at me, but she can't help it. You know, under all that 'Howard temper' exterior, she really has a heart of gold…a very frozen, hard to penetrate, completely hidden-"

"Jack!"

"What?" He wore that innocent look again. "She knows exactly what I'm talking about. I'm sure this poor young woman has been on the receiving end of one of your rampages, am I correct?"

"Never, sir," mocked Alyssa, winking at Beverly. "She must have reserved that for you." Jack pretended to be hurt, wincing as he pulled a hand up to his heart.

"I actually expected to get a bigger lecture after hitting Jean-Luc; she must have mellowed in her old age. Speaking of which, where is your new husband? According to you, I owe him an apology." Jack rolled his eyes in Alyssa's direction causing her to shake her head and leave the room, giving the two some privacy.

"We can all sit down and talk after his shift is over." Seeing his mischievous look, she added, "Like civilized people. I'm serious Jack, he feels guilty enough already."

"Alright, alright. I'll hear him out." They stared at each other for a moment before he sighed. "So you are happy?" A smile graced her tired features.

"Yes. Jean-Luc and I…" Beverly searched for the right words, folding her arms across her chest in frustration. "I love him with all of my heart, Jack. Please understand that."

"I will never understand it, but I can live with it if it makes you happy." Realizing that was all she was going to get from him, she reached for his hand.

"Would you like a tour? She's a beautiful ship, you know. Plus you can see what Wesley is up to."

Next Time:

"Sir, I never knew Beverly Crusher when she was married to you. To me, her last name was something of the past, not the name of a wife. Everyone aboard this ship wanted to see them get together. Hell, we had a betting pool going for when they would finally admit their feelings for one another. In our eyes, Jean-Luc Picard was the only man for Beverly. The wedding was something we had wished would happen for years." Will let the other man take in his words. Taking another drink he wondered if perhaps he had said too much. So, when Jack finally did speak, Riker held his breath.