Part 9
"There's a nice shop on the Promenade we can look for dresses." Deanna points ahead of them as she and Beverly traverse the shops on the space station , the Enterprise docked for a couple days undergoing maintenance.
"I do want to find a dress for Audra. She's growing like a weed," replies Beverly, following her friend's lead.
"What about you?" teases Deanna. "A wedding dress!"
Rolling her eyes, Beverly lays a hand on her friend's arm. "I'm not getting a fancy dress! We're not having a wedding!"
Sighing in disappointment, Deanna leads them past the officers walking the station, popping in and out of the small shops. "Any chance you'll change your mind?"
Chuckling, Beverly shakes her head. "No. We're having a private, quiet ceremony on the ship." Beverly had been adamant about not having an actual wedding, not desiring the attention or publicity of the event. She feels bad for Jean-Luc, but after going through a painful divorce, all she wants is to move on with Jean-Luc and the kids. In fact, Beverly doesn't even feel that marriage is all that relevant, and she would have been content just to spend her life with Jean-Luc. But, she values the symbolism, that he wants to adopt the kids as his own and be a family.
"Well, I still think you need a fabulous dress," jests Deanna.
"Beverly!"
Blood icing, Beverly stops in her tracks next to Deanna, briefly imagining she heard the voice.
"Beverly!"
Deanna whips around at the sound of the deep male voice behind them, and discovers a vaguely familiar-looking man rushing up to them in front of a tailor shop. "Is that…?"
Digging her nails into Deanna's arm, Beverly trepidatiously turns around. Eyes as wide as saucers, Beverly is speechless to find her ex-husband approaching them.
"I'm sorry." Jack Crusher puts a hand up defensively. "I wanted to send you a message, but I figured you wouldn't hear me out."
Gritting her teeth, Beverly's heart pounds profusely against her chest. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Taking a step closer, Jack looks almost contrite. "When I learned the Enterprise would be here for a few days, I knew I had to come talk to you."
"This isn't your base," Deanna clarifies, looking to Jack suspiciously.
"Actually, it is," confesses Jack. "I transferred. I…uh…Had a falling out with…uh…Elise."
Biting her tongue, Beverly averts her eyes, hardly believing her misfortune. The last thing she ever would have imagined would be running into Jack while she and Deanna are leisurely shopping on the station.
"I'm sorry to hear that," replies Deanna, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Sighing, Jack turns to Beverly, anxious. "I know you're only here for a couple days. I'd like to talk. I'd really like to see the kids."
Jaw dropping, Beverly is floored. "Are you kidding me?"
Shaking his head, Jack is nervous. "No. Please. Can we go sit down and chat?"
"Go to hell," spits Beverly, ready to turn on her heels.
Jack grasps for her elbow. "Please, Beverly. Just…give me a chance. I think I've made a huge mistake. I…I don't even know my own kids."
Watching the exchange, Deanna puts a hand on Beverly's arm protectively.
Eyes flashing with hurt and anger, Beverly glowers at Jack. "Give you a chance? A chance? You wanted nothing to do with us for fifteen years! Don't come crawling back to me because your girlfriend kicked you to the curb."
"Beverly," stutters Jack, appearing hurt.
"Screw you, Jack!" Red-faced, tears stream down Beverly's cheeks. "Don't come near me again. Don't contact me. Don't you even dare think about talking to my children."
Grimacing, Jack bobs his head, noticing the gold band on Beverly's ring finger for the first time. "You're…you're remarried?"
Sniffling, Beverly stiffens, her lips in a tight line. "No. I'm getting married shortly." A wave of triumphant pleasure courses through her amidst her rage. "Actually, you know my fiance, Jean-Luc Picard."
Face falling, Jack appears shocked and chastised. "You and Picard?"
Taking great satisfaction in Jack's apparent disgust and jealousy, Beverly stands tall, her voice steady and calm. "Yes. Jean-Luc loves me and loves the kids. Something you never did."
Apparently stunned, Jack is partly furious, partly remorseful.
Taking Beverly's hand, Troi interjects. "Beverly, I think we should go."
Taking a steadying breath, Beverly nods at her friend. "Yes. Let's get out of here." Turning to a flummoxed Jack, Beverly crosses her arms over her chest, her tone no-nonsense. "Don't contact us ever again."
Putting a hand on Beverly's arm, Deanna guides her away from Jack, the onslaught of emotions weighing down on her.
"How can he even come to me, after all this time, and think I'd take him back?" Flabbergasted, Beverly relays the story of confronting Jack on the station to Picard later that evening in her quarters, sitting together on the sofa after they had put Audra to bed.
Shaking his head incredulously, Picard is bewildered. "I can't fathom what's going through his head. But, perhaps he recognizes that he's missed out on the amazing woman that you are, and he wants to do the right thing by his kids."
Fuming, Beverly shakes her head. "It's unbelievable."
"I know," agrees Jean-Luc, depositing his mug of tea on the coffee table.
Pursing her lips, Beverly regards him seriously. "Do you think I did the right thing, refusing to let Jack see the kids? I…I guess I should have discussed it with you. I…I was so shocked, so upset."
Reaching for her hands, Jean-Luc shakes his head. "Beverly, your reaction was perfectly understandable. He was horrid to you and the children. I don't want Jack anywhere near any of you. And, I appreciate your consideration. I like to think that we're going to raise the kids as a united team."
Exhaling deeply, Beverly bobs her head, leaning in. She slips her long legs around his waist, climbing into his lap. "I was just unprepared. It's okay. I think I just feel a bit guilty, wonder if I've made a mistake."
"No," Picard assures her confidently, dropping his hands to her waist. "Jack was utterly abusive, terrible to you and the children. Right now he's manipulating you, trying to worm his way in. He's not being honest with you. You've moved on with your life. Having Jack converse with them would only confuse them. You're right to forbid contact."
Laying her head against his, Beverly's eyes are weary. "I hope you're right. I only want to do what's right for them."
Dropping a kiss to her forehead, Jean-Luc leans back. "Go have a long, hot bath and relax. I have a few things I need to wrap up."
Taken aback, Beverly searches his eyes, disappointed. After all of the emotion of the day, she had wanted to spend the evening with Jean-Luc. "You're not staying?"
"I need to make a few calls, look over a report," explains Picard, extricating himself from Beverly's embrace. "Breakfast tomorrow? Seven hundred?"
Bobbing her head, Beverly frowns dejectedly as Picard rises off of the sofa. She follows him to the cabin entrance.
"Take it easy, dear. I'm sure you'll feel much better in the morning." Planting a kiss to her hair, Jean-Luc hugs her loosely.
Silently, Beverly watches as Jean-Luc slips out of the cabin door, bidding her goodnight.
PAGE BREAK
Bracing himself, Jean-Luc inhales sharply as the door opens, revealing Jack Crusher at the entrance to his quarters on the station.
Alarmed, Jack's eyes widen and he stiffens in defence. "Jean-Luc!"
"There are many things I'd like to say to you, but I'll save my breath," commences Picard, his voice measured and low. "I can't change the past, so I'll only ensure that you don't impact our future."
"What?" Holding the door, Jack stares, mouth agape, at Picard in the door frame.
Face set in a line, Picard stares unwaveringly into Jack's dark eyes. "You're a cheating coward bastard, and I've every desire to beat every ounce of strength out of your worthless body. But, I won't."
Scoffing, Jack folds his arms over his chest. "How gracious of you. Let me guess, you're here because you're with Beverly now."
Jaw clenched, Picard's fist unconsciously curls. "Do not go near Beverly or the children again, or I will pummel you into the ground. Do I make myself clear?"
Rolling his eyes, Jack puffs. "Whatever. Have fun playing Daddy."
Biting his tongue, Picard stifles his retort. Whatever has happened in the past, this is now Jack's loss. Picard has an amazing fiancee and two wonderful children he is about to adopt. Everything else is irrelevant. In some ways, Picard almost pities Jack and his emptiness.
Backing out of the doorway, Picard waves his hand. "Stay away from them, Jack." Observing Jack cast his eyes downward, Picard sighs. "And, good luck on the station, Jack."
