My door chimed and I called out "Come!" and it swished open to reveal Beverly holding a bowl with a spoon sticking out of it in one hand and her tricorder in the other. "May I help you?" I asked.

"Deanna sent me. She's got appointments but she wanted you to have this as soon as her mother was off the ship. She says it's an apology for her mother's behavior. She couldn't think of anything that she knew would make you feel better so she sent you what makes her feel better. Looks scrumptious!" she said setting the bowl in front of me. Chocolate ice cream with chocolate fudge, chocolate chips looked like a bit of over kill on the chocolate but I had seen Deanna eating this in 10 Forward. Actually eating is the wrong word for it, I think I should say that I have seen her experiencing this dish in 10 Forward.

I chuckled, Deanna had nothing to apologize for but the gesture was appreciated. Her mother is a very, uh, interesting woman, one that I hope I do not have the misfortune of seeing again any time soon. "This is far too much chocolate for me, care to join me?" I asked Beverly, hoping she would stay and visit for a moment or two before heading off again.

"Oh, I accept!" she exclaimed and had my replicator make her a spoon. It was then she remember the tricorder in her hand. "Jean-Luc, she also said I should bring my tricorder with. Are you well? She seemed to think something may be wrong with you."

"Why do I feel henpecked when I'm not even married? I am fine." I insisted.

"Are you sure, I'm right here with my tricorder and it will make Deanna feel better to know you've been checked out." she urged me.

"As you wish." I said, standing so she could get a good reading. "I believe she's worried about a hernia after carrying her mother's very heavy suitcase."

She scanned me up and down and closed the tricorder with a snap, "Perfectly fine, as expected. But not a total waste of time, it will allay Deanna's fears."

"Please, join me." I said sitting back down and gesturing to the chair opposite my desk. We both tried the chocolate confection, it was quite good but I couldn't eat a whole bowl of that much ice cream.

"So, Jean-Luc, what is Deanna apologizing for other than you having to carry a suitcase?" she asked interested.

"You did get to meet her mother, did you not?" I asked.

"Well, yes, but she's not apologizing to me. What did Mrs. Troi do?" she asked again.

I was slightly embarrassed but it wasn't anything I had done. "Besides generally being disruptive and demanding? Just as she was leaving she made a comment about how I was good looking enough but too old for her and she said my thoughts towards her were downright, uh, well, let's just say completely inappropriate and leave it at that."

"She said that out loud?" Beverly asked, shocked.

"Took great pride in saying that is how I read the situation. She flaunts her telepathic powers, or what she pretends she is reading, around non-telepaths to be the center of attention and shock people. It's rather sad if you think about it." I mused.

She held up a spoonful of ice cream and said, "Here's to her departure then." and we clinked spoons and ate the ice cream. "She said you were good looking enough? That's an understatement! You are quite handsome."

I was pleased but surprised by her comment. "You think I'm handsome?" I asked.

"Jean-Luc, stop fishing for compliments. You know perfectly well you are quite handsome and very fit." she told me.

"Handsome enough that you'd say yes to a walk in the arboretum with me?" I ventured.

She thought for a moment and then said, "On two conditions. First, we get to finish this ice cream, it's wonderful. And second, we go for that walk right after that so I can work off the ice cream."

I was surprised she would say yes. I didn't think she was interested in more than a friendship with me and we had been dancing around even that level of relationship for awhile now. I was pleasantly surprised and was not going to throw away the opportunity. "Deal!" I said, digging my spoon into the ice cream.