Jean-Luc woke up before Beverly and quietly slipped out of bed. If Beverly really wanted to get married today, he had a lot of work to do! Clutching his clothing in one hand and his boots in the other he made his way to the bathroom to start his day.
First stop, telling Robert and Marie of their plans. He found Robert and Marie at the breakfast table, sharing a hearty breakfast before Robert would be leaving for the vines. Marie looked up when Jean-Luc entered the room and got up.
"Please sit down Jean-Luc, I'll get you some breakfast." Jean-Luc tried to protest, but Marie soon pushed him into a chair and brought him a plate.
"Thank you, Marie. I wanted to speak with the two of you this morning. Last night...well, first, Beverly would like for me to apologize to you on her behalf. She was just a little surprised at how easily Wesley has accepted me as his step-father."
" No need. We understand."
"Thank you, Marie. And the second thing... Beverly and I would like to get married...today. " Marie clapped her hands.
"Oh, but that's wonderful Jean-Luc! What can I do to help?"
"We just need you two and Rene to be available to attend. I plan on contacting thebureau du registrairethis morning to see if it can be done. I hope I don't have to grease any palms..."
"Non.Call the Mayor. I'm sure he can get things done for you." Robert grunted.
"I suppose I can supply some wine. Tell the Mayor we will send a crate over."
"Thank you, Robert. Robert, is it alright if I use the study?" Robert nodded. "Thank you."
Two hours later and a promise to allow the Mayor to present him with the keys to the village after they return from their honeymoon and he had arranged for the wedding to take place at 1600, officiated by the Mayor. Marie had offered to take care of the flowers for Beverly, so all Jean-Luc needed to worry about was what he and Wesley would be wearing. Fortunately, he had access to the replicator on the shuttle and was able to replicate dress uniforms. He hadn't thought to pack his usual dress uniform, the one that Beverly had altered the collar on, but this would have to do. He couldn't afford a trip back up to theEnterpriseas he didn't want to run the risk of running into someone. Beverly wanted their wedding to be private, and he was going to respect her wishes.
Jean-Luc bustled about Marie's kitchen putting together a breakfast tray to bring up to Beverly. He added a glass of sparkling wine and a small vase with a single rose from the garden. He slowly pushed open the bedroom door and softly called to Beverly. "Wake up, my love."
He placed the tray on the floor and leaned over to kiss Beverly. She woke up with a soft smile on her face. "Good morning, my love." Jean-Luc picked up the tray and handed it to Beverly.
"Breakfast in bed? What's the occasion?"
"Our wedding day." Jean-Luc kissed her nose.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. 1600 at the town hall...I'm going to have to let the mayor hold acérémonie des cléslater, but I think I can suffer though that for you. Marie said she'll pick out some flowers and do your hair...Wesley and I took the liberty of bringing our dress uniforms back yesterday...I assume you have a dress?" Beverly nodded. Jean-Luc leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss. "Right. I better leave now...bad luck to see each other the day of the wedding!"
Beverly grinned and shooed him out of the room. "You better spend the day in the shuttle...I don't want to have to stay in our room all day!"
Jean-Luc found Wesley and Rene once again, in the shuttle. After telling them about the wedding this afternoon, Jean-Luc asked the boys if they'd like to accompany him to the village. Whilst wedding rings were no longer common between married couples, especially those serving in Starfleet, Jean-Luc felt very strongly about wearing wedding rings and he wanted everyone he encountered to know he was wed to Beverly. The boys agreed, and they were soon off. La Barre was a pretty but small village. Jean-Luc worried that they wouldn't find anything appropriate in the village and would have to look elsewhere, but he was pleasantly surprised. Obviously, La Barre had experienced an economic boom in the 20 years since he had last lived there. Shops lined the high street and bakeries and cafes had umbrella topped tables on every corner. Rene had tugged Wesley off to look in a toy shop, and Jean-Luc was left on his own. Grinning and muttering about boys, he entered the first jewellery shop he spotted.
The bell over the door tinkled when he walked in, and Jean-Luc was surprised at how old fashioned the shop appeared. The last time he had been in a jewellery shop had been when he thought he was serious about Jenice. He had been in a shop in Paris, and the Parisian shop had been filled with hologram projections of jewels and a large catalogue of items that could be replicated made-to-order. The small shop in La Barre was filled on three sides with glass cases full of assorted jewellery, divided into type and style. There was a single small computer console sitting in a corner, with a replicator behind. Jean-Luc gravitated over to the case holding wedding bands and gazed down at the options. So many rings to choose from! Fortunately, he was soon approached by the shopkeeper.
"Good day, sir. What can I do for you?" Jean-Luc looked up. "Jean-Luc? Is that you?" The shopkeeper grinned. "I don't suppose you remember me, do you?"
Jean-Luc studied the man's face, picturing it 30 years younger as a name came to him. "Dariel? It's so good to see you!"
"I see you're looking at wedding rings," Dariel raised his eyebrows at Jean-Luc. "Finally found someone to tie you down after all these years, eh?"
Jean-Luc smiled. "Actually, I've been in love with her for over 20 years. We just never managed to...well, it doesn't matter. We're getting married this afternoon. I gave her my mother's ring, but I'd like to get her a wedding ring. Something plain. She's a doctor, so I don't think she will wear Maman's ring all the time."
Dariel grinned. "Ah, something simple? Perhaps Tungsten? It's very sturdy." Dariel gestured towards the dark grey coloured rings. Jean-Luc frowned. "Ah, something a bit more ladylike for your lady love?" Dariel pointed to some shiny bands. Jean-Luc couldn't tell if they were silver or perhaps, even white. They seemed to gleam.
"Yes, those look more like it. What are they made of?"
"Platinum. Now, do you know your lovely lady's finger size?" Jean-Luc faltered. "Ah, she doesn't know you are here. Hmm, now let's see. Does she have thick or thin fingers?"
"They're long and elegant. Quite slender." Jean-Luc started getting lost in his thoughts on just how long her fingers were when they were wrapped around him so delightfully last night. Clearing his throat, Dariel brought Jean-Luc out of his daydream.
"Right. Well, we'll go with this ring over here. If it's too big or two small, you just come into the shop with her and we'll get it sorted for her right away. Now, would you like a ring for yourself too?" Jean-Luc nodded. "Over here we have matching bands..."
It took only twenty minutes before Jean-Luc left the shop and his old friend, his pockets considerably lighter, but with a spring in his step. He found the boys eating pastries at the corner bakery.
"Hungry?"
"Yes, sir. We forgot to eat breakfast. Rene was so excited for me to get the shuttle ready to take him up...can we still go today? With the wedding and all...?"
"I think so. If we hurry back, we should have time for ashortflight. " Rene and Wesley both grinned. Rene shoved the last bit of his croissant in his mouth and with his mouth full said "Ready!"
Wesley adjusted the long tunic of his dress uniform before knocking on the door. This was only the second time he was wearing a dress uniform as a full Ensign.No wonder everyone hates wearing these. They're itchy!Wesley reached up to scratch his neck as the door opened to reveal his mother.
Beverly hadn't gone with a traditional white dress and instead was wearing a very pale blue. Her hair was pulled away from her face in the front, but still loose at the back. She gave a twirl for Wesley.
"Well, what do you think?"
"Mom, you look beautiful. Dad...Jean-Luc already left and said I could take you over in the shuttle if you're ready. Marie said she has a bouquet for you downstairs." Beverly looked over her son.So grown up. When did this happen?
"You look pretty handsome yourself. The dress uniform looks good on you. Wes...I'm sorry about last night. I want nothing more than for you to call Jean-Luc Dad...it just made me remember that I could have married Jean-Luc so many years ago and you would have had him as your father..." Beverly got lost in her memories.
"Mom? What do you mean?"
"Jean-Luc asked me to marry him twice. Shortly after your father died and again when you were eight. Did you know Jean-Luc and I were having a relationship? No, of course you wouldn't have, you were only a child. But you did love having your Uncle Johnny around. And then I said no the second time, and Jean-Luc tried to distance himself from me...I don't think he wanted to, but...well, can you blame him? "
Wesley sat down on the edge of the bed. He knew Jean-Luc had made a comment about having married his mother sooner, but Wesley never thought it meant more than wishful thinking...and that would explain why Wesley remembers Jean-Luc more than his father. "Mom, what do you mean?"
"Jean-Luc and I...we had a relationship...you know he was always close to me, even before I married Jack. Jean-Luc was my best friend. Did you know he stood up with me when we got married? I imagine that was awful for him...he loved me and there I was, not only marrying another man but asking him to stand up with me? But he did it. God knows why. After your father died, I turned to Jean-Luc for comfort."
"Comfort?" Wesley was puzzled...then the penny dropped. "Oh!"
"Oh, indeed. That was the first time he asked me to marry him. And when you were eight...he asked me to marry him again. And I said no. I was already concerned about our relationship and what kinds of repercussions Jean-Luc might face for getting involved with the widow of his second officer...the rumours...my god,