A.N. So here it is - the final chapter. It's hard to say farewell to something that I enjoyed writing so much. So, I'm not going to. I've started posting the sequels entitled 'De-tached'.

I also want to thank everyone for their kind reviews. I've appreciated the comments and the advice that's been given. And I actually followed said advice on occasion. It's really nice to know that there still are TNG fans out there . And that it is not just a few people but a lot of readers. Though, it never hurts to feed the writer - any writer. We all need encouragement and kudos now and then. It helps up to keep on writing.

Live long and prosper.

CHAPTER 26: ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL - FOR NOW

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Beverly was truly surprised when Jean-Luc suggested that they spend the night at their current port-o-call, Sarona VII.

"I've already made the reservations," he announced as he picked up the medium-sized duffel they would share for such a short lay over.

When they'd gone to Ogus II for three days and nights, he'd had transported down several crates of stuff. Beverly had been glad that he'd included a floating mattress for cave floors were as hard as she'd remembered them to be from prior experiences. Jean-Luc had enjoyed their short stay there. He'd found a few interesting artifacts. And she had enjoyed discovering a side to Jean-Luc that she had only suspected had existed. He was a very passionate man about so many, many things…

She had been surprised however, when Jean-Luc had suggested a night on Sarona VII. She wasn't sure how to classify her memories from her lone visit there so many years ago. The ghost of Jack Crusher was most definitely haunting both of them here.

He noticed her hesitancy. "Don't you wish to go, mon coeur? We do not have to…"

"We'll go," she decided. "There are some matters that we should lay to rest."

He nodded as he tapped open their door, offering her his hand as they walked toward the turbolift to the transporter rooms. He understood her hesitancy. He rather felt the same too.

She wasn't that surprised when they materialized in a hotel room at the Blue Parrot. In fact, she was pretty certain that it was the exact same suite he'd rented the last time they'd been on Sarona VII. From what she could tell, nothing had changed. It was all bronze and rust and amber in design. And there still was a private, high walled garden patio.

"Why don't I change, and you can meet me in the bar in say, an hour?" Beverly suggested after looking about for a few minutes.

He chuckled. "Promise me that you won't flip any Nausicaans if you arrive before I do."

"Let's just say that I promise to try not to…"

He left the room, mumbling something about having to do something.

Fifty-five minutes later, Beverly inspected her image in the cheval mirror in the bedroom. She was wearing a strapless copper silk dress with a flowing skirt that flirted about her ruby high heels. The dress had a few indiscreet thigh-high slits to the skirt that only revealed themselves when she moved. She was wearing about her neck a pure gold torque that was a copy of something Jean-Luc had once discovered in a proto-Vulcan dig and had been his wedding gift to her aside from the Picard family jewels. The torque with cabochon black opal ends was the only dramatic touch that this dress needed. Her hair was curling about her shoulders in a riotous cascade. Her make-up was definitely on the theatrical side and expertly applied. She also had added some of Jean-Luc's favorite perfume to her wrists, neck and bosom. She was confident that she was ready to handle any plans that her husband might have made.

Her copper skirts swished as she walked through the hotel toward the Blue Parrot's main entrance. She was pleased by the sound that the fabric made. It caused her to add a slightly exaggerated sway to her hips as she walked through the front door of the establishment. Her lips were Jean-Luc's favorite color of pouty red. She shaped them into a confident smile. Beverly knew that she looked good. And, even more importantly, she felt good. In fact, she felt better than she had in years. Having a loving husband could do that to a woman.

The Blue Parrot was as she vividly remembered. It was still a rowdy, seamy den of iniquity. Fortunately, there wasn't a Cardassian in sight. But the long bar under the elevated nude dancers did have Nausicaans. Considering the number of Nausicaans standing at the bar, she idly wondered if the Nausicaans lived there.

Then she saw him standing there, in the corner by a café table. He was standing just where he'd been standing, all those years ago. He was dressed in a soft blue shirt with flowing sleeves and matching slacks; Beverly decided that her husband looked absolutely delicious. She licked her lips. A carafe and two large red wine glasses were waiting on the table. But she only had eyes for her lover. Their gazes locked. He slightly smiled. And she bestowed upon him her most loving, how much she wanted him smile. And then, she let the deviltry in her soul flow through, offering him an unmistakable naughty invitation that only he would recognize. They'd been lovers long enough now, to have their own passionate, silent language.

Insistent importuning from predatory males began to grow louder. A portion of her ego was pleased that she still had it, as she half-listened to the number of credits being offered grow in size as the males of several species tried to entice her company.

But she only had eyes for her lover.

A familiar arm slipped about her waist. It was the proper arm. "Mon coeur, I'm sorry that I was detained."

She turned into her husband's embrace, resting her hands against his genetian blue silk clad shoulders. Beverly had been surprised to learn that her husband had such a sybaritic side to his nature. He actually went out and purchased silk shirts for himself. And she most definitely approved of this new shirt.

"Shall we dance?" she suggested.

A moment later, he was skillfully moving her about the dance floor, guiding her to some sort of samba beat. She was delighted by his improving dancing skills. There might come a time when Jean-Luc might even admit liking to dance with her.

They danced through several numbers, for Beverly really did not feel inclined to start a brawl this night. They danced slow numbers. Fast numbers. Seductive numbers And Jean-Luc danced them all with his bride. After the fifth number, she guided him back to their café table and sat down. She needed to catch her breath.

Beverly picked up her wine goblet and tasted what her husband had poured into it. She didn't recognize the wine, but it tasted rather good.

"It's an Aldebaran form of sangria," her husband explained as he translated her questioning look.

She crossed her legs. The provocative slits to the dress allowed most of her skirt to fall away, revealing her dancer's legs in all of their silk hose-sheathed glory. Her husband's eyes widened as he thought he detected the snaps to a garter belt, high up on her thigh. Then he observed how many others in the bar were noticing his wife's legs too.

Abruptly he stood, grabbing the carafe and his glass.

"You're not going to carry me?" she purred.

He eyed her, trying to judge her mood. "I will if you wish it."

She stood. And linked her arm through his. "Later, then." She glanced about the bar noticing the growing number of ogling observers. "Right now, I'd like to go into the garden. Maybe even find a dark corner on your patio." She dramatically sighed as he guided her through the open doors to the communal patio and beyond into the tropical gardens. "I've ordered dinner through room service. It should be there by now." On his questioning look for Beverly decided that he most definitely was not in the mood for food at the moment, especially once she glanced down and saw the condition of his body. She added, "Something that will keep in case we don't get around to eating right away."

He nodded. "I had never quite realized how well you manage things, Beverly. I am really coming to appreciate it."

Beverly slid her hand down from her husband's arm to now caress his derriere. Instead of protesting that someone might see, Jean-Luc placed the palm of his hand in a similar position on her behind. And squeezed.

A few minutes later in the privacy of their own solitary patio, Beverly decided that her husband was most definitely an ass person. And a leg man. And now, he was demonstrating a definite fondness for her breasts as well…

A few minutes after this she was unzipping what needed to be unzipped, and then stunned him with what her lips could do. After a few moments of this bliss, he pulled his bride back up into his arms, and then let her straddle him, as he pushed against the back to the chaise lounge. He was pleased to discover that his bride was wearing one of her bachelorette gifts. She mounted him. Their loving was swift. And exquisite.

"That was fun," he observed, when he regained his breath, after guiding his bride to rest by his side.

She stilled. "Fun? The great Jean-Luc Picard is actually admitting to having fun during our lovemaking? Imagine that!" She softly hit his shoulder. "What took you so long to notice?"

He was confused by Beverly's sudden shift in moods. He hesitantly answered her. "I'm not sure…"

"Oh, Jean-Luc," she laughed as she hugged him, pressing her now bared breasts into his now shirt-free chest. "My darling, you're learning." She caressed his cheek most lovingly with her fingers. "You're finally learning that life - and our lovemaking - can be fun." She thought of the Borg, Cardassians and the many years of his life when there had been no fun. She was determined to make it up to him.

He opened his mouth in protest when the light suddenly dawned. Ever since he'd become Beverly's lover, he had been having fun - lots of it. Granted their lovemaking had been passionate and serious, and at times, especially after their marriage vows, it had even approached the sacred. But through all of it, he now began to understand that Beverly had been teaching him how to play too. Beverly wasn't just his wife. And his lover. And his best friend. She was also his playmate for life. And he was stunned to realize just how much he'd needed this in his life too. A playmate had been missing from his life since his studious childhood. He had not even realized that it had been missing from his life until she had showed him what it was to really have one. She was making him into a better man - and a much happier man.

One look into her eyes told him that she understood this self-revelation.

Beverly rose to her feet, kicked off her remaining high heel, and tugged her husband into a standing position.

"Come, my love. Let's finish undressing. We'll eat. And then repeat what we've just done. That should finally bury any ghosts that might remain."

He reached down and picked up his discarded pants, fumbling about a pocket for a moment. "I meant to give this to you earlier." He handed her a crumpled, copper colored silk shawl.

Beverly gasped. "It's mine. From…"

He nodded; tears were beginning to glint - in both their eyes.

"You kept it," she whispered, awed by his action.

"It was all that I had of you - could claim of you," he confessed, finally revealing to her the absolute true depth of his adoration.

She bowed her head into his comforting shoulders, overcome by the complexity of his emotions for her. She had suspected, but never truly guessed the extent of his feelings for her. From so long ago, until now…She beheld him in awe.

He lifted her into his arms and carried her into their suite, nuzzling her hair as he carried her. "What? No protests about my lifting you?"

She just snuffled into his neck, refusing to let him go even after he had every so gently placed her on their bed. She was being overwhelmed by her feelings.

Reaching down, he caressed her face, lifting her chin so that she would face him.

"Beverly…" His voice was low. Concerned. Guilt-ridden…

"Jack would have approved, you know," she whispered seeking to ease his conscience, even as more tears welled in her eyes. She touched his face. "He loved us."

"I know. And we both loved him in our own way." He ruefully smiled as her tender concern eased his heart. "Jack was a lusty soul."

She stilled. "How would you know?" She thought for a moment. "Shore leave?"

He nodded. Then added, reassuringly, "But before he met you."

"And afterwards, Jack just stopped lusting?"

"Beverly, after he met you, no one else mattered to Jack. When he wasn't with you, he talked about you. Incessantly. I got to know you too well before I'd ever even met you in person, from all of Jack's ramblings."

"I'd say that you'd done a pretty good job of introducing yourself in that garden," Beverly weakly giggled. "You literally did sweep me off my feet. I found it… disconcerting." She looked away for a moment. "I didn't know it was possible to fall in love like that. So swiftly. So completely. So gloriously. I never even suspected that I could be like that."

"Neither did I," he softly stated. They were silent for a long moment, just content to appreciate the comfort of each other's presence. "You were conflicted. We both were - especially when I finally figured out your identity." He released her, slowly sitting up, giving her a little space. "We have suffered a great deal for our love, Beverly." Memories of his bleak years surfaced for a moment. He heartfully prayed that he'd never see the like again. "Hopefully, it's all in the past now."

"Suffered? I had to live with the knowledge that I loved another man besides Jack. I deluded myself now and then, that it was just an infatuation - the one that got away." He wiped a tear away from her cheek. "And then you'd waltz back into my life, usually with Jack by your side. And between the bouts of guilt, I'd find myself wishing that you…"

"Don't say it, Beverly. For I wished it too. Often. Yet still you were the wife of my best friend. I was damned…"

"We really screwed ourselves, didn't we?" She weakly laughed even as she clutched at him.

He nodded. "Yes. We did. I'd like to think that if I'd met you even a day earlier, I'd have done something about it."

Her smile was sad. "But the reality is neither one of us were ready for each other…" She looked away from him. "I needed Jack." She looked back at him bestowing on him her sympathy. "And you needed your captain's chair."

They were silent again for a long time, each reviewing their past and trying to place it into context with the other's version.

She finally sat up and placed her arms around her husband's shoulders, hugging him. "We wouldn't be the people we are today, if our lives hadn't happened the way it did. I will always miss Jack. But loving him eventually brought you into my arms. And for that, I will always be grateful."

He accepted her words, even as he did understand them. If they hadn't gone through their trials, would they even love each other today? If they'd acted on their love all those years ago, wouldn't the guilt have destroyed them by now?

As if she comprehended the direction of his thoughts, Beverly added, "You always were and always will be an honorable man, Jean-Luc. Jack knew this. Which is why he trusted you with me. And what we've done. And the way that we've done it…"

"…was more than honorable." Jean-Luc started laughing. "I think that Jack would probably curse me, telling me that I was a damned fool to take so long to actually admit to loving you, mon coeur."

"Darling, I thought that you were a bloody fool for taking so long, too. And you don't even want to know what Deanna thought about us - and our very unique and complex relationship."

He laughed again. "I can only guess. Lwaxana even once called me 'repressed' when it came to you." He raised his hand to stop her questioning. "You don't really want to know - ever."

Beverly quickly looked away. She didn't want to make a comment about that "r" word.

"Be-veh-ly," he warned. For he sensed something.

"Well…Much as I hate to say it, when you returned from Risa after meeting Vash, you were more unrepressed, shall we say?"

He glared for a moment, and then had to laugh. "Yes. Vash did have her moments."

"And uses. With you," Beverly helpfully added.

"Be-veh-ly…" he warned again.

She laughed. "At the time, in a weird sort of way, I was grateful. In fact your entire senior staff was grateful."

"Beverly!" He sounded insulted.

"Stuff it," she informed her lover. "You were always a grouch when you were frustrated - or when Guinan wasn't on board."

"Beverly, about Guinan…"

She placed a silencing finger against his lips. "I know that after we became lovers, you never returned to her as a lover. Still, you did have intimate conversations with her…"

"Guinan's always known my heart and soul, Beverly."

"I hope that one day, I'll know you that well as well."

"I think that you already do, mon coeur."

Beverly fell back against their rust colored, gold and silver embroidered bed spread. She didn't realize what a sultry picture she made with the dishabille of her copper silk dress and her splendid red hair curling about.

But Jean-Luc did. How quickly she could stir his desire. He was finally learning to treasure these moments as the gifts that they were. After so many years of famine, to now be able to feast at the altar of love without constraint was still a heady realization for him. Her eroticism rocked him even as she seemingly innocently lay there. Her breathing was calm. But her eyes were devouring him. He bent over to place a soft, needy kiss on her lips.

Beverly trailed a hand through the shortness of his hair about his neck. Kissing his head, nuzzling his neck, placing little licks here and there, all were working their magic towards arousing him again. She loved him. And there wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for him; he had but only to ask.

Now her beloved was doing his best to remove the remains of her dress. He'd concentrate on her garter belt and stockings in a little while.

"I love you in copper…" he whispered.

"You have. Often," she mischievously replied. He stopped his stroking and considered her words. "Our very first time," she listed. "Our very first real time," she added.

"I can recall a number of diplomatic functions where you showed up in a copper colored gown."

"Yes, even then, I knew that you liked me in copper."

He thought for a moment. Considered her choices. Puzzled, he raised his head from her breast. "Then why pink?"

"What?" She didn't follow his train of thought.

"Our wedding. Why the pink color scheme?"

She laughed even as she wiggled the remains of her dress past her hips. She kicked the fabric away, so that other than her stockings, she was almost completely nude.

He appreciated her cooperation.

"Jack."

"What?"

"Jack thought that pink was my favorite color."

"Of course it is," he paused, "isn't it?"

"On our first date, Jack brought me pink orchids. Naturally, because they were orchids, I became excited about the color. Pink is a fairly rare color for Aurelian orchids. What I didn't realize was that I was establishing in Jack's mind that pink was also my favorite color. Remember the pink lilacs?"

"Yes, you were so beautiful standing there with Wesley in your arms…." Jean-Luc reminisced.

"Precisely. And once Jack got something into his head…"

"He never let it go," Picard observed. "But that still doesn't explain as to why everyone was in pink at our wedding."

"Jack thought that pink was my favorite color. And because Jack thought it, you thought it too. KesPrytt."

"What?" He considered her words. "I hadn't realized…"

"I really didn't mind, Jean-Luc. The fact that I look good in pink was a mitigating factor. And Deanna does look amazing in rose."

He considered her words. He blushed at how quickly he had assumed certain things about her. And then he apologized. "I'm sorry if you felt pressured to fulfill my expectations, Beverly. I had hoped that our wedding ceremony would have been about both of our wishes."

"Oh, Jean-Luc, it was. The important thing is that I felt beautiful on our wedding day. And the color of my dress had nothing to do with it for I was marrying the man I love. And I knew that you were marrying me because you loved me, too. And that is the only thing that really matters in this universe of ours."

She reached down to run her fingers across his bare chest.

He stayed her hand. "Mon coeur, just for the record, what is your favorite color?"

"It depends upon my mood," she saucily replied.

He nipped her captured fingertip.

She shivered. "Oh, all right. Believe it or not - I like blue. All shades. I sometimes think that's why I joined Starfleet Medical - so I could wear blue."

"So noted." He moved to hold her closer in his arms.

She stayed him. "Well it's your turn to confess. And please don't tell me that your favorite color is command red."

He laughed at this, for her guess was close to the mark. "You like blue. I like red." His fingers played with her hair. "Especially glorious flaming red hair streaked with gold…"

The way he nibbled her neck she found to be rather pleasing. "I always did like you in your red suede jacket…," she conceded.

He licked then nipped her clavicle for a moment before he lifted his head. "Mind you, I find some colors of pink to be most enticing." With this, he lowered his head to kiss her breasts for a while. "Delicious…" he whispered.

"I concede your point," she sighed as the pleasure rolled through her veins.

"Points," he teased as he began a more thorough exploration of her body.

A long time later, Jean-Luc listened to his bride gently snore. And he reveled in the sound. It had been quite a night - both emotionally and physically. Clearing the air about Jack had been a cathartic event for both of them. There was a new sense of liberation added to their lovemaking that had been missing before. Jean-Luc decided that he liked the way this felt.

Replete. Stretching from his toes to his fingertips, he decided that he felt replete. What a perfect word. For it accurately described his current state of contentment. After they'd made love on top of the counterpane, Beverly had persuaded him to take a bubble bath with her. This was followed by a definitely sybaritic picnic on the patio where they only wore the short red robes that the hotel had provided. And then they'd embraced each other, resting on the chaise lounge, just looking at the stars for quite a while.

Peace. He felt that too now. And finally decided that by marrying Beverly he had made the right choice. He could face the future now with no regrets other than the Enterprise.

Eventually they'd returned to the bedroom for a more conventional bout of making love. After which, Beverly promptly fell asleep. Jean-Luc marveled at her ability to do so. It must have been a skill she'd acquired during her long years of having to be on call as a doctor.

Still, he did not doubt that soon he'd be sleeping in the arms of his love, sharing her with Morpheus. He actually felt tired. Righteously so. He rolled over to spoon with Beverly. She automatically snuggled closer to him. As he drifted off, he decided that this was the perfect honeymoon.

Hours later, something tickled. Forcing open an eyelid, he observed long, silken strands of red trying to tickle his nose. "Be gone, wench. I'm sleeping," he announced.

"Wanna bet?" she whispered against his ear. She took it slow and easy with him, as his body belied his words. Passion's fire was fine and dandy. But there was a lot to be said for slow and comfortable. If asked to choose between the two, Beverly did not think that she could at this moment as she cried out her release against her husband's lips.

This was most definitely becoming a legendary honeymoon, he decided as he drifted back to sleep.

Beverly moved closer to her love. At this moment, she was so content with her lot in life, she could not even imagine the possibility of a greater joy than this, to sleep in the arms of Jean-Luc Picard.

A few days later, they were disembarking from the cruise ship to start the final part of their honeymoon - a week on Risa.

Of course their honeymoon suite was luxurious. And it was surprisingly tastefully decorated considering that the natural condition on Risa was anything but tasteful.

The newly married couple stood in the center of their suite, taking in the amber decorated ambiance, the spectacular view of a sunset from their balcony overlooking an ocean, and a credenza laden with more baskets of food, wine, and, of course, Lwaxana's wedding present, Jean-Luc could only think of one thing.

"Mon coeur…"

"Yes, my love?"

"Would you terribly mind if we just, er…"

"I'm ready to fall asleep on my feet, too."

"You're a treasure, mon coeur. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"Jean-Luc, if I actually told you what you did, we wouldn't get any sleep - again.'

He wearily chuckled. Beverly had a way with words - especially when it came to arousing his libido. But not tonight. He stepped over to the bed to turn down the covers. And then sat on the edge wondering if he had the strength to do anything more.

Beverly countered with consulting a terminal and informing one and all that they were not to be disturbed. Sighing, it only took her a few minutes to skip all of her usual night time routines, and simply slip into a sky blue nightgown and join her already dozing husband on the bed.

Hours later they'd actually get under the covers.

And it was only as the dawn approached that Jean-Luc would get around to slipping off his clothes. He was beginning to enjoy sleeping in the nude with Beverly. Though for this particular dawn, sleeping was all that he planned to do.

It took them another day before their bodies began to acclimate to this new time schedule and planet side location.

Jean-Luc was the first to rise. And when he realized that Beverly truly was in a deep sleep state, he silently dressed in casual clothes, left a note, and left their suite. He strolled about the hotel's promenade and connected shopping center, recognizing that Beverly was going to find some of these stores most interesting. Eventually finding a café rather than a bar that was open at this early hour, he ordered a cup of tea, breakfast rolls and some fruit that he'd remembered enjoying from his last visit.

"You here for Jamaharon?" the very attractive, and scantily dressed waitress asked.

Jean-Luc sighed. And then he admitted to himself that he was actually curious. "Miss, may I ask what exactly is Jamaharon?"

"You need at least one partner to find out," she suggestively replied, indicating by her body language that she was most willing to provide that service.

"I already have a partner," he stiffly informed the woman.

"It's more fun with two."

He did have to admit that the woman was persistent. And though the thought of sharing Beverly with anyone else was anathema to him, there was a part of his ego that was slightly flattered by the woman's flirting.

"I don't think so," an icy voice said from behind his back. Beverly was accustomed to staring down recalcitrant starship captains when necessary. A waitress on Risa didn't stand a chance against this lady. The woman started to back away from such a dismaying force. "I'll have what he's having," Beverly added, as the waitress retreated.

"Good morning, darling," she cheerfully stated as she sat down on a wire backed chair next to her spouse. Her cherry red sundress draped about the chair.

He decided that he liked Beverly in cherry red. And then he picked up the padd that he'd brought with him.

Beverly blinked. She dramatically sighed. "The honeymoon is already over?"

He put down his padd. "Beverly…"

She grinned. She did so adore teasing him. "I read my messages too. What do you say to ignoring the invitation from the admiralty to attend the admiral's conference here on Risa?"

"Perhaps we should go?"

"Jean-Luc, do you really think that anything of importance is going to be discussed on this planet? I think it's a safe bet that whenever an admiral's conference is scheduled on Risa, Clarion or Sarona VII, the only thing of importance is the bar, the food and friendly companions - not the conference."

He thought for a moment, then grinned. "You're right. Woody Nakamura has a fondness for pleasure planets. I'll mark his message as 'unread'. We have four days left before we depart. The admiralty will just have to wait until we get back to Earth before they start to officially plague us."

"Good." Beverly smiled at the subdued waitress as she brought them their tea and food. "There's some sort of barbeque on the beach tonight. I understand they'll be serving lots of alcoholic drinks..."

"No doubt with idiotic cutesy names...," he interjected.

She ignored him, adding, "With lots of delicious, greasy food that the doctor in me will totally deny its existence, and that there will be really loud music that will be fun to dance to…"

He interpreted her words. "What you're really trying to tell me is that you want me to wear something garish."

"Don't be silly, Jean-Luc On this planet? You don't have to wear anything. Clothing is always an option." Beverly's grin was naughty. "What do you say, Jean-Luc? I'm game if you're game."

Nudity was not an option. "I don't own a garish shirt." He tried to sound stiff and proper, but this attitude was not impressing his bride at all.

Beverly's grin only grew broader. "You will by tonight," she promised herself.

He could tell that she really wanted to go and do the 'touristy' thing. And to tell the truth, he did too. He nodded his consent.

"Good. I get to go shopping."

He grasped her hand. "But not just yet?" He stroked a finger against her palm. She sighed. He kissed her wrist. She sighed again. Then she stood, pulling him into a standing position in her arms. They went back to their suite.

About an hour later, she observed his fidgeting. Even though he hadn't said a word, she had a pretty good idea as to why he was mentally debating with himself about what to do next. "Jean-Luc, go and take your shower, and then find a nice peaceful lounge chair by the waterfall pools, and read for the next few hours. I'm going shopping, and then have a facial. With what I'm planning for tonight, you will need to conserve your strength."

His glare bespoke volumes. He'd always considered himself to be a somewhat fastidious man. It was his custom over the years, that after making love, he'd take a shower or a bath. But with Beverly, and their desires, it was not uncommon for them to make love off and on for hours. He had discovered that his wife would tease him if he took too many showers in one night, so he tried to anticipate the level of her desires. He was not always successful in guessing.

Still laughing, she left their suite.

Jean-Luc eventually found himself seated by a quiet table, on a comfortable lounge chair in a shaded corner overlooking a waterfall pool and garden, sipping a delightful fruited ice tea. Normally he preferred his iced tea plain, but the waitress had talking him into trying something different. He was glad that he did. Picking up his mystery novel, he then promptly fell asleep before the first chapter was read.

It didn't take long for Beverly to find her husband about two hours later. The staff at this Marriott had recognized them as a couple rather early on, so they were able to tell her where he was napping. She bent over and lightly kissed him before shoving him over to take up her half of the lounge chair.

He only grumbled before he rolled over onto his side to accommodate his demanding bride. It took him about half an hour to actually realize that he wasn't dreaming. That Beverly indeed was in his arms, reading his book. And that they were outside.

"Jean-Luc?"

"Yes, mon coeur?"

"Promise me."

"What, Beverly?"

"That even when our honeymoon is actually over, that every now and then, well do something wild and silly and romantic. Go somewhere - if only for a few days." She softly stroked the arm that was holding her. "I don't want our honeymoon to be the only time that we're this close. I don't want the mundane life to take over our love life."

He considered her words for a while. And he understood what she was asking. "Beverly, if you find that I am forgetting, will you do your best to remind me? Perhaps kiss me? That ought to be enough of a reminder…"

She tweaked his forearm. "Oh, you… I'll hold you to your word, Jean-Luc Picard. You're stuck with an adventuresome wife who will remind you of that fact every now and then."

"Your adventuresomeness has given me nightmares in the past."

"That's because I couldn't do this to you…" She reached behind her back and caressed him.

His eyes widened as he felt what she was doing to him in public. And how his body was responding. Granted, it was somewhat secluded. And that it was Risa. But still…

"Mon coeur," he announced in the sternest voice of which he was capable at the moment. The words came out as a whisper. For Beverly was very good at seducing the sanity out of him.

She just simply stood and led him by the hand back to their suite.

Hours later, Jean-Luc looked at himself in the mirror in their suite. Beverly had bought him a shirt and matching shorts. It was a bright, command (aka tomato) red. It had an all-over space ship pattern - in turquoise, pink and lime green with bright yellow flames shooting out the backs of the space ships forming a design that was extremely garish, loud and tasteless. He knew Beverly had silently dared him to wear this shirt. Surprised that he hadn't been blinded by the shirt, he obliged. He also knew that no one who knew him would believe that he would willingly wear such a shirt without being strong-armed by his bride into it. Though he did have to admit it was a comfortable shirt. And the space ships did grow on you…

Then his bride walked by and pinched his behind. He decided that he liked the shirt. Beverly moved closer and whispered something into his ear. Maybe he could really grow to appreciate the outfit…

Beverly was wearing an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse in pink, and a long, multi-colorfully ruffled skirt, and sandals. She looked gorgeous and he told her so. And, in a weird sort of way, they were color coordinated.

With a surprising sense of anticipation, Jean-Luc permitted Beverly to lead him to the barbecue.

Beverly could tell that her husband was a bit uncertain about the barbecue. He was not a man given to such frivolous pursuits - or so he thought.

"It's hard to believe that we're leaving in a few days," she remarked as she clasped her husband's hand.

"Yes. Our honeymoon is almost over." He sounded sad at this thought.

"I think not," she teased.

"What?"

"Jean-Luc, if you think you're going to turn into a stodgy old married man set in his ways once we get back to Earth, think again." They stopped their strolling. "I like the man I married. And the man that I've discovered on our honeymoon. And I'm not letting him get away from me. If you do it right, the honeymoon will never be over between us."

"So noted." He lightly kissed her lips. "Just exactly how do you define stodgy?"

Her laughter was light, floating on the breeze. "Let's just say I am going to do my best to keep you from ever defining it."

He kissed her again. "I actually am anticipating going home, if only to see what you'll do to keep me from becoming stodgy."

She laughed again. "I'm anticipating going home too…"

They started walking again pausing once in a while to kiss. "About that 'home', Beverly…"

"Well, if the duplex is rented, we'll find some place else…"

"Actually, I have another house."

She stopped, ignoring the ambiance of the torches lighting the beach path in twilight, or the sound of exuberant dance music from off in the distance. "Two houses, Jean-Luc? How could you forget that you own two houses?"

"I was a cadet." He grinned as if that was explanation enough. "I actually really read the reports I'd been getting from Boothby and the lawyers a few nights ago, for I'd finally realized that the rent payments were in excess of anything that a duplex might generate. That's when I remembered once going to Aunt Adele's other house. Once I double checked everything I realized that I do indeed have another house. And, we both have been there."

"Really?"

"Yes. For the past few years it was leased to the Nagosian Consulate. It was their embassy."

Beverly froze. "That boring diplomatic party that you dragged me to the last time we were on Earth?"

He chuckled. "Yes. Now I know why the Nagosians were so polite to me. I was their landlord."

"Are you trying to tell me that the house with all of its gorgeous gardens…"

"Yes. The Nagosians moved out and into their new embassy about eight months ago. According to Boothby, Marie and Mildred have tried to set things right about the house. It needs some restoring…"

Beverly ignored his words about the house. "Jean-Luc, it had a orchid hot house!" Her voice rose with excitement. "I remember seeing some very rare examples…"

"Yes, so it does, Beverly." He was amused about what Beverly found to be of importance about their proposed new residence.

"Oh, Jean-Luc, I've always wanted a hot house!" She sounded thrilled.

Deciding not to go for the obvious double entendre, Jean-Luc just stood there as Beverly hugged him with obvious enthusiasm - for orchids. Smiling when she released him, they proceeded up the path toward the ocean side party.

The food was indeed greasy. And absolutely delicious. A lot of the grilled fruit was covered in rum - a lot of rum. Jean-Luc found himself feeding little morsels to his lover with his fingers. For they were reclining together on a low, wide sedan lounge. As Beverly peeled him a Risian grape, Jean-Luc began to comprehend why forms of the Terran Roman banquet style of dining al fresco known by so many different names on so many different planets, was so very popular. And why the Romans had first done it so many thousands of years ago. Aside from the sensual aspects, it was also fun.

Beverly kept ordering them some sort of drink called a 'fizzy'. She never told him that the real name of their libation was 'pon farr fizzy'. In spite of the sweet and fizzy nature to the alcohol, he rather liked the drink by the second refill.

And then the dancing started. It took Beverly a lot of persuading - and a fourth drink - to get Jean-Luc to dance with her in some kind of conga line. The steps didn't matter. The only thing that did matter was Jean-Luc clutching his wife's waist from behind, trying to learn the steps even as he found himself ogling his wife's derrière as they danced. The way she wiggled… He was truly enjoying himself. And judging by the passionate kisses that Beverly would steal every now and then, Beverly was having a good time too.

The music changed. Beverly shoved him down into the sand, and then began to dance around him - only for him. Her voluminous skirts twirled as she danced with abandon. She clicked her fingers, kicked up her heels and clapped her hands to the seductive beats of the music. Her laughter was infectious as she focused her gaze only on her husband. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. And Jean-Luc was experiencing one of his favorite fantasies from long ago - Beverly dancing for him alone. He thought that he'd never been so happy in all of his life… Eventually she leaned over to pull him into her arms for such joy in dancing and in life, must be shared. "I love you," she announced to the universe as she guided her husband about.

"I love you," was his heartfelt, gasping response.

From a distance on their balcony, Alynna and Woody were watching. Woody handed Alynna another Pon Farr Fizzy.

"I've never seen Captain Jean-Luc Picard behave like that," Alynna observed, somewhat enviously, as she sipped her second drink.

"He never has. Not even when Jack was alive."

"Beverly is good for him…," Alynna announced knowing that Woody would not disagree.

They watched as Beverly kissed her husband in public. His response was to pick her up and twirl her about before pulling her into passion's embrace. A moment later they were dancing about in each other's arms.

Much to Woody's amusement, Beverly raise her arm high in the air and waved her fingers in their direction. Apparently, she had sighted them. What really surprised him was when Jean-Luc stopped, put his bride down on the sand, turned and bowed in their direction, and then picked his bride back up.

Beverly kissed him passionately. And he returned the favor before walking on carrying his love in his arms.

Woody made sure his tricorder was working. He could hardly wait for the next 'admiral's only' poker game.

Alynna watched the loving couple enter their hotel. Sighing dramatically, Alynna turned to her companion, took away his tricorder, and announced, "Now that is how you do Jamaharon…"

The End.

Author's Note: I have enjoyed writing in this a/u too much to let it go. So, I've already posted sequels to this novel, entitled "De-Tached". The first four stories are called "Life with Beverly". Eventually, additional stories will be added such as "Life with Riker", "Life with Worf", etc. I do not doubt that I'll be adding to the series over the next few months.

For a slightly different take, that is also more in canon than "Attached Meant", check out my other two major TNG novels, "The Best Laid Plans" and "The Sky's the Limit". They are my only two major "M" offerings on fanfic so far. Both are A/U, and are not connected to the "Attached" universe.

And in yet another set of stories that really are alternate universe stories, I've done "A Dreary Man in a Tedious Job" and "A Less Dreary Man in a Tedious Job". These stories are set in the TAPESTRY universe where instead of being returned to being a captain by Q, Jean-Luc finds himself as a lowly lieutenant stationed on the ENTERPRISE with a captain other than himself. But midst his despair at being trapped as a lieutenant, Jean-Luc discovers something else - Beverly is his lover in spite of his lowly position.

Again, thank you for all of the reviews and comments, and the literally thousands of hits for the ATTACHED and DE-TACHED stories.

Mabb5.

2/10/2013