The Way You Look Tonight

Adjusting the tight collar of his tuxedo, Jean-Luc stepped off the lift and begin making his way down the hall towards the ballroom. He generally hated these black-tie functions at Starfleet headquarters. It was the awkward formality he detested. Generally, everyone in attendance seemed miserable – only there based on some sense of duty versus a desire to actually have a good time.

And tonight, he assumed, would be no different.

Docked once again at McKinley, he and his senior staff, including a guest, were invited to the annual Starfleet Admirals banquet. He knew Deanna was accompanying Will, and he had overheard Geordi excitedly talking about the Lieutenant who had accepted his invitation. He didn't know if Worf or Data were bringing anyone, but he knew Beverly would be there with Jack.

It had been a month since their conversation in the holodeck. Four long, hard weeks without talking to her beyond the obligations of work...which had been, sadly, extremely limited. With the journey back to Earth, and then the week they had already spent in dry dock…there was little in the means of work to be done. He would be lying to himself if he didn't acknowledge her absence in his life had left a gaping hole in his heart. Beyond their mutual attraction, it was their conversations he missed the most. Despite everything else, she had become his best friend, and he missed confiding in her.

Perhaps it was a blessing Jenice had refused to attend tonight. He didn't know how he would have explained the jealousy in his eyes as he watched his CMO glide across the dance floor with her husband. Shaking his head at the thought, he continued down the hallway.

Stepping into the ballroom he glanced over the sea of black tuxedos and dresses. He wasn't sure how black had become the color for formal attire, but he always thought of it as rather somber. Catching a quick flash of bright purple, he turned his head to see Will and Deanna chatting with another couple. Leave it to the Betazoid to brighten up the party with a colorful gown.

Chuckling to himself, he made his way through the crowd to the bar. If he was going to get through this night, he would most surely need to do it with alcohol. Real alcohol. That was the one redeeming quality about these functions – they always served the good stuff.

As he pushed through the throng of people, he saw her.

She was standing by herself, casually scanning the crowd, with a glass of champagne in her hand. She hadn't seen him yet, and he took the opportunity to appreciate her beauty. Her hair was loosely curled, landing softly on her bare, porcelain shoulders. Her long dress was cut low in the front, and made of some shimmery, emerald green fabric he wasn't familiar with but was instantly jealous of as it hugged every perfect curve of her body. As he made his way towards the bar, she turned slightly away from him, and he noticed the back of her dress was cut low as well, and the thin straps of her gown crisscrossed her shoulder blades. Seeing so much of her skin for the first time took his breath away. His heart started racing and his hands became clammy. Forgetting his mission to obtain a drink, he pivoted and slowly started to make his way to her.

Before he could reach her, she turned in his direction. He watched her face, noticing the change in her expression as her eyes landed on him. Her face instantly brightened, and her smile alone was enough to light up the entire room. She started walking towards him, meeting him halfway. He noticed her hair was pulled up on one side with a clip. Without thinking he reached up to touch her hair, tucking an errant strand behind her ear, as he moved comfortably into her personal space.

"I must say, you wear it well." He smiled at her, heart soaring as she returned the gesture.

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself." She reached up to smooth his lapel, moving even closer into him. At her touch, everyone else in the room seemed to fade away.

As the music changed to something with a faster beat, he remembered where he was and took a slight step back, clearing his throat.

"I was just on my way to the bar. I'd offer to get you a drink, but I see you already have one." He looked over the crowd behind her, looking for Jack. He assumed she had either lost him in the crowd or was waiting for him to arrive. "Were you looking for Jack?"

She shook her head. "Nope. I'm flying solo." He looked at her questioningly. She understood and continued. "He's watching Wesley tonight…and wasn't interested in trying to find a babysitter." She smirked at him and raised her glass. "As you can see, I've been coping with an abundance of alcohol." She lifted the glass to her lips and downed the contents on one gulp. "That's number three."

Laughing slightly, Jean-Luc took the empty glass from her hand and placed it on an empty wait tray that was passing by. "How long have you been here?"

She caught his eye. "Half an hour? Where's Jenice?"

"France." He stared back at her intently, excitement growing in his chest as he realized they were both without dates for the evening.

"Again?" She gave him a look of disbelief.

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Honestly, Beverly, I'm glad she's not here." She blushed at his admission. The music changed again, and he recognized the smooth voice of Frank Sinatra fill the room. "Care to dance?"

"I'd love to." They both turned to make their way to the dance floor, his hand automatically falling to her lower back, guiding her way.

Finding a space, he pulled her into him, hands falling to her waist as her hands found home on his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of her in his arms. This was the most intimate they had ever been.

Reaching up, she gently caressed his cheek. "I've missed you, Jean-Luc." She let her hand fall to his shoulder as he started to sway them to the music.

"And I you." He pulled her tightly to him as they moved along the dance floor. Everything about holding her felt right, and in that moment, he knew that this where he was supposed to be – where they were supposed to be. Together. The question was…did she feel the same?

"How have you been?" She searched his eyes, and he knew what she was asking.

"Things with Jenice aren't going very well." He paused, contemplating if he should continue, but realizing he needed to be honest with her. "I'm not sure she'll be rejoining us on the Enterprise when we leave McKinley."

Beverly's eyes widened. "What happened?"

"It seems a life among the stars isn't for her. She misses her friends and social obligations in Paris." He shrugged. "I understand. That's her life, as the stars are mine."

"So is it…" Her voice trailed off, seemingly not wanting finish her sentence.

"Over?" She nodded. "I…don't know. I'm supposed to meet her tomorrow in Paris. I suppose she'll let me know what she wants then."

She looked up at him through long lashes, her voice low, barely above a whisper. "And what do you want?"

"Oh, now that's a dangerous question, Doctor." He smiled broadly at her. Throwing the ball in her court, he changed the subject. "How are things with Jack?"

It was her turn to shrug. "The same. Strained. He refuses to go with me to talk with Deanna." She reached up to toy with the collar of his tuxedo. "We barely speak, just exist together cordially for Wesley's sake. I'm not sure what he wants anymore either."

"And what do you want?" Throwing her question back at her, he smiled wickedly.

Eyes growing dark, she teased him. "Still a dangerous question, Captain."

The song changed again, this time to something a little faster. Despite the change in tempo, they continued to hold each other close, not wanting to pull apart. Eventually another slow song began, and they continued their dance. Song after song came and went, but still they stayed together.

Besides taking time to chat with Will and Deanna, they only stopped long enough to speak with dignitaries passing by, or to catch a waiter passing by with more champagne. As the evening stretched on, he once again felt his heart start to betray him…beating uncontrollably fast within the confines of his chest as he thought of the night ending.

"Beverly?" He looked at her, desire in his eyes.

"Yes?" She whispered her response, her fingers now playing with the short hairs on the back of his head as they moved to the music.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

Looking up at him, he noticed his desire reflected in her eyes. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, I have plenty of real alcohol in my ready room…we could take the party there. Care to join me?"

They stared at each other for a few moments, both knowing the dangerous territory they would most certainly wander into if they were alone together…in his ready room or not.

Without saying a word, she smiled, turned and started walking towards the doors of the ballroom.

Quickly grabbing a flute of champagne off of another passing tray, he drank it in one, long swig and swiftly followed her into the night.

The Way You Look Tonight, written by Dorothy Fields and Jerome Kern, performed by Frank Sinatra