**********************************
From Part Three:
"Papa, fais que ca s arrete, s'il te plait. Fais que mon coeur arrete de faire mal. je t'en supplie." Lissa sobbed into the arm that was comfortingly wrapped around her body. It was then and there Jean-Luc made up his mind on what to do.
**********************************
"Number One...Will, give the order to change course. I don't care which way, just get us out of this sector of space." Jean-Luc said and he heard Lissa thank him over and over again breathlessly.
"Aye aye, Sir." Will said and went to the bridge, wasting no time. Minutes later they saw from the window that the order had been followed and they were now moving to the left. Beverly and Deanna helped the two people off the floor and Deanna took the girl into the bathroom to wash her face. Beverly and Jean-Luc looked at each other and she held out her hand. He took it after a moment's hesitation and pulled her into his arms for a hug. She went easily and lay her head down on his chest, breathing in the deep scent of him. Suddenly the ship was rocked and Data's voice floated into the room.
"Sir, there is another temporal hole and another craft. It is larger and more sophisticated than the other one. The scanners can only penetrate its hull enough to tell that there is life on board. We don't know how many." Data said and if he could voice emotion it would have been one of confusion.
"Daddy?" Lissa said, softly, appearing from the bathroom, holding onto Deanna's hand. She looked excitedly at Jean-Luc and Beverly. "Do you think my other Daddy came to get me?"
"It's a good possibility." Beverly said and Lissa's eyes widened. She bolted from the room and the three adults were forced to run after her. She zoomed down the corridor to the turbo lift and as it descended to the shuttle bay area, she bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. Her excitement was catching and as soon as the door opened, she ran to the shuttle bay entrance. The door opened and there sat another craft almost identical to the one she had arrived in. Beverly, Jean-Luc, and Deanna went in followed by Will, who had met them at the door. Lissa's excited run turned into a cautious walk as she entered the bay area and waited. The door to the shuttle opened with a "whoosh" and they all caught their breath. Out stepped a man in a Captain's uniform, but the face wasn't that of whom they normally saw wearing it.
"Hi, Uncle Will." Lissa said with her voice more than a little disappointed.
"That's all I get? A 'Hi, Uncle Will'? Well, I missed you too, Kiddo." Captain William T. Riker said and she grinned. He walked to her and she met him halfway, throwing her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Will. I missed you so much." Lissa said and looked up into the face of the man she thought of as a second father. As they reunited the others got a good look at the man who was hugging her. He had gray at his temples as well as in his beard and had a lot more laugh lines. However there was no doubt that it was definitely William Riker. The officers of the present all looked at Will and then to "Uncle" Will and back again. Uncle Will looked up and winked at them all. Then he focused again on Lissa.
"Well, Lissa, my girl. I have a feeling that you will love me even more than you do when you see what I brought you." Uncle Will said and Lissa looked at him, eyes shining.
"Aunt Deanna, right?" Lissa guessed excitedly, having gotten over the disappointment of not seeing her father. She was now more than happy to be around those who knew her and loved her.
"Are you part Betazoid?" Uncle Will asked and Lissa laughed.
"All right, Dee, she's found us out." He shouted over his shoulder and out walked an older version of Counselor Deanna Troi.
"Aunt Deanna! I knew it! Oh how I've missed you. How are Kes and Will? Did Marie learn when it is appropriate to probe people's minds?" Lissa asked happily, as Deanna Troi-Riker hugged her.
"Hey, slow down, Sweetie. First of all, I missed you too. Second of all, Kes and Will are fine and miss you also. And last of all, Marie is still probing minds, but getting better at listening when we say to stop." Dee Riker told her beloved "niece". She had practically killed her husband when she had found out what he had done, but knowing why, she had forgiven him almost as fast.
The officers watching took in Dee Riker's appearance and noticed that she had more laugh lines as well. Her dark colored hair had gone from an abundance of curls to just past her shoulders and straight. It was different, but gave her a softer and gentler look. And despite the knowledge that she had given birth three times, she looked as fit as the present day Deanna. She looked over at her younger self with her friends and let out a small chuckle. Deanna Troi raised an eyebrow at the sound of the laugh, but Dee Riker was no longer paying attention to them. She instead focused on the little girl in front of her.
"I have a surprise for you too." Dee Riker said and gave an enigmatic smile.
"Kes, Will, and Marie?" Lissa asked and her "aunt" shook her head. Footsteps were heard on the shuttlecraft's landing stairs and the girl looked up then gasped.
"Daddy! You came!" The girl cried out and rushed over to the man now exiting the shuttle.
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard ran down the ramp to catch Lissa as she jumped into his arms. He swung his daughter up and around in a circle, tears of joy flowing down his normally stolid face. The man's build had not changed much in the 13 years that had passed in his time, mainly due to the fact that he still worked out on the holodeck. Other than that there was very little change to his physical appearance. He had even kept the small circle of soft gray hair on his lower head.
"God, Starbuck, I was so worried." Adm. Jean-Luc said and held Lissa so close it was a wonder the girl could breath.
"Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me, but I had to try. I just had to try," she repeated into his shoulder and clung even tighter.
"It's okay, Starbuck, I know. You weren't the only one hurting. I'm just sorry I made you go through all that alone." Adm. Jean-Luc told her and he made her look him in the eye. "I love you. No matter what happens always remember I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy. Only it's so hard. I miss her so much." Lissa said and he nodded.
"I think I can help you with that." Admiral Jean-Luc said and she gave him a confused look. Searching his face, the look turned into a heartbreakingly hopeful one and her eyes flew to the shuttle. All eyes, present and future followed her gaze. One slim leg appeared followed by another, a body came into view and then an auburn covered head, much like that of her daughter.
"Oh God. Mommy!" Lissa cried and launched herself onto the woman who this had all been for. "It worked. Oh, thank you God, it worked. Don't ever leave me again, Mommy. Please don't ever leave me."
"Shhh, I'm here and we're together again." Beverly Picard told her daughter and held her to her chest. The present day Beverly watched, her own tears flowing freely down her face as her future self soothed Lissa's tears. Beverly Picard's hair was now just barely touched her shoulders and was slightly layered. The red was still obvious, but instead of gray streaks, it had almost a golden blond look to it. Her facial features had softened as she had gotten older and she practically glowed with happiness. Especially when she looked up into the eyes of her husband.
Admiral Jean-Luc gathered the both of them in an embrace and Capt. Riker and Dee Riker held onto each other, finally seeing their loved ones as a family again. They stayed that way for a while, until Admiral Jean-Luc looked up at his younger self.
"Thank you. You wait until you see your wife giving birth to your daughter or hear that little girl say 'Daddy' for the first time. You'll know why you did this. And don't think that knowing about this will change anything in your relationships, because it won't. Trust me," he told him and the present day Jean-Luc nodded.
"But now, it is time to go home." Admiral Jean-Luc told his family, tenderly brushing a lock of hair out of his wife's face. Beverly Picard reached up and caught his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm.
Capt. Riker and Dee Riker got into the original shuttle, with the Picard family going towards the newer one. Suddenly Lissa ran back and threw her arms around the present day Will, then Deanna, Beverly, and finally Jean-Luc. Pulling back she grinned at him.
"My first word was 'Daddy', but my first BIG words were 'Prime Directive'." she told him and Jean-Luc's eyes widened in amusement.
"Deanna Felisa Picard, get over here right now!" Adm. Jean-Luc Picard ordered his daughter. His voice was the strong and commanding voice they all knew, but Lissa just laughed. She knew that he was not angry. In fact, he was more amused than anything else. Lissa, still laughing, turned to run to her father. Adm. Jean-Luc bent and scooped up his daughter and threw her into the air. As he caught her again, she gave him a kiss on the top of his still bald head. He and his wife laughed along their daughter as the door to the craft closed and as soon as the shuttle bay doors opened, the two shuttles were zoomed out. They watched in awe as a temporal hole appeared and swallowed the two craft. The Enterprise shook briefly, but that too was over in a second, leaving four stunned adults all to stare at one another.
"Just another calm day on the Enterprise. Right, Sir?" Will said, breaking the silence and Jean-Luc chuckled.
"Just another calm day, Number One." Jean-Luc replied and the two females shook their heads, but joined in the laughter of their future husbands.
**********************************************************************
Jean-Luc had just finished setting the table when the door chimed. Glancing up at the clock and seeing it was 2015, he knew immediately who it was. He smiled slightly and quickly tugging down the edge of his shirt, called out for the person to come in. Beverly walked in and gave him a tentative smile as she looked around the cabin.
A delicate white tablecloth had been placed over the dining table and it was set with good china. A beautiful peach colored rose had been placed in a small glass vase and now rested in between the two place settings. Soft music played in the background and the lighting was extremely dim, making the candles that were lit around the room seem even more exotic.
"Jean-Luc, what is all this?" Beverly asked him softly and with a short intake of breath noticed his attire. He wore a soft green sweater, making his hazel eyes seem to sparkle, and brown colored pants that clung to his muscled legs. But what had made her breath catch was the look that shone deeper in his expression. "Are you okay?"
"Are you going to ask questions all night or are you going to let me feed you?" Jean-Luc teased her and although she gave him a raised eyebrow, Beverly let him take her elbow and lead her to the table. After pulling out her chair for her, earning him another raised eyebrow, she settled comfortably into the chair. Closing her eyes she listened to the sweet sound of the soft jazz that poured out through the room's speakers.
"Mid-twentieth century jazz. Autumn Leaves by...Miles Davis." Beverly told him, her blue eyes opening to pin him down with a stare. Jean-Luc was so caught up in that stare that he forgot she had said anything, until she cleared her throat.
"What? Oh, yes. The music. You're right, as usual, Beverly." Jean-Luc said and turned to the replicator to get their food. It was easy enough to get distracted by her beauty, especially in the outfit she wore. An off the shoulder, cream, cashmere sweater came down to her mid-thigh and had tiny pearl-like beads scattered sparsely around the front. Her long dancer legs were encased in a pair of navy blue leggings, her feet in strappy cream sandals accenting the length even more.
Beverly was dying to ask what was going on in that handsome head of his, but thought better of it. Knowing him, he would tell her in his own time. She just hoped she wouldn't die of curiosity before then. Instead she gave him a smile, which grew when she noticed what he had made for dinner. Now sitting in front of them were two plates of steaming fettuccini Alfredo, one of her personal favorites.
"Thank you, Jean-Luc." Beverly told him and he gave her one of his rare full-blown smiles. Pushing aside the warm tingly feeling that she always got when he gave her one of those looks, she began to dig into her food. Small talk ensued throughout the meal until a comfortable silence settled over them.
"You know, Will and Deanna are having dinner together tonight too?" Beverly told him, breaking the silence and taking a sip of the wine he had just refilled her glass with.
"I had a feeling." Jean-Luc said after swallowing the last of his pasta. He sat back, contentedly, and watched her finish off hers.
"Did you also know that he is planning to ask her to marry him?" Beverly asked, her eyebrow raising and with a smug look, put a bite of pasta in her mouth.
"As a matter of fact, I did. Did you know that she is planning to say yes?" Jean-Luc countered and he let out a laugh when her fork hit the plate with a loud "clank".
"What?" she exclaimed, almost choking on her mouthful of food. After taking a long sip of wine, Beverly stared at him incredulously. "And how do you know this?"
"Deanna came to me this afternoon, after everything, having an idea of what was going to happen tonight. She asked my opinion on whether I thought it would be a smart idea?" Jean-Luc said and Beverly frowned.
"Why would she care what you thought?" Beverly muttered in confusion, causing Jean-Luc 's eyebrow to rise this time.
"Well, there is the little matter of the fact that I am captain of the ship they are serving on." Jean-Luc told her, making Beverly blush slightly.
"I'm sorry, Jean-Luc. I was just surprised that she didn't say anything to me." Beverly apologized, but he shrugged it off. He stood and holding out his hand to her, he led her to the couch. En route she turned to him, her blue eyes sparkling in the candle light. "Do you think he's asked her yet?"
"I think we'd know if..." Jean-Luc said, but as the words came out of his mouth Will's voice came over the comm. link.
"Riker to Picard." Will said, a tremor evident in his voice. Jean-Luc locked eyes with Beverly, her hand tightening in his.
"Yes, Number One?" Jean-Luc replied, trying to sound uninterested.
"She said yes, Sir!" Will shouted and they could hear Deanna's laugh in the background. "She said yes!"
Deanna's laugh turned into squeal and then they heard her yell, "Will Riker, put me down this instant!"
Beverly and Jean-Luc laughed together and both offered their congratulations. After agreeing to all meet in Beverly's quarters for breakfast the next morning at 0730, the comm. link closed the channel, leaving Jean-Luc and Beverly alone again. Grins were on both of their faces and when they turned to face each other, something passed between them. Jean-Luc gave Beverly's hand a slight tug and she instinctively moved until she stood about a hair's width away. The hand that wasn't holding hers came up and cupped her cheek, his eyes searching her face for any hint of resistance. When he found none, he sighed deeply.
"Beverly." He whispered, just before his lips met hers. Her eyes widened before closing in pure pleasure. A moment later, he pulled back and her eyes flew open to stare into his.
"What took you so damn long?" Beverly breathlessly asked and Jean-Luc frowned.
"You were the one who said..." Jean-Luc began, remembering the dinner after the Kes-Prytt ordeal and their conversation.
"Oh shut up, Jean-Luc, and forget what I said. I desperately want to." Beverly said and the next thing he knew, she had released his hand and had wrapped her arms around his neck. Without another word, she pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. He was taken aback for a split second, before wrapping his own arms around her waist and giving in to the amazing feelings going on in his heart, mind, and soul. He was the one who pulled back, yet again, making Beverly give a small moan of frustration. He smiled at her and gave her a quick peck on the lips before sitting, then stretching out onto the couch. She smiled back at him and without hesitation she nestled in-between his legs, lying back against his chest.
"This feels right." Jean-Luc said, his arms encircling her and dropping a kiss onto her head.
"I know what you mean." Beverly replied, but then sighed. "Jean-Luc what brought this on? What is this all about?"
"When that little girl...our little girl...told us about the possibility of losing you it scared me, Beverly. More than anything ever had before in my life. The pain she talked about and felt was so real, that even though you were standing next me the entire time I grew frightened." Jean-Luc said, holding her tighter in an unconscious movement. She placed her arms over top his and tilting her head back, kissed the underside of his chin. Beverly felt him move one arm and when his hand reappeared moment later, it slipped an antique diamond ring onto her left hand. She gasped and turned in his arms to look at him in astonishment.
"Jean-Luc?" She questioned, but he just smiled.
"I don't have the words to tell you how much I love you, but I hope this helps a bit." Jean-Luc said, his eyes hopeful yet cautious. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Oh Jean-Luc, that was so corny, but unbelievable beautiful. Yes, I'll marry you." Beverly said and she had just enough time to see the look change to one of utter happiness, before he claimed her mouth with his.
"Should we tell Will and Deanna now?" Jean-Luc murmured against her lips. Beverly slid out of his arms and tugging him to his feet, began to lead the way to the bedroom. Giving him a look that conveyed all her thoughts she gave him a coy and sexy smile, then shook her head.
"Let's tell them at breakfast..."
He laughed and followed her, hand in hand, offering no argument.
THE END
From Part Three:
"Papa, fais que ca s arrete, s'il te plait. Fais que mon coeur arrete de faire mal. je t'en supplie." Lissa sobbed into the arm that was comfortingly wrapped around her body. It was then and there Jean-Luc made up his mind on what to do.
**********************************
"Number One...Will, give the order to change course. I don't care which way, just get us out of this sector of space." Jean-Luc said and he heard Lissa thank him over and over again breathlessly.
"Aye aye, Sir." Will said and went to the bridge, wasting no time. Minutes later they saw from the window that the order had been followed and they were now moving to the left. Beverly and Deanna helped the two people off the floor and Deanna took the girl into the bathroom to wash her face. Beverly and Jean-Luc looked at each other and she held out her hand. He took it after a moment's hesitation and pulled her into his arms for a hug. She went easily and lay her head down on his chest, breathing in the deep scent of him. Suddenly the ship was rocked and Data's voice floated into the room.
"Sir, there is another temporal hole and another craft. It is larger and more sophisticated than the other one. The scanners can only penetrate its hull enough to tell that there is life on board. We don't know how many." Data said and if he could voice emotion it would have been one of confusion.
"Daddy?" Lissa said, softly, appearing from the bathroom, holding onto Deanna's hand. She looked excitedly at Jean-Luc and Beverly. "Do you think my other Daddy came to get me?"
"It's a good possibility." Beverly said and Lissa's eyes widened. She bolted from the room and the three adults were forced to run after her. She zoomed down the corridor to the turbo lift and as it descended to the shuttle bay area, she bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. Her excitement was catching and as soon as the door opened, she ran to the shuttle bay entrance. The door opened and there sat another craft almost identical to the one she had arrived in. Beverly, Jean-Luc, and Deanna went in followed by Will, who had met them at the door. Lissa's excited run turned into a cautious walk as she entered the bay area and waited. The door to the shuttle opened with a "whoosh" and they all caught their breath. Out stepped a man in a Captain's uniform, but the face wasn't that of whom they normally saw wearing it.
"Hi, Uncle Will." Lissa said with her voice more than a little disappointed.
"That's all I get? A 'Hi, Uncle Will'? Well, I missed you too, Kiddo." Captain William T. Riker said and she grinned. He walked to her and she met him halfway, throwing her arms around his waist.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Will. I missed you so much." Lissa said and looked up into the face of the man she thought of as a second father. As they reunited the others got a good look at the man who was hugging her. He had gray at his temples as well as in his beard and had a lot more laugh lines. However there was no doubt that it was definitely William Riker. The officers of the present all looked at Will and then to "Uncle" Will and back again. Uncle Will looked up and winked at them all. Then he focused again on Lissa.
"Well, Lissa, my girl. I have a feeling that you will love me even more than you do when you see what I brought you." Uncle Will said and Lissa looked at him, eyes shining.
"Aunt Deanna, right?" Lissa guessed excitedly, having gotten over the disappointment of not seeing her father. She was now more than happy to be around those who knew her and loved her.
"Are you part Betazoid?" Uncle Will asked and Lissa laughed.
"All right, Dee, she's found us out." He shouted over his shoulder and out walked an older version of Counselor Deanna Troi.
"Aunt Deanna! I knew it! Oh how I've missed you. How are Kes and Will? Did Marie learn when it is appropriate to probe people's minds?" Lissa asked happily, as Deanna Troi-Riker hugged her.
"Hey, slow down, Sweetie. First of all, I missed you too. Second of all, Kes and Will are fine and miss you also. And last of all, Marie is still probing minds, but getting better at listening when we say to stop." Dee Riker told her beloved "niece". She had practically killed her husband when she had found out what he had done, but knowing why, she had forgiven him almost as fast.
The officers watching took in Dee Riker's appearance and noticed that she had more laugh lines as well. Her dark colored hair had gone from an abundance of curls to just past her shoulders and straight. It was different, but gave her a softer and gentler look. And despite the knowledge that she had given birth three times, she looked as fit as the present day Deanna. She looked over at her younger self with her friends and let out a small chuckle. Deanna Troi raised an eyebrow at the sound of the laugh, but Dee Riker was no longer paying attention to them. She instead focused on the little girl in front of her.
"I have a surprise for you too." Dee Riker said and gave an enigmatic smile.
"Kes, Will, and Marie?" Lissa asked and her "aunt" shook her head. Footsteps were heard on the shuttlecraft's landing stairs and the girl looked up then gasped.
"Daddy! You came!" The girl cried out and rushed over to the man now exiting the shuttle.
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard ran down the ramp to catch Lissa as she jumped into his arms. He swung his daughter up and around in a circle, tears of joy flowing down his normally stolid face. The man's build had not changed much in the 13 years that had passed in his time, mainly due to the fact that he still worked out on the holodeck. Other than that there was very little change to his physical appearance. He had even kept the small circle of soft gray hair on his lower head.
"God, Starbuck, I was so worried." Adm. Jean-Luc said and held Lissa so close it was a wonder the girl could breath.
"Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me, but I had to try. I just had to try," she repeated into his shoulder and clung even tighter.
"It's okay, Starbuck, I know. You weren't the only one hurting. I'm just sorry I made you go through all that alone." Adm. Jean-Luc told her and he made her look him in the eye. "I love you. No matter what happens always remember I love you."
"I love you too, Daddy. Only it's so hard. I miss her so much." Lissa said and he nodded.
"I think I can help you with that." Admiral Jean-Luc said and she gave him a confused look. Searching his face, the look turned into a heartbreakingly hopeful one and her eyes flew to the shuttle. All eyes, present and future followed her gaze. One slim leg appeared followed by another, a body came into view and then an auburn covered head, much like that of her daughter.
"Oh God. Mommy!" Lissa cried and launched herself onto the woman who this had all been for. "It worked. Oh, thank you God, it worked. Don't ever leave me again, Mommy. Please don't ever leave me."
"Shhh, I'm here and we're together again." Beverly Picard told her daughter and held her to her chest. The present day Beverly watched, her own tears flowing freely down her face as her future self soothed Lissa's tears. Beverly Picard's hair was now just barely touched her shoulders and was slightly layered. The red was still obvious, but instead of gray streaks, it had almost a golden blond look to it. Her facial features had softened as she had gotten older and she practically glowed with happiness. Especially when she looked up into the eyes of her husband.
Admiral Jean-Luc gathered the both of them in an embrace and Capt. Riker and Dee Riker held onto each other, finally seeing their loved ones as a family again. They stayed that way for a while, until Admiral Jean-Luc looked up at his younger self.
"Thank you. You wait until you see your wife giving birth to your daughter or hear that little girl say 'Daddy' for the first time. You'll know why you did this. And don't think that knowing about this will change anything in your relationships, because it won't. Trust me," he told him and the present day Jean-Luc nodded.
"But now, it is time to go home." Admiral Jean-Luc told his family, tenderly brushing a lock of hair out of his wife's face. Beverly Picard reached up and caught his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm.
Capt. Riker and Dee Riker got into the original shuttle, with the Picard family going towards the newer one. Suddenly Lissa ran back and threw her arms around the present day Will, then Deanna, Beverly, and finally Jean-Luc. Pulling back she grinned at him.
"My first word was 'Daddy', but my first BIG words were 'Prime Directive'." she told him and Jean-Luc's eyes widened in amusement.
"Deanna Felisa Picard, get over here right now!" Adm. Jean-Luc Picard ordered his daughter. His voice was the strong and commanding voice they all knew, but Lissa just laughed. She knew that he was not angry. In fact, he was more amused than anything else. Lissa, still laughing, turned to run to her father. Adm. Jean-Luc bent and scooped up his daughter and threw her into the air. As he caught her again, she gave him a kiss on the top of his still bald head. He and his wife laughed along their daughter as the door to the craft closed and as soon as the shuttle bay doors opened, the two shuttles were zoomed out. They watched in awe as a temporal hole appeared and swallowed the two craft. The Enterprise shook briefly, but that too was over in a second, leaving four stunned adults all to stare at one another.
"Just another calm day on the Enterprise. Right, Sir?" Will said, breaking the silence and Jean-Luc chuckled.
"Just another calm day, Number One." Jean-Luc replied and the two females shook their heads, but joined in the laughter of their future husbands.
**********************************************************************
Jean-Luc had just finished setting the table when the door chimed. Glancing up at the clock and seeing it was 2015, he knew immediately who it was. He smiled slightly and quickly tugging down the edge of his shirt, called out for the person to come in. Beverly walked in and gave him a tentative smile as she looked around the cabin.
A delicate white tablecloth had been placed over the dining table and it was set with good china. A beautiful peach colored rose had been placed in a small glass vase and now rested in between the two place settings. Soft music played in the background and the lighting was extremely dim, making the candles that were lit around the room seem even more exotic.
"Jean-Luc, what is all this?" Beverly asked him softly and with a short intake of breath noticed his attire. He wore a soft green sweater, making his hazel eyes seem to sparkle, and brown colored pants that clung to his muscled legs. But what had made her breath catch was the look that shone deeper in his expression. "Are you okay?"
"Are you going to ask questions all night or are you going to let me feed you?" Jean-Luc teased her and although she gave him a raised eyebrow, Beverly let him take her elbow and lead her to the table. After pulling out her chair for her, earning him another raised eyebrow, she settled comfortably into the chair. Closing her eyes she listened to the sweet sound of the soft jazz that poured out through the room's speakers.
"Mid-twentieth century jazz. Autumn Leaves by...Miles Davis." Beverly told him, her blue eyes opening to pin him down with a stare. Jean-Luc was so caught up in that stare that he forgot she had said anything, until she cleared her throat.
"What? Oh, yes. The music. You're right, as usual, Beverly." Jean-Luc said and turned to the replicator to get their food. It was easy enough to get distracted by her beauty, especially in the outfit she wore. An off the shoulder, cream, cashmere sweater came down to her mid-thigh and had tiny pearl-like beads scattered sparsely around the front. Her long dancer legs were encased in a pair of navy blue leggings, her feet in strappy cream sandals accenting the length even more.
Beverly was dying to ask what was going on in that handsome head of his, but thought better of it. Knowing him, he would tell her in his own time. She just hoped she wouldn't die of curiosity before then. Instead she gave him a smile, which grew when she noticed what he had made for dinner. Now sitting in front of them were two plates of steaming fettuccini Alfredo, one of her personal favorites.
"Thank you, Jean-Luc." Beverly told him and he gave her one of his rare full-blown smiles. Pushing aside the warm tingly feeling that she always got when he gave her one of those looks, she began to dig into her food. Small talk ensued throughout the meal until a comfortable silence settled over them.
"You know, Will and Deanna are having dinner together tonight too?" Beverly told him, breaking the silence and taking a sip of the wine he had just refilled her glass with.
"I had a feeling." Jean-Luc said after swallowing the last of his pasta. He sat back, contentedly, and watched her finish off hers.
"Did you also know that he is planning to ask her to marry him?" Beverly asked, her eyebrow raising and with a smug look, put a bite of pasta in her mouth.
"As a matter of fact, I did. Did you know that she is planning to say yes?" Jean-Luc countered and he let out a laugh when her fork hit the plate with a loud "clank".
"What?" she exclaimed, almost choking on her mouthful of food. After taking a long sip of wine, Beverly stared at him incredulously. "And how do you know this?"
"Deanna came to me this afternoon, after everything, having an idea of what was going to happen tonight. She asked my opinion on whether I thought it would be a smart idea?" Jean-Luc said and Beverly frowned.
"Why would she care what you thought?" Beverly muttered in confusion, causing Jean-Luc 's eyebrow to rise this time.
"Well, there is the little matter of the fact that I am captain of the ship they are serving on." Jean-Luc told her, making Beverly blush slightly.
"I'm sorry, Jean-Luc. I was just surprised that she didn't say anything to me." Beverly apologized, but he shrugged it off. He stood and holding out his hand to her, he led her to the couch. En route she turned to him, her blue eyes sparkling in the candle light. "Do you think he's asked her yet?"
"I think we'd know if..." Jean-Luc said, but as the words came out of his mouth Will's voice came over the comm. link.
"Riker to Picard." Will said, a tremor evident in his voice. Jean-Luc locked eyes with Beverly, her hand tightening in his.
"Yes, Number One?" Jean-Luc replied, trying to sound uninterested.
"She said yes, Sir!" Will shouted and they could hear Deanna's laugh in the background. "She said yes!"
Deanna's laugh turned into squeal and then they heard her yell, "Will Riker, put me down this instant!"
Beverly and Jean-Luc laughed together and both offered their congratulations. After agreeing to all meet in Beverly's quarters for breakfast the next morning at 0730, the comm. link closed the channel, leaving Jean-Luc and Beverly alone again. Grins were on both of their faces and when they turned to face each other, something passed between them. Jean-Luc gave Beverly's hand a slight tug and she instinctively moved until she stood about a hair's width away. The hand that wasn't holding hers came up and cupped her cheek, his eyes searching her face for any hint of resistance. When he found none, he sighed deeply.
"Beverly." He whispered, just before his lips met hers. Her eyes widened before closing in pure pleasure. A moment later, he pulled back and her eyes flew open to stare into his.
"What took you so damn long?" Beverly breathlessly asked and Jean-Luc frowned.
"You were the one who said..." Jean-Luc began, remembering the dinner after the Kes-Prytt ordeal and their conversation.
"Oh shut up, Jean-Luc, and forget what I said. I desperately want to." Beverly said and the next thing he knew, she had released his hand and had wrapped her arms around his neck. Without another word, she pulled him to her and kissed him passionately. He was taken aback for a split second, before wrapping his own arms around her waist and giving in to the amazing feelings going on in his heart, mind, and soul. He was the one who pulled back, yet again, making Beverly give a small moan of frustration. He smiled at her and gave her a quick peck on the lips before sitting, then stretching out onto the couch. She smiled back at him and without hesitation she nestled in-between his legs, lying back against his chest.
"This feels right." Jean-Luc said, his arms encircling her and dropping a kiss onto her head.
"I know what you mean." Beverly replied, but then sighed. "Jean-Luc what brought this on? What is this all about?"
"When that little girl...our little girl...told us about the possibility of losing you it scared me, Beverly. More than anything ever had before in my life. The pain she talked about and felt was so real, that even though you were standing next me the entire time I grew frightened." Jean-Luc said, holding her tighter in an unconscious movement. She placed her arms over top his and tilting her head back, kissed the underside of his chin. Beverly felt him move one arm and when his hand reappeared moment later, it slipped an antique diamond ring onto her left hand. She gasped and turned in his arms to look at him in astonishment.
"Jean-Luc?" She questioned, but he just smiled.
"I don't have the words to tell you how much I love you, but I hope this helps a bit." Jean-Luc said, his eyes hopeful yet cautious. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"Oh Jean-Luc, that was so corny, but unbelievable beautiful. Yes, I'll marry you." Beverly said and she had just enough time to see the look change to one of utter happiness, before he claimed her mouth with his.
"Should we tell Will and Deanna now?" Jean-Luc murmured against her lips. Beverly slid out of his arms and tugging him to his feet, began to lead the way to the bedroom. Giving him a look that conveyed all her thoughts she gave him a coy and sexy smile, then shook her head.
"Let's tell them at breakfast..."
He laughed and followed her, hand in hand, offering no argument.
THE END