Disclaimer: No matter how many temper tantrums we throw, Star Trek never has and never will belong to the fans sobs, but fanfic exists so we can speculate what should happen after the series ends and Paramount see it as inefficient (to quote Seven of Nine) to produce more movies on the better series! (AKA Voyager and TNG)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Love of her Life
Chapter Three
Banquet Hall, Starfleet Headquarters, San Francisco, Earth
The function after the completion of the main meal began with a series of speeches, all of which everyone found extremely boring, until the final speech on the agenda came up.
"And now, for the real reason behind tonight's dinner function. Recently, our surgeon general of Starfleet Medical, stepped down from her position to return to active service," Admiral Kathryn Janeway, a close friend of the Enterprise crew since her return from the Delta Quadrant, stood at the front of the room to present her speech. "It would be my pleaseure to formally offer Doctor Beverly Crusher a promotion, to the rank of Captain, and to command the flagship of Starfleet's soon-to-be commissioned medical fleet."
A huge round of applause echoed throughout the hall as all in attendance, especially Beverly's close friends, erupted in an enormous cheer for the woman they respected so much.
"The USS Medica is a new Dynasty-class medical vessel that will be ready for commission in approximately two months time. With a full crew compliment of 246, all she is waiting for is a Captain, First Officer, Chief Engineer and Diplomatic Ambassador."
All heads at the Enterprise table truned to look at Beverly, wondering if she would accept the commission or not.
Kathryn also looked directly at the doctor who well and truly deserved this commission and saw the woman was about to speak. "But, Beverly, there's one more thing before you acceot this post."
A chorus of whispers slowly started to be heard from the crowd, all curious at the other news yet to be presented.
"Starfleet Command has granted me one more promotion ofer, this time to the longest serving Captain in Starfleet," Even as she spoke, Kathryn Janeway looked Jean-Luc Picard directly in the eyes and gave him a warm smile. "The Medica will be needing a Diplomatic Amnasador, and the only person truly qualified for the job is a man who hasn't received a promotion in over forty years. Ladies and gentlemen, I would now like to extend my offer to Jean-Luc Picard, and promote him to the rank of Admiral, with the position as Federation Diplomatic Ambassador on the USS Medica."
Another round of cheers echoed throughout Starfleet's huge banquet hall, literally making Picard and Crusher rise from their seats and step towards Admiral Janeway to give their final answers.
As the featured pair reached the podium, the applause finally died down in respect for the officers standing before them. Jean-Luc and Beverly stepped forward together to address the congregation.
"This morning, I was readjusting to the idea of living aboard the Enterprise again. Now, as I stand before you tonight, I face you with the full intention of taking my own command of the medical fleet's flagship, but only if a certain person will accept his promotion with me." Beverly turned to look Jean-Luc directly in the face. "I'll only go if you come with me," she said, giving him an ultimatum.
Jean-Luc looked from Beverly, to Kathryn, to the crowd and then back to Beverly again. "Of course I'll come with you," he said, matching her soft tone of voice, before turning to readdress the anxious crowd. "We hereby accept our promotions and transfers to the USS Medica, but who will command the Enterprise?"
The crowd laughed, as Picard asked the question he was fairly sure he knew the answer to, but had to ask anyway.
Kathryn Janeway stepeed forward again, this time with her four year old daughter Maggie at her side. "I hereby promote you, Jean-Luc Picard, to the rank of Admiral and you, Beverly Crusher, to the rank of Captain. Now, as for the Enterprise, I hereby transfer Captain William T Riker and Commander Deanna Troi back to the Enterprise. Will, you are now captain of the flagship and Deanna as Senior Counsellor and Diplomatic Officer, the same positions you served aboard the Titan."
A cheer burst out from the Enterprise table, waking up baby Lily from her sleep making the Little One wail, which made everyone laugh again.
"Oh, and someone else has something to say," Kathryn said, hoisting up her young girl.
Maggie bent forward, ready to address the crowd. "Let's get this party started!" she yelled, her extremely cute childish voice making the audience laugh before they rose from their chairs to take the dance floor.
USS Medica, McKinley Station, Earth orbit
Picard and Crusher materialised in the main transporter room of the Medica and immediately stepped off the raised pad, continuing the conversation they had started aboard McKinley Station.
"But, Jean-Luc, I don't see how that can work. If we are doing medical rounds of the quadrant, why would we need a diplomatic officer?" The pair wallked into a waiting turbolift, ordering it to the Bridge.
"So, Beverly, you're wondering why I have been assigned here. Do you want to get rid of me or something?" he asked playfully.
They strode out of the turbolift onto the Bridge, which was roughly the same size of the Enterprise's command centre.
"What are you trying to say, Jean-Luc?" Beverly asked seriously, not liking where he was going.
Jean-Luc led the doctor to her command chair, gesturing she sit down in the Captain's seat while he tenderly bent down on one knee at her feet.
"Beverly," he began. "I know we have known eachother for more than forty years now, and I think you know I have loved you since the first time I saw you."
"What are you trying to say, Jean-Luc?" Beverly repeated, an anxious look on his face.
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard squirmed slightly where he was kneeling, before bringing out a small box from his back pocket. "What I am trying to say, Beverly, is that I love you, I have always loved you and I will continue to love you, even when you are old and grey. Beverly Howard," Jean-Luc had never really addressed this woman using her maiden name before, but wanted to see her reaction.
Beverly looked up from her hands to stare the man she loved full on in the face, the use of her maiden name drawing her attention.
"Beverly Howard, will you marry me?"
Though the Bridge of the yet-to-be completed USS Medica was deserted, the woman turned around in her seat to see if he was talking to someone else.
"No, Beverly, I am asking you. I am asking you to be my wife, to sleep with me every night, to wake up next to me every morning, to have an excuse to accompany me on away missions. Beverly, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Realising he was talking to her, Beverly turned to look Jean-Luc in the eye. He looked back at her, not breaking the gaze.
"Beverly, will you marry me?" he asked again, this time opening the small box in his hand, revealing a large diamond ring, in true fashion of his ancestors.
Beverly smiled, presenting her left hand for the ring to be placed on her finger. "Of course I'll marry you, Jean-Luc, but on one condition, though."
He smiled at her, stealing a quick kiss before answering. "And what, Madam Beverly, are your terms?" he cheekily asked.
"That we get married tonight, on Earth, in that picnic garden we were in today, in front of everyone, and that Kathryn be the one to marry us."
Jean-Luc bent in to kiss his new fiance before answering. "Acceptable terms, Madam Beverly. Should we contact the Enterprise now?"
"Only if I get a kiss first," she said, standing up and closing the distance between them, before finally submitting herself completely into the arms of the man she had loved for years.
USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, Utopia Planetia Space Station, Earth orbit
Though command hadn't been officially changed over from Admiral Picard yet, Captain William T Riker was back on board the Enterprise, permanently.
Walking towards the Captain's quarters, where he, Deanna and Lily had already moved in, Will reviewed the previous night's events. Numbering them off on his fingers, he recalled the highlights of the function.
1. Beverly was promoted to Captain the Medical Fleet's flagship,
2. Jean-Luc had been promoted to Admiral and transferred to Beverly's ship as diplomatic officer,
3. He and Deanna had been transferred back to the Enterprise, this time in command
4. The best of all, Lily.
Entering his new quarters, Will saw Deanna sitting at the desk, in front of the comm screen, with Lily resting over her shoulder.
"What's up, Dee?" he asked, quietly walking over to the desk, before giving her a kiss and sitting down next to her.
Gently patting her daughter's back, Deanna played the message they had received not long before.
Dearest Will, Deanna and Little Lily
You are hereby invited back to the Starfleet Headquarters Picnic Grounds at twilight tonight for a very special ceremony. Please wear your dress uniforms, a this will be a formal occasion. Though we cannot disclose the details of this surprise ceremony, you are expected to attend, and Lily will be pardoned for not being in uniform only if she is in her christening dress.
Do not discuss this matter with anyone, consider yourselves sworn to absolute secrecy. A special private transport will arrive at 1730 hours to deliver you to the grounds.
This is not an order, but if you choose to ignore this communication, you will be ordered to report to the grounds.
Remember, no questions,
See you there
Jean-Luc and Beverly
As the communication ended, Deanna and Will shared a confused look.
"What do you reckon this is all about?" Will asked, an intense look of confusion plastered across his face.
Standing up to put Lily in her crib, Deanna answered softly. "I don't know, but it looks like we'll have to bring our dress uniforms out of the wardrobe again. They really are getting a workout this week, aren't they?"
"Yeah," Will replied, kissing his daughter on her forehead. "Sleep well, Little One," he whispered, placing her in her crib. Looking back at his wife, Will was still puzzled at one aspect of the communique. "And what did they mean about a christening dress?"
Deanna looked into his eyes, almost surprised at his lack of knowledge of the subject. "Will, christenings are an old Earth custom where parents of newborn children would have their infants presented to their friends in a ceremony, offically welcoming the child into their family. I have a feeling Jean-Luc and Beverly will be getting married tonight, and they want our Little One as part of their family as well."
Looking both surprised and relieved at the statement, Will took his Imzadi in his arms. "Well, don't you think it's about time they did?"
"I think they've had it coming for atleast twenty years," Deanna said, kissing her husband passionately. "We had it coming too, but we finally saw past the differences and, well, now we have Lily."
"Amen to that," Will replied, before they lost eachother within themselves.
Main Engineering was in chaos when Geordi La Forge and his fiance walked into the department.
"Commander!" someone called, making Geordi and Leah walk over towards the Chief Engineer's office. "You have a priority one communique addressed to both of you waiting in here."
"Thanks, Lieutenant," La Forge said to the man he did not know, but was dressed in an SCE uniform. Since the Enterprise was in drydock for routine maintenace and a complete overhaul, it was understandable for SCE personell to be outnumbering the Engineering personell in the engine room.
As the console screen flickered on, Leah and Geordi shared a confused look as the faces of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher appeared.
Dear Geordi and Leah
You are hereby invited back to the Starfleet Headquarters Picnic Grounds at twilight tonight for a very special ceremony. Please wear your dress uniforms, a this will be a formal occasion. Though we cannot disclose the details of this surprise ceremony, you are expected to attend, and no questions are to be asked about the matter.
Do not discuss this matter with anyone, consider yourselves sworn to absolute secrecy. A special private transport will arrive at 1730 hours to deliver you to the grounds.
This is not an order, but if you choose to ignore this communication, you will be ordered to report to the grounds.
Remember, no questions,
See you there
Jean-Luc and Beverly
The couple shared another confused look, but didn't have the chance to say anything.
"All senior officers report to the Bridge."
They couldn't help but leave.