This story is based on the season 7 episode of TNG called Journey's End. I was watching it recently and realized that it takes place quite soon after Attached, but that there seemed to be a closeness between Picard and Crusher. This is my take on how their relationship was repaired...
Prologue
She wasn't avoiding him.
At least, that was what she kept trying to convince herself of.
She was just busy.
Wesley was set to arrive in two days when they met him at Starbase 310.
That certainly kept her off-duty hours busy.
Then there was work- doctors did put in long hours. Even longer hours lately a voice whispered in her head ...But you're not avoiding him, right?
Right.
Dr. Beverly Crusher sat in her quarters at 0630 hours, chomping distracted bites of her croissant...staring at the empty seat across from her. The seat that had been empty intentionally ever since she had learned that his favourite breakfast food was exactly the same as hers…
Yep Bev, that's all I learned that day…
He loved her.
… that cold wash still shot through her at the thought.
Jean Luc Picard loved her.
And she had walked away. And kept walking all the way back to her quarters where she has remained- aside from going to work- ever since.
I'm not avoiding him. It's just a little me time. Hey, me. What do you feel like doing today?
Yep, sitting in denial eating French pastries? Me too!
Beverly smiled as she placed her plate on the recycler. She stretched and pulled on her lab coat. Another day…