For days afterwards Jean Luc was haunted by the thoughts he had experienced whilst his mind was joined to that of Sarek. The man had such regrets. His Vulcan upbringing and culture had prevented him from ever showing those around him how he truly felt. Jean Luc was astute enough to recognise the same stoicism in his own dealings with those close to him. For many years he had guarded his feelings, burying his emotions deep within himself and rarely allowing others to glimpse them. But that night in his quarters she had kissed him and made that curious comment and he couldn't now get it out of his mind. Was it possible that after all these years she was trying to tell him that she was ready?

He was just ruminating on these thoughts in his quarters one evening when he heard her voice on his communicator.

"Jean Luc, are you busy?"

Startled, he answered "No, why?"

"Oh it's nothing, but I'm in Ten Forward and I wondered if you wanted to join me for a drink."

He didn't answer straight away.

"Jean Luc, are you still there?" he heard her ask.

"Yes," he finally said "but why don't you come to my quarters instead. I have a bottle of single malt if that will tempt you."

"On my way," he heard her say and she was gone.

Ten minutes later there was a chime at his door.

"Come," he said and when the doors slid open she walked in making her way across the room to him. Sitting down she picked up the glass of whiskey he had poured for her and took a sip. Then slipping off her shoes she lifted her legs and curling them under her she turned to him and smiled.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Oh better now, the effects of the mind meld seem to have worn off."

"Good," she said taking another sip of her drink. "It was quite an ordeal."

For a few minutes neither said anything. Finally he spoke.

"The experience has made me think about things, things in my own life."

"Oh?" she said leaning forward putting her drink down.

"Yes," he replied. "Sarek was haunted by things he had left unsaid to those closest to him."

"Well, we all have regrets Jean Luc and painful memories."

He didn't respond straight away. He got up and poured himself another drink and walked to the window. Looking out at the stars he finally said,

"Do you ever think about that night?"

"Which night Jean Luc?"

He turned around then and fixed her with a stare,

"You know which night."

He walked back towards her then and perched on the edge of the sofa. Reaching out he touched her hand.

"I need to know Beverly."

She looked down at his hand holding hers and then she looked back up at him. He was looking at her so intensely and earnestly that she knew she had to give him an answer. Finally she smiled at him and leaning she kissed him gently and said,

"Of all the things I have done in my life that is one of the things I least regret."

Then she kissed him again. This time it was a lingering kiss full of promise. His hand moved to her shoulder and then to her neck and he pulled her back towards him.

When they parted he sighed and she leaned against his shoulder.

Neither spoke for a while, then he said very quietly,

"Beverly, there is something else I would like to ask you but please believe me whatever the answer it makes no difference, I just need to know something."

She sat up and looked at him and nodded.

"Did you sleep with him? The imposter? Did you let him make love to you?"

"Yes, yes I did," she answered. "But if it's any consolation Jean Luc, I thought it was you. Are you angry?"

He got up and picked up the glasses and put them on the counter before turning back to her and saying,

"No, I'm not angry. I am a little jealous of him though. I wish I had had the courage to seduce you months ago. I wish I had not waited ten years for you to get back in touch with me. I wish I had never let you leave to go to Starfleet Medical. I wish I had taken you on the desk in my Ready Room when we both had that damn virus. Most of all I wish that I had told you after Jack died how much I loved you, how much I still love you."

Beverly got up then and crossed the room to him.

"You have no idea how much I wish it had been you," she said quietly.

She took his hand, lifted it to her lips and kissed it. She held it to her heart and leaning in she whispered against his ear,

"My love, my heart, my desire, if you still want me then I am yours."

He swallowed recognising the words he had said to her so long ago. Her cheek was against his and he could feel her breath against his skin. His fingers reached up and stroked her face and he turned in, touching his lips to hers. Pulling her to him he very gently deepened the kiss. She responded to him, opening up to let his tongue slide in and pulled him closer. Their hips touched and his hands moved to her waist as he turned her so that her back was against the counter. His weight pushed her back a little and her arms moved up around the back of his neck where her hands caressed him gently. She began to undo the zip of his jacket and she leaned back a little to pull it down his arms. As he let go of her she took it and dropped it on the floor beside them. She straightened up so that he could undo her uniform and push it down her body to her waist.

He knelt down in front of her to remove her boots and she slid the trousers down stepping out of them. When he stood again her hands moved to his waist to undo his trousers and pull his shirt loose. She pushed it up and he lifted his arms so that she could remove it. His hands pushed his trousers down and he stepped free of them. Clad only in their underwear in the lowlight of his quarters they looked at each other and smiled. Then he took her hand and pulled her towards him. Taking her in his arms again he twirled her slowly across the room towards the bedroom. Once there he sat on the edge of the bed and watched as she finally removed what was left of her clothing and stood naked in front of him. He gazed at her in the starlight, breathless with need and desire.

She moved closer to him and kneeling down between his legs she leaned forward and kissed him again. Her hand stroked him and moved to his waist. As he lifted himself slightly she removed his shorts to free his erection. She dipped her head and took him in her mouth, her hand encircled his girth as he leaned back to watch. She moved slowly up and down his length twirling her tongue around the head and then back down. Her other hand squeezed him gently in time with her movements as he began to thrust a little. One of his hands moved to the back of her head to hold her and he thrust a little deeper and a little faster.

She slowed down then and stopped to move back up and kiss him. Then she stood up and pushed him back a little. He slid back on the bed and she followed him. Straddling him she leaned forward to kiss him and as he parted his lips she slid her tongue in and swirled it round. His hands moved between her legs and he parted her folds feeling how wet she was. Sliding his fingers her full length he broke off the kiss and moved his mouth to her breast. His tongue twirled around her nipple as it rose to a stiffened peak and he moved across to the other. His fingers were inside her now moving slowly in and out and she began to buck against him. She was close to orgasm but he stopped and putting his hands on her hips he kissed her mouth again.

When they parted she leaned back a little and smiled, then pushing him down she lifted her leg and moved off him. Turning around with her back to him she leaned forward and took him in her mouth again. As his hands moved to her backside she lifted herself a little and he saw her then glistening and pink in front of him. Leaning forward the tip of his tongue touched the nub of her clitoris and as he flicked back and forwards across it she arched her back and moved her head up and down taking him in her mouth. As he began to thrust slowly he inserted first one finger and then two inside her and as he continued to swirl his tongue against her she pushed back against him. He tasted her as she grew wetter and slicker.

He slowed his thrusting then and stopped. He knew that she was holding back her orgasm waiting for him. He pulled his legs back from under her and knelt behind her. Taking her hips he moved her, parting her legs a little more he very gently entered her then pulled back unsheathing himself almost completely before entering her again deeper and harder. He heard her moan and saw her bow her head down towards the bed as she arched her back and then sat back slightly to meet his thrust. She matched his rhythm perfectly as he moved faster in and out of her. His hand moved under her to touch her clitoris again and as he thrust harder and harder into her he felt her muscles grip him tightly and she cried out as she climaxed. He pulled her up then and back against him as he knelt back and continued to thrust into her finally tensing and releasing himself deep inside her.

He held her tightly for a few seconds as she rode out the aftermath of her own climax. She felt him begin to soften inside her and she moved slightly so that he could withdraw. Turning to him she smiled as they both fell back against the pillows. She kissed him again as they curled up against each other, his arm across her body, and her hand against his chest. Without saying anything to each other they both knew that finally they had closed the door on their past and could look forward to the future with no guilt and no regrets.