Part 8

USS Stargazer, 2348

"Where's Jack? His shift ended half an hour ago," Picard points out, placing his hands on his knees as he perches on the sofa in Jack's quarters.

Beverly walks over to the sofa, rhythmically bouncing a swaddled newborn in her arms. "He's in Engineering. He'll be back shortly." Sitting next to Jean-Luc on the sofa, Beverly cradles the baby against her shoulder, patting his back to elicit a burp.

"You look…happy," remarks Jean-Luc with a forced smile. Beverly is visiting Jack on the Stargazer for an extended period, having given birth four weeks ago to Wesley. Beverly had asked Jean-Luc to have dinner with them, wanting to introduce Jean-Luc to their new baby. Despite probably being exhausted, Jean-Luc had never seen Beverly happier and more content. "You're…in love."

Grinning, Beverly nods her agreement, kissing the baby's crown. "He's perfect."

Smiling lightly, Jean-Luc is warmed and nauseous simultaneously. He's glad that Beverly seems to be settled with Wesley; he's not thrilled that Jack is a part of her little family. "Motherhood…suits you."

Smiling over at him, Beverly rubs the baby's back. "It's a huge adjustment, but he's everything to me."

"I know," whispers Jean-Luc, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Here," Beverly says, shifting the baby into Jean-Luc's arms. "You haven't even seen him."

Frightened, Jean-Luc's eyes are as wide as saucers. "Oh, that's quite alright."

"Relax, Jean-Luc. He's just a baby. I'm right here," mocks Beverly playfully, adjusting Wesley in Jean-Luc's arms, moving the receiving blanket so Jean-Luc can get a close look at his face.

Pursing his lips, Jean-Luc inhales sharply, his arms stiff. "He's so small."

Putting a hand on Jean-Luc's shoulder, Beverly looks down at her dozing son. "No. He's perfect."

Trying to keep the emotion out of his tone, Jean-Luc gazes at her earnestly. "How's Jack?"

Smile fading, Beverly briefly averts her eyes. "He's fine."

Recapturing her gaze, Jean-Luc exhales audibly. "Beverly, I'm not going to ask. It's irrelevant."

Lips trembling, Beverly can see the unasked question in his eyes, and it unnerves her.

"You love me. Leave Jack. You can do it," states Jean-Luc assertively, begging. "You want a family. You want a father for Wesley. You won't have it with Jack."

Tears welling in her eyes, Beverly gazes down at her slumbering infant nestled in Jean-Luc's arms.

"He'll lie. He'll cheat. He'll manipulate you. He'll hurt you,"Jean-Luc states unequivocally, boring into her teary eyes.

Sobbing, Beverly protests meekly. "No. It's different. He's changed. We're a family."

"No," counters Jean-Luc firmly. "He's lying. I see him every day, Beverly. I know him. He'll never change. You deserve so much more."

Bowing her head, Beverly's heart breaks. She's so torn, and this is the last thing she needs right now. She is trying to make a family work with Jack, for Wesley's sake. She wants to do the right thing, to give her son a strong family life and something to aspire to. No one can ever know about the affair between her and Jean-Luc. Wesley can never know his true paternity. She wants him to be loved and secure, not to grow up feeling ashamed or unwanted. Jean-Luc may profess his love to her, he may urge her to leave Jack, but Jean-Luc is not a family man. He's married to his ship, to his career. She cannot make a life with him, and she would never dream of asking him to sacrifice his passion for her or their son. She loves him far too much to hurt him. It may be difficult, but she knows she must make this life with Jack work for all of their sake. It may hurt her, but it's the right thing for Wesley, and the right thing for Jean-Luc. It cuts like a knife, but she loves them both so much.

USS Enterprise, 2364

"You're…different," proclaims Beverly, placing open-mouthed kisses along Jean-Luc's chest as they lie curled up in his bed.

Chuckling lightly, Jean-Luc laces his fingers through her hair. "What do you mean?"

"You're so patient…attentive, thorough," remarks Beverly, dragging her nails along his thigh as she lies half on top and half beside him.

Laughing, Jean-Luc dips down to drop a kiss to her crown. "Ah, I see. Well, maybe that's what sixteen years will do. But, truthfully, it's glorious not to have to rush. I'm delighted to have you in my bed for longer than twenty minutes."

Smiling, Beverly lays her head against his shoulder, placing her hand over his heart. Admittedly, she had had a wonderful evening. Jean-Luc is right. For the first time, they weren't involved in an affair, trying to be discreet and secretive. The had had a leisurely dinner in the arboretum and retired to his cabin for a night cap. And, for the first time, they were able to take their time making love, not worried about getting caught. For once, they could be together uninhibited, and it finally felt right.

Jean-Luc kisses her temple, his hand caressing her lower back. "I think I'll go get our wine from the other room. Would you like something to eat?"

Kissing his chest, Beverly shakes her head. "No. I should get dressed, get going."

Trying to stifle his sigh, Jean-Luc continues to stroke her back. "Please stay."

"I want to go check on Wes," Beverly reminds him regretfully.

Exhaling slowly, Jean-Luc nods in resignation. "Very well."

Slowly sitting up, Beverly already misses the contact.

"I'll walk you home," states Jean-Luc, rather than offers, sitting upright. He doesn't want to let her go, but he can prolong the evening as long as possible.

Touching his cheek, Beverly pecks his lips tenderly. "This was perfect."

Cradling her face, Jean-Luc returns her kiss. "I love you."

Resting her forehead against his, Beverly smiles into his lips. "I love you, too." She knows she should slow down, try to figure out where this is all headed. She only wants to do what is right for Wesley. But, in the over eighteen years she had known Jean-Luc, he had been her greatest weakness. Saying 'no' to him sixteen years ago had been the hardest thing she had ever done. As it turns out, it had been her gravest mistake. Now, she never wants to say 'no' to him again.

PAGE BREAK

"Wes, this is your biology assignment for school, not a report your mother wrote on nanites?" Picard confirms incredulously, setting the PADD down on the coffee table.

Beaming, Wes hands the dish cloth he had used to wipe the kitchen to Beverly who is putting away the last of the dishes and dashes over to Picard, who is perched on the sofa in the living area. Wesley had given Picard an essay he had been working on for school to read, on the assumption that Picard might find the content interesting.

"I worked with them for weeks. I collected a lot of data. Does it make sense to you?" Wes drops down next to Jean-Luc, hopeful that his assignment had been satisfactory to his father.

Smiling lightly, Picard nods. "It's remarkable. Your analysis was incredibly comprehensive. That's not a high school science report, Wesley. You could be a science officer with that quality of work."

Grinning, Wesley is thrilled. "How about First Officer, or Captain?"

Laughing lightly, Jean-Luc pats the teen's shoulder. "If you keep up the hard work, the sky's the limit."

Beaming, Wesley could not be happier to have Picard's approval. If he studies and applies himself, his father will be proud of his accomplishments.

"Wes, I'm confident you'll make a fine officer," states Jean-Luc squeezing his shoulder. "But, whatever you do, the important thing is that you're happy."

Standing against the counter, Beverly watches as Jean-Luc draws Wesley into a loose embrace, and her heart swells with pride and adoration. Wesley had readily embraced Jean-Luc right from the beginning, eager to have a father and wanting someone to aspire to and guide him. Beverly had been concerned it would be a rocky adjustment for the teen, but Wes seems entirely accepting of their relationship.