Part 11

"You think we're moving too fast?" Raising a brow to her friend, Beverly halts at the entrance to the holodeck.

"That's not what I said," insists Troi, calling up a familiar program on the holodeck as Beverly places her hands on the hips of her lycra running pants.

'You've got that 'Troi look of 'trepidation' on," mocks Beverly, following Deanna, clad in a red sweat suit, into the holodeck.

Chuckling, Deanna meanders through a forest-lined wooded path, a picturesque jogging trail through a sparse woodland area and park that would permit them a light jog and beautiful scenery. "No, not trepidation. I guess…just a little surprised."

"Because Jean-Luc's moving in with us?" Beverly clarifies, racing up to her friend setting a leisurely pace down the trail.

"That, and the wedding's so soon. It's happening very quickly,"Troi points out, turning her head to address Beverly.

"We didn't want to waste any time," supplies Beverly simply. "I didn't want a big wedding. I had that with Jack, and I hated it. We're just having a small ceremony."

"That's understandable. And, I can appreciate you wanting to move quickly after all this time," agrees Deanna, upping the pace of their jog along the tree-lined path in the holodeck.

"Something's bothering you," remarks Beverly, appraising her friend's masked face. Deanna is holding something back, and Beverly is curious and concerned.

"No," Deanna shakes her head. "I'm very happy for you, and for the captain. Have you spoken much with Wes about the wedding, about having the captain move in with you?"

Studying Troi comprehensively, Beverly decreases the pace of her jog. "Well, yeah. I think he's looking forward to having his father around more. Why?"

Pursing her lips, Deanna falls in step with Beverly. "I don't know for sure. I just get a sense that maybe he has…some concerns. He's not anticipating your union as much as you may think."

"Why?" Beverly demands, coming to a halt.

Putting a hand up, Deanna steps closer to Beverly. "I don't know. I haven't spoken to him about it. I can just feel that he's anxious, nervous. Maybe he has some questions or problems that you need to address. I know he has taken well to having the captain as a father in his life, but this is still new for him."

Grimacing, Beverly places her hands on her hips, utterly shocked and confused. "Deanna, I didn't know. He seems fine."

"Maybe he is," shrugs Deanna. "I could be reading him all wrong. Maybe talk to him?"

Bobbing her head, Beverly inhales sharply. "Yeah. Thank you. I…uh….I'm going to pass on our run today. Wes should be home by now. I think I'll go have a chat."

Nodding empathetically, Deanna smiles. "Let me know if I can help."

"Thanks," replies Beverly wanly, backing down the path. She's mad at herself for not picking up on her son's mood earlier.

PAGE BREAK

Entering her cabin in her running gear, Beverly finds Wesley at her desk, alternating fiddling with a large colourful plastic contraception on the top of the desk and reading inputs on a PADD.

"Hi, sweetie," greets Beverly pleasantly, placing her water bottle on the counter as she walks over to the desk.

"Hey, Mom," greets Wes distractedly, focused on the data on the PADD on the desk.

Ruffling his hair, Beverly lowers her head to kiss his crown. "Hungry? What would you like for dinner?"

Bemused, Wes spins around in the chair and glances up at her. "It's a little early. Papa's not here yet."

Shrugging, Beverly smiles lightly. "How about you and I do something tonight? We could play a game, or watch an old movie or…"

Bewildered, Wes smiles at her. "What's going on?"

"I thought it might be nice to do something, just the two of us," explains Beverly casually.

"It's okay," shrugs Wes weakly. "I've got homework. You can go to Papa's cabin if you want. I don't need to be entertained."

Pursing her lips, Beverly perches on the edge of the desk, mindful not to interfere with Wesley's experiment. "Honey, is everything okay? You've been a little 'off' lately?"

Leaning back in the desk chair, Wes lifts his shoulder nonchalantly. "I'm fine. Just a little distracted with school."

"What's going on?" presses Beverly.

"Nothing," sighs Wes, trying not to make a big production of a non-event. "I just…I was awarded the top grade in the science fair for my physics project. Some guys were saying that I only got the top prize because my father was the captain."

Flabbergasted, Beverly's jaw drops. "Seriously? I thought the teachers judged the projects?"

"They do," Wes adds lowly.

"Then wouldn't the prize go to the most deserving project?" Beverly asks unnecessarily.

"They…suggested it was based on factors other than merit," Wes supplies dejectedly.

Exhaling audibly, Beverly puts a hand on her son's shoulder. "Honey, I'm sorry. That's terrible. You know that that's just nonsense. If you won, it was because you worked hard and deserved it. You're very smart."

Frowning, Wes averts his eyes. "Yeah, well, maybe my classmates don't see it that way."

Rubbing his shoulder, Beverly exhales, fully sympathizing with her son. "Then it's their problem. You have other friends."

Grimacing, Wes shakes his head. "What about my crewmates? Lieutenant Murray was upset because she's been working for years to get a shot at training at the helm, and I'm just sixteen and haven't even graduated the Academy and I'm already a Bridge crew member."

Contemplating the anecdote, Beverly doesn't know what to tell Wesley. She recognizes that he is in a unique and difficult position for a child his age.

"She think it's nepotism, Mom," Wes argues. "She thinks it's because I'm the captain's son, and the two of you are together."

Troubling her lip, Beverly bobs her head. "Yeah. I can see that. It's not though, Wes. Your father put you on the Bridge long before any of this came to light. He wanted you to learn, and he believed you were exceptional."

"And he was in love with you," states Wesley pointedly, looking his mother directly in the eyes.

"Wesley…" sighs Beverly in exasperation.

"It's only going to get worse," surmises Wesley. "Now that he's moving in here, and after you get married."

Putting a hand up, Beverly feels helpless, at a loss for how to resolve this constructively. "What do you want me to do? Yes, it can be awkward and uncomfortable, honey. But, he's your father. You want me to call off the wedding? Break it off entirely with Jean-Luc?"

Rolling his eyes, Wes shakes his head. " Of course not. I don't know. I guess…I guess I just have to get used to it."

Bending over, Beverly drops a kiss to his forehead. "I'm sorry, sweetie. I know it's not easy. Let's just…slow it down a little. We've been pretty anxious to move-in and get married, but I forget that this is very new for you. We'll press pause for a while and just keeps things as they are."

Frowning, Wes shakes his head. "No, I don't want you to call off the wedding and everything."

Pushing his hair from his forehead, Beverly smiles lightly. "We won't call it off, just post-pone it for a bit. We need some time to adjust."

"I'm sorry," mumbles Wesley, his expression a mixture of tormented sadness, indecision and confusion.

Beverly wraps both arms around his shoulders and hugs him soundly. "No need to apologize. We have to do what's best for all of us. We're a family." Kissing her son's crown, Beverly closes her eyes. She wonders how she missed Wesley's obvious distress over the situation. He had seemed so happy and content, but maybe he had only appeared that way because she is so madly in love and content with Jean-Luc, and it had blinded her to her son's feelings.