February 10th

Surprisingly Beverly slept very well that night. Her thoughts remained on the one man she hoped to be the giver of her gifts. The only male crew member who wasn't aboard the ship, and wouldn't be for over a week. The only man who could be ruled out as her secret admirer; Jean-Luc Picard.

Sighing, she begrudgingly got out of bed and ready for another long day without him here to lighten her day. Suddenly she felt lonely.

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It felt like a very slow day. When lunch time final came around, Beverly returned to her quarters to grab a note pad before going to join Will in Ten-Forward. They were going to talk bout the up-coming play she wanted to put on.

Once she stepped into her quarters she knew something was different. There was someone or something in her quarters.

"Computer," she called. "Is there someone else in my quarters?"

"Negative."

"Is there something else in my quarters?"

"Affirmative."

"Where is it located?" Beverly tried to not let her nerves get the better of her and call for security.

"2 meters to your right," was the instant reply of the computer.

Hesitantly Beverly headed in the direction the computer had indicated. Once she reached her sofa, she became slightly confused. There was nothing clearly visible on it, so where could this thing be?

A soft noise could be heard coming from behind the sofa, so slowly Beverly stuck her head around the corner of her sofa. Standing there stretching itself out was a little kitten that had obvious just woken from a nice long nap. Big green eyes met blue ones and a soft 'meow' was heard as if in greeting.

"Hello there little one," Beverly softly called. She knelt down to call the kitten to her.

Immediately the black cat with white splotches all over it came out from its hiding spot and was purring contently in Beverly's lap. It was then that Beverly noticed the collar on the kitten with a note attached to it. Opening the note it read in the becoming familiar handwriting:

'As the kitten grows in your care;

My love grows too when I'm in your presence.

All my love Your Secret Admirer'

A smile danced at the corner of Beverly's mouth as she finished the note. She couldn't help but wonder how they knew she loved cats? 'Aimé' Beverly read on the collar as her name. Another smile hung on the corner of her mouth.

"Well Aimé, how is it you came into my quarters? Hmm? Who was it that dropped you here?"

Aimé looked up and gave Beverly another small meow as her response. Laughing to herself Beverly went over to the replicator and got her new companion a bowel of milk. As soon as the bowel was placed low enough, Aimé pounced on it.

Suddenly Beverly had an idea.

"Dr Crusher to Commander Riker."

"Beverly, are you cancelling our lunch plans?"

"No no, that wasn't why I was calling. I was actually wondering if I could relocate our lunch, Will?"

"Oh. I'm sure I could manage that. Where do you want to have it?"

"In my quarters. There's… something here I want to keep my eye on for a bit longer."

"Okay. I'll be there in 5. I'm just finishing off the last of what I need to do for the morning."

"See you soon then. Crusher out."

Beverly busied herself with getting Aimé some of the belongings she would need. A sleeping basket, food bowel, drinks bowel, toys, a litter container, and some other odds and ends. Before she knew it a chime came from her door.

"Come," she called.

Will's head poked inside her quarters.

"Is it safe for me to enter?" he asked.

"Why wouldn't it?" Beverly asked back giving Will a raised eyebrow to strengthen the question.

"I don't know what it is you want to keep an eye on. But considering the look you're giving me I'll assume that it is safe."

Will entered and once he reached the table he could see Aimé drinking from her bowel.

"Since when have you had a cat?" asked Will surprise evident in his voice.

"Since this morning, it was a present." At Will's continued confused look Beverly handed him the note.

"'Your Secret Admirer'? Is this the person I'm meant to helping Alyssa find?" Will asked a big grin on his face.

"Yes," Beverly replied rolling her eyes. "You aren't actually going to encourage her are you?"

At Will continued grin Beverly knew he was.

"I've already given her a list of possible people it could be. But maybe I should go over it again. With this new development I could rule out quite a few of them. Even add a few." He had a glint in his eye that Beverly didn't like the look of. "Who knows of your love of cats?"

Beverly gave him a shrug. "I haven't told many people, because I never wanted to have one when Wesley was still living with me. He has a bit of an allergy to their hairs. Long term exposure would've made it worse. I actually had a cat before I had Wes. But when I discovered his allergy I had to give Blanco away. When I received word that he'd died I was devastated. But I don't think anyone onboard knew that. Except for Deanna, Jean-Luc, Data and I think Worf."

"Worf? Why would he know?"

"He was wondering whether or not to get Alexander a pet and I got talk bout cats. But I don't think he would even remember it. So I don't know who would know of my love of cats."

"Interesting, very interesting. The plot thickens." Will stroked his beard in a thoughtful way.

Beverly rolled her eyes at his antics. "We could just wait till the 14th. I'm sure they'll reveal themselves by then."

"But where's the fun in that?"

"Are we going to talk about this play?" Beverly asked gathering her note on the play.

"I guess so," Will sighed. "So, what's it about?"

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When Beverly returned to sickbay she saw Alyssa pouring over a pad in her hands. Beverly didn't even bother to try and tell her off.

"You can rule any one who dislikes cats or suffers from any form of allergies because of them," Beverly offered as she passed her returning to her desk.

"Why?" Alyssa asked looking up from the pad.

"Let's just say 'he strikes again'," Beverly replied smirking.

Beverly's use of her own words against her wasn't lost on Alyssa.

"When?"

"Just now. I discovered it before I had lunch with Commander Riker."

"What is it?"

"A kitten." At Alyssa eye roll Beverly continued. "I can't be sure but I think it looked like a Turkish Angora crossed with Rag Doll. She is black with white splotches on her front paws, and on her back. She is also called Aimé," she said accentuating the accent.

"What language is that, and what does it mean?" Alyssa said out loud, not really expecting Beverly to answer.

"It's French, and it means love."

Alyssa raised her eyebrows, surprised by Beverly's quick reply.

"So we're looking for a Frenchman?" a devilish grin crossed Alyssa's face.

"Not necessarily," Beverly just as quickly answered. "It doesn't take some who actually knows the language to know that. I only know very few words in French. That just happens to be one of them. Or it could be anyone who has access to a computer. The computer can translate into thousands of different languages. Maybe they just liked the sound of it in French."

"Gee why don't you just be a spoil-sport?" Alyssa replied feigning annoyance.

"I think I shall," Beverly smiled back to her nurse as she returned to her office.

Alyssa followed.

"You don't know how lucky you are."

"Don't I? I do believe I'm the older one here who has spent many-a-more lonely Valentines Day."

"Yeah, but I wish Andrew would do something romantic," the younger woman sighed.

"I think poor Andrew is still getting used to the idea that he's about to become a father. Give the man some slack. Valentines Day is still 4 days away. That's plenty of time for him to surprise you with something." Seeing Alyssa remaining where she was and in a bad mood Beverly offered, "I can talk to him if you really want. Give him a hint that some romance won't go astray…"

"Could you?"

Alyssa looked up slightly hopeful.

"On one condition," Alyssa bit her bottom lip nervously. "You get out of my office and find someone else to annoy. I have work to do."

Smiling Alyssa stood and waved a thank-you and good-bye before she exited the office. She didn't bother Beverly for the rest of that day, unless it was strictly work related.

A/N- sorry bout the delay in this chapter. Yesterday my computer just wasn't co-operating. But here it is, and here's todays chapter too.