When We Two Parted.

A/N: Yep, it's the final chapter everyone. I really hope you have enjoyed the story and I want to thank you for taking the time to read it and an extra special thank you to those you left comments, I appreciate it. I don't think I would have been able to finish this story without the gentle prodding from my super-duper beta Jamie so thank you for all your help concerning this story. You have been a star.

A/n2: Hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas.

Epilogue:

The morning Caldos sun shone through a small gap in curtain, bathing one of the occupants of the four-poster bed in sunlight. Jean-Luc Picard rolled over, his back to the intruding light and his arm sough out the comforting warmth of the other occupant of the bed. He curled himself around her and nuzzled into her shoulder, a big smile taking over his face as he took in her scent. His eyes were still closed as his hand moved down from her waist to her thigh. Her skin was warm and smooth to the touch and he massaged her thigh lovingly as he pressed himself up against her, hoping to wake her. He opened his eyes a few moments later when his ministrations seemed to be going unnoticed by the sleeping woman. Her eyes were still closed, but the smile on her face told him that she was indeed awake and enjoying his attentions.

"Good morning Mr Picard," she said a few moments later, her eyes remaining closed.

"Good morning yourself Mrs Picard," he countered. He grinned to himself as he spoke the words, they sounded wonderful to his ears. He had first heard them eighteen hours ago, after Will Riker had married them and he knew from that moment that he would never grow tired of hearing 'Mrs Picard.'

"Sleep well?" Beverly asked as she turned slightly and snuggled into his bare chest, her hands coming to rest on his bottom.

"I was ready for sleep when we finally got around to it," he replied. He was grinning again and anyone who didn't know him would think he was the village idiot if they saw his permanent grin. Would they understand that he was grinning madly because he had been up for most the night making love with his wife? Probably not, but with the mood he was in, he would probably tell them.

"Hmmm." She giggled softly as she remembered their night's activities. "We couldn't have gotten much sleep."

"Not that much, but I can easily say that I've never been this relaxed or as full of energy as I am now after such little sleep," he remarked as he gently pushed Beverly onto her back and carefully straddled her.

Jean-Luc looked down at his beautiful wife and smiled once again. Her hair was fanned out on the pillow, surrounding her like a flamed coloured halo. It was slightly tangled after their previous love making, but that only added to her beauty. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers softly as his hands ran up and down her arms. She returned his soft kiss as her own hands ran up his chest till they reached his broad shoulders. Jean-Luc felt his body tingle at her soft touch and he shuddered involuntarily as her fingers brushed the sensitive spot at the base of his neck. He loved it when she touched him there; none of his past lovers had found that spot, yet she had found it straight away. He deepened the kiss by running his tongue along her rosy, full lips and she allowed him entry, their tongues battled for a moment before they gave themselves both over to the sensations they were creating within one another. Jean-Luc's hands had made their up to her full breasts and his fingers toyed with her pert nipples. He was definitely a breast man when it came to Beverly Picard, they fit his hands perfectly and he loved to shower them with gentle nibbles and kisses.

So caught up in each other, they failed to hear the footsteps coming up the wooden staircase outside their room until it was too late. The door swung open and Walker Keel appeared carrying a breakfast tray.

"Put her down, Johnny," he said with amusement. "I've brought you breakfast."

"Walker!" yelled Jean-Luc as he quickly made sure that Beverly was covered. He didn't want her to be anymore embarrassed than she probably already was. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I made breakfast for you both," he said, setting the tray down on the nearby table. He didn't seem to have any idea of the embarrassment his presence caused for Jean-Luc and Beverly.

"You could have knocked," Jean-Luc said as he discreetly reached down and fumbled around for his pyjama bottoms.

"In case you hadn't noticed Johnny, my hands were holding the tray," Walker replied, indicating towards the tray. "Felisa would come back and haunt me if I dropped the breakfast on that antique rug just because you wanted me to knock on the blasted door." He acted as if he'd only just noticed the doctor. "Morning, Bev," he said.

"Morning, Walker," replied Beverly, who surprised Jean-Luc by leaning forward and peering at the breakfast tray. "Oh bacon, yummy."

Jean-Luc looked at Beverly and couldn't understand why she wasn't hiding in embarrassment under the covers. She didn't seem bothered by his presence and certainly didn't seem to care that she only had a thin sheet covering her. He watched as Walker reached over and handed Beverly a plate before pouring her a cup of tea. As he listened to Beverly thank Walker, Jean-Luc grew even more annoyed by his friend's presence.

"What are you still doing here?" Jean-Luc asked.

"Keep your hair on," said Walker. "On second thought, it's a little late for that. Anyway, I'm shipping out later on today."

Jean-Luc frowned at the hair comment and was about to say something back when he felt Beverly's hand on his back. He turned to look at her and saw that she was smiling softly at him.

"Open up," she ordered as she scooped some bacon and sausage on to her fork and fed him.

Obediently, he opened his mouth and chewed, though he was annoyed Walker for interrupting them, he had to admit that Walker made an exceptional breakfast.

"Oh, that's good," commented Jean-Luc, reaching over and whipping a streak of bacon off Beverly's plate.

"Get your own, mister," she said as she snatched the streak back.

"I thought we were sharing," he said as he watched her put the bacon into her mouth and chew quickly.

She pointed to the other plate on the tray and then continued to eat her breakfast while Jean-Luc helped himself to the other plate.

"As much as I would like to continue watching animals eating in a zoo," said Walker with a small chuckle. "I need to do a few things downstairs. Don't stay up here all day, I would like to see you before I go."

With that, Walker made his way out of the room, turning around and shooting them both with an amused grin before shutting the door and making his way back down stairs.

"Did it not bother you that he just walked in while we were you know what-ting?" Jean-Luc asked once he was sure Walker wouldn't be barging in.

"It did, but it's not the first time he's done that to me," she replied.

"He's done that before and you didn't think to warn me?" questioned Jean-Luc.

"Well, I was busy last night and Walker was the last person on my mind, my love," she replied as she reached out to him and cupped his face in her palm. "You know what he's like, he just wanted to ruffle your feathers. And if I recall correctly, both you and he had barged in on me and Jack, so don't pout like that."

Jean-Luc smiled and leaned into her touch, his eyes closed for a moment, savouring her touch before he pulled away and kissed her affectionately on the nose. They settled down to a comfortable silence while they finished off their breakfast. Once that was done and dusted, they decided to make Walker wait a little longer for them to arrive and took delight in having a very long shower together.

An hour later, Jean-Luc and Beverly Picard made their way downstairs and went to look for Walker. He was sat on the swing bench that Felisa had insisted he build for her on his first visit to Caldos. It had become her favourite place and Beverly had warmed to it over the years as it looked over the small stream that ran past the house.

"I was going to give you another ten minutes and then I was going to barge in on you again," said Walker with a chuckle as he turned to face them when he heard their footsteps.

Beverly made her way over to the swinging bench and sat down on it, dropping a small kiss on Walker's cheek before sitting. Jean-Luc leant against the fence and looked at his wife and one of their closest friends. It was almost like old times but things were different now and though he still missed Jack, he knew that Jack still lived on in their hearts and memories.

"You'll never believe what I found in Felisa's dresser drawer," Walker announced as he dug deep into his pocket.

"I'm not sure I want to know," said Beverly as she regarded Walker closely.

Walker chuckled and then triumphy pulled out a small box. He then opened the box and pulled out a medium sized misshapen stone and handed it to Beverly.

"Oh, I can't believe she kept it," Beverly said with a delighted giggle as she looked at the stone in her hand. "You know, on closer inspection, it doesn't resemble the Stargazer at all."

"Hallelujah!" Walker cried as he shot an amused look towards Jean-Luc.

"It looks more like the Enterprise."

"What?" asked Walker.

"See that's the saucer section," she began to explain as she pointed at features that she could only see.

"It looks like a rock, Beverly. A rock," Walker stated as he took the stone from her and put it back in the box. "Just a bloody rock. Johnny, help me out here."

Jean-Luc just smiled and remained tight lipped much to Walker's dismay. Beverly got up from the swing and told them both that she was going back inside to make some tea. Walker stood up and walked over to where Jean-Luc still stood.

"What was that all about? I mean, it's rock and it looks nothing like the Enterprise." Walker said, playfully demaning an answer for Jean-Luc's lack of help on the matter.

"I know that, you know that, but at the end of the day, old chap, I don't want to be spending my honeymoon on the couch," Jean-Luc replied as his lips broke out into a big smile.

"Now I know why I hate gate crashing honeymoons," Walker responded with a shake of his head. "I think I might take an early transport off the colony. You're so happy, Johnny, and you don't know how much it means to me to see you like this."

"I am very happy... and it might have never happened if you hadn't been around to give me a good talking too. I am forever in your debt."

"None of that debt stuff," said Walker. "Just be happy and look after Bev, that's all I ask. Now, I am going to grab my stuff and leave you two lovebirds alone to enjoy your honeymoon."

The two men embraced and then Walker made his way back into cottage to say goodbye to Beverly and grab his stuff. Jean-Luc had to chuckle to himself as he thought about the care-free attitude he seemed to have right now, he never thought himself to be care-free, but perhaps being with Beverly and Walker helped him be who was truly was. What he did know was that the past was behind them all now and he had the future to look forward too. Promises that had been made years ago had now finally been kept and he felt like a free man. He felt free to love the one woman he had always loved and he could love her freely because she was now his wife. They would not be parted again. He took one more look at the garden Felisa had worked so hard on for so many years before making his way back into the house. Perhaps there would be children in their future, but he didn't ponder that thought for very long because as soon as he entered the kitchen, Beverly was in his arms and everything felt right in the world he knew.

THE END.