Snacking on a seafood platter, they drank cocktails, watching the sunset from a table on the balcony on the side of the bar that faced the beach. The sky was on fire with orange, red, pink, yellow, purple! Golden light reflected off the water.

The music was softer on the balcony than inside where some people danced to the live band. Behind them on the wall of the bar, hundreds of notes were pinned to the wall. Paper and pens waited at a small table for any soul with syllables to spare. A series of screens sank into the wall; access points for the archives.

"To the future," Beverly said, raising her glass in toast. Jean-Luc mimicked the gesture. Their eyes met. Whichever one it may be. Maintaining eye contact they each took a sip.

"Lovely spot," Jean-Luc commented, glancing around them.

"Yes, it is," Beverly agreed with a contented sigh, gazing at him blissfully. His eyes turned back to her, and quickly flicked to the sunset. You're probably right. She turned her head to follow suit.

"The lighting is… remarkable," he added. Would you mind if I took more photographs?

As long as I get some of you, Beverly replied with a grin.

If you must. He grimaced, turning at the sound of her retrieving the camera as per his request. They took some photographs before she put it away again, to savour the sunset in person. Gradually it dipped lower and lower. A few tiny dots of light started to appear in the sky. As the huge orb went below the horizon, in the last rays, Beverly reached out, taking Jean-Luc's hand.

As every Sun does surely set
And every hour end
So it comes we meet at this crossroad
To say farewell, my friend

It was gone.

"Jean-Luc?" I can feel it… She turned in time to catch him wiping away a tear. I'm here. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.

I'm fine. He looked back over his shoulder to the bar, then to the table, and up to the awning over them – anywhere but at Beverly. I didn't notice that. Her eyes went up to see what had caught his attention. Fairy lights netted together over them.

Oh, how lovely! She echoed his sentiments of surprise. Transfixed by their twinkle, she gazed at them longer than she had intended, as Jean-Luc's eyes lowered to savour her smile of childlike wonder. Gosh, I remember the spring and summer festivals, Nana would have me hang lights all around the garden! Every time I'd ask if we could just keep them up, I loved them so much! I would lay on the grass for hours after the celebrations had dwindled, staring up at them!

We would have bonfires, back home, for spring and autumn, Jean-Luc thought, joining in the recollection. They glimpsed each other's mental image of the festivities with which each had grown.

The autumn bonfires on Caldos were always so cosy. Jack was afraid of fire. Beverly surprised herself with the sudden memory. Jean-Luc's face fell, his cheeks starting to burn. Sensing his discomfort, she blinked, lowering her gaze, smile faltering as she caught Jean-Luc's eye, then swiftly looked away. We don't have to talk about him. "Interesting crowd." She focused intently on the people around them.

Jean-Luc cleared his throat, turning his head away. "Yes, quite," he agreed, staring down at the floor.

The people are further up, Beverly chided, playfully. He side eyed her, catching her grinning into her cocktail. "Well, with our new found youth, a shore leave which could be our last before Starfleet decide to kick us to the curb, why don't we let our hair down!" If either of us takes someone back to the flat, we have to warn- inform the other, agreed?

Beverly, I don't see –

Agreed? She insisted. He let out a sigh.

Yes, agreed. She nodded and resumed her inspection of the crowd. Only I don't see how that would work as it is impossible for us to be far enough apart to return to the flat separately.

After a few moments she responded. Good point.

For a while they sat, observing the crowd, talking casually about vague nothings. That woman by the writing desk has been staring at you for at least five minutes, Beverly observed to Jean-Luc. His eyes drifted to the table she meant. Sure enough, glancing over it, a younger woman was staring at him. Do you know her?

No. He frowned a hair, then shifted his gaze onwards. Why? Should I?

Do you like her? Beverly queried curiously. There was no malice behind her thought, out before she could stop it.

He glanced over to her again, contemplating her question seriously far longer than he needed. No, not my type. He fought his mind from summoning the image of 'his type': Beverly. That woman dancing perhaps…

Her eyes went to a figure he had spotted on the dance floor. While her back was to them, Beverly recognised the movements instantly. She's mine.

"What?!" Jean-Luc exclaimed, turning to Beverly in surprise.

"What?" she replied with oblivious innocence. Jean-Luc, what's the matter?

It was taking him longer than usual for his brain to work, to formulate words to string together in a thought let alone to speak! Before he had the chance, a shout rose up. "Howard!"

Here we go, Beverly projected with good humour as the woman ran up to them. Beverly leapt from her chair so fast, it was like a blur of motion, hugging the other woman. "Finally! We've been sat here for ages!" she teased.

"Howard, after all this time?!" Her friend refused to loosen her grip, and it didn't seem like Beverly wanted to either.

"It's good to see you too, deTroven," Beverly murmured softly into the other woman's ear. They clung to one another, the other shorter woman burying her face into Beverly's shoulder.

You're…

I'm bi. Do you have a problem with that, Jean-Luc? Beverly's icy demand shattered his mind into clarity.

No, I just… never realised. Sorry. Jean-Luc blinked and stared off in bewilderment, processing this new discovery. But… I've known you for over 20 years… how could I not have realised…

We didn't speak for ten of those years, remember? Beverly jibed good naturedly, but the memory of her iciness still lingered. "Jean-Luc, I'm not sure if you'd remember Hannay. She was at my wedding."

The other woman raised her head to look to whom Beverly addressed. "Oh! You did the speech at the wedding! The French guy? Hi," Hannay said, but didn't relinquish her hold, instead curling in to rest her head against Beverly.

"My roommate from the Academy," Beverly elaborated further. We dated for a week.

"Han? Oh, there you are!" An old familiar voice spoke. Jean-Luc's back stiffened. What is she doing here? He thought first with fear. Staring at the table with dread, he didn't dare raise his head.

"Marta!" Hannay exclaimed in a squeal. "She's here!" She turned her head, but still clung to Beverly resolutely.

"Ah, the infamous Dancing Doctor," Marta cooed in her deep sultry voice. "So wonderful to meet you in the flesh." Her blue eyes looked lighter with the dark brown of her hair. There were wrinkles from years of laughter, smiles, frowns and tears. A face well used carried its story wherever it would go.

"Please, call me Beverly," Beverly insisted with a flinch at her old nickname, releasing a hand from around Hannay to shake Marta's.

"Howard is the best doctor in all of Starfleet," Hannay babbled, clearly having already had a thimbleful too many of the beverages available. Marta smiled at Beverly, having heard it all before. "Or should I call you Crusher now? We have hardly caught up in so long! You're looking well!"

"Beverly Crusher…" Marta murmured. "Not the same one from the Enterprise, surely!"

"Yes, that's me," Beverly admitted, glancing to Jean-Luc. What's the matter? "Marta, have you met –"

She knows who I am. Jean-Luc interrupted her midsentence. He slowly lifted his head, a fraction at a time, to observe their new friends. We were at the Academy together. "Hello, Marta."

Beverly would have sworn you could hear the pin drop. Marta froze, her face falling in shock. As if in slow motion she turned to face Jean-Luc, her eyes wide. He stood, now looking down a little at her.

She frowned at him. "I thought you'd gone bald, Johnny boy," she said critically.

He raised a hand to his head, running his fingers through the locks. "It's a bit of a story, actually."

"And the reason why we had to postpone," Beverly added.

"Oh?" Hannay turned her face up to look at Beverly with interest.

They pulled up two more seats for Hannay and Marta to join the table while Beverly and Jean-Luc regaled to them their recent adventure. Hannay was leant against Marta, clearly more inebriated than the rest of them. It was a brief tale, just medical facts with scarce anecdotal flair.

"How very rude of you," Marta said at the conclusion, jovially punching Jean-Luc's arm with a wicked grin. "De-aging so many years without a thought for the rest of us!"

"Oi!" he laughed and shrank back, but no further attacks came. "So then, what have you been up to?"

"Oh, the usual Starfleet captain's business," Marta said wryly before lowering her voice. "You both surely know about all the trouble brewing with the Cardassians." Hannay swore her agreement with a string of colourful metaphors. "And I got married to this little lady!" She patted Hannay on the head.

"What?!" Jean-Luc said in shock.

"Hannay, why didn't you say anything?!" Beverly chided her. "Congratulations!" she added sincerely to them both.

"You were busy being doctor to the universe," Hannay said, her words slurring.

God, I hope she has some hangover cure hyposprays, Beverly thought with concern. She is really going to need them come morning.

Does Hannay not take alcohol well?

Not at all. Hence how we ended up off the cards after a week. That was all Beverly had to say on the matter at that time, although she knew too well that Jean-Luc would be curious for the rest of the story. At least he had the tact to wait for another time.

"It was just after '66," Marta explained.

"Oh." The Borg. Jean-Luc and Beverly both shared the thought simultaneously. It seemed their reaction was all Marta needed to know they had understood. She nodded solemnly.

"Starfleet lost a lot of fine people," Marta said. "Life can be so fragile. I knew I'd regret it if I never spoke up." Hannay snuggled against her side. "So here we are." She turned her head to kiss Hannay's crown.

"There's so much to catch up. How long are you here?" Jean-Luc inquired.

"Transport out is tomorrow afternoon," Marta sighed. Hannay let loose another volley of colourful metaphors focused around the Cardassians. They abruptly ended when she turned her head.

"So, we'll just have to make the most of tonight, ey, Howard?" Hannay beamed at Beverly.


A/N: Happy Pride month! Guess what? Beverly had a husband. She also likes Jean-Luc (what did you expect this fic was gonna be?). When her relationship started with Odan, Odan was presenting pretty masculine, and Ronin (while an anaphasic vampire jerk bag) appeared in the form of a man. Doesn't mean she can't be bi. Or however else you want to headcanon her! Ace, aro, pan, demi, lesbian, etc. If you identify as LGBTQIAP+, you're valid too and we are worthy of our stories being shared.

Thank you so much to sash queen of the jungle, Erica, and spacekitten2700 for the reviews! Have any other LGBTQIAP+ Trek headcanons? Feel free to share them in reviews or message me! I hope you all have a wonderful day!