The light music swirls around the room, enhancing the dim, romantic evening ambiance. Waiters make their way with plates of hors d'oeurves of mainly Earth and Betazed origin. The reception hall is characteristally grandiose. Again, I would have expected no less from Lwaxana Troi.

The ceilings are draped excessively in rich cream fabrics with an oversized chandelier at the centre. Tables are arranged circularly around a large, pristinely waxed parquet dance floor. The tables themselves are adorned in rich pink and gold textiles and surrounded by high-back off-white chairs. On the tables are mammoth-sized flower arrangements. The flowers must be native to Betazed because most of them I've never seen before. Their colours are exquisite, however, with hues of rich purples, pink, blues, and even some colours that I cant quite describe.

"Captain? Doctor?" Two familiar voices requisition us and we can't help but smile.

"Data! Geordi!"

"Hi, Captain, Doctor."

"Geordi," Jean Luc gathers the younger man into a hug. "It's good to see you. And it's Jean Luc now. And Data!" He similarly folds the android into a friendly embrace. To say that even Data looks stunned at the gesture would be an understatement.

"Ach, right. I keep forgetting that you're not in Starfleet anymore. Doctor, I have to say that you look lovely."

"Thank you Geordi." I blush moving in to embrace him not before I similarly embrace Data.

"Data," I step back. "How are you?"

His expression is, as always, nonchalantly deadpan. "I am well, Doctor. And, may I say congratulations to you and Jean Luc on your growing family."

I feel Jean Luc's arm drape around my waist. "Thank you, Data."

/

"Deanna! Will! Congratulations. What a wonderful ceremony." I move in to embrace our friends.

"Beverly! Thank you. We're so, so happy that you could make it. Did Wes and Saoirse make it as well?"

"Yes." I beam to the affirmative. "Saoirse's been popular. Jean Luc's been making the rounds like a proud, gloating father. And Wes, I think he's been enjoying talking to Data and Geordi about his research. We have to get going soon, though – we both have work tomorrow!"

"Beverley, I – Oh no." She drops her smile and stares over my shoulder.

"Deanna, what?"

She just points, but not before I hear:

"Jean Luuuuuuccc?" Oh no.

"Jean Luucccc?" I turn and see an even more exuberant Lwaxana Troi making her way over to my husband through the crowd.

"Beverly, you'd better get over there. Mum's been at the Antarian cider and uh – we'd better rescue your husband." Will says nothing and smiles knowingly as we hastily make our way over to my very embarrassed husband.

"Now Jean Luc Picard! Oh, I just knew it! You thought that you were going to get out of dancing with me this evening! Jean Luc, listen," This can't be good. "Listen I – I remember the time when you rescued me from that Ferengi by saying the sweetest things! I don't think anyone's ever said such nice things about me!" We've still not reached him as Lwaxana shushes any input that he might have and insistently drags him out onto the dance floor.

I hear one last weakened "Lwaxana, please – eh-"

"Shh! Nonsense Jean Luc! It's just one dance! It'll make me so happy. And that's what you want right? You want to make me happy. You even told that Ferengi that you wanted me to be happy! Oh Jean Luc…"

Deanna and I can't help but giggle. I don't think I've ever seen Jean Luc looking so rigid! He looks like steel pole as Lwaxana's slightly drunk form practically hangs off of him, lightly swaying against him as he practically holds her up. "Oh Jean Luc! You always were my favourite captain. And to tell you the truth – I always had a wee bit of a crush on you. Hmmm…. Jean Luc?"

"Eh, uh yes, Lwaxana?"

"Do you remember the time that I was on board the Enterprise and Bev-"

"Jean Luc Picard!" I put on a theatric air of scornfulness.

"Beverly I-"

"Jean Luc, I can't believe you! You promised me the first dance of the evening!"

"Oh, Beverly!" Lwaxana pleads as Deanna grabs her mother around the waist.

"Come now, Mother. Uncle Bazor is looking for you. He's been saying all night how much he can't wait to talk about your plans for his wife's 40th Birthday party!"

"Oh, Deanna, Bazor can wait. I'm dancing with Jean Luc right now!" She holds tighter to his stiff form as his eyes practically scream with pleas for rescue.

"No really mother, I insist!"

"Yes, Lwaxana – I have to insist! You've made me one very jealous woman." What else can I say to speed this process along?

"So possessive, Beverly! Well," She thinks to herself. "If Jean Luc was mine, I'd neeeeever let him out of my sight." Phew! The Antarian cider is bleeding off of her!

Deanna gives us one last apologetic smile as she pries her mother away. "Come now mother!"

I feel an arm snake around my waist as a grateful kiss graces my cheek. "Thank you. I didn't know where she was going with that last story."

I turn in his arms as he wraps the other arm around and folds me against him. "Hmmmm? I think my name was about to come out there. I almost wish I hadn't reached you in time! I'd like to have heard that story…" My own arms slide up his chest and snake their way around his neck.

"Will you dance with me, Beverly?" He whispers as we sway on the crowded dance floor.

"Yes." I smile. "Where's the kitten?"

We turn and I see a very tired Wesley sitting at our table showing her off to yet another of Deanna's relatives. I smile. "We should go soon. I think we're all tired and we still have an 8-hour drive."

He nods against my hair.

"So, what do you think Lwaxana was going to say about me?"

"Oh goodness, Beverly I don't know. Probably something that would embarrass me in some way…"

"Like?" This could be fun.

"Well… there was this one time that we were having a reception in Ten Forward. And, uh well, I uh…. You came in wearing this very..." his hands are travelling lower on my back and I cant help but smile. "Very lovely dress. And, well," his voice takes on a melodramatic tone. "I couldn't help but have – oh a thought or two-"

I cock my eyebrow and look at him. He smiles in response, gently replacing my head on his shoulder, resuming our previous position. "And she caught me with her damn telepathic abilities…"

"That's it?"

"And then! She had the audacity to mention it to me. Oh God, it was mortifying."

I laugh, imagining Jean Luc the way he used to be. I can just see his face in my mind's eye and I muffle a snort of laughter against his shoulder. "What?" His deep baritone whispers into my ear.

"Dirty thoughts?" I giggle.

He doesn't hesitate to respond: "About you? Always."