Part 5
"I'm very lucky Adele's doctor makes house calls, too," jests Picard, watching as Beverly examines Adele on the sofa in his quarters.
"After all the time she spent in Sickbay, I'm happy to come to you," teases Beverly, scanning Adele in her lap with the diagnostic wand of her tricorder. "Besides, it gives me an excuse to visit, and to bring a little something for Adele. Why don't you open that bag there?"
Sliding onto the sofa next to Beverly, Jean-Luc picks up a pink paper gift bag beside Beverly's med-kit. "What's this?"
"Just remember, it's been a very long time since I had a baby around, and I never had a daughter of my own," jokes Beverly with a light chuckle, tucking her tricorder back in her med-kit. "Besides, I never did get you a baby gift."
Tossing Beverly an amused look, Jean-Luc opens the bag and pulls out a tiny pink dress.
"I couldn't resist!" laughs Beverly, scooping Adele into her arms.
Shaking his head, Picard reaches back into the bag, retrieving a small plush doll.
"Very cute, Beverly," grins Jean-Luc, handing Beverly the little soft doll.
Giggling, Beverly shows Adele the doll.
"Adele, say 'thank you' to Doctor Crusher for your beautiful dress and baby doll," says Jean-Luc, inching over to Beverly on the sofa.
Beverly sets the doll down on the sofa between them, pulling Adele to her chest.
"That's very sweet. Thank you, Beverly." Jean-Luc sets the bag on the floor, watching Beverly cuddle Adele closely. "How is she doing?"
"She's great," Beverly replies cheerfully, dropping a kiss to Adele's crown. "She's already starting to put weight on. I think we'll see her thriving in no time."
"I appreciate everything you've done for us," Jean-Luc tells her, reaching for Beverly's hand.
"Of course," replies Beverly brightly, squeezing his hand affectionately.
"Would you like to have dinner with us? Well…me. Adele will be having a a bottle." Smiling, Jean-Luc hopes that Beverly will stay for a social occasion, instead of merely to tend to his sick child.
Hesitant, Beverly's lips fall. "I can't. I'm sorry. I've hardly seen Wes in days. I was going to help him with his science project tonight."
"Of course," shrugs Picard simply. "Wesley can come for dinner. Why don't you call him and ask him to come over? I'd be glad to assist him with his science project."
Somewhat hesitant, Beverly raises a brow. "Alright?"
"What would you like for dinner?" Jean-Luc inquires, rising off of the sofa.
"Oh, we're easy," says Beverly breezily.
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"If you try boosting the signal, we may be able to get more power over here," Picard instructs Wesley, seated at his kitchen table with Wesley Crusher after their dinner.
Wesley tinkers with a large metal and plastic contraption on the table, his shoulders tense and his lips tight. "It may work. I'm afraid it will overload, though."
Beverly enters the kitchen, carrying Adele in her arms. "How are we making out?"
"I think we've got it," responds Picard, standing out of his chair. He turns to Beverly walking toward him with Adele. "Oh, you changed her. Thank you, Beverly."
Almost smirking, Beverly hands Jean-Luc his nearly two month-old daughter, snug in a sleeper onesie. "Actually, I bathed her. She's ready for bed. I'll get her bottle and put her down, if you'd like?"
Pleasantly surprised, Jean-Luc grins, bouncing on his feet as his daughter begins whimpering. "Uh…yes. That's great. Thank you."
"Captain, I switched these circuits and I think I can avoid blowing the transceivers," Wes advises, pointing a metal disc on the machine.
Casting a grateful smile to Beverly, Picard moves to examine the teenager's work on the project.
Beverly wanders over to the replicator and orders Adele's formula, watching Picard guide Wesley in his science project. Her son had hardly had any consistent positive male role models since his father had died. Now, Beverly is grateful to be here on the Enterprise, where she's developing friendships with her comrades who are providing excellent mentorship to her teenage son. But, now, standing here in Jean-Luc's kitchen, she has to admit to herself, this feels more like home than she's ever felt. And, truthfully, she's never wanted anything more.
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Beverly drops a kiss to Adele's crown and lays her gently in the crib in the small room in Picard's quarters. "Goodnight, sweetie."
Smiling lightly, Jean-Luc lays a hand on the small of Beverly's back. "Thank you. Thanks for getting her ready for bed."
Turning around to face him, Beverly smiles warmly. "Of course. Thanks for helping Wes with his science experiment. He was thrilled. He was soaking up every minute. "
"Absolutely, any time." Jean-Luc takes Beverly's hand and draws her in, locking their gazes.
Swallowing hard, Beverly braces one hand against his chest. "Jean-Luc, I liked this. I…like this."
"As do I," beams Jean-Luc, holding her hip.
Heart pounding against her chest, Beverly bites her lip. "I'm not sure…what we should do."
Lifting his hand to her cheek, Jean-Luc leans in and brushes his lips over hers. "This is a very good start."
Relaxing into his touch, Beverly slips her hand around his neck as Jean-Luc kisses her tenderly. "Yes."
Grazing his thumb over her cheek, Jean-Luc lays his forehead against hers, pecking her lips. "Beverly…"
"I should go," whispers Beverly against his lips, soothing her words with a peck on his cheek, letting her hand trail back down his chest. "Wes is packing up his project. It's getting late."
Frowning, Jean-Luc squeezes her hip. "Come back tomorrow after your shift."
Hesitant, Beverly purses her lips. "Do you think we should?"
"Yes!" cries Jean-Luc in a laugh. "Please, Beverly." Taking her hand, Jean-Luc slips his other around her back. "I had a wonderful evening."
Bobbing her head, Beverly agrees. She feathers a kiss to his lips, entwining their fingers. "I did, too."
"Tomorrow, then." Jean-Luc brings a hand up and grazes his thumb over her lips, peppering kisses along her forehead.
Smiling, Beverly kisses his thumb and draws back. "Come on. Let's get back before my boy genius comes looking for us."
Chuckling, Jean-Luc reluctantly releases her hand. He had never felt so content and happy.
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At the sound of the door chime, Beverly grows perplexed. "Wesley?" Walking toward the front entrance to her cabin, Beverly is puzzled. Her son should have been home fifteen minutes ago, and then the two of them would go to the Picard's cabin for dinner. But, why would Wesley would be ringing the door?
As the door slides open, Beverly is surprised to find Picard on the other side of the threshold, in casual trousers and a tunic. Grinning, Beverly shakes her head. "Jean-Luc, we were coming over shortly. I…I was waiting for Wes."
Stepping into the cabin, the door slides closed behind Picard. "Well, he's actually already at my place."
"Why?" asks Beverly curiously, folding her arms across her chest.
"Wesley is going to watch Adele while you and I have dinner," announces Jean-Luc, a confident grin spreading over his lips.
Mouth agape, Beverly almost scoffs. "No. What's really going on?"
Beaming, Jean-Luc closes the distance between them, placing his hands on her arms. "I thought we'd have a nice little picnic in the arboretum."
Face falling, Beverly is in disbelief. "You can't be serious? Jean-Luc, Wes is a fifteen year-old boy. He's never cared for a baby. You're not leaving Adele with him."
Shrugging, Jean-Luc drops a hand to her waist. "He'll be fine. I gave him a thorough briefing."
Overly concerned, Beverly grasps his arm. "Jean-Luc, this is a bad…"
Forestalling her with a finger to her lips, Jean-Luc smiles. "Beverly, they'll be fine. He can call me if he needs anything."
Grimacing, the notion of her son, who had always been an only child, babysitting the two month-old infant, worries Beverly greatly.
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Laying with her back on the large checkered blanket in the grass in the arboretum, Beverly has one arm wrapped around Jean-Luc neck and the other toying with the buttons of his tunic. Jean-Luc, propped on his side, blazes hot, open-mouthed kisses along Beverly's collarbones, exposed in her simple satin blouse.
They had enjoyed a quiet dinner by the pond, and now their empty picnic basket and glasses of wine lay abandoned on the grass beside them as they engage in a heated embrace on the blanket.
Tugging Beverly's blouse free from her trousers, Jean-Luc rumbles against her neck. "We should have done this…a very long time ago."
Moaning, Beverly kisses Jean-Luc's scalp. "We were idiots."
"I was a fool," growls Jean-Luc, sliding his hand up her abdomen under her blouse to cup her breast.
Closing her eyes, Beverly is consciously aware that's she's in the arboretum and shouldn't be conducting herself this way, but she's harboured feelings for Jean-Luc for the better part of two decades and it feels so good to finally be able to express her feelings.
Suddenly, the chirping of Jean-Luc's communicator badge on his tunic startles them, interrupting their ministrations.
"Captain? Captain Picard?" Wesley's voice chimes across the comm link as Picard reluctantly breaks off.
Jumping, Beverly nearly pushes Jean-Luc off of her, alarmed by the sound of her son's voice coming through the communicator.
Rolling his eyes, Picard taps his commbadge. "Yes, Wesley?" Jean-Luc props himself on one elbow and reaches again for Beverly's shoulder to reassure her.
"I'm sorry, sir," Wesley begins through the line. "Uh…Adele's sick. She's been throwing up."
Bolting upright, Beverly's eyes widen. "Honey, is she spitting up or throwing up?"
"Uh…I don't know. I don't think she's feeling well," answers Wesley through the comm link.
"We'll be right there," Beverly tells him, tucking her blouse back into her pants and straightening her belt.
"Thank you, Wesley," Picard sighs, tossing Beverly a dejected look as he severs the connection.
"We shouldn't have left her with Wes," mutters Beverly, rising to her feet as Picard straightens his tunic and trousers.
Picard climbs to his feet and puts a hand on Beverly's shoulder. "Beverly, she'll be fine. And, where did 'we' come from?"
Reddening, Beverly flushes in embarrassment, averting her eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry. Of 's…she's your daughter. I…"
Peppering a kiss to her forehead, Jean-Luc chuckles. "Let's go check on 'our' children, shall we?"
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"I'm so sorry, sir. I…I fed her just like you said. She didn't even finish the bottle." Wes, his face plagued in guilt and concern, hovers around the sofa as Beverly sits with Adele in her lap and administers a hypo, Picard perched on the sofa beside her.
"That's alright, Wesley," replies Picard calmly. "I'm sure you did a fine job. Thank you for watching Adele tonight."
Glancing up at her son pacing around the sofa, Beverly offers a sympathetic smile. "You did fine, honey. Adele's running a fever."
"So, I didn't poison her or anything?" Wes confirms in relief.
Shaking her head, Beverly drops the hypo into her med-kit and scoops the baby into her arms.
"Why is she fevered?" Picard inquires, trying to keep the concern out of his tone.
Sighing, Beverly rests the baby against her shoulder and rubs her back. "Her immunity is very low right now. I think she picked up a strain of that virus. I didn't want to inoculate her, the risks were too high."
Frowning, Picard nods.
"I'd like to keep an eye on her," Beverly tells Jean-Luc, hardly even asking permission.
Nodding easily, Picard stands off of the sofa. "Of course. Thank you."
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"I'd like to be open with Wesley about us," Jean-Luc says earnestly, pulling Beverly on top of him in his bed that night as they attempt to get some sleep as they keep watch over Adele. Adele is fitfully sleeping in the basinet in the corner in Picard's bedroom, and Wesley had returned to Beverly's quarters to sleep.
Smiling into his neck, Beverly trails a hand up his bare chest. "And what, exactly, do you propose we tell my teenage son is going on between us?"
Chortling lightly, Jean-Luc kisses her hair and runs his hand over her back, on top of the long night shirt he had given her to wear. "That we care very deeply for each other, care for him and Adele, and we want to build a relationship, a family together."
Closing her eyes, Beverly lays her head on Jean-Luc's chest, sighing softly. "It's all happening so quickly, Jean-Luc."
Cupping her neck, Jean-Luc caresses her cheek with his thumb. "It's been twenty years, my dear. We couldn't have moved any slower."
Smiling, Beverly caresses his chest. "You're right."
Dropping a kiss to her crown, Jean-Luc draws her closer. "You're overwhelmed. It's okay. We can take it slow."
It's been ten years since she's had a man in her life, and Beverly had forgotten what it's like to be with another person. But here, with Jean-Luc's arms around her and his hopeful words about a future together, Beverly is truly happy, truly content, truly home.