CHAPTER 6
The next month felt wonderful for Beverly. Picard and she had been spending more time together, having breakfast, dinners, and any social functions, as they tried to discover just what this new beginning really was for them. Beverly was 26 weeks and the closer it got to this child making his entrance, the more butterflies she felt in her stomach. She hoped Picard and she could figure out what this next chapter in their life really meant before the baby arrived.
As Beverly had a slightly late start to her morning, she was walking as fast as her pregnancy would allow, heading to Picard's quarters for Breakfast. She didn't have to open that morning so she decided to dress more casually, and comfortably, donning a sky-blue sweater and black maternity slacks. The sweater was far too large for her tiny frame and her shoulder peeked through at times, but it was large enough to encase her belly, which she swore was growing by the second.
As she finally reached his door, she chimed. Fixing her hair as quickly as she could before he opened the door. When the door finally opened, she greeted him with a smile.
"I'm sorry I'm late…" she started to say, but when she noticed the blood drained expression on Picard's face, she paused for a moment and noticed they were not alone. A beautiful brunette was occupying the same seat she would be sitting, as the woman smiled at her and slowly sipped her coffee. "Oh. Excuse me. I didn't realize you had company" Beverly said, slightly in shock of what she had walked into.
"That's all right. Er, allow me to introduce you. This is Beverly, Doctor Beverly, Doctor Beverly Crusher. This is Vash. She's a friend of mine from the Archaeology Council'' Picard stuttered. Beverly walked in and slowly reached her hand out to shake the mysterious woman's hand, and gave him a look as he awkwardly introduced her.
"I didn't mean to interrupt. The Captain and I often share morning tea together" Beverly politely explained.
"Yes, I know. Jean-Luc has told me all about you" Vash said with a smile.
"Really?" Beverly asked, slowly taking Picard's seat at the table. "When was that?"
"On Risa, where we met" Vash explained. Beverly looked to Picard with a questionable look.
"I see. That must have been during your vacation last year" Beverly questioned. Picard swallowed hard and didn't know how to respond.
"No. Yes" Picard again stuttered. He smiled nervously before he finally answered "Yes"
Beverly and Vash began to make Picard feel very uncomfortable at that moment. Beverly let out a loud sigh before turning to Vash. "Well, I'm surprised he never mentioned you" Beverly said.
"So am I" Vash said unamused as she glanced over to Picard. She then turned back to Beverly and leaned a bit forward from her chair. "Doctor, are you busy?" Vash asked.
"Not at the moment" Beverly responded, just before she sipped the Captain's tea. Vash can sense how nervous Picard was and even though she didn't fully understand why, she decided to take advantage of the situation.
"I was wondering, I would love to see some more of this marvelous ship" Vash smirked maliciously.
"I would be delighted to show it to you" Beverly said enthusiastically. Picard began to protest before Beverly cut him off as she stood up from her chair. "That is, if it's alright with you, Jean-Luc"
"Of course" Picard winced and showcased a not so convincing smile. Beverly was surprised by his answer and smirked back to Vash, understanding exactly what she was doing. Beverly began to head to the door while Vash stood up.
"Don't worry, I promise to behave myself" Vash leaned in and whispered to Picard. Picard's face dropped in worry, unsure what they were up to. As Vash exited, Beverly stared at Picard before the door shut.
Picard sat harshly in his chair and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. His time with Vash was an adventurous fling, a private matter he never wished to share with his crew; especially Beverly. Clearly, Vash didn't notice the growing child that Beverly was carrying, but he worried she would soon find out. Picard always kept his life private, even to those closest to him. It isn't that he was ashamed of the pregnancy or Beverly, but he didn't feel Vash needed to know the details of his life.
After tending to the bridge and making sure everything was in order for the Archeology Council's symposium, he heads to Sickbay to find Beverly. When he enters, she is in her office looking down at a PADD as she stands next to her viewscreen. He hesitates for a moment before walking in.
"Beverly?" he says softly so as to not startle her. Beverly looks up for a moment before looking back to her PADD.
"Captain" she gives a short greeting, showing that something is indeed bothering her. Picard sighs before speaking. Unsure of exactly what to say.
"I think we need to talk" Picard says.
"About?" Beverly looks to Picard, placing her PADD on her desk.
"About Vash. I feel the need to-" Beverly raises her hand, cutting off what Picard is trying to say.
"No need to explain. I know how much you value privacy and you didn't feel the need to tell me about her or your trip. I understand" Beverly said in such a tone that Picard knew she didn't understand and was hurt by his choice. Beverly sits down at her desk and continues to do her work, which gives Picard a moment to collect his thoughts and sit at the chair in front of her.
"I know I don't need to but I want to. If you would just listen for a moment. Please?" Picard pleaded. Beverly closed her eyes and sighed, afraid of what he might say. Honestly, he didn't do anything wrong and she knew that, but since his vacation was around the time of her interaction with the Verpellian, she was having conflicting feelings. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defensively, and waited for him to speak. Picard felt the lump in his throat and swallowed hard, hoping to say the right thing.
"My vacation wasn't exactly how I expected it to go. I got sorta mixed up in Vash's dealings on Risa and since I knew she was an Archeologist, I couldn't resist the adventure" Picard started before Beverly spoke.
"You never were one to turn down a mystery" Beverly half-smiled at her comment. Which causes Picard to soften a bit.
"No, definitely not" Picard smiled. He waited a beat before continuing. "Vash and I did grow close on my vacation, but I didn't feel the need to say anything because I didn't think I would ever see her again" Picard explained.
"You're acting like she was just some one-night stand" Beverly questioned, arms still tight across her chest.
"In a way, she was. She and I had an experience that I will always cherish, but It was nothing more than that. Seeing her again, It brought up mixed feelings because I am not the same man she was with. And I don't want to give her the wrong impression, which is why I acted the way I did when you showed up for Breakfast" Picard finished. Beverly took a moment to let his words sink in.
"Do you love her?" Beverly asked, which surprised Picard.
"What?" Picard questioned.
"Do you love her?" Beverly asked again but this time in a more persistent tone. Picard sighed and hesitated to answer. Beverly was unsure what Picard's mind was racing with and it scared her. She almost didn't want to know the answer but she knew it had to be asked, especially under the circumstances of their current situation.
"Do I care for her? Yes" Picard said. "Do I love her? … No" Picard sincerely answered.
"Would you tell her about the baby?" Beverly hopefully asked. His deep sigh was all he could answer and she sighed herself in disappointment. "Of course not. You do like your privacy"
"Beverly…" Picard tried to speak but again, Beverly stopped him.
"It's fine, Jean-Luc. You're not tied down to the baby… or me" Beverly said defensively, holding back tears that were threatening to escape. Picard stared at her for a moment, saddened by her sentiment.
"But I am" Picard spoke. Beverly was surprised by his answer and this time didn't stop him from explaining. "The feelings I have for Vash are not the same as the feelings I have for you. I am proud about becoming a father and I am not ashamed of that. I just don't feel it is anyone's business of my feelings, past lovers or otherwise" Picard blurted out. This was the first time Picard admitted how he truly was feeling over their son, or her for that matter.
Beverly couldn't hold back the tears she felt and let one escape. She quickly wiped the tear away, trying to be strong at this moment, but her hormones were fighting against her and she couldn't help it.
Picard stood up and walked to her side. He kneeled down in front of her and took her hand.
"I'm sorry It has taken me this long to admit that to you. I just wanted you to know where I stood when Vash was concerned" He then took her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
Beverly took his face into her hands, which caused Picard to stand up with Beverly and hug her tightly. The only thing standing between them was their son. She then placed her forehead on Picard's and let a few more tears fall. "Thank you" she said in almost a whisper.
Picard leaned back and looked at her, wiping the tears off her face. "No need" He smiled.
Beverly stared into his eyes lovingly. Picard felt the urge to do something he had only dreamed about, but as he slowly began to close the distance between their lips, Will Riker interrupted.
"Riker to Picard"
Picard sighed in disappointment before tapping his combadge. "Picard here" he said in frustration, which caused Beverly to chuckle at the moment.
"The council is ready and is heading to Ten Forward" Riker explained. Picard then realized he was not ready and panicked.
"Oh, right! Thank you number one, I will be there shortly" Picard exclaimed and closed his communication. He then looks to Beverly sadly, "I have to get ready"
"I know. I'll see you at Ten Forward" Beverly smiled, letting him know it was okay. Picard smiled back and kissed her on the cheek.
"I'll see you soon" he says before looking down and rubbing her stomach. "And I'll see you soon as well" he says to their son before hurriedly rushing out of her office.
Beverly looked down to her belly and caressed it softly. "I guess things are looking up"
The events that followed after Picard left didn't exactly go the way Beverly and Picard had ever imagined. The way Q handled the situation of Vash and Picard was not something Beverly was fond of. However, she put her feelings aside and knew they needed to do whatever they could to get out safely.
Once they returned and realized Vash did not return with them, Picard rushed out, to Beverly's dismay. As Picard enters his Ready Room, Vash appears in Safari type clothing and surprises Picard.
"Hello, Jean-Luc" Vash said with a smile.
"Well, this is a relief. I thought that perhaps Q had found…" Picard begins to say but gets cut off my Vash.
"Well, he had some things to discuss with me" Vash finished before sitting down on the couch.
"Indeed? Surprised he's not busy gloating over his victory" Picard said before sitting down next to her.
"He was right about one thing, you know. As ridiculous as it was, his game did prove that you still care" Vash said, leaning in closer. Picard smiled and sighed at the same time. He did care but not in the way she meant it.
"I may not show my feelings to my crew, but I do have them" Picard says.
"I'm going to miss you, Jean-Luc" Vash says, which causes Picard to raise a brow.
"So, where are you off to now?" He asks.
"I haven't made up my mind" Vash says before Q appears behind Picard.
"After all, she has the entire universe to choose from" Q says which startles Picard.
"Meet my new partner" Vash cautiously says. Picard instantly stands up in disbelief.
"Him?" Picard exclaims.
"Why not?" Vash questions.
"I'll tell you why not. He's devious, amoral, unreliable, irresponsible, and, and definitely not to be trusted!" Picard huffed to Vash. He was more worried about her safety than anything else and knew being with Q was a bad idea.
"Remind you of someone you know?" Vash playfully asks with a smile. Picard softened a bit, knowing that he was being overbearing and overprotective at that moment. Like he said to Beverly, he cared for Vash but he didn't love her and it wasn't his place to tell her what to do.
"As a matter of fact, it does" Picard says calmly.
"We're going to have fun. I'm going to take her places no human has ever seen" Q says with such delight that annoys Picard.
"Who can resist an offer like that?" Vash asks Picard.
"As payment in full for your debt to me, you will guarantee her safety" Picard asks Q, ignoring Vash's rhetorical question.
"She will not be harmed, Jean-Luc. I promise you that. Well, are you going to kiss her goodbye?" Q wonders. Vash and Picard just stare at him, giving him the hint to leave. "Oh, alright!" Q then vanishes.
"Well? Aren't you?" Vash wonders. Standing up and closing the distance between them.
Picard takes Vash's hand and looks deeply into her eyes. However, not of love but sadness. Vash begins to wonder that there is more to Picard's hesitancy and asks him "What is it?"
"I should have told you when you first arrived. And I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression" Picard begins. Vash takes a step back but keeps quiet so Picard continues.
"My life isn't the same as it was when we first met…" Picard then takes a deep breath. "I'm going to be a father… with Beverly"
Vash is surprised by this and takes her a moment to understand what he just told her. "That is kind of important information, Jean-Luc"
"I know and I'm sorry. I was going to tell you, honestly. But then Q took us away and… well, you know the rest" Picard looked down, almost ashamed. Vash knew this was hard for him, being honest and vulnerable but was honored nonetheless. She stepped towards him and placed her finger under his chin so he was forced to look at her.
"I'm very happy for you, Jean-Luc. Really" Vash smiles. This close relationship with Picard was something she never had experienced in her life, but she knew it was never going anywhere, not as the free spirit she is. Picard smiles back in relief.
"Thank you" Picard says, taking her hand again.
"Do you love her?" Vash asked Picard, and he gave the same surprising look that he gave Beverly earlier that day when she asked the same question. "Beverly? Do you love her?" Vash asked again.
"Yes" Picard said without hesitancy. Vash smiled wide and nodded.
"Then I am very happy for you" she said sincerely. She places a kiss on his cheek before stepping back. "Good luck, Jean-Luc. Maybe one day I can meet that sweet baby of yours"
"I would like that very much" Picard smiles. "Goodbye, Vash"
"Goodbye, Jean-Luc" Vash then winks at him before vanishing. Picard was alone with his thoughts and knew he couldn't keep this in much longer. He taps his combadge and requests the computer to let him know where Beverly is.
"Dr. Beverly Crusher is in her quarters" the computer responds. Picard is out the door before the computer even finishes its sentence.
As Beverly was getting ready for bed, she heard her door chime.
"Come in" she answers. The moment the door opens she sees Picard standing there. "Jean-Luc? Did you find Vash?" Beverly wondered.
"I did" Picard answered, slowly walking towards her.
"And what happened?" Beverly asked. Unsure if she really wanted to know the answer but asked anyway. Picard didn't answer right away until he got so close to her she could feel his heart beating rapidly.
"I told her I was going to be a father… and that I was in love" Picard says, looking deeply into Beverly's eyes.
"You did?" Beverly asked with a shaky breath. Picard nods slowly, leaning in and kissing her softly. As the kiss became longer and more heated, she wrapped her arms around Picard's neck and they got lost in the moment.
Q did get one thing right, Picard was in love. Love is a dangerous game and Q felt he was ill-equipped to handle it, but this was their chance to get it right. Not just for themselves, but for their son.