*Disclaimer: All Characters and things Trek belong to Paramount, although I don’t think Gene Roddenberry wanted it that way.

By: K. Crusher

August, 1998

"Five card draw, one-eyed jacks and suicide kings are wild," Beverly called as she dealt the cards to her fellow officers. Jean-Luc had joined them again this week, and she was glad to see him enjoy himself.

"I'll take two, Bev," Jean-Luc said. She looked at him with a shocked expression. When was the last time he had ever called her Bev? She then smiled and passed him the cards he had requested.

"I need three, Doctor," Geordi requested.

"One, please," Deanna asked politely.

"Four," Worf demanded gruffly, with an annoyed look on his face. They all laughed at him as Beverly passed the cards over.

"I would like two, Doctor," Data stated. Will sat with no expression on his face, but Deanna could sense pure joy. If he won tonight, she was really in for it.

"Will? How many do you want?" Beverly asked.

"I don't think I'll need any cards, Doctor," he replied evenly, keeping his facial expression.

"Ok then...let's continue the bidding then shall we?" Beverly suggested. We left off at five, right? Ok...I'll raise another two."

"Everybody stayed in, except for Worf who folded and decided to leave.

"This just isn't my night for poker," he grumbled as he left.

"I think I'll up the ante to another five," Riker announced. No one stayed but Deanna and Will. Deanna prayed that her full house tens high beat whatever he was smirking at in his hand. The other members at the table watched the electricity between the couple as they continuously out bid one another, until neither of them had any chips left.

"Lay 'em down Counselor," Will said with a huge smile. She tentatively laid down her full house, and she got roaring laughter from the table. Her face flushed red as the laughter increased when Will lay down his own full house, jacks high. "Ohhh...Deanna, are you going to get it tonight," Will said wickedly. They decided to pack the game up, as most everyone had lost to Will that night. "It's still early...anyone wanna play some Academy games?

"What do you mean, Commander? What games? I do not recall playing any games while at the academy," Data said as he recalled memories.

"Well...I mean drinking games...since alcohol has no effect on you, you were probably never asked to play."

"Oh...I see. So you are saying that there are games designed for simply getting one's self intoxicated?"

"Yup...that's the point," Will supported.

"Well then, although I cannot get drunk, I would like to stay and watch, if I may."

"Of course Data, you're more than welcome to stay and watch us make fools of ourselves," Beverly said with a laugh.

"This will be interesting to see if I still have a tolerance," Geordi laughed. "What do you all think we should play?"

"How about we get a buzz going first and do some Tequila Poppers? I've got the Tequila in my room. I'll go and get it if someone will replicate some shot glasses, limes, and salt for all of us," Riker suggested. He ran off to his quarters to fetch the alcohol as Jean-Luc replicated the necessary accessories. The Commander returned a few minutes after he had left; out of breath and with the biggest bottle of alcohol any of them had ever seen.

"Ok, what game should we start with?" Riker asked, his eyes shining.

"How about ‘I never’?" Deanna asked.

"Oh yes, that was one of my favorites," Beverly added as her blue eyes bored into Jean-Luc. He blushed, reconsidered participating, but the thought of finding out some of Beverly’s secrets overrode his apprehension.

" ‘I never’? That’s a dangerous one, if I recall," Jean-Luc said shakily.

"Only if you’ve done lots of naughty things, Jean-Luc," Beverly chuckled. He blushed and looked away from her piercing blue eyes.

"How is the game played?" Data inquired.

"Well one person starts by saying something like...oh, like, "I’ve never baked a cake, or I’ve never played velocity, and if you have done the said activity, you must take a shot. If you haven’t done the activity, do nothing." Deanna explained. Data nodded and they all sat down, preparing themselves for the "questioning". They took a group shot together before proceeding, most of them grimacing at the harsh taste.

"All right. I’ll begin if you don’t mind," Deanna suggested. The warm up rounds caused everyone to take shots at practically all of the ‘I nevers’, and 15 minutes into the game they were all well on their way. The questions quickly became more intimate and personal as their hibitions were thrown into the wind. Riker was bound and determined to make the Captain squirm and take advantage of the situation. As his turn came up, his blue eyes sparkled bright. He took a deep breath before he began.

"Ok...I’ve never... been in love with my best friend," he said in a joyful tone. He raised his glass to his lips and took the shot. He looked around the hushed table and saw Deanna take her shot. All eyes turned to the blushing Captain and C.M.O. They looked at one another not knowing whether to drink and admit it, or sit still in denial. Beverly in her drunken state nervously played with her full shot glass. Her eyes returned to the object of her desire and met his soft, hazel stare. She slowly lifted the glass to her lips and dramatically kicked it back. She smiled broadly as she set the glass down. Jean-Luc’s jaw dropped and a look of sheer surprise took hold of his face. Beverly’s smile faded when he didn’t drink his shot. The table waited a few seconds in anticipation, but Jean-Luc didn’t move.

"All right...I never..."Deanna started.

"NO...wait," Jean-Luc protested. He turned to Beverly and took her hand as he took his shot. Her smile returned and anticipation grew in her stomach. An awkward silence came over the table once again and Geordi and Data, sensing that a private moment was about to ensue, made a hasty exit. Will and Deanna had moved to the couch in the corner, too drunk and too into one another to care about anything else.

"Well maybe I should be getting to bed," Beverly said quietly. ‘You certainly should doctor, MY bed,’ Jean-Luc thought. She stood up to leave, but Jean-Luc gently pulled her back down.

"Don’t you think that we should talk about this, Beverly?" he murmured.

"We’re a bit too...out of it to discuss, don’t you think?"

"On the contrary, I think that now’s the perfect time," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her soundly. When he pulled away, he felt her

pull him back. She didn’t care about anyone or anything else but Jean-Luc. She knew that it was not the best time to get intimate, but forces beyond her wouldn’t allow for her to stop. She opened her mouth against his, and flicked her tongue over his lips. He let her in, the loving the sensation of her kiss. Instead of the slow, gentle kiss he was expecting, he received one that was hungry, insistent, and demanding. Her hands slid up his chest, moving around his shoulders and back around his neck. She held him there, forcing the kiss to last as long as she wanted it. When she finally pulled away, she placed her mouth by his ear.

"You owe me something, you know that don’t you?" she whispered huskily. Jean-Luc knew what was coming. He nodded and smiled.

"Whatever you want, Beverly, my love," he whispered back. She stood again and pulled him up. They left Deanna and Will giggling in the corner, cheering them on. The effects of the alcohol had begun to wear off by the time they reached her quarters, but Beverly refused to rethink what she wanted to do to her Captain. Beverly began to slowly undress herself, pulling the zipper of her uniform down as Jean-Luc watched, his eyes devouring her skin. He scraped together all the courage he had and moved close, breathing hard. His hands moved to her shoulders, pulling the fabric from her soft, creamy skin.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Beverly?" he whispered, his eyes closed, praying that she did. She nodded, tears forming in her blue pools.

"It’s all I’ve ever wanted, Jean-Luc. I love you so much." His mouth lowered to her neck, tasting the sweetness there, loving the taste, touch, and texture of the beautiful angel he was kissing. Beverly arched back, her eyes closed, feeling more young and vibrant than she had for far too long. "Jean-Luc...do you really love me? Please say that you do," she begged softly.

"Why of course I love you, Beverly Picard...ah...I mean, Crusher," he declared before he devoured her mouth, hungry for the love of his life. She returned his intensity, her body burning for him. She grabbed at his uniform eager to get at the flesh beneath it.

"I want to touch you," she breathed between kisses. "Please let me touch you," she begged.

"Oh yes, darling, you will." He divested himself of his uniform and hers and carried her into her bedroom. He set her on the bed, and lied down beside her, stroking and kissing the flesh not covered by her undergarments. She grabbed at his boxers, eager to have what was beneath.

"Mmm...know what you want, eh, beautiful?" he laughed softly.

She abandoned her cause and stripped herself of her undergarments before Jean-Luc could slow her down.

"Touch me..." she said in a small voice. "Please...I need you my love."

His eyes, mouth, and hands busied themselves with her delicate skin as her hands snuck through the fly in his shorts. "Oh Jean-Luc, oh gods..." she whispered as his lips and hands found her nipples teasing them into hardness. He loved the woman so much and he was so hard for her. Beverly had taken the firm shaft from its protection and she began to trace it with her fingers, stroking lightly, as he tongued her nipples.

"Oh, baby...I won’t..." he gasped. She pulled away from him as his hands went to the waistband of his boxers to remove them. Soon, he lay on top of her, returning to her mouth, loving the sensation of his naked body on hers. It was a fantasy, a dream that had taken too long too fulfill, and the need was paramount. He pulled away from a kiss when he realized that she had spread her thighs beneath him. He could feel her wetness against him, her heat beckoning entrance. She kept eye contact with him; his eyes lost in hers as she slowly raised her hips to capture his hardness inside her. "Ummm...Beverly, so tight..." he moaned into her shoulder. Once he was fully inside, he rested there, memorizing the feeling of entering her for the first time. She gasped the short, sharp pain of his penetration turning into sweet sensation. He took his cue from her once she moved her hips again. He placed his elbows at the sides of her head, his hands laced in her red tresses, his eyes lost in hers, trying to feel what he was making her feel. He went slow and soft, wanting to last for her as long as possible. He dipped his head to take a nipple in his mouth, causing his woman to cry out and arch her back.

"Jean-Luuucccc...gods!" he continued to suck her nipples as he felt her buck and tighten around him, forcing him to come after her.

"Oh Beverly...my Beverly..." he moaned softly as he weakened above her.

He slowly moved to the side of her, holding her tight to him, his head buried in her shoulder. He couldn’t speak, or move, he was so overwhelmed with love for her. " I love you so much, I love you so much," he whispered, over and over. They lay quiet for a time until he asked, "Do you regret it, Beverly?" he asked, his voice hesitant, for fear of the answer. She took him by the chin and nudged it upward to look into his eyes.

"I’m going to be Beverly Picard aren’t I?... Now why would I regret making love with my future husband?" She asked, a smile lighting her face.

"You sure that you want to get mixed up with a guy like me?" he asked playfully. She nodded.

"There’s nothing I’d like more than for you to be mine...all mine."

"That I will, Beverly, that I will," he chuckled as he pulled her close for one last kiss before they fell asleep.

THE END