| Released May 18th 2008 Back to Basics by Missbevcrusher |
| Chapter 17
Picard exited the turbolift and made his way down the corridor. It had been a rather long day. They were just wrapping up their latest mission in the remote Beta-Sigma sector. Entering the crew lounge, he looked around. The place was deserted except for Guinan, who was working behind the bar. �Fancy seeing you here,� said the hostess as she watched him approach. Taking a seat, he smiled. �I haven�t been here in a while, that much is true.� �So what will it be?� �Whatever the hostess recommends.� As she prepared his drink, Guinan eyed him for a moment. �You�re looking good. I�m glad to see things are going well for you.� He looked at her curiously and smiled. �What do you mean?� �Oh you know what I mean. Having a woman in your life has done you some good.� �Wait, how�� He shook his head, unable to wrap his mind around how perceptive this woman could be. He�d never really figured out how she managed to do it, but then again, he wasn�t expecting to find out anytime soon. Guinan had always been sort of a mystery to everyone on board. �How did I know?� She smiled enigmatically and handed him his drink. �I have my ways. So, how are you handling your long distance relationship with the lovely doctor?� �It�s not always easy, but it beats the alternative of not having her in my life at all.� �That much is obvious. I have to admit, you looked like a lost puppy this past year.� Looking down at his drink, he raised his eyebrows. �Beverly�s departure did take a lot of getting used to on my part� something I�ve never completely managed to do.� �You regret letting her go, don�t you?� �I do. I should have at least let her know how much I needed her back then.� �Luckily, everything worked out between you two.� �Luckily, yes.� Looking at his drink, he added, �I never thought I�d say this, but I can�t wait for this ship to head back toward Earth.� You really have changed, haven�t you? thought Guinan. * * * * At warp three, it took an additional two days for the Enterprise to get back within communications range. As soon as his shift was over, Picard headed back to his quarters, took a shower, and changed into some casual clothes. Afterward, he headed over to his desk. Sitting down, he entered a few commands on his computer console and waited. It took several seconds for the link to establish. Finally, there she was. �Jean-Luc.� She smiled. �I was wondering when I�d hear from you again.� �This latest mission was rather on the lengthy side. I�m glad it�s finally over. How have you been?� �Fine.� Seeming to stumble on her words, she continued, �We just completed annual evaluations, so I�ve been rather busy.� Frowning, he leaned forward. Knowing Beverly as he did, he immediately figured out that not all was well. �Beverly� what�s wrong?� Nervously, she tried to smile, but failed. �What makes you think something�s wrong?� �Maybe it�s because I know you and something�s not right. What is it?� Closing her eyes, Beverly took a calming breath. �Okay� I got some news a few days ago.� �What kind of news?� His concern was growing in intensity with each passing second. �Well, uh� I�m pregnant.� For emphasis, she added, �we�re pregnant.� Blinking twice, the captain tried to speak, but at first wasn�t able to. The shock he felt was almost overwhelming. He�d never in a million years have expected this. With tears starting to well up in her eyes, Beverly said, �Jean-Luc, please say something.� �We�re going to have a baby�� as he said it out loud, it made it sink in even more. With a gaze that was lost into space, he added, �I�m going to be a father�� Disbelief, amazement, fear, insecurity, happiness� All of those emotions soared through him at the same time. Feeling the sting of tears in his eyes, the captain tried to regain his composure. When he looked back at the screen, Beverly was looking at him expectantly, nervous uncertainty all over her features. �Are you upset?� �Upset? No! Not at all. Shocked, perhaps, surprised, definitely. But upset? Never�� On the screen, Beverly smiled for the first time since her admission and wiped away her tears. Jean-Luc couldn�t help but feel rather bad for her. �Don�t tell me you�ve been worrying about me all this time...� Seeing her lower her gaze, her hands fidgeting, he knew he was right. �I�m so sorry you went through all of this alone. I wish I could have been there for you. Are you feeling alright?� �I�m fine. Aside from the initial shock, I�ve had nothing but mild pregnancy symptoms. I just wasn�t expecting this, especially since Dr. Smith had examined me when we first returned from the planet. In retrospect, it makes sense that he didn�t detect anything, since conception had only taken place mere hours before. It was just a lot to take in all at once.� Nodding, she closed her eyes and whispered, �But you know what? We�re going to be fine� we�re going to be just fine.� She was saying it in order to convince herself. �We will, that I promise you,� said the captain with assured tenderness. �I love you.� The words barely came out as her voice caught in her throat. �I love you too� more than anything.� * * * * Sitting in his command chair, Picard contemplated the viewscreen with its customary panoramic view of passing stars. He looked around and realized just how much things had changed. A few years ago, his life was centered entirely on this bridge. His ship� she�d been the only constant in his life. She�d been his priority for so long� but now� What am I still doing here? It had been a little over a week since he�d learned of Beverly�s pregnancy and it seemed it was all he could focus on. He often wondered how she was feeling and all he wanted to do was be there for her. Getting up, he looked at Worf and said, �You have the bridge, Number One. I�ll be in my ready room if you need me.� �Aye, sir.� His scheduled shore leave was still a month away, and considering the circumstances, he felt that it was too long a wait. Activating his computer monitor, he started to write his request. * * * * The sun had almost set on San Francisco by the time Beverly got home from rehearsal. She�d had a good time with the theater group and was glad to see that she was fitting in quite well with everyone there. Going there had been somewhat therapeutic for her, considering everything that had happened. Setting her purse down on a decorative chair by the front door, she made her way to check her messages. Seeing there were none, Crusher went upstairs to take a shower. Afterward, she quickly dried her hair, gathered it back in a loose knot, and threw on a plain white top and a pair of black cropped pants. On her way back down to the living room, Beverly heard the doorbell ring. Curious as to whom it could be, she hurried to the door and opened it. A young man stood on her front porch, holding the most beautiful bouquet of flowers in his hands. Reading off a small card, he asked �Are you Beverly Crusher?� She smiled and answered, �Yes, I am.� �Here, these are for you.� He handed the bouquet over to her. �Oh, would you mind signing this, please?� �Not at all.� She reached for the small padd he was holding out. �Thank you.� �Have a nice evening, ma�am.� Closing the door, Beverly momentarily leaned on it and took in the wonderful scent of the flowers. Taking the little card from the bouquet, she went to read it. Before she could do so, her comm unit sounded. As she went to answer it, she quickly read the note. �To the most beautiful woman that ever lived� All my love� Jean-Luc.� With a small laugh, Beverly opened the link, which turned out to be in audio only. �Hello?� �How did you like your flowers?� �Oh, Jean-Luc, they�re wonderful. Thank you.� �My pleasure.� �You didn�t have to go through all that trouble.� �It was nothing. Don�t worry about it.� Setting the flowers down in one of the vases that adorned her fireplace mantle, Beverly said, �Well, I hope you�re ready for quite a homecoming next month.� �I�m going to hold you up to that, just so you know.� �I�d be disappointed if you didn�t.� Suddenly, the doorbell rang once more. �My, I�m really popular tonight. There�s someone else at the door. I�ll be right back.� �Alright.� When she finally opened her front door, Beverly�s jaw almost fell to the ground. There, with a portable comm unit in his hand, stood the captain. With the sweetest smile, he said, �Surprise.� �Jean-Luc�� Stunned beyond belief, Beverly tried to say more, but wasn�t able to. She threw her arms around him instead. In turn, the captain lifted her up slightly and held tight. �God, I missed you.� Overwhelmed, Beverly cried quietly, the sounds muffled as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. At that moment, time seemed to stand still for both of them. The rollercoaster of emotions they�d experienced since their time together on Bak�u culminated in this one moment. With gentle strokes to her hair, Picard fought back tears. For the woman he loved more than anything, the mother of his child, held on to him as if her life depended on it. Not that long ago, he never would have thought he�d be where he was now. �Shhh� it�s okay� I�m here�� When her feet finally touched the ground again, she pulled back only as much as it took for her to kiss him fully. It didn�t take long for the passion between them to ignite into a raging inferno. Making their way further into the house, neither slowed the pace of their urgent kisses. When they finally reached the bottom of the stairs, Beverly finally managed a labored, �I missed you, too.� Gazing into the very depths of her eyes, Jean-Luc gently caressed the side of her face and whispered, �I want you� so much�� With a desire matching his, Beverly took his hand and slowly led him up the hardwood stairs. Once they�d reached the top, their kissing resumed. Although still filled with passion, it wasn�t as hurried as it had been downstairs. There was no rush this time. With her arms laced around his neck and his securely holding her waist, the two made their way down the hall until they reached her bedroom door. Pausing in the threshold, Beverly leaned back on the door frame as the captain trailed kisses down the side of her jaw to her neck. When his lips met hers once more, they stumbled further into the room until they got to the edge of the bed. Breaking their kiss, Picard sat down and looked up at Beverly who was standing before him. The subtle bluish haze that filtered through the sheer curtains enhanced her beautiful features. �J�en reviens pas a quel point tu es belle.� Taking his hand in hers, Beverly kissed it and then brushed her cheek against his palm. Lowering his gaze to her abdomen, Jean-Luc pulled her to him and kissed it. Looking back at her, he said, �You�ve made me the happiest man in the universe. You know that?� Shaking his head, he looked back at her still flat stomach and added, �I still have a hard time believing that you�re carrying our baby� but it�s really true�� With tears still streaming down her face, Beverly smiled. �Yes, it�s true.� Slight concern overshadowed his features. �So are you sure it�s okay if we� it won�t hurt the baby, will it?� With a soft chuckle, Beverly shook her head. �No, it won�t hurt the baby. I promise.� Seeming reassured, a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. Gently, he took her wrist and pulled her toward him. Her slender frame now atop of him, the captain reached up and undid the knot in her hair. As her red locks cascaded down one side of her face, she smiled in the darkness and kissed him. One by one, various items of clothing found their way to the hardwood floors as the two tried to make up for lost time. Amid the tangled sheets, the two made love for what was only their third time. Soft sighs and gasps were the only sounds that broke the calm stillness of the house. Seeking her hand, Jean-Luc took it and entwined his fingers with hers. As she tilted her head sideways, he brushed his lips along her jaw until he could whisper in her ear. �You can�t imagine how many times I thought about making love to you again like this.� Turning her face back toward his, Beverly kissed him yet again. Finally, she sighed and whispered, �I couldn�t wait to be with you either.� For what seemed like the longest time, the two shared and explored their love for one another. Finally exhausted, Beverly lay enfolded in the captain�s strong arms. All the worries and anxieties of the past few weeks had dissipated, buried in this moment of pure contentment. continue to chapter 18 Library |