Baby Come Back
Chapters Nineteen through Twenty-one
Song is "After All" By Cher and Peter Cetera
Chapter Nineteen
Picard was in Counsellor Troi’s office the morning of the hearing. He had been seeing her almost every day since his drunken episode. He really wanted Beverly back and he would do anything to get her back. Including talking to Deanna if that is what it took.
He had been doing a lot of soul-searching ever since the night that Guinan brought him back home in a drunken stupor. He had also done a lot of talking to Deanna. He had always thought of her of his rock, but now she was more than that. She was helping him keep his sanity and his career through all that had been happening between him and Beverly lately. He only hoped that Deanna's help would be at least a start to getting Beverly back.
"Deanna, I'm serious," Jean-Luc stated sincerely. "I will do anything it takes to get Beverly back, including learning how to deal with children."
"Part of the reason Beverly is pursuing a divorce is because of your attitude towards Wesley." Deanna informed him calmly. "I can only do so much to help you get her back, but you have to realize that Wesley is part of the package. It's always been that way. Nothing has really changed in that respect."
"I do realize that," Jean-Luc insisted.
"Then you have to tell her that. You have to convince her some how that you are willing accept to Wesley, too." Deanna explained to him.
"Whatever it takes, Deanna. I'm willing."
"Are you willing to see me and work through your issues concerning children?"
"Yes!" He insisted vehemently. "If that is what it takes to get Beverly back."
"Are you saying you are willing to do anything just to get Beverly back or do you really want to try to learn how to deal with children, including Wesley?" Deanna calmly asked him.
"Wesley is not a bad child," Jean-Luc honestly admitted. "He just takes a little getting use to, that's all."
"Are you willing to learn how to relate to such a gifted child?"
"If that is what it takes."
"To get Beverly back?"
"Yes, damn it!" Jean-Luc exclaimed, exasperated with all of Deanna's questions. "I am willing to do what it takes to get along with Wesley to get Beverly back."
"I understand your frustration, but I have to be sure you are being honest with yourself about this." Deanna carefully explained to him.
"Deanna, you're an empath. You must be sensing that I am really sincere when I say I am willing to do anything to get Beverly back, including counselling." He told her. "If I wasn't, why would I be asking for your help in this matter?"
"I don't know, but I do sense your sincerit, but it is not me you have to convince."
"Then tell me how I convince Beverly?"
"I don't know, but I will say this," Deanna admitted to him. "There is only so much I or anyone else can do to help. You have to do most of it yourself."
"The hardest thing on earth to do is to tell someone how you really feel." Jean-Luc stated. "And to admit you are wrong. Then convince them that you really mean it when you say you will do what it takes to make things better."
"In this case, you have no choice if you want Beverly."
"To be honest, I do miss Wesley too," he confessed. "I miss seeing him at the helm punching in the coordinates to our next destination. I feel badly now because I wanted to throw him into the Brig and for what? He really didn't do anything that bad, now that I've thought about it."
Deanna let him talk. She did not say anything to guide his thoughts. She just sat and listened to him as he explored his thoughts and feelings.
"I was wrong for what I said and did. I admit it freely and now I'm paying dearly for it." Jean-Luc continued. "Wesley was right the day I tried to throw him in the brig. He is a very gifted child and I was trying to hinder him. I have to learn other ways to deal with children, especially Beverly's child. Then I have to learn how to deal with my own child. Beverly's and my child that is. I need to learn patience with children."
Deanna continue to listen to the captain do his soul searching without saying a word.
"I didn't mean to hurt Beverly or Wesley for that matter. I had my first opportunity to be father-like to a someone and I blew it."
Jean-Luc admitted to himself. Then he thought for a moment. "Deanna, do you believe in second chances?"
"In some cases, people do get second chances. That is, if they really want a second chance."
"Oh, I do!" Jean-Luc said hopefully and then he suddenly became doubtful. "I just don't think Beverly is going to give me a second chance."
"That is what we are hopefully going to find out this afternoon." Deanna stated. "Even so, it's not Admiral Necheyev or me you need to convince. I'm willing to work with you, but I can't help you unless you help yourself."
"How can I convince Beverly if she is not talking to me?"
"You said the last time you two saw each other before the first hearing, was for dinner a few days before."
"Yes."
"You mentioned that it turned into a terrible argument before it was over."
"Yes, it did."
"Do you remember what you said before Beverly got upset?"
"Well, let's see..." He thought back to that day and it slowly came to him. "I insisted she tell me what she keeping from me, which was the baby of course. Then she was insistent that because I don't like children I wouldn't want our baby."
"Then what happened?"
"She stormed out of the restaurant. I, of course, went after her and when I got to her quarters back at Starfleet, she said we have nothing to talk about. I pushed her into talking, then one thing led to another concerning Wesley and I suggested boarding school. She threw me out after that."
Deanna thought to herself, "I can see why." She was thankful the captain was not a telepath. "Shortly after that you were served with divorce papers?"
“Yes, I was.”
"What was your reaction to receiving them?"
"I was very irate. Beverly called me irrational after I barged into her office."
"Did you think you were irrational?"
"I don't know. I may have been. It's not every day that someone storms into their wife's office demanding to know what something is all about." Jean-Luc answered. "I guess I was being a little irrational, so I guess Beverly is right. In some respects, I act like a child myself. I guess you would say I was having my own tantrum at that moment. Just as I have many times before."
"Like when?"
"Oh, I can't say off hand," he began to say, but then he suddenly realized something. "I wasn't acting the way a captain should have when I threw Wesley off the Bridge that last time. There are probably a few other instances where I over reacted to Wesley. I'm certain there are, but I think I did fairly well with him when we all had that virus or drunken state, which ever you call it. If you remember, he took control of the ship."
"I'm sorry, I was in Sickbay at the time. Would you like to tell me about it?"
Jean-Luc laughed. "It was actually ingenious, what he did. He had taken over the ship with this device he had made. Before it was over, he turned the ship into a reverse tractor beam. I must admit he saved our hides that day. That was really good!"
"I can see that you can find some good qualities in Wesley," Deanna commented with a smile.
"Oh, I really don't hate him. Beverly thinks I do, but I don't. In all honesty, I would be very proud to have him enter Starfleet Academy one day, graduate, and serve on my ship. You don't find too many ensigns with the skills or talent Wesley has."
Deanna smiled. "You know, I think there is some hope for you with children yet."
Jean-Luc sighed wishfully. "I hope so, now I just need to convince Beverly of that."
"Well, maybe you can later today."
"Do you think it would hurt if I tried to talk to her before the hearing?"
"I don't know. That depends on her," Deanna replied, concealing the fact that she had already discussed the same idea with Beverly .
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try."
Deanna shook her head. "No it wouldn't. The worst she could do is say no."
"That could really hurt right about now," Jean-Luc stated sadly.
"There is one thing that concerns me though," Deanna told Jean-Luc.
"What is that?"
"You haven't once mentioned any concern for the baby with all that is happening between you and Beverly."
"What do you mean?" Jean-Luc asked curiously.
"What is going on between you two still affects the baby, even though it hasn't been born yet," Deanna explained.
"I never thought about how our problems could affect our child." Jean-Luc admitted worriedly. "I do hope it's alright."
"Well, as far as I know he or she is," Deanna told him to ease his mind.
"How do you know this?" Jean-Luc asked. "Have you talked to Beverly lately? Did she tell you she and the baby are fine as in polite conversation or an honest medical opinion?"
Deanna could sense his concern and his anxiety to know the answers to his questions. "I can tell you that it is an honest medical opinion that the mother and child are physically fine, but unless the two of you try to work out the issues between you, it might not continue that way."
"The problem is, I don't know what Beverly wants anymore," Jean-Luc responded helplessly. "All I know is, she is determined to leave me."
"How do you really know that for sure?"
"I...um..." Jean-Luc stammered. "I don't really know for sure. I just know how she is acting."
"Then go talk to her like I've suggested," Deanna stated once more.
Before he left Deanna's office, Jean-Luc finally agreed to try and talk to Beverly.
Back in Beverly’s quarters, Wesley was talking to his mother at breakfast about the hearing.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” He asked with concern. “I don’t mind going with you.”
“No, Wesley, there’s no need for you to miss school because of the problems Jean-Luc and I are having.” She told him.
“But you should have someone with you,” Wesley insisted. “What better person than me to go with you.”
“Wesley, you’re too young to be concerning yourself with adult matters.”
“But it also concerns me too,” Wesley reminded her.
“Maybe so, but it’s not worth you missing school,” Beverly insisted.
“But mom!”
“No buts!” Beverly told her son. “Now go to school!”
“Alright, but I do have one question.”
“What is that, Wesley?”
“This is all because of me, isn’t it?” Wesley asked. “This is all my fault.”
Beverly placed a caring hand onto his hand. “No, Wesley. It’s not. None of this is your fault.”
“Then why is it that before we left, Captain Picard was saying that this wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for me?”
“You heard that?”
“We lived in the same quarters, Mom. It’s kind of hard not to hear such things,” Wesley pointed out to his mother.
“Wesley, you have to understand that Jean-Luc has his own problems and one of them is knowing how to deal with children.”
Wesley frowned. “I still don’t understand why he said it if it has nothing to do with me.”
“Trust me Wesley. It’s not your fault.”
“If you say so,” Wesley replied doubtfully.
“Now, go get your things for school.”
“OK, but I still don’t see why I can’t go with you to that hearing.”
“I said no, Wesley.”
“Somebody needs to be with you.”
“Go to school, Wesley!”
Wesley went to get his school materials. When he returned he said goodbye to his mother. “I’ll see you later, Mom. If you change your mind, you’ll know where I’ll be.”
“Wesley!”
“Alright, I’m going.”
Wesley then left their quarters and headed for his first class of the day. He was hoping his mother would change her mind and allow him to be at the hearing for her, even though he knew she probably would not.
Not long after Jean-Luc had left Deanna's office, he called Beverly to see if she would be willing to talk to him. Jean-Luc was disappointed, though, because Beverly had appointments up until thirty minutes before the hearing, but she did agree to meet him outside the hearing room to talk to him then.
As promised, Beverly did show up to talk to Jean-Luc just as she said she would. "Jean-Luc," she said in greeting.
"Beverly." He could not help but think about how beautiful she was. Yet at the same time he felt awkward due to the situation.
"Is Deanna going to be here?"
"She's here already. She's just giving us some privacy so we can talk," Jean-Luc informed her.
"It will be nice to see her." Beverly was trying to be peaceful as they talked and not be the one who started any arguments.
"Shall we have a seat?" Jean-Luc gestured to a bench that was available for them to sit.
Beverly nodded and they went to sit down on the bench to talk. "I talked to Deanna."
"That's good. I wasn't sure if you and Deanna were staying touch through all of this." Jean-Luc realized that that was how Deanna knew how the baby and Beverly were doing. He also realized that Deanna had her reasons for not telling him that she had been in contact with Beverly.
"We have been, it's just I had asked her to keep everything between her and myself," Beverly admitted.
"Thus your reaction the first time we were here?" Jean-Luc passively asked.
"Yes. I had asked her not to tell anyone about the baby, among other things, but I guess since I had already told you by that time it really didn't matter."
"Yet, I can understand how you must have felt when you found out Deanna had told the admiral about the baby, especially when you told her in confidence."
"Yes, but she is only trying to help us," Beverly finally admitted. “Well, actually our baby. She wants to make sure our baby doesn’t get neglected in this mess. I can see her point.”
“Yes.” Jean-Luc nodded in agreement.
There was a brief and awkward silence between them. Jean-Luc looked at her and could not help but smile at her. He was glad Beverly had come and that she had been keeping in contact with someone from the Enterprise, even though he had no knowledge of it.
Deanna had stressed to both Beverly and Jean-Luc that it was important she and Jean-Luc at least try to talk things out before the hearing or at least start talking to each other. If not for each other, then for their baby's sake. Which was another reason why Deanna wanted the two of them to try and work out their problems with each other. If they could do that, Deanna felt it would be better for the baby as well.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Beverly asked, breaking the silence between them.
Jean-Luc readjusted his position on the bench. He felt very uncomfortable and he was not sure if it was the bench or trying to talk to Beverly, or both. "I don't know how to convince you that I am very sincere when I tell you I am willing to do whatever it takes to have you back. In case you haven't guessed by now, I have been doing a lot of talking to Counsellor Troi."
"I somehow had a feeling you were," Beverly replied quietly.
"Well, as I was talking to her this morning, it dawned on me just how much I missed having Wesley around."
"Jean-Luc..." Beverly started to say something, but Jean-Luc interrupted her.
"Hear me out before you say anything. You know I love you don't you?"
Beverly did not say a word. She wanted to believe that he did, but after all the things that had happened recently she did not know how to answer him.
"You don't have to answer that if you don't want to, but what if I told you that I was willing to work out our issues, my issues, concerning how I relate to Wesley?"
"I don't know."
"I really do love you that much, Beverly, and I am more than willing to do that. In the time I have spent talking to Deanna and thinking about how badly I have been behaving, I realized how much I really missed some things about Wesley." He explain honestly to her. "I think if you could find it in your heart to give me a second chance, I could show that I willing to try and learn to live with Wesley."
Beverly did not know what to say to Jean-Luc. The only thing she could say was, "I have to think about this. I don't know what else to say, Jean-Luc."
"I'll give you all the time you feel you need to think about it." Jean-Luc told her. Then he added, “There’s just one thing I ask.”
“What’s that?”
“I just want you to promise me, that no matter what happens in that room today,” Jean-Luc began as he pointed to the hearing room. “Please don’t keep anything as important as our child from me again. You really hurt me with that, Beverly.”
“I was just afraid how you would react to the news,” Beverly sadly sighed. “I didn’t want you to reject our child too.”
“I don’t reject our child,” Jean-Luc insisted. “I want our child. I want to be there for you and our child. I want to see Wesley reach whatever goals he has. I just don’t want you hiding things of such importance from me ever again. No matter how you think I may react to it.”
“I’m sorry, Jean-Luc,” Beverly softly said with regret. “I really didn’t mean to hurt you by not telling you about our unborn child, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of you rejecting our baby.”
“After all the things I’ve said and done concerning Wesley, I can see how you would get that idea,” Jean-Luc admitted. “But I was wrong for doing those things. I only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me and give me another chance. But regardless, I want you to promise me you will never keep anything this important from me again.”
“I don’t know if there will ever be anything this important ever again,” Beverly responded sadly as she laid her hand on her stomach. “And I am sorry I did not tell you sooner.”
“I accept your apology, Beverly,” Jean-Luc said softly as he fought the urge to touch her gently rounding stomach. He wanted to touch their unborn child so badly to see if it was really real or just a dream. He started to reach a hand toward Beverly’s slightly rounded stomach. Then at the last second he pulled his hand back. He did not know how she would react to him wanting to touch their unborn child.
“Just promise me you won’t hide anything from me that is as important as our child.” Beverly fought the urge to cry as she looked directly at Jean-Luc. She nodded and softly said, “I promise.”
Jean-Luc wanted to kiss her, but decided that that might not be a good idea at this time. Instead he said, "Well, I guess we need to be going in now."
Beverly nodded and they both rose to walk into the hearing room. Deanna was quietly waiting inside the hearing room. She smiled as she saw her two friends walk in together. She sensed a sort of peace between them. One she had not sensed in a long time. She also sensed regret from both of them, but it was a kind of regret that was hopeful.
She just hoped that it was the start of a new beginning for her friends. She just was not sure what that new beginning was going to be though. She did feel, though, that whatever the new beginning was, it was going to be a peaceful one for a change.
Chapter Twenty
Once again Admiral Necheyev walked into the hearing room and just as last time everyone stood. “You maybe seated.” She said as she took her seat at her table.
Once everyone was seated again, Admiral Necheyev continued to speak. “Before I begin to listen to each of you to make a decision on whether or not this case should go to an actual court or if you two could some how work things out here today, I would like to say a few things before we begin.” Necheyev stated. “It’s a real shame when two wonderful people who are married begin to have problems that they feel can not be worked out between the two of them. I think very highly of both of you and, to say the least, I was shocked when I heard I was assigned to decide if this case should heard in an actual court hearing or if it could be worked out without going to court. Not only that, I was amazed that you two would be having such problems. I’m not sure where to begin, but I would like to know from each of you how this decision for filing for divorce came about.”
There was a moment of silence while the admiral gathered her thoughts. When she spoke again, she tried hard to choose her words carefully.
“Captain Picard, before I begin to ask your side of the story, I want you to know that I am trying very hard to keep my opinions on this matter to myself.” Necheyev said very tightly. It was clear that she was none too happy. Picard was not sure if she was unhappy with him or with having to listen to this case. He listened as she continued. “Given that fact, I also want to keep my mind open to your request to work things out between you and Doctor Crusher-Picard before I come to my final decision on this matter. That said, I want to hear your side of the story.”
“I want to start off by saying that what I did to Beverly and Wesley was wrong,” Jean-Luc began. “I made the worst mistake in my life and I truly regret it now. I would not blame Beverly a bit if she decided she wanted to go through with this divorce. However, I would like the opportunity to make it up to her and Wesley, if she would give me the chance. I do not believe my words alone are enough.”
“So, you admit to the accusations that your wife has made against you?” Necheyev asked Picard in as neutral a voice as she could mustard.
“If you mean that I asked for a separation because I felt I could not live with a teenage child at that time, yes, I did.”
“Did you try to throw a fourteen year old acting ensign into the Brig for insubordination?”
“I did and it was an error in judgement on my part. I take full responsibility for what happened that day,” Picard again admitted freely.
“Sending a child away because you could not tolerate his - and I quote - ‘childish behaviours’?”
“Well, um...” Jean-Luc was shocked that that one even came up in the hearing. “I won’t argue the details, but I did say something to that effect.”
“Since then you have sought counselling, I understand?”
“Yes, I have.”
“What made you seek counselling?”
“To be honest, I was scared and desperate,” Jean-Luc informed the admiral. “I really did not want to lose Beverly. At that time I was willing to do anything to get her back and I am still willing.”
“So, regardless of the decision made here today, will you still be willing to continue working on any issues you may have concerning the matter here today?” Necheyev asked Jean-Luc.
“Yes, I am.”
“Even if it is decided that this case should be heard by a panel of three Starfleet members on whether or not to grant a divorce?”
Jean-Luc’s heart jumped when he heard that possibility. The thought of losing Beverly so easily brought a kind of fear he never felt before. “To give you my honest and thoughtful answer, I believe I would. I want to believe that no matter what is decided here today concerning us, there is still a chance for us and as I said, I will do whatever it takes to regain Beverly’s trust in me.”
“Counsellor Troi, is there anything you would like to add concerning this matter?”
Deanna looked at Beverly and then at Jean-Luc. She honestly did not want to see them go through this and was willing to help them solve any issues they may have concerning their marriage. She only hoped that her answer did not upset either one of them. “It is my opinion, as a counsellor, that Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Doctor Beverly Crusher-Picard would benefit from counselling concerning any issues they may have with their marriage. Whether it is individual or marital counselling or even both.”
“Thank you, Counsellor,” Necheyev stated. Then she turned to Beverly. “Doctor Crusher-Picard, do you still want to pursue a divorce?”
Deanna could sense mixed emotions from Beverly. Even Beverly’s facial expression clearly showed her indecisiveness. “I…” Beverly’s heart was aching as she struggled to make a final decision. She was not sure what she wanted to do. She wanted to believe her husband, but she was just not sure she could trust what he was saying. “I would like to leave my options open at this time, Admiral.”
“So, are you saying you do not wish to pursue this course of action at this time?” Admiral Necheyev restated her question.
“Yes, I believe I want to postpone this to a later date,” Beverly responded. “I believe I want to see if he really means what he says before I take any further actions.”
Necheyev nodded. “Then in that case, after what I have heard today, it is my decision that I will not refer this for a full hearing. I highly recommend that Captain Jean-Luc Picard continue in counselling concerning the issues that brought this marriage to where is today. I also recommend the two of you work out any differences you may have together in counselling. Then Doctor Picard, if you decide that you definitely wish to pursue a divorce we will then move to an full hearing. On a more personal note, it is my hope that Captain Picard is sincere in what he is saying and the two of you work this out. Because as I said, I really do think highly of you both and would hate to see the two of you continue to be at odds. That being said, I wish you both the best of luck and hope this issue does not have to be brought up again. Dismissed.”
Then Admiral Necheyev left the hearing room. Beverly was preparing to depart when Jean-Luc approached her. “Beverly, I really meant what I said. I honestly know now that what I did to you and Wesley was wrong and maybe I do deserve all the hell you have been putting me through. And believe me, it has been hell for me. If for some reason you feel you really do want to go through with a divorce, I won't blame you a bit." Jean-Luc paused for a moment. Then he added, "I really want you back Beverly. Even if that means learning how to deal with Wesley and children in general."
Then Jean-Luc turn to leave the room. Deanna was not too far behind him. Deanna could feel Beverly’s confusion. She wanted to talk to Beverly and find out what was going through her mind, but she had to return to the Enterprise.
As Deanna passed Beverly, she gently touched Beverly’s arm. Then with a sympathic tone in her voice, Deanna said, “Call me tonight.” Then Deanna left to return to the Enterprise.
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Chapter Twenty-one (The PG-13 version)
Beverly returned to her quarters that evening. She was not sure what to think or what she should do. She wanted to believe Jean-Luc. She wanted to trust him, but she could not bring herself to a diffenent decision on what she wanted to do.
Wesley walked through the doors of their quarters. “Hi, Mom. How did it go?”
“Oh, fine I guess.”
“You don’t act like it was fine,” Wesley noted with concern. “What happened?”
“Nothing really. I mean, we’re not getting divorced or at least not yet.”
Wesley looked puzzled. “What do you mean not yet.”
“Wesley, I have a lot of decisions to make.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t want to trouble you with them.”
“Well, maybe if you told me, I could help, " Wesley stated encouragingly.
“It’s not that simple, Wesley.”
“Hey, nothing with adults ever is.” Wesley shrugged. “Sometimes they act worse then us kids.”
“Yes, well what do you think about giving adults second chances?”
“I think everyone deserves another chance when they screw up the first time.” Wesley had given his honest opinion. “Why? Who are…” he began to say. Then it dawned on him. “Ah! Something tells me something happened at the hearing that made you think about giving the captain a second chance.”
“I’m just not sure.”
“Well, you have my opinion,” Wesley shrugged. “But it’s up to you what you do. I don‘t know if I‘d care either way. I know if you take him back, I‘ll get to be on the Bridge again. So, that doesn‘t really bother me.”
“How can you be so sure he’ll let you back on the Bridge?”
Wesley shrugged again. “I just am. He never said I was not an acting ensign anymore before we left.”
Beverly looked at him with puzzlement. She was not sure how her son could be so sure that he had not been thrown off the Bridge of the Enterprise permanently' here.
“Anything else you want to know?” Wesley asked his mother.
She thought for a moment. “How do you feel about Jean-Luc.”
Wesley shrugged once more. “As a captain, he’s ok, but as a step-father or father, he really has a lot to learn about kids. In some ways, he‘s a big kid himself.”
“What?” Beverly asked with amazement.
“You know, the way he and I would get into it,” Wesley respond. “Most of the time, he would totally lose it and end up acting like a kid himself.”
Beverly could not help but think to herself, “Out of the mouths of babes!” She remembered that she herself had told Jean-Luc to grow up the day she and Wesley left.
Beverly did not feel like she had her answer yet, but she was glad to hear what Wesley thought. She just was not ready to ask the big question yet, which was how Wesley felt about her and Jean-Luc possibly getting back together. Then she thought, “Or did he already answer that question while we were talking?”
“Well, if there’s nothing else on your mind, I have some studying to do.”
“Um, no. You go ahead,” Beverly replied still deep in thought. She was still not sure what to do. She knew she still loved Jean-Luc, but she was not sure if she was ready to take him back just yet. Or ever, for that matter.
She decided to call Deanna as she had asked. She was hesitant at first, but then as her mixed emotions began to increase again, she decided it was not a bad idea to at least talk to Deanna.
“Troi here.”
“Deanna, it’s me.”
“Beverly!” Deanna could still sense that Beverly was overwhelmed by the events of the day and she was still indecisive. “Are you alright?”
“Deanna, I don’t know what to do.” Beverly's voice was filled with anxiety.
“Well, first of all, why don’t you take a deep breath,” Deanna told her friend calmly. After Beverly took a few deep breaths Deanna asked, “What is on your mind?”
“I don’t know if I can believe Jean-Luc,” Beverly stated. “I want to believe him, but there is a part of me that is scared to believe him with all that has happened.”
“Do you want to give him another chance and come back to him?”
“I do, but I’m just not sure if that’s the right decision to make.”
“I can’t tell you what to do, Beverly. You know that. This is a decision you are going to have to make yourself.”
“Yes, but you’re the empath. Can’t you at least tell me if he is really sincere in what he says?”
“Beverly, if I did not think that he was truly willing to work on the problem that started this mess, I would not have recommended that he stay in therapy for a while.”
“Oh, Deanna!“ Beverly looked like she was about to cry. “I can‘t let him go! I have to tell him that I‘m willing to give him another chance“
“Well, you better tell him soon, because the upgrades are almost completed,” Deanna told her friend. “We’ll be leaving the dock sometime tomorrow.”
Beverly began to panic. “Deanna, I’m going to go see him now, before it’s too late.”
“Wait! Beverly, why not tomorrow morning?”
“I have to be on duty at 0800 hours.” Tears started to roll down Beverly’s face.
“Mom, are you alright?” Wesley asked with concern as he walked out of his room.
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted, as she quickly wiped the tears from her face.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Beverly almost told her son ’no’, but then thought for a moment. “Yes, there is something you can do for me.”
“What’s that?”
“First I need to know if you’ll be alright for a while, while I take care of an emergency,” Beverly inquired of her son. “I don’t know when I’ll be back though.”
“Sure Mom, you’ve left me alone many times while you took care of emergencies on the Enterprise,” Wesley reminded her. “I know what to do if I need anything while you’re gone, except I’m not so sure this time, because we’re not on the Enterprise.”
“No, but you can still contact Deanna if you need anything. They are still at space dock,” Beverly informed her son anxiously. Then she turned back to Deanna. “That is, if it’s alright with you?”
“I don’t see any problems with that,” Deanna responded. “In fact, I can come there if you like. Then you can stay as long as you need to stay.”
“OK, then there’s no problem, Mom!” Wesley told his mother excitedly. “I can handle things here just fine! Plus, if Deanna comes here, I‘ll have someone to talk to. I haven‘t seen Deanna for a while now.”
“You won‘t feel like you have a babysitter?”
“No, it’ll be like an old friend visiting me.”
“Deanna?” Beverly asked.
“You go ahead. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Deanna told Beverly. “But are you sure this is what you want to do?”
“Yes!” Beverly insisted as she hurriedly put on her boots. “I have to go see him.”
“Who?” Wesley asked curiously. “And where is the emergency? I never heard the comm system alert us to any calls.”
“The Enterprise!” she announced as she ran out of their quarters.
“Go Mom!” Wesley excitedly exclaimed as she disappeared. Then he turned towards the comm to talk to Deanna.
Jean-Luc was in his quarters dressed in lounging attire as he sat forlornly on the couch. He heard the chime to his door ring. “Surely this is not Deanna or Will. They knew I was not expecting either of them to be returning to ‘baby-sit’ me,” he thought to himself. The word ‘baby-sit’ came out like vilely as he thought about Will and Deanna watching over him like a child. He was not a child nor was he so emotionally distraught that he was going to do something completely stupid. He resented being watched by them.
The bell rung again and he grumpily said, “Alright, I’m coming! What did you do? Forget….” When Jean-Luc opened the door to his quarters he was surprised to see who it was. It was neither Will nor Deanna, but rather Beverly.
“Beverly!” he exclaimed softly.
She had tears in her eyes. “Oh, Jean-Luc, can you ever forgive me?”
He allowed her to enter their formerly shared quarters. He did not answer her immediately. He wanted to look at her and touch her. He could not believe that she was here. He thought that seeing her at his door had to be a dream.
He turned to face her as he softly spoke. “Beverly, it is I who should be saying sorry.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” Beverly told him earnestly. “I’m sorry for not telling you about the baby.”
“Oh?” Picard was surprised. He thought they had already discussed that earlier today.
“I’m sorry I put you through all of this. If I had known sooner that you were honestly seeing Deanna to help our relationship, I would have…” She was not sure what she would have done.
“You would have what?” Jean-Luc was confused.
“I’m calling off the divorce,” she suddenly informed him. “I don’t really want it. Not if you’re really going to try like you said.”
Jean-Luc was surprised. He did not know what to say to her, so he just stood there looking at her.
She tried to wipe her tears away again and regain control of herself. When she felt she had some composure she said softly and uneasily, “I had to tell you before the Enterprise left space dock tomorrow. I really do want to give you a second chance.”
Jean-Luc was still in shock. He was still trying to figure out if he was dreaming or if she was really standing in front of him and telling him that she wanted to give him another chance.
When Jean-Luc said nothing, Beverly began to feel uncomfortable. “Well, I guess I should go.”
She turned to leave. Now Jean-Luc began to panic. He was not about to lose her again. Not when she had come to see him and give him a second chance at their marriage. He felt that if she walked out that door now, this would be his last chance to see her ever again. He had to know if this was really happening and he had not fallen asleep.
“Beverly!” he said quickly as he rushed to stop her from leaving. “Wait.”
Beverly stopped for a moment and Jean-Luc stepped in front of her path. “Please, don’t go.”
“What?”
He looked at her and smiled. He had longed for the moment to look on her beautiful face once again and now she was standing right there before him. He reached up with his hand and caressed her cheek. Happy that she was there.
Suddenly, he threw his arms around her and hugged her close to him. “Oh, Beverly!” he cried. “I’ve missed you so much! I don’t want you to go!” Then he pulled back just enough to look in her eyes, but yet still hold her tight. “I mean, I know you have to go back eventually, because of you duties at Starfleet Medical, but if you would not mind that is, please stay a while.” Then he hugged her close to him again.
Beverly did not know what to say. She just drowned in his embrace and the smell of his cologne. She had missed his musky smell and wanted to be enveloped in it again. She did not want this moment to pass.
“When you left me, it just killed me!” he told her as tears rolled down his face. All the feelings from the past few months were pouring out of him. “I don’t think I could stand another day without you. I would die without you in my life!”
Jean-Luc pulled back from her just enough to give her a deep passionate kiss. One that said he was not going to fail her and let her go ever again.
When the kiss ended, he begged, “Please stay awhile.”
“I‘m not going anywhere!” she replied breathlessly as he picked her up and carried her to his bed without a care in the world.
When Jean-Luc gently laid her on the bed he felt like his princess had come back to him. His happiness and joy had returned. He could not refrain from touching her repeatedly to make sure it was not a dream. He had to know if she was really here and wanting to return to him.
He kissed her again passionately. His mouth devoured hers hungrily. He had to feel her near him to be sure he was not a dreaming. It all seemed surreal to him.
Jean-Luc gently and loving explored her body with his hands as he kissed her. His tongue explored her mouth with great urgency, until one of his hands reached her stomach.
He sudden realized that it was real. It definitely was not a dream to him anymore. His wife was in his arms again and her stomach had gotten a little rounder since he last saw her as she was now. He smiled with joy.
“What’s wrong, Jean-Luc?” He still had one hand on her stomach and was looking away from her face, so she could not see his bright smile.
“My baby!” he exclaimed as tears of joy rolled down his face. “I’m really having a baby!”
“Correction, ‘we’ are having a baby!” Beverly laughed. “If you want to be honest about it, I’m the one who is giving birth in a little less than five months.”
He raised her maternity uniform shirt up to get a better look at her round belly. He felt like the happiest man in the world as he leaned over and kissed Beverly’s stomach. Beverly giggled at the touch of his lips on her stomach.
“Oh, Beverly!” he said as he turned to face her again. He still had tears of joy in his eyes. “You have just made me the happiest man in the universe. I have you back and I’m going to be a father!”
Beverly did not have to ask if he had forgiven her not telling him about the baby. She just knew in her heart that he had.
He kissed her lovingly once more, only this time he did not just stop with just kissing her. He adored her body and smothered her with his love.
They made love that night like they never had before and like they never would again. They explored each other’s bodies as if there was no tomorrow. They fell madly in love with each other all over again and their hearts and souls became one once more.