We'll Have Paris Forever

Chapters Nine through Epilogue

Chapter Nine

"Drop your weapon!" Demanded one of the Cardassians. The women stayed frozen in place as the Cardassians continued to point their phasers at them.

"It's the only way, Little One." Lwaxana sent. She was refering to the projection of emotions that they had learned to use when they were trying to break free of the occupation of the Dominion on Betazed. It was not deadly, unlike another technique they were thinking of using, but was very effective.

"Mother, you could be hurt. You know what happened when we used it to free ourselves from the occupation of the Dominion and Jem H'adar."

"I'm doing it." Lwaxana sent back to her daughter. Then she concentrated all her efforts into projecting her feelings of fear onto the Cardassians.

Suddenly, the two men recoiled in terror and retreated from where they came. One had dropped his weapon along the way and Beverly retrieved it. "What just happened?" She asked.

"Well, it worked, for now." Deanna said as she turned around toward her mother, who was now holding her head from the dizziness that insued after her efforts. "Are you alright, Mother?"

Lwaxana braced herself with one hand against the wall. "I will be." She stated, weakly.

"Mrs. Troi, what's wrong?" Beverly asked out of concern.

Mrs. Troi was still trying to catch her barings as Deanna responded for her. "She projected her feelings onto the Cardassians."

"Mrs. Troi, you know that is dangerous to do! You know that from when you and other Betazoids used it on the Jem H'adar!" Beverly exclaimed. "You could have lost consciousness, then what would we do?"

"You would have gone on without me." Lwaxana insisted.

"No we would not!" Beverly insisted.

"We don't have time for this." Deanna said.

"You're right." Beverly agreed. "Let's try and get back to the others.


"Transporter to Bridge"

<"Bridge here."> Replied Riker.

"We have a lock on four of them, but I can't get a lock on the other three."

<"Beam them up now!"> Riker order. <"Then continue to try and get a lock onto the others.">

"Aye, Sir." Replied the officer. Then he proceeded to beam them up. "We have Kira, Dr. Bashir, O'Brien and Mrs. Sisko."

Commander Riker looked disturbed by the fact that the three he wanted to hear were beamed aboard were not. "I'm beaming over there." Will stated.

"Sir." Geordi intervened. "Like you have always told the admiral, your place is on the bridge. I can gather an away."

"No, I will beam over." Will insisted. "Inform Picard. Riker to the Defiant."

<"Defiant here."> Came Worf's voice.

"Prepare to beam over to the Cardassian ship with me at these coordinates." Riker had the transporter room send the coordinates to Worf. Riker hoped that the three of them were still near by and not to far from the last place they were sensed by the computers.

<"Aye, Sir."> Came Worf's booming voice which also sounded like he was ready to battle.

Picard stepped hurriedly out of his Ready Room and firmly stated, "I'm beaming over there with you, Will."

"Your place is on the bridge." Will retorted.

"No. Not this time." Picard said, shaking his head. "This is personal and I will go over there with you."

Will saw there was no way to talk the admiral out of this move. "Alright then, let's go."

O'Brien was still in the transporter room and had heard the captain and admiral were beaming over. Will spotted him as he and Picard entered. "O'Brien, what are you still doing here?"

"I was hoping, that since I know a little about the technology on that ship over there, I could beam over with you and give you assistance."

Riker noticed O'Brien did not look too worse for wear and then a smiled slowly crept to his face, "Well, we need all the help we can get. Are you sure you're up to it."

"Well, if you hadn't beamed us over when you did, I might have ended up in worse shape than Dr. Bashir." O'Brien replied. "I was up next, but I'm more than up to it now."

"Let's go then." Riker stated. "Sorry, Admiral."

"No, you're doing just fine, Will." Picard responded. "Let's go get our wives!"

They all stood on the transporter and disappeared from the Enterprise. Once materialized, they, with Worf, turned in every direction to see if they had been spotted by anyone.

"Will, since this is personal, don't worry too much about how you handle yourself." Picard said softly as they all looked around. "Personally, if even one hair on Bev's body is harmed."

"I hear you." Riker replied before Jean-Luc could finish.

Worf let out a growl and said, "This way!"


The Voltra had noticed the three had escaped the lab and she sent five of her people after them. She had also went with them to find the three women. As they turned the corner of the corridor, they spotted Deanna, Beverly and Lwaxana.

"Stay were you are!" The Voltra shouted.

The three women slowly turned toward the voice, as she was slowly approaching them. Deanna and Beverly had their phasers pointed in her direction. "You know you won't shoot me." The Voltra taunted.

"How can you be so sure." Deanna said firmly.

"One, Betazoids aren't violent." She said as she walked around Deanna and Beverly. "In fact, they are so peaceful, it is pathetic."

"I'm also Starfleet, so try me." Deanna bluffed.

"Two, my people will kill all three of you before you could get a shot at them." Now, she was facing Beverly squarely in the eyes. "I should have you shot right here and now for pulling such a stunt."

<"Voltra.">

She did not take her eyes off of Beverly. "What is it!" She barked to the person who paged her.

<"The others are gone.">

"You incompetant..."

"Drop your weapons!" Worf shouted.

They all turned to face Worf, who was armed and poised to fire at anyone who dared to move one inch. Picard and Riker were also beside him ready to fire.

"There are only four of you and five of my people." The Voltra stated. "How do you expect to over power us."

Deanna and Beverly followed their husbands' lead from where they were standing and with Lwaxana behind them, they slowly moved closer to them, without removing their eyes from the Cardassians and the Voltra. Meanwhile, O'Brien had triggered his comm badge for the Enterprise to pick up on their signal.

"Ah, but you're wrong!" Picard said with a smile as the three women got closer to them. "Now, we can stand here with phasers pointed at each other until one of us decides to fire or you can let us contact our people and take our leave of you."

Before anyone had a chance to respond, the seven of them were beamed away. Once on the Enterprise, Picard turned to Beverly with a smile. "I am so glad to see you and if your mouth didn't look bruised and sore, I'd kiss you."

"Jean-Luc." Beverly tried to smile, but flinched from the pain it caused her. "I thought you always tried to keep protocol."

"A, yes." Picard said slightly stunned by what she said and then gained the words to say. "Well, there are always those rare instances, where the rules of protocol should be broken."

"Really?" She replied, trying hard not to giggle and hurt herself.

"We should get you to sick bay and have Dr. Bashir have a look at that." Jean-Luc said.

"I'll be fine." Beverly insisted.

"No, I want you fixed up by a doctor, before we get back to Paris, so you can enjoy that dinner I promised you." Picard informed her with a smile.

"Oh, Jean-Luc!" She said as she tried to kiss him, but found it painful and difficult. "I guess you're right. I do need to be able to enjoy that dinner."

They started to leave the transporter room, when Will said with his arm around Deanna, "Isn't it wonderful to have them back?"

"Yes, it is." Picard said with a smile.

"Jean-Luc." Beverly said. "Just a minute." She turned to Lwaxana who was still trying to over come the effects of projecting her emotions, "I want you in sick bay too, so that we can check to see if you are alright from pulling that heroic stunt you pulled."

"I'm fine." Lwaxana insisted, holding the front of her head with one hand. "I'm just a little off balanced, but I will be fine."

"Mother!" Deanna insisted.

Will and Jean-Luc were completely confused. Deanna placed a loving hand on Will's chest and said, "I'll explain later and as for you Mother."

"Alright. I'll go." Lwaxana gave in, removing her hand from her head. "Can't an old woman have a dizzy spell or two and not have everyone worry about them?"

"It's the reason you are having the dizziness that we are concerned about." Beverly informed her.

"Alright, I said I would go." Lwaxana stated again, placing her hand back on her aching head. "Now, will someone please show me which way it is?"

The others looked at each other with some concern, but Beverly decided to make note of Lwaxana's behaviour for the examination.

"Mrs. Troi." Will said as her removed his arm from around Deanna. "I'll be glad to escort you to Sick Bay."

"Well, isn't that nice of my son-in-law?" She said as Will offord her his arm and she wrapped hers around his. Then they all left the transporter room for Sick Bay.

Chapter Ten

Beverly's injury was now fully healed. She and Jean-Luc were on their way back to Paris to finish their honeymoon. As Jean-Luc piloted the shuttle, Beverly was going over the French padds she had gotten before she was abducted.

"Must be interesting." Jean-Luc said to Beverly.

"Huh?" Beverly responded. "Oh, yes. A little difficult reading, but I think I'm getting it."

"What is it you are reading?"

"Um." She bit her lower lip. "It's a surprise. I really want to surprise you on this one."

Jean-Luc smiled. "Now you really have me curious."

She raised her head and smiled back at him. "You'll just have to wait to find out what the surprise is."

Jean-Luc had examined one of the padds already and had a good idea what was on at least one of them. He just smiled to himself and could not help but wonder what she was up to with them, but was glad she was willing to learn the French language.

"You said it was difficult reading." He tried to probe some more into her thoughts. "Is there anyway I can help you?"

She looked at him and saw he was still smiling. "Jean-Luc! You looked at them didn't you?"

Suddenly, he looked sorry for being so nosy. "Well, I looked at one of them in hopes that it would give me a clue where you had disappeared to, but it didn't."

"I see." She said. "I guess I can forgive you for that. After all, I probably would have done the same if the situation was reversed."

"Well, we'll be back on Earth in about two hours, so you have plenty of time to study." He said. "But if you want, I can help you with the pronounciation of sounds."

Her stubborn streak was rearing it's head. "I think I am capable of figuring this out myself."

Jean-Luc chuckle. "OK, suit yourself, but if I were you, I would try to keep in mind not all the vowels sound the same as English vowels."

"I'll keep that in mind." She replied stubbornly.

They were silent the rest of the trip, while Beverly tried to learn French. She finally gave up in frustration and just went for what she wanted to say to her husband.

"I do hope I can say this right or I may totally screw up what I actually want to say to him." She thought to herself. "Spanish was so much easier. Hell, Betazoid was even easier than this!"

They finally landed outside of Paris and walked into the city. Jean-Luc turned to her and said, "I'll get our hotel room this time."

"That's fine with me." Beverly said as she followed him into the hotel. She listen carefully to get an idea of what the accent was like on various sounds, but none of it made a bit of sense to her still.

"OK, let's drop our bags off in our rooms and then I'll take you for that dinner I promised you days ago." He said after he got them their room. "Oh, and this hotel is not as old fashion as the other. I chose one with modern amenities this time."

"You didn't have to." She said trying to reassure him. "I know how you like things simple on your holidays."

"Yes, but I also know you are quite accustumed to modern amenities." He said. "So this time it's your turn to have what you like. Besides, I kind of feel that maybe if there had been modern.."

"Jean-Luc, It's not your fault, besides, I was not in the room when the Cardassians decided to take me from Paris."

"Touche' " He replied. They reached the door to their room and he sat their bags down, then turned to her. "This time, I'm not going to let you out of my site."

"Jean-Luc."

"No, No one is going to drag me away from you this time, either."

She decided it was not worth arguing about and just smiled at him as he turned back to open the door. Jean-Luc picked their bags up again and they enter the room. Once he sat the bags down he pulled Beverly close to him and held her.

"I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to you." He said to her. Then he held her hands and started to say something more, but instead he said, "Oo, your hands are cold! I'll see if I can adjust the climate controls."

"Sorry."

"Well." Jean-Luc began. "You know what they say."

"No, what?"

"Froides mains, Chaud amour."

"A.. Tradusca por favor?"

"What?" He replied. "I speak French and you come back with Spanish?"

"Sorry." She replied with a shrug. "Best I can do. So what does it mean?"

"Cold hands, warm heart." He smiles at her. She smiles back and then Jean-Luc asks, "So how about that dinner I promised you?"

He starts to let go of her, but she pulls him back to her. "Actually, I'm rather enjoying being held by you."

"You are?" He smiles.

"Oui." She smiles back.

"Oh, so you have learned something?"

"Oui."

"Is yes all you can say?" He tries to keep from laughing.

"Non." She says coyly.

"Well, there's two words." The laugh he was trying to hold back starts to come out in a chuckle.

She starts to push him away. "I was going to say something, but now it's ruined."

He pulls her back and says with a smile, "Oh, I wouldn't quite say that."

"No, I just don't think it's the right time now."

"Bev., I'm sorry if I ruined something for you." He said. "Why don't you go ahead and say what's on your mind."

"No." She said shyly. "There will be another time, I'm sure."

"Beverly, I love you and if you ever have anything you want to say, don't worry if it's the right time or not." He told her. "Just say it."

"I can't now." She stated reluctantly.

He kissed her. "If this has something to do with that surprise you have in store for me." He kisses her again. "I don't care when the right time is, I really want to hear what you want to say."

He kisses her again. "Jean-Luc, if you think all these kisses are going to get me into the mood of saying what I was going to say." He kisses her again. "It's not. Now I'm hungry, so why don't we just go get something to eat."

She pulls away from him and starts for the door. "Beverly, I'm sorry." He said. "I shouldn't have teased you like that."

She turned back to him and he could see she had tears in her eyes. "Jean-Luc." She shakes her head. "I just can't say it now or at least not how I want to say what I want to say. So, why don't we just go to dinner and maybe I can say it later."

"OK." He replied and followed her out the door.

Once out the door she suddenly turns to him and says, "And next time don't tease me about my French!" Then she continues down the hall to go to the resturant.


They arrived at the resturant and were seated outside in the starlit night. Jean-Luc reads the menu to her. "Ah, here's something you might be interested in." He says.

"What might that be?"

"Plat Végétarien." He said. "It's a veggie platter with things like yellow squash stuffed with peppers, onions, and bread crumbs, gratineed with swiss cheese, served over Cous Cous and drizzled with their famous marinara sauce."

"Well, I'm game to try that." She said.

"Garcon." Picard tried to get the waiter's attention.

The waiter walks over to them and says, "Oui, Monsieur."

"Je voudrais Salade de Champignons avec Saumon a la Façon de Jaçon. Elle voudrait Je voudrais Salade de Champignons avec Plat Végétarien. A... Avec une bouteille de Chateau Picard 2305."

"Est ce tout, monsieur?"

"No, Deux Cafe' Latte." Beverly got distracted by her surroundings and did not hear anymore of what Jean-Luc was saying in French. She thought it was such a beautiful night and was so glad he brought her back here to have dinner, even if it was for one night and she still had not gotten a grasp on the language.

"Beverly?"

"I'm sorry." She apologized. "I was just admiring the night and being back here with you."

Jean-Luc smiled. "I'm glad you are enjoying yourself."

"So what did you get?" She asked.

"Oh, I got Atlantic Salmon Fillet." He replied. "It's topped with roasted corn and tomato salsa."

"Sounds good." She said. "And what was the Salade again?"

"Salade de Champignons." He reminded her. "If I remember correctly, it was the mixed greens with Balsamic vinaigrette dressing with sauteed Portabello mushrooms and roasted red bell peppers."

"Sounds wonderful." She said with a smile as the waiter returned to show Jean-Luc the bottle of wine and had him sample it.

It was cold as he had hope and it had a semi-dry taste to his pallet. Picard smiled at the waiter, nodded and told him it was good. The waitor then proceeded to pour Beverly a glass of wine, also.

Beverly sampled the wine and said, "This good."

Jean-Luc smiled and with a French accent said, "But of course, it is from the Picard Vineyard. It has to be good. I would expect nothing less."

Beverly giggled. "I'm sorry. It's just so nice to see you happy again as you talk about the vineyard."

His face became serious again. "I'm just glad to be able to bring you back here, tonight."

"I'm glad to be here." Beverly replied and a smile rose to her lips. "And I'm glad it was you who came to my rescue. My knight in shining armour."

"Oh, you do flatter." He said with a slight tilt of his head, as he smiled back at her. "I had help though."

"Even so it was you who was there, also." She informed.

"True." He acknowledge as the waiter returned with their salads and place them in front of them.

"I'm thankful you told me about the Cardassian's tactics." She informed. "If I hadn't remembered that, I think I would have lost it in the process."

"I'm glad my information was useful." He replied. Then there was a brief pause in their conversation.

"You know, Jean-Luc." She began to inform him. "Even with the interruption and all, I have really enjoyed our honeymoon."

"So have I." He returned with a smile. "I'm not sure which was the best part of our honeymoon, but I have enjoyed it myself, also."

"This is good." After she tasted the salad. When she had swallowed her last bite she continued. "I really enjoyed the Eiffel Tower."

Picard smiled from ear to ear. "You know, I think that was my favourite too. I really enjoyed seeing it through your eyes and telling you the history behind it."

"I'm glad you brought me here the first time and again for dinner." She told him with a smile.

"You're welcome." He said to her. "But I'm sorry you had so much trouble with the language."

"No, it's OK." She insisted. "Just as long as I get to enjoy Paris with you I am happy."

Jean-Luc smiled at her and they enjoyed the rest of their meal. Jean-Luc sat across from her while they drank their Cafe' Lattes and admired her beauty. He loved how the moonlight danced in her eyes as she talked and he was so thankful to have her back in one piece.

"Jean-Luc, are you OK?"

He was a bit startled by her question. "Oh, yes. I was just admiring you, that's all."

She smiled and slightly blushed. "So, what is so admirable?"

"Your eyes for starters." He said.

"Why Jean-Luc, is that the Frenchman coming out in you or is that your heart talking." She teased.

"Oh, I assure you, it is my heart talking." He said with admiration. "I love how the moonlight dances in your hair and in your eyes."

"Oh, you do flatter!" She said with a smile. "But don't stop! I like it!"

"I'm glad you do, because I think everything about you is beautiful."

"Why thank you." She said. "And I think you are the most handsome man in the world."

"Really?" He asked with a smile. She nodded and he continues. "So that's another reason you married me?"

"No, it was more than that." She replied.

"I see." He said continuing to smile.

They stared into each others eyes briefly and then Jean-Luc broke the gaze. "Are you ready to go back to the room?"

"Anytime you are." She said as she finished her Latte.

They rose from the table after Picard had paid the credits for the meal. "That was a wonderful meal." Beverly told him.

"Yes, it was." He replied as they walked back to the hotel. Then he looked up to the night sky. "This is a beautiful night. All the stars in the sky and the moon so bright. Makes me think about the classical song Moonlit Senata."

"Oh, Jean-Luc." She said sturnly and rolling her eyes. "Not this again. Last time we danced out here."

"Yes, but it was raining then." He interupted her and pulled her to him.

"I suppose it is in B flat, again?" She asked then added. "Very flat."

Jean-Luc laughed. "You remember that, do you?"

"Yes I do." She replied with a smile. "And I must admit it was a little funny."

"A little?" He said as he twirled her around to the imaginary music.

Beverly giggled and then he pulled her within inches of his face. They paused and she cleared her throat. "OK, it was funny."

He kissed her in the moonlight and when they parted, Beverly finally said, "Je t'aime avec tout mon etre, mon cher."

Jean-Luc examined the features of her face after she said it. Her accent was off, but he understood every word she said. "Oh, Beverly." He said deeply infatuated with what she had said. "That was so beautiful." Then he kissed her again.

He did not care that her accent was off or if she said it exactly right. She tried and he loved her so much for trying, but even if she had not, he would have loved her just the same.

"Je t'aime, ma che're." He replied.

She looked at him and smiled. They stood in the moonlight and kissed until they had to inhale again. When they did, they walked back to the hotel hand in hand as though they were two young lovers, deeply in love.


Translations:

"Je voudrais." = "I would like."

"Elle voudrait Plat Végétarien" = "She would like a vegetarian plate."

"Avec une bouteille de Chateau Picard" = "With a bottle of Chateau Picard."

"Is that all, sir?" = Est ce tout, monsieur?

"Je t'aime avec tout mon etre, mon cher." = "I love you with all my being, my dear."

"Je t'aime, ma che're." = "I love you, my dear."

"Tradusca por favor" = Spanish for "Translate, please."

Epilogue

Personal Log

As I sit here in the wee hours of the morning, waiting for Beverly to wake and prepare to return to our every day lives of Starfleet, I find myself observing her beauty. Her copper red hair shimmering in the early dawn's light and her ivory skin so soft and flawless. I am so deeply in love with her and I am so thankful I got my beautiful wife back safe and sound.

Years ago I never dreamed I would have been married to her. There is nineteen years difference between us, but she makes me feel young and alive. The years between us are ageless and insignificant. I do not know what I would have done if I had lost her to the Dominion and the Cardassians. I think I would have shriviled up, got old and died from a broken heart, but I have her here with me, safe and sound.

Our honeymoon has been filled with romance and adventure and even though she did not know the language of the natives here, she took it all in stride. I know it was not easy for such an independent woman as she is, to rely on me for understanding the language, but she did. My heart danced when she said how much she loved me in French. This woman so willing to learn a new language just for the sake of telling me she loves me. It is so admirable and so endearing.

She is one of the strongest women I know. She managed to survive the Cardassian's onslaught of torture and abuse. Though it was not as great as mine, she learned from what I told her and was strong clear to the very end. Never weaking in the least and she kept great courage to the end, although I know inside she was terrified of the situation. As she said, if it had not been for me telling her of my ordeal, she might not have know what to expect. We make a great team and learn from each other so many things.

I love her with all my heart and soul and she has stolen both from me. I would not have it any other way. I am so glad I have her by my side, for the rest of our lives.

Now as she stirs in her sleep, I know when she awakes, I will once again be mesmerized by those emerald eyes. I will smile at the luster of life she brings to me. She keeps my heart and soul alive with joy and happiness.

Now that our honeymoon is drawing to a close, I know we will share one more wonderful memory together. One that we will look back on with fond memories and we will have it forever.

It was once said we will always have Paris, but Beverly and I will have Paris forever. We will have fond memories of our first days of our married life together and I do not think either of us will forget these precious days of our life together. We will have Paris forever, in our hearts, minds and souls.

End Personal log

Many thanks to all those in the Gates Girls Writing group at Yahoo Groups for helping with the French in this story. You were a big help. You can visit their various sites by going to my P/C Links Page. You will find many fine P/C authors there, also. If it were not for their help, this story would not have been possible for my area of languages are Spanish, German, and American Sign Language- ASL. I also thank Carol for her unbiased open of my P/C fic and her ideas for making this story more exciting. She writes some exciting and great Imzadi stories.

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