Chapter Seven
Under the Stars

They sat listening to the wind move through the vines. Roses and grapes, flowers and fruit side by side since the days when man first tried to tame the wild vines.

There was so much to say, so much to feel. Her head rested on his shoulder; his arms around her, shielding her from the cold night breeze.

"Tell me," he began, "what finally made you reach out to me?"

"Truth?"

"Always."

"I don't know," she said turning to look at him.

"There must have been something?" Why now Beverly? he pleaded silently; he needed to know.

"It just felt right." Taking his hand in hers she brought it to her lips, kissing it tenderly, letting her chin rest in its warmth. But the question remained in his eyes. She considered what to say to him.

"If I said it was because I suddenly realized how much you mean to me that wouldn't be the truth. I've been in love with you. . ." she sighed, her voice dropping away.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" he asked.

"I was afraid that if I said it out loud . . . and then . . . Oh, Jean-Luc, you . . . Us scared the hell out of me." She reached to trace his jawline; his eyes shut tight for a moment.

"Are you still frightened?"

"Just a little," she smiled bravely at him, his arms holding her closer.

"I won't make promises about things I, we, have no control over . . . but, I promise you will never regret us."

"I never could," she replied. Then after a moment, "Now, what was is you wanted to tell me?"

"There are so many things." A small smile came to his lips but his brow remained creased in thought. "I was afraid that the words would just sound like a cliche." He searched her face for understanding. "But tonight I realized that's no excuse for not letting you hear those words."

Taking both of her hands he saw the reflection of his own feelings in her eyes - it was so easy now, "Beverly, I love you. I always will." His throat, suddenly constricted with the torrent of emotions making their way from his heart.

"I love you, Jean-Luc. I always will," a single tear making its way down her cheek.

Reaching to gently brush it away he said, "I promise you - you'll never regret saying those words."

"I never could." She kissed him on the cheek but this time he could feel the promise contained in her touch.

Holding her against his heart, letting the cool air fill his lungs he tried to clear his mind, sort through the words, the years of emotions, finally freed.

"I've been thinking about what you said that first night."

"We hardly spoke at all - at least out loud," she said smiling up at him.

"Before that," he smiled back. "'Friendship is a difficult thing to overcome.'" He repeated her words from that night; staring into the darkness, his eyes fixed on the shadows hiding just beyond the garden. "You're were right."

"About which part?"

"Both. We hid in our friendship - or at least I did, so that I wouldn't have to face the prospect of my life without you in it."

"I'm sorry I hurt you - more than once." She could barely meet his eyes, "I thought you'd always be there for me. I took your friendship for granted - even after I knew how you felt about me. . . you have no idea how difficult it was for me to walk away from you that night."

"Then why did you? If you had only given me the chance. . ."

Her voice was thick with emotion, "I know. It's just that . . . you're Jean-Luc Picard, there's a lot of history associated with that name - you can be quite over-whelming at times," she sighed.

"But not to you, Beverly. You're the one person who knows what's behind the history; the one person I could always turn to when my position made me distance myself from everyone else."

"But I was so scared if we pursued a relationship aboard the Enterprise, that perhaps the next time you were brought into Sickbay I wasn't going to be able to save you. Silly wasn't it?" She tried to smile at him again.

"Not at all. Andre made me realize how difficult it must have been for you all those times." He thought about the little boy with such big responsibilities. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I'm sorry I haven't always been the easiest person to be friends with."

"I think you've been worth the effort," he said smiling. "I've been known to be a bit stubborn myself."

"That's an under-  " she began, "I meant-" Shaking her head she laughed lightly, "I was just thinking about all the things you know about me because we were such good friends. You know all my worst qualities and you still say you love me."

"And you know most of mine," he told her. "But I was just thinking about all the things I still don't know about you."

"Like what?"

"Like the way you handled everything tonight - you never cease to amaze me." He turned his eyes to look into her eyes; he wanted to see if that gleam returned.

It did as she spoke, "That was an amazing event."

"You know what I most what to find out about you?" his heart racing as he thought about it.

"What's that?"

"I want to know what you're going to look like on our 25th Wedding Anniversary."

Her eyes went wide a moment, her jaw dropping open as she tried to think of some way to respond to the implications of his words. After a moment and with great hesitation she said, "Then I guess I can't wait to find out what your face is going to look like when you hold our child for the first time."

It was his turn to be left speechless. He fell before her, staring into her sapphire-lit eyes before resting his head in her lap letting her hold him while the tumult of emotions washed over him. The distant future taking shape as he sought a way to bridge the final gap.

"It's not going to be easy, Jean-Luc," she said still caressing him softly. "As much as we'd like to pretend, we both know it's only a matter of time before Starfleet is going to want its finest Captain back."

"And their best Doctor," he said still savoring her touch.

"Doctors can find patients where ever they go."

He moved to look up at her, "Then come with me. I don't want to go anywhere without you ever again - let's make sure that we control our future." She had already said yes hadn't she?

She stroked his cheek, taking away his final fear, "How?"

"Beverly, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much you mean to me. Please say you'll marry me."

"Oh, Jean-Luc," she said kissing him full on the lips.

He looked at her for verification, "Is that a yes?"

"Yes! Yes! " she said pulling him to his feet to kiss him again.

Lifting her feet off the ground he swung her around, safe in his arms, lips still joined. The moonlight was waning but a new brighter light was just on the horizon.

"Dance with me, " he said as he set her back down.

"The music's quite lovely isn't it?"

"Beautiful."

They pressed their hearts together and danced under the stars.

A man, a woman, a single rhythm,

. . . and at dawn - a husband, a wife - entered their home, the dance just beginning.