Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:15:25 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: louiseell@aol.com (louise ellis) Title: "Still There" Author: Louise Ellis Series: TNG Rating: PG Code: P/C Part: 23/? Archive: yes Summary: An alternate universe story that picks up ten years after Disclaimer: no infringement meant, and comments welcomed (thanks for all the comments so far!). "Still There" (23/?) By: Louise Ellis "No," she smiled and let her eyes slide to meet Deanna's concerned gaze. "De, would you come up with me?" When Deanna nodded, Beverly looked back at Jean-Luc. "We'll be back in a minute. You know how I like my coffee." "Very well." With a slight squeeze, he released her waist, then watched her disappear through the door, followed by Deanna. "Are you all right?" Deanna fell in step with Beverly as they crossed the foyer and moved to the staircase. "Like you couldn't feel anything for the last few hours?" Beverly raised an eyebrow, but smiled slightly. "I didn't exactly shield anything, sorry." "It was a bit overwhelming, what I couldn't block out." Deanna touched Beverly's arm, stopping her on the stairs. "I'd no idea." Beverly sighed softly. "Neither did I until it all sort of came out. I couldn't stop anything for a while. Believe it or not, it was seeing Felisa so happy that set it off." "You saw what could have been…" Deanna began. "Should have been." Beverly stated bitterly, then sighed. "You have to understand Deanna, I wouldn't trade who she is for anything in the world. I just wish…" "I know." With a sigh, Deanna glanced up the stairs toward the bedrooms, then back at the woman in front of her. "Beverly, I don't know everything you went through as a child on Arvedda, but…look at who you are." "I wanted something different for my daughter." She shook her head. "And my mother wanted me to remain on Betazed and be nothing more than her daughter." Deanna laughed softly at Beverly's face. "Point taken." Beverly smiled and leaned back against the wall. "Still, I didn't realize that I could feel the way I did until this afternoon." "Kathryn told me where she found you this afternoon." Deanna raised an eyebrow. "She was asking me if you really had trained with a Klingon." "I needed to work off some energy." Beverly admitted, pushing herself upright and moving back up the steps. "What level were you up to?" Deanna fell in step with her. "Kathryn said you told her you weren't sure." Beverly shot her a look as they reached the top of the steps. "Between us? Not even Jean-Luc?" When Deanna raised her hand and nodded, she continued. "Level eleven." Deanna stopped short, staring at Beverly. "You went to eleven in one of Worf's programs with only the muted safeties on?" "You promised." Beverly smiled serenely. "I used to go higher. I'm out of practice with weapons." "Eleven." Deanna muttered, then followed Beverly to Felisa's door. As they opened it, looking in quietly, she sighed again. She'd only ever made it as high as seven, and that level only once, with Worf's help and full safeties activated. As Deanna held the door, Beverly moved silently into the bedroom and stopped next to the bed. Gazing down at Felisa, she smiled again and bent to kiss her forehead. "Good night, cherie." "Maman?" Felisa stirred slightly as she whispered. "Yes, cherie." Beverly traced Felisa's cheek. "Just saying good night." "Thank you for my puppy Maman. Thank Papa too." Felisa smiled sleepily and shut her eyes again. "Night." "Good night." With another kiss on her cheek, Beverly stood and returned to Deanna's side. "Thank you for putting her to bed." "My pleasure." She smiled and led the way back out to the hall. "Can I make a suggestion before we go back downstairs?" "Of course." Curious, Beverly paused and looked at her. "You might want to pull a brush through your hair." Deanna bit back the giggle at Beverly's expression. "You do look quite a bit more relaxed." Beverly closed her eyes and let out an embarrassed sigh. "Is it that obvious?" "Well, you left the house with your hair pulled up, and now," Deanna's lips twitched. "It isn't. To put it mildly. And, I'd leave it down for a few days if I was you, or wear something with a collar. A high one." "We were going to wait until we were alone in Paris." Beverly muttered, pulling her door open, "now I remember why." "It's not like I didn't stop Will from coming out and searching for you two." Deanna watched, amused as Beverly's face flushed. "He was going to come out and find us?" Remembering what they'd spent the last hour doing, pretty much out in the open on the dock, Beverly groaned and pulled the brush through her hair. "I owe you." "After Phoebe came in and told me you'd gone off and Jean-Luc had followed you," Deanna shrugged, "it did make sense that you'd need time together to talk after everything that had happened today." "I am feeling better." Leaving her hair down, but now brushed out, Beverly turned towards Deanna with a slight smile. "I'm just dealing with some emotions and feelings that even I didn't realize ran as deep as they do." "One conversation isn't going to work through them." Deanna stated softly as they returned to the hallway. "I know." Beverly glanced at her. "But it was a start." She fell silent as they descended the staircase, until right before they went out onto the porch. "A very good start," she added with a sly smile as she pulled the door open, Deanna's giggle finally escaping as they joined the others. The next morning, Beverly was once again on the porch, leaning against one of the posts next to the stairs, her eyes still fixed on the spot where Deanna, Will, Jean-Luc, and Felisa had transported from a few minutes earlier. They'd stayed up late, talking, and had just gotten to sleep when Felisa had wandered into their room, joining them after another nightmare. While not as traumatic as the ones she'd had over the past weeks, it had been enough to wake her up. She'd finally fallen asleep again, curled up against Beverly, Jean-Luc's arm resting across both of them, this time sleeping until Deanna had knocked lightly at the door to wake them up for breakfast. Her lips curved up slightly as she remembered Felisa's delight over the new teal jumpsuit Beverly had gotten her and given her that morning after Felisa had gone out to help Phoebe feed the dogs. Suddenly, Beverly blinked, just as a hand touched her shoulder. Reacting automatically, she swept her leg back and around, twisting as she did so to end up using her weight to hurtle the man behind her to the ground. Landing on top of him with a grunt, she had her fist lifted to plunge down when a yell from the door caused her to freeze. (end part 23) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! 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