Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:39:56 -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: 30/33 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" (30/33) By: Louise Ellis "I know, I know." Shuddering, she clung to him for some time in silence before finally beginning to relax in his embrace. "I needed you so much…" "Oh, Beverly." Her broken tone practically undid his tight control on his emotions. "Cherie, I'm here now. And I'm not going to leave you. Ever again." She nodded in his embrace. "I want you to rest now. Just rest, I'm here." Gently, he continued to stroke her back until he felt her relax into sleep, eventually following her into the velvety darkness. Several hours later, the sun had progressed so they were now bathed in shadows, Jean-Luc waking as Beverly turned over, cuddling into him as she sought his heat. Blinking in the dim light, he craned his head to look at the clock and sighed. "Beverly," he bent and murmured into her ear. "Cherie, wake up." "Hmm?" Sleepily, she raised her face toward his, eyes half opened. "What?" "We need to get up and get ready to go out." He reached up and brushed her hair back out of her face, then kissed her. "Out?" She frowned slightly, still half asleep. "The ballet, then dinner?" He traced her face as she finally woke up. "Ballet." She smiled up at him, then shifted so she was reclining on top of him. "I love waking up with you." Reaching up, he framed her face with his hands, his thumbs gently rubbing the last streaks of tears from her cheeks. "I love you waking up with me." "That works out then, doesn't it." Bending, she kissed him. "How long do we have to get ready?" "We have just over an hour until the transport vehicle picks us up." Jean-Luc let his hands leave her face and run down along her body. "An hour?" She blinked, then rolled off of him. "We only have an hour?" "Do you want something to nibble on as you…" his voice trailed off as she rushed into the suite, frantically rummaging through the parcels on the table until she found the ones she was looking for. By the time he'd followed her in, she'd already retreated into the bedroom and he could hear water starting in the shower. Chuckling, he moved toward the replicator and ordered a plate of fruit and cheese, then retrieved one of the bottles of wine he'd arranged to have placed in a cooler in the suite. Uncorking it, he poured two glasses, then carried a tray with the plate and two glasses into the bedroom, setting it down on the dresser where it would be out of the way, yet still convenient. Continuing into the bathing area, he opened the door to the shower. "There are fruit and drinks on the dresser…" his voice trailed off as he focused on her through the steam. Beverly smiled at him as she washed her hair. "Care to help?" "We'd never make it." With a last lingering look, he slowly shut the door, then moved to retrieve his own clothing for the evening. He'd showered and changed, and was waiting for Beverly to finish when a soft tone from the hotel comunit caught his attention. Pressing the control, he identified himself. "Monsieur Picard, your vehicle has arrived." The man stated after identifying himself as the concierge. "However, there is a problem." "A problem?" Jean-Luc's voice became softer, so as to not alarm Beverly. "Unfortunately, the media has learned of your presence, and is waiting outside the entrance," he paused, "I took the liberty of diverting your vehicle to the rear private entrance, while telling the media it would return for you shortly." "Thank you, where will we need to go?" Jean-Luc relaxed slightly. "If you will notify me when you are ready, I will personally come and escort you to the vehicle." "We'll be ready in five minutes, if you would like to come up now." Jean-Luc waited for the reply, then closed the channel. Picking up the box he'd set on a nearby table, he returned to the bedroom, stopping in the doorway to gaze at Beverly as she frowned at her reflection, twisting so she could see the back of her dress, or at least what there was of a back. "It is exquisite. You are exquisite." Beverly turned her head and smiled slightly. "Thank you. You're sure…" "Yes." Moving forward, he stood behind her and looked over her shoulder at their reflections. "Except for one thing." She frowned at their reflection. "What's wrong, is my makeup too heavy? My hair?" "No." With a soft chuckle, he opened the box and set it to the side as he lifted a necklace out, then reached around, letting the draped neckline of her dress frame the fall of diamonds and emeralds as she gasped softly. "It needs this." "Jean-Luc…" she blinked at the sight of the necklace. "It's incredible." Her hand lifted to run along the delicate scrollwork holding the jewels. "It's more than that, it's amazing." Turning, she flung her arms around his neck. "Thank you." "It has been passed down through the Picard's for more generations than we can remember." He smiled at her. "However," he reached out and picked up something else from the box. "These were made for you, to match the necklace." "Oh…" Beverly let out another soft sigh at the sight of the delicate earrings. "I'm glad I put my hair up." "So am I." He chuckled softly as she carefully put them on. "I wanted to give these to you on our first anniversary." "I love you, and I love them." Leaning forward, she kissed him and slid her arms around his waist. "You are far too good to me." "Never." He returned the kiss, then lifted his head as the door chime sounded. "Who's that?" Beverly's smile disappeared as she tensed in his arms. "The concierge." He reluctantly released her. "He's here to escort us to our ground transport. The media is camped out front, so he had the vehicle moved to the private entrance." "Oh." She relaxed slightly. "I'll get my wrap." "I'll be waiting." With a smile, he brushed another kiss across her cheek then turned and left the room as she turned to inspect herself one last time in the mirror. Twenty minutes later, having left their outer wraps with an attendant at the private entrance they'd come through, Jean-Luc guided Beverly through a door and into an elegant room. "This is a private salon for those who are viewing from the boxes." He murmured into her ear, his hand sliding to her arm as she turned to look at him. "We have a box?" Eyes wide, she blinked at him. "I thought it would be a bit more private for our first official outing." He led her toward a bar and after ordering, handed her a glass of wine and nodded toward a buffet along the side of the room. "We can have something to eat, if you'd like." "I'm not hungry right now." Taking a sip of the wine, she nodded appreciatively. "Perhaps later." "Very well." With a nod at the bartender, he led her toward a door on the far side of the room, and a few minutes later through another door and into a small seating area looking down onto the stage. "Oh, Jean." Beverly breathed out, gazing at the theater in front of her. "It was renovated a few years ago." He watched her face, the wonder of her expression as she stared around. "They decided to return to a traditional look." "It's all real? No holographs?" She took a step forward, staring at the rich velvet curtains and furnishings, gold trim and braid accenting the deep red of the lush material. "All real." He chuckled. "Every bit of it." He smiled, and turned as a discreet knock sounded at the door. Crossing to the door, he opened it, then accepted the folded note an usher handed him. Opening it, he scanned the contents, then nodded and looked back at the usher. "Please let her know we appreciate the invitation, and will be honored to accept." (end part 30) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? Sat Jan 24 18:53:57 2004 Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n1.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.64]) by vulture (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aKxxW2To3NZFl50 for ; Sat, 24 Jan 2004 15:50:35 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12986-1074988141-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.