Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:43:17 -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: 32/33 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" (32/33) By: Louise Ellis The two couples continued their conversations until a soft tone sounded and the lights flickered, causing Beverly to look up, startled, and Jean-Luc and Pierre to stand. "Ladies?" Jean-Luc held out his hand to Beverly. "Jean-Luc, Beverly and I have decided that I will fetch her in the morning." Helene smiled at the other woman as they stood. "You and Pierre may entertain yourselves." "Really?" One eyebrow raised as he gazed at Beverly. "If you don't mind." She managed a slight smile. "Helene seems to think that no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to the spa." "Whatever you'd like, cherie." He brushed a kiss across her cheek. "If you wish to go, you shall." "I'll take care of her Jean-Luc." Helene tucked her arm through Pierre's. "Ask him, I'm quite protective." "And, I'd like to, unless you had plans for us." Beverly relaxed slightly. She'd taken a liking to the other woman, Helene had not asked about her time with the Cardassians, although she clearly knew about it. She'd treated Beverly not as someone who was to be questioned, or as someone who'd been through something very few others had survived, but simply as another vintner's wife, in Paris for a brief holiday. There was also something genuine about the woman, and based on both her intuition and the fact that Jean-Luc had selected this couple to sit with, Beverly felt comfortable with her. "No, I'd thought we could just wait and see what tomorrow would bring." He smiled at the other couple. "Perhaps you would like to join us for breakfast before disappearing for the day?" "Eight thirty tomorrow?" Pierre returned the smile and sighed. "Then I can enlighten you to how much my wife will convince yours to spend tomorrow, and we can spend the day discussing the differences between our vineyards." "At our hotel." Jean-Luc nodded, then led Beverly out of the salon, the other couple following, then turning to go to their box. "You didn't feel pressured into going, did you?" "No." Beverly paused as an usher opened the door to their box then continued as she stepped inside. "I liked them, and you trust them or we wouldn't have gone over to sit with them." "Indeed I do." He led her back around to the couch and waited as she sat and moved into his arms, leaning against him as they faced the stage. "I've gone to Pierre numerous times over the years for advice about the vineyard, and became friends with both of them. Helene means well, although she's a bit…overwhelming." "Not compared to Luxanna Troi." Beverly retorted dryly, eliciting a chuckle from him. "Not at all." He agreed before falling silent as the curtain raised, the second half beginning. Following the performance, Jean-Luc tucked Beverly's hand through his arm as they followed an usher through the darkened corridors toward the backstage area. "We can go back if you're tired." He murmured into her ear. "It's been a long evening." "No, I'm fine." She smiled at him. "It's been a lovely evening, and I'd like to visit backstage since we were invited." "Very well." He brushed a kiss across her cheek as the usher held a door open. Nodding at the young man as they passed him, Jean-Luc smiled. "Thank you." "My pleasure sir." Returning the smile, he waited until they'd passed through the door before closing it behind them. "Jean-Luc!" A woman moved through the group gathered backstage and approached them, her hands outstretched. "What a wonderful surprise to have you attend tonight." Grasping his hands, she kissed both his cheeks, then turned to Beverly and repeated the action. "And you must be his companion. We are honored to have you here tonight." "Thank you." Surprised at the warm greeting, Beverly blinked down at the petite woman. "The company is wonderful, I truly enjoyed tonight's performance." "Well now that you have attended, perhaps you can convince this one to avail himself of his box more often." She frowned at Jean-Luc. "We do like a full house on opening night you know." "I've been off planet Madame." He nodded his head in a brief apology. "However, be assured that we will attend on a regular basis as our schedules allow." "Good." Her gaze moved back to Beverly. "You look confused, you did not realize Jean-Luc is one of our most supportive patrons?" "No," Beverly shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry…I've been out of touch for some time." "And now you're not." Jean-Luc slid his arm around her waist. "Madame Dupont, my wife Beverly Picard." "Your…" this time she blinked in surprise before recognition set in. "Ah…it is in her name?" "Indeed." He smiled. "She was a dancer when she was younger, it seemed appropriate." The director's eyes moved back to Beverly, scrutinizing for a moment before narrowing. "You danced? Where did you receive your training?" Confused by the conversation and the questions, Beverly answered without thinking, "I did most of my training on Caldos." The woman's lips twitched. "You have always had that color hair?" "Excuse me?" Beverly's confusion grew as she pressed closer to Jean-Luc. "My hair?" "Madame?" Jean-Luc interjected with a frown, his arm tightening around her waist. The other woman burst out laughing. "You were Beverly…something else…when you went to St. Louis. Many years ago." Beverly's eyes widened in shock at the statement before she answered, caught off guard again. "Howard." "Jean-Luc Picard," the woman finally got her laughter under control. "Do you not realize what you have done?" "No," he shook his head, frowning. "And I don't see what Beverly's past has to do with it." "Many years ago at a dance competition in St. Louis, an unknown dancer competed and won an unprecedented two categories, with a combined score that has rarely been seen since. I," she dramatically touched her chest, "had been predicted to win at least one of them. Instead, a little unknown won. I continued to dance, pushing myself harder and never taking anything for granted again, and eventually ended up as director of the ballet here. Then, when we decide to renovate, you, a benefactor with little interest in the ballet except to support out of your love for someone whom you refuse to name, stepped in to become one of our leading supporters. And the woman you love is the dancer I hadn't expected." "You remember me dancing?" Beverly blinked again. "All those years ago?" "Indeed I do." The woman raised an arched eyebrow. "You never danced competitively again?" "No," shaking her head, Beverly tightened her grip on Jean-Luc's arm. "I'd only done it to get to Earth so I could go to medical school at the Academy." "Amazing." She breathed out, "you had such a talent. I can only hope you are as good a doctor as you were a dancer." "Indeed she is." Jean-Luc smiled. "I hadn't told her about the scholarship." "Scholarship?" Beverly looked at him. "He has not only assisted us in the renovation of the theater, but also sponsors at least one dancer from off planet each year." Dupont smiled. "And assists with their travel in when possible on a Starfleet vessel." "It is but a small bit of support for an artistic group that has been in existence for so many years." Jean-Luc dipped his head. "You would have suggested it, had you known, cherie." "I think it's wonderful." Beverly kissed him lightly then turned back to the woman. "I think I remember you, from back then. You were so…experienced. You knew so much, seemed so much older." "Than you colony dancers." Dupont teased. "I've since changed my opinion on off world dancers." (end part 32) -- 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 n33.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.101]) by robin (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aKxz96Hy3NZFjX0 for ; Sat, 24 Jan 2004 15:51:50 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12987-1074988219-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.