Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:47:19 -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: 33/33 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!). Thanks to everyone for lasting all 33 parts – this is one of those stories that just kept growing and growing…If you didn't get all the parts, let me know and I'll send them to you! "Still There" (33/33) By: Louise Ellis "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." "It was so different from anything I'd ever imagined." Beverly smiled slightly. "I had never been to Earth before, and coming from such a small place…it was amazing." "I've still got the holos somewhere in our library, if you've lost yours." The woman chuckled, "I utilize recording from the past years as reference." "I never got any," Beverly admitted. "I went from there to the academy, and didn't want to take them with me, and my grandmother didn't have a projector, so it didn't make sense to send them to her." "I'd like to see them sometime." Jean-Luc interjected with a raised eyebrow. "When it's convenient." "We'll set something up." She smiled and laughed softly at Beverly's face. "Later. For now, please feel free to mingle. I believe Victoria is around here somewhere…" She glanced around then nodded. "I'll send her over." "It was a pleasure to meet you…again." Beverly smiled at the woman. "I…I think we'll be spending time in France over the next few months, I'd like to come and see you again." "Any time." Her eyebrow lifted, "you're welcome to take a class or two as well." "I don't think I'm ready for that." Beverly retorted wryly, eliciting another laugh from the woman as she glided away. "Here," taking a glass from a tray held by a passing waiter, Jean-Luc handed it to her. "Are you all right?" "Just a bit overwhelmed." She took a sip and shivered slightly, causing him to slide an arm around her. "I'm all right. Tell me about the scholarship?" "I wanted to do something…anything," he admitted softly, guiding her toward a cluster of people. "One day Helene mentioned something about the ballet renovating, and how they were looking to return it to one of the premier troupes on the planet. I always associated dance with you, so contacted the ballet, and ended up funding scholarships and occasional travel, aimed at bringing promising dancers here from off planet." Stopping, Beverly swung around to face him, her free hand lifting to caress his cheek. "For me?" He nodded slowly and she leaned forward and kissed him lightly. "Thank you." "Monsieur Picard!" A petite blonde, still in a dance costume moved towards them. "You came!" "Hello Victoria." He smiled at her as Beverly turned toward the girl. "You danced beautifully." "Thank you." She wrapped her arms around her waist and hugged herself. "I still can't believe I'm here." "You earned your position." Jean-Luc nodded. "Victoria, this is my wife, Beverly. Beverly, this is Victoria, our scholarship recipient this year." "Madame." The girl dipped her head slightly. "A pleasure to meet you." "Likewise." Beverly tilted her head slightly. "Where did you dance before you came to Paris?" "A small planet, Ranos Five." She smiled again. "I grew up there. And now I'm here." "So you are." Jean-Luc returned the smile. ****** Several hours later, Beverly rolled over and frowned sleepily. "Jean- Luc, I hear something." Opening his eyes, he heard the same noise that had disturbed her and groaned. "The com system." "Felisa?" Wide awake suddenly, Beverly sat up, eyes wide in the dim light. "She was fine when we spoke with her before going to bed." He slid out of the bed and moved into the living area, Beverly behind him as he pulled on his robe. Touching the panel, he blinked in surprise. "Tomas?" Another Admiral gazed solemnly at him. "I'm sorry to disturb you during your leave, Jean-Luc. We have a situation with one of the treaties you were working with." "Really." With a frown, he sank into the chair in front of the console, not even noticing as Beverly silently retrieved a cup of tea and set it next to him, along with a data padd before retreating to the balcony. Closing the channel after the extended conversation, Jean-Luc stretched then glanced around the room, finally catching sight of Beverly. "Cherie?" Lowering the lights before he stepped out onto the balcony, he perched on the chaise lounge next to Beverly, his hand gently touching her cheek. "Hmm?" Beverly sleepily blinked up at him as he smiled down at her. Moving over slightly, she reached up and caught his hand, pulling him down next to her. "I suppose this means you want to stay out here?" Chuckling, he settled onto the cushions, smiling as she nestled into him, her fingers tightening on the collar of his robe. "Nice out. Peaceful." She murmured into his neck. "Admiral want?" "What did the Admiral want?" He translated her short statement, and waited for her nod before continuing. "You want the good or the bad?" Beverly tilted her head to look up at him, her face pale in the moonlight. "What's wrong?" "I'd been working with a treaty, two governments that have been debating for months now." As he spoke, he gently stroked her back. "They weren't scheduled to go back into negotiations for another three weeks. However, certain situations have escalated, and I'm needed to go to finalize the treaties now." "Now?" She blinked, her body tensing against his. "You're leaving?" "Relax." Bending, he kissed her forehead. "You and Felisa are going with me, and I've requested the Enterprise as my transport." "Oh." Beverly's lips curved into a slight smile as she relaxed slightly. "When do we have to leave?" "In the morning." Jean-Luc smiled apologetically. "I'm afraid your spa trip will have to wait." "I'll have Deanna find me one in the holodeck index." Her hand ran up around his neck as she pulled his face toward hers. After a gentle kiss, she released him with a soft sigh. "We should get some sleep." His thumb stroked her cheekbone. "We should get some rest." Beverly smiled and ran her hand along his side to the belt of his robe. "Relax some. We already slept some." One eyebrow raised as she tugged at the tie. "So we did," he began before breaking off as she slid over him with a soft laugh. Later, as the sun slowly rose, Jean-Luc opened his eyes to see Beverly gazing at him, her hand absently caressing his chest. Watching her, he realized that she once again had that contemplative look in her eyes that he'd noticed when she didn't realize he was watching her. One that encompassed a range of emotions varying from disbelief that she was where she was to hope, with a tinge of fear that she wasn't truly free from captivity. When she shuddered slightly, he tightened his grip on her waist. "Beverly?" "Hmm?" She blinked at him, her eyes focusing on his face. "What?" "What were you thinking, just now." Moving his hand up her back underneath the robe he'd pulled over them after they'd made love, he gently stroked her back. When she simply shook her head slightly and dropped her eyes so he couldn't see her face, Jean-Luc sighed and lifted her chin with his other hand. "Cherie, it's all right. Tell me." Beverly looked at him for a long moment then echoed his sigh with a soft one of her own as she rolled to stare up at the sky. "Do you know why I came out here?" "You need the open space?" He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "The air?" "Something like that." She lifted a hand and gestured toward the sky. "We weren't allowed to be out at night unless there was an emergency. And even at that, the lights of the depot were so bright you couldn't see anything. I'd always taken the stars for granted, even on Arvedda, no matter how bad it was, we could go outside and see, breathe…" Letting her arm drift back down over her head, she gently stroked Jean-Luc's cheek while she continued. "To be out here, with you…the air, the stars…" she blinked, "even the sun rising. I could never take those things for granted again. To not know if we would wake up…or if we did, to not know if we would survive to go back to sleep…" "You're safe now." He turned his head and kissed the hand that rested against his cheek. "To see the stars, to go to sleep, to wake up…" "I know." Beverly's lips moved into a slight smile. "And then I see you, and sometimes I'm afraid it's just a dream, that if I close my eyes you'll be gone and when I wake up, I'll be back there." "And every time you think that, I'm going to reassure you that you are no longer there, that we are here together, and we will make new dreams together." Jean-Luc moved slightly so he could see her face. "Close your eyes, cherie." She blinked then slowly obeyed. Waiting until her eyes were shut, he gently kissed her, finishing with several light brushes of his lips against hers. "Now open them." He smiled. "I'm still here." "So you are." She whispered, turning on her side to face him and pressing against him. "And so am I." (The End! Thanks again!) -- 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 n29.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.85]) by emu (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aKxyt7JA3NZFnx0 for ; Sat, 24 Jan 2004 15:51:09 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12990-1074988265-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.