Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 14 Apr 2004 14:43:29 -0700 In: alt.startrek.creative From: whoa_nellie40@hotmail.com (whoa nellie) Title: Double Entendre Author: Whoa Nellie (whoa_nellie40@hotmail.com) Series: TNG Repost: 10/10 Rating: NC-17 Codes: P/Vash, W/T, D/f Synopsis: During the Enterprise E's final fittings, Vash comes onboard as the ship's Chief Archaeologist. The evil Alternate Picard from the mirror universe appears to steal the new ship's schematics when he spots Vash and decides to take her with him. Can Picard stop his counterpart, saving his ship and the woman he loves? As always: Paramount owns all the marbles. We just have a lot more fun playing with them. Feedback is always appreciated - posted or e-mail. Whoa Nellie's Picard/Vash Romance Fanfiction website: http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Galaxy/7926/ Whoa Nellie's Sci-Fi Romance Fan Fiction website is at: http://www.geocities.com/whoa_nellies2000/ CONTINUED FROM PART 9 EPILOGUE Six months later, the crew and civilians of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701E were in attendance at the christening ceremony. She floated majestically outside of the huge bay window of the Utopia Planitia Shipyard's reception hall. Vice-Admiral Alynna Nechayev stood behind the podium in front of the window as she finished her speech. Looking out into the audience, she surveyed the assemblage before her idly noting the location of the ship's senior officers. She also saw a good number of Starfleet's top brass, a collection of Federation dignitaries, and civilian guests. The admiral turned to look at Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who was in full dress uniform and standing slightly behind and to her left. "Captain, would you do the honors?" Nechayev asked, gesturing to the thick gold cord that would release the bottle of Don Perignon positioned outside It would fly straight toward the ship, hitting the hull, and officially christening the Federation's newest starship. Picard turned and started toward the cord. He stopped mid-stride and turned, walking to the front row of guests. A small smile spread across his face. In the front row, Vash looked over at Will Riker, confused. She whispered under her breath, "What's he doing?" "I don't have a clue," Riker whispered back. Picard stopped directly in front of Vash and smiled down at her. Vash was still confused but she felt herself relax as she looked up into those steel grey eyes. Even if no one else did, she knew that Jean-Luc always knew what he was doing. Picard extended his right hand to her. She looked so lovely, her hands folded on the skirt of her stylish, ivory, linen suit and as she laid her left hand in his right and stood up next to him, the flawless one carat diamond in her wedding ring caught the light and sparkled brilliantly. Wordlessly, Captain Picard led his lovely new bride up to the window where the cord hung down. He gently placed her hand on the cord beneath his larger hand. "Are you sure? This is your moment, Jean-Luc. I don't want to steal your thunder," Vash whispered quietly so that only he could hear. "I'm sure," he whispered back. He wanted to share this moment with her. "If you would do the honors, Madame Picard," he said in a much louder tone, so that everyone could hear. Jean-Luc Picard was very proud of his beautiful wife and he couldn't keep that pride out of his voice. He quickly kissed the back of her hand before releasing it. Then he stepped back slightly and gestured for Vash to pull the cord. Vash's eyes twinkled as she threw a quick, shy smile at her new husband, then she tugged gently on the cord. As the bottle of champagne tumbled toward the Enterprise, everyone stood to watch out the window. Without taking her eyes from the window, Vash stepped back to stand next to Picard and felt him tenderly place his hand on the small of her back. She leaned into his embrace slightly, her head resting against his shoulder while they watched the champagne bottle hit the hull of the ship that would be their new home. As the crowd erupted in applause, Vash glanced up at the handsome man standing next to her, a sudden intense pride filling her eyes. He glanced down just in time to catch her gaze and he winked at her. Luckily the applause was loud enough to cover her stifled giggle. ..................................................... Later that evening, after a tour of the newly-christened Enterprise, there was a reception for the guests in the Ten Forward lounge. Picard made his way over to Vash who was standing with Deanna, Worf, and Data. Picard noticed that Deanna's upswept hairstyle was being held in place by a Klingon warrior's amulet. At least he wasn't the only one losing the battle of the sexes. "Oh, Mrs. Picard and Commander Data, we need to have a little chat about the painting in my ready room." His voice was gently exasperated and one eyebrow was arched. He had been had. The painting was a formal bridal portrait of Vash that Data had done as a wedding gift. He had seen it for the first time earlier while giving some of the admirals a tour of the ship. It had been hung this morning, on the wall across from his desk, and his darling bride had managed to keep him out of his ready room all day. The portrait perfectly captured how resplendent Vash had looked that day one month ago. The formal bridal gown was ivory satin overlaid with lace and completely covered with sequins and tiny seed pearls. Her veil was held on by a tiara of pearls and Austrian crystals. Data had managed to capture the way each sequin and crystal made her shimmer from head to toe. In the portrait she looked like a queen, sitting so regally with the full ballgown skirt spilling over the sides of the captain's chair on the bridge of the Enterprise E. "Is something dissatisfactory about the portrait, sir?" Data asked putting on his most innocent Pinocchio face. "The painting is splendid, Mr. Data, but . . ." Picard started then he noticed Vash starting to slowly slide away. "Don't you move, young lady." He turned back to Data. "Why the command chair, my command chair? Data, how did she talk you into that?" Data and Vash exchanged a glance. Data looked at his captain He managed to keep his voice and expression completely innocent. "I was merely following your instructions, sir. You said to do whatever the lady wanted. The lady wanted your chair, sir." Vash decided it was time to turn on the charm. She moved to her husband's side, and looked up at him with bedroom eyes. "Jean-Luc," she started. "You can stop fluttering those eyelashes at me, mon petite." He gave a huge, melodramatic sigh. "You've won. The painting will stay." Picard shook his head. He would never admit it, but he actually thought it was a cute idea. Besides, her brief, but huge, triumphant grin was worth it. She reached up and gently picked a single black cat hair off of his shoulder and then brushed at the spot with her fingertips. "Sorry, darling, I thought I got all of it off before we left," she whispered to him sweetly as he looked down. "Why does the cat have to sleep on my uniforms?" Picard rolled his eyes. He still wasn't sure how to get even with Data for giving that animal to Vash. She adored the kitten. The cat was cute, but it was spoiled rotten, it even had a pink collar studded with rhinestones. "Now, Jean-Luc, she loves you and just wants to be near you. She thinks you're her daddy," Vash tried to hide her small grin. He always acted like the cat was a bother, but he was the one who had picked out the fancy wicker bed and pink satin pillow for Charcoal. He also allowed the cat to curl up on his lap every night as he made his log entries and every morning he slipped the kitten a small bite of his croissant. He noticed Worf smiling at the whole exchange. "Counselor, that is an interesting piece of hair jewelry. Isn't it Klingon?" He certainly couldn't let Mr. Worf think he was the only man on this ship whose woman ran his life. "Yes, it is, I thought it would make a pretty accessory with this outfit," Deanna smiled. Worf was standing behind her and his smile faded, replaced with an expression of resignation. Deanna turned to the captain's wife and nodded toward the buffet. "Vash, let's go attack that dessert tray." "Sounds like a plan." Vash looked back at her husband, "Want anything?" Picard shook his head no and watched as she and Deanna started to make their way across the room. "Well, Mr. Worf, that was the most interesting way I've ever seen a warrior amulet worn." Picard forced himself to keep a straight face as he teased his security chief. Then he smiled and clapped the Klingon on the shoulder saying, "we might as well surrender. They always win anyway." "Yes, sir," came Worf's defeated reply. "I hear you've agreed to a traditional Betazed wedding ceremony, Mr. Worf. Are you looking forward to it?" Picard knew full well that Worf had not wanted to do the traditional ceremony He just had to rub it in. Worf merely grunted a not-so-polite Klingonese response to his captain and went to get a stronger drink. Data had managed to escape while the captain teased Worf, and made his way over to Geordi. Geordi was talking to Mr. Barclay. "Reg, you deserve the Silver Cluster. Like the captain said, your idea saved the ship. Enjoy the recognition." Geordi saw Data making his way over. "Hey, Data." "Hello Geordi, Mr. Barclay," Data replied. Barclay nodded. "Commander." Then to Geordi he said, "I'm just nervous with all this brass around. I thought the tour of the ship would never end." Just then Commander Riker waved for Barclay to come join him and one of the admirals. "Oh, God. I'll never survive this," he said as he started to walk away. When they were alone, Geordi smiled and asked Data, "So what did the captain think of the portrait? I bet he was just thrilled about the command chair idea." "He wanted to know how she had convinced me to do the painting with her in the command chair," Data sighed, shook his head and answered "I told him she asked." "That's only half the story, Data. You left out the part about the lovely Mrs. Picard fluttering her baby blues at you and melting half of your circuits when she asked," Geordi teased quietly. "Yes, I omitted that bit of information," Data said. Then he leaned in closer to Geordi and smiled. "And so will you." As the evening progressed, and after most of the dignitaries and top brass had left, the reception turned into an actual party. Picard was seated at a table with his first officer, the two of them sharing a quiet drink from a bottle of very old scotch. Picard could hear Vash laughing somewhere in the background, she never ceased to amaze him. Starfleet Command had offered to send them anywhere they wanted for a honeymoon and he figured she would want to go someplace exotic, like Risa. What she did pleased him more than she would ever know. She looked up at him, smiled and said, "We have plenty of time to see the galaxy. Please, Jean-Luc, show me Paris." They spent two wonderful weeks in Paris. He showed her all the cultural sites during the day, in the evenings they ate at the finest restaurants. They danced away half of every night at the best nightclubs, the other half of every night . . . well, he didn't think a man could be loved to death, but Vash gave it the old college try. He looked around until he spotted her. Vash, Beverly, Deanna, and a small group of women were laughing and doing one of the latest dances the two of them had seen in Paris. They all had their shoes off and were having a great time. He tapped Riker on the shoulder and gestured over to them. Riker looked up and smiled. "They seem to be having a good time," Riker grinned and stroked his beard. "But where do they get all that energy?" "That was what I was going to ask you." Picard couldn't quite place the woman next to Vash. A woman with long blonde hair. The two women were talking and laughing. "Number One, who's the blonde with Vash?" Just as he said it, Picard realized who she was, so did Riker. She had taken her hair down and changed into civilian dress; it had to be her, the two men just couldn't believe it. They looked at each other amazed. "Admiral Nechayev?!" **FINIS** -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. 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: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? 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