Path: newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net!stamper.news.atl.earthlink.net!elnk-atl-nf1!newsfeed.earthlink.net!atl-c03.usenetserver.com!news.usenetserver.com!wns13feed!worldnet.att.net!216.196.98.144!border2.nntp.dca.giganews.com!border1.nntp.dca.giganews.com!nntp.giganews.com!news-xfer.newsread.com!yellow.newsread.com!news-toy.newsread.com!netaxs.com!newsread.com!POSTED.newshog.newsread.com!not-for-mail Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated Approved: ascem@earthlink.net Organization: Better Living Thru TrekSmut Sender: ascem@earthlink.net Message-ID: <20041227015106.62864.qmail@web80312.mail.yahoo.com> From: Mriana MIME-Version: 1.0 Mailing-List: list ASCEML@yahoogroups.com; contact ASCEML-owner@yahoogroups.com Subject: N2U: Christmas Dreams P/C, Rated PG Content-Type: text/plain Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Lines: 1361 Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 03:55:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 209.198.142.218 X-Complaints-To: Abuse Role , We Care X-Trace: newshog.newsread.com 1104119707 209.198.142.218 (Sun, 26 Dec 2004 22:55:07 EST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 22:55:07 EST Xref: news.earthlink.net alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated:86313 X-Received-Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 19:55:13 PST (newsspool2.news.atl.earthlink.net) Author: Mriana Series: TNG Codes: P/C Rating: PG =20 Disclaimer: All that is Trek is Paramount and I am but a lowly fan with a = better imagination than TPTB, still I get no financial reward for my talent= s, what little they are. =20 Archiving: Please ask. Feedback: Please =20 Christmas Dreams Rated PG =20 Introduction and setting: The Christmas that Picard was stuck in during Ge= nerations has always made me thought, that should be Beverly not someone el= se. So, taking from that idea and Christmas Carol, I decided to write a Ch= ristmas story that is similar, yet a little different. The setting is post= TNG, shortly after Nemesis. French used in this story: =20 Thank you =3D Merci=20 Thank you very much =3D Merci beaucoup=20 You're welcome =3D de rien=20 Please =3D S'il vous pla=EEt=20 c'est si bon =3D This is good! Tres bien =3D Very good. =20 =93Welcome home, Papa!=94 His son shouted as he ran up to greet him. =20 =93Merry Christmas, Robert!=94 He returned his son=92s greeting. =93Have = you been good for your mother while I was away?=94 =20 =93Oui, Papa, and I helped her with Dennette and Marie too.=94 =20 =93Tres bien,=94 he smiled at his son who was eight years old. The other t= wo appeared to be around three and six, both of whom had quickly followed b= ehind Robert. =20 He studied their tree, which had bright glistening lights and tinsel. It w= as a tall, full tree, just as he had always dreamed of having, with several= presents tucked under it. =20 He was proud of all of his accomplishments over the years, this one especia= lly. He thought it had been too late to have a family at his age, but even= so he had managed. =20 =93Papa, are you here to stay for Christmas or is Starfleet going to want y= ou back at headquarters soon?=94 Marie asked. =20 She was very bright for her age and did not seem to miss a thing. He notic= ed when she was very young she was very observant and as she got older, she= became very precocious. =20 =93No, I=92m here for Christmas until the beginning of next week.=94 =20 =93Oh goody!=94 =20 =93Jean-Luc!=94 Beverly exclaimed with joy when she walked through the din= ing room entrance and greeted him with a kiss. =93You=92re home! We can s= tart dinner anytime you=92re ready. I believe Wesley is putting the finish= ing touches on the table.=94 =20 He admired his wife=92s beauty as she turned to see if Wesley was coming. = Her red hair was in a French roll and she wore a red satin dress with a sma= ll green appliqu=E9d Christmas tree on the front. Jean-Luc=92s attention w= as soon adverted from his wife when he heard the swinging kitchen doors. =20 Wesley walked out of the kitchen with the turkey not long after Beverly=92s= last statement. =93As a matter of fact, as soon as I put the turkey on th= e table we can all sit down and enjoy dinner.=94 =20 =93Thank you, Wesley. I wasn=92t sure if you were ready to place that on t= he table or not.=94 =20 =93You had time for all of this?=94 Jean-Luc asked with surprise. =20 =93Well, there weren=92t any patients to attend to at Starfleet medical sin= ce yesterday, so I took off early to prepare dinner,=94 she informed him. = =93Unfortunately, I=92m on call in case I=92m needed.=94 =20 =93And you Wesley, Captain Riker let you come home for Christmas?=94 =20 =93Yes Sir, he thought I should spend Christmas with my family.=94 =20 Jean-Luc smiled as everyone sat down at the table. He was so happy to have= his family together this year. =20 =93You sit, Papa?=94 A small voice asked. =20 It was then he awoke from his dream. He laid there for a moment with a loo= k of sadness on his face. =20 =91I have to stop thinking about what could have been or what might be!=92 = He scolded himself. =91Beverly and I are living two separate lives now! = She made her decision to work at Starfleet Medical and I made mine to accep= t the rank of admiral and work at headquarters. Too much time has passed f= or any hope of a future together. She=92s living her life and here I lay a= lonely, broken, old man. Alone for Christmas, just as I have been since R= obert and his family died.=92 =20 It was four days before Christmas and he could not keep from dreaming about= Beverly and everything he had imagine a life with her would be like. He h= ad been having similar dreams for several nights lately and after each one,= he would lay awake, tossing and turning until he decided it was time for h= im to get up and begin another day. =20 =91Maybe I should call Beverly. That maybe just what I need to stop having= these dreams,=92 he thought when he decided to get out of bed. =20 He walked over to the replicator and ordered, =93Tea, Earl Grey, hot.=94 =20 When the cup of tea materialized he took it out of its slot and carried it = over to the table. However, he did not sit down. Instead he seemed preocc= upied by the emptiness of it. =20 =91Beverly and I use to have breakfast together on the Enterprise almost ev= ery morning. Now, breakfast doesn=92t seem like much without her.=92 =20 With his empty hand he wiped the sleep from one eye and then the other. = =91I do have to stop thinking about Beverly. Of course, the idea of breakf= ast together does sound good. She probably doesn=92t have time now. Still= , I guess it wouldn=92t hurt to ask her when I call her.=92 =20 =93Computer, what time is it?=94 =20 =93The time is 0400.=94 =20 =91Merde! I really do need to get more sleep!=92 He thought. =91Well, I = have four hours to kill before I have to be on duty. Might as well find a = good book to read.=92 =20 He walked over to his bookcase, pulled out a very old copy of A Christmas C= arol, and sat down in his favourite chair to begin reading it. It was not = long before he was fast asleep and dreaming again. =20 =93Wow! Papa, Mama, merci!=94 An elated little girl cried with joy. =20 =93De rien, Marie!=94 Jean-Luc replied as the happy child hugged and kisse= d him. =20 It was an old-fashion porcelain doll with moving eyes and when tilted it cr= ied, =93Mama!=94 =20 =93We weren=92t expecting you, Wes, so we picked up something at the last m= inute,=94 Beverly informed him as she handed him a gift. =93We hope you li= ke it.=94 =20 =93I=92m sure I will,=94 he replied politely as he began to open it. =20 =93It=92s a shame you couldn=92t call sooner, but we do understand,=94 Jean= -Luc stated. =93How is it serving on the Titan?=94 =20 =93Oh it=92s wonderful! I love being on the Titan! Almost as nice as bein= g on the Enterprise!=94 Wesley exclaimed. =93Oh this is nice! Smells goo= d too! Thank you.=94 =20 =93Well, cologne wasn=92t exactly what we had in mind, but we didn=92t know= what you wanted,=94 Beverly told her son. =20 =93It=92s fine, Mom. Really,=94 he insisted. =93Besides, I travel lightly= anyway. So, how is France treating you, Mom?=94 =20 =93WOW!=94 Shouted little Robert. =93C'est si bon! A remote control ship= ! Merci, Mama et Papa!=94 =20 Beverly smiled as her other son began playing with his ship. =93Well, it= =92s taken me a while to learn the language, but I=92m getting by. Your si= sters and brother seem to be acquiring the language very quickly.=94 =20 =93It=92s no surprise,=94 Wesley stated with a smile. =93After all, look w= ho=92s their big brother.=94 =20 =93Dennette, here=92s yours,=94 Beverly told her younger daughter as she he= lped her look through the presents for her gift. =20 =93Merci, Mama!=94 She replied in her three year old, mousy-like voice. =20 =93The time is 0700,=94 the voice of the computer interrupted his dream. = =93The time is 0700.=94 =20 =93Computer, reset for twenty-four hours.=94 =20 Picard finally rose from the chair he had fallen asleep in and headed for t= he shower. Afterwards, he dressed and headed for the replicator, still yaw= ning from less sleep than usual. =20 =93Coffee, black.=94 =20 The coffee appeared and as soon as he removed it from the slot, he began th= inking back on his dreams of the night before. He could not figure out why= he was having such dreams lately. =20 =91Could it be I=92m wishing for Christmases that I will never have? And w= hy were Beverly and Wesley in my dreams? I really should call her.=92 =20 After a while, Jean-Luc finally left his quarters, already forgetting some = of the details of his dreams, and headed for his office at headquarters. =20 ******************************** =20 The day was uneventful as he returned home at the end of the day. Once he = had walked inside his quarters he noticed he had a message waiting for him. =20 =91It=92s Will!=92 He smiled. =91Or Deanna or both. I meant to call Beve= rly today too. It=92s 1900 hours. Well, I guess I=92ll read Will and Dean= na=92s message and get back with them tonight. Then I=92ll be sure to call= Beverly tomorrow.=92 =20 He listened to Will=92s message, =91Admiral Picard!=92 Will greeted him wi= th a grin. =91That has a nice ring to it! Anyway, just called to see if y= ou had plans for Christmas. We=92d like to drop by and say =91Merry Christ= mas=92. Yes, the Titan will be in dry dock for repairs. Seems we took a b= it of a beating from the Rameons. The Romulans tried to assist us, but we = still got busted up pretty badly. Gotta get back to the Bridge. Deanna se= nds her love and tell Beverly =91hi=92 for us.=92 =20 The screen went blank as Picard pushed back his non-existent hair. =91They= don=92t know that Beverly and I have gone our separate ways and don=92t se= e as much of each other as we used to. She hasn=92t told them I guess.=92 = He shook his head. =91Surely she would have said something to them by now= .=92 =20 He decided he was too tired to reply and with only a few days left, he stil= l was not sure what his plans were going to be. =91I=92ll send them a mess= age tomorrow.=92 =20 Then he walked over to the replicator, =93Vegetable soup and Earl Grey hot.= =94 =20 =93Specify type of Vegetable soup,=94 the computer insisted in its monotone= voice. =20 =93What?=94 He asked distractedly. =20 =93Specify type of Vegetable soup.=94 =20 =93Oh yes. Um=85=94 he thought for a moment. =93Never mind. I=92ll have = pastrami on rye with Swiss cheese.=94 =20 The sandwich appeared, but not his tea. He then realized he had accidental= ly cancelled it when he cancelled the soup. He frowned as he said, =93Earl= Grey, hot.=94 =20 His tea materialized finally and he removed it from the slot. After taking= a cautious sip from the cup, he made his way to his favourite chair. He t= hen sat his plate on the table beside the chair and then his tea. =91Now w= hat did I do with my book this morning?=92 =20 He looked around for it and finally found it tucked in his chair. =91Ah, h= ere we go!=92 =20 He sat down and ate his sandwich as he read his book. Shortly after finish= ing his sandwich, he fell asleep with the book in his lap. =20 =93Hey! Give me back my book!=94 A teenage Jean-Luc shouted. =20 =93No! It=92s mine now!=94 Robert taunted his little brother as he knocke= d him down to the ground. =20 =93Boys!=94 Their mother hurried over to where they were and attempted to = stop their fight. =93Jean-Luc! Robert! Stop this, this instant!=94 =20 They did not seem to hear their mother as they continued to fight to the de= ath. In the process they knocked down the Christmas tree. =20 =93Boys!=94 =20 =93You=92ll never be worth your keep, Jean-Luc!=94 Robert growled. =93No = woman will have you with your head in the clouds!=94 =20 =93Not true! You take that back!=94 Exclaimed Jean-Luc as he punched his = brother square in the nose. =20 =93Ugh! Why you little=85 I=92m bleeding!=94 =20 =93Serves you right for fighting with your brother! Honestly! I have no i= dea what I=92m going to do with the two of you.=94 =20 =93MOM!=94 Robert screamed. =20 =93You know what to do. Once you stop the bleeding help your bother stand = the tree up again.=94 =20 Jean-Luc woke from his dream again. =91I think I need to stop reading Char= les Dickens before bedtime,=92 he thought. Then he said, =93Computer, time= ?=94 =20 =93The time is zero hundred hours.=94 =20 =93Midnight,=94 he mumbled. =91Guess I should head to bed.=92 =20 Jean-Luc prepared for bed, and then slid under the covers. It did not take= long for him to fall asleep again. =20 In his next dream he was having Christmas dinner with Jack and Beverly Crus= her. Wesley was a baby, sitting in a high chair beside his mother, Beverly= . She gave the young Wesley a dinner roll, which he immediately began play= ing with, instead of eating it. =20 =93As usual, he gets more on the floor and the outside of him then he does = in his mouth,=94 Beverly quipped. =20 =93He=92s learning,=94 Jean-Luc tried to encourage. =20 =93Come on, little man,=94 she sighed as she lifted him out of the high cha= ir. =93Let=92s get you cleaned up.=94 =20 =93Have fun!=94 Jack teased. =20 =93Yes, always a ball!=94 Beverly remarked playfully. =93You sure you don= =92t want to clean him up, Jack?=94 =20 =93No, you go ahead, dear. I=92ll keep Jean-Luc entertained.=94 =20 =93Suit yourself,=94 she replied as she left the room. =20 =93It=92s amazing the tree is still standing or hasn=92t landed on top of W= es,=94 Jack informed Jean-Luc as he noticed him admiring their tree. =20 =93He=92s that inquisitive?=94 Jean-Luc asked. =20 =93Yes, he has knocked it over a few times and he=92s not even walking yet.= =94 =20 =93Maybe a bigger tree would have solved the problem,=94 Jean-Luc suggested= . =20 =93Yes, maybe next year,=94 Jack agreed. =93We seemed to have gone through= a lot of credits just for Wes=92s first Christmas alone.=94 =20 =93Hope it was worth it.=94 =20 =93Oh, yes! It was. He=92s growing like a weed, so he needed the new clot= hes, for starters, and you have to feed a bright mind like his or he=92ll g= et into trouble.=94 =20 =93Well, he will be walking soon,=94 Jean-Luc mentioned. =93I can tell by = how he pulls himself up to a standing position with furniture.=94 =20 =93Yes and he=92s only eight months old.=94 =20 =93He=92ll take off any day now.=94 =20 Jack nodded and as he did the dream changed to that fateful day a few month= s later. The day he had died while serving under Jean-Luc on the Stargazer= . =20 Jean-Luc had sent his friend out on a mission of no return. Then he had to= retrieve Jack=92s corpse, so he could return it to Beverly. It was a diff= icult task for any captain, but made harder because of whom it was. He had= sent his friend out to die and now he had to tell his friend=92s wife what= had happened. Could she ever forgive him? =20 When Jack=92s dead body appeared in the dream, Jean-Luc woke with a start. = Memories of that day were again haunting him, only this time in his dreams= . =20 =93I=92ve got to stop this!=94 Jean-Luc scolded himself. =93Beverly doesn= =92t hold it against me, so why am I?=94 =20 He got up and headed to the replicator, =93Water, five degrees Celsius.=94 =20 The nightly trips to the replicator, he realized, were becoming a habit. A= t the same time, he was not sure how to make the dreams stop. =20 =93Computer, time?=94 =20 =93The time is 0400 hours.=94 =20 =93Damn! The same time I woke up last night! This is got to stop!=94 He = scolded himself. =20 He paced the floor, =93I have to remember to call Beverly. Maybe the dream= s will stop then or maybe I=92m fooling myself.=94 =20 ************************* =20 He decided to go to his office early and busy himself with work since he co= uld not sleep anyway. It was almost 0600 hours, when a fellow admiral had = seen his light on in his office. =20 Since the door was ajar, she tapped it lightly, and as she poked her head i= n she teased, =93You=92re in early. Are you trying to take after me and wo= rk yourself to death?=94 =20 =93Ah, Kathryn. Come in,=94 he greeted as he waved her on into his office.= =93You know, I could ask the same of you.=94 =20 =93Yes, but I just got here and it=92s obvious you have been here for a whi= le.=94 She gestured to all the PADDS scattered on his desk. =20 =93Yes, well=85 I=92ve had a little trouble sleeping lately.=94 =20 =93Yes, being at the top can do that too you,=94 Janeway commented jokingly= , but then realized that something was really bothering Picard. =93What=92= s troubling you, Jean-Luc?=94 =20 =93It=92s nothing, really.=94 =20 =93No, it=92s more than that. Don=92t ask how I can tell, but since being = out in the Delta Quadrant, I=92ve developed a sixth sense.=94 =20 =93Is that when you became Betazoid?=94 He asked jovially. =20 =93Possibly.=94 She then waited for him to tell her what was wrong, but wh= en he did not say another word, she finally said, =93Well, I guess I=92ll l= et you get back to work.=94 =20 As she turned to leave, Jean-Luc said, =93You=92re right. It is lonely at = the top.=94 =20 Without saying a word, Kathryn turned around to hear the rest of what he ha= d to say. =20 =93I thought being captain meant I couldn=92t have a relationship with the = one I loved. Now, here I am, an admiral. I should have listened to Kirk. = Then at least I=92d have one of my true loves, the Enterprise. No, I had = to accept admiralty, and now I have no one. Just these damn dreams of what= might have been and what was.=94 =20 There was a deafening silence when he finished. Kathryn did not know what = to say that would make him feel any better, but she did know she had gone a= fter the man she wanted and won. If she had not gone after him, she would = have been sitting where Picard was now, alone during the holidays. =20 Finally, she said, =93Take it from me, Jean-Luc. Go after her, tell her yo= u want her in your life, that you need her, whatever it is you feel, tell h= er. You won=92t regret it.=94 Then she shrugged, =93I didn=92t at least.= =94 =20 =93Yes, but Captain Chakotay was more receptive of your wants and needs. I= don=92t think Beverly really cares anymore.=94 =20 =93Or maybe Doctor Crusher is thinking you don=92t.=94 =20 =93No, she=92s living her own life now.=94 =20 =93You won=92t know unless you try.=94 =20 Jean-Luc nodded, =93Yes, maybe you=92re right. She=92s at Starfleet Medica= l. I=92ll call her later, when I know she is on duty.=94 =20 =93Suit yourself. The sooner you talk to her, the better. Let me know how= it turns out,=94 she said as she turned again to leave. =20 =93I will,=94 Jean-Luc replied as he watched Kathryn Janeway depart from hi= s office. =91Now there goes a wise woman. Guess being stranded out in the= middle of no where, trying to get home again, does that to a person.=92 =20 **************************** =20 Once again, the day went by quickly and Jean-Luc still had not called Bever= ly. He decided he would call her after he was home. =20 Twenty-two hundred hours arrived and he had not called her. =93She=92s pro= bably in bed, sleeping now.=94 =20 So, Jean-Luc decided to turn-in for the night, but sleep did not come easil= y and when it did, it was filled with demons from the past and future. =20 =93A futile maneuver,=94 Locutus stated flatly as Beverly scanned him with = her tricorder. =93Human, female. You will be assimilated, like everyone e= lse. Resistance is futile.=94 =20 His mechanical arm pointed at the woman he loved most. Every part of his v= ery being was being controlled by the Borg, everything he was, was gone. =20 However, the person who cared for him most was beside him, trying to help h= im, and he was about to assimilate her. What was left of his soul still ca= red deeply for Beverly, and fought hard not to violate her individuality. =20 Then he pointed his mechanical arm at Troi. Apparently, his arm was more t= hreatening to her, than it was to Beverly, because she quickly moved behind= Data for protection. Beverly, on the other hand, had just jumped back awa= y from him. =20 Yet, somehow, both she and Deanna knew he was fighting for every ounce of h= umanity he still had left after his assimilation. With his crew=92s help, = and Beverly=92s medical expertise, he became human again. Still, he did no= t tell her how much he loved her and how hard he fought not to assimilate h= er. =20 Then his dream switched to the future. He was an old man, beaten down by t= ime and unfulfilled wishes. The old Picard hobbled around his home with a = cane, alone and desolate. There was no one to care for him in his old age,= but one visitor. =20 =93You=92re dead!=94 Picard suddenly exclaimed. =20 =93As you see, Sir, I am alive,=94 the visitor stated, =93In your dreams, a= t least.=94 =20 =93No!=94 a befuddled old man exclaimed as he paced the floor. =93This isn= =92t right! You=92re supposed to be dead!=94 =20 =93Sir, if you will come with me, I have some things to show you.=94 =20 =93What do I have to loose?=94 The old Picard shrugged. =93What can a fig= ment of my imagination do to an old man like me? Dead or not, Data, I=92ll= go with you and let you show me what you wish to show me.=94 =20 =93I assure you, Sir, you are not dead.=94 =20 =93No, but you are!=94 the old Picard insisted. Then he pointed to his bal= d head, =93Unless this old mind has tricked me again.=94 =20 =93No, Sir,=94 the android stated, =93It has not.=94 =20 =93What is it you want to show me, old friend?=94 =20 =93This way, Sir.=94 =20 =93Where are we going?=94 =20 =93You will see.=94 =20 Suddenly, there was a lone tombstone that said, =91Here lies a hero among m= any. He won=92t be forgotten. RIP=92 =20 =93Where are Robert and his family=92s graves?=94 =20 =93Have you forgotten, Sir? They died in a fire. There were no bodies to = bury.=94 =20 =93Yes, of course,=94 Picard replied with bewilderment. =93I=92m an old ma= n, Data, don=92t confuse me. I get confused enough as it is.=94 =20 =93Sorry, Sir, I did not mean to perplex you. However, there is more.=94 =20 =93What? There=92s more?=94 =20 =93Yes, Sir.=94 =20 =93Why do I feel like I=92m Scrooge in Charles Dickens?=94 =20 =93Excuse me, Sir? Scrooge?=94 =20 =93Never mind, Data, I=92m too old to remember which file to tell you to lo= ok under for the information.=94 =20 =93That is quite alright, Sir. I am sure I can find it. Accessing,=94 he = replied. =93Ah! Charles Dickens, =91A Christmas Story=92, Scrooge. Very = intriguing! It is about an old man who is=85=94 =20 =93Yes, yes, Data,=94 Picard shook his free hand to stop the android from c= ontinuing. =93I know what it=92s about, now could you get on with showing = me what it is you wish to show me? I=92m not getting any younger, you know= .=94 =20 =93Yes, Sir.=94 =20 They left the grave site faster than any transporter could take them from o= ne place to another. Before them was an old woman crying. She had friends= with her, who tried to comfort her, but they seemed to be failing miserabl= y. =20 =93He had no idea how much I loved him,=94 she cried. =93Or if he did, he = didn=92t care.=94 =20 *********************** =20 =93I do love you, Beverly!=94 Jean-Luc shouted. =20 =93They can not hear you, Sir.=94 =20 ************************ =20 =93Beverly,=94 a salt and pepper haired woman touched her arm, =93He cared = very much for you. He just didn=92t know how to show it.=94 =20 His old crew, minus Data, were alone and viewing an open casket. Inside wa= s Picard=92s cold, pale corpse. =20 =93No Deanna, he was too wrapped up in Star Fleet to even notice!=94 Bever= ly continued to cry. =20 =93That=92s not true, Beverly!=94 Deanna insisted. =20 =93Yes it is!=94 She suddenly stood. =93Now he=92ll never know just how m= uch I loved him.=94 =20 Then she rushed out of room as a concerned grey bearded man walked up besid= e Deanna. =93Is she alright?=94 =20 =93I don=92t know, but I sense a lot of heartbreak.=94 =20 =93That=92s nothing new.=94 =20 =93This time it is different, Will,=94 she informed him. =93I can=92t expl= ain it, but she will never be able to tell Admiral Picard just how she feel= s now.=94 =20 Will suddenly felt as if his own heart had been ripped out of his chest, = =93I=92m glad I won=92t be left feeling like that or leave you feeling like= that.=94 =20 =93I wish there was something we could do for her.=94 =20 =93Maybe there is,=94 Worf suggested. =20 =93Worf,=94 Geordi began, =93I don=92t think a Klingon ritual would be a go= od idea.=94 =20 =93That was not what I was going to suggest.=94 =20 The scene changed once again and they were on Beverly=92s home planet. The= re were several tombstones, many of which bared the surname Howard. The an= droid was trying to show Jean-Luc one in particular. =20 =93No, I don=92t want to look!=94 Jean-Luc painfully insisted. =20 =93You must!=94 The android ordered. =20 Jean-Luc never in his life known Data to give him an order, but this time, = Data was ordering him. There was no doubt about it. =20 =93Please, I=92m tired and I=92d like to go home, Data. Please, take me ho= me!=94 Jean-Luc pleaded. =20 =93Why do you refuse to look?=94 It was almost an evil tone of voice comin= g from the android, almost as if he were the devil himself. =20 Jean-Luc was struggling too much with his own emotions to notice the change= in the android. =93I know it is Beverly=92s grave. Why must I look at it= ?=94 =20 =93Because you must look and know for yourself why she died,=94 the android= said sinisterly. =20 =93No, Data!=94 Picard tried to run away, but his feet were stuck. =93Ple= ase, just take me home! I=92ve seen enough!=94 =20 =93You can wake up when we are done.=94 =20 =93Wake up? Yes, I must wake up, but I can=92t.=94 =20 =93When we have finished you will,=94 the android informed him. =93Now loo= k upon her grave and read her epitaph.=94 =20 Jean-Luc shook his head, =93I can=92t Data.=94 =20 =93You must!=94 =20 Slowly and nervously, Jean-Luc looked at Beverly=92s grave site and read th= e inscription on the headstone. =91Beverly Cheryl Howard Crusher. Born Oc= tober 13, 2324 Died August 5, 2404 of a Broken Heart.=92 =20 =93Why are you showing me this?=94 Picard demanded. =20 =93There=92s more,=94 the android stated as he pointed to the couple standi= ng beside the grave. =20 **************** =20 =93She loved him so much,=94 Deanna cried as she put an arm around Will and= laid her head on his chest. =20 =93Yes, it was like they were Imzadi with how quickly she passed away after= Jean-Luc=92s death.=94 =20 =93Promise me something, Will.=94 =20 =93What?=94 =20 =93Promise me, that if I go first, you will continue to live life to its fu= llest.=94 =20 =93Only if you promise me you=92ll do the same, if I go first.=94 =20 Deanna nodded sadly, =93Maybe if they had acknowledged their love for each = other before they died=85=94 =20 =93I don=92t know it may have turned out the same,=94 Will shrugged. =20 ************** =20 =93It=92s my fault she died!=94 Jean-Luc cried as he fell to his knees, = =93I killed her! Just as I killed Jack! I killed her!=94 =20 =93She=92d have died eventually,=94 the android insisted with an even more = ominous tone in his voice. =20 =93Yes, but she would have been a happier woman if I had told her I loved h= er.=94 =20 =93Time=92s running out, Picard! Your time=92s about to end!=94 The andro= id stated wickedly. Then his voice took the tone of a Borg, =93Soon, you= =92ll see your future=92s end.=94 =20 =93You used contractions!=94 Jean-Luc accused. =93You=92re not Data! You= =92re Lore!=94 =20 The android laughed sinisterly, =93Even after all these years, I can still = fool you! Stupid, stupid humans! Will you never learn?=94 =20 Then Lore changed to a Nausicaan, but it was Q=92s voice taunting him, =93W= hen will you ever learn! You humans are so feeble minded and in your case,= without a heart. Oh, wait! You do have one, but it isn=92t real! It=92s= a fake heart, an artificial transplant. If it were real then maybe you=92= d have told the love of your life how you really felt.=94 =20 =93Q, Lore, whoever you are, leave me alone and allow me to wake up from th= is horrid dream now!=94 =20 =93Time=92s running out, John Luck Pickerd! Tick, tock! You=92d better te= ll her before it=92s too late!=94 =20 **************** =20 =93Before it=92s too late!=94 Picard muttered in his dream-like state. = =93Before it=92s too late!=94 =20 Suddenly he sat up, =93Computer, lights, one-quarter illumination!=94 =20 The computer bleeped its reply and the lighting rose slightly. =20 Picard looked around and sighed with relief, =93Good! Neither Q nor Lore i= s here. It was just a dream.=94 =20 =93I have to call Beverly,=94 he said frantically as he ran to his view scr= een and punched some buttons. =93I can=92t let it end this way.=94 =20 It took some time for a sleepy Beverly Crusher to answer her comm. Once sh= e did and noticed who was calling she exclaimed, =93Jean-Luc, it=92s two in= the morning!=94 =20 =93I know,=94 he began anxiously, and then said, =93Actually, I have to tel= l you something.=94 =20 =93Are you alright?=94 =20 =93I=92m fine, there=92s something I must say before it=92s too late,=94 he= insisted again. =20 =93You seem a bit disoriented and upset about something,=94 she observed. = =93Do I need to come over and examine you?=94 =20 =93I assure you, Beverly, I=92m fine!=94 he persisted. =93I just need to t= ell you something before it=92s too late.=94 =20 =93Too late? Are you sure you=92re alright?=94 =20 =93Yes, now may I please tell you what is on my mind?=94 =20 =93OK,=94 she sighed, =93but this had better be important at this hour!=94 =20 =93Beverly, I love you!=94 =20 =93I=92m coming over; let me get my medical=85=94 She suddenly paused with= shock when the realization of what he had said dawned on her. =93What did= you say?=94 =20 =93I said I love you, Beverly.=94 =20 =93Jean-Luc, do you know how long I=92ve waited to hear you say that?=94 =20 =93Would you believe me, if I said I did?=94 =20 =93We need to talk in person,=94 she stated. =93I=92ll be over in a minute= .=94 =20 =93No, I=92ll come over there. Give me a minute.=94 =20 =93OK,=94 she agreed, and then quickly added, =93Jean-Luc, I love you too.= =94 =20 *********************** =20 To Beverly=92s surprise, Jean-Luc had managed to beam over to her quarters. =20 When Jean-Luc materialized he hurriedly approached her, threw his arms arou= nd her, and kissed her passionately. =20 When the kiss ended, Beverly breathlessly asked, =93How did you manage to b= eam over?=94 =20 =93Being an admiral has its privileges,=94 he smiled. =20 =93Do you have any idea what day it is?=94 =20 =93Christmas?=94 =20 =93Yes,=94 she smiled. =20 =93Merry Christmas, Beverly!=94 =20 =93Merry Christmas to you too, Jean-Luc!=94 =20 =93I don=92t have a gift for you,=94 Jean-Luc informed her. =20 =93Yes, you do and you=92ve just given it to me.=94 =20 =93What was that?=94 =20 =93The words I=92ve longed to hear you say.=94 =20 =93And I meant every word!=94 He told her and then kissed her passionately= once more. Mriana Mriana, Daughter of the Sixth House of Betazed-http://mriana.bravepages.com= =20=20=20 Bridge To Sickbay- http://mriana.bravepages.com/fanfic/PC.html Chakotay's Lodge- http://mriana.bravepages.com/fanfic/Voyager/ChakotaysLodg= e.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ASCEM messages are copied to a mailing list. Most recent messages can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCEML. NewMessage: