jesternene

[jesternene]

Beautiful!!!

an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken sonnet 116 ==========

"I feel that Picard and Crusher have had this very particular love relationship," she says. "It's very unique and it's almost Shakespearean to me. It's almost like in the sonnet of 'looks upon tempests but is never shaken'." -- Gates McFadden

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

Please forgive me for how long this chapter took! A lot happened to me over the last few months and I really wanted to be in the right head space to get these scenes right. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 5, please go here

CHAPTER 6

The next month felt wonderful for Beverly. Picard and she had been spending more time together, having breakfast, dinners, and any social functions, as they tried to discover just what this new beginning really was for them. Beverly was 26 weeks and the closer it got to this child making his entrance, the more butterflies she felt in her stomach. She hoped Picard and she could figure out what this next chapter in their life really meant before the baby arrived.

As Beverly had a slightly late start to her morning, she was walking as fast as her pregnancy would allow, heading to Picard's quarters for Breakfast. She didn't have to open that morning so she decided to dress more casually, and comfortably, donning a sky-blue sweater and black maternity slacks. The sweater was far too large for her tiny frame and her shoulder peeked through at times, but it was large enough to encase her belly, which she swore was growing by the second.

As she finally reached his door, she chimed. Fixing her hair as quickly as she could before he opened the door. When the door finally opened, she greeted him with a smile.

"I'm sorry I'm late…" she started to say, but when she noticed the blood drained expression on Picard's face, she paused for a moment and noticed they were not alone. A beautiful brunette was occupying the same seat she would be sitting, as the woman smiled at her and slowly sipped her coffee. "Oh. Excuse me. I didn't realize you had company" Beverly said, slightly in shock of what she had walked into.

"That's all right. Er, allow me to introduce you. This is Beverly, Doctor Beverly, Doctor Beverly Crusher. This is Vash. She's a friend of mine from the Archaeology Council'' Picard stuttered. Beverly walked in and slowly reached her hand out to shake the mysterious woman's hand, and gave him a look as he awkwardly introduced her.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. The Captain and I often share morning tea together" Beverly politely explained.

"Yes, I know. Jean-Luc has told me all about you" Vash said with a smile.

"Really?" Beverly asked, slowly taking Picard's seat at the table. "When was that?"

"On Risa, where we met" Vash explained. Beverly looked to Picard with a questionable look.

"I see. That must have been during your vacation last year" Beverly questioned. Picard swallowed hard and didn't know how to respond.

"No. Yes" Picard again stuttered. He smiled nervously before he finally answered "Yes"

Beverly and Vash began to make Picard feel very uncomfortable at that moment. Beverly let out a loud sigh before turning to Vash. "Well, I'm surprised he never mentioned you" Beverly said.

"So am I" Vash said unamused as she glanced over to Picard. She then turned back to Beverly and leaned a bit forward from her chair. "Doctor, are you busy?" Vash asked.

"Not at the moment" Beverly responded, just before she sipped the Captain's tea. Vash can sense how nervous Picard was and even though she didn't fully understand why, she decided to take advantage of the situation.

"I was wondering, I would love to see some more of this marvelous ship" Vash smirked maliciously.

"I would be delighted to show it to you" Beverly said enthusiastically. Picard began to protest before Beverly cut him off as she stood up from her chair. "That is, if it's alright with you, Jean-Luc"

"Of course" Picard winced and showcased a not so convincing smile. Beverly was surprised by his answer and smirked back to Vash, understanding exactly what she was doing. Beverly began to head to the door while Vash stood up.

"Don't worry, I promise to behave myself" Vash leaned in and whispered to Picard. Picard's face dropped in worry, unsure what they were up to. As Vash exited, Beverly stared at Picard before the door shut.

Picard sat harshly in his chair and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. His time with Vash was an adventurous fling, a private matter he never wished to share with his crew; especially Beverly. Clearly, Vash didn't notice the growing child that Beverly was carrying, but he worried she would soon find out. Picard always kept his life private, even to those closest to him. It isn't that he was ashamed of the pregnancy or Beverly, but he didn't feel Vash needed to know the details of his life.

___________________________________

After tending to the bridge and making sure everything was in order for the Archeology Council's symposium, he heads to Sickbay to find Beverly. When he enters, she is in her office looking down at a PADD as she stands next to her viewscreen. He hesitates for a moment before walking in.

"Beverly?" he says softly so as to not startle her. Beverly looks up for a moment before looking back to her PADD.

"Captain" she gives a short greeting, showing that something is indeed bothering her. Picard sighs before speaking. Unsure of exactly what to say.

"I think we need to talk" Picard says.

"About?" Beverly looks to Picard, placing her PADD on her desk.

"About Vash. I feel the need to-" Beverly raises her hand, cutting off what Picard is trying to say.

"No need to explain. I know how much you value privacy and you didn't feel the need to tell me about her or your trip. I understand" Beverly said in such a tone that Picard knew she didn't understand and was hurt by his choice. Beverly sits down at her desk and continues to do her work, which gives Picard a moment to collect his thoughts and sit at the chair in front of her.

"I know I don't need to but I want to. If you would just listen for a moment. Please?" Picard pleaded. Beverly closed her eyes and sighed, afraid of what he might say. Honestly, he didn't do anything wrong and she knew that, but since his vacation was around the time of her interaction with the Verpellian, she was having conflicting feelings. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defensively, and waited for him to speak. Picard felt the lump in his throat and swallowed hard, hoping to say the right thing.

"My vacation wasn't exactly how I expected it to go. I got sorta mixed up in Vash's dealings on Risa and since I knew she was an Archeologist, I couldn't resist the adventure" Picard started before Beverly spoke.

"You never were one to turn down a mystery" Beverly half-smiled at her comment. Which causes Picard to soften a bit.

"No, definitely not" Picard smiled. He waited a beat before continuing. "Vash and I did grow close on my vacation, but I didn't feel the need to say anything because I didn't think I would ever see her again" Picard explained.

"You're acting like she was just some one-night stand" Beverly questioned, arms still tight across her chest.

"In a way, she was. She and I had an experience that I will always cherish, but It was nothing more than that. Seeing her again, It brought up mixed feelings because I am not the same man she was with. And I don't want to give her the wrong impression, which is why I acted the way I did when you showed up for Breakfast" Picard finished. Beverly took a moment to let his words sink in.

"Do you love her?" Beverly asked, which surprised Picard.

"What?" Picard questioned.

"Do you love her?" Beverly asked again but this time in a more persistent tone. Picard sighed and hesitated to answer. Beverly was unsure what Picard's mind was racing with and it scared her. She almost didn't want to know the answer but she knew it had to be asked, especially under the circumstances of their current situation.

"Do I care for her? Yes" Picard said. "Do I love her? … No" Picard sincerely answered.

"Would you tell her about the baby?" Beverly hopefully asked. His deep sigh was all he could answer and she sighed herself in disappointment. "Of course not. You do like your privacy"

"Beverly…" Picard tried to speak but again, Beverly stopped him.

"It's fine, Jean-Luc. You're not tied down to the baby… or me" Beverly said defensively, holding back tears that were threatening to escape. Picard stared at her for a moment, saddened by her sentiment.

"But I am" Picard spoke. Beverly was surprised by his answer and this time didn't stop him from explaining. "The feelings I have for Vash are not the same as the feelings I have for you. I am proud about becoming a father and I am not ashamed of that. I just don't feel it is anyone's business of my feelings, past lovers or otherwise" Picard blurted out. This was the first time Picard admitted how he truly was feeling over their son, or her for that matter.

Beverly couldn't hold back the tears she felt and let one escape. She quickly wiped the tear away, trying to be strong at this moment, but her hormones were fighting against her and she couldn't help it.

Picard stood up and walked to her side. He kneeled down in front of her and took her hand.

"I'm sorry It has taken me this long to admit that to you. I just wanted you to know where I stood when Vash was concerned" He then took her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

Beverly took his face into her hands, which caused Picard to stand up with Beverly and hug her tightly. The only thing standing between them was their son. She then placed her forehead on Picard's and let a few more tears fall. "Thank you" she said in almost a whisper.

Picard leaned back and looked at her, wiping the tears off her face. "No need" He smiled.

Beverly stared into his eyes lovingly. Picard felt the urge to do something he had only dreamed about, but as he slowly began to close the distance between their lips, Will Riker interrupted.

"Riker to Picard"

Picard sighed in disappointment before tapping his combadge. "Picard here" he said in frustration, which caused Beverly to chuckle at the moment.

"The council is ready and is heading to Ten Forward" Riker explained. Picard then realized he was not ready and panicked.

"Oh, right! Thank you number one, I will be there shortly" Picard exclaimed and closed his communication. He then looks to Beverly sadly, "I have to get ready"

"I know. I'll see you at Ten Forward" Beverly smiled, letting him know it was okay. Picard smiled back and kissed her on the cheek.

"I'll see you soon" he says before looking down and rubbing her stomach. "And I'll see you soon as well" he says to their son before hurriedly rushing out of her office.

Beverly looked down to her belly and caressed it softly. "I guess things are looking up"

___________________________________

The events that followed after Picard left didn't exactly go the way Beverly and Picard had ever imagined. The way Q handled the situation of Vash and Picard was not something Beverly was fond of. However, she put her feelings aside and knew they needed to do whatever they could to get out safely.

Once they returned and realized Vash did not return with them, Picard rushed out, to Beverly's dismay. As Picard enters his Ready Room, Vash appears in Safari type clothing and surprises Picard.

"Hello, Jean-Luc" Vash said with a smile.

"Well, this is a relief. I thought that perhaps Q had found…" Picard begins to say but gets cut off my Vash.

"Well, he had some things to discuss with me" Vash finished before sitting down on the couch.

"Indeed? Surprised he's not busy gloating over his victory" Picard said before sitting down next to her.

"He was right about one thing, you know. As ridiculous as it was, his game did prove that you still care" Vash said, leaning in closer. Picard smiled and sighed at the same time. He did care but not in the way she meant it.

"I may not show my feelings to my crew, but I do have them" Picard says.

"I'm going to miss you, Jean-Luc" Vash says, which causes Picard to raise a brow.

"So, where are you off to now?" He asks.

"I haven't made up my mind" Vash says before Q appears behind Picard.

"After all, she has the entire universe to choose from" Q says which startles Picard.

"Meet my new partner" Vash cautiously says. Picard instantly stands up in disbelief.

"Him?" Picard exclaims.

"Why not?" Vash questions.

"I'll tell you why not. He's devious, amoral, unreliable, irresponsible, and, and definitely not to be trusted!" Picard huffed to Vash. He was more worried about her safety than anything else and knew being with Q was a bad idea.

"Remind you of someone you know?" Vash playfully asks with a smile. Picard softened a bit, knowing that he was being overbearing and overprotective at that moment. Like he said to Beverly, he cared for Vash but he didn't love her and it wasn't his place to tell her what to do.

"As a matter of fact, it does" Picard says calmly.

"We're going to have fun. I'm going to take her places no human has ever seen" Q says with such delight that annoys Picard.

"Who can resist an offer like that?" Vash asks Picard.

"As payment in full for your debt to me, you will guarantee her safety" Picard asks Q, ignoring Vash's rhetorical question.

"She will not be harmed, Jean-Luc. I promise you that. Well, are you going to kiss her goodbye?" Q wonders. Vash and Picard just stare at him, giving him the hint to leave. "Oh, alright!" Q then vanishes.

"Well? Aren't you?" Vash wonders. Standing up and closing the distance between them.

Picard takes Vash's hand and looks deeply into her eyes. However, not of love but sadness. Vash begins to wonder that there is more to Picard's hesitancy and asks him "What is it?"

"I should have told you when you first arrived. And I am sorry if I gave you the wrong impression" Picard begins. Vash takes a step back but keeps quiet so Picard continues.

"My life isn't the same as it was when we first met…" Picard then takes a deep breath. "I'm going to be a father… with Beverly"

Vash is surprised by this and takes her a moment to understand what he just told her. "That is kind of important information, Jean-Luc"

"I know and I'm sorry. I was going to tell you, honestly. But then Q took us away and… well, you know the rest" Picard looked down, almost ashamed. Vash knew this was hard for him, being honest and vulnerable but was honored nonetheless. She stepped towards him and placed her finger under his chin so he was forced to look at her.

"I'm very happy for you, Jean-Luc. Really" Vash smiles. This close relationship with Picard was something she never had experienced in her life, but she knew it was never going anywhere, not as the free spirit she is. Picard smiles back in relief.

"Thank you" Picard says, taking her hand again.

"Do you love her?" Vash asked Picard, and he gave the same surprising look that he gave Beverly earlier that day when she asked the same question. "Beverly? Do you love her?" Vash asked again.

"Yes" Picard said without hesitancy. Vash smiled wide and nodded.

"Then I am very happy for you" she said sincerely. She places a kiss on his cheek before stepping back. "Good luck, Jean-Luc. Maybe one day I can meet that sweet baby of yours"

"I would like that very much" Picard smiles. "Goodbye, Vash"

"Goodbye, Jean-Luc" Vash then winks at him before vanishing. Picard was alone with his thoughts and knew he couldn't keep this in much longer. He taps his combadge and requests the computer to let him know where Beverly is.

"Dr. Beverly Crusher is in her quarters" the computer responds. Picard is out the door before the computer even finishes its sentence.

___________________________________

As Beverly was getting ready for bed, she heard her door chime.

"Come in" she answers. The moment the door opens she sees Picard standing there. "Jean-Luc? Did you find Vash?" Beverly wondered.

"I did" Picard answered, slowly walking towards her.

"And what happened?" Beverly asked. Unsure if she really wanted to know the answer but asked anyway. Picard didn't answer right away until he got so close to her she could feel his heart beating rapidly.

"I told her I was going to be a father… and that I was in love" Picard says, looking deeply into Beverly's eyes.

"You did?" Beverly asked with a shaky breath. Picard nods slowly, leaning in and kissing her softly. As the kiss became longer and more heated, she wrapped her arms around Picard's neck and they got lost in the moment.

Q did get one thing right, Picard was in love. Love is a dangerous game and Q felt he was ill-equipped to handle it, but this was their chance to get it right. Not just for themselves, but for their son.

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

Forgive me for the long wait. Been very busy at work and I had a hard time ending this chapter. Hopefully, you all enjoy it!

You read Chapter 4 here

CHAPTER 5

After they rescued Commander Riker from Malcor III, Beverly was needed almost around the clock to keep Riker alive. It was close, almost too close in her mind, of how they almost lost him. She wasn’t sure if it was the hormones talking, but she was having trouble keeping her emotions in check when she saw her friend near death. After a few days, Riker regained consciousness to Beverly’s relief. She instantly communicated the news to Picard before checking in on her patient.

“Well, look who decided to join the living” Beverly smiled, looking over his chart that was next to his bed. Riker winced and moaned, stiff from being in bed for far too long and the pain shooting down from his back to his legs. “Do you need more pain receptors?” Beverly asked, noticing his discomfort.

“I’ll be okay. Nothing I can’t handle” Riker put on the charm with a half-sided smile. “How long have I been here?” he asked weakly.

“5 days” Beverly responded. She quickly looked over his PADD again before putting it back down. She leaned over him slightly. “You did give us quite a scare. But luckily for you, you have a great doctor” she smiled. He returned the smile as best as he could, thankful for her skills at that very moment. But even in his grogginess, he could tell she was tired and a little out of breath.

“Are you okay?” Riker asked. Beverly was surprised by his question.

“Of course, why do you ask?” she wondered.

“You look a little tired. I hope I didn’t give you too much trouble. You are growing a small human as we speak” Riker chuckled a bit but winced from the pain as he did. Beverly lightly put her hand on his shoulder and was grateful for her friend’s concern.

“You don’t need to worry about us. I know when not to push myself” Beverly said. Just then, they heard the familiar whoosh of the Sickbay doors opening and closing as Picard began to walk towards them.

“How’s he doing, Doctor?” Picard asked.

“All things considered, he is doing remarkably well. He should be back to full duty in a few days” Beverly answered.

“A few days?!” Riker exclaimed, trying to get up but realizing he couldn’t. Just as he did, Picard and Beverly rushed over to his side and eased him to lay back down.

“Oh no you don’t. You are going to heal and rest right here. I know how stubborn you can be, Will. I would rather be safe than sorry on your recovery” Beverly said. Picard nodded in approval over her observation.

“Dr. Crusher is right. I need you to be 100% before you return to duty. I mean, unless you want me to do all the away missions until then?” Picard smirked. Riker rolled his eyes at the Captain’s attempt at a joke.

“No need, Captain. I will do as the good doctor says. But make sure she rests herself. It looks like she hasn’t taken a break in days” Riker commented on the tiresome look of Beverly. Picard quickly looked over to her and noticed exactly what Riker meant. That vibrant glow she had dimmed a little, her cheeks were slightly flushed and she seemed weaker. Beverly's eyes widened as she could feel their eyes on her.

“I’m fine, Captain” Beverly insisted.

“I think I will be the judge of that, Doctor” Picard said. Giving her a stern look, which only made her roll her eyes in defeat. “Get some rest, Number One. I will check in on you tomorrow” Picard smiled at his first officer. Riker nodded back to his captain and watched him escort the doctor to her office.

________________________________________

As Picard and Beverly entered her office, she quickly went around her desk and sat down. Picard rested his arms on the back of the chair in front of her desk, still giving her a raised brow of concern.

“I’m fine” Beverly huffed, smoothing out the material of her uniform over her stomach.

“I’m sure you are” Picard said before sitting down. Beverly could tell by the tone of his voice that he wasn’t being exactly truthful in that statement.

“But?” Beverly asked.

“But– you need to start slowing down” Picard commented. A touch of concern can be heard in his tone.

“Jean-Luc, I’m pregnant, not ill. And this isn’t my first rodeo. I finished medical school when I had Wesley and I worked up until he was born” Beverly explained. A little annoyed by Picard’s request.

“That’s true, but you also weren’t the CMO of the Federation Starship and responsible for the health and welfare of over 1000 people” Picard said sensitively.

“And your point?” Beverly scoffed at his observation.

“My point is, you need to give yourself some breaks. I don't expect you to abandon your duties, but you should allow self-care. If not for you, then for the baby” Picard pointed out. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk, giving her a stern look. Beverly rolled her eyes before dropping her guard.

“You’re right” Beverly said, defeated, which only caused Picard to sigh in relief. “I promise I will take more care of myself” She continued. Picard could sense the defeat in her tone of voice.

“Happy to hear that” Picard smiled. He stood up to leave but stopped and turned around to face her once again. “Once Riker is back on his feet, may we have dinner in my quarters?” Picard asked.

Beverly was taken aback for a moment. The last time he said this, it turned out it wasn’t him at all. She had a flashback of that moment and she closed her eyes tightly to forget. Picard noticed her odd reaction and thought he might have overstepped. “I’m sorry. If you don’t want to…” Beverly cut him off before he continued.

“No, I’m sorry. It’s just– that’s what the Verpellian said to me before we– you know…” Beverly lightly touched her stomach again, looking down. Picard took in a deep breath, saddened over what Beverly had gone through.

“Of course. If you want, we can eat at Ten Forward. If you prefer. Or not at all, that’s fine too. Whatever you need…” Picard began to babble, which caused Beverly to chuckle. He stopped talking and was confused by her reaction.

“You’re cute when you're nervous” she smiled. He blushed at her comment but a small smile formed at the corner of his mouth. “Dinner in your quarters sounds lovely” She responded. Picard’s mood immediately changed when she accepted his dinner invitation. He stood taller and more relaxed, smiling widely.

“I look forward to it” Picard said, still smiling from ear to ear. Beverly only returned his smile before he exited her office.

________________________________________

Another week passed before Riker fully recovered from his incident. However, normalcy in the Enterprise didn’t last for long. When they were investigating what had happened on the USS Brattain and got caught in the Tyken’s Rift, the crew began to lose their ability to REM sleep and started to hallucinate and become paranoid. As much as Beverly tried to keep at finding a solution to fix the issues, she was not immune to the effects, and neither was Picard.

Even though Picard had relieved himself from duty and left Data in charge, Beverly was helping Data and Deanna contact another species to free them from the rift. Beverly’s hallucinations grew more intense as time went on. After her incident in the morgue, she began to stress about everything and even felt paranoid when she didn’t feel the baby move.

When they were able to find a solution and escape the rift, the crew still had a lot to recover from, especially getting a long night’s rest. Data ordered Picard to go to sleep and after 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, he decided to go to Beverly’s quarters and check in on her. He rang her door but no answer. He didn’t feel it was appropriate to use his security pass but he also felt the fear inside him grew in case something could be wrong. It could still be a side effect of what they just went through, but Picard didn’t want to risk it. He took a deep breath before calling out his security code.

“Computer, security override, Picard 4-7-Alpha-Tango” Picard sighed.

“Security override accepted” The computer stated. The doors whooshed open and Picard quickly stepped in. He turned to his right to head into Beverly’s room and slowly peeked around the corner. He noticed her sleeping soundly and a wave of relief overcame him. He stepped back to the door but stopped. The need to stay was overwhelming and as much as his mind told him it was a bad idea, his heart couldn’t help but need to be near her. He always loved Beverly but he wasn’t sure if this need to be with her was because he was in love with her or because he felt he had to because she was carrying his child. He didn’t want to rush things with Beverly but he didn’t want to be slow either. The confusion over what he wanted and what he needed was blurred, but Beverly’s happiness was the most important to him. He shook his head for a moment and decided to leave, but her voice stopped him.

“Jean-Luc? What are you doing here?” Beverly questioned in a soft yet sleepy tone. He turned around and saw her standing at the archway of her bedroom, keeping her robe tightly closed. He ran his hand over his smooth scalp before stepping towards her. She arched her brow waiting for an answer.

“I uh– I’m… well you see…” Picard began to babble which made Beverly more confused. Picard sighed and looked down as if he was in trouble. “I was worried about you and needed to see if you were okay” he admitted. 

“You were worried? About me?” Beverly questioned for a moment before a small smile crept on her lips. “That’s very sweet, Jean-Luc” Beverly said. He looked relieved.

“I was afraid I overstepped by coming in here. Maybe it is a side effect of what just happened but I felt the sudden urge to– to see you” He explained. Beverly shook her head and walked towards him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“I trust your judgment, Jean-Luc. I probably would have done the same thing” Beverly said, keeping her smile sweet and loving. 

“Are you okay?” Picard questioned with worry.

“I think so” she said. Walking over to her couch and sitting down. She let out a deep breath, leaning back and rubbing her belly contently. “I feel a little more like myself but not 100%”

“I know what you mean” Picard stated before sitting down next to her. “I am having Data take us to the nearest Starbase so we all can get the sleep we need and recover properly” 

“That sounds like a good idea” Beverly said. Picard stared at her stomach for a moment, which Beverly caught. He looked away quickly, as if embarrassed. Beverly wasn’t sure how Picard felt. She knew he was excited that they were having a son, but he hadn’t brought it up much since that day. “Do you want to feel him?” she asked sweetly.

Picard was caught off guard by her question and shook his head instantly. “No, that’s quite alright” he said before standing up quickly. Beverly sighed at his reaction but kept response silent. “I’m sorry. I think I am just nervous about– feeling him” Picard explained, now facing her. Beverly lightly chuckled at his statement.

“He isn’t going to bite, Jean-Luc” Beverly smiled.

“I know that. It’s just–” Picard trailed off a bit, causing Beverly’s smile to fade.

“If you feel him, it’s real?” Beverly finished his statement. Picard looked at her and nodded. He felt ashamed about his feelings, only like he shouldn’t have any. Beverly knew this was going to take him a lot longer to accept and even though he made progress, he still had a long way to go. She stood up and stood as close to him as her belly would allow.

She held out her hand to him but Picard froze for a moment. He looked deep into those vibrant blue eyes of hers and swallowed hard. He slowly gave her his hand and she lightly placed it on her stomach. “He’s 22 weeks now. His kicks are stronger and more frequent. It’s hard to get anything…” She stopped mid-sentence when their son kicked his father’s hand. Picard’s eyes widened at the weird sensation, but Beverly smiled. “I told you he wouldn’t bite”

Picard smiled back at her and placed his other hand on her stomach to get a better feel. Almost on cue, their son kicked again. That kick was hard enough to cause Beverly to wince a little and let out a small gasp. Picard instantly worried when he saw her face.

“Are you alright?” Picard asked, placing one of his hands on her shoulders. Beverly chuckled at how quickly he panicked.

“I’m fine. That kick was a doozy though” Beverly said. Picard let out a small sigh of relief before removing his hands from her.

“Thank you” Picard smiled again.

Beverly only returned the smile before sitting down. The room fell into awkward silence before an idea struck Picard’s mind.

“You know, we didn’t get to have that dinner in my quarters” Picard stated, sitting back next to Beverly.

“No, we did not. Things got a little hectic around here” She sarcastically mentioned.

“Indeed it did” Picard huffed a bit. “But, maybe we can make up for it. How about some breakfast?” Picard asked with a hopeful glint in his eyes.

“Right now? Jean-Luc it’s 4 in the morning” Beverly commented.

“It’s still morning, and nothing beats an early breakfast” Picard quickly stood up and held out his hand to help her up.

“Yea there is, it’s called sleeping in” Beverly smirked, as Picard helped her up from the couch. “But, since it doesn’t seem any of us will be sleeping in today. Breakfast sounds perfect” Beverly continued, smiling again at him.

“Your usual then?” Picard asked with a smile on his face.

“As always” Beverly replied. They spent the rest of the morning together, not letting anyone or anything stand in their way.

J

[jesternene]

The Women of Star Trek: Picard

It is that time of year and the Emmy buzz is loud and proud among the different outlets promoting certain shows and actors that made an impact during their season. I agree with a lot of the articles that I have seen. However, there is one thing that is missing in their spotlight: The women.

As a Star Trek fan, the hype of the Final Season of Star Trek: Picard not only succeeded in their approach but they went above and beyond. The nice mix of new and nostalgia to the story was blended well and it deserves “Outstanding Drama Series” in the upcoming Emmys. The problem that I am having is not what we saw in the Season but how the Women of the series seem to be missing in that hype Star Trek: Picard is getting.

I agree that Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Levar Burton, and Michael Dorn were fantastic this season and do deserve to be recognized for their new approach to their characters, but the women were just as equally if not more deserving because the story mostly revolved around them.

Let’s start with Jeri Ryan. The beginning of Seven’s story started with controversy due to how they approached her character during her time in Star Trek: Voyager. As much as fans wanted to see the former Next Gen characters when Picard was announced, it was nice to see another character outside of that particular show, as all the characters in the Star Trek universe are important to the story. Seeing Seven as a rogue Fenris Ranger, going outside the law to do the greater good, was fantastic. It showed a different side to the character and the way Jeri approached that character was a breath of fresh air to those who adored her on Voyager. With the series ending, It was nice seeing the conflict with Seven on wanting to do the greater good but being stuck with regulations. Her performance in showing Seven’s struggle was brilliantly done. We knew why she did what she did and didn’t question her one bit. That was based on how Jeri approached it and seeing now Captain Seven, and wanting more of Captain Seven, is all to Jeri’s credit.

Michelle Hurd was new to the franchise but you never would have known. Her character Raffi worked so well with Picard, that you forgot she was never around during the TNG days. You bought that she had a history with Picard, even if we didn’t see it. The emotional turmoil her character went through brought Star Trek to a new level and it was character development that fans longed for. I give that credit to Michelle's approach to that. She embodied the struggle that Raffi was going through. The emotional roller coaster we saw was not only entertaining on so many levels, but it invoked emotional and tear-jerking scenes that the fans could feel and understand. When fans can relate to a character, you know the actor and the writer are doing their job.

Of course, fans not only wanted to see past and new characters in the franchise, but we wanted great stories as well. During the TNG days, some stories fell flat as they didn’t bring the characters to the level that the fans felt they should have. What was interesting about the final season of Star Trek: Picard is the writers decided to not only take that extra step but put the characters through those emotional scenes that the fans waited 35 years for. Gates McFadden was a fan favorite to return and she did not disappoint with those types of scenes.

Giving her character a complete 180 backstory, allowed Gates to showcase just how great an actress she is. With over 40+ years under her belt, Gates brought everything she had ever done in her career and embodied it in the character of Dr. Beverly Crusher. A character that she holds dear to her heart, she wanted to make sure that the fans understood the love and heartbreak of Beverly. She had scenes that required no words but it tugged on the heartstrings of the viewer that we wanted to see more. Her chemistry with Patrick Stewart only highlighted his scenes for the better. Ed Speelers, who plays her son Jack Crusher, mixed well with how Gates approached this side of Beverly and it was the Mother Son scenes that fans longed for. This season not only went down as one of the best in the Star Trek Franchise but for Gates as well. The emotion she played, minor details of a chin quiver, or even a small smile, really brought out why Beverly Crusher is the fan's character. They can relate to her on so many levels and it is that acting that deserves to be recognized among her fellow peers and the industry.

And let's not forget, more powerhouse women showcased their chops in every scene they were given. Amanda Plummer as the new villain, Vadic, made fans delight in her sarcastic demeanor. Even though it was one episode, the return of Michelle Forbes as Ro Laren, was the highlight as her character was redeemed in a way that fans always wanted. Seeing Deanna Troi, played by Marina Sirtis, was more in tune with her empathic side, and being one of the instrumental heroes of the season was also a highlight we wanted to see. The industry can not forget how much the women impacted this season and with an award season causing so much buzz, It is important we focus on why. 

All in all, the entire cast of Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard was the best mix anyone could hope for. We already knew that the TNG cast was perfect, but adding the new characters just focused more on that. We love these characters and we love the actors that play them. Let’s give them the attention they deserve because, without them, Season 3 wouldn’t have been what it was.

J

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

Forgive me for the late response to Chapter 4. I returned to work so it was hard to get this going. Hope you enjoy it!

To read Chapter 3, please go here

CHAPTER 4

It had been over 24 hours since the encounter with the Verpellians. She was avoiding him and even took another personal day from Sickbay. It wasn't like her. She usually buried herself in her work, not hiding away in her quarters. Picard grew worried every second that passed and he didn't hear from her.

After his shift ended on the bridge, he decided to go see her. The news that he fantasized about being a family with Beverly must have been a shock to her, especially since he wasn't fully aware of what she wanted.

Did this idea scare her away? he thought.

But this wasn't how he wanted to be a family with Beverly. The circumstances of her pregnancy made it hard to connect to her or the child. As much as he loved her, this isn't how he would want to start a life with her. He knew the prospect of terminating the pregnancy was an option, but it was Beverly's decision. He didn't want to push the matter, even though he would support it. As he approached her quarters, he took a deep breath. He hesitated at chiming her door, unsure what stood on the other side of it. Finally, he rang.

"Come in" he heard a very vibrant tone before the door opened.

"Jean-Luc…'' Beverly greeted with a smile, as she was resting comfortably on her couch with a padd in her hand. She seemed well, glowing, and not a care in the world. Her heavenly image took his breath away before he spoke.

"I hope I'm not bothering you" Picard asked. As much as he wanted to see her, he didn't want to impose if she wanted to be alone.

"No, of course not" She answered, sitting upright and placing the padd on her side table. Even with the loose-fitted nightgown and robe, he couldn't help but notice the tiny bump peeking through. "Please, sit" she offered the empty space next to her.

Picard cleared his throat before taking a seat. He seemed anxious, clasping his hands together and looking down at them. As much as Beverly seemed ok, her heart was beating faster as every second passed in their uncomfortable silence. Picard then looked at Beverly and smiled.

"Beverly, I know what the Verpellian said must have come as a surprise to you" Picard nervously chuckled.

"Probably as surprised as you were to find out my feelings led to this" she said, smiling and lightly placing her hand on her belly.

"Right…" he said before clearing his throat. "Well, I—" Beverly raised her hand, cutting him off before he continued.

"Jean-Luc… I want you to know that I plan on keeping the baby" Beverly said, tilting her head slightly with a small smile. She knew this decision would not only impact her life but his as well.

"Really?" Picard questioned in surprise.

"I know this is a big decision but I just want you to know— I don't expect you to be a part of this child's life" Beverly said, her eyes looking down for a moment.

"You don't?" Picard was unsure of what she was saying exactly.

"This is my burden and I will shoulder it alone if I have to" Beverly explained, taking a deep breath. She was trying to hold back the tears that began to form in her eyes.

"That doesn't seem fair. You didn't ask for this, Beverly. You shouldn't have to do this alone" Picard commented.

"No, but you are more of an innocent party than I am. You had no say in this" Beverly sighed.

"Neither did you. Why would you burden yourself with raising a child you did not ask for?" Picard asked with sincere concern in his voice.

"Because I already love them" Beverly said as she let the tears fall from her eyes. Picard's heart dropped as he saw her cry. All he could do was slowly nod at her confession, which caused her to continue. She stood up from her seat, her back turned for a moment before turning to face him.

"I felt it today. Just a flutter but noticeable. And when I felt the baby, I caught myself smiling. And I knew at that moment, I couldn't let it go" Beverly said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Beverly…" He started to talk as he stood up to face her.

"I know you don't agree with me, but I am not asking you for your approval. This is my decision." Beverly said in a low tone, trying to keep her emotions in check. Picard knew that and he knew there wouldn't be anything he could say to change her mind. He slowly took her hand in his, Beverly wasn't sure what the gesture meant but was happy to accept it.

"I respect your decision but am unsure how I would fit in this child's life. I mean, I wasn't technically there when they were…" he trailed off, Beverly nodded in understanding.

"I know, and I don't want you to feel any pressure to do something you're uncomfortable with" Beverly said. Squeezing his hand slightly.

"But Beverly, I am going to see this child grow up. We are serving on the same Starship, it will be a little hard to avoid that" Picard chuckled slightly at the thought. "You have a connection with this baby, but I don't. And so I don't know how I would fit in your life"

Beverly absorbed his concerns. She knew this was going to be a rough road for them. After all, they haven't even shared their first kiss yet. She tugged on his arm, and they sat back on the couch. Entwining their fingers together, she took a deep breath as she stared into his hazel eyes.

"Jean-Luc, This isn't going to be easy for both of us" Beverly sighed. "I think we should just take it a day at a time. Not rush into anything and see where this goes" Beverly finished, with a slight hopeful smile on her face. Picard smiled back and squeezed her hand. He couldn't predict what the future would hold for them but he wasn't going to cut himself off completely either.

"Of course. One day at a time" he responded. A few uncomfortable moments passed before he took his hand away and stood up, heading for the door. Beverly didn't look at him, unsure if she wanted to see him walk away from her. Picard stopped and turned to look at her. "If you need anything…" Picard hesitated to finish but smiled. This caused Beverly to smile back at him and nod. He knew she understood how difficult this was for him but knew it was just as equally hard for her as well. He left her quarters without saying another word.

_____________________________________

A month passed and it was very busy for the Enterprise crew. Dealings with the Cardassians and the mysterious Paxans were a top priority and there was not much time to deal with personal relations. They kept their interactions simple and professional, but Picard couldn't help but think of this child every time he saw her. She had to change into a maternity version of her uniform and her glow was hard to not notice.

When they broke the news to the senior staff of the situation, they congratulated them but worried for Beverly. Once she ensured the crew she was fine and so was the baby, they seemed to welcome the idea of a new member on board. This support was helpful for Beverly but was little help for Picard. He wanted to be happy but still felt no connection to this child. He wondered if he ever will.

One day, during a crisis of Commander Riker missing during a First contact mission, Picard went to Sickbay to find Beverly so they could discuss the matter. When he didn't find her in her office, he asked the first nurse he saw to see where she might be.

"Excuse me, Nurse Martinez. Do you happen to know where Dr. Crusher is?" Picard asked in an authoritative tone.

"Yes sir! She is in exam room 3 being examined" Martinez responded. Picard gasped slightly.

"Why was Beverly being examined?" he thought.

He instantly feared something was wrong. He nodded to the nurse and headed to the room at a quick pace. Once he arrived, he wasn't sure if he even had the right to enter. She made it clear he didn't need to be involved, but the instinct of him needing to know she was okay overtook him. He pressed the privacy button which alerted those inside. He heard Beverly say "Enter" and the door opened.

"Jean-Luc?" Beverly was surprised. She assumed it was one of her nurses, not the captain. Dr. Selar stood at attention the moment she saw the Captain at the door. Beverly drew her attention back to Selar, "Is that all doctor?" Beverly asked.

"Yes. And congratulations again, Dr. Crusher" Selar responded. She turned to the door and nodded to the Captain before she left. Picard swallowed hard, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

"What can I do for you, Captain?" Beverly asked as she slipped her lab coat on. Picard completely forgot why he even wanted to see her in the first place and stood for a moment trying to find the words. "Jean-Luc, are you alright?" Beverly asked worriedly.

"I'm sorry. I uh–" Picard shook his head for a moment and said the first thing that came to mind. "I thought something was wrong and I needed…" Picard trailed off and sighed.

"I see" Beverly said with a small smile on her face. She never liked causing worry but was slightly grateful he was. "Everything is fine. I was just having my prenatal examination" Beverly explained.

"Oh good" Picard sighed in relief. "Why did she say congratulations?" he asked curiously. Beverly smiled at him widely at the question.

"Because I found out what I'm having" she answered, lightly placing her hand on her stomach.

"Oh" Picard seemed surprised.

"I'm sorry. Did you want to be here when I found out?" Beverly questioned. She purposely kept him out of the loop because she didn't want to pressure him into anything.

"No no– It's quite alright" Picard cleared his throat before continuing. "So, what are you having?" Picard asked. Lightly tugging on his uniform anxiously.

"It's a boy" Beverly smiled. The announcement sucked the breath out of Picard's lungs. His face drained quickly as the news she was having a son took over. She looked over at him curiously, unsure if he was happy by the news or if she needed to get him a chair. She took a few steps toward him but he didn't make any eye contact. "Jean-Luc?"

"A son?" Picard quietly asked, to which Beverly only nodded. Her heart sank a bit thinking that maybe he was not happy by the news. The emotions were felt during those quiet beats of that exam room. Beverly practically held her breath, waiting for Picard to say anything to her.

He finally looked up at her and that is when she noticed the tears that formed in his eyes. "We're having a son?" Picard said again, but this time adding himself into the equation. This caused tears to well up in Beverly's eyes as she saw the joy on his face and clearly accepted this child. He leaned in and hugged her tightly, which Beverly accepted happily.

They stood there quietly until they heard "Bridge to Captain Picard". Picard broke their embrace and tapped to respond. "Go ahead, Mr. Data"

"Sir, the Chancellor wishes to see you" Data responded. Picard sighed and now remembered why he went to see Beverly in the first place.

"Yes, Mr. Data. I'll be right there. Picard out" Picard then tapped his communicator to end the conversation.

"I hope that's good news" Beverly said. Riker had been missing for a few days and it took its toll on the staff.

"Me too" Picard said in return. He lightly wiped the happy tear that had escaped down Beverly's cheek and smiled. "I'll see you later"

"Okay" she responded in almost a whisper. She watched as he walked out of the exam room, her hand placed gently on her belly as she took in a deep breath. "We'll get through this, sweetheart" she gently spoke to her unborn child, before she left for her office.

J

[jesternene]

Pixie Recaps Picard | The Last Generation

[jesternene]

Pixie Recaps Picard | The Last Generation

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

To read Chapter 2, please go here

CHAPTER 3

Beverly isn’t sure how long she had been standing outside the Captain’s door. The last 24 hours she took to absorb the news of Dr. Selar’s findings were not only shocking but absolutely terrifying. She needed answers and the only way she was going to get them was to find these aliens and tell her what was going on. But she knew she needed to inform the Captain of the recent development. With a lump in her throat, she chimed for his door. 

“Come” Picard answered. The whoosh of the doors gave Beverly a slight jump as her nerves were unsteady. Picard smiled as he saw her, placing the book he had down on the table and stood up to greet her. “Beverly, It is so good to see you. How are you feeling?”

“I’m not even sure how to answer that” Beverly gave an anxious chuckle. Picard’s smile faded as he noticed how uneasy she was.

“Is everything alright?” he asked with concern in his voice.

“Jean-Luc, you should probably sit down. What I am about to tell you isn’t going to be easy to hear” Beverly said. Picard swallowed hard, unsure how to take in those words. He slowly sat down and remained quiet, anxiously waiting for what she had to say. “Or perhaps, I should just show you” Beverly sighed, as she slowly lifted the thin material that covered her now growing belly.

It took Picard a second to realize what he was looking at, but as he observed closer, he noticed the tiny swell protruding from her stomach. “I see” he said as his eyes widened. “Are congratulations in order?” he asked carefully, unsure how she is taking the news and didn’t want to be insulting.

“That’s the problem” Beverly answered. Her tone was soft but firm. She went and sat next to him on his couch, keeping her hands tightly close together as she looked down, ashamed of what she was about to say next. “Do you remember a few months ago, when the alien posed as you? To study the human species?” She asked as she slowly looked into his eyes.

“Of course” he answered.

“I-” Beverly paused, closing her eyes as she felt the tears begin to sneak up on her. Picard took her hand to make her at ease, which only caused her to cry even more and let some tears shed from her eyes.

“Beverly… what happened?” he asked with such concern. She felt she betrayed him in a way. Even though she was fooled, he was a victim as well. Taken against his will and had no idea what was going on when he was gone. Beverly composed herself long enough to continue.

“That imposter and I… we had an intimate… evening” She barely explained, unsure how to articulate the events in words without saying it bluntly. However, Picard took the hint and understood what she meant.

“You what?” Picard asked in a rather aggressive tone, as he removed his hand from hers and stood up quickly. Beverly felt shame immediately from her actions. 

“I’m sorry. I-” Beverly wasn’t sure what to say at this point. Picard didn’t notice the apology as he tried to process exactly what happened. What he said next though Beverly was not expecting.

“He took advantage of you” Picard, not looking at Beverly, started to become more angry as he said those words. Beverly stood up, unsure if she heard him right.

“What?” Beverly asked, confused.

“He took advantage of you” Picard looked at her and explained furiously. “He comes onto my ship, he plays games with my crew. And now you're saying he violated you in the worst kind of way. Deceiving you in…” He couldn’t finish his thoughts. Picard’s anger wasn’t towards Beverly, but towards the Aliens that caused all of this. He ran his hand over his smooth scalp, trying to calm down.

“He may have done that, Jean-Luc, but I made the choice to be with him that night” Beverly explained, taking herself off the high pedestal that Picard put her on. He was surprised by her answer.

“Under false pretenses! You can’t seriously be blaming yourself for any of this?” Picard asked in shock. 

“You don’t understand! I thought I was making love to you!” Beverly shouted unexpectedly. This caused Picard to take a step back, stunned by the revelation that came out of her mouth. Beverly sighed. “He may have tricked me into believing that he was you. But I shouldn’t have given in to my–” Beverly paused for a moment, swallowing the large lump in her throat. “My feelings” She finished.

Picard was shocked, unable to comprehend exactly what she was saying. He thought he was the only one keeping a secret. Loving her since the day he met her and now it seems he wasn’t alone. A wave of guilt washed over Picard as the situation began to sink in. Yes, these aliens took advantage of her, but there would have been no taking advantage of if he was just honest with his feelings to begin with. Unsure how to take his silence, Beverly continued.

“There’s more…” Beverly said. Picard knew immediately that wasn’t a good thing. He took a deep breath and slowly nodded for her to continue. “I have taken every test I know and it shows that the baby… is human and… is yours” she finished. Picard noticed the confusion in her tone and for a moment, he thought he heard wrong.

“I’m sorry” Picard chuckled a bit. “What do you mean by mine?”

“Jean-Luc, I don’t know what is going on here. But what I do know is that the only way I can get my questions answered is if we find those aliens” Beverly ignored his question and continued with her assessment of the situation.

“Beverly, we don’t know exactly where they were from. We don’t even know what they are called!” Picard exclaimed.

“I know it is a long shot but Jean-Luc–” She stopped for a moment and took a step closer to him, to show him her pleading eyes on how important this is. “I don’t think we have any other choice but to at least try. I have no idea what is going on in my body. Is this baby human? Is it healthy? Am I in any danger? I can’t even explain all the questions I have but I do know they have the answers. Please…” Beverly begged.

Picard knew she was right. There is too much at stake here, especially Beverly’s safety to let this go. Picard sighed and took her hand. 

“I will do the best I can to find them for you” Picard reassured her with his words and a slight squeeze of the hand. Beverly smiled graciously, giving him a slight squeeze in return.

“Thank you” she said quietly. Beverly then kissed his cheek lovely before heading straight for the door. Picard turned quickly to stop her but before he had a chance, she was already gone.

____________________________________________

The next two weeks were exhausting. Without giving too much away, Picard used all his resources he could to try and find these mysterious aliens. He assigned Data to the task, knowing he would be thorough in the investigation. Beverly kept her mind busy, easily concealing her stomach with her lab coat. She even assisted Data in learning how to dance for Keiko and Miles’ wedding. Beverly didn’t talk to Picard very much, only to be briefed on his findings. She still felt guilty and wasn’t sure exactly how Picard felt towards her. However, Picard also felt guilty but didn’t want to push Beverly into talking to him. He knew she would come when she was ready. Just then, his door chimed in his ready room. As Picard asked them to enter, Data walks in.

“Good news, sir. I have found the Aliens that you had requested me to find” Data said. Picard practically leaped out of his chair when he heard the news.

“That is fantastic! Where are they?” Picard pushed excitedly.

“They are called the Verpellians. I had noticed a few Starfleet records on them after our encounter. They are off the Polarian System. If you wish to make contact, it will take 2 days to get there at maximum warp” Data explained.

“Make it so, Mr. Data” Picard requested. Data nodded and walked out the door. Picard quickly tapped his combadge. “Picard to Dr. Crusher” 

“Yes, Captain?” Beverly can be heard over his device.

“Please come to my ready room, I have something to tell you”

____________________________________________

As the Enterprise arrived in the Polarian System, they noticed a couple of small planets that could sustain life but nothing else. 

“Very desolate place. No wonder no one knows about them” Riker remarked. He wasn’t fully understanding of why they needed to find these aliens, but he always trusted the Captain’s judgment.

“Counselor, do you sense anything?” Picard asked as he stared helplessly at the view screen.

“It’s quite odd, Captain. I sense chattering in my head but I can not comprehend the language” Deanna explained. Holding her head slightly as if in pain, Riker walked to her to see if she was alright, but Deanna just waved at him. “I’m fine. Just overwhelming is all”

“Can you communicate with them? Let them know I wish to speak with them?” Picard asked. This caused everyone to look at each other in confusion. They trusted the Captain but sometimes they knew he could do things from his emotions instead of a logical sense. However, they truly did not know the severity of the issue as Picard, Beverly and Dr. Selar kept that underwraps. Riker then walked towards Picard and sighed.

“I’m sorry, sir but I must ask. Why are you trying to contact them? Haven’t they done enough damage?” Riker asked in a more rigid tone. Picard finally breaks his contact and looks to Riker. 

“You have no idea, Number one. There is a reason I must speak with them but it is a private matter and I will explain when I can. You just need to trust me” Picard pleaded. Riker only nodded, knowing there is far more at stake here than he realizes. Just then, Deanna stood up quickly.

“Captain!” Deanna shouted but before they could see what was going on, two Verpellians appeared on the bridge, just as they did months ago when they brought Captain Picard back. Worf instinctively pulled out his phaser but Picard placed his hand up. 

“No wait. We mean no harm, we just need to talk” Picard told the Verpellians.

“Talking is meaningless” one Verpellian said. “You must leave our system at once, Captain” the other continued, remembering who Picard was.

“We will as soon as you answer some questions of ours. There has been an unforeseen development that you caused and we need understanding. You can at least grant us that after all you put me and my ship through” Picard explained. The two Verpellians looked at each other for a moment before nodding. Picard was pleased by this and looked to Riker. “Please summon Dr. Crusher to my ready room, we will meet with her there”

“But Captain…” Worf interjected but Picard again stopped him.

“I will be fine, Mr. Worf. Please do as I ask” Picard commanded and then escorted the Verpellians to his Ready Room as they waited for Dr. Crusher.

After a few moments, Beverly arrives. Picard is standing closest to the door, observing the Verpellians as they wordlessly communicate in awe over his Lionfish. Picard then stepped back, letting Beverly take the helm of this conversation.

“Are one of you the alien who impersonated Captain Picard?” Beverly asked, shaking in her anger as she stared at them. One of them turned and walked closer to her.

“That would be me” he said.

“Then this is your fault!” she shouted, exposing her belly to them. Her anger caused tears to form in her eyes but she refused to let them see her vulnerable. The Verpellians tilted their heads slightly in confusion and did not understand what she meant.

“I’m sorry but what is our fault?” they asked.

“You got me pregnant while impersonating Captain Picard!” she exclaimed.

“What is pregnant?” one of them asked curiously. Beverly’s eyes widened. For a moment, she forgot that not all species procreate the same way and they wouldn’t understand exactly what they did. Noticing her silence, Picard stepped in.

“This is how our species bears children. The females carry them for a time before giving birth” Picard explained, almost diplomatically. He didn’t want this to escalate to a point they may not help them.

“Very unusual. And how did we accomplish that?” the one who impersonated Picard asked Beverly. This caused Beverly to cry. The betrayal was so nonchalant, almost innocent to the alien, but a severe betrayal nonetheless. Picard continued.

“It has come to my understanding that you and Dr. Crusher engaged in a rather… personal matter. In which is how we procreate” Picard explained. However, he looked down from them, feeling sympathy for Beverly at this moment.

“Very unusual, indeed” the Verpellian said. “Then the words we should express to you are… Congratulations?” he asked. This took Picard aback a bit.

“Now, It is I who does not understand” Picard chuckled, with a hint of confusion in his tone, as he looked up to them again.

“This offspring is not ours, Captain, but yours. We are a species that can make an exact copy of any living life-form. The form in which I was– yours, was truly you in all sense of the word” The Verpellian explained. Picard and Beverly looked at each other, unsure of how to take the information.

“So, my tests are correct. This child is Jean-Luc’s…” Beverly said. She inched closer to them as her frustration and anger grew. “You took advantage of me. You not only violated me but Jean-Luc, exposing his most inner thoughts and feelings and for what? An experiment?!”. The two stood silently, afraid, unsure of what her actions might be.

“We did not mean any harm by it. We only followed the desires of the Captain. We would not have harmed you otherwise” the Verpellian explained. 

“You can not place the blame on me!” Picard shouted, now irritated with the aliens' explanation. “You caused more harm than you realize! Now we must suffer the consequences of your actions. Our lives have changed because of you, and you stand there, innocently trying to apologize while no words can express what you have done!” Picard finished. The audacity of them playing the ‘faultless’ card only made him more angry.

“But it is what you wanted, correct?” the alien asked innocently.

“Excuse me?” Picard asked, almost offended by the question.

“It has always been your desire to love and have a family with this particular female. Wouldn’t you be happy with this news? Have we inaccurately interpreted your feelings?” the curious alien asked.

Picard gasped a bit at the alien’s revelation. This wasn’t something he wanted exposed, above all with Beverly standing in the room. These were his feelings and his right to have those feelings kept close to him. Beverly was right, not only was she violated but he was to but in a much different way.

“I think it’s time for you to leave” Beverly broke the silence with her whisper of words. The aliens looked at each other in confusion before beaming away. Picard and Beverly stood there for a few moments in silence. The discovery of his own feelings being brought to the surface was a surprise. She thought she was alone in her feelings, only to find out he shared them as well.

“I think I should go” Beverly said. Without looking at her, Picard only nodded, turning his back to her in humiliation. Beverly took a step back and quickly exited the ready room and rushed to the turbolift. The bridge crew was surprised by her action, and Deanna felt a wave of emotion as Beverly rushed past her. The moment the turbolift doors closed, Beverly requested deck 8 to return to her quarters. After a few seconds, Beverly halted the lift to pause. The emotions flooding her mind rose to the surface and she broke down. Backing to the wall and sliding slowly to the ground, she cried.

____________________________________________

J

[jesternene]

“Beverly blasts the Borg ship with all the Enterprise weapons and everyone looks at her like ???”   📥 requested by anonymous

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

Thank you for all the kind words! I am a little rusty so hopefully, I do not disappoint y'all! Here is Chapter 2!

To read Chapter 1, please go here

CHAPTER 2

Selar stood there for a moment, which must have seemed like an eternity for Beverly. As a Vulcan, Selar is a very logical individual, never letting her emotions cloud her judgment. But in this case, she didn’t know how to respond. She knew deep down all she had to do was what Dr. Crusher asked of her, but knowing the kind of character Beverly is, she couldn’t find a logical reason behind her request. Of course, she knew Beverly could have a social life that she is unaware of, but seeing how much Beverly works and being a senior officer on the Federation Flagship, she knew it was irrational that she would be able to have one, much less get pregnant. Selar shook her head slightly and proceeded with what Beverly asked her.

“Of course, Doctor. Please make yourself comfortable and lay on the biobed” Selar said, collecting her devices as Beverly prepped to lay on the bed. She removed her robe and placed it over a chair and got as comfortable as she could on the bed. When she lifted her shirt, she noticed a small swell of her belly, something she had not noticed before. Selar noticed what she was staring at and could already tell that her first opinion was the correct one. Selar then turned on the biomonitors before waving her own tricorder over Beverly’s belly.

The screen closest to them turned on and a fetus popped up on the monitor. Beverly instinctively covered her mouth with her hand and started to cry. The flood gates had opened and there was no going back. Selar took a deep breath before reading her findings.

“Your suspicions are correct, Doctor. What we see here is a very healthy 14 week human fetus” Selar stated. Beverly quickly looked at her in a bit of shock.

“Human?” Beverly asked.

“Yes, Doctor. This fetus is fully human. Did you suspect otherwise?” Selar questioned.

“I uh – I just wasn’t sure” Beverly fumbled with her words. She was surprised because the only being she was with was Picard’s doppelgänger and he was most definitely not a human. “Can you check my implant and see what kind of malfunction occurred?” Beverly requested.

As Selar waved her instrument over Beverly’s arm, she had a quizzical look that made Beverly raise a brow. “What is it?”

“According to this, your implant has not malfunctioned. In fact, it is working perfectly” Selar replied.

“That doesn’t make any sense. I couldn’t have gotten pregnant if this was working properly” Beverly was baffled at the information that was given to her, and so was Selar.

“I am unsure of the cause. But, what we do know is we must begin your prenatal treatment as soon as possible” Selar said as she was putting away her tricorder. Beverly sighed and began to get up from the bed and place on her robe.

“Dr. Selar, I am going to need you to be very discreet about this. We may have to do my care in secret until I am ready to explain all of this to everyone” Beverly quietly said, looking down at the small but noticeable bump.

“Of course. However, due to the late gestation, you will not be able to keep this a secret for very long. I would assume you would like to tell the father of the baby first” Selar said. Beverly was a bit taken aback, as she had no idea who the father was and didn’t really want to think about that.

“Actually, we are gonna need to do extensive testing first. I know you said the baby was human, but–” Beverly trailed off and took a deep breath, trying to keep her emotions in check. Selar just quietly listened as she continued. “I wasn’t with a human and whatever this species is, maybe that is why my implant didn’t work, but I need to figure out what happened and if there is any risk to me or.. Or the baby” Beverly explained with such sadness. Selar knew this was far more complicated than she realized and was completely out of her element.

“I see” Selar said, keeping herself as professional as possible. “If you want, I can be by your quarters at 1300 hours and we can do the tests in a more private manner”

“I will be on duty during that time” Beverly explained, but Selar just placed her hand up to stop her from continuing.

“Nonsense, Doctor. You will take the day off and I will be on duty in your absence. This news is clearly a shock and you will need time to absorb this information. I will excuse myself at that time and meet you in your quarters” Selar explained. Beverly’s mouth agape as she spoke, in shock of what she was willing to do to help her. She almost protested but knew Selar was right, she would need time to process.

“Thank you, Doctor. That means a lot to me” Beverly said with tears in her eyes.

“As Chief Medical Officer, I am at your service to help you in time of need, Doctor. I will see you later this afternoon” Selar said, with a small hint of a smile on her lips. Beverly just smiled back and nodded before she exited sickbay and headed back to her quarters.

____________________________________________

Beverly tried to rest but couldn’t. The news of her pregnancy kept playing over in her mind and the more she thought about being with that alien made her sick to her stomach. She could terminate the pregnancy, but with it being farther in term and still unsure of what the species was, she would need more tests before she continued.

She has sent a subspace message to Picard early that morning to inform him of the shift change, only stating she was not well but will be fine by her next duty shift. She didn’t want to face him nor have to explain the situation. She was still trying to figure it out herself. After a hour nap and a few hours just pacing in her room, her door chimed. Thinking Selar was early, she let whoever was there enter. To her surprise, Captain Picard entered her room.

“Jean-Luc!” She stood up quickly from her couch, tightening the already closed robe around her. Picard noticed quickly something was wrong with her. She clearly didn’t sleep and her jumpy demeanor made him more worried than he was before as he entered her quarters.

“I’m sorry, Beverly. I didn’t mean to frighten you” he said apologetically.

“No, It’s okay. I’m sorry, I didn’t get much sleep last night” Beverly tried to play it cool and ran her hands through her hair.

“I can tell” Picard commented.

“Excuse me?” Beverly asked surprisingly.

“You look exhausted. I saw your message and I wanted to see if you were alright” Picard answered calmly but still a hint of concern was heard in his tone.

“Oh, yes… I wasn’t feeling well last night and Dr. Selar graciously took my shift today” Beverly sighed but smiled.

“I see. Is it anything serious?” Picard worried. Beverly hesitates before answering. She hated lying to Picard but until she had more answers, she felt she had no choice.

“No, I’ll be fine” Beverly said with as much reassurance as possible. Just then, her door chimed. “Come in”

Dr. Selar entered but stopped suddenly when she saw the Captain standing in the middle of Beverly’s quarters. “I’m sorry. I came to check on Dr. Crusher to make sure she is recovering nicely” Selar said to the Captain.

“Do you know what is wrong?” Picard asked. As Selar was about to answer, Beverly intervened.

“No, not yet. We still have some more tests to do” Beverly said before looking down, not making eye contact. Picard took the hint that he needed to leave, which gave him a slight hint that they were keeping something from him but he didn’t push.

“Of course. I will check on you later, Beverly” Picard smiled. Beverly looked at him and smiled. Him using her name in a personal matter meant how much he cared and was worried, which made Beverly’s heart swell. He quietly turned and left her quarters.

“How are you feeling?” Selar asked.

“I don’t even know anymore” Beverly responded before sitting down on her couch. “I hate lying to him” she looked down in shame.

“Well, let’s find out what we are dealing with so you no longer have to lie to him” Selar said before kneeling down before Beverly to begin her examination. Beverly only chuckled lightly at her comment. “I am going to extract some blood from your abdomen and we will give it thorough testing on what this child is and compare it to any known species in our database” Selar explained.

Beverly nodded nervously and let Selar hypospray her with a pain blocker before extracting the blood. It was quick and simple. Selar was at Beverly’s dining table, testing the sample on her tricorder.

“This is curious” Selar said as she studied the results.

“What is?” Beverly asked in a concerned tone.

“There is no doubt, Doctor. This child is 100% human” Selar explained.

“What?!” Beverly said in shock as she stood up to look at the results herself. “This is impossible!” Beverly explained, not trusting the results in front of her.

“I’m sorry but there is no doubt” Selar said. She looked at Beverly carefully before continuing. “Can you tell you what this species looked like?”

Beverly shot her a quick look, unsure how to answer that question. Beverly sighed and sat in a chair next to Selar.

“Do you remember a few months ago, we had that imposter who posed as Captain Picard?” Beverly asked. Selar raised her brow, unsure where this was going and simply nodded. Before continuing, Beverly took a deep breath and confessed. “I was with that imposter. I thought I was with Captain Picard but I wasn’t” Beverly explained. Her face dropped in regret over what she did. The feeling of being used by this alien species also tugged on the back of her mind.

“May I ask a question?” Selar asked, which wasn’t at all what Beverly was expecting.

“Of course” Beverly responded.

“Wasn’t this alien a perfect replica of Captain Picard?” Selar asked. Beverly blinked a few times, unsure how to answer, Selar pressed on.“We are unsure what this species is capable of. Not only did they replicate a perfect looking Captain, maybe they produced an exact copy. Down to his DNA” Selar finished.

As Beverly let her words sink in, it all started to come together. His memories and feelings were intact. His surprise visit to her sickbay showed he was Captain Picard, down to his artificial heart. If what she is saying is true, then the child she is carrying is not an unknown alien, but may be the Captain’s.

“Selar, compare the blood test to Captain Picard’s DNA” Beverly asked in a stoic manner. Without hesitation, Selar began to test the blood. Within a few moments, they had their answer.

“It is confirmed. The child you are carrying is the child of Jean-Luc Picard” Selar informed.

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To read Chapter 3, please go here

J

[jesternene]

Unexpected Circumstances

Hey guys! here is the story that has swirled in my head for a while. I remember Gates saying in an interview how she wished they wrote her pregnancy in the show and I thought "I wonder how that would have gone". This takes place during S3-S4 and starts from the episode Allegiance. What if Beverly didn't leave that night?

It is very TNG-esque. I wanted to keep it traditional in that manner. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

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CHAPTER 1

It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Jean-Luc Picard to ask Beverly Crusher out for dinner. However, Beverly had noticed the change in Jean-Luc’s demeanor. He was charming, a little flirtatious, and he said all the right things that made her heart skip a little. Of course, her curiosity got the best of her as she accepted his invitation to have a 'more intimate' dinner in his quarters.

Dinner was lovely, romantic, something she was not expecting from her commanding officer. When she pressed him on it, he began to talk about growing closer and how their positions stood in the way. She was afraid of where this was going but didn’t know if it was because it is what she always wanted or was afraid of disappointment if it turns out it wasn’t. He asks her to dance and she happily accepts, which leads to a very slow, intimate kiss. She is taken aback, unsure of who is standing before her.

“Jean-Luc, if I didn’t know any better, I think you were playing games with me” she said in a nervous tone.

“Are you sorry you came tonight?” he asks in almost a whisper.

“I didn’t say that” she responds, with a small smile that crept up in the corner of her mouth.

“Good. Because I’m delighted you did” he smiled and placed his hand on her cheek. She stared into those fiery hazel eyes of his, the ones that melts her heart every time she sees him. She swallowed hard due to the anticipation of what was going to happen next.

What surprised her next was that it wasn’t Jean-Luc leaning in for a kiss, but she was. The kiss was light and sweet but deepened as the seconds passed. She should have realized something was going on with him, but her desire for him from all these years took over and all her inhibition faded.

As the night turned into the morning, she woke up alone in his bed. Her heart dropped in her stomach, unsure if Jean-Luc was playing games with her or if there was something seriously wrong. She quickly dressed and snuck out like a teenager hiding from their parents. Hoping no one, especially her staff, saw her leaving.

The surprise she had days later was that the man she was with that night was not Jean-Luc Picard but an imposter who wanted to learn about the human species. This doppelgänger got more than they bargained for in the arts of romance and lovemaking, which made Beverly sick to her stomach.

How could I be so foolish? she thought, angry at herself for falling for such a horrible deception. When the captain returned to the Enterprise, she avoided him at first until she couldn’t no longer. She put on that winning smile and made him think everything was fine. The oblivious Captain never pressed her on what had happened while he was gone; he didn’t have any reason to. He trusted her and usually trusted her word more so than everyone else. Beverly made a promise to herself that she would take this secret to her grave. No one needed to know what happened with that imposter, especially the Captain, and the more she denied it the more it would just go away. Unfortunately for Beverly, 3 1/2 months later, her secret would be exposed.

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A lot happened on the Enterprise over the last few months. The captain’s assimilation was the hardest to handle. Seeing someone she loved in such a horrific state was almost too much for Beverly to handle. Her determination in saving Jean-Luc is the only thing that kept her going, and to be strong for Wesley, who took the Borg attack and Wolf 359 the hardest.

It wasn’t until Wesley left for Starfleet Academy that Beverly began to not feel herself. Maybe the stress of Wesley and Jean-Luc’s disappearance took more of a toll than she thought. Even though everyone was safe, Beverly couldn’t shake this nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. She self-medicated just to get through the day but it was far worse at night. This particular night, she couldn’t sleep and the nausea was getting worse. When she felt she couldn’t handle the dinner she had hours earlier, she knew something was wrong.

Maybe I picked up some viral infection on the moon? She thought to herself.

After her urgent visit to the bathroom, she replicated some cold water and sat down with her tricorder. She hovered the instrument from her head and moved slowly down her body, keeping a close eye on her tricorder for anything that might pop up. After a few seconds of no sign of any problems, she notices the red lights flashing on her tricorder once she goes over her stomach. Beverly slowly looked away, letting the information sink in.

"This can't be right" She said to no one but herself. She began to pace in her quarters, letting the anxiety take over as the minutes began to pass by. As her eyes stung with the tears that wanted to fall, she knew she needed answers, and fast.

“Computer, time?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“It is 0400 hours” the computer complied.

Without thinking of how early it was, she grabbed her combadge and activated it. “Dr. Crusher to Dr. Selar”

Dr. Selar didn't respond right away. Beverly knew she was probably asleep as she was off duty this particular day. Beverly closed her eyes and prayed to anyone that would listen, that Selar would answer. She trusted a lot of people on her staff but no more than Dr. Selar. After a few moments passed, she heard her voice.

“Selar here” The Vulcan doctor responded in a sleepy yet professional manner.

“I'm sorry to wake you Doctor, but can you meet me in sickbay in room 3” Beverly asked with concern, something Selar picked up quickly.

“Of course, doctor. I will see you soon. Selar Out” The Vulcan ended the transmission quickly. Beverly dropped the tricorder on the coffee table before quickly grabbing a robe and slipping on some shoes and rushing out to sickbay. Her walk is usually a few minutes from her quarters but this felt like an eternity. She slipped through the back entrance that was closest to the private room and met the stone-faced Vulcan there.

“Dr. Crusher. What is the nature of this emergency?” Selar didn’t wait to beat around the bush or even noticed the blood that drained from Beverly’s face.

“I need a second opinion” Beverly said with a lump in her throat. Selar raised a brow, noticing her anxiety and how Beverly was gripping her robe tightly around her stomach.

“of what, Doctor?” Selar asked curiously.

“To see if I’m pregnant”

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To read Chapter 2, please go here

If anyone is interested in this story, I will continue. Any comments (or tweets) are appreciated.

J

[jesternene]

The heart of the Universe

We have encountered extraordinary characters in the Star Trek universe over the last five decades. One of those amazing characters is none other than Dr. Beverly Crusher, the Chief Medical Officer of the Starship Enterprise-D. Not only was she an accomplished doctor and scientist, but she was also a mother. This is where her story showcases just what kind of person Beverly is.

Let's take a quick trip down memory lane, shall we?

Beverly didn't exactly have the most amazing upbringing. She was orphaned at a young age and was raised by the only family she knew; her Grandmother, Felisa. Beverly mentioned she was an awkward child, often lonely, and didn't have many friends. She survived a cataclysmic disaster on Arvada III before settling down in Caldos with her Grandmother. Beverly found solace in helping others and it gave her a sense of gratification and she decided to take those ambitions to Starfleet to become a Doctor. This is where she meets Jack Crusher, they marry and have a son named Wesley. Her new life with her family was a stark comparison to how she grew up and for Beverly, life couldn't be more perfect… or so she thought.

When Jack died in a Mission accident, Beverly was now a single mom of her 5-year-old son and was determined to make his life the best possible. She continued her career in Medicine and Science, even becoming a Commander. She also made sure Wesley had every opportunity to grow his interest and become who he needed to be. This leads them to Enterprise-D, where Beverly is now the Chief Medical Officer and her son can have hands-on experience with his interests. Though, her complicated relationship with the Captain, didn't deter her from doing what was best for not only Wesley but for herself. However, as Jean-Luc and Beverly grew closer, her relationship with Wesley grew apart.

As Wesley got older, he realized that following in his parent's footsteps and joining Starfleet was not the path he should be on. Wesley joined the Travelers, magical space and time beings, leaving Beverly behind. This was the hardest decision for Beverly because she always wanted to make sure to be there for Wesley and now that he was on a path she didn't fully understand, she was completely out of her element. This wasn't a typical empty nest syndrome, this was complete uncertainty about if she will ever see her son again. And sadly, she never really did…

Beverly's career and love life (to Jean-Luc Picard) was the only thing she had left in her life. Her family was now gone and all she had was her crew. She loved her crew of the Enterprise and they loved her just the same, but Beverly had a void in her she never thought she could fill. She wanted more children, but because the on-again off-again relationship she had with the Captain was uncertain, she didn't think it would happen. Especially because he made it very clear he didn't want to have a family. Yes, she could have moved on to someone else, but in typical "Beverly" fashion, she put others before herself and loved wholeheartedly and loved Jean-Luc very much to the point that it hurt. I do not believe she could have easily moved on and she wouldn't want a child just out of need. That part of her life was now over and she had to figure out what to do next.

After one last attempt at their relationship, Beverly and Jean-Luc broke up and she left the Enterprise. Even though Beverly was now alone and with only her career at hand, she was surprised to find out she was pregnant. Even though she attempted to tell Jean-Luc the news, she had a hard time getting it to him as he was always in some sort of danger. This is where Beverly's maternal instincts kicked in and she felt she had a second chance at being a mother and she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her child, not even the father. As much as she wanted to be a family with Jean-Luc, she couldn't in good conscience risk her child's life of the uncertainty of being the son of Jean-Luc Picard. It was bad enough that she had to endure the pain of his life being at risk, she couldn't do that to her unborn child. And after losing Wesley, she couldn't risk losing another child.

Beverly left her career and her entire life behind to raise and protect her son, Jack. This time was going to be different in Beverly's mind. With Wesley, she gave him the space he needed to grow and didn't hover over him, but she still lost him nonetheless. Since Jack was her second chance, she wanted to be a part of his life in a different way, expose him to many great things and share that experience with him. Though Jean-Luc was not far from her mind, she kept him close by telling Jack stories about him and playing songs that Jean-Luc shared. She made it clear his father was a wonderful man, even if he couldn't be there with them. Beverly would have never exposed Jack to being a fatherless child, but she never could shake the feeling that if the universe knew who Jack's father was, the consequences would be dire.

As we saw in the recent Star Trek: Picard installment, Beverly was right. Beverly could no longer protect Jack from the villainous beings that were now after him, and she had to turn to the only family she knew: The Crew of the Enterprise. Beverly felt she failed in protecting Jack, but after a week of letting the news that he is a father settle, and seeing just the kind of danger Jack was in, Jean-Luc reassured Beverly that it was a testament to her strength, love, and loyalty that kept Jack safe all this time.

Finding out that Jack was special with abilities beyond her comprehension, didn't help in the matter. Losing one son to an unpredictable cosmic journey, but both sons? Beverly was always the hardest on herself and so failure wasn't far from her mind. She had to endure the most difficult challenges while trying to save Jack but the end didn't happen like she expected. Her life had always ended in a heartbreaking manner, losing those she loves and leaving her behind. But instead, Jack was saved, Jean-Luc was saved, the universe was saved… It was a feeling Beverly never had experienced before: relief and gratification.

Many may think Beverly was wrong in keeping Jack away from Jean-Luc, and many are right. However, when you break down just what Beverly had gone through in her life and just what kind of man Jean-Luc was, it is only a human reaction to fall victim to fear. But it wasn't just fear she had, she had maternal instincts. Like Beverly said:

"As a mother, your whole being is about protecting your child"

She may have done the wrong thing but she did it for the right reasons. As much as we associate Beverly with her fierce determination, dedication, and empathy, we also must showcase the love she has for not only her children but the love of Jean-Luc, her friends, her crew, and her patients. This is what makes Beverly what fans call "The heart of the crew" -- But I want to take it a step further and say she is "The heart of the universe" -- willing to always put herself last, and as a mother, she is willing to sacrifice everything for her children no matter what the consequences that may be. Being a mother has always been Beverly's top priority since the day Wesley was born. It is that protective nature and unconditional love she has for her children that make her such an amazing character. That IS Beverly Crusher.

Beverly may be a flawed character but it is those flaws that fans love about her and understand her the most. We understand her drive, we understand her commitment and we understand that no matter the best intentions, it doesn't always come out the way we want it. Beverly is the fan's character, the most relatable. She has taught us that Love is always the most powerful and most rewarding gift of all.

Happy Mother's Day

J

[jesternene]

God Only Knows - Beverly Crusher Fanvid

[jesternene]

Beverly Crusher in "The Last Generation"

[jesternene]

Beverly Crusher in "Võx"

[jesternene]

Beverly Crusher in "Surrender"

[jesternene]

BTS with Gates McFadden