Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:41:45 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: louiseell@aol.com (louise ellis) Title: "Still There" Author: Louise Ellis Series: TNG Rating: PG Code: P/C Part: 31/33 Archive: yes Summary: An alternate universe story that picks up ten years after Disclaimer: no infringement meant, and comments welcomed (thanks for all the comments so far!). "Still There" (31/33) By: Louise Ellis "It's all real? No holographs?" She took a step forward, staring at the rich velvet curtains and furnishings, gold trim and braid accenting the deep red of the lush material. "All real." He chuckled. "Every bit of it." He smiled, and turned as a discreet knock sounded at the door. Crossing to the door, he opened it, then accepted the folded note an usher handed him. Opening it, he scanned the contents, then nodded and looked back at the usher. "Please let her know we appreciate the invitation, and will be honored to accept." "Very good sir." With another nod, the usher turned and moved silently down the corridor as Jean-Luc closed the door behind him. "Accept what?" Beverly was watching him curiously as he returned to her side. "An invitation." He teased, gesturing toward the step down to the seating area, which contained a small couch and two chairs. Stepping down carefully, Beverly sank down onto the couch, still gazing up at him curiously. "I gathered that much." Seating himself next to her, he raised an eyebrow. "The Director of the ballet has invited us to a private reception backstage following the performance. I thought you'd like to go, so I accepted." Her smile widened. "I think I'd like that very much." "Then we shall go." He smiled again as she relaxed back against him. "Comfortable?" "Yes." Eyes fluttering shut, she sighed softly. "It's so magical. I dreamed of nights like this." "This is real." He murmured into her ear, tightening his arm around her. "Truly, cherie." "I know." She sighed and opened her eyes to gaze around the theater again. After a few minutes, she frowned slightly. "Jean-Luc, people are looking at us." "They're curious about the raving beauty accompanying me." Jean-Luc teased softly. "No." Beverly stiffened in realization. "They know who I am." "Cherie, you are going to attract a certain amount of attention right now." He took the half empty wine glass from her trembling hand and set it on the table next to him. "We can go if you want to, but I'd rather remain and enjoy a beautiful performance with the woman I love, my exquisite wife, with whom I've been hoping to share this experience with for a number of years now." Beverly took a deep breath as he tightened his arms around her. "I don't know if I can do this Jean-Luc." "Of course you can." He brushed a kiss across her ear, nibbling lightly on the lobe before continuing. "Because I love you. Because you are not going to spend the rest of your life hiding. Because we are going to live full lives and not hide from anyone, ever again." Taking another shuddering breath, Beverly turned her head so she could gaze into his eyes. "I love you." "And I you." Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled slightly. "So we will smile and face the universe together." "Together." She echoed then straightened as the lights around them flickered and the murmur of voices from the main floor grew momentarily louder as people moved to their seats. "And it would be rude to leave right before the performance, since you've already accepted an invitation for us afterwards." "Indeed it would." Handing her back her glass, Jean-Luc waited as she settled herself against him. "Better?" "Mmm." Beverly took a sip of her wine as the curtain raised. Almost an hour later, Jean-Luc smiled again, watching Beverly watch the performance. She was leaning forward, her upper arms resting on the railing in front of her, thoroughly entranced by the dancers on the stage. Reaching out, he laid his hand on her bare back, thumb stroking along her spine and causing her to glance back at him with a smile before returning her attention to the performance. He chuckled softly, although he appreciated the ballet, he could never find the same level of enjoyment as she did the few times they'd attended one together. He supposed it was due to her background as a dancer and love for the theater, while his tastes ran to performances of instrumental music. The times they'd attended the theater or ballet together though, he found just as much enjoyment watching her as she did watching the stage. And, he had to admit, he was still a bit afraid that if he took his eyes off of her for too long, she would disappear again. Suddenly, he blinked as she straightened and applause filled the air. "Intermission?" "Yes." Turning, Beverly leaned forward and kissed him lightly. "Thank you for bringing me. It's beautiful." "I'm glad you're enjoying it." He continued to rest his hand on her bare back. "Shall we go get a bite and some more wine?" "I'd like that." She stood and waited for him, her eyes wandering the main floor and balcony of the theater, absently observing the people moving up the aisles, many of them casting looks up toward their box. Returning their gazes, she smiled slightly as he stood next to her. "I feel as though we should wave or grant them an audience." He let his chuckle turn into a laugh as he slid his arm around her waist. "They're curious, it will die down. It has before." "That it has." She looked at him, remembering the attentions they'd both received at various times through their careers. "I'm hungry." "Then let's go get you something to eat." Tightening his arm around her waist, he led her toward the door, and a few minutes later into the salon they'd entered through. "I'll get you another glass of wine, you go on and get us a plateful." "Very well." Beverly wandered over to the buffet and after selecting a plate of different foods, turned to see Jean-Luc moving toward her. "Now where?" His gaze swept the room then landed on a seating area in the corner. "Over here." Leading her, he crossed to the area, smiling as the man already seated in the corner stood. "Pierre." "Jean-Luc." He smiled at them. "And you must be Beverly. Jean-Luc has spoken very highly of you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." "Thank you." She blinked as Jean-Luc indicated a chair, then seated herself and placed the plate on the table between them before taking the glass he handed her. "And since these cretins won't introduce us," the woman facing her smiled warmly. "I am Helene, Pierre's wife." "Hello." Nervously, Beverly glanced at Jean-Luc seated himself next to her. "Pierre's family has been making wine almost as long as ours has." Jean- Luc explained with a smile toward her. "And while I admit a few of their pressings are adequate…" The other man burst out laughing. "And even fewer of yours." Seating himself, he relaxed back into his chair. "Are you enjoying the performance?" Beverly glanced at Jean-Luc, who raised an eyebrow at her as he chewed a bite of something off their plate. Returning her attention to the other couple, she smiled. "Very much. It's beautiful…the dancers are quite talented." "I agree." Helene nodded and leaned forward. "Jean-Luc has told us you have an interest in the theater." "Yes, although it's the first time I've had…the opportunity to see anything in quite awhile." Beverly took a nervous sip of her wine and picked up a small piece of fruit. "So I understand." Helene glanced at Jean-Luc then back at Beverly. "It is good to have you home. Will you and Jean-Luc be settling in LaBarre?" "Eventually." Jean-Luc answered for Beverly as she took a bite of the fruit. "We'll be in San Francisco for some time yet, but will be spending as much time in LaBarre as possible." "Good." Helene smiled. "Then you, Marie, and I will make time to come to Paris and shop together." "I'd…like that." Beverly returned the smile hesitantly. "Have you had the chance to visit La Femme while you are in Paris?" Helene leaned toward Beverly. "You really must persuade Jean-Luc to send you while you're in town." "La Femme?" Beverly blinked. "Helene." Pierre groaned. "Beverly ignore her, please. For my financial state if for no other reason, as well as yours Jean-Luc." "Pierre, you know it's but a franc or two compared to your purchases, and I always return well rested from a visit." Helene teased then returned her attention to the other woman, leaning even closer as her voice dropped to an intimate level as she spoke to Beverly. Jean-Luc watched the two women for a moment then looked at Pierre as the man touched his arm, his voice pitched low. "She is nervous, no?" "Very. This is the first time we've been out socially since her…return." Jean-Luc matched the other man's vocal level. "Helene will be good for her." Pierre smiled slightly. "As soon as she realized you were here, she wanted to come visit your box. I persuaded her to wait, hoping you would be here during the intermission." Jean-Luc chuckled. "Beverly nearly bolted before the performance after she realized how many people were staring at us." Pierre snorted. "Helene would love the attention." He glanced back at the women. "You may be financing a trip to that damned spa." "Anything she'd like." Jean-Luc smiled as he watched Beverly speaking with the other woman. "She's taken to Helene, I'm not surprised." "Helene will take care of her, she can be very protective." Pierre nodded then returned his attention to Jean-Luc. "So how is the crop this year?" (end part 31) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! 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