Both of them had, on many occasions, awoken “the next day” to find that they regretted everything done the previous night, but this was nothing like that. They still felt as in love as they had been last night – all the passion and romance and desire lived on, even after their initial lust had been fulfilled. It was as if they had woken up together on a million other mornings just like this one.
For Beverly, it was like being married again, only Jean-Luc was easily ten times everything Jack had been. Jean-Luc, having never been married, could compare the situation only to his dreams. Indeed, the pair of them had to continuously remind themselves that this was reality, not merely another fantasy of the subconscious like the thousands that had preceded it.
On opening their eyes they smiled, not only in adoration but also in wonder at the circumstances. The same word crossed Beverly’s mind that had the night before: “finally.”
Jean-Luc took his hand from around her and stroked all the way down one side, then gave her an affectionate kiss. He grinned as her hands ran over his chest and back.
“Good morning, “ they said in unison, and kissed again. Beverly nestled her head into his neck. He kissed her head and let out a little sigh at the pleasant scent of her flaming red hair, before they each closed their eyes once more and drifted away to sleep.
There stood the captain, teacup in hand and also in a robe of some sort, staring, quite literally, into space. He heard her come in and turned with a grin.
“Beverly,” he said, but got no further before she kissed him. She pulled a face.
“Eurgh.”
“What?” He appeared genuinely concerned.
“You taste like Earl Grey tea.”
“Sorry. I know you don’t like it.”
“I prefer coffee.”
“With croissants?”
A twinkle formed in her eye. “You read my mind.”
Minutes later the doctor’s desired breakfast was on the table and the two new lovers were digging in heartily. Jean-Luc glanced ant the chronometer and raised his eyebrows.
“You do realise we are at least an hour late for duty?”
“To hell with duty,” she replied, buttering another croissant.
“They’ll ask where we’ve been.”
To this Beverly merely shrugged. The expression on her face was completely serious as she said, quite light-heartedly,
“I have a perfectly reasonable and medical excuse. I was carrying out biological research on a very interesting specimen.”
The twinkle had returned to her eye and was mirrored in his. He smiled wickedly.
“Then I suppose I must have been collecting data for a report on the experience of my beautiful CMO.”
“Naturally.” She took a bite from the pastry in her hand and then added, “Riker will love that one.”
“Hmm.” He laughed.
And Riker did, indeed, like Jean-Luc’s excuse (as did the rest of the bridge crew). Everybody saw right through both of them, of course, and by midday the whole ship knew what had been going on. In fact, the junior crewmembers all breathed a sigh of relief, for now that was done and dusted they could find something new to bet on…
…Like how long it would be before there were mini-Picards running around the ship…
THE END
