Q & A - Keith R. A. DeCandido [2]
“You’re such a romantic.” She grabbed the back of his hand and pulled it off her cheek so she could kiss his palm. “Why didn’t we do this years ago?” she whispered.
“Because we’re both fools. Because…” Jean-Luc hesitated. “There were times when I looked at you and still saw my best friend’s wife.”
Once, that might have angered Beverly, or irked her at the very least. But Jack Crusher had been dead for a long time, and Beverly had seen so many people die or move on—from her son becoming a being on a higher plane of existence to Data’s death late last year—that the idea of clinging to Jack’s memory seemed foolish now. “I know, Jean-Luc,” she said gently. “But there’s room in my heart for both of you.”
With that, she pulled his head toward hers and they kissed.
They stopped only when the clang of flatware falling to the floor startled both of them. Peering over the side of the bed, Beverly saw that the croissant tray and the jam had upended onto the carpet.
She looked at Jean-Luc and grinned. “Oops.”
“Oops, indeed. Suddenly, I’m rather grateful I don’t have to clean the room myself. Thank heaven for automated janitorial systems.”
Beverly chuckled, then she blinked. “Computer, time?”
“The time is zero-seven forty-five hours.”
Letting out a long breath, Beverly turned to Jean-Luc. “I’m supposed to be meeting Miranda in fifteen minutes, and you’re due on the bridge.”
Now Jean-Luc’s smile was mischievous, an even bigger rarity. “I’m sure Commander Kadohata can start her morning workout without you—and I know Worf can handle the bridge for a few minutes more.”
Waggling a finger, Beverly said, “Now, now, Jean-Luc, you’re setting a bad example for your crew. Think of all the newcomers, and the reputation you and this ship carry. Do you really want to let them think the great Jean-Luc Picard is a slugabed?”
It was Jean-Luc’s turn to let out a long breath, and he spoke with mock gravity. “I suppose you’re right. Heavy is the burden of command.”
“But you wear it well.” And she kissed him again before untangling herself from the bedsheets—which had gotten into quite a mess—and clambered out of bed.
Jean-Luc also got up from the bed—without, to Beverly’s annoyance, nearly as much trouble—and said, “I’m glad to see that Commander Kadohata is adjusting well.”
“She is, yes,” Beverly said as she climbed out of her bedclothes. “And these morning workouts are important to her—she needs to get back into shape after the pregnancy.” Beverly smiled. “She’s also on the list of physicals. I want to make sure there aren’t any postpartum issues.”
“A wise precaution,” Jean-Luc said as he did likewise. “Her expertise will be invaluable at Gorsach. I’m sure she’ll make a fine second officer.”
Beverly nodded as she put on her workout leotard. Lieutenant Commander Miranda Kadohata had been Data’s handpicked successor in the role of second officer. She was to take over upon Data’s ascension to the role of first officer, following William Riker’s moving on to the Titan as her new captain. Data’s tragic death on the Scimitar did nothing to change Miranda’s status—but her pregnancy did. She had hoped to work through to the final weeks, but the twins had other ideas. Miranda had taken maternity leave on Cestus III to have the children at home with her husband and five-year-old daughter.
The twins—Colin and Sylvana—were now doing quite well with Miranda’s husband, Vicenzo Farrenga (and, according to Vicenzo, vexing their five-year-old sister, Aoki), and the commander had finally reported to the Enterprise.
Miranda was one recent arrival whose presence wasn’t due to tragedy. While some of the new faces on the Enterprise were taking over for those who had gone with Riker to Titan, many were replacements for those killed in action—most recently in a brutal encounter with what Beverly had started thinking of as the new, unimproved Borg. They’d lost seven people, from the conn officer and security chief on down, before the Borg had