From: cptmorganm@aol.com (CptMorganM)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: "Forever's As Far As I'll Go" (TNG P/C story)
Date: 29 Jul 1995 22:12:36 -0400

Standard disclaimer: Yep, Paramount owns the universe, including
the characters and such in this story. Also, this story contains songs and
fragments. No copyright or any other infringements intended.
This has been written for your amusement and mine. Please feel
free to pass this story along, but do not separate my name or this message
from it.

Note: This takes place somewhere after "All Good Things...".

"Forever's As Far As I'll Go"
by

Melissa Zander

A loud groan echoed through the cabin. Captain Jean-Luc Picard
studied the clothes laid out before him. *She wants me to wear _this_?* he
thought incredulously. On the bed before him were a pair of tight-fitting,
boot cut blue jeans, and a black leather belt complete with shiny silver
buckle. Next to the jeans was a soft white denim shirt, with a black
string tie atop it. A black leather vest, matching cowboy boots, and a
felt Stetson hat completed the outfit. He eyed the jeans dubiously. *Those
look as uncomfortable as my dress uniform. I just _had_ to ask Beverly for
help, didn't I?*

Two days ago, when Beverly first made mention, during breakfast,
of the dance that was going to be held on board, Jean-Luc had thought it
sounded like fun. "Just think, Jean-Luc. It'll be like we're back in the
20th century at an old fashioned barn dance. What could be more perfect?"
she'd said. And he'd agreed to go, not having much clue what being
country, even for an evening, entailed.

He picked up the jeans and studied them. They were softer than
they looked, and some of his trepidation eased away as he slipped them on.

Surprisingly, they were extremely comfortable, though their skintight fit
didn't leave much to the imagination. As he slipped the rest of the
clothes on, he began to look forward to the evening ahead. *It will all be
worth it, should Beverly be dressed like this...* his mind wandered. Then,
he chided himself. Thoughts like that were sure to get him in trouble.
But, he admitted, they were oh so fun to have, at any rate. Finally,
satisfied with his appearance, he headed on out to pick up his date.

*******

"Be right there!" Beverly's voice echoed through the door. Picard
leaned casually against the door frame outside her quarters, waiting. A
minute later, the door slid open, and so did his mouth. . .clear down to
the floor. His imaginings of Beverly Crusher in blue jeans didn't do
justice to the figure standing before him. He quickly collected himself,
mentally smacking his errant thoughts back into place. Beverly, who had
caught the captain's look, grinned knowingly. She watched the rapid play
of emotions acted out across his face, from relaxation to stunned
admiration to something a little more base, then an attempt at regaining
the relaxed look. *Jean-Luc, whatever am I going to do with you?* she
thought. Answers to her her unspoken question flitted across her mind, not
all of them g-rated, either. *Beverly, stop it! He's your best friend, for
God's sake!*

They both finally managed to drag their thoughts back to the
present moment. Jean-Luc gallantly offered her his arm, and, with a smile,
her arm slid through his. They both tried valiantly to ignore the
_something_ that sent their hearts pounding at the contact. However,
neither really succeeded.

*******

They stepped onto Holodeck 4 and left the _Enterprise_. In its
place was a large red barn, with sprawling fields shadowed in dusk in the
background. The barn was bright with lights and already the twanging
sounds of country music wafted through the air, along with the smell of
sweet, fresh hay, and a dim thumping of heels on a dance floor.

Jean-Luc and Beverly entered the crowded barn and looked around.
They spotted Will Riker and Deanna Troi among the throngs of people trying
to do what Beverly had described to him as _line dancing_ to a loud,
upbeat song called "Any Man of Mine". All of a sudden Jean-Luc's arm was
being tugged, and he found himself being led onto the dance floor by
Beverly. His eyes widened and he shouted over the booming noise "You don't
seriously expect me to dance, do you?" Beverly caught his
deer-in-the-headlights look and snickered. Grinning widely, she pulled him
into one of the lines. "You're damned right I do! Now shut up and dance,
Captain!"

After about an hour, Jean-Luc had learned the rudiments of line
dancing. He had also developed a grudging liking to country music, which
surprised him. He was more of the Mozart type, and now he found himself
liking the upbeat, boot-stomping rhythm of the likes of Garth Brooks,
Alabama, and Reba McEntire. He said as much to Beverly. Her smug look
flitted over him as a smile lit her eyes. "You haven't heard to best of
country yet, Jean-Luc." A raised eyebrow. "Oh? And what's that?" Her hand
squeezed his in an unspoken comment. "Love songs, Captain. Country ones
are the best."

As if to prove her point, the soft, flowing strains of a song
began. This time, Jean-Luc didn't need to be pulled onto the dance floor.
He came willingly. The words to the song seemed to fill his head, as much
as the familiar form of Beverly Crusher filled his arms.

"I sent you roses, I warned you I would
Do all that I could to show you the way that I feel
Please, don't say I'm wasting my time
I've got nothin' but time so I'll do all that I can to catch
That ghost of a chance..."

They swayed to the music, not really dancing anymore, but merely
allowing the feeling in the music and in their hearts move them. Beverly's
arms tightened around his back, as her chin rested on his shoulder. Her
warm breath tickled his ear.

"I looked in your eyes, so bright and so blue
And that's when I knew that you could be mine
If good things come to those who will wait
Well, I guess I can wait if that's what I have to do
Oh, it's worth it for you..."

Gentle hazel eyes met bright blue ones as Jean-Luc and Beverly
pulled back and gazed into each other's eyes. The final words of the song
struck a chord deep in their souls, as Reba McEntire's graceful voice
carried them through the air: "Till you love me... till you love me..."
The music glided to a gentle stop as the set ended. Jean-Luc and
Beverly were oblivious to it, however, and continued swaying to a song
that only they could hear.

They quickly broke apart at the sound of Will Riker's voice.
"Howdy Captain, Beverly. Haven't had a chance to say hello yet tonight."
Both Jean-Luc and Beverly were blushing, and Will was enjoying every
minute of it. Deanna, whose hand was holding his, squeezed it tightly...
very tightly. He grimaced and looked at her, bemused. Her brief telepathic
reply crashed into his head and he winced, looking chastised. Deanna
smiled sweetly. Her hold on Will's hand lessened, and he breathed a little
easier. "Having a good time?" Deanna asked. Beverly glanced at the
captain, a soft smile touching her face. "Yes, we are. We saw you and Will
when we came in, but, like Will said, we haven't had a chance to say hi
yet." Picard remained quiet, still trying to figure out just what exactly
had happened between Beverly and himself a few moments before.
Another slow song started up, and Deanna's arm slid around Will's
waist, and he happily enfolded her in his arms again, but not before
tossing off a wink to the captain and Beverly. "Have fun, you two," he
called, as Deanna pulled him away and planted a boot heel onto his foot.
His howl of pain was quickly smothered by Deanna's laugh. Beverly shook
her head at her friends' antics and slipped her arms around Jean-Luc
again. Her dazzling smile washed away any embarrassment he had suffered
earlier, and he contentedly took his Chief Medical Officer into his arms
again. *If only we could remain like this forever...* went through both
their minds.

*******

Will Riker climbed up to the bandstand. The whole dance had been
his idea, so it was only fitting that he should dedicate the last song of
the evening. "Hope y'all're havin' fun!" he drawled. The loud cheer from
the crew answered him. "This last song goes out to all you love birds out
there." His eyes fixed on Beverly and Jean-Luc, who both caught his look
and blushed again. "It's a classic song from the country group Alabama,
called 'Forever's As Far As I'll Go'." Riker motioned to the DJ, and
hopped back onto the dance floor to claim his Imzadi for the final song.
Jean-Luc smiled at Beverly and opened his arms slightly. She
gladly stepped into the welcoming haven of his embrace, as the melody sent
their hearts floating.

"I'll admit I could feel it
The first time that we touched
And the look in your eyes
Said you felt as much
But I'm not a man who falls too easily
It's best that you know where you stand with me
I will give you my heart
Faithful and true
And all the love it can hold
That's all I can do
I've thought about how long I'll love you
And it's only fair that you know
Forever's as far as I'll go
When there's age around my eyes
And gray in your hair
And it only takes a touch to recall the love we've shared
I won't take for granted
You'll know my love is true
'Cause each night in your arms I will whisper to you
I will give you my heart
Faithful and true
And all the love it can hold
That's all I can do
'Cause I've thought about how long I'll love you
And it's only fair that you know
Forever's as far as I'll go
Forever's as far as I'll go..."

On that final gentle note, the dance ended. Beverly's eyes opened
and looked into the captain's sober face and smiling eyes. He clasped her
hand in his and nodded towards the flow of crew heading towards the exit.

"Shall we?"

They walked the corridors of the _Enterprise_, which were dim and
quiet in the ship's night. He headed not for her quarters, but for his
own. When they entered, he seated her on the couch. She followed him with
her eyes as he walked into the bedroom, and returned a moment later
holding a container with two bottles sticking out of a mound of ice. He
set it down on the table and offered her one of the bottles. She read the
label, then grinned. "Beer, Jean-Luc?" He could hear the tone of
bemusement in her voice. As he reached over and snapped the top off her
bottle, he said, "The computer said that this was an appropriate drink
after a barn dance. So, here we are." He popped the lid off his own and
took a long sip, as she followed suit. After a thoughtful moment, she
smiled. "The computer has good taste."

They leaned back and drank quietly. Jean-Luc studied Beverly for a
long time over the top of his bottle, the words to the dance's last song
echoing through his mind. Beverly could feel his eyes on her, and after a
while she set her bottle on the table and fixed him with a piercing stare.
Caught in her gaze, he felt his carefully contained control slipping away.
His eyes said all that his mouth wouldn't as she gently pulled his bottle
out of his fingers and set it on the table with hers. Beverly's gaze
returned to him, and she allowed a small smile to lift the corners of her
mouth. Just as she captured him in her eyes, he captured her hand in his.
His thumb gently stroked the palm of her hand, and a finger rested on the
inside of her wrist, where he could feel her heartbeat speeding up. That
_something_ was back again, and this time, with nowhere to go, no
obligations forthcoming, it refused to be stuffed away in some remote
corner of the soul for the sake of convenience. Instead, it pulled them
together.

Her lips were warm and trembling beneath his as his mouth covered
hers in a tentative kiss. Her arms slipped underneath his open vest, as
her hands caressed his shoulders. She pulled him into a deeper kiss, and
he lost himself in her soft lips and warm embrace. Any control that they
had held onto that evening blissfully slipped away, as Jean-Luc Picard and
Beverly Crusher discovered that forever really _was_ as far as they'd go,
and nothing less.

Beverly maintained her hold on him as she pulled him to his feet.

They danced once more, keeping time by the music in their hearts. He
kissed her, his mouth moving over and in hers, telling her things that can
only be said by actions. Suddenly, he hugged her close and whispered in
her ear, and she heard the most beautiful words in any language: "I love
you, Beverly. Forever..." He kissed away the tears that rolled down her
face as she held him close and whispered back, "I love you, Jean-Luc,
always and forever..."

*******

Will Riker smiled smugly as the official wedding song played. The
song, after all, had been his idea. The bride and groom stepped onto the
dance floor as "Forever's As Far As I'll Go" began. The song fit Jean-Luc
and Beverly Picard perfectly, as they began their new life together with
the promise of Forever.