textfiles/sex/EROTICA/Q/qriosity.txt

	Q'riosity by Patricia Ann La Ferrara  

	Amanda watched Q's behavior with growing disdain. She had grown 
close to Doctor Beverly Crusher and Q's condescending attitude towards 
her friend irritated Amanda. After leaving the Enterprise, she decided 
to show Q the extraordinary woman Beverly Crusher was. Amanda dutifully 
endured all of Q's lessons in learning her abilities. After a time, she 
felt confident enough to question him. 
	"Q, why do you treat Doctor Crusher so condescendingly?" Amanda 
floated serenely amongst the clouds. This was her favorite time of 
day...when her lessons were finished and she could relax. 
	"What brought her to mind?" 
	"She's my friend. I miss her." Q scoffed at the comments. 
	"You are a Q. You have no friends!" 
	"Doctor Crusher is a kind, caring person who gave me understanding 
and support," replied Amanda harshly. "Even though she knew I could turn 
into YOU!" Q simply smiled as she continued. "Why don't you like her?" 
	"She is human. She is irritating. She is so-o-o goody-goody....so 
conventional." 
	"You don't know anything about her!" argued Amanda. Then a thought 
occurred to her. "It's because she stands up to you, isn't it? She knows 
you have the power to do whatever you want to her and she still stands 
up to you. You admire that." 
	"Really....let's not get carried away." 
	"All right, I'll make you a deal. Let me show you Doctor Crusher's 
life. You can see for yourself why I think she is remarkable. If, after 
seeing what she has experienced, you still don't agree with me, then I 
won't bring it up again. Deal?" 
	"All right! All right! If it will shut you up." In a flash, a much 
younger Beverly Crusher appeared before them. Smiling and laughing, she 
reached up to a man who shared her laugh. 
	"Who is that?" asked Q, quickly adding, "Not that I care." 
	"Of course not," grinned Amanda. "That is her father." 
	Images began to appear before them. Images that revealed a little 
girl's harsh introduction to death and despair. Q watched with growing 
interest. 
	"Where is this place?" he asked as he watched a young Beverly deal 
with the death of her brother. 
	"Arveda III," whispered Amanda in deference to the little girl's 
obvious pain. "The colony was devastated by a quake and a dealt virus. 
Doctor Crusher herself contracted it." 
	"But she obviously survived." 
	"No, she died. Somehow, her grandmother brought her back." 
	"How? She wasn't Q!" 
	"Through love and faith," smiled Amanda. "Two things more powerful 
than even a Q." 
	"Oh come now," he scoffed, "let's not get carried away." He was 
about to admonish her more when an image caught his eye. He watched as 
Beverly sat at her father's bedside, her hand in his. Beverly was 
talking softly to the man as he died. Q saw the little girl's anguish. 
But even more he felt her pain. 
	The images jumped to a different period and a much different 
Beverly. 16 years old, confident, strong and beautiful, she exuded 
sensuality. Beverly's love for the young man with her was apparent. As 
was her sexual desire for him. Despite himself, Q found this Beverly to 
be intriguing....and arousing. Even a Q has some needs! 
	"Enough!" he shouted after a particularly erotic episode between 
Beverly and her lover. 
	"But there is so much more!" protested Amanda. 
	"I have seen enough!" 
	"And?" 
	"And..." he admitted grudgingly, "You are correct." Amanda leapt 
up and hugged him. "Stop that!" he ordered. "Now, I have to go. 
	"Where are you going?" she asked suspiciously. 
	"Where do you think?" he grinned. With a flash, he was gone. 
	"Q!" shouted Amanda. She had seen Q's reaction to the teen-aged 
Beverly but she also felt his arousal. Amanda surmised where he was 
going and quickly followed.  

	The senior staff of the Enterprise gathered in the conference 
room. They were tired but relieved their last mission was over. It had 
been one of their most frustrating to date. 
	The inhabitants of Kerian V were suffering from a mysterious 
ailment that affected only part of the population. For generations, no 
one had been able to determine the problem. Beverly Crusher and Geordi 
La Forge worked diligently to track down a common denominator...any link 
as to why only those in the cities were affected. It was Crusher who 
realized the problems lie in the way their water was purified. 
	The water flowed into the city's reservoir from the neighboring 
mountain streams. However, the water remained stagnant until it was 
filtered through the distillery. During the stagnancy, a bacterium 
developed. Not even the filtering systems were able to affect its 
potency. The residents of the cities had been drinking the contaminated 
water for decades. As time passed, there were fewer deaths. Beverly 
attributed the decrease in fatalities to each new generation building an 
immunity to the bacteria. But the death toll still affected half the 
population as more and more inhabitants moved to the cities. Crusher 
knew about contaminated water all too well. She devised a treatment for 
the ill while Geordi helped develop a better water purification system. 
	Now the crew of the Enterprise was looking forward to some well-
deserved shore leave. Their destination was Epcot 7, a well-known resort 
in the galaxy. 
	"Governor Taiman once again expresses his heartfelt gratitude for 
your assistance." Picard was speaking to the entire staff but they knew 
it was meant, deservedly so, for Crusher and LaForge. "You'll be happy 
to hear, doctor, that the ill are responding to your treatment at a 
remarkable recovery rate." 
	"I'm glad," replied Beverly softly. The mission had stirred 
memories long buried deep into her soul. Picard and Troi had tried to 
comfort her but Crusher merely brushed their concerns aside. 
	"I hear Epcot 7 is known for it's night life," added Geordi. Data 
was about to regale them with more specific details when Q appeared. 
Loud groans were heard from around the table. 
	"And it is a pleasure to see all of you also," grinned Q. 
	"What do you want now, Q?" asked the captain, his irritation 
apparent in the tone of his voice. Q ignored Picard and moved to 
Beverly's side. 
	"I have come to give you what you want most in this world." Q 
smiled at the amused look on the doctor's face. Beverly, for her part, 
refrains from laughing. 
	"And what might that be?" she asked. 
	"Come with me and find out." Crusher had dealt enough with Q to 
know he could not be trusted. 
	"What game are you playing now, Q?" demanded Picard. Q's attention 
to Beverly annoyed the captain. 
	"No game. I will give Doctor Crusher the one thing she desires 
most if..." Q's grin broadened as he turned back to Beverly. 
	"There's always a condition, isn't there?" she mused. 
	"Q! Enough of this!" ordered the captain. Q glared at Picard. 
	"I am not talking to you, Jean-Luc. This is between the good 
doctor and myself." 
	"If what?" prompted Crusher. 
	"Beverly!" cried Troi, "You're not serious?" Beverly simply 
shrugged. She hated to admit it but Q had piqued her curiosity. 'The one 
thing I want most in this world?' she thought. 
	Q dramatically dropped to one knee in front of her. He took her 
hand and said, "If you will give yourself to me." He smiled as Beverly's 
expression changed to surprise. The fact that the others in the room 
gasped at his suggestion, and that Picard was turning deep red, added to 
his fun. Crusher stared at Q then burst out laughing. He looked at her 
curiously. 
	"Now, I know you're joking!" she breathed. 
	"You wound me, madam," moaned Q. Just then, Amanda joined the 
group. 
	"Doctor Crusher, Q is quite serious," she stated softly. Leaning 
closer to Beverly, Amanda revealed what had led up to this moment. Q 
waited patiently...well, as patiently as Q could be. Beverly looked from 
Amanda to Q. 'Her and Q...together?' It was unthinkable. 'Still,' she 
thought, 'the idea of being with an omnipotent being intrigued her.' She 
brushed the thought from her mind. 
	Picard watched Beverly closely. He saw her expression change from 
amusement to shock to one he knew well...curiosity. It was a look he had 
never felt uncomfortable with...until now. 
	"Doctor, may I speak to you?" He stood and waited for Crusher to 
follow. 
	"Really, Jean-Luc, this is none of your concern!" chastised Q. 
"You've had your chance with the good doctor and have obviously blown 
it...as they say. It is my turn." 
	"Excuse me, but I have something to say about this!" injected 
Beverly indignantly. Amanda placed a gentle hand on the doctor's 
shoulder before leading Q to a corner of the room. 
	"If this is to happen," started Amanda, "Beverly has to agree. 
It's her decision, Q. Not the captain's and not yours." Q started to 
protest but she waved him silent. "She must agree or it doesn't mean 
anything...to either of you." Q reluctantly nodded his agreement. 
Suddenly, everyone disappears leaving Beverly and Jean-Luc alone. The 
silence between them is awkward. 
	"Beverly, you can't seriously be considering his offer?" asked 
Picard a bit more harshly than he intended. Lately their relationship 
had become strained. The reason neither of them would admit to. Crusher 
turned towards him, her intense blue eyes flashing. 
	"Why not? It's the only offer I've had in a long time!" Crusher 
waited, hoping Picard would suggest a different proposition. 
	"You have to do what is best for you," was all he offered. Angry 
and frustrated, Beverly pushed past him and onto the bridge. Picard 
followed closely. He wanted to stop her from doing anything foolish but 
did know how. 
	"One question Q!" demanded Beverly. "Did you ever have sex with 
Vash?" 
	"No, I..." Beverly cut him off. 
	"Then you have a deal!" No one was more surprised by her decision 
than Beverly. With a smile, Q bowed and took her hand. Picard paled as 
he watched them disappear. 

	Beverly suspected she made a mistake when they reappeared in a 
large room occupied by a single piece of furniture...a bed. 
	"Shall we start?" grinned Q as he moved towards her. She quickly 
sidestepped him. 
	"Just like that?" she mused. "Wham! Bam! Thank you ma'm? I don't 
think so!" 
	"Really, Doctor, this is no time for games. We have an 
agreement..." 
	"That's right, we do," challenged Beverly. "You said you would 
give me what I wanted most in this world. You haven't delivered your 
part of the bargain, then neither will I!" She folded her arms and stood 
defiantly in front of him. Her face mere inches from his. 
	He had underestimated this woman. Q was tempted to use his powers 
to make her subject to him. But Amanda's words played through his mind. 
She was right. It would not mean anything if Beverly did not give 
herself freely. For some reason, he wanted it to mean something. 
	"All right, Doctor, you win," grumbled Q, "for now." Crusher 
simply smiled. She hated to admit it but she was enjoying herself. "Are 
you ready to fulfill your most inner desire?" Once again they 
disappeared. Beverly could not imagine what Q was referring to. Suddenly 
they appeared on the colony of Arveda III. Before the tragedy. 
	She started to question Q but he simply smiles and points to the 
scene before them. Beverly watches silently as a much younger version of 
herself ran into the arms of the one person she loved more than any one 
else in her life...her father. Crusher struggled to calm the emotions 
churning inside her. Her father looked so young, so vibrant...so alive. 
	"Q, if this is some kind of a joke," swore Beverly, "it's a cruel 
one!" 
	"I assure you, Doctor, this is no joke." Suddenly, they were no 
longer on Arveda but in her quarters on the Enterprise. 
	"Q, what is going on?" demanded Crusher. "Why tease me with a 
glimpse of my past, then return me to the ship?" 
	"Ah, good Doctor, but we are not on the Enterprise. I simply 
thought you would be more comfortable here to speak with him." 
	"Him? Who?" The color drained from Beverly's face as a familiar 
voice came from behind her. 
	"Pups? Is that you?" Crusher turned slowly and searched the face 
she had only been able to see in her dreams. 
	"Daddy?" Paul Howard smiled and held his arms open. She hesitated 
a moment before rushing into his embrace. Beverly clung to her father, 
afraid he'd disappear if she loosened her grip. After a while, she 
turned to Q. 
	"Why?" she whispered. 
	"Because, Beverly," he responded softly, "you never had the chance 
to say good-bye." Then Q was gone. 
	"Who was that, Pups?" asked Paul still staring at the space Q had 
just vanished from. 
	"That's Q, Daddy. He's an omnipotent being." Paul turned back to 
the woman before him. He gazed lovingly at the face that was so 
different, yet so familiar. 
	"You are beautiful," he whispered as he brushed strands of red 
from her face. "You always were. You look like your mother." Beverly 
winced at his comment. "But you also favor me." Paul laughed as the 
smile returned to his daughter's face. 
	"I gather your relationship with your mother did not improve with 
time?" 
	"If anything, it got worse after you..." Beverly caught herself. 
	"Before I died?" She nodded slowly. "It's all right, Pups, I know 
I'm not suppose to be here. I gather your friend Q had something to do 
with it?" Beverly chuckled. It was the first time anyone had called Q 
her friend. 
	"Yes, he said he was going to fulfill my most secret desire. I had 
no idea what he meant but..." she took her father's hand and led him to 
the sofa. "I guess he knew what was in my heart better than I did." 
	"I don't know how much time we have, Pups, but I want to hear 
everything. What you've done. Obviously, you did join Starfleet." He 
motioned to her uniform. "Are you happy?" 
	"I'm happy with my life...for the most part. I'm a doctor, Daddy. 
Chief Medical Officer of the Federation Starship Enterprise." She waved 
her hand around the room. "These are my quarters. Well, at least a 
replica of them." 
	"Chief Medical Officer," smiled Paul proudly. "A doctor. I guess 
your grandmother won out after all. How is she?" 
	"Gram died a few months ago, Daddy," whispered Beverly. The pain 
in his eyes reflected her own. 
	"Was she all right? She didn't blame herself for what happened on 
Arveda, did she?" Beverly nodded. 
	"Yes, she did...we all did." 
	"It was no one's fault, Pups. Not mine. Not your grandmother's and 
certainly not yours." He wrapped his arms around Beverly and pulled her 
close. She snuggled in his embrace like she use to when she was little. 
"Will you tell me what happened after I, well, you know." 
	Beverly rarely, if ever, talked about what happened on Arveda but 
she found herself revealing every detail to her father. Paul listened 
quietly, comforting his daughter when he felt her body tremble at the 
memories. When she finished, they sat silently, each lost in their own 
thoughts. 
	"I'm sorry you had to experience that, Pups. But I am not 
surprised at your strength or your determination. You always were 
independent and strong." Beverly raised her head and returned her 
father's smile. 
	"Who taught me to be?" Paul kissed her forehead lightly. 
	"You didn't have to learn so well, did you?" he laughed. Beverly 
sighed and laid her head back onto his shoulder. She had missed him more 
than she could say. It felt good to talk to him again. To hold him. 
	"So, tell me what happened after Arveda." Beverly told him about 
Starfleet Medical and how she became a research project. Then she told 
him about Damien and her wild teenage years. 
	"Damien Medina? Lawrence's son? Didn't he run away?" 
	"Lawrence used to abuse him, Daddy. That's why he left. Damien is 
gentle and caring and he loved me, Daddy. He protected me from Mother!" 
Paul lifted her head. 
	"What is it, Pups?" 
	"Everyone always assumed the worst of Damien. But they were wrong! 
Gram understood that I needed to have to people I loved close to me. 
That's why she allowed Damien to live with me." 
	"You and Damien..." gulped Paul. "Shared a bed?" 
	"Yes," she replied softly. "I loved him, Daddy." Paul knew his 
little girl would eventually learn about sex but he didn't expect her to 
learn so young. 
	"What happened to Damien?" he asked softly. 
	"We were together for four years. But when I was accepted in the 
academy, he believed he would be a hindrance to my career. so he walked 
away. We are still friends and occasionally lovers. I know he will 
always be there for me as I will be for him." 
	"If you love him, Pups, he must be special. Tell me more." 
	Beverly told him about her academy days and her dearest friend 
Katie. She told him about marrying Jack Crusher, giving birth to their 
son and becoming a widow all within five years. She told him about Paul 
and his family. She told him of her Starfleet career, her medical 
accomplishments and her brief tenure as captain of the Enterprise. 
	"That's quite a life, Pups," he whispered. 
	"Not quite what we mapped out though." 
	"No, but then life doesn't always cater to our plans. I had 
planned to watch you grow up. Go on your first date. Smile proudly at 
your academy graduation. Give you away at your wedding. Hold my grand-
children..." His voice, filled with sadness, trailed off. 
	"So was I," she whispered. 
	"Tell me, Pups, tell me what's in your heart." Beverly smiled. He 
always knew when something was wrong. She realized she needed to say 
what had been in her heart since he died. With a sigh, she began. 
	"You promised you would take care of everything and then you went 
away. I was angry with you, Daddy. Angry you died and left me alone. 
Angry you weren't there to protect me. Weren't there to love me. I used 
to imagine what life would have been like if you hadn't died. We were 
happy and together...all of us...except Mother of course. But that was 
only a fantasy. And I had to live with the reality of you're not being 
there. For a long time, I didn't talk about you. It hurt too much. I 
know you didn't want to die. I know you didn't want to leave us. but I 
was eleven years old and you were the most important person in my life! 
It just hurt too much." Beverly clung to Paul as she finished. She had 
been angry with her father. It seemed wrong. But she had come to 
realize, over the years, that it was normal. And that she wasn't a bad 
person to feel that way. 
	"I'm sorry, Pups," whispered Paul, his voice heavy with emotion. 
	"You have nothing to be sorry for, Daddy." She placed her hands on 
his face and turned him towards her. "Remember Gram's creed? You deal 
with what comes. That's all any of us can do. You gave me a foundation 
of love and security and strength. It was up to me to follow through." 
	"And that you have, my baby. You have grown into an extraordinary 
woman. He was smiling again. "But then, you were an extraordinary 
child." 
	"Not that you are at all biased?" 
	"Of course not." They laughed easily now. 
	"So, tell me about him." 
	"Who?" 
	"The man you're in love with." Beverly was surprised. "Come on, 
Pups. I could always tell when you had a crush!" teased her father. "Who 
is he?" 
	"His name is Jean-Luc Picard and he's my captain." 
	"I suspect he's more than that." Beverly nodded and told her 
father about her relationship with Jean-Luc. 
	"It sounds complicated," observed Paul when she finished. 
	"It is. I get so tired of it all." 
	"Don't give up, baby. It sounds like you both are afraid of a 
commitment." 
	"Maybe but it's frustrating." 
	"Love usually is." Paul thought a moment then offered some advice. 
"Time is precious, Pups. You better than anyone knows that. If you love 
this man, tell him. If he doesn't give you what you need, move on. You 
deserve to be happy, baby. Go after it." He kissed her cheek softly. 
"Promise me." 
	"I promise, Daddy," she whispered. "I promise." She leaned back 
into his embrace as they talked long into the night. What seemed like a 
few hours to Beverly were in reality several days. Father and daughter 
were sharing a laugh when Q returned. 
	"It is time." Paul nodded and started to rise. Beverly did not 
want to let him go. Her father took her hands and gently pulled her to 
her feet. He took her face lovingly in his hands. 
	"I have always been proud of you, my baby. And I am proud of the 
woman you have become. Always remember how much I love you. I will be 
with you forever...in your heart and in your mind." 
	"I love you, Daddy," she breathed. A hug, a kiss and then he was 
gone. 
	Her tears flowed easily for the first time in thirty-five years. 
Saying good-bye to her father this time was much more difficult. As the 
emotions she had buried deep within her soul flowed through her, Beverly 
collapsed on the bed. 
	Q was taken aback by her vulnerability. Cautiously he approached 
her and offered his support. Beverly welcomed his comfort and held onto 
him as she slowly regained her control. 
	"Thank you, Q," she whispered. "It was the greatest gift anyone 
has ever given me." 
	"You are welcome," was all he could say. His growing feelings for 
this woman surprised him. He knew he could not hold her to their 
bargain. "If you are ready, I will take you back now." Beverly looked up 
at him confused. Her eyes glistened with tears. 
	"I haven't fulfilled my end of the bargain." 
	"You don't need to." Crusher straightened to look him in the eye. 
She saw a tender side to Q that she never imagined existed. It was a 
gentleness that aroused. Silently, she placed her hand on his cheek and 
turned his face towards her. 
	"I want to." With a smile, she leaned in and kissed him. Gently at 
first, then more passionately. Q hesitated. "What's wrong?" she 
breathed, her face pressed next to his. 
	"I don't want you just because you feel obligated." He couldn't 
believe those words came out of his mouth. 
	"There is something you have to learn about me, Q," she smiled. "I 
never do anything I don't want to." She kissed him again and this time Q 
did not resist. He pulled her to him, his hands caressing her back. 
	Their need outweighed their senses as they clumsily removed each 
other's clothing. Q nearly gasped at the sight of her naked body. 
Feelings were new to him and he was struggling to maintain some 
semblance of Q. Beverly, for her part, was enjoying the feeling of 
spontaneity. 
	She ran her hands along his chest and smiled when he jumped as she 
went lower. Taking his growing hardness in her hand, she gently massaged 
him. Q was overcome by the sensations her touch triggered. 
	"Q, have you ever had sex before?" she asked softly, her hand 
stroking him gently. 
	"Of course!" he replied indignantly. "I..." He faltered when he 
saw the amusement in her eyes. Then he shook his head slowly. 
	"Men! Omnipotent, human...it doesn't matter. You all have such 
egos!" teased Beverly. Pressing him down on the bed, she straddled his 
thighs. "Let me introduce you to the pleasure." 
	Q moaned as Beverly expertly massaged his thighs, his abdomen, his 
chest. She followed her hands with light kisses that shot electricity 
through his body. His need for her was growing and she tenderly 
encouraged him to his peak. With a smile, she lowered herself onto him. 
Q never imagined the shock waves that went through his body as she took 
him inside her. 
	Beverly slowly drew herself up, then back down on top of him. The 
motion was maddening to both of them. Q matched her movement and soon 
they were near their climax. Q came first, the power of his orgasm 
overrode his senses. In the distance he heard Beverly's voice and 
realized she also had climaxed. She collapsed on top of him and he 
cradled her in his arms. Q decided he liked sex. 
	They laid together for a long while. Neither one knew what to say. 
Their joining had been passionate and exciting but they both knew 
Crusher's heart belonged to another. At that moment, Q envied that man 
more than he ever had. 
	"It's time to go back," he said softly, his hand playing with the 
strands of red on his pillow. 
	"Why?" sighed Beverly, her eyes still closed. "Why should I go 
back?" 
	"Because it's where you belong." Q regretted saying those words no 
matter how true he knew them to be. "You belong with him." Crusher 
looked at him, an amused grin on her face. 
	"Who do you mean?" Q's grin mirrored her own. 
	"That bald fellow...the irritating one." 
	"Oh him!" laughed Beverly. Her smile faded as she thought about 
Picard. She used to think they belonged together but lately there had 
been such tension...such anger. 
	"Beverly?" She glanced at Q. "You love him." It wasn't a question. 
It was a statement of fact. 
	"Yes," she replied, her voice low. "But it doesn't matter. Not to 
him." Q laughed heartily. Beverly glared at him, her anger reflecting in 
her cheeks. "What is so damn funny?" 
	"You are alike, you and Jean-Luc. He tries so desperately to hide 
his desire for you and yet you are the only one who doesn't see it." He 
deflected a well-aimed fist. "The man paled when you agreed to go with 
me. Not to mention he tried, rather unsuccessfully, to draw my attention 
from you." 
	"He is very protective..." 
	"Of the people he cares about. Yes, I know. He cares about all the 
galaxies but he loves you." Crusher sighed. She was tired of arguing. 
"And I will prove it." 
	"How?" In a flash, Picard was unceremoniously dumped alongside the 
bed. Beverly looked from Q to Picard and back. She didn't know whether 
to laugh or slide under the covers. 
	"What is the meaning of this, Q?" growled a very irate captain. 
The sight of Beverly Crusher in bed with Q inflamed Picard. Q appeared, 
fully clothed, standing over Jean-Luc. 
	"Ah, mon ami, you will have to discover that for yourself." 
Turning to Beverly, he bowed. "Good Doctor, the next time you make a 
deal, it would be wise to hold up your end of the bargain. Another might 
not be so lenient." He smiled at the look of surprise on her face. Then 
he leaned towards her so the captain could not hear. "I leave the truth 
up to you." With a smile, Q disappeared, 
	Beverly was touched by his gesture. She turned to Picard who 
looked relieved by Q's "revelation." She suddenly remembered she was 
naked but, on a hunch, checked under the covers. She found herself 
dressed in Starfleet's finest. 
	"Are you all right?" Picard sat beside her on the bed. "He didn't 
hurt you?" 
	"No, Jean-Luc, Q did not hurt me. I'm fine." 
	"Beverly, there's something..." 
	"No, there's something I have to tell you." With a sigh, she 
revealed the events of her adventure with Q...including their night of 
passion. Picard listened quietly. His hope that Q had not known Beverly 
in the way he wanted to most were dashed. He did not notice when she 
stopped talking until he felt her hand on his arm. He turned slowly to 
look at her. She was shocked by the sadness in his eyes. 
	"Jean-Luc, I'm sorry if you are disappointed with me but I don't 
regret what's happened." 
	"Are you saying you're in love with Q?" The words sounded 
ridiculous...to both of them. 
	"No, I am not in love with Q." 
	"But you slept with him!?" His tone was angry and accusing. 
Beverly struggled not to let her own anger flare. 
	"And you have never had sex with someone you were simply attracted 
to? Or need I remind you of Vash?" She forced him to look at her and saw 
the understanding in his eyes. He smiled then and his face softened. 
Without a word, he leaned down and kissed her. Softly. Tenderly. 
Lovingly. 
	"You said you had sex," he breathed into her hair, his hands 
pulling her to him. "You didn't say you made love." 
	"You can only make love with someone you're in love with," 
whispered Beverly as she savored his touch. "The rest is just sex." He 
lifted her chin and gazed into the rich blueness of her eyes. 
	"And with me?" 
	"It could never be just sex with you." She smiled as he pulled her 
closer and claimed her mouth. She reached to pull his uniform shirt from 
his pants, her hands eagerly caressing the warm skin beneath. Jean-Luc 
unfastened her uniform and slowly trailed it down her body. Soft kisses 
followed the uniform's trail. Beverly shivered at the feel of his lips 
on her breasts. With a light touch, he traced the outline of her nipples 
and casually moved down her stomach. His hand found its way between her 
legs and his fingers delighted in her wetness. Gently he played with her 
sensitive point as Beverly moaned with pleasure. His mouth replaced his 
hand and he let his tongue dance playfully inside her. 
	"Jean-Luc," she gasped, one hand clutching the sheet, the other 
caressing the back of his head. His own arousal was growing with each 
moment. He brought her close to her climax before he entered her. 
	"I love you, Beverly," he whispered. "I always have." 
	"I love you, Jean-Luc," she breathed. "With all my heart." 
	Their passions mounted as they were swept away by desires long 
denied. Neither noticed the figure watching from the darkness of the 
other room. Q watched a moment and considered sending the captain to 
another galaxy. He sensed Amanda's presence and turned to face her. 
	"It was a thought," he whispered just before he vanished. "Just a 
thought!"  
	
	
	
	
	THE END