"I think I'd better call it a night while I'm ahead," Dr Crusher announced, claiming her winnings from the game. It had been close between her and Riker, but she had managed to call his bluff.

"May I walk you to your quarters, Beverly?" Picard asked as she stood. She looked at him in surprise. Deanna and Riker's eyes met and widened.

"Alright," Dr Crusher told him. "Good night everyone." She said, met with farewells from the rest of the group as Picard stood, following her out.

"I wonder what that's about," Riker said when they'd gone.

"Who knows," Deanna responded. Data dealt the cards once more.

Neither of them spoke on the way to Dr Crusher's quarters. "Why don't you come in for a minute Jean-Luc?" Dr Crusher offered at the door.

"I don't want to impose," Picard said cautiously.

"Don't worry, I usually have a nightcap before bed," Dr Crusher assured him. He conceded, following her inside. He looked around, somewhat surprised.

"You know, I think this is the first time I've seen your quarters," Picard marvelled.

"It is," Dr Crusher agreed, leading the way to the couch. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything? A cup of tea?" she asked as he sat on the sofa.

"What were you going to have?" he asked her.

"Your Aunt Adele's hot milk and nutmeg," Dr Crusher said, her mouth crinkling into a smile.

"Then I'll have one too," he said, his eyes glistening as they joined momentarily with hers.

"Whenever we had breakfast, morning tea or dinner it was always in your quarters," Dr Crusher said while she replicated their drinks. She made her way back, sitting beside Picard on the sofa, handing him his drink and ensuring there was a reasonable amount of space separating them. Not so much that she seemed rude, not too little that he might feel uncomfortable. They sipped their drinks in silence, Dr Crusher watching him under her lashes.

"Out with it Jean-Luc," she told him, tucking her legs beneath her on the sofa, sipping her drink. He looked up at her, startled. "You've been acting odd all day. What's on your mind? Is that future you saw still troubling you?" She asked, concerned.

"It's... difficult to explain," Picard admitted begrudgingly.

"I'm listening," she told him kindly, watching him with those bright blue eyes. She was good at listening. Beverly had been there for him during the mind meld with Sarek. She was the only person on board he trusted to be with him during that experience.

He still had feelings for her, just as he'd confided on Kesprytt. When she rejected him, it had hurt greatly. But on Caldos when Ronin attack him and she refused to leave his side, he'd allowed himself a glimmer of hope that she might reconsider.

"Jean-Luc?" she said, bringing him out of his realm of thought.

"In the present I experienced," Picard began. "You were a great help. I was refusing to rest, you instructed me to go to bed." Dr Crusher smiled slyly.

"I can believe that," she said, taking another sip of her drink. Picard looked away from her, unsure how to go on.

"Beverly, are you able to perform a level three brain scan with your tricorder?" Picard asked, looking up at her with sad eyes.

"Yes, why? Are you feeling unwell?" Dr Crusher was immediately concerned. She put down her drink.

"Just, do the scan, please?" Picard asked her. There was something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. She obliged, getting up and locating her tricorder. After scanning, she sat down as it processed the results. "If what I've seen is true, there will be a defect. One that can cause Iromodics Syndrome."

"Jean-Luc!" Beverly gasped. The tricorder signified it had finished. She looked down at the device in her hands, watching the read out screen. There it was, just as he said. A small defect which could possibly cause Iromodics Syndrome. Looking up at him, her eyes were brimming with tears. He reached out, grasping her hand.

"Hey, it's okay," he tried to comfort her. She ducked her head, trying to hold back the tears. "Hey, Beverly." She looked up at him.

"The future, you've seen it, you have Iromodics Syndrome," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

"I've seen it but I like to believe the future isn't set in stone. A lot of things can happen in 25 years," he added, recalling what he'd said. "In that future, I did have Iromodics Syndrome, but I was happy because I also had you."

"You know I'll always be here for you Jean-Luc," she said, wiping under he eyes.

"In the future, I couldn't have done it without you," he told her solemnly.

"It's often my job to give patients bad news..." she started.

"Beverly, something tells me I'll be around for a lot more years to come," he smiled.

"You had better be, Jean-Luc," she told him. Their eyes met for a moment. Sparks ignited in their souls. Dr Crusher leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He slowly raised his hands, hugging her in return. When she released him, she stared into his eyes again. "You're right, a lot of things can happen," she whispered. Their heads were so close, he could hear her perfectly. Slowly, they both moved in, lips meeting. Picard pulled back, uncertain.

"Beverly," he whispered, their eyes closed and foreheads against each other. "After Kes-Prytt, what you said..."

"I regretted those words even before I spoke them," Dr Crusher told him, a tear escaping. "Do you still feel guilty?" she asked tenderly, her hand brushing the side of his head. She had beautiful hands, elegant, long fingers.

"Beverly," he breathed in her scent. Her hair smelt amazing. "No..." he exhaled. "I'm not guilty anymore."

"I'm not afraid," she told him. Fluidly, their lips met again, this time staying together until they had to stop to draw breath.