I own nothing but the plot!

The Unexpected

Chapter 1

The Enterprise had recently charged to help a Starfleet vessel in danger but realized the ship was doomed and only hoped to save the passengers. They quickly transported the passengers aboard the Enterprise but nine crewmen were lost in the explosion before transportation could be complete. Almost fifty people were in guest quarters after the medical team examined them. Everyone was identified and settled in with their family except for one little girl.

The little girl, Madeline Miller, was almost two years old and now was an orphan. Apparently both of her parents had been lost in the explosion and she had no other known family. She had been terrified of almost everyone aboard. Almost all of the medical staff and senior officers tried to comfort her but she shied away like a frightened animal. The only person she allowed to touch her was Dr. Beverly Crusher. She clutched to Beverly and eventually fell into much needed sleep in her arms.

While Madeline slept in Sickbay, the senior staff was trying to decide what must be done for the child. The men had wanted to escort her to an orphanage on Earth but Beverly and Deanna Troi strongly disagreed. "I do not believe she can cope with a separation from Beverly right now," Troi had said.

"She just met Beverly, how could she be so attached," Will Riker asked obviously confused with the current situation.

"I am not entirely sure how she became so attached so quickly but I am sure of the attachment. She believes Beverly to be her mother and if she is taken away from her it could cause severe emotionally problems for Madeline," Troi clarified.

"What are you suggesting Counselor," Captain Picard asked.

"To allow Madeline to remain with Beverly for the time being," she answered hesitantly.

"Dr. Crusher what do you think of this," Picard asked wanting to hear her thoughts on the matter.

Beverly was about to answer when she was paged to Sickbay and quickly dashed from the conference room. When she entered Sickbay she heard Madeline screaming at the top of her lungs. She rushed to the little girl and pulled her into the safety of her arms. "It's alright Maddy, I'm here with you now," she cooed the distressed toddler.

The little girl fussed a little before she settled against Beverly's shoulder. "Me want to go Mama," Maddy finally spoke softly.

"Mama," asked a shocked Beverly.

"Mama," confirmed the toddler proudly.

"How about Aunt Beverly?" the doctor asked hopeful.

The girl shook her head negatively and squalled, "Mama."

Jean-Luc had followed Beverly to Sickbay and had witnessed the entire scene. "I guess that settles it Beverly," he said amusedly in his French accent.

She didn't need to glance up to see who was there but she did anyways. Their eyes locked for mere seconds before she gave a smile nod. She had wanted the child immediately but didn't decide to keep her until she saw intensity in his eyes. She turned her eyes upon the child in her arms and asked, "Do you want to see your new home?"

Maddy nodded her approval and clung tightly to her as Beverly carried her throughout the ship. Jean-Luc decided to tag along and quietly observed the pair. He immediately noticed the bond they shared and was quite surprised he hadn't noticed it earlier. They appeared like a family even though they had met only this morning, but a family nonetheless. If he was honest with himself, he would admit he wanted them to be his family, but he didn't. As of recent, Jean-Luc had begun to feel a need to have a family of his own, a family with Beverly, but he never admitted it.

Jean-Luc followed them into Beverly's quarters and made himself comfortable on the sofa. He and Beverly had grown closer then ever in the last couple of years and he no longer felt the need to hide behind his captain's mask around her, or at least in most cases he reminded himself. Beverly immediately sat Maddy on his lap, thoroughly surprising him, and went to replicate a few things the redheaded girl would need. The toddler shifted to look at him then asked, "Capin you gonna eat with me and Mama?"

He smiled at the pronunciation of his title by the little girl until he heard Beverly's giggling from across the room. He gave her his best glare before he gave in to his own laughter. "Beverly I believe Miss Madeline is announcing dinner time," he said humor present in his tone, a humor that he rarely shared with anyone other than Beverly.

Beverly smiled then agreed. She replicated vegetable soup, bread and cheese for the evening meal and secured Maddy in the newly installed highchair. She and Jean-Luc sat down and slowly ate their food. After the meal came to an end, Beverly handed Jean-Luc the happy toddler and headed towards the washroom. He stared at the messy child with a frown for a few moments before he followed Beverly in the washroom.

He watched quietly as Beverly ran a bath and added a ridiculous amount of bubbles. She straightened up and started removing the girl's clothes. Jean-Luc assisted her and then eased the toddler carefully in the tub. He watched Beverly as she scrubbed the girl and washed her hair. The girl splashed the water a bit before she was lifted from the water by Beverly. The captain immediately retrieved a towel and held it out for Beverly to place the girl in. He carried her to the bedroom as Beverly had asked then started to dry her off, a bit uncomfortable with the situation. Beverly came in with a new pair of panties and new pajamas for Maddy and started to dress her.

Jean-Luc immediately left the room and ordered a child size bed, via communicator, to be delivered to Beverly's quarters as soon as possible. When it arrived moments later, he placed it in Wesley's old room and made it up with pink covers that he had retrieved from the ships replicator. Beverly and Maddy came in and he watched the excited little girl stumble towards him and yank on his pant leg. He looked down to see her reaching for him which he did of course. "Story," she begged as she rubbed her eyes obviously a sign of sleepiness.

He smiled at her then said, "Alright Miss Madeline."

He gently tucked Maddy into her new bed and settled down next to her. He thought for a few moments then began to tell her the story of The Princess and the Pea. Beverly smiled at the two then quietly went into the main room. Maddy must enjoy his voice too she thought to herself before settling down on the couch to wait for Jean-Luc.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Jean-Luc came into the main room to find Beverly sleeping peacefully on the couch. He grinned then took a few moments to study her. It had been so long since he had the opportunity to study her closely. Her dark red hair had lightened a tad bit from when he first met her and more fine lines graced her face but she was still beautiful to him. Her pale skin was flawless and he longed to kiss her luscious lips but he didn't dare.

He had fallen in love with her the moment he saw her but she already belonged to another. His best friend Jack in fact so he chose to remain quiet and love her from afar. He had been present at her wedding and when she gave birth to her son. He had spent most of his vacations with her and her family, most of them at her and her husband's apartment. He was the one that grieved with her when he brought her husbands lifeless body home to her and held her when she lost control. He was the one that separated himself from her everyday life and then pushed her away altogether.

The guilt of being responsible for Jack's death was too much of a burden especially with his feelings for her. Watching her now, he realized his mistake. The distance between them didn't change the way he felt for her but merely gave him a way to suppress his feelings within himself. When she came aboard the Enterprise, the dam holding in his love burst wide open. He still managed to keep it from her but refused to push her away again. They had become the very best of friends since then and he vowed right then and there they would always be so.

Shaking out of his revere, he moved over to squat next to Beverly. He gently scooped her up in his arms, careful not to disturb her sleeping state. He carried her into the bedroom and gently laid her down on the bed. He carefully pulled her shoes off and eased the cover over her. He pushed an unruly strand of hair behind her ear and softly kissed her forehead before making his unnoticed exit.

Beverly woke a few hours later with a start. Sleepiness and fatigue fogged her ability to think rationally. Something had prompted her sudden departure from the land of sleep but she didn't immediate know what. She realized she was lying in her bed but didn't recall going to bed. Last she knew she was sitting on the couch waiting for Jean-Luc to finish reading to Maddy. She bolted upright in bed but stilled when something tugged on her sleeve. She turned her head and spotted the little girl rubbing her eyes. "Mama," she pouted sleepy.

Beverly lifted Maddy up in her arms and settled her in her lap. "Did you have a bad dream," asked Beverly worriedly.

The curly red head nodded yes then buried her face in the woman's shirt and whimpered. Beverly traced small circles on Maddy's back to sooth her. Maddy pull back a bit and started to tell about her nightmare. "I dream you left me 'cause you didn't love me no more," she whispered brokenly then added, "don't leave me Mama."

Beverly felt the tug on her heartstrings and pulled the girl closer to her. She knew that instant she would file the adoption papers as soon as she filled them out. There was no way she would let this precious child be separated from her or at least give her best fight to keep her. "Maddy I want to keep you with me always," she whispered then asked, "Would you like to sleep here with me for the rest of the night?"

Maddy nodded excitedly then scooted off Beverly's lap and nestled close to her side. Beverly pulled the covers up then wrapped her arm around the child protectively. "Me love you Mama," whispered a tiny voice.

"And I love you Madeline," she replied honestly.