Path: news.inforamp.net!n2tor.istar!n3ott.istar!istar.net!n1ott.istar!uniserve!news.sol.net!uwm.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.cse.psu.edu!news.cc.swarthmore.edu!netnews.upenn.edu!dsinc!ub!BellSouth!newshost.cyberramp.net!news.cstone.net!news1.digex.net!news.eclipse.net!usenet From: "Cindy N." Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative Subject: Deliberations STNG P/C part 4 of 6 Date: Mon, 13 May 1996 17:52:04 -0700 Lines: 113 Message-ID: <3197D934.DD1@eclipse.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: wh-40.eclipse.net Mime-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Mozilla 2.01 (Win16; I) Status: N Standard Disclaimer: Paramount owns all of Star Trek and probably a large chunk of the rest of the universe but since they are too pigheaded to bring the couple together I have had to take matters into my own hands. Unfortunately, I will not make any money from this little venture but I did have fun writing it. Hope you enjoy this P/C ditty. Deliberations by Cindy Neidt 1996 Chapter 4 Jean-Luc observed the different races that passed by as he stood waiting outside Michelle's. Even after all his years in Starfleet, he was still slightly amazed at all the different races in the galaxy. He was reflecting on his first encounter with a non-Terran as a boy in France when Nella touched his arm. "Am I late?" she asked. He smiled, "No, I was a little early. I wanted to make sure I didn't keep you waiting." She studied him a moment then leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "That was very sweet of you." The tips of his ears started to turn red again but his shy smile indicated his appreciation of the gesture. He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and the two moved into the restaurant. Once they were seated, Jean-Luc said, "You look beautiful tonight." "Thank you. And you look very handsome in your civvies. I'm glad you didn't wear your uniform tonight." She said as she admired the black turtle neck and short cropped jacket. "I don't get much of an opportunity to leave Captain's responsibilities behind and I wanted to take advantage it." "Good. Tonight we will make it a point to not talk shop." said Nella. "That sounds like a wonderful idea to me. I think we should toast the idea. If we can get a waiter over here, I will order a bottle of wine." He motioned to the waiter and after quickly glancing at the wine list ordered an obscure white zinfandel. The waiter smiled and said, "Very good, sir." After the waiter left Nella said, "I was so surprised last night to find out you grew up on a vineyard." "I guess it never came up before." Jean-Luc proceeded to tell her about growing up in France. He regaled her with stories of his youth, keeping her spellbound throughout dinner. A number of times during the enjoyable meal sparkling laughter originated from the two. The time flew by. If it hadn't been for the waiter bringing the bill they might have talked through the evening and missed the concert. When Jean-Luc reached into his jacket for the credit chip to pay the bill, he pulled out a data chip along with it. He handed the waiter the credit chip and gave Nella the data chip. "What's this," she asked as she turned it over in her hand. "Do you remember that Resican song I played for you in the Jeffries tube?" She immediately recalled the haunting tune and replied, "Yes. It was so beautiful and you played it with so much emotion. I will never forget it." Her eyes softened and Jean-Luc could tell she was touched by the memory. "Well, I recorded it for you. One evening, a while back, I was playing that song. One of those times where I seemed to be playing particularly well, so I recorded it. And I wanted you to have it. I wanted to share some of my music with you because the recordings you made for me have provided me with endless hours of enjoyment." She studied him for a moment then reached across the table to take his hand. "Thank you. I can't think of a nicer present. It means a lot that you are willing to share that song with me." "It is nice to be able to share it with someone who understands how special that song is." He finally broke eye contact. "We had better leave now or we'll be late for the concert. And I don't want to miss the opening number." They stood and started for the concert hall. "Do you really like that Klingon piece?" she asked not even attempting to mask her surprise. They walked arm in arm toward the hall debating the merits of Klingon music. The two took their seats just as the house lights were coming down. Occasionally throughout the evening, Jean-Luc would glance over at Nella to judge her feelings on a certain passage. One such interlude during a particularly uninspiring piece, Jean-Luc began to ponder the woman at his side. Something had obviously changed between them. At the last concert they had attended on the Enterprise, he had ached to touch her throughout the evening. To squeeze her hand during a particularly stirring passage or just to feel her warmth beside him. But tonight that driving need to touch her was gone. He was content to share the music with her by the exchange of an occasional comment or a meaningful glance. She caught him studying her and he smiled then turned to watch the musicians on stage. But during the remainder of the concert his mind kept drifting back to the love he had felt for Nella which now was something much less intense. He wondered if she had stayed aboard the Enterprise, if the love they had shared would have stood the test of time. He certainly could not explain why his feelings for her had changed. She was still beautiful, charming, talented, and fiercely bright. All the things that originally attracted him to her. It was no wonder writers, philosophers, and psychologists had spent centuries trying to understand and explain that particular emotion. I could be very confusing . He sighed inwardly. *********************************************************************************