Closet Space by Astra "You're sure you're ready for this?" Beverly asked for the fourth time. He smiled, inwardly amused by her anxious pacing. "Beverly, we've been over this. All the preparations have been made. It's time." He stood, crossing the room to meet her, and gently touched her arm. "Shall I notify the transporter chief?" Beverly offered him a smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Make it so." Moments later a pile of her belongings materialized in the center of the bedroom floor. She bent to pick up the first item, her eyes watching his as she shook out the formal gown and turned, placing it carefully in his recently cleaned closet. She stepped back, as if to admire it and he moved to her side. "That's not so bad, now is it?" She had to agree. In fact the sight of her clothes hanging next to his in his closet made her feel a bit giddy. It seemed so right. She turned to tell him so and found herself mere centimeters away from him. Without thinking she leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back, his arms moving to draw her closer, his heart beating fast. They stood like that, wrapped in each others presence, until finally she pulled away. "I'd better get these in the closet before they wrinkle." "Let me help." He offered, not wanting her to get too far away. Soon all of her things were hung tidily beside his. They returned to the sitting area to get a cup of tea. "I do appreciate this, Jean-Luc." she said, waving steam away from her tea. "Think nothing of it, Beverly." He replied, smiling behind his tea. He knew she was referring to the closet space. "of course you wouldn't need to store your extra clothes in my closet if you didn't insist on going shopping with Deanna." "And, of course, if my closet were as large as a certain captain's." she let the retort trail off, knowing he's heard it often enough to finish it himself. It was an old joke between them. "Really, Jean-Luc I never understood why they gave you that huge closet when all you ever have in it is a few dress uniforms and a tux." "While you have enough formal wear to clothe the entire bridge crew twice over." They both smirked at the idea of Will Riker in the blue strapless number that Jean-Luc liked best. "That may be, but you don't ever seem to mind." She lifted the cooling beverage and sipped it, then added, "I thought you liked seeing me in new things." "I do." He agreed, thinking of the things in his bedroom that he'd like to see her in - especially the one thing not in the closet. He looked up to find her giving him The Look, and for a moment he was sure she was thinking the same thing. "Well," she said at length, looking away. "I'd better let you get some sleep. I hear your CMO gets annoyed if you don't get your rest." "She is rather demanding." He replied, his mind more on her clothes in his closet than on his words. He wondered if that was as close as they would ever get to committing to one another, their clothes sharing more than they themselves ever would. He suddenly dreaded opening his closet. "Jean-Luc?" Beverly's soft query brought his thoughts back to her. She was watching him, and he knew his expression had betrayed his thoughts. For a fraction of a second he thought he saw.. something; a mirror of what he himself was feeling. But no, she was there by the door, in her "escape" pose, ready to flee if things became to close for her comfort. He looked away, busying himself with the tea tray, unable to bear watching her leave again. The door whooshed open and he started to turn away. Her soft words startled him. He turned to face her, trying to be sure he had her heard her right. It was there, in her eyes; a resolve, an offer, a promise. He offered her a smile of pure joy and she smiled back as she repeated her question. "So, do you think I could come visit my clothes tomorrow night?" ::end::