I Do; Do I? By Astra It took nearly a week to coax it out of him, but he finally revealed the one part of Q's version of the future that he'd been holding back. She took it well, at least she thought she did, keeping a soft smile on her face and a gentle grip on his arm He leaned back afterwards, seeming both relieved and exhausted. She didn't press. It was only later, long after he'd gone back to his own cabin that she allowed her emotions full reign. ***** They danced around each other for weeks after than, not quite able to regain their equilibrium. To know that, if only in Q's future, they had been married and divorced. It was too much information for either of them. They skirted the issue, their verbal gymnastics maddening even to themselves yet neither one could allow themselves to risk exposing the full range of feelings about the matter. Slowly, like any well ordered pair, they fell back into their familiar paths and patterns warily moving around each other, caught by the force of each others pull. It was an unstable orbit at best. ***** It was Jean-Luc that upset the balance at last, forever removing the chance of returning to what had been. He made a date, wined and dined her, showered her with affections and gifts. She followed, trapped by the power of his pull, his persons, his love. The velvet box was a surprise. As was his proposal on bended knee. She looked down at him trying to calm herself, to think rationally when every nerve ending was dancing, every cell aware, just waiting for her response. Acceptance, "I do." Denial, "I don't..." Only two choices, yet either one destined to change them forever. She leaned forward barely able to breathe, her hand in his, and whispered the words that would shape their future. :::end::: Note: there are three different versions of part 2 of this story, listed as I Do 2a, 2b, and 2c - each written with Beverly giving a different answer to Jean-Luc.