Picard stared out his ready room window. He had lost three crew members friends from his ship just in the last few days. One of them, his first officer, just happened to finally accept his own command and by consequence decided to take his new bride, who just happened to be the Enterprise's counselor, with him. The other friend was the one he knew he would never see again. Data. Data had given his life to save Picard's, as well as everyone else on the Enterprise. If only Picard could tell Data how much he admired him and was thankful to him for what he had done. If only he could see Data one last time. But then again, Picard saw him all the time - in the new android aboard his ship. B4.

But B4 was in no means Data. He is not the android who had spent years by his side. He was not the friend he had come to know and trust. He was just a shell who looked like Data. He could never be the android Picard was proud to call friend. He was not Data.

Picard was jarred from his thoughts by the chirping coming from the door.

"Come," he told the visitor.

The door hissed open and in stepped Beverly Crusher, another friend, who in a matter of days would be leaving his ship and his life.

Picard couldn't think about all the loss right now. He had to maintain his composure. He would not break down in front of anyone, especially his best friend. He stood up and walked over to

Beverly, wrapping his arms around her. She, as well as everyone else aboard the Enterprise, was

still in mourning over the loss of their dear friend.

"Oh," Beverly slightly sobbed into his shoulder. She thought she had finished crying, yet as soon as Jean-Luc wrapped his arms around her, she knew the flood gates would burst open again, or at least leak from the cracks a little.

"Just let it out, Beverly," Picard's thick accent caressed her ear. "It's good for you."

Beverly pulled back to look at Jean-Luc, smiling softly. "You've been doing your own share as well, haven't you?"

Picard shortly laughed, albeit half-heartedly, "Can't hide anything from you, can I?"

Beverly softly smiled, "No, you can't."

Picard stared into her eyes and, after a moment, released her. She stepped slightly away and took a deep breath. Picard gestured to the sofa, "Would you like to have a seat and talk?"

Beverly nodded her head. They both sat down on the couch and Beverly looked at him pensively.

"What is it?" he asked of her.

Beverly sighed, "Well, I would like to talk to you, but it's not about Data."

He nodded his head, "A captain's door is always open to his crew."

Beverly shook her head, "I don't want to talk to my captain either, Jean-Luc."

Picard regarded her closely. This must be serious. "What is it, Beverly?"

"I don't want to take this new assignment," she blurted out without discourse.

Picard blinked at her bluntness and somewhat out of confusion. "I thought you said you didn't want to talk to me as your captain."

Beverly continued, "I can't leave, Jean-Luc. Not after losing Data. Not now that Will and Deanna are actually gone. I can let them move on with their life, but mine doesn't move on the way I thought it was going to."

"Beverly, are you sure this isn't a captain/crewmember discussion?" Picard needed clarification.

"I can't go, Jean-Luc. I realize my life is here," she paused a moment before continuing, "with you."

Picard knew exactly what she was talking about. Though he would never initiate this himself, now that Beverly had opened the door, he could invite her into his life the way he had always wanted. "I understand completely, Beverly. I feel the same way. I don't want you to leave either. With Will and Deanna on the Titan now and ... well, with Data... I know I would not be able to get through all these changes without you. There aren't that many crew members aboard the Enterprise who was when I started my command here. I would love to have your familiar face around all the time. Besides, I loved you before the Enterprise, and it would be hard to be in love with you so far away from you, especially, since I just want you beside me."

Beverly smiled. He, Jean-Luc Picard, said the L-word. "Oh, Jean-Luc. I love you. I always have, and I always will."

Picard smiled and took her hands in his, bringing them to his mouth to kiss each of them.