Ch 11
"Commander Data?" came Captain Picard's voice over the comm. Data sighed and nodded. "Data here, sir." her responded, looking over at Dreamfinder, asleep in his bed, curled up like a little kitten. She looked so sweet, so young as she slept.
"Commander, have you seen the Sivaoan diplomat? We're in orbit around Sivao and ready to transport down at her convience." the captain told him.
"She's here sir..and I will tell her. Data out." Data replied, shaking Dream's shoulder light.
"Data..oh..that was..lovely." she purred, blinking slowly as she sat up and stretched her entire body from nose to tail.
"The captain has informed me we are in orbit around Sivao and he is ready to transport down at your convience." Data informed her, pulling on his shirt and uniform jacket. Dreamfinder frowned and bit her lip.
"And will you be transporting down with us?" she asked, twisting her tail as he pulled on his uniform trousers and boots. Data kissed her on the top of her head and smoothed one hand down her cheek.
"Of course I will, dear." the affectionate term sounded foreign in his mouth and a little stiff but Dreamfinder didn't mind. She nearly tackled him, her arms going around his neck.
"That's good..because I don't intend to let you get away again. We're going to be married as soon as possible because I'm not losing you this time, Data. I can't." she said softly, her voice tense with worry. Data held her close for a moment, breathing in her sweet scent.
"I will not let you go, either, Dreamfinder." He pulled back and looked her in the eyes. "You and I will be together forever. I promise you that." he said, his voice firm with an authoratative edge. If it meant giving up his Starfleet commission, he would do it. He didn't want anything to ever seperate them again, even for the slightest of moments.
Dreamfinder smiled and eased herself to the floor. "I'd better prepare the children then and I think you need to inform your captain." she told him with a grin on her face. Data nodded and escorted her out the door. Before he walked away to go find Captain Picard, he gave her one last long kiss,drawing it out as long as he could. She batted at him playfully. "Go on with you now." she laughed and Data turned away, his step a bit jauntier than before.
"Children..I have a suprise." she told the kits as soon as she got back to their quarters.
"We're staying!" Silvertoes said, a grin splitting his face in two. Dancer in Darkness c uffed her brother.
"Stupid. We can't stay!" she hissed and Dreamfinder pulled the child into her arms, cuddling her.
"No we're not staying..at least I don't think we are. It hasn't been decided yet." she reassured her with a lick on the forehead.
"Then whaaaaat?" begged Silvertoes, clambering up his mother's back to drape himself across her shoulder.
"Lieutenant Commander Data and I are going to..get married." she said, trying to contain her excitement. Silvertoes's face was filled with disgust and Dancer shuddered.
"He doesn't smell right!" muttered Silvertoes.
"No emotions..worse than a Vulcan! Can't smile!" replied Dancer, as if smiling were the most important thing in the world.
Dreamfinder sighed. This wasn't going to as easy as she'd first hoped.
"But you don't..mind, do you children? Because if you mind, I won't marry him. I love him, but I love you too and as my children, your happiness comes first." she told the pair of them and Silvertoes licked his mother across the back of her ear.
"I guess he's ok..."Dancer said, giving her brother a look that said he'd better say that the android was OK too. Silvertoes shrugged.
"Then you approve. Good. I was hoping you would." Dreamfinder said, placing Dancer on the floor again as Silvertoes scrambled down next to her. Dreamfinder picked up a bag of things she'd already packed and set it on the table. She opened another bag and finished putting a few things in when the intercom beeped at her.
She supposed this must the Captain...wanting to know why she was taking away his second officer. Dreamfinder just hoped she had a good answer for him.