Ch 14

Ten Forward had every free surface covered in plants from the arboretum. There were even a few small trees in large, moss-covered pots standing in various corners of the room. The light was dim, but in a romantic sort of way. At the front of the room, Captain Picard stood in his dress uniform, his hands at his side. To his right stood Data, waiting anxiously for the moment when Dream would come walking down the aisle towards him. Suddenly, the piped in music swelled, flutes playing a solemn yet upbeat tune. Data turned slightly as Deanna Troi, dressed in a long silver dress with a three foot train marched in a stately manner towards him. As she reached him, she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then stood across from him, leaving an obvious space to one side of her.

Dream took a deep breath, her knees shaking badly. She heard her cue as the music continued to play, but she couldn't bring herself to move. She was terrified beyond belief..happy..but terrified.

"C'mon, Mom..MOVE!" one of her kittens said behind her, yanking on her tail. Dream let out a yowl and everybody in the room stared at her, confused. The yank on her tail had hurt, but it got her moving. She would both discipline..and thank..whichever of her children had done it later. She managed to force herself up the aisle until she was standing beside Troi, across from Data who was smiling that odd little smile of his. She had a large bouquet of flowers in her arms which were shaking, causing petals from the flowers to drop as she trembled. Data reached out and touched her hand to steady it. Dreamfinder smiled at him, blushing.

"Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, it has been the happy privelege of ship captains to bind people together in matrimony." Captain Picard said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "I understand you have written your own vows, which you will say to each other now." he added and Data nodded.

"Dreamfinder to-Vensre, since the first moment I met you, I have liked you. That like grew into something more and then we were parted from each other. I have sincerely regretted those years in which we were seperated from each other. But we will not be seperated anymore." Data told her and she blinked back tears. "I give to you, Dreamfinder to-Vensre, all that I am and all that I have. I promise to share my life with you, to learn with you, to grow with you." Data went on and she nearly dropped her bouquet. Troi gently took it from her and Dream took both of Data's hands in her own.

"Data..I love you. I realize that as an android you may not feel love the way I do, but I know you do love me, in your own way. I, too, regret the years in which we were seperated but now we will be together for all time. You are my husband and I claim you as such. We belong to each other. I offer you my love, my loyalty and my life..if you will have it. I give into your keeping my heart and soul. I take into my keeping the same that is your own. I will love and cherish you for the rest of my days, forsaking all others." Dreamfinder said, gazing into his golden eyes. When she said that, there was hardly a dry eye in the room. Even Captain Picard had to discretely pull a handkerchief from his breast pocket to dab his eyes with. She tilted her head up to him and he kissed her, wrapping his arms around her to pull her close. This was the day he'd waited a life time for...and it had finally come.

He couldn't wait to start his new life with her..whether that was on the Enterprise or on Sivao. It didn't matter..as long as they were together.

THE END