Leo, Beverly and the others worked their way to the rather short "receiving line" comprised only of Miles, Keiko, Data and the captain (who stood somewhat awkwardly a few feet to the side). It seemed rather silly but Keiko had insisted it would be easier to get all the hugs and kisses out of the way at once and have the rest of the evening left to party. After Will nearly crushed Keiko and gave Miles a manly handshake and slap on the shoulder he asked Data, "So some of us are wondering when this wayward woman here," he indicated Leo, who stood just behind him in line, "is gonna make an honest android of you." Leo almost dropped where she stood.

Data blinked once or twice and replied, "I am already an 'honest android'." Desperately embarrassed, Leo caught the captain's eye.

"Permission to shut up the First Officer, sir?"

Picard answered with a grave nod. "Permission granted, Lieutenant. By any and all means necessary."

Leo yanked on the back of Will's uniform. "Commander, shut up. This is a wedding, not an occasion to explore the matrimonial domino theory."

Data caught on. "Ah, you are inquiring when Leo might propose marriage to me. We have not discussed this matter." He looked thoughtful, and turned to the captain, "Is it a matter of concern that Lt. O'Reilly and I cohabit without benefit of matrimony?"

By now Leo had her face buried in her hands and was muttering, "Somebody get me a phaser, will you?" The day was saved when Geordi called out, "Hey, who's holding up the line? Move it along!"

"Well excuse me," Will complained half to himself, "I didn't know it was such a touchy issue…"

"Shut up Will," Deanna cut around Leo to give him a shove.

"Fine. Shutting up by popular demand," Will headed rather grumpily to the bar, where real champagne was available per the wedding couple's express request.

"Congratulations Keiko," Leo embraced her warmly, careful not to knock off her elaborate headdress. "If you can keep this bog-trotter in line you're a better woman than I am."

"I beg your pardon?" Miles challenged Leo, but she disarmed him with a hug and kiss.

"Speaking as a fellow descendant of God's True Chosen People and a certified Bog-Trotter, allow me to declare you the luckiest man on board," Leo announced.

Miles bent to kiss Leo's cheek and whispered in her ear, "The feller standing next to me might disagree," and tipped a wink in Data's direction, giving Leo a gentle shove toward him.

"D, you did great, there was nothing to worry about, I told you so." Leo told Data with a bit more gush than she'd intended. He stunned her by kissing her cheek and responding, "Yes, dear."

Miles exploded with laughter. "Well you've got that bit down right!"

"Now I wonder where that came from…" Leo shot a sidelong glance at Miles, whose look of childlike innocence was matched nuance for nuance by Data. "God, men are men such a pain in the ass, organic or positronic."

"Take care whom you include in that statement, Lieutenant," the captain warned. Leo left the "wedding trio" and went to where Picard had moved still farther away. "I'm not really part of that happy family," he explained.

"Of course you are, captain. You might even say that in Starfleet terms you're the father of us all," Leo grinned.

Picard gave an exaggerated shudder. "Don't wish that one on me, I beg you." Now he smiled broadly as he took Leo's hand and turned her in a spin in front of him. "I asked myself earlier who is that stunning young woman entering with Commander La Forge. How delightful to discover she's my own administrative executive officer."

Leo offered a combination smile and smirk. "If that's your way of apologizing for being so difficult about wedding attire, I accept."

"My, my, in no time at all you've threatened to shoot Number One, verbally insulted several senior officers, and now you're flirting with insubordination. All without benefit of champagne."

"And the party's just begun," Leo observed slyly. She paused before running off to join Will (to assure him no offense taken) and some of the others as the captain called to her, "Leo?"

"Sir?"

He put a hand on her arm and leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm glad you're on my side. Do let me know if that changes."

She stood at attention. "Two minute warning, sir, I promise."

When Leo caught up to Will he spoke first. "Look I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I was just kidding around."

"That's okay. I've just been getting more opinions regarding my private life than I'm used to listening to. Which would mean anything above zero."

"Well you must know by now the senior staff doesn't hold back when it comes to stuff like that. We're all over each other's lives. Guess we feel we've earned the right after all we've been through."

"I know what you're saying, Will, but I haven't been here long enough to qualify for that privilege." She took the glass of champagne he handed her after grabbing two from a passing waiter.

"Data has. When you got 'involved' with him you inherited the rest of us by default as much more than crewmates. I'm not sure you're gonna have any choice but to adjust."

He wasn't challenging her, she knew. And he was right. She was the one who had stepped into their circle. In the end she shrugged. "It's not that big a deal. Sorry if I sounded like a bitch."

"Nah. No more than usual, anyway," and he hugged an arm around her to show he was kidding. "Like it or not, you're part of the family. You can come along quietly or be dragged along kicking and screaming. It's up to you. You could do worse, by the way."

Giving up, Leo laughed. "Now how can I turn down such a warm and sincere invitation?" She clinked her glass against Will's, "Here's to the 'family'."

"I'll drink to that." They both knocked back the champagne as if it were a shot of scotch. "Oops, I think I'm being summoned." Leo followed his smiling gaze to see Deanna motioning to him and then to the dance floor.

"Go on, I think she means business."

"You have no idea," Will laughed as he left to follow Deanna to the dance floor.

Leo watched Data dance with Keiko for a couple of songs, then hand her over to Miles before joining Worf and Reg near the bar. She felt no great need to rush to his side, and it felt good to realize that. She was well past the clingy stage, if ever she'd been there.

"I believe I promised you a dance, Lieutenant?" Captain Picard had appeared from nowhere.

"I didn't think you'd pay up. And please, this is a party, call me Leo."

"I always keep my promises, Leo. And for the next hour or so, I invite you to address me as Jean-Luc."

"I'd be honored, Jean-Luc." It felt uncomfortable to be using his first name, so she added, "Sir."

When he'd led her to the dance floor and begun to lead her in a slow waltz Leo felt far more self-conscious than she had when she'd exacted the promise from him. They'd begun to find a comfort level with one another in their day-to-day work, and certainly his dry sense of humor proved he wasn't the stuffy sort she'd first expected. Still it was a little weird to be practically cheek-to-cheek with her commanding officer.

"Relax, Leo, pretend we've just met at the Admiral's ball, and you're feeling sorry for an old gentleman who arrived alone."

This surprised her, and it showed.

"Surely you didn't think I was devoid of imagination?"

"Certainly not, it's just that my talk is sometimes bolder than my intentions, if you know what I mean. And by the way you're not old. In fact I shouldn't even be dancing with you because you're far too young for me." She was beginning to feel more at ease, and they moved more smoothly as one tune led into another. Data's lessons were standing her in good stead. Picard seemed on the verge of speaking, but uncertain about it.

"You have my permission to speak freely," Leo quipped.

"Would it be inappropriate of me to inquire how you're adjusting to life here in the 24th century? Not just your post, our work together makes it obvious that all things considered you're making good progress."

"Not just me, I think. You're doing remarkably well for someone who wanted me gone before I arrived."

Now Picard seemed a bit caught out. "Now that's a bit harsh, I think…" but her laughter cut him off.

"Really… Jean-Luc, by now you should know I love giving you a hard time. That you put up with it makes things so much easier for me, it really cut through my nerves when I started. I'm beginning to think I might do well here."

"I won't argue with that. But you didn't answer my question."

The music had stopped and Leo took Picard's arm as he led her to one side of the room. "The answer is I'm adjusting. I don't know how to qualify that, I've never done this before. You and your crew have made it as easy as I expect it can be." She paused, then realizing she felt very comfortable talking with Picard continued, "In some ways I've found a life I'd never have known if I hadn't just shut my eyes and jumped. I already feel as if it was waiting for me even if I didn't know it. And I'd never thought of myself as needing or wanting to share every part of that with someone else, but until now it seems I just hadn't had the right person land in my lap so to speak." She lapsed into silence, wondering if she'd said too much.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to start spouting questions and advice. I'm glad you're settling in. For what it's worth and from what you've told me about yourself, it seems you've made the right decision, in all respects." He was discreet, but not at all cold. If for that reason alone, Leo found it easy to trust him.

"Thanks for the dance. I think you'd better circulate, though, or people are gonna think we're working."

"Very well, Leo. Enjoy the party."

"I already have, Jean-Luc." As he wandered off to mingle with his crew she realized that this wasn't the most natural of settings for him. She guessed that crossing the boundaries of protocol was difficult for him. He was obviously devoted to the people under his command emotionally as well as professionally, but the nature of his rank necessitated parameters that interfered with things like socializing or sharing intimate thoughts. Leo was unsure whether the captain regarded those parameters as a burden or a relief. She'd strolled aimlessly to the far end of the room that was populated by a host of unfamiliar people. Some faces she recognized vaguely, others meant nothing to her at all. She dealt with crew names, rank, and personnel files regularly but her immediate circle of colleagues (and friends) consisted mainly of her fellow bridge officers. Not that she found that unpleasant, in fact she'd grown quite attached to them already. Even the taciturn Worf, who couldn't be persuaded to call her anything but "Leora". Feeling suddenly overwhelmed by the crowd, the music and activity, she slipped out one of the side doors – a real one, that led from the holodeck to the corridor. Randomly she entered the next door to her right, which led into a small meeting room dominated by a spaceport in the far wall. Standing with her hands pressed to the glass, she wondered if she'd ever get used to floating among stars she'd never dreamed existed, in a world she'd never imagined was possible.

Back in the holodeck Data had just concluded a dance with Beverly Crusher. "You've developed into quite a dancer," she complimented him.

"Thank you, doctor, I have had ample opportunity to practice both with a variety of holographic partners and with Leo when our off-duty hours coincide."

"You know I think Leo is finding her way here remarkably well, with your help. I'm glad she was assigned to the Enterprise."

"As am I." He paused for a moment. "Beverly, may I share thoughts of a personal nature with you?"

Beverly sat at a flower-strewn table, and Data joined her. "Of course, Data. We've been friends a long time."

Data smiled in acknowledgment. "I believe you are aware, as a longtime friend, that from time to time I have considered the possibility of finding a mate. Someone to spend my life with, to share a mutual existence and concerns."

"I think maybe you've found that already, haven't you?"

"It would seem so. I had, however, never considered that my partner might be a human female, and thus someone who would find it necessary to adapt to my positronic nature. My perceived shortcomings as a life partner to such a person could be seen as considerable."

"You can't really believe that, Data. What you call 'shortcomings' the rest of us see as things that make you, well, you. They're characteristics that make you who you are, and it's who you are that makes you worth the friendships we all share with you. I doubt Leo would describe them as 'shortcomings'."

"You are correct. She does not. She describes them as analogous aspects of my nature that harmonize with her organic aspects, differing in definition only."

Beverly noticed a shadow of doubt on Data's face. "Don't you believe her?"

"I believe she sees our differences as harmonious because she wishes them to be so. When Leo speaks the words 'I love you', I answer 'I would love no other' because it is the only truthful answer I can offer. She says that is enough, that she feels that her love for me has been answered in kind."

"I get the feeling you don't agree."

"I believe Leo when she tells me she wants nothing I cannot offer. I know her nature. She would not lie to me. She cannot. But I cannot agree that what I am capable of is enough, that my 'analogous aspects' are capable of harmonizing fully with her human emotions. I wish to be able to offer Leo more than 'analogous aspects'."

"I imagine you've told her this."

"I have. She insists she is content and fulfilled in our personal relationship."

"Well Data isn't that what's important, in the end? No matter how it happens? Words of love are just words. They may sound sweet but anyone can say them, and they don't have to have an ounce of truth behind them. What you're doing, this struggle to honor Leo's devotion to you with devotion of your own, there's more truth behind that, more substance, than someone who comes by emotions easily. It's not just what you have to offer, Data, it's the wanting that makes a difference."

Data sat in thoughtful silence for a moment or two before speaking. "But I am unable to love Leo. I am able to devote myself to her and to our life together, to treat her with kindness, to support her interests and share her concerns, to listen and offer advice, to express my devotion physically and in everyday behavior. But I will never be able to 'love' her as she loves me. How can a human believe that is enough?"

Beverly was smiling. "Data, Data, you've just described the kind of love that people wait their whole lives for. What does it matter what you call it?"

"That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

"Exactly."

"Thank you, Beverly. This has been most enlightening."

Beverly looked at him a bit suspiciously. "But you still don't agree, do you?"

"Not completely. But I will 'work on it'."

As they rose from the table Beverly asked, "Speaking of Leo, I haven't seen her in awhile. Did she leave?"

"I do not know. I am sure we will find one another before the evening is over."

Beverly shook her head and laughed quietly. "Someday I'll figure out what it is about weddings and funerals that turns us all into amateur philosophers and counselors."

"Rites of passage often trigger profound emotional responses in humans," Data observed entirely without irony.

"Uh-huh," Beverly noted with a knowing smirk, "humans. Of course." She left Data as Geordi beckoned her for a dance.

Beverly had been correct. Leo had not been noticed at the party for some time.

"We had a dance some time ago, Data, but I haven't seen her since," Captain Picard informed him. "Perhaps she stepped out for a bit of quiet."

Leo was fully hypnotized by the slowly drifting pinpoints of light when she felt Data standing close behind her, the pale image of his face reflected next to hers, rendered ghostly under the dim lights of the room where they stood.

"How many stars do you figure we can see from here?" she mused.

"That would depend upon classification, whether one included brightly lit moons in error," he would have continued but Leo breathed, "D…" as she leaned her head back slightly. He stopped himself.

"A 'humongous' number, I am certain."

Now she smiled. "You've gotten very good at 'course correction'," she observed. Data answered her smile in the glass with one of his own. The one that was only for her.

"Skill is often born of necessity. Why did you leave the party?"

"I dunno. Crowds make me edgy, even fun ones. I just needed some quiet, I guess."

"The captain suggested that might be the case."

"Sharp man, Jean-Luc." She saw Data's eyebrows rise.

"You have begun to address him by name?"

"He told me just for an hour or so. Official relaxation of protocol."

"That is an oxymoron."

"So are you."

"Smartass."

Without Data being fully aware of it his hands had crept slowly around Leo's waist, fingers progressing inch by inch along the soft fabric, sensing the warmth underneath, feeling the subtle expansion and contraction of each breath. She relaxed back against him.

"What do you feel when you do that? I mean aside from texture and temperature and all that."

"I feel you. All of you, as a whole being."

"One touch at a time."

"Yes."

"What happens when you've felt all of me, completely, whole?"

"That is not possible. Unlike me, you are never exactly the same from moment to moment."

"But what if you did? Would you just stop?"

Data tightened one arm around Leo and turned them sideways, raising his other hand so it was reflected in the glass, moving it as if to caress Leo's reflection with his own.

"I would start over from the beginning, and feel what had changed since I first began."

Leo closed her eyes to better feel both hands continue their tireless, gentle exploration.

"I wish I could do that, feel you completely one touch at a time. I just don't know how to be that aware." Leo turned in his arms and looked up into his face. He wore the contemplative look, the one that an android shouldn't be capable of.

"I will be aware for both of us."

She stretched up to kiss him. "I love you, D."

"And I would…" he hesitated and instead told her, "I wish I could love you, as well."

She kissed him once more and settled her head on his shoulder, staring sideways out at the "humongous" field of stars.

"That's okay. I'll feel it for both of us."