Author's Notes: This will be the final chapter to this story. This will be based at the end of Season 7. The episode All Good Things. Minor spoilers.

Chapter Twenty

"Data, babe, we already have 2 cats. We dropped off Lorelai when we went home. Why do we need a third?" Nicole said.

"I observed how well Lorelai played with Spot so I wish to get a third feline so she is not lonely when we are not home." Data explained.

Nicole rolled her eyes. She loved him, but her husband could be a real pain in the ass.

"I think it is a wonderful idea, Data!" Geordi said, walking over to them.

Nicole turned to face the Chief Engineer. "Please do not encourage him."

"I'm his best friend. It's my job to encourage him." Geordi teased.

Nicole glared at Geordi.

"Come on Data. The Captain wanted to see us." Geordi said.

"Very well." Data nodded his head.

Nicole kissed her Android gently on the lips. "I'll finish up here and head on home. Have fun tonight!"

Data nodded his head.

Nicole sighed as she sat on the bed. Spot stirred a little before snuggling up to the Lieutenant.

After Regen was apprehended, Nicole had to work for several months to not only have her Captain trust her once more, but work on her emotions. With the support of Data (and Geordi), Nicole went on a depression med that also works like a mood suppressor. It doesn't interfere with her Betazoid hormones or telepathic abilities.

Honestly now she could say that she actually seems happy. Yes she was happy on some occasions, but the feelings of depression and anger were always at the edge. Her PTSD made sure of that. Her mother has been helping her with that as well. She goes to see the empathic counselor 3 times a week.

This last time they talked, they brought up the possibility of Data and Nicole adopting. It was something they talked about quite often. Data always wanted to be a parent. That was why he created Lal. And Nicole wanted to be a mother. She dreamed about it on several occasions.

"Have you talked about it with Data?" Troi asked at this morning's session.

"Yes. Data said we could talk to someone at Command that can lead us in the right direction."

Troi placed a hand on her daughter's knee. Nicole took her mother's hand in hers. Her baby blues met dark irises.

"You will make fantastic parents."

Nicole smiled at the memory as she petted Spot gently, getting low purrs in response.

"I know we'll make good parents, Spot. I just don't know if we are ready yet. We've only been married for 10 months."

"10 months and 8 days." A voice said at the entrance to the bedroom.

Nicole smiled at the Android. He must've finally finished playing poker for the night.

"Hi babe. How was the meeting?"

Nicole knew that Data couldn't tell her much. She wasn't part of it so it did not concern her.

"It was…….interesting." Data said.

Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Interesting?"

Data nodded his head once. "Yes."

As Data prepared for bed. Nicole laid her head down on the pillow. When the Android came out of the bathroom, his wife had fallen asleep. He looked at her with a sideways smile.

During the meeting, Captain Picard talked about what the future was like. Of course, it was a future that Q created. The thing that made it interesting was his future.

Nicole and him were still married. Nicole was a Captain while he was a Cambridge Professor. They had more cats than Captain Picard could count. And what made it the most interesting……

They had 3 kids. A 16 year old named James. An 8 year old named Norah. And a 5 year old named Kuvi. All three were adopted. James and Kuvi were Betazoid while Norah was human.

Data now wanted to make that part of the future true. Nothing satisfied him more than to see the woman who was sleeping in their "shared" bed. As an Android he did not require sleep. He spent most nights working. He did every once in a while activate his dream program.

He observed lately that his dreams were filled with the Lieutenant. The way her smile touched her eyes. The way her curly hair bounced as she walked down the corridor. He could also never forget her laugh and the way it echoed in his mind.

"Data?" Nicole asked as Data climbed into their bed.

"Yes my dear. Go back to sleep." He said quietly. He even let her lay her head against his bare chest.

Data gently kissed the top of her head as Nicole went right back to sleep. He loved her. In his own way. That was why tonight after the poker game, he asked Captain Picard to make sure he was deactivated when Nicole passed on so he could die along with her.