When Elnor made it back to Naseema's room, Picard was already there waiting for her in the hallway.

"I hope you finally had a good meal," he said when he saw Elnor coming toward him.

"Yes, I did," the young Romulan replied with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that, I was beginning to worr-"

"You can come in, Jean-Luc!" Naseema's voice called from inside.

Picard turned to his ward. "Shall we?" Elnor nodded and followed Picard into the room. Naseema was still in the bathroom, but after a minute, she came out wearing a loose-fitting dress in a dark amethyst colour.

"Wow," Elnor said, his eyes widening when he saw her. "You look..." he paused as if searching for the right word.

"Beautiful?" Picard offered. Elnor smiled and nodded his head.

"Thank you," she replied. "Data always liked this colour, and it felt...appropriate." A sad smile crossed her face, but she almost immediately brightened up again. "I have a surprise for you when we get to the Station, Elnor."

"Really?" he asked enthusiastically. "What is it?"

"If I tell you, then it will not be a surprise," she told him.

"Well, let's get going then," Picard said to her. "We don't want to keep the poor boy in suspense."

"No, I suppose we do not," Naseema replied with a mischievous grin. As the trio walked to the station, Picard and Naseema stayed close together. Elnor balanced on, leapt across, and vaulted over the obstacles along the way. "You are missing your daily training routine," she observed.

"Yes, a little," he admitted and flipped from a large boulder to land near her.

"We will have to do something about that," she said and smiled at him.

"I could train with you," he suggested with a hopeful tilt in his voice.

"You could, but most of my exercise involves dance and yoga," she replied. "I am not sure how stimulating you would find that."

"What's yoga?" he asked.

"It is an ancient meditative and philosophical discipline designed to achieve liberation and enlightenment," she explained. "Although I mostly use it to maintain flexibility and muscle density."

"Can you show me sometime?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in interest.

"Of course."

As they arrived at the Station, they passed Rios and several of the synthetics engaged in an impromptu game of football, which Raffi was watching on the sidelines. They waved a greeting as they headed for Alton Soong's lab, where they found Agnes and Soji. Naseema beckoned for Elnor to follow her, and she led him to Bruce Maddox's former quarters. She went over to the bed and got down on her hands and knees to look underneath it.

"There you are," she said. "Come here, I have someone who would like to meet you." Picard and Agnes came in and stood near the door behind Elnor. Finally, Naseema pulled something from underneath the bed and held it against her chest as she stood up. When she turned around, Elnor saw she had a small furry animal with orange stripes in her arms.

His eyes widened with delighted surprise. "Is that a cat?"

"Yes, it is," she replied. "I heard you have always wanted to see one. Elnor, this is Spot II." He came towards her tentatively and put his hand out to touch it. He hesitated at first, but she encouraged him.

"On his head," she told him. "He also likes chin scratches and ear rubs." With shining eyes, he ran his hand over Spot's fur a few times, and Naseema motioned him towards the bed. He sat down, and she gently put the cat in his arms. He continued to pet it, rubbed under its chin, and scratched behind its ears while the animal purred contentedly.

"Is this what Data's cat looked like?" he asked.

"Almost identical," Naseema replied. "This Spot has much better manners, though. The original Spot was not very well behaved."

"Hello Spot," he said as he brought his face in close. Spot responded by rubbing his head against Elnor's cheek. "I like ear rubs too," he grinned.

Picard and Agnes were still watching by the door, and she leaned close to him to quietly say, "I think this is the cutest thing I've ever seen."

"I think I might have to agree with you," Picard replied as Alton appeared in the doorway.

"I'm finished in the lab, Naseema if you want some time," he said to her.

Her expression dropped a little, and she replied, "Yes, thank you, Alton." She glanced at Picard as she left the room, and the look in her eyes was heartbreaking.

"Agnes, can I get your assistance with something?" Alton asked as he motioned out of the room with his thumb.

"Sure," she nodded and followed him into a room across the hall. Picard went over and sat on the bed next to Elnor.

"I suppose I'll have to get you one of these infernal creatures now," he said with amusement.

"Maybe," Elnor replied with a content smile as he continued to cuddle the purring feline.

"I want you to know how sorry I am that these last few days have been so hard on you, and I am glad to see you're feeling better," Picard told him. Still petting the cat, Elnor met his eyes.

"Thank you," he replied, his voice quiet and thoughtful. "I was heartbroken when I thought you had died. I've never felt that way before, and it was like someone was sitting on my chest, crushing all the air out of me. I couldn't breathe. All I could think about was how unhappy I felt, and the only person I wanted to talk to was in a coma. I didn't know what else to do other than sit there and wait for her to wake up."

"I know what it's like to lose someone close to you, and I am sorry you had to go through that, especially without the person you felt you needed most," Picard said. "I do wish I could promise that you'll never have to experience that again, but I'm afraid life is rarely that cooperative."

"You will die again, someday," Elnor replied. "And I know I can never truly prepare myself for that, but right now, I'm grateful that we've been given more time together."

"So am I," Picard agreed and then looked at him softly. "You saved her life, Elnor, and the other Feeonix are extremely grateful to you for your actions. Are you aware of that?"

He nodded. "Yes, but I didn't save her life, not really."

"You did save her life," Picard gently corrected. "She is very strong, but she's by no means indestructible."

"She would have done the same for me," Elnor insisted. "I only wish I could have found her before she was injured. I shouldn't have let her go alone."

"You care for her a great deal," Picard said almost as if he were asking a question. Elnor nodded and remained quiet for another minute, still holding the purring cat in his lap. Picard knew he was thinking about something that concerned him, so he finally asked, "Would you like to talk about whatever is on your mind?"

"Why do you want to do this to her?" Elnor asked and met Picard's gaze with a sad look in his eyes.

"Do what to her?" Picard inquired with confusion.

"I don't understand why you want to take Data away from her?"

"Elnor, I don't want to take him away from her, and that's not really what's happening," Picard replied. "His whole life, all Data ever wanted was to be human, and he did nearly everything he possibly could to reach that goal. One of the defining aspects of humanity that eluded him was a finite existence. He wanted to live, knowing that one day he would die, just as all of us will. He does not want to continue to exist as a consciousness cycled through a machine. Naseema understands that, and she wants to honour his wishes, she's just having a hard time letting him go."

"She wants to die too," Elnor said quietly, as he looked down at Spot II.

"What makes you believe that?" Picard asked, a little concerned.

"Jagger told me that, and Simon, and Juliet too," he replied. "I can feel it when I touch her. She misses him so much, and her pain is so real, but she can't let go of it."

A thick frown overtook Picard's face. "Why didn't they tell me," he asked himself aloud.

"Because they don't believe you can help her," Elnor said. "They think she allowed the Zhat Vash assassin to hurt her on purpose and they told me it wasn't the first time its happened either. They said she drinks all the time, and when she's at home, the only time she leaves her room is to come here, to talk to Data's consciousness. They're afraid for her, and I'm afraid for her too."

"My God," Picard whispered. "I know she isn't in the best place right now, but I had no idea it was that serious. When did they tell you all of this?"

"This morning at breakfast," he replied.

"Do you know why they told you?"

"They didn't tell me, at least not at first. I overheard them talking, and then Salome caught me and told them I was listening," he admitted.

"Elnor," Picard scolded at first but sighed and gave the young Romulan a patient smile. "I hope they weren't too angry with you."

"No, they weren't," he said. "And then they did talk to me about her. They think because she bonded to me, it's a good sign, and they believe I can help her."

"Do you believe you can help her?" Picard asked.

"I don't know. I want to, but I'm not sure how," Elnor sadly admitted.

"Did Mr. Jagger not offer you any guidance?"

"He told me I should continue spending time with her and just be myself," he said. "He thinks that's enough but-"

"But you're not sure," Picard said, finishing the thought.

"No."

"Mr. Jagger and I haven't always seen eye to eye on a lot of things, on most things actually," Picard told him. "I think in this case, however, I'm inclined to agree with him. He's known Naseema for a very long time, longer than most people can fathom. I know he loves her, and he will do anything he can to help her. You're strong, Elnor, and if he has faith that the bond you share will be enough to help her move on, then it will be enough."

"I hope so," Elnor replied, still uncertain.

"I know so," Picard said with an encouraging smile. Then he stood up. "I think it's time. You're welcome to stay here and wait if you prefer."

"No, I want to be there," Elnor insisted. Picard nodded gently as the young Romulan rose and put the cat down on the bed after giving it one more quick snuggle. Then, together they went to say goodbye to Data for the last time.

Alton's lab was filled with the early afternoon sun as Picard and Elnor, along with Alton, Agnes, and Soji gathered around the gently humming machine that housed Data's consciousness. Naseema stood next to Picard, her breathing shaky and her bottom lip quivering as he turned to her with an empathetic expression before he removed the first of three isolinear chips that would terminate what remained of the love of her life.

She spent the last of the time she would have with Data telling him how much she loved him and wished she could join him wherever he was. She told him about the open-hearted, compassionate young Romulan whose life she saved, and told him how she believed he would have liked him had they met. Then, she asked him to forgive her for bonding herself to that same young man. She told him how lonely she was without him, how empty her heart was, and how she needed someone to care for again. She told him nobody could ever replace him. She told him about Picard's remarkable journey and that she hoped they had the chance to say everything they wanted to each other. She told him about Soji and how much like him she was. She told him Jagger missed him even though he'd never admit it. She told him she hoped he was happy wherever he was, and she also hoped Dahj was with him. She told him if he met Nasir again to give him her love. She told him she would never forget him as long as she lived and how sorry she was for being unable to let him go completely. Then she sat in silence for a while and wished she could find a way to ease the hurt. She tried to steel herself for this moment, but now that it was here she knew it was useless. Twenty years of grieving had left her too tired to hold it together anymore.

As Picard moved his hand towards the final chip, Naseema placed her hand on his and stopped him. With tears running down her face, she looked in his eyes and very quietly said, "I will do it."

Picard nodded and moved aside as she slowly gripped the edge of the chip with a shaky hand. As she pulled it from its slot, the lights on the machine that housed it went out, and the gentle humming ceased. Gripping the chip in her hand, she braced herself against the machine and sobbed. It was devastating to watch, and Agnes felt her own eyes filling with tears as Alton silently ushered both her and Soji from the room. Picard stoically sat on a nearby chair as Elnor moved over beside Naseema and gently took the chip from her hand. She let him take it, and even as tears continued to stream down her face, she pulled in several deep gasping breaths to calm herself. Elnor looked at her with wide, sympathetic eyes until she gave him a nod to let him know she was alright. He slid his hand into hers, and she accepted with a tearful smile. She turned to Picard. "I know there are things you wish to discuss with Alton," she said. "I will be alright." Picard nodded and stood up. He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then he glanced at Elnor, who responded to the silent signal with a nod of his own. After Picard left the room, she turned to her young friend. "You must be getting hungry," she said with another deep breath. "We should go get you some lunch."

"I'd like that," he smiled.

Knowing she would want some space, the other Feeonix quickly cleared out of the cantina when Naseema and Elnor walked in still holding hands, but Jagger managed to give the young Romulan an encouraging look before gathering up his things and leaving. Naseema poured herself a cup of coffee, and Elnor fixed himself some lunch, and they sat across the table from each other.

"Do you like the food here alright?" she asked.

"I do," he replied. "It's not like the food at home, but I do enjoy it."

"Did the convent have a replicator?" she wondered as she took a sip of her coffee.

"No, we cooked our meals," he told her between bites. "Well, mostly me."

"You did most of the cooking?"

"Mmhmm," he replied with a nod because his mouth was full.

"I bet you are a good cook," she said with a warm smile.

"I'm alright, I think. Nobody ever complained about my cooking," he shrugged. "Making bread is my favourite."

"You will have to do that for me sometime."

"I thought you didn't eat?" he asked with a curious look.

"I would make an exception for you and your bread," she replied, and he rewarded her with a very pleased smile.

"Would you like to fight when you finish eating?" she asked and raised her eyebrows hopefully.

"About what?" he replied with a confused look on his face.

"Not what," she said. "With and where. Would you like to spar with me in the gym after lunch?"

He stopped eating and looked at her as his eyes lit up. "Really?!" he asked, his face begging her for confirmation.

"Yes," she said, surprised and a little amused at his enthusiastic reaction.

"Yes, please!" he exclaimed excitedly. "I would fill me with joy to do that!"

"Alright," she replied with a gentle laugh. "When you finish, we will do that."

"I'm finished now," he said and jammed the last bite, which really should have been two, in his mouth. He dumped his plate in the reprocessor as Naseema laughed again at his over-the-top reaction to her invitation. "Come on, let's go!" he insisted, already moving for the door. She got up and disposed of her empty mug before following him out of the cantina.

They arrived at the gym after Naseema quickly changed her clothes, and Elnor was already bouncing around in excited anticipation.

"Should I choose a weapon now, or would you prefer to start with hand to hand first?" she asked.

"Can you use that staff you used on the Artifact?" he suggested. "I'd like to try my hand against that." She nodded and retrieved one from the array of weaponry on the wall. She extended it and approached him as she took a defensive pose. He pulled his tan qalanq and took up a similar posture, holding his weapon raised and ready. She started spinning the double-bladed staff, and they circled each other a couple of times before she made the first move. Fast as a cobra, she swung the staff over her head before dropping down. She brought it into a lower arc and spun around. She lashed it out and caught his ankles, taking his feet out from underneath him. He hit the ground with a hard thud and cursed in his native tongue.

"That is not a nice word," she teased and arched an eyebrow at him, pretending to be offended.

"How do you know so much Romulan?" he groaned as he got to his feet.

"Because I fought in the Earth-Romulan War and I was the primary negotiator for the Treaty of Algeron. I have been cursing in Romulan for more than two hundred years. I probably know words you have never heard before," she replied.

"Fair enough," he sighed and readied himself for another round. She advanced again and spun the staff around her entire body to create a nearly impenetrable tornado, but he was prepared this time. He carefully watched her and waited for the opening he knew would appear. It did eventually appear, and he slipped inside to bring his sword down hard against her staff and break her momentum. They locked eyes, and a pleased smile crept across her face. Now it was on. They exchanged blow after blow. They ducked, wove, flipped, kicked, and panted until he grabbed her wrist. She tried to twist out of his hold, but he was ready for the counter move and easily spun her to the ground, or so he thought. She slid the staff between his feet, and in the next move, she launched herself off the floor in an impressive spin, kicked the staff up, and caught him behind the knee. She took him down, and by the time he hit the ground, the blade was pointed right between his eyes.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed. "How did you do that?"

"Practice," she replied. "Would you like to try the same weapon?" He nodded, and she let him up. She handed him the staff and went back to the wall to fetch another one. She waited while he familiarized himself with its length and weight, and within a few minutes, they were back at it. He proved to be very adept and quick to learn both her rhythms and vulnerabilities. His skill resulted in many rounds where she was not the victor. Then, she chose a sword similar to his own and happily allowed him to show off his prowess for a while until they dropped the weapons altogether. More violent fun ensued as they knocked each other around. They kicked, punched, twisted, spun, and threw each other to the ground until both their chests were heaving and their faces glistened with sweat.

"Are you guys finally tired yet?" Jagger asked from the door where he'd been watching. "You've been in here for hours. It's almost dinner time."

"How long have you been there?" Naseema asked as she smiled and came toward him.

"Long enough," he smiled back.

"Yes, I believe I have had a sufficient workout. Thank you, Elnor," she said, the reply directed at Jagger, but the look went to her young friend.

"No, thank you," he said. His eyes glowed with the rush of their vigorous sparring. "I haven't felt this good in a long time. I'm going to go get cleaned up before I come down for dinner."

"Yes, I am going to so as well," she agreed. "I will see you in a little while." Still panting, Elnor nodded and headed to his room. Jagger came up beside Naseema and slung his arm around her shoulder.

"If I didn't know better," he whispered in her ear. "I'd guess you two just fucked each other's brains out. You're both positively glowing."

"That is just so lovely, Jag, really," she replied and rolled her eyes. "I will see you later." Jagger let his arm slide away and watched her walk down the hall.

He'd seen the look in Elnor's eyes thousands of times, in many young men before, and he knew exactly what it meant.

Elnor tugged his hair out and got the shower running before he quickly stripped his sweaty clothes off. He wrapped a towel around his waist and took them out into the bedroom to put them in the cleaning processor before getting in the shower. He let the hot water run over him for a while before he lathered up, to enjoy the feeling of the steam and heat, and let it relax both his mind and his muscles.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun with a sparring partner. She made him feel so alive. It was a challenge to fight against someone physically stronger and faster. She forced him to take his time and to learn her style and rhythm. He even picked up a few new skills from her. He hoped she enjoyed herself as much as he did and would want to spar with him again. Someone who could not only keep up with him but surpass him as well was something he wouldn't be able to find just anywhere, and he was thrilled to have the opportunity.

He was too inexperienced to recognize the truth, which was that he'd never been more turned on in his life. She flipped a switch inside him, and it was only a matter of time before he would be able to see where the feelings he had now were leading him.

Lucky for her, he was so concerned with his thoughts, he hadn't noticed he wasn't alone. Staying remarkably quiet and still, she was able to watch him secretly from the bedroom.

Too bad he's too stupid to close the door, she mused as she spied on him using the large mirror in the bathroom. She watched him get out of the shower and admired the genetic handiwork. He has a nice body, for an organic, she decided. He was tall and slim, maybe not as built as that other one, Rios, but he still had good muscle definition and a fantastic backside. She already knew about that last feature, since she helped herself to a handful of it earlier that day. Even though she was perfectly content to peruse his physical attributes, his presence on the planet made her angry. All she ever heard from the other Feeonix was how terrible the Romulans were and how great a threat they posed to all of them. Then, Naseema had the nerve to traipse in with him in tow as if it were no big deal and tell her to keep her hands off. To top it off, the others all sided with Naseema. That wasn't how things worked. This was her home too. She wasn't about to let this pointy-eared interloper settle in and get comfortable, no matter how good he looked without any clothes on. She was going to teach him a lesson about who he was really fucking with. That is exactly what she would do, she decided. She would fuck him, and if she killed him, oh well. Then maybe Naseema would learn to follow the rules for once like she was always expected to.

By the time he finished in the bathroom and came out to retrieve his clothes, his surreptitious visitor had disappeared, and he was none the wiser. He got dressed and headed down to the cantina.

When Naseema didn't appear for dinner, Elnor started to get worried.

He thought they had a great time this afternoon, and even though this morning had been rough for her, she seemed to have turned a corner. Then, he remembered what Simon said about her tendency to hide in her room and drink. Jagger also warned him it would be a bad day, and the two Feeonix didn't seem like the type who were wrong very often, especially when it came to Naseema. He tried not to obsess about it, but it was hard not to. He didn't want her to feel alone, but he also didn't want to invade her privacy. He wasn't sure what to do.

Jagger noticed the repeated glances Elnor kept throwing over his shoulder at the door. He could also see the kid was trying hard not to appear distracted, so when he got the chance, he gave him a knowing look and came over to sit next to him.

"Expecting someone?" Jagger asked, and Elnor gave him a frustrated look.

"I don't know what to do," he quietly complained. "She said she would see me later and she seemed happy. I didn't feel anything that would make me worried, what happened?"

"She said she would see you later, but she didn't say where and she didn't say she'd be sober either," Jagger told him. "As for what happened, well, she got left alone with her thoughts."

"What should I do?"

"Don't stress yourself out," Jagger said and put an arm around Elnor's shoulders. "You did good today, and you can't watch her every minute. Take the rest of the day off. I'll check on her later." Elnor sighed and nodded. He tried to enjoy the rest of his evening but still had difficulty focusing on anything else, so he finally went back to his room. He got himself ready for bed, but his mind wasn't having any of his attempts to get to sleep. He paced around for a while and took out his tan qalanq to do some exercises, but even after that, he still couldn't quiet his thoughts. He finally left and went down the hall to Naseema's room.

Stepping out of the shadows, she glared at his back as he exited. Tonight wasn't going to work out for her, so once he was gone, she retreated, determined to return another time.

He rang the bell four times, but she didn't answer. Maybe she wasn't in her room. He decided to check around before he returned to his own quarters. She wasn't in the gym, so he wandered down to the cantina and passed Simon's office on his way. The light was on, but the room was empty. He poked his head into the cantina and found Simon sitting at the table with a pint of beer next to him while he played a solitary card game.

The Feeonix looked up at him and smiled sympathetically. "She's in the lounge, down the other hall, first door on the right. You can't miss it." Elnor nodded and followed Simon's directions. He could hear music before he reached the door, and when he peeked in the room, he found her at the piano, singing to herself. He approached and saw the drink resting on top of the instrument. He quietly sat down next to her, and he could smell the gin on her. She didn't stop moving her fingers across the keys or singing, but she looked over to acknowledge him, and when she finished, she put her hands in her lap.

"I am sorry, Elnor," she said sadly. "I am a bit of a mess right now, but what can I do for you?"

"Nothing," he replied. "I just wanted to come sit with you for a while." She nodded and went back to her songs. All of them were sad but sensual, and even though she was drunk and could barely keep herself upright on the bench, she didn't seem to miss a note or a lyric. She didn't have a technically proficient voice, but it was powerful and emotional, and he thought it sounded beautiful.

He wondered how long she'd been playing before he came in. The pungent smell of the gin was strong, and he also wondered how much of it she'd had. He wanted to touch her, even if only to get an impression of what she was feeling but at the same time, he didn't need to. It was obvious she felt worse than earlier today. He still didn't understand why Picard insisted on terminating Data's consciousness. It was just a machine, how aware could Data have been in there? He understood Picard felt a deep loyalty to the android, but what about Naseema? Data was already dead, why push her in the same direction just to fulfil some request that may or may not have been imaginary, to begin with? He was sure Data wouldn't want to see her hurting this much. He certainly didn't like it. It made him want to curl up and hold her until her grief was gone.

"Data always loved this one," she tearfully told him as she started into a new song. He sat and listened to her play for a long time until she couldn't make her voice work through her tears anymore. She finally let out a tired sigh, wiped her cheeks, and downed the last of her drink in one gulp.

"Let me take you back to your room," he offered, and after another sigh, she nodded. He put his arm around her and guided her down the hallway. Once they were inside, she immediately retrieved another drink from the replicator and sat on the bed. She picked up the guitar lying near her and positioned it in her lap. She took a long sip from her glass and plucked at the strings.

"You do not have to stay, Elnor," she said to him. "I am afraid I am not very good company tonight."

"Can I stay if I want to?" he asked. She rested her arm along the edge of the guitar and looked at him. His big, soulful brown eyes destroyed any resolve she had to be alone.

"Yes, honey, you can stay if that is what you want," she said. "I am beyond saving, though, so if that is your intention, I am afraid you are years too late."

"I don't believe that," he replied. "And I still want to be here with you even if you think that about yourself." She nodded as new tears formed in her eyes. She took another drink and started strumming another depressing song on the guitar, and when it was complete, she switched to a different mood. The songs became less melancholy, almost as though she was playing all her favourites one last time before leaving them behind forever. He lay down across the bed and propped his head up with his elbow while he quietly listened. Eventually, she stopped playing and put the guitar down because her drink was empty.

"You don't have to stop," he told her. "I will get you another one." He got off the bed, and as she looked at him, her face crumpled, and she could only nod. He brought the new one over, handed it to her, and sat on the bed again.

He wished there was something more he could do for her than just ferry drinks across the room. He knew Jagger was right, he was too young to understand the depth of her grief, but that didn't make it any less heartbreaking to watch. He didn't think she deserved to feel the way she did even though she seemed to believe it was some kind of karmic justice for past wrongs. Not knowing what else to do, he did what Simon and Jagger told him to and stayed there to quietly wait for some sign or an opening that would let him know what she needed because it certainly wasn't more gin.

She downed nearly the entire thing in one breath. Then she pulled her knees up and folded her arms across them as she let the glass dangle from her fingertips. "You know," she said as her eyes looked off into nothing. "All my life I have been good at exactly two things, entertaining people and killing them. Guess which one I have been doing for the last twenty years?" He knew she was just talking out loud, so he stayed silent but looked at her sympathetically. "I am so tired," she whispered and rested her forehead down on her arms. "I do not wish to do this anymore."

She'd never felt so empty in her life. She didn't want to be here anymore, didn't want to fight anymore, didn't want to feel guilty anymore. She couldn't control her power. She was losing it to the predator, and it was only a matter of time before she did something truly horrific. Even the alcohol wasn't helping like it used to. She didn't want to put Elnor through this, but she couldn't bring herself to drive him away.

He sat quietly beside her with his hands in his lap while she cried.

He knew she meant she was tired of life and didn't want to live any longer. He needed to do something for her, to give her even the tiniest sliver of hope. His strengths didn't involve words, and considering how little success any of the others had with them, they weren't going to do much anyway, but he had to try.

"I know you are tired," he said. "Just tell me what you need me to do, and I will do it."

"You need to run as far away from me as possible, Elnor," she replied. "I will only drag you down with me."

"That isn't true."

"I am so sorry for what I have done to you. You deserve better than this-this wreckage."

"I'm not sorry, and you aren't a wreckage, you are just lost," he replied. "Please, let me lead you home." She turned her head to look at him, and he put his hand on her cheek.

The feelings that rushed into him were alarming. She was more than tired, she was finished...with everything. He knew if he left her alone, he would never see her again. That scared him, and he felt panic bite at his gut. He couldn't let that happen. He didn't understand why his feelings were suddenly so strong, but he wasn't about to lose her.

He slid closer to her. "I want you to spend the night with me. If you still want to be alone in the morning, I will leave."

Why was he so persistent? She wasn't worth all this trouble.

"Elnor, I-"

"I'm not asking."

She looked at him as if she were about to argue again, but her lip started to quiver instead, and then she completely broke down. He put his arms around her and tugged her toward him, almost expecting a fight, but she accepted. Her arms went around him, and she buried her face in his neck while she sobbed.

He was determined to stay awake all night with her, but that was easier said than done. He'd hardly slept at all in the past week, and it was starting to catch up with him. He also had to contend with the enormous amount of energy she was putting out. He could already feel himself becoming calm and drowsy, but he shook it off, stubbornly blew the cobwebs off his brain and focused. He realized this wasn't about perfect words or some grand gesture. She didn't want to feel alone anymore. She needed someone to care for, someone to listen to, someone to hold her at the end of the day. He could be that someone for her, and he was starting to think maybe he wanted her to be that someone for him too.

He shifted his position so he could loop one of his legs around her. Then he squeezed her tight and rested his head on hers as he stroked her hair. "Please stay with me," he whispered. "I don't want you to go." Her tears flowed steadily for more than an hour, but he stayed there with his arms locked around her.

Eventually, her sobs subsided, and she loosened her grip on him. "You do not have to stay, Elnor. I will still be here tomorrow, I promise."

"What if I want to stay, not because I am afraid you will vanish if I leave but because I'm selfish, and I like having you all to myself?" he asked.

A sad laugh escaped her as she pulled away from him. "Would you like some tea?" she asked. He smiled and nodded his reply. He was slow to let his arms drop away from her as she got up to get them each a large mug from the replicator. When she returned, they curled up against the pillows and leaned on the headboard, using it as a table. "Tell me about Vashti," she said.

"Vashti isn't very exciting," he shrugged. "I'm certain your stories are much better."

"I do not care if Vashti is the most boring place in the galaxy," she replied. "I want to know about all your favourite things to do and all the dark, secret places you discovered. I want you to tell me about your adventures and your dreams and your memories. I want to hear about you, Elnor."

He looked at her a little surprised. "Alright."

Nobody had ever asked him to reveal those things before, and she was looking at him with expectant sincerity in her eyes. She wasn't waiting to be entertained, she just wanted to know who he was and he wanted to tell her.

With captivated interest, she listened to him talk all about those things, and he answered every question she asked until their tea was long gone, and they slid down to lie facing each other in the middle of her bed. For the first time in hours, there was a silence between them, and she reached out to caress his face. "Thank you for staying," she said quietly.

"Please don't thank me," he replied. "I wanted to stay, and you would have had to physically push me out the door to make me leave." His hand came up to hold hers against his cheek for a minute before he reached over and pulled himself toward her to rest his forehead on hers. "I enjoy spending time with you."

"I enjoy spending time with you too," she told him. "You should try to sleep. I promise I will not go anywhere."

He shook his head. "I don't want to sleep. It's your turn to tell me a story."

"Alright," she said and pulled back to prop herself up. "What would you like to hear about?"

"Tell me your favourite memories of Data."

He felt a pang of guilt for asking her to talk about Data. On one hand, he thought it might be soothing for her to recall happier times and remember the person she was back then. On the other hand, he was also hoping the nostalgia might encourage her softer side to reappear, and she would want him to hold her again. He liked doing that.

He was right, talking about her favourite memories of Data did bring out her sentimentality, and she told him several sweet stories with a wistful look in her eyes. She didn't seem to notice when he took her hand and laced his fingers through hers, but if she did, she didn't pull away.

He was a little surprised by how much he wanted to be touching her. Juliet was right, he was cuddly, maybe even unusually so, but Naseema always seemed very receptive to that side of him. Maybe, that was why he liked her company so much. She was affectionate too, and she didn't seem put off by his desire for physical closeness.

His need for sleep finally caught up with him, and he quietly drifted off. It didn't take long for her to notice, and she lay there and watched him sleep for a while.

What a sweet, tender boy he was, although, he wasn't a boy anymore, was he? He was a young man, but his sheltered innocence and boyish charm made him seem younger. She knew it was inappropriate, but she couldn't help her attraction to him. He had a wonderful personality and such a pure, untainted spirit. The more she got to know him, the more he reminded her of Nasir and yet, the more the differences between them grew. Elnor wasn't as reserved, and she found she quite enjoyed how uninhibited he was, and Nasir certainly wasn't unaffectionate, but she had to admit she was a little overcome by Elnor's extremely tactile nature. Even if he was simply holding her hand, he seemed to want to be touching her whenever he could. She liked that about him, and she was affected by his insistence that she spend the night with him. She knew he could feel what she intended to do, and he didn't try to rationalize with her or convince her of the errors in her fatalistic outlook, he only asked her to stay because he wanted her to. It was honest, it was simple, and it worked. When she looked in his eyes, she knew she couldn't abandon the bond she formed with him, and he made her want to stay.

She went outside just before the sun came up, and when Elnor woke up, he felt a terrible wrench of panic when he realized she was gone. He sat up and looked around. Then he saw her out in the courtyard. Relieved, he rolled off the bed and went to join her. She glanced over when she heard the door open and gave him a welcoming smile before she sat cross-legged on the ground. "Good morning," she said. "I hope you slept well."

"I think so," he replied. "I don't remember falling asleep."

"I believe it was nearly three in the morning," she told him as he sat down facing her. She looked at him with affection. "It was sweet of you to sacrifice your rest and well-being for me last night. I am sure sleeping in your clothes was not very comfortable." She took his hands and squeezed them. "It meant more to me than you can ever know."

"You needed someone to be there for you, and I wanted to be the one even though I didn't know what to do," he said. "I wish I could have been better for you or at least more articulate, and it wasn't a sacrifice, you're my friend. I know you would have done the same for me. Besides, I don't have anything else to wear. I've been sleeping in my clothes since we met."

"You did a lot more than you realize, and just being yourself was perfect," she insisted with a lump in her throat. "Your openness and honesty were all I needed. I have felt broken for a very long time and now I at least feel as though I know where those pieces are supposed to fit."

"Do you feel better this morning?" he asked.

"Yes," she smiled warmly.

"Then I am filled with joy," he said and smiled back.

"So am I," she agreed. "Are you hungry? Would you like to get some breakfast with me?"

"I would like that very much," he replied. They went back inside, but before leaving for the cantina, Naseema went right up to him and put her hands around his waist. She pulled them away, held them in position and examined the space between them. Then she quickly looked him up and down.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Attempting to assess your size," she replied. "You should not have to spend the entire day and night in the same clothes." She took a mental note and went to the replicator. She fiddled with the control panel for a minute before something materialized, and she brought it over to him. "These should be more comfortable for you to sleep in," she said as she handed the bundle of fabric to him. They were a sleeveless shirt, and pants in a very soft fabric, and a similar shade of blue as his clothes.

"Thank you!" he said, an expression of pleasantly surprised gratitude on his face.

"You are quite welcome," she replied. "Let me know if they do not fit properly." They stopped at his room so he could leave the new pajamas on his bed before they went for breakfast. Of course, Naseema didn't eat anything herself, but she sat with him and drank her coffee while he ate. They enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Juliet and Aronnox about how the assistance to the ex-borg survivors was progressing and how Raffi had been spending an increasing amount of time out at the crashed cube with Seven of Nine. Then, they headed straight for the gym to spend several more hours beating the tar out of each other. She showed him several more techniques with various other weapons and also taught him a few basic yoga poses. Then, they discussed meditation for a while before separating to get cleaned up. They reconvened for lunch, and afterwards, she, Jagger, and Simon taught him a card game. They were patient with him, and he was amused at how vicious and competitive they were with each other.

He was sure he'd never heard so much swearing and name-calling at one time before, but she seemed far more at ease today than she had since he met her, and it made him happy to feel he was at least partially responsible for that. It was worth the loss of sleep.

By the time evening rolled around, Picard joined them, and after dinner, she asked the retired admiral, if he was interested in being entertained for awhile. He enthusiastically accepted her offer, and the majority of Control's population moved to the lounge. It was a large room with a high ceiling, a grand piano, and an assortment of various other instruments crowded into a corner. Despite the replicators being more than adequate, the room also had a well-stocked bar and an antique jukebox. There were a few scattered tables and chairs surrounding one side of a wood-inlaid stretch of floor that went from the piano, all the way across the room. It wasn't a particularly ornate room, but the Feeonix all seemed very relaxed and happy to be there. They immediately began to fix and pass out drinks as Naseema headed for the piano. Raffi and Seven returned from the cube just before dinner, and they joined the group along with Rios and Agnes, who also appeared to be getting cozy with each other.

Naseema sat on the bench, and Picard sat next to her. Elnor grabbed a stool and positioned it nearby so he could watch her play. She turned to Picard and asked, "Do you want me to play your song?" She gave a little lean towards him, and he smiled.

"Please," he replied with a nod, and she started to play for him, but then he lay his hand on hers. "It's just not quite the same without-"

"I think I can help with that," Jagger cut in. He pulled a beat-up looking harmonica out of his pocket and gave it a quick blast of air to warm it up. Naseema smiled and launched back into the old mellow pop song. Her fingers bounced up and down across the keys with far more joie de vivre than the night before.

"We're in for quite a show, Elnor," Picard said and leaned forward to look past Naseema at him. "These two have real showmanship," Elnor remembered what she told him about being good at entertaining people, and he turned his eyes to Naseema's fingers on the keys.

He was looking forward to this. He enjoyed spending the day with her, and the warm, pleasurable feeling he had inside lasted the entire time. She was fun and easy to talk to. She made him comfortable like he didn't need to carefully consider everything he let come out of his mouth. It was almost like being at home in the Sanctuary.

She continued to play, her fingers danced with the keys during the verses and came down hard on the crescendos. She really threw herself into the show. She gave the old man a personal performance truly befitting the great Admiral Picard, and he loved every minute of it.

When the song was over, Jagger came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Scootch on over there, Pops, I know a good one. We're gonna set this piano on fire."

Picard eagerly slid off the bench and sat in a more comfortable chair next to Elnor. "Pay attention," he said. "And prepare to be amazed." Elnor nodded in reply and turned his eyes back to the piano. The song started slow and soft but promised to explode at any moment, and explode it did. Naseema and Jagger finished the first verse, and as the chorus came to completion, they abruptly sprang to their feet and knocked the bench right over. They played their boisterous duet so dramatically, they threatened to break the piano and caused the enormous instrument to move across the floor as they pounded on the keys. It was a thing to see them. The never stumbled. There was never a wrong pitch or misstep, and as the song reached its pinnacle, Naseema ran the length of the keys, and Jagger spun around her to trade places without missing a note. Elnor was enthralled. When they finished murdering the piano, Simon made sure the quiet pause wasn't long enough to ruin the party, and the other Feeonix all began shouting encouragements for the pair to move their show to the dance floor. They seemed to know the song Simon chose as well because they both continued singing as they circled each other before they finally launched into a fast, complicated, and strangely hypnotic series of moves that perfectly coordinated to the music. Laughing and gasping as Jagger finished flinging Naseema around the floor, they paused to catch their breath. It was brief, and as the next song came on, Naseema approached Rios and extended her hand to him. He looked up at her but didn't move.

"Mr. Rios," she said, "Do not tell me you cannot dance. I can see in your eyes that you can."

"This isn't really my kind of music-" he started to argue.

Simon called out and interrupted him. "Wait, wait! I got something that'll get him on his feet." Rios tried to continue his protest, but as Simon settled on his selection and changed the song, the lively beat caught him. He straightened up and raised an eyebrow at Naseema.

Agnes nudged him gently. "Come on Cris, I want to see what kind of moves you've got."

"Alright, you got me," he replied. "Let's do this." While he couldn't do what Jagger could, he was still a surprisingly good dancer, and he and Naseema worked their way around the dance floor like they were passionately in love. Several of the Feeonix joined them, and as the song reached the halfway point, Elnor watched in astonishment as Picard got up and approached Rios.

"May I cut in?" the Admiral asked as he tapped him on the shoulder. Rios graciously waved him in and went over to invite Agnes to join him.

"How long has it been?" Naseema smiled as Picard stepped towards her.

"Far too long," he replied.

"So, what do you say, should we show them all what we can do?" she suggested.

Picard let out a chuckle. "Absolutely," he replied and spun her around. He swept her across the dance floor, and his long-dormant rhythm returned to him like magic. When the song was over, they walked arm in arm back over towards the piano, and Picard returned to his seat as Naseema collected Elnor. She brought him out onto the floor to show him what to do. He already possessed excellent balance and coordination, so it didn't take him long to pick up the steps and soon, he was twirling her around almost as skillfully as Picard.