"It was quite an enjoyable evening, do you agree?" Data posed the question knowing that Leo would agree, to a point. The rest he hoped would be expressed openly.

"It was quite a party." Leo kicked off her low-heeled formal shoes and sighed at the freedom of being barefoot on the lush carpet. Her duty boots were comfortable, as were these shoes she chose for the ceremony, but her feet always craved the freedom of going naked on whatever surface was available.

She turned her back to her husband. "Gimme a hand?"

"I will give you both." It was a response he'd come up with some time ago, and all on his own. He unzipped the back of her gown (silently thankful that she had long ago given up on the fashion of dozens of loop-and-button closures). "I hope the 'empty suits' did no task you too much."

"I'm good at ignoring them." But he knew that, didn't he. Slipping on a silken caftan, Leo did a turn around the room they'd been given. Not merely being accommodated at a VIP suite at the Academy, the honorees and their guests had been set up in sumptuous rooms at an elite hotel nearby in the city, transportation provided of course. "I don't think I've ever been anywhere this flash," she admitted. "Do you think I'm up to it?"

Data had shed his formal uniform in exchange for a luxe robe of silk brocade, provided by the hotel. Though it made little difference to him how he was attired, he knew that Leo found certain apparel more attractive than others. And at the moment he wanted to please her, hoping it would ease her mood. "I believe you are 'up to' anything that might be offered."

"Sweet talker." She ran out of words, then, not wanting to darken this wonderful evening with her own concerns. "So should we be kind to Geordi tomorrow, or give him a hard time?"

"I believe we should make that judgment depending upon his condition."


Geordi's declaration of "I need a drink" had seemed to have been well supported. He'd come to draw Leo away from Data's side seeming quite loose indeed.

"How 'bout a dance for the single honoree?" he'd asked with only a small slur.

"How could I say no to my best-friend-in-law?" He moved with surprising smoothness after she took his arm.

"Lots to think about, huh?" Geordi asked her with unexpected directness. He suddenly was a lot more sober than he'd first appeared.

"You're not so seem as you're drunk," Leo quipped. "And yeah, lots."

"So what do you think… I mean you're the one with the most to leave behind, in terms of everything."

God, he would be more direct even than Data, because he wasn't as bound by the fear of upsetting her, though Leo knew he took as little pleasure in it.

"I don't wanna talk about it now." She shut off his beginning protest, "You're number three on the list tonight, so don't be offended. I'll tell you what I told Data. And the captain, except I called him Jean Luc, because I'm allowed tonight. I want just this one night, just these few hours, to consider and decide and ponder nothing."

They danced a few more bars of indistinct music, and in the back of her mind Leo wondered once again if she'd be with Geordi, if she hadn't connected with Data, because he accepted her so completely.

"You do know I'm the one who won't give you a break, that I won't let you think that you have even a few hours to pretend you don't have decisions to make. Leo, baby," and here he slowed their dance and kissed her cheek, "I won't ever cut you the slack they will, because I know you better than I love you."

She hugged tight to him then. "I wish I could hate you for that." They danced for a few minutes more. "I know, I know. It's killing me, but I know." She raised her head from Geordi's shoulder and didn't try to hide the tears.

"Don't think it's easier because I won't have to leave," he told her, "not having my best friend," he smiled affectionately, "and my best friend-in-law right by me every day is something that will take a long time to get used to…"

The music had stopped, as it had when she danced with the captain, and Leo took advantage of the lull to act like the 24th century grownup she'd been avoiding. "Don't. I know what you're saying, and I know what it all means. Time won't stand still even for a few hours just because I want it to. And it shouldn't, anyway. I'll find a way to do this… and I won't hold you back, I promise."

Geordi's smile was as knowing as it was affectionate. "I'm more interested in you not holding you back, but I think I know you won't. Whatever it means to you, just don't keep it to yourself. You know what I mean."

Leo did know, even if she couldn't promise to do what he asked. "I love you Geordi," she told him earnestly, "you know that already, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do, and I love you too Leo, and I don't care if Data finds out," he smiled. "If he gets ugly about it I can just shut him off."


"So what do you think about this 'project'? Do you think the Federation will accept the Daystrom proposal?" Leo wasn't sure whether she wanted to hear yes or no.

Data settled himself on the lush sofa in the extremely lush living area of their suite. "I believe that whatever the Federation agrees to will permit the advancement of positronic capabilities."

Leo turned to face Data and look him directly in the eye. "This is what you meant when you talked about a 'deeper purpose'… you were thinking about a community, a society of people like yourself."

"I did not know that Pran and my mother were considering this," he paused, "but it is not inconceivable that they would do so, considering their relationship to my creation, and to me. Leora Eileen, do you not see where this proposal might lead… to the realization of a society where I would belong as I am, with others like me, not having been created as associates but as beings of value in and of ourselves?"

"How could you know me, and have to ask?" She didn't take it personally, even if part of her thought she should.

"I am sorry you could think I doubted you," Data told her, and she tried to stop him before he re-engaged the e-chip.

"Wait, I don't want you to feel that. You're wrong, I never believed this wasn't possible. I just didn't know anyone else thought so, too."

Her protest was too late.

"Leora Eileen, you must not try to prevent me from feeling what is honestly expressed. Whatever you feel, whatever you tell me, can never change what is between us."

More truth had never been spoken… Leo snuggled against Data, slumping boneless into his arms. "The captain gave me what-for tonight. Just in case you though we were just dancing." No response but a kiss to the top of her head. "Aha, you're waiting, I can tell. He said if I wanted to stand still I would have done it a long time ago, and never have come here. Or something like that."

"And you disagree?"

"I wish I could." When Data tightened his embrace she wound closer against him. "You know what's going on inside of me, you're the only one who does. How can I leave? It's the only home I've known, it's the only life I've known."

Data sat her up next to him, but kept his arms around her. "You experienced a new life in this century, with these people and surroundings. The Enterprise is the only home you have known here. This new direction that has been proposed, the changes it would bring, must remind you of first leaving home on earth."

"You mean when I came here?" She was being deliberately obtuse, and of course he knew.

"I mean when you left the home where you were raised to adulthood."

It hadn't been terribly wrenching, that first leave-taking, but it had been a shift in the world that she'd known. At the time she'd sworn she'd rather be gone. But at the time, at that time, there'd been nobody standing in front of her who knew better, so she'd been able to carry off the charade.

"Home is where your self is," she said simply. "I think I became my 'self' here, even more than before. I was too young then to know what it meant. I know it now." To her complete dismay, if not her surprise, she broke down in tears. "Data, how can I go, I've only just begun to understand all the reasons to stay… how can I leave where I finally belong?"

Data could think of no answer to a question of such philosophical and emotional complexity. This was, he realized, one of those things that "weren't for fixing". It pained him greatly because it was also one of those things that he felt needed and deserved to be "fixed", more than any other he could remember, because it caused Leo more distress than perhaps anything he had witnessed so far. A stunning realization in his emotional education was that positive variables could be far more painful to accept than negative ones. No wisdom was equal to this turmoil.

"Ssh," he whispered, holding her closer and stroking her hair, "no answer is possible, no logic can resolve this. I am sorry, I wish more than anything else to spare you this. I will decline this offer if doing so will ease your pain." He meant every word. One of the things Data had learned about the emotion of love was that sacrifices previously considered illogical could become acceptable in order to ensure the continued happiness of another. No, not merely "another". One particular other. He understood, of course, that the opportunity that had been offered them would actually be very beneficial to Leo both professionally and, in the end, personally, and that her friendship with Captain Picard would evolve accordingly and adapt to its new parameters. As much as when he and Leo had first met, time and space need not be limiting. At the same time he understood that taking leave of Captain Picard would be an extremely wrenching change, both for Leo and for the captain. Life as he understood it, even prior to experiencing emotion, was fraught with such difficult decisions and unfortunate "tradeoffs". But here and now comforting Leo held importance above all other considerations. If opportunity was to be deferred or even denied, so be it. Perhaps Geordi, whose progress he knew Leo did not want to impede, could find others to continue the project with him.

"Oh god, Data, no." Leo sat up and regarded Data with a new awareness, as if she'd never noticed before that he was willing to put aside every personal aspiration for what he believed she needed. How many women would have jumped at the chance to have their own personal wants be a given, with no worries of future resentment? For the first time in her life Leo felt not a flicker of hesitation. She reached up and stroked Data's face with a trembling hand, shaken by the knowledge that he'd stop everything for her. "I could never, never be happy here knowing you'd turned away from something so important… knowing that I was the reason for slowing down something like this. What this project means is so much more than any of us…" she threw her arms around Data's neck and buried her face in his shoulder, "there's no way this can be easy, I know that, and there's nothing that can change that, but sooner or later I'd hate myself for staying. And I know that sooner or later the captain would lose respect for me for doing it."

Better understanding that Leo's anguished questions were more rhetorical than practical, Data ceased trying to find a solution and instead just held her, letting her cry as long as she needed to. Another lesson in human emotion: some pain must simply be endured. But something must be said.

"Leora Eileen, of all the things you understand I believe there is one thing that you have not learned. There is nothing that you are capable of doing that would diminish the captain's regard for you." He raised her head from his shoulder and made her look him in the eye. "I know this even if you do not. And I believe it would disturb him deeply if he knew that you believe otherwise."

"I know, I do. I keep whining for things to be simple, but I just keep making them so complicated, don't I?" Her eyes were red and runny, and she was sniffly and upset, but Data smiled "her" smile in reply, as always forgiving her every rampant neurosis.

"You do, cara mia. It is one of your consistent 'talents'."

"You think maybe it's part of my charm?" she asked hopefully. He kissed her sweetly, wiped the tears from her face, and settled her head on his shoulder again.

"I am afraid not, my love."


"Captain, may I speak with you?"

Picard was a bit surprised to find Juliana Tainer outside the door of his hotel room.

"Of course, come in." He hadn't yet changed from formal uniform, but felt a bit awkward admitting her to his suite when he saw she was alone.

"I'm sorry for the late hour, but I felt it was important."

After she'd taken the proffered seat she spoke directly. "I know that our project has presented you with a rather large dilemma."

"If you mean changes in personnel, a career in Starfleet has taught me that nothing is permanent." He thought he'd pulled it off rather nicely, but Dr. Tainer's expression said otherwise.

"I think we both know there is slightly more involved in this case than a mere change in personnel." Before he could respond she continued, "And we both know that regardless of that, changes do and will occur that will benefit both Starfleet and greater causes. And the careers of the 'personnel' involved." Her professional demeanor melted behind a sympathetic smile. "I think even more than my husband and Commander Maddox, I wanted you to know that we're not proposing this lightly."

Picard straightened in his seat and assured her, "Naturally I never imagined that. The loss of Commander Data and the adjustments made necessary by Commander LaForge's altered duty will be noticed of course, but accommodated, and their contributions to those greater causes gratefully noted."

"Frankly Jean Luc, if I may be so informal, they were not the only losses I was thinking of."

Good god, he realized, he'd not even mentioned… "Of course, Juliana. As her commanding officer, the advancement of Lieutenant O'Reilly's career is something I can only regard with a sense of pride and pleasure."

"She'll do very well with us, I think I can promise that. And I can personally assure you that her talents and personal development will be closely nurtured. She is after all far more to my husband and I than simply a Starfleet officer and potential team member."

Ah. No sense playing the role for her, he realized. "Nor has she been to me. But then you know that, or you wouldn't be here."

Juliana nodded. "Quite right. You have guided the Lieutenant and provided her with the support and experience that has made her a very valuable participant in our project. It's important you understand that we did not 'make' a place for her simply because she's married to Data."

"If I suspected such a thing, even for a moment, I'd never approve her transfer."

"I'm glad to hear that." She smiled, and rose. "Thank you for hearing me at this late hour."

"It's my pleasure. And I meant what I said, if I'm forced to relinquish my valued crew members, I'm very proud to have this project be the reason why. You, especially, know my particular interest in such matters."

"And your personal commitment to them," she added gently. "I'm sorry to divide such a legendary friendship as yours and the lieutenant's."

Her use of the phrase gave him pause.

"Alter, perhaps. Not divide."

"That reassures me. Good night, Captain."

"Good night, Juliana."

After the door hissed shut and Picard had changed into sleeping attire he stood for a moment in the lush living room of the suite he'd been given. For all of the dry learned counsel he'd dispensed tonight, it suddenly was clear that very soon he'd be losing a large and brightened part of the everyday that he'd come to think of as a given.

Suddenly he was very glad he'd been persuaded to stand still for a while tonight.