Even in the technologically advanced 24th century, the greatest rewards can still come from marriage and family, as Cheif Miles O'Brien discovers when he weds Keiko Ishikawa, a Japanese botanist who works on board the U.S.S. Enterprise.  Keiko, an accomplished scientist who heads the ship's plant biology lab, is introduced to Miles by Lieutenant Commander Data, Keiko's longtime colleague and close friend.  The down-to-earth Irish engineer may not have seemed a perfect match for the refined, career-oriented woman, but they soon fell deeply in love.  And as they continue to explore the galaxy with their crewmates, Keiko and Miles begin the bigger adventure of raising a family in space.

On the day of her wedding, Keiko seemingly gets cold feet and calls off the ceremony.  After causing Data much confusion about the nature of human emotional responses, Keiko finally decides to on-again, off-again wedding is on again, and she is married in a beautiful Irish'Japanese ceremony in the Ten-Forward Lounge, with Captain Picard officiating and Data as the father of the bride.

Keiko and Miles begin planning a family almost immediately.  Less than a year later, as Keiko approaches the due date of their first child, the Enterprise sustains massive systems damage in a collisiion with a quantum filament, and Keiko is among those trapped in Ten-Forward.  The injuries she suffers trigger premature labor, and an inexperienced Lieutenant Worf is forced to act as midwife. Despite the poor conditions, baby Molly is born safe and healthy.

This is by no means the last trauma Keiko will suffer on the Enterprise.  When Miles, Data and Couselor Troi come under the temporary mental control of convicted alien criminals, she is among those taken hostage in Ten-Forward, where "Miles" threatens her and Molly with a phaser.  But without a doubt, the strangest experience of Keiko's life is when a strange energy field transforms her, Picard, Guinan and Ensign Ro back into children.  Keiko has it hardest of the four, since her changed condition threatens the future of her family.  When the ship is commandeered by Ferengi, the young Keiko is insturmental in helping to beat back the invaders and regain the ship.  Soon after she is cured, Miles is promoted to Chief of Operations aboard station Deep Space Nine, and Keiko reluctantly departs her home aboard the Enterprise to accompany her husband to their new life.