LESSONS ACROSS TIMELINES ^{© 2003-2007}

By Lessa Soong

Chapter Eight – Stuck in a Forbidden Groove

Jayden Soong put a hand on Harper Talenger’s shoulder and watched her jump a mile.

“Gotcha!” came his voice from just behind her. She reached over her shoulder and put her hand over his face, pushed him back away from her shoulder. Turning around in her swivel chair, Harper faced him. She crossed her long legs. The black hose she wore accentuated the curves of her calves.

“Well, if it isn’t the golden boy himself,” Harper teased, catching her breath from being scared out of her wits. She had her other hand on her chest and was still breathing hard. Her cheeks were flushed, but her eyes sparkled.

Data thought she was a vision.

He grinned. “Golden boy?” he repeated, looking towards the door to her office. On his way in, Data had seen four people in evidence even though it was 5:09. “Next you are going to tell me you find something about me to be artificial or-“

“How I’ve met that were warmer than you?” she finished, taking it away from him.

“Have you?” Data asked, uncertain.

“No,” Harper answered, he sighed. Leaning forward in her chair she whispered to him, “I try to not have more than one robot around at a time,” she teased, knowing this would get him.

“I...am...not a robot,” Data stammered.

She grinned up at him. “Tripped over that one a bit, hon. But I assure you, of that, I have no doubt.” Harper turned off her computer at her desk and locked up her office as Data waited and then trailed behind.

As they made their way to the van, she asked Data where they were going for dinner.

“I hope you like fondue, because it sounds intriguing to me,” Data told her.

And it was. The meal was wonderful and the service exemplary. The wine was good too and Data made sure that Harper’s glass was never empty. He wanted to be sure she enjoyed herself. Harper was very funny when she drank, but she was also relaxed.

Data decided Harper would be in the correct frame of mind for what he wanted to discuss. Data told her how he had been looking into the stock market and wanted her approval to set aside a small allotment of their funds from his next check, to invest.

“Is that not against some temporal interference law or something?” Harper asked in a whisper. They sat in a circular booth that could have accommodated four more people, but they sat in the middle of the bench, together.

“I do not know of any directive that would caution me against properly supporting my housemate,” Data told her with a gentle smile. He could see she was getting very woozy.

“How much wine did you slip me, you sneaky bastard?” Harper asked poking him in the side.

“Apparently, enough,” Data teased.

“I will still remember everything that happens. I may say something stupid, but I’ll remember saying it tomorrow so don’t think you can take advantage of me and I won’t remember. Besides, I would want to remember.”

Data was stunned to hear her say this. He felt his whole body freeze over and then thaw. It was an odd sensation for someone who could not be cold or hot.

“You would?” he asked weakly, looking her straight in the eyes. It almost seemed as though she had been drinking synthehol and was throwing off the affects. Harper looked Data back in the eyes and a smile curved her lips.

“Of course I would.”    

Data could not resist the temptation any longer; he leaned over and kissed her. The wine on her lips tasted sweet, but the kiss was far sweeter. He wrapped his arms around her as Harper leaned into him, caressing his cheek. He found her tongue and courted it with his own. Data’s left hand moved to the back of her head. He ran his long fingers through her dark silky waves. She never did much of anything to her hair. She didn’t have to.

Data felt Harper’s other hand move from his side, up his chest. He had removed his jacket and tie in the car, and unbuttoned his shirt so she would not tease him. Now her fingers found the opening and found skin. Desire floored Data with that touch. In that moment he remembered the decision he had made, designed to determine her feelings on this matter without having to ask. But she was not close enough to know what was happening to him.

Data felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. They were sitting in a booth of a restaurant, forty-five minutes from home and a bed. He did not want to make love to Harper in the car.

But he wanted to make love to her.

Badly!

Yes, there was a downside to programming this response to be automatic. Data could not just grab Harper’s hand and rush her out of the restaurant without at least fifty people knowing that he was...in the mood.

 Sighing heavily, he kissed Harper one last time and caressed her soft cheek.

“We need to go home, Harper, but I guess we have to stay.”

She looked confused and displeased by this announcement. “Explain that.” She was looking him in the face and he did not wish to just look down, so he took her hand and touched it to the prominent bulge in the front of his slacks . “Oh, my,” she gasped, but did not look down. Data was thankful for small miracles. “You...changed it over?”

“Yes,” he answered.

“Can you change it back so we can leave?”

“It took thirty four minutes to activate the program that would allow this to happen, should the situation warrant. It would take less time to allow it to...subside.”

“Then I guess we should order dessert. And stop...kissing.” Data did not want to agree...about the kissing part...but he had to agree. Still, he pulled Harper close and kissed her just once more before the waiter returned.

Data was beginning to think the reaction would never subside, when it finally did. He paid the bill, hid the receipt from Harper and ushered her from the establishment. He walked her over to his side of the van and opened his door.

“Normally I would open your door for you, but I wish to kiss you again and I think we know what is going to happen if I do. I think I will need to get into the van after that. I hope you are not offended.”

Harper giggled. She was still very much under the influence of the wine. But she had assured Data that she knew what she was doing and wanted to kiss him. Those words washed over him like a tide. Data crushed her body against his. Kissing her with a passion that surprised even him. Harper seemed almost aggressive as she returned his kiss, her own desire adding to the fire between them.

His erection returned.

So did her giggles.

“I think we need to go home. My knees are weak,” she told him. Data still did not want to release her. But she was right and he could not take the chance that someone would see them if he made love to her in the back of the van. One more penetrating kiss and she pulled away, precarious in her balance.

“You could hang a week’s worth of laundry from that thing, you know. You going to be able to get in the car like that?” Harper asked staring pointedly at the bulge in his pants.

“I will be just fine. You are exaggerating about the laundry and it would be unseemly to test your theory.” Data lectured. Harper was still laughing when she finally made it to her side of the car.

He drove the speed limit, but was tempted not to. There it was again...temptation! Still this one was easy to resist. Data did not wish to risk injuring Harper or himself. No one to fix him here...

They were twenty minutes from home when Harper fell asleep.

The overwhelming feeling of defeat washed over Data again.

Harper was snoring softly when they arrived home and Data laughed at his hopes being foiled. He carried her into the house and took her to her bed. Her shoes were the only things he removed before covering her with her blankets and kissing her good night.

“I want you, but I will wait. Remember my kiss, Harper. Tell me tomorrow that you wanted my kiss. Tell me you want me too.”

Harper rolled over at three in the morning and wandered to her bathroom in the dark. She wondered why she still had her dress on. ~ I only remembered...let’s see...I remember...oh, my God! Data kissed me! And kissed me again! ~ The sensation of those kisses came rushing back to her.

“I always knew he’d be a curl your toes kind of kisser!” she muttered. Harper wondered where he was. She only remembered the car ride and that was it.

Had they? Had she? Had he?

Coming back into her bedroom she saw the other side of the bed was still made and empty. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. Harper really wasn’t sure she was ready to be his lover. Or that Data was ready to be hers.

She pulled off her clothes and threw on a nightgown. Climbing back into bed, she wondered what the morning would bring.  

Harper woke up early...or rather had trouble sleeping since she became convinced to a greater degree as the night passed that she was not going to get up and kiss Data good morning. If she succumbed to this desire when they were both still so fragile in healing, Harper knew she would fracture beyond repair if he left. They still had no idea how long Q intended for Data to remain in her time. He could appear as soon as Harper allowed Data into her bed for the first time. Maybe in a little while she could take that, but now...it would kill her.

It felt like Robin was ripped from her arms yesterday. Having Data torn from her today would not be bearable.

Harper ambled into the kitchen once she heard indication of Data moving around in the other room. She padded across the floor and headed to the coffeepot.

“You are up early. I have not yet made your coffee.” Data said in a surprised, but quiet voice once he noticed her. He was making turkey sandwiches. She nodded and pulled the coffee tin from the cabinet above. Data continued with his task, but he kept looking over at her. The expression on his sweet face reminded her of the one that had been there when Tasha had walked over and told him that it never happened.

~ Great! I always hated her for doing that and now here I am, about to do the same thing! ~

“Harper,” Data was standing next to her, staring expectantly at her. He was going to ask! He opened his mouth to speak, but she put her finger over his lips and shook her head.

“Coffee first,” she grumbles. “Not even human yet...let me wake up.” He sighed, but swallowed his questions and pleas.

“Are you suffering from residual effects from the wine...last night?” he asked. He was thinking about last night. Replaying every moment in his head. She could see it in his sunshine colored eyes. There was doubt and fright there too. There would be more soon...

“No, only get that if I drink mixed drinks.” Harper grabbed a cup from the cupboard and added sugar and milk. She warmed the milk in the microwave and walked back to wait for the coffee to get high enough to fill her cup. She drank three sips and then turned to Data.

“Sit, Data,” she commanded in a tone nowhere near commanding. His features clouded over, but he sat. He knew what was coming. He had heard it before...or so he thought.

“You remember it?” he asked, just to get the ball rolling.

“I told you that I would. I’m sure it’s a bit fuzzy compared to your recollection, but I think it’s all there. I fell asleep in the car, right?” He nodded, expressionless.

“Do you wish that you could not remember it?” he asked. Harper was only mildly surprised that he sounded a touch provoked.

“No, Data. I want to remember it. I may as well say it, since you know it’s coming. It did happen, but it can’t happen again.” She tried to emphasize the ‘it happened’ part, but it didn’t seem to help much. He was still angry. He slapped the table so hard that it seemed the house shook. He pushed back from the table and was on his feet, staring down at her.

“Why! Was my kiss so revolting? Did I taste too metallic for you?” Data was shouting.

“No, and if you’re going to give me that tired old ‘I’m just an android’ line I’ll scream. I have two reasons and you may argue with the first, but... You and I are still healing from our last....relationships. You know you wouldn’t be so upset if you were not still hurting and healing. You’ve got thick skin, Data, but it doesn’t help you here. Right now you’re as fragile as I am, and I can’t take this right now.” He straightened and walked away from her.

“Perhaps it would help us to heal,” he offered, looking back at Harper.

“And perhaps it wouldn’t. I can’t speak for you, Data, but I know that if we pursued it now and then discovered that this was rebound or just not what we wanted, I would break. Believe me, you don’t want to see what would happen...” She looked at her feet.

“What if you are wrong? What if this is just what we need?” He was pleading, but she just shook her head. He turned back around and pounded on the door to the pantry. He was holding back quite a bit; the door only cracked slightly.

“Why can I not fall, just once, and have it simple and uncomplicated. Not a virus induced encounter, not an emotionless one, and not...a seduction intended to manipulate me.” Data turned and stared at Harper with haunted eyes. “I thought we could have this. Just two beings who could care and...touch each other...”

“Until Q appears and takes you home, Data?” Harper finished for him. He recoiled. “That’s the one thing I can’t forget. I know that you’re not fully vested here. Your life is waiting for you in the future, timelines away. And I can’t go there with you! And you would not want me if I could. I had one man ripped from me, do you really believe that I could survive the sudden loss of another?” Harper stood up and went to him. She took his hands in her own, and looked into his troubled eyes. “You know that you really aren’t ready either. You still can’t talk about the Queen without a pause. Tasha and Jenna...yes, her, no. I’m in the same boat, sweet boy. We are moving towards the shore, Data, but we aren’t there yet. Give it time. This is not a ‘no’, just a ‘not now’. Can you accept that?”

He did not know what to say, so he just ran a finger across the curve of her jaw line. He wanted to kiss her so desperately. Just this closeness and he could feel a physical response threatening. Perhaps just a hug... She came to him willingly. He closed his eyes and forced himself to admit that Harper was right.

How was it that in diagnostic problems with the most sophisticated pieces of equipment known to science in his time, Data was never wrong in his assessments, but in emotional matters he was wrong more often than not?

There was so little logic involved in emotion.

Harper pulled back to look at his face. She was looking for a clue as to his mood; Data could see it in her eyes. He sighed.

“So, I guess the suggestion for us to stay home and make love all day would be shot down?” Data asked, trying to be pathetically humorous. She grinned and gave his middle a squeeze.

“Sit and watch the whole movie ‘First Contact’ without flinching and we’ll talk.” She tilted her head to the side as he sighed in frustration at her. “Maybe this is a sucky time to tell you, but are you aware that a new movie is due out in December?” Harper considered moving out of Data’s arms, but decided to stay until after she got all the bad news out.

“Well, let me see, I receive my chip and had an emotional break down in the first movie. I was...raped, sort of...in the second, you still have not let me see the third, but told me that I am damaged and shoot at everyone. What do they do to me in this one? Kill me?” He sounded miffed, but he was joking. Harper's eyes got wide.

“Well....” She released him and gave him room to explode. 

“You have to be kidding. He kills me?” Data’s voice got high in shock. “If I get to meet Spiner, I think I would indeed want to tell him how to play me better. Imploring him not to kill me would be my first suggestion.” Data was deep in thought, no doubt planning a trip to see Spiner and wondering if this would cross over into his timeline.

“At this point it’s just rumor. There are also rumors the captain dies. There is also one that suggests that it’s not you that dies, but another android.” Harper was trying to calm him, but doubted this would be successful.

“Lore?”

“No, another one. The details are sketchy. I’ve been avoiding finding out too much so I wouldn’t get depressed,” Harper explained with a shrug. 

“YOU!” Data exclaimed.  “How do I die?” He was very unhappy...to say the least.

“I don’t know. I really don’t and I don’t think you should try to find out. We can see the movie when it comes out if you want to, but you have to promise not to rip any chairs out in the theater.” Harper waved a finger at him. He arched an eyebrow at her. “Don’t look at me like that. I know you want to. You are mad. Very mad.” Without looking in that direction, she pointed at the crack in the door to the pantry.

“Oops,” he said, wide-eyed.

“I’m not trying to make you feel guilty for being mad and having the strength to do more damage than others. Just try to pick something easily replaceable or something we can do without, okay? Make you a deal...next time I have to tell you something that’s gonna piss you off, I’ll hand you something to break and duck.” She grinned at him and he found himself feeling better.

~ How did she do that? ~

Maybe it was easier to be unbalanced with someone who was also teetering on the edge herself.

“I will not hurt you.” Data wanted to make sure she knew this.

“I know that your ethical program views me differently than the door. I wasn’t too worried. I’m not stupid, but I have faith that you’re gonna try not to hurt me on purpose.” He saw her eyes move to the clock. “Time has chosen not to stop for us, this morning. It has a very annoying habit of moving on. I have to take a shower since I missed my bath last night. The name of the movie is ‘Nemesis’. If you find out conclusively that the Data in this universe dies, please don’t tell me, okay?” He raised an eyebrow at her. She knew what he was planning...well, it was not a great leap.

“It would bother you to hear of that Data’s death?” he asked, knowing the answer. Harper turned back and gave him a knowing smile.

“I don’t want to think about any of you dying. And I forbid you to, got it? Temporal Integrity Commission be damned, anything you can find out that would prevent your death would be a good idea.”

“Temporal Integrity Commission?” Data asked, confused.

“You really need to watch more Voyager...”

Thanksgiving was quickly approaching. While this meant the release of ‘Nemesis’ was coming up fast, it also meant that Melody’s vacation was coming up even faster. Harper had still not told her daughter about the man living with her. She also worried about Data, as the closer they came to the movie’s release, the moodier Data became. Perhaps it did not matter if it were Data or the other android who died in the movie. Either would upset him. If truth be told, Harper didn’t even like the thought of Lore being shot and taken apart. Still she did not live with Lore, she lived with Data and he was very sullen today.

Mel was to arrive in three days and Harper was sitting in front of the TV watching ‘Pretty Woman’, her favorite old movie. She had knitting needles in her hands and a blanket of yellow and blue was two rows closer to completion. Data was at the computer, paying the bills.

“If you had just told her I was your lover, would she have let me stay with you?” Data asked, from the desk. He was still miffed that Harper had gone to her sister’s for the weekend and left him home alone. Her sister, Brinna, was seven months pregnant with her first baby, a boy, and Harper had gone to Alabama for the shower and the weekend. Data had not been pleased.

“In the same room? I don’t think so, sweet boy. Considering Brin had a ten year affair with her husband before they got married, I don’t think she would have a leg to stand on if she tried to judge me for having a live in lover...if that was what you were.” Harper looked over her shoulder at Data to verify that he looked irritated by this. He did.

“I still want to be your lover,” he snipped. Harper snorted at the disparity between Data’s tone and his words. She got his attention and pointed meaningfully at the movie standing on the TV cabinet.

‘First Contact’ now had an honored...or dishonored place there. It waited for Data to pick it up and watch it, beginning to end. He had tried once. But the part where he had been grabbed and pulled under the closing door had been as far as he could get. Harper knew Data remembered these events just fine, but watching them from the outside had an odd affect on him.

He didn’t like it.

“I am working on it. I have decided that I may try again after the New Year comes.” He sounded a little calmer.

“After ‘Nemesis’ you mean,” she corrected. He nodded reluctantly. “I guess you figure that if you can handle seeing yourself die, you can handle anything.”

“I suppose...except rejection...” Data muttered. Harper turned completely around in her chair and glared at him.

“I did not reject you, now stop moping.” She waved her finger at him. She had been doing that a lot of late. And he had been moping a lot. 

“Does it bother you to think that you live with an android who wants to be intimate with you?” he asked, knowing he was setting himself up.

“I have passionately kissed said android, you know,” she reminded him.

“I have seen you kiss the computer too. We are both machines. How would you feel if your computer wanted to be your lover?” He was getting pissy again, she noted.

“We talked about it actually...the computer turned me down claiming that I was not his type. He wanted to just be friends. I agreed to his terms. You know my terms, sweet boy.” She got out of her chair and came to stand behind him.

“I have noticed that when we have discussions like this, you tend to increase the frequency in your referring to me by that term of endearment.” Data said this looking over his head at her. Harper was glancing at the computer screen and taking note of their current bill situation.

 “That’s because I can remember back to when you were less grouchy and were a sweet boy. I keep hoping if I remind you enough you will be again.” She leaned over and wrapped her arms around his neck. She snuggled up to his cheek and he sighed. He both liked and hated it when she did this. She did not do any sexual flirting or kiss him, but she was, as always, affectionate to him. How was he going to cope with having her daughter here and watching his every move?

Data was grouchy. Harper was right, as always, and he was moping as well. Harper's and his relationship was part of it, but the new movie was also bothering him. Data had promised not to tell her about it but...

“If I...the character of Data dies in this timeline, how do I treat that knowledge if Q sends me back to mine?” Data asked Harper, thinking out loud.

“We don’t know that you will in your timeline. We have found discrepancies.”

“Harper, the fact that your time has progressed by ‘two movies’ and that I have hair on...my arms is not overwhelming evidence.” There were more discrepancies, but they were all just as insignificant.

“You, I assume, will remember all of what happened here, since Picard did when Q bounced him through time.”

“Yes, and he told us all about it.”

“Thus turning the timeline. You can do the same thing. Use the knowledge you take back and tell everyone what you think they need to know. But...what will you do if the movie shows that it is not you that dies?” She asked.

“You are asking if I will try to save him, too. I will.” 

“What if the death of one of you is unavoidable, or the situation requires one of you to sacrifice yourself? Granted I know almost nothing about him or even how long he has been alive...like that makes a difference, but we have seen ‘Data’ telling him that he must be deactivated as he is dangerous in the film previews. I don’t want anyone of your kind to die since there are so very few of you and I am rather against genocide. I just think you have to face the possibility there may be a damn good reason that...one of you has to face the ultimate challenge. I think you know who I’m pulling for...”

Data pulled her arms from his neck and stood to look at her. “I do not wish to be destroyed. But I will not send him to his death if my death will save him.”

“Then you most likely will condemn him as well. If he is not functioning properly, who will see that his rights are defended? Picard is loyal to you. The captain wouldn’t have been very forgiving towards Lore had he killed you during any of the times you encountered him. You are the advocate, sweet boy. You are the one with the little paper of rights to wave at them. If you aren’t there to wave it, no one else will. Even Geordi will be too broken up about your death to defend the other android. I know this is not making you feel any better, but you still have the power to change fate. All you can do is try.” Harper wanted to hold him and tell him that it would be all right, but she was too worried that her words would be a lie. How do you advise someone about dealing with a possible death?

      “I will have to decide when-“ the phone rang. Harper sighed and went to answer it. It was Melody. Data turned around and went to his bedroom. He did not have anything to do here, but he wished to give her some privacy. He also found he had much to brood about.

“I have to tell you something that I have been avoiding, Melody,” Harper told her daughter only a few minutes into the conversation.

“You have cancer.” Melody had much the same odd sense of humor that Harper did.

“No, just a man living with me,” she replied, hoping that this sounded much better by comparison. It was a good try...

“What the hell did you just say? Tell me you’re kidding. Have you turned into Aunt Brinna?”

“It’s not that kind of...who am I kidding? It is yet to be that kind of relationship, but it may one day be like that, and I am an old woman who will die soon, give me a break!”

“Translation: you’re horny and so you’ve lured this unsuspecting guy into your den of horrors. Do I get to tell him to ‘be afraid, be very afraid’?”

“I think he knows already. You’re taking this better than I expected. Do you want to know anything about him?” Harper asked.

“A name would be a good start. Is he cute or tall, blond and geeky like you prefer?” her daughter teased.

“No, Stewart Copeland was not available, I had to settle. He’s tall...pale and well, I guess you could consider him geeky in a way. His name is...oh hell, you know too much to fall for this. Hold one sec, Melody. I will be right back.” Harper put the phone down and went to fetch her housemate.

“She is never going to fall for the ruse,” Harper announced at his bedroom door. Data was lying on his bed, but looked at her when she came into his field of vision.

“Why do you say that?” Data asked.

“Even your name is going to ring bells. Your assumed name. She’s heard me talk about you and has watched enough Star Trek to know the name Soong. On a good note, she doesn’t seem too shocked that I am living with someone.” Harper shrugged as Data sat up.

“You should have let me come with you to your sister’s shower. I could have met the whole family. You are hiding me.” He was still in mid-brood.

“Stop it! I need real guidance here, Mr. Depression. Come with me.” Harper grabbed his hand and he followed with a sigh of resignation. Once they were back in the living room, Harper put the phone on speaker and told her daughter that her friend was now in the room.

“You still haven’t told me his name, Mom,” Melody’s voice complained.

“Tell her your name,” Harper coaxed him.

“I am called Jayden Soong.” Data rolled his eyes at Harper for making him do this.

“Very funny, mom. Sounds like a depressed Data. Where did you download that wave?” Melody replied, sounding like she could not believe that her mother would try to pull this one over on her.

“Gee, guessed it right off the bat. He does a great Data impression, doesn’t he?” Data was back in the computer chair and she was standing over his shoulder.

“Yeah, except that I don’t remember Data being depressed much. Worried a lot, but not depressed. What kind of weird-o is he if he’s feeding your Data obsession? Have you given him any money?” Melody sounded upset and worried.

“I paid it all back!” Data defended. He hated being accused of this by Linda.

“Tell him to stop that, mom. If he doesn’t stop, I’m gonna call the cops and tell them some guy is taking advantage of you. Mom!” Melody sounded almost frantic.

“Okay that’s enough! I guess this was a bad idea. When are you going to be here, Mel?” Harper asked, cutting off the tension-filled conversation and redirecting it.

“That’s why I called...I’m gonna be there tomorrow. If he’s gonna be there, I’m not-“

“Stop! You are to come here and we will all sit down and get to know each other. I am your mother and you will respect my wishes. Got it?” A sigh of frustration could be heard on the line.

“Fine, but he better not be using my room!”

“He’s in the guestroom and always has been.”

“How long had this been going on?” Melody asked, sounding defeated.

“Two months, three weeks, two days, six hours, eleven minutes and eight seconds.” Data answered. Harper suppressed a laugh.

“You just couldn’t resist, could you?” Harper said, swatting him only half playfully on the head.

“That was not funny! I-“

Harper cut Melody off saying, “Relax, pumpkin. I have not lost as much of my mind as you think I have. We’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

“Love you too,” Melody answered begrudgingly and hung up.

Harper disconnected the call from her end and sighed. “Well, that went perfectly awful.”

             “It was your idea for me to talk to her,” he said defensively.

“Oh, I take full responsibility for fucking it up, but did you have to recite the full exact time?”

“She asked!”

“Data. I don’t think you need to worry about what happens in Nemesis, because I’m going to kill you right here and now!”

“If so, can I have a last wish?” he asked coming to stand before her. He moved in close.

“You know my terms,” she said, again, waving her finger at him.

“I need you, Harper. Please!” He moved closer.

“What about the tape?” She pointed at the TV. His attention was not to be distracted from his target.

“I will watch it...later.” He took hold of her waist, pulling her against him.

“Just a kiss, no further!”

“I will settle for that...for now.”

It had been too long... His desire had only increased during the wait. Not that she had not been tempted to start unbuttoning his shirt and just go from there. His kisses were so demanding...so full of passion...Harper forgot everything she had been feeling and could only feel her resolve slipping away...and his need.

“Data...” she moaned. She could feel the evidence of his desire press against her.

“Let me, please, Harper. Do not deny me. Please.” She felt so swept away by the sound of his voice, and his touch. His intoxicating touches and scent. He was kissing her cheek, nibbling her ear, and whispering words of desire to her. Data lowered her to the floor. He could have lifted her to the bed...any bed, but the world was a blur and all he could think of was having her love. It was what he needed. Not her body, but her mind. Still, his sexual desire seemed in conflict with this.

“Tell me that you love me, Harper.” Data was pleading and commanding all at once.

“I have always loved you.” Her eyes were closed and she looked almost on the edge of ecstasy.

“No, Harper, Not him. Not the man on the screen, or the one in the stories, any story. Me! Open your eyes and look at me!” She opened her eyes.

It was there... Data could see it there.

“Tell me...save me...”

Harper reached up at traced his lips with a finger. “Human,” she whispered.

“No...I am not.” He was confused as to why she would say this now.

“No. That is the first word you said to me. Human. You had that ‘in control’ stance and were turned in a way that made...my mouth water for days just thinking about it. You are him, but better. You are not so perfect...which oddly makes you more perfect. You get pissy, frustrated, you laugh louder and you’re much sneakier. I always knew you had the capacity to be stubborn, even before the chip and with it you’re ten times worse. You are the sexiest man I have ever met...but you have to let me up.”

Data felt like a warp bubble had just collapsed. “Why?” he pouted.

“Because, we cannot become lovers the day before Melody comes to stay for four days!”

Why would that have anything to do with...oh.

Harper could see the realization hit him.

“You told her we were not lovers,” he voiced. She nodded. “You have to stop telling people that,” he admonished, only half joking. She started to giggle. And kept giggling. He stopped her giggles with another kiss. For someone who did not want to make love with him, she was awfully damn responsive!

“The day she leaves-“ he began, as he helped her to her feet moments later.

“You still have to watch the tape, the whole tape. No blinking and no coffee break. And right now we have a bigger problem.” She glanced down for just a second and then pretended not to notice his ‘bigger problem.’ “Bigger than that if you can imagine...” She gave him an evil grin.

“Your humor chip is malfunctioning. That was not funny!” He growled. He turned and went to the couch. She followed and headed for the chair, but tossed him a pillow first and motioned for him to put it in his lap. She had to catch the pillow a second later.

When Harper stopped laughing she told Data she doubted they would be able to keep Data’s ‘secret identity’ from Melody. “She has heard too much about you through the years to be fooled. She also knows how to look things up, and Soong she already knows. If she looks up Jayden, we’re sunk. We may be sunk already as she knows your voice.”

“I can change it during her visit, but I could not answer the phone or speak to anyone else outside the two of you.”

“Exactly. Not feasible. She needs to know. I think I am going to need her to know anyway.” Her voice was suddenly shaky and he did not understand why, it did cause him to loss his erection.

“Why?”

“For when Q returns. I don’t want to have to explain to her why her mother is a basket case...again. I want her to be able to figure out that your absence equals...well I think you can put two and two together. She needs to know, so pick an opening on your head to show her all the pretty lights and be ready.” Harper gave him an uneasy expression. The shadow of pain that Data had hoped was gone once again clouded her features. She rose and touched his cheek with the tip of her finger.

“Bathing,” she said and walked down the hall.

He was being selfish. Data was thinking only of himself and assuming that Harper was in shape to take on his full neurosis. Why each time they thought they had a handle on a past trauma, new ones kept appearing? It had gotten dark outside. He went out on the back deck to sit and look at the stars. He was going to do as Harper had asked and watch the damned tape. Data would do as he planned, wait until after they had gone to see the new movie, and then later view the tape.

The new movie. One of us dies...

“Damn you, Spiner. If you cause me to die I just might return the favor!”

Melody was driving in from Alabama and should arrive around four o’clock Wednesday afternoon. Both Harper and Data requested half days at work, so they were home by a quarter to one. They changed clothes and Harper headed to Melody’s room to change the sheets on her bed and dust. Data looked in this room on his first day, but had never needed to enter it again. He entered now to check on Harper. His neurosis seemed to be rubbing off on her, or she was just anxious about Melody’s reaction.

“Well, it is unbelievable! Her most logical reaction would be to believe that one or both of us are nuts. Probably that I am nuts and you are feeding my instability by pretending to be Data.” Harper was making the bed and defending her concerns at the same time.

“I am Data and you are not unstable...mostly.”

“Gee, thanks! Is this where I wake up at my computer and realize this was all a dream?”

Data walked over to her side and stressed his words by tapping her nose. “You are not dreaming.” He lowered his finger. “Why do you think you would wake up at your computer?” he asked, intrigued.

“I was there writing when you appeared.”

“You did tell me that before. Are you ever going to let me see those stories?” Data tried to give Harper one of his most sincere and innocent smiles, but he was forgetting how to do it right...ha!

“NO! I deleted them, remember!” She looked very unconvinced by his smile. Maybe he really had forgotten...

“I cannot believe that you totally deleted your work. I have never thrown away one of my paintings. Some of them burned in the crash of the Enterprise-D, but I have never destroyed one myself.” He tilted his head, his eyes attempting to coax the truth from her.

“Okay, they’re on disk. But they’re mine. Personal and private. I told you enough. Mushy love stories. Boring really. I tend to be long winded and repeat myself. You’d hate them.”

“Do I die in any of them?” Data asked.

“No, of course not! You get saved from death, but no, I don’t try and kill you off.”

“Am I emotionally assaulted? Or sexually assaulted? Do I become damaged and go berserk?” Harper shook her head through each question.

“I guess you could say that Larria sexually harasses you, but you manage to keep your shirt on. Oh, you are hurt on the leg, but it’s very minor. Lessa patches you up as soon as she can.”

“Sexually harasses?”

“Larria keeps propositioning you, and won’t take no for an answer.”

“Why? And who is Larria?”

“Side character. Wants to try out your sexual programs. Please, that’s about it. Everybody lives happily ever after and only one security guard dies.”

“You said there was a sexually explicit scene? In which story?”

“’Dangerous’. There is more than one scene. And if I ever finish it there will be even more. Lessa decides sex is fun. Is that enough yet? Or should I describe the scene?”

Data’s eyes got wide with interest. “Would you?”

“NO! I can’t remember it that well. Forgetful human and all. Real is always better than imagined...well it’s supposed to be. Make your own scenes, Data.”

Harper had been dusting, but Data pulled the duster from her hand and lowered her to the bed. He covered her mouth with his. Why could he not get past this? At the least provocation, he was on her. Data tried to convince himself to release her, but he felt his penis growing hard and he found his hand was slipping up her skirt, touching the skin. He found her panties and began to pull them off.

Just once.

He just wanted to taste this feeling once.

Harper grabbed at his hand and shook her head.

“My daughter is due here in just hours, Data.”

“Let me love you for those hours. You will be able to tell if your scenes are accurate...” He was looking for anything to convince her.

“Let me make this perfectly clear to you, Mister,” she said, pushing his hand away and sitting up. Her tone was laced with venom. “When you come to my bed, you’d better plan to come to it until Q drags you away. There will be no going back, so you had better be sure. I am not a toy or an experiment. It will not be temporary. If you come to me, you are mine for as long as you live in this time and place. Understand?” He nodded, wide-eyed. “Good. Now go and put fresh towels in your bathroom and make some coffee, please. I think I’m gonna need some.”

Data was in the hall, obeying her order, before he knew what had happened.

But she had not told him anything bad...

The front door opened and Melody Talenger walked through at precisely 4:12. Data was covered in his holo-disguise for now and Harper was lecturing him on behaving and not acting like a sex starved teenager. He was assuring her that he was love starved, not sex starved when the door opened. Harper ran from the kitchen.

“Melody!” her mother cried.

 The young girl dropped her bags just in time to receive her mother’s embrace. Data turned the corner and stood by the kitchen, holding the cup of coffee that Harper had thrust at him when she heard the door. Data studied the new arrival. Melody was two inches shorter than her mother but had almost the identical figure full of curves. The girl’s hair was a lighter shade of brown, longer and thicker than Harper's, but with no wave. Data wondered if this was how Harper had appeared at Melody’s age. Both women were beautiful.

The women fussed over each other for several moments before Melody commented on how nice the front yard looked.

“Did your black thumbs suddenly turn green?” she asked, grinning. Harper laughed and shook her head.

  “Don’t look at me, I can still kill any plant within a hundred yards just by looking at it. He did it,” Harper said and turned slightly to indicate Data, who was still standing by the kitchen. Melody had apparently not noticed him before this moment. She stood transfixed and stared at Data in disbelief. She came across the floor with her mouth opened in stunned silence. Data glanced at Harper. She looked suddenly nervous.

“You could be his double. Contacts, makeup and you would be him.” Her voice was full of wonder. Melody stopped short of touching Data’s face, but looked tempted. She turned to face her mother, question and confusion in her blue eyes.

“Did you hire him or something? This is just too much, Mom. You have to get over him, he’s not real!” Melody walked back over to Harper and took her mother’s hands in hers. Harper was shaking her head. Data wondered if he should leave.

“The man standing behind you is real. I know who he is and I am not living in a dream...or at least I don’t think I am. There is a very good reason why he looks so much like Data, but you may not be ready to hear it. I assure you, baby girl, I’m not crazy.” Melody did not look persuaded. “Let’s take your things to your room. You need to relax after your drive. Maybe you should take a nap.”

“I’m home, but that does not mean I’ve turned into a little girl again,” Melody snapped as she grabbed one of her bags.

“Harper, perhaps I should attend to her things and allow the two of you to speak privately.” Data handed the coffee back to its owner and waited for her answer. “I could retire to my room for a time or I could take a walk.” Harper smiled thankfully at him. As it turned out, though, he was sent to the store with a list of 14 items that Harper wanted. He listened and of course did not write them down.

Once Data left, Harper and Melody put the girl’s things away, and sat on the girl’s bed to talk.

“You look well. I guess he’s not beating you...” Melody commented, with just a little bitterness.

“If he had, I’d be dead. I didn’t tell you, since there was nothing you could do and I didn’t want to take your mind away from your studies, but I was attacked last month at the mall.” Harper calmed her daughter’s strong need for belated panic. She told Melody some of the details and admitted for the first time who had come to her rescue.

“He ran from the house?” Melody asked, shocked, but impressed.

“He knew I was not in the best frame of mind and was worried. You should have seen him, he was astounding! The slime never landed a punch. Then, Jayden knocked him out cold and we called the police. End of story, except the slime got four years in jail for the attack and called me quite a few very nasty things during the moments when he was carted off.”

“Are you okay? Did it scare you?”

“I had a few nightmares, but I had a strong shoulder to cry on. Jayden came with me for the trial. He almost never let’s me out of his sight.” Harper looked like she was lost in thought.

“That could be taken to mean that he doesn’t allow you any freedom, Mom. Is he controlling your life? Why is he living here? I know money is tight, but-“

“Not so much anymore. He makes good money and...he needed a place to stay. He had nothing when he first arrived. Nothing but the shirt, or uniform on his back.”

“What, StarFleet uniform? Come on Mom, stop talking like he’s really Data!”

“He is.”

Melody stood up and with a huff of frustration, left the room. “He stays here?” The girl asked, pointing to the guest room...Data’s room. Harper nodded and followed her into Data’s room. She said nothing as Melody opened Data’s closet and looked through the contents. There were four business suits, two pairs of jeans, two khakis, one pair of black pants, six shirts in different colors and patterns, and one StarFleet uniform in black and mustard. Melody grabbed the uniform and shook it at Harper.

“You’re both crazy. What, do you take him to parties and have him perform?” Her daughter was almost screaming at her, but Harper decided to take a page from Data’s pre-chip days and remain expressionless until Melody was done ranting. Before her daughter finished telling Harper how she was going to commit her and call the police on Data, Harper heard the garage door opening.

Melody stopped when she heard it too. Dumping the uniform on the floor, Melody raced past Harper and down the stairs that led to the garage. After picking up the uniform and laying it on Data’s bed, Harper ran after her. Data was just getting out of the van when the door to the house flew open and Melody jumped the two steps down to the floor. Harper was only two seconds behind her.

“Is something wrong, ladies?” he asked, alerted by their ruffled behavior.

“Nothing’s wrong at all, I’m just tired of this weird game you both have going on, Mr. Robot.” Melody said sashaying towards him. Harper groaned inward, anticipating the response she knew would be coming.

“I am an android, not a robot.” Data replied, right on cue. This caused Melody to ball her fist and try and pop him one, right in the face. Judging that she would do more harm to herself than him, Data grabbed Melody’s fist and held it firmly one inch from his face.

“I would not advise this action. You could break the bones in your hand.” He slowly lowered both his and Melody’s hand.

“Melody, stop this! We’re telling you the truth. He was not brought here by his choice, but he is here and you have to deal with it.” Harper sounded and looked very disappointed in the actions of her daughter. She came over and grabbed the girl, turning Melody roughly to face her.

“He can prove what he claims to be true. Are you ready to see it?” The girl seemed to think vindication was seconds away and nodded with her jaw set.

They both turned to face Data. He turned off the hologram. Melody’s eyes went wide and she began to take small steps backwards.

“How did he do that?” she whispered to her mother.

“Hologram. Designed to disguise him so he can go out in public. He can’t go out of the house like that can he?” Harper said, gently. She smiled at the golden skinned, amber-eyed man who faced them. He still looked very discomfited. He never liked frightening people. He turned away, heading for the rear of the van and the groceries. Harper led Melody up the stairs and back to her room.

“It’s impossible. He’s a character in a TV show.” Melody mumbled.

“Trust me, I know how you feel. I was quite shocked at first, but as I saw him just two seconds after he popped into the living room and in uniform with tricorder and phaser, it took less to convince me.” Harper set the girl down on her bed and kneeled down to talk to her, gently.

“He was brought here by Q. We don’t really understand the reason, but he’s here to learn something...from me. He is a very interesting person and a bit of a hard head, but sweet nonetheless. He is just like the character, but different too.”

“How is he different?” Melody asked, still rattled.

“He has hair on his body. I saw it on his arms,” she blushed and did not mention the hair on his chest. “He was also pulled out if his time before the events in ‘Insurrection’ took place. He found out about the new movie and is quite distraught about it.” Harper told her.

“I guess he doesn’t like the rumors about his own death.” Melody remarked, calming.

“Exactly. He’s been bent out of shape for three weeks now. He’s been a royal pain in the butt to live with, but I can’t say I don’t blame him.”

“I can’t believe that you didn’t even mention any of this at the shower. Couldn’t you have clued me in at all so I could have been a little prepared for this?” Melody accused, since she too had gone to Brinna’s shower. Harper put a finger to her lips and made a hushing sound.

“Don’t mention that. He wanted to come with me so he could meet all of you and still hasn’t forgiven me for leaving him behind. I don’t think we need to tell your grandmother or anyone else who he is. Since you were going to be staying and you know something of him, anyway, I felt you needed to know who he really is. I also wanted to have...someone I could talk to about...all of these impossible happenings.” Harper laughed for a moment and Melody looked at her expectantly.

“What?”

“Can you imagine if we did tell your grandmother? Hell, just the fact that I have a man living here is going to send her over the edge. She always believes I’m too reckless.” Harper grinned at the thought.

“Can’t say I disagree. Nonny just wants you to be happy, but are you sure this will make it so?” Harper gave her daughter’s hand a squeeze.

“Star Trek humor? Funny. Seriously, I have no idea. I know I can’t kick him out. I don’t want him to leave. I know I need to introduce him around the family, but he’s got to get over his being upset about ‘Nemesis’ and the events that took place in ‘First Contact’.” Harper was musing, but this reminder caused Melody to gasp.

“Oh, God! I forgot about that one! Mom, he was involved with that Borg! You told me that- you hinted that you had feelings...and that he had feelings... Mom, he was with that Borg woman!” Melody was horrified and revolted at the thought of what Data had done and what could come to pass.

“I saw the movie too, I was with you.” Harper reminded her. “He suffered from those events. You can’t imagine how he suffers. Don’t throw it in his face, baby girl. I warn you, I’ll take you over my knee if you do. I may also toss you out on your ear. He is my guest and I care for him...a lot. So don’t piss me off by ticking him off!” Harper gained the fierce edge that Melody had come to dread over the years. You couldn’t argue Harper out of anything if she reached this point and there would be hell to pay if you tried. Melody knew her place. She looked her mother in the eye and wisely chose to nod.

Harper patted her daughter’s knee and nodding herself, left the girl to freshen up.

Chapter Nine – Burning Down the House

“Is she coping?” Data asked when Harper entered the kitchen. He had put the groceries away and was standing by the door to the back deck. Harper came to stand beside him.

“Not easily, but she’s working her way through it.”

“I see now that you handled my appearance well, perhaps better than most. Perhaps it is why you were chosen.” They stood, two feet apart, just looking at each other for a time.

“I’m going to start dinner. Will you eat with us?” Harper considered reaching out for his hand, but resisted.

“No,” Data answered, taking note of the aborted movement. “I...I believe I will go out for a time. It will give Melody the opportunity to be at ease. She looked quite frightened when I deactivated the holo-disguise.” He was still bothered by that, Harper realized.

“I know that could have gone better, I should have...could have better prepared her. You were right. I should have let you come to the shower, or at least talked about you during it.” She sounded so apologetic. But having the fact that she did not even mention him shoved in his face...hurt.

“I was not trying to eavesdrop, Harper, but I could hear her, as she raised her voice. She was sickened by the thought-“

“Shh. You can’t let one upset and confused teenager destroy all the progress you’ve made. You’re always going to be faced with those who cannot or will not understand. Wasn’t that true at home? Were there questions that you couldn’t answer? Stares of uncertainty that you couldn’t face?”

Data found he could not even face Harper now.

He had been treated differently after the events that played out in engineering. The details known by anyone other than Picard and Deanna were sketchy at best, but enough information had gotten out to give those he passed in the corridors...pause. Even those that greeted him as a hero...held something back. He could feel the doubt and mistrust from all corners of the ship.

Even Geordi had been reluctant to ask for details. It was as though Data’s best friend did not want to know. As though the not knowing would make it go away. As though ignorance would cause the taint on Data to fade away.

Data suspected that Counselor Troi had even needed counseling to enable her to deal with him. She had been repelled by the truth. She tried to hide it...tried to look as though it were pity or even understanding in her dark eyes. But Data knew what it had been.

Revulsion.

Data turned back to face his housemate. Why was it that she did not look at him that way? Harper knew more of the truth than most of his shipmates...but she did not pause. She did not hold back because of the taint, but rather because of the taint’s affect on him.

Data felt invaded.

Melody had invaded their private little world. Data had never shared so many secrets with one person. He wanted to be able to talk to Harper. Right now, right here. But even out of the room, the daughter stood in the way. They were not alone and if he allowed his deep emotions to surface just now, the girl would again be frightened. Harper would understand and could help him, but Melody’s presence got in the way of that.

He would have to wait...and he did not like that one little bit. 

“You read too many of those fan stories,” he said, trying to lighten the mood, or perhaps just his own. “No one but the captain and the counselor knew anything about what happened. I had no trouble with the perceptions of the crew after-“ Harper put a hand on his chest and was shaking her head at him. Her expression was one of knowing.

“’...Now you’re learning to lie...’ She was wrong there, you suck too bad at this for it to even be considered a lie. You are not allowed to leave this house for the next ten hours at least. Understand? You want something to break...fine, but leaving is out of the question.” Harper's eyes looked deep blue at this moment and full of compassion.

“If I break something I will frighten her again.” His face was contorted by the emotions flooding him.

“I will worry about Melody. You worry about Data. You know, I really hate that chair in the living room. I would have an excuse to get a new one if it...was broken.” She had done it again...he found himself snorting with amusement.

“You want me to direct my frustrations on the chair?” She nodded at his question, smiling. “You are a strange women.”

“None stranger,” she replied, beaming with pride in her oddness. Data laughed.

“What will Melody’s reaction be if she comes in the room to find me ripping the chair apart?” he asked, feeling his anger and frustration turn to feelings of...need. He took the hand that she had pressed against his chest and used it to pull her closer.

“Hopefully, she will have the sense to...duck.” Harper grinned at him with her eyes dancing. How the threat of having an angry android tearing her house up could not cause Harper fright or even hesitation, he did not understand. Her eyes held no hint of fear, doubt or even disappointment.

“You should be frightened of my temper, Harper. You know what damage I can do. If I lost control I could kill both of you in seconds. You could be harboring your own death,” Data warned Harper to fear him as he considered bringing her fingers to his mouth.

She cleared her expression. Her eyes studied him intensely. “You also could have raped me weeks ago.” Data’s head jerked up, he attention torn from her fingers.

“I...would...not…-“

“So, your ethical subroutines are functioning within normal parameters?” She asked, knowing the answer. He only sighed in response. “You are not going to push me away, Data. And you’re not going to fracture my faith in you either.”

Data did as Harper asked, and remained in the house. He joined the ladies for dinner and while Melody still looked wary of him, she kept her doubts to herself. Still, when Harper went to take her evening bath and Data was left alone, in the living room, with the girl, he was nervous. Melody was watching the TV. Her taste in programs did not impress Data so, he retired to the computer to do some investment research. The chair Harper had mentioned was old and needed replacing whether he tore it apart or not. There were also other items of furniture that could use replacing. He looked into investment possibilities that would insure he could provide Harper with any new household items she wanted. He was working his way up to talking to her about quitting one of her jobs. The sharp upward turn of their finances eased her stress, but Harper was still overworked.

Data hoped that Harper would think of this idea herself and thus negate the need for him to bring it up. He knew which way he was leaning regarding which job she should leave. While he disliked the hours she kept at the cooking store, he knew she was closer to the people there. He had heard Harper tell every one of the ladies there that she loved them and each one in turn had returned the sentiment. He wanted her to remain there and change some of her hours. The daytime job was better paying, but was too stressful and took up too much time. Data wanted her to delete that one.

“What are you doing?”

Data turned to see Melody standing by his left shoulder and staring at the computer screen. Data had his and Harper's savings account on the screen at the moment. He knew what it said already, but he was hoping the orderly column of numbers would help him to organize his thoughts. He had wanted to discuss this subject with Harper sooner, but believed the holiday could provide him with the perfect opportunity now.

“I am...I was looking over investment possibilities. Your mother wants new furniture and I intend to see she is able to purchase whatever she wishes.” Data’s answer was just factual. He put no feeling into his words. He was aware of how uncomfortable this girl made him feel.

He caught Melody glancing around the room. She even looked into the dinette. “All the stuff here is old. The only thing she’s bought since daddy died is the computer.” Melody looked on the screen at the figures there. “What did you do, beam into a bank and rob it? Mom’s never had that much money.” Melody pointed at the balance line. She was correct, of course. Harper's balance had been just above the red before Data came. It plunged into the red for a month after and Data intended to see that this never happened again.

“I am good with mathematics,” he told her, choosing the understatement intentionally.

“She said you worked. You make good money?”

“Yes,” he answered. He did not like to brag.

“This is a joint account. You use her money to invest?” Worry and suspicion crept into the girl’s voice.

“I have increased our combined funds by 27% through investing,” he informed her.

“Really? Combined funds...you make more than mom?” Melody asked. Data nodded. The fact that Harper would never divulge this type of information to her daughter never occurred to him.

“Substantially more, though I do not mean to imply that she is not valued by her employer. I have done a comparison of the salary paid for her position by different employers across the country and she is in the top seven percentile considering cost of living and other factors.”

“Wow. Top ten, cool,” Melody replied, thoughtfully. She remained quiet for a moment and Data wondered what would come next. “Mr. Data,” she began, with a serious expression. “I’m sorry I tried to pop you one. I’m...I’m dumb enough to think that I could change any of this by objecting, and I guess you’re just trying to make the best of...the impossible. I still can’t believe this is real...that you’re real. And she walks around like people from TV become real every day. I need a beer!” Melody sounded confused and exasperated, but not upset. Data found her comment regarding the beer amusing since Harper had also wanted to consume alcohol, hoping it would assist her in coping, on their first day together. He still did not understand that precisely.

“We only have wine. Your mother does not drink beer. Would you like me to get you a glass?” he offered. Slowly she smiled.

“No, that’s okay. Maybe later. I think I’ll run out and get junk food before the stores close.” She turned and headed for her room, but turned back and looked at him. “You need anything from the store while I’m going? Wires or WD-40 or something?”

Data smiled. “No, but I thank you for asking.” Melody smiled, nodded and turned back down the hall to get her purse.

Harper came out with wet hair while Melody was gone.

“Where’s Mel, Data?” she asked. He had taken control of the TV and was watching the History Channel.

“She went to buy junk food. She believes it, in combination with the wine we have in the house will assist her in coping with my existence in your timeline. I do not believe I can take that as a compliment. My being here has caused both of you to desire intoxication rather that deal with the fact that I am indeed real and before you.”

Harper laughed and plopped down beside him on the couch. She had brought her brush and was attempting to untangle her waves. He found himself thinking back to the evening that he had brushed her hair after the attack. While he had been very concerned about her, he still found the activity...soothing. Knowing that Harper was very patient where he was concerned, Data gently took the brush from her hand, stood, and went to the kitchen. He returned a moment later with a glass of wine for her. He motioned for her to sit on the floor, with her back leaning against the couch; she gave him a quizzical look, but complied. He handed her the wine and sat down behind her, with one leg on either side of her. He began to brush her hair.

“IQ of millions and I’ve reduced you to a beautician,” she commented, dryly.

“I find this soothing,” he informed her.

“What, like petting a cat?” she asked. He analyzed this suggestion.

“Exactly!” Data was surprised that he had not thought of this himself.

“I knew I should have called that lady back and gone to get that kitten.”

“You were planning on getting a cat?” he asked.

“No, I was planning on getting YOU a kitten. You always seem lonely when I go to bed and you commented about...missing Spot. And in case you haven’t noticed I have a weakness when it comes to you. Have trouble denying you anything,” Harper said, turned to glance at him. Her movements interfered with his brushing. Data took hold of her head and gently turned it back. She giggled.

“I have not noticed you having difficulty in denying me. You succeeded in denying my desire for intimacy just this morning.”

“With good damn reason, and you know you’re weakening my resolve!” she admonished.

“I am?” Data asked, eagerly.

“Let me have that brush so I can throttle you with it!”

Melody returned and they all decided to watch a horror movie together...well the girls did, Data had no idea why one would want to watch such a thing.

“So, if I am ever involved in a horror situation,” Data began, “I should never say that I will be right back and I should not engage in sexual activity. In addition, the following of a noise to determine the source is ill advised?” His questions caused the females in the room, the dark room, to roll on the floor laughing. He was sitting on the couch, but both Harper and Melody were on the floor surrounded by ‘junk food’ and pillows.    

“Right! And never answer the door or the phone. Calling the police is usually useless, as the bad guy usually cuts the phone line. A cell phone would help in that one, but mother will never get one since she likes to live in the dark ages,” Melody teased, poking her mother with an elbow.

“You’re just mad because I won’t buy you one,” Harper retorted.

“I think you can afford it now. Data showed me the loads of money you two have now. Why can’t I have one? It would be easier for you to get in touch with me.”

Harper gasped. “Loads of money? What the he--heck are you talking about. I don’t know anything about any loads of money. Did you rob a bank and not tell me, Data?” Harper sat up and turned to look sternly at her housemate. Data pretended that he had suddenly fallen asleep. He got a pillow thrown at him for his ridiculous efforts.

“I did inform you that we were no longer in jeopardy of slipping into the red,” he defended as Harper came over to shake his shoulders. His eyes were dancing in the dark.

“Out of the red is a far cry from having ‘loads of money’. You said something about investing, didn’t you?” Harper asked, collapsing beside him.

“I did have you sign papers for the investment account. I told you what they were. Do you have that bad a memory?” he asked, confused.

“Who are you, again?” she teased. He reached over and using just one finger, tickled her side. Harper gave a very satisfying jerk and screamed with laughter. Data grinned and increased his attack to two fingers. This was even more soothing than brushing her hair. Or perhaps soothing was not the proper word.

They did not retire to their respective rooms until past three in the morning. Data found few redeeming qualities in horror movies, but something about watching them with the women...had some appeal. Data was still grinning as he listened to the sounds of the women getting ready for bed. He still had so many things he wanted to talk to Harper about... The evening had turned out enjoyable, but he missed his time alone with her. Reluctantly, he got ready for bed.

The sounds from Melody’s room soon ceased, but Harper, Data could still hear as he lay in his bed. Inspired, he retrieved the communicator and tapped it. He could even hear the one in her room chirp. He listened as she went to answer it.

“I’m not in the bath, Data,” were her first words. He grinned.

“No, I did not think you were. I simply...wished to talk with you. I...just wanted to talk.” He could envision the smile gracing her lips.

“Then come here, but you must promise to behave.” He did so and went to her room.

She was sitting in her bed, having just put the communicator on her nightstand. She patted the other side of the bed and told him to sit. This room was small and crowded with furniture, so there was no place else to sit, so he sat where she instructed him.

“So, you seem almost relaxed. Feeling better?” Harper asked. The way he was sitting, Data could not face her. He realized that he would have to get all the way on the bed to look her in the eye. She did not mind, so he did.

“I believe I am. The need to rip the chair apart has subsided,” Data assured her.

“Damn, I’m really tired of that chair!” Harper teased. He rolled his eyes at her. “So what’s on your mind then?”

“Your having two jobs,” he answered. She had not expected this and looked confused. 

“What do you mean?”

“I...there is no longer any need for you to work two jobs for financial support. We are well into the black and...it is not needed.” He was truly unsure as to how she was going to react to this.

“You want me to quit my second job?” She sounded alarmed. The thought of never seeing her friends at the cooking store did not appeal to her.

“Actually...no. I wanted to suggest that you leave your full-time job and rework your hours at the store to be daytime hours. No weekends though.”

“What! That’s my main job! How are we going to survive without- - How much do you make, anyway?” It suddenly dawned on Harper that Data had never told her and she had trusted him to handle the finances, so she had just never...looked.

“If you wished, you do not need to work at all. I can support you with my income alone. You need the rest, Harper. You work too hard and have few days off. You are even working on Friday while Melody is here.”

“It’s the day after Thanksgiving! The biggest shopping day of the year! I have to work, Melody knows that!” Data did not understand this and told Harper as much. She tried to explain, but it sounded foolish to her as well once she began trying to defend it. Harper gave up and sunk down in the bed, letting her head rest on the pillow.

Data wanted her to only work part-time. Wanted her to give up her full-time job...and depend on him! She could not imagine this. He assured her that it would be fine. He was to receive an impressive bonus at the end of the month and he had plans that would ensure his next bonus was even bigger. He wanted her to relax and enjoy her life. He also wanted her to plan a vacation. If going to California was what it took to meet Brent Spiner, then that was what Data wanted to do. A weekend trip to a convention would be fun. He wanted her to plan it so she could remember and be looking forward to it.

“A vacation? A weekend getaway? Sounds...romantic.”

“It does?” he asked, surprised. She was blushing. He had been resting his head on a pillow too, but now rolled over to be closer to her.

“Well, yeah. We would have to fly...get a hotel room.”

“One room?” he questioned.

“You’re incorrigible!” she told him shaking her head.

“Yes, but only on odd numbered days.”

“What?” she asked confused.

“I am practicing ‘not making any sense’. You do it so well, I thought I could emulate you and have it down near perfect.” He could not help but laugh as he teased her. She tried to tackle him, but quickly remembered his strength and realized how impossible this was. She ended up with him pinning her firmly but gently, to the bed. She grinned helplessly up at him. His kiss came as no surprise. This was not good...well it was, but...it was a dangerous place for him to be kissing her.

“Data. Stop. I want to be able to...not have to restrain myself when we...do this. If we give in now, we’ll have to be quiet and I don’t want to be quiet.” Her voice was soft and did not help distract him.

“I can be quiet,” he pledged.

“I don’t want you to be quiet. When we make love, I want to make you...scream with ecstasy,” she cooed. His eyes went wide.

“And after telling me this you expect me to just get up and go to my room?” he asked, aghast.

“No. You can...stay. But you have to keep that dangerous weapon in your britches,” she scolded.

He looked insulted. “Dangerous weapon?”

“I find it difficult to combat,” she said with a sickly sweet smile.

He shook his head at her. “You need new jokes.” he told her and edged closer. “And you need to not combat any ‘weapons’ that happen to belong to any man living in this house at this moment in time.”

“And you think I need new jokes?”

Data had his eyes closed and appeared to be dreaming when Harper awoke the next morning. She had fallen asleep in his arms, but they had both changed positions in their sleep. Strange, she had never seen any indication that he ever moved in his sleep in the series. He was on his back with one arm resting on his stomach area and the other at his side.   

If Harper had ever wondered if it was possible for him to react to a dream, or if he ever had erotic dreams, her question was now answered.

Data moaned.

The mere sound caused shivers to run up her spine. It was a deep, low moan, and one that could not signify anything other than arousal. Harper was careful to remain still. This could prove interesting so she did not want to wake him just now and spoil it all.

His other hand moved to his side and he clenched his fist, tensing everywhere. He was definitely having an interesting dream. She wished, just for a moment, that she could borrow Counselor Troi’s empathic powers to know for sure that he was enjoying this dream...and just how much.

Harper closed her eyes for a moment, just to collect herself. She had been fighting off his advances for the last few days, but she was having just as much trouble fighting her own impulses. She had been a widow for five years now, and unfortunately fate had chosen to leave her alone during the first year that she had entered her sexual peak. She had always assumed the peak was a myth, hype or just untrue. Not so, she found out. But the biggest frustration was that after Robin, Harper had just never met anyone else who turned her on. She had been talking with some of the younger girls at the store one day six months ago about television or movie stars they found sexy. They all could easily think of five if not ten men they found toe curling hot. Harper could think of one, maybe two. The first, of course, had been Spiner...

Living these last few months in the same house with one of the few beings she found attractive in this world had been difficult. Not jumping on top of him and screaming ‘Take me, take me, and take me again!’ had been all but impossible. She grinned and tried not to giggle. She opened her eyes to see if Data was still asleep.

Most of him was.

While Harper had been trying to gather the strength to resist him, he had gone and unconsciously found another way to test her paper-thin resolve.

His was fully erect and his erection had found its way through the openings that underwear and men’s pajama manufactures had thoughtfully provided in the front of each of these garments.

His long, hard length ended in a perfectly beautiful, round head. She took a long moment to admire his long golden...rod.

Oh, God. Talk about bad jokes. Golden rod, that had to be the worst! Which meant she would, of course, have to find a way to work it into conversation and tease him about it!

Harper glanced back to Data’s face. The amorous expression was still there. Suddenly she was jealous of his dream. She had only had boring dreams and would have loved to have a hot, sexy dream. But maybe she could take advantage of his...

Ever so carefully she moved closer. She could not decide whether to take him into her mouth, or just tickle the tip with her tongue. Oddly, she took note that she could smell bacon cooking. Damn, Melody was up. That could complicate this. Too bad, she’s a big girl and surely she had to know that her mother was human...even if the man whose penis her mother was considering was not.

Harper lifted up so she could reach her objective without waking its owner. Her movements had been so careful and slow that Data’s attention had not been...aroused.

God, she had to stop that!

She shifted over the last few inches and glazing appreciatively at her target, she extended her tongue. She just grazed the lovely indention, hoping that Data had been designed for extra sensitivity in that spot. He did not wake...but he did gasp! Another shiver of desire raced through her. That had been a very sexy gasp! Having enjoyed his response and the feel of his penis on her tongue, Harper moved to repeat her oral caresses. She traced the lines of the head with the tip of her tongue and was about to take him in her mouth when he lifted his head. He had gasped once more and then treated her to a wonderfully low and guttural moan of pleasure before awaking.

Data did not say anything. His mouth was open and he found it impossible not to moan again. He was stunned, shocked, astounded, and wonderfully enthralled. He was dreaming of Harper. Of her telling him that she would not make him wait any longer. She was removing her clothing in a seductive manner while standing before him. He never thought this action to be particularly stimulating...until he envisioned Harper performing her own little striptease. Desire ripped through him.

Data wanted Harper. He wanted her now!

But something pulled Data from this exciting dream. Reinstating his cognitive functions to active, Data experienced a flood of sensory information. Gasping and moaning even before he opened his eyes Data realized he had an erection and someone had noticed it.

Harper's eyes were the ones that thankfully greeted him when Data parted his lids. Her tongue danced on the head of his penis, before she slipped her mouth over him and lowered her head to take him as deeply into her mouth as she could. Unfortunately, Dr. Soong had created Data with genitalia more generous than her throat was deep. But the sensations were...startling.

She slowly lifted her head, released him and came back down for another assault. This time as her lips passed over the head, he could feel her teeth just barely pressing against his skin. Data was astonished at how stimulating this felt. In fact, it caused him to throw his head back and moan in sheer savage ecstasy. Suddenly he was struck with indecision. He could not decide if he wanted this delightful torture to continue or if he wanted to ask her to allow him to...torture her just a little...no his ethical subroutine did not even like teasing about torture.

“I want to make love with you, Harper. You cannot tell me that you intend to deny me now,” Data managed to say through clenched teeth.

“No, I don’t suppose I can,” she cooed. She hovered just above his penis, and for a moment he could not help but want her to lower her mouth to him again.

Harper moved towards Data’s face and he reached for her. Pulling her into his arms, Data rolled with her until Harper’s back was to the bed and he was above her. He felt as though he could devour her mouth and perhaps work his way down. As he pressed hot kisses to her lips and penetrated her mouth with his tongue, she pushed against his chest. Her fingers began to work on the buttons of his pajama shirt. She finished unbuttoning and began to slip his shirt off his shoulders. How was it the removal of clothing could feel so sensuous?

“Ah!” Came a shout...from the kitchen. Both Harper and Data gave a start and wondered if they should investigate.

There was a crash.

“Mom! Oh, God!”

Then there was a scream.

Data was out of bed when he heard the crash. He tucked his erection back into his pajama bottoms and flung the bedroom door open. Harper followed just a second behind him.

There was the strong smell of burned bacon and burning grease. The heat of the fire could be felt and suddenly the blare of the smoke alarms added to the sensory overload.

Data took stock of the situation as soon as he could see it. The fire centered on the floor of the kitchen, but a grease trail was burning up the front of the stove.

“Harper, grab Melody and the phone! Call 911 once you are both outside of the house!” Data ordered her.

“Yes, sir!” she responded, not able to think of any better way to answer. Melody was on the floor where she had dropped. The girl was hurt from splatters of grease, on her legs, but Harper counted on the adrenaline that would be pulsing through her daughter’s system to keep her going until help arrived. Harper saw Data grab one of the blankets that she kept in the living room to smother the flames. Harper had the phone now and was racing back for her daughter. She pulled Melody to her feet and coaxed her towards the door as she turned on the phone and dialed the short number with her other hand. She glanced back to see Data smothering the flames with the blanket.

“Yes, I have a kitchen fire.” Harper told the 911 operator. “There are injuries. One is fighting the flames. No, we are outside. Yes. He almost has it out now.” Harper felt compelled to help Data. She shoved the phone into her daughter’s hand.

“Tell the woman about your burns and what happened. I’m going to help.” Harper raced back inside, but Data had been able to get past the fire enough to reach the extinguisher that was under the sink. He was blasting the final flame when she came up behind him.

Harper grabbed a towel out from a drawer and wet it down as she scanned the body of her housemate. He seemed...undamaged. She turned from the sink and was heading back outside to give this towel to her daughter, but Data called.

“Is she badly burned?” he said still holding the extinguisher. His pajama top hung unbuttoned and both the material and his chest were filthy with soot and grease.

“There are several patches on her legs, but they’re not large, I can’t tell how deep they go,” Harper answered as she headed back out. He nodded. She could hear sirens as soon as she had the cool towel gently wrapped on her daughter’s legs. Melody had groaned with pain and looked about to pass out now that the crisis had past. Harper knew how she felt, except for the burns.

As paramedics and police raced up the walk, Data appeared covered in a robe and his holo-disguise. He pulled Harper to her feet and wrapped her robe around her with care. Melody yelped in pain as the paramedics treated her burns and the police officer questioned Harper and Jayden regarding the fire. The fire department had only been a few seconds behind the police and once the officer secured the scene they made sure the fire was out.

“Are you injured, sir?” the second paramedic asked Jayden. Data had not had time to clean up his face and looked like there could be burns under the dirt.

“No, I am only dirty, thank you. Will we need to take Melody to the hospital?” he asked, not having heard the extent of her injuries.

“I don’t think so, sir. We’re going to clean and dress your daughter’s burns. If you just change the dressing daily and reapply the antibiotic cream, she should heal well. If you see signs of infection, she can see her GP.“ Data’s eyes reflected his astonishment over Melody being called his daughter. Harper caught sight of the reaction and grinned at his discomfort.

The firemen, paramedics, and police finally left and the little trio was left to survey the damage. Melody felt terrible at having caused the fire and told her mother so. Harper just told her that she would now get to pay for their Thanksgiving dinner...out.

The smell of smoke covered almost everything in the living room and kitchen. The bedrooms had been spared the odor since the fire had been stopped so quickly. Data went through the living area and opened all the windows in hopes the smell would dissipate. Harper and Melody went to clean up and change clothes. Data showered after Melody and joined the ladies in Harper's room to discuss what they would do now. The smoke smell in the house caused the ladies to cough and feel dirty again. It was agreed that they should leave the house, but as everything was closed for the holiday, where they should go was a quandary.

“We could drive to the mountains. Everything’s closed there too, but it would be pretty with the snow, and you love to drive,” Harper suggested, smiling at Data. He could not argue, he did like driving. 

“Could we get a cabin up there?” Melody asked, remembering a time in the past when she and her parents had spent a family weekend in Helen, Georgia and had shopped until they dropped.

“You have to reserve those months in advance, Pumpkin. But we could try for a room or two somewhere. You in?” Harper asked Data.

“I am in,” he assured them, grinning. Melody thought this sounded silly and laughed as she went to repack her bag.

The van was quickly packed and the house was locked. Some windows were left open to help with the airing out, but a neighbor was asked to keep an eye on the place. Since they had seen the commotion earlier, they understood and were eager to help.

The view of and from the mountain area was...refreshing. The roads ran right next to a long drop and Data found this fascinating. He was not a fan of heights, but had only discovered that after the installation of the emotion chip. It was an almost totally irrational fear for him, but not an uncommon one among humans, or so Deanna had told Data when he had first noticed it.  Data had not enjoyed the effects of the phobia, but finally having an honest to goodness one was...intriguing.

Harper knew of a place were there was a waterfall and they wanted to go, but the park was also closed. They ended up finding a hotel with two rooms that were only two doors apart. Finally finding an open store, they bought a deck of cards and some pretzels to use as chips. Data taught them how to play poker, but the girls neglected to tell him that there was a well-used poker set with clay chips in Harper's closet that used to have a weekly workout once upon a time...

Data was suspicious after he lost to Melody twice and Harper thrice in seven games. They had dinner at a local restaurant and took a walk through the closed town wishing that they could shop the stores when they were open. Harper's work schedule for the following day was going to hamper that.

Melody wanted to watch some TV that Harper found unappealing, so she agreed to continue walking with Data.

“Fooled you for a bit, didn’t we? Thought you were going to clean up against the naïve little twenty first century women, huh?” Harper teased, referring to the poker game. Data reached into his pocket, pulled out a pretzel and ate it.

“I still won,” he reminded her and ate another one of his ‘chips’. She laughed and took hold of his hand. Reaching across, she pulled more of the pretzels out of his pocket and munched on them too.

“We’re going to need a new kitchen floor,” Harper noted, changing the subject.

“I am aware that you found the color of the tile in the kitchen to be...less than satisfactory. I hope you are not going to try and convince me that you are...all broken up about it.”

“Now where would you have gotten a crazy idea like that?” she asked with mock innocence.

“I am sure it had nothing to do with observing you sweep the floor and grumbling ‘this damn ugly floor attracts dirt like a magnet’ on more than one occasion.” Data grinned at her. “I must correct you, however, magnets do not attract dirt.”  She gave him a growl of exasperated disgust.

“Then I guess it’s a good thing we’re getting rid of that floor since if it really is magnetized, I could wake up on morning to find you stuck to it, huh?”

“I have built in safeguards against that,” he advised her, with an insulted look.

“Ah huh.” Harper shook her head at him and headed for the door to her room.

“I do! I can reverse my polarity,” Data assured her, walking after her.

“Sure you can. I’ll be sure to remember that the next time we’re attacked by a giant evil-doing magnet.” Harper rolled her eyes at him. Data caught up with her and pulled her into his arms. With heavy coats on, this was not as romantic, but it would have to do. She was not repelled by his kiss...but rather attracted as usual.

With a flush to her cheeks that was not caused by the cold, Harper returned to her room. Melody looked up and gave her mother a surprised expression, but said nothing. Melody was already in her pajamas, so Harper took her bath and also got ready for bed. Once in bed, Harper picked up the phone and rang Data’s room.

“Just wanted you to know I didn’t drown again,” she teased.

“Good work, keep it up! Good night, Harper. I will wake both of you in the morning.”

“Good night, sweetness. See you then.

Harper reclined in the dark, replaying the events of the day in her head as she often did each night. The fire had been frightening, but Q had been right, Data had been able to stop it with little damage. He also had made damn sure that her homeowner’s insurance was paid up. She thought of that morning and...how close they had come. And how much she had enjoyed hearing him moan with pleasure. A shiver ran through her again and she sighed.

“Thinking about him?” her daughter’s voice asked her in the dark.

“Guilty as charged. I thought we were sleeping.”

“Not yet, and I think I’m the guilty one, not of dreaming of a certain occupant of room 19, but of ruining Thanksgiving and...the house. I’m sorry mom.” Melody sounded a bit depressed. “I wanted to surprise you and fix breakfast since you would be fixing dinner,” she tried to explain as though Harper had just accused her of something.

“I know that, Pumpkin. I also know that for a straight A’s student who is bright everywhere else, you are almost criminally foolish in the kitchen. How I could have picked up cooking from your grandmother and excelled at it with my half load of brains and you with your grade A Prime brains never did, I don’t understand. If you didn’t want me to cook, Mel, all you had to do was say so...” she teased. Melody signed mournfully. “If you ever get married, make sure HE can cook. In the meantime, stay out of kitchens, baby girl. Just say ‘no’ to the stove.”

Melody was embarrassed, but she found she could not help but laugh. If her mother was getting into her silly “stand up comedy” routine, then she really wasn’t mad. Still that was a shocker, Melody had almost burned the house down. Why was she so forgiving? Not that her mother was a big grudge holder, but she did get mad at Melody for doing stupid things. Melody thought she would never stop hearing about the time when her mother asked her to go to the laundry room and put the load of clothes that were in the washer into the dryer. Her mom had gone downstairs an hour later to retrieve the clothes, but had come back up with a wet pair of work pants in her hand.

“How in the world could it escape you that if I wanted you to put the clothes in the dryer it was understood that I wanted you to TURN IT ON AS WELL!”

Okay, so that had been stupid, but she had never done it again! And it occurred to Melody that if her mother was waiting until she brought it up to even rib her, she had to be distracted. And that could only mean Data.

“You know, I’m surprised you’re here,” Melody whispered to her mother.

“Why, did you expect me to drive back to the house and leave you two here?”

“No, I mean I’m surprised you’re sleeping in my room and not...his.” The room got quiet for a moment. “I know you said that it wasn’t like that between you two, but you also said you were sure it would be. I know he was in your room this morning. I don’t know when he went there, but it was quiet when I went by.”

“He’s gotten used to being able to talk with me when he wants to. He had some things he wanted to talk about last night and he couldn’t wait. He can be impatient at times. We were just talking...I told him to stay...there...fully clothed in his pj’s on the other side of the bed.”

“He didn’t come out of the bedroom so fully clothed, ma. His shirt was totally unbuttoned, I may have been in shock at the time, but it came back to me later. Does he like to sleep in the nude or something?” Melody sounded more curious than Harper wanted her to be.

“I don’t know if he does!” Harper answered, defensively. “He kept them on while he was in there with me. We just woke up and...well... we were...kissing and...”

“Oh, shit, I interrupted you!” Melody gasped.

“Watch that mouth, girl! We are perfectly capable of controlling ourselves while you’re here. It would not be appropriate for us to...while you’re here. Now get your mind out of the gutter!” Harper gulped, realizing that she was again, guilty as charged.

Melody was quiet for a time and Harper wondered if she had gone to sleep.

“It’s not like you’re cheating on Daddy, Mom. Some people don’t even wait a year. You’ve waited long enough.” Melody paused here for a breath. “Do you miss him?” the girl asked, with a tinge of sadness.     

“Every day.” Harper sighed.

“He would have wanted you to be happy, Mom.”

“You know, he used to tease me that if...if anything ever...happened to him, I’d be remarried in months, a year at the latest.”

“Did you think he was trying to guilt you into staying away from dating? It was a compliment, Mom. Daddy loved you, all of you, just the way you are. He told me that he never thought you would give him a second look, not to mention a second date. He was delirious that you did.”

“He was a...wonderful man. God, I miss him.” Harper found she could not stop the tears. Melody got out of her bed and came over to embrace her mother.

“I do too. I wish he could have been here to see me graduate and get into college.”

“He would have been so proud, but he always was. You took after him in the brains department.”

“Yeah, you don’t have any. Guess that’s why the really smart android wants to talk to you so often, huh. Must be all the dumb things you say,” Melody teased sarcastically.

“He did tell me I need new jokes,” Harper admitted.

“You’re hopeless.” 

Sunday morning came sooner that Harper expected and Melody was getting ready to leave. Data had taken her bags out to her car so he and Harper stood together, waiting for Melody to come out of the house. Harper was already wearing her work clothes.

Melody finally came out and threw her arms around her mother. Several minutes of tearful good-byes were exchanged before the women finally released each other. The eighteen year old then turned to Data. He extended his hand, but she shook her head and flung her arms around his neck. He grinned pleasantly and returned her hug.

“Keep taking care of my mom for me, please. She looks happier than I’ve seen her in a long time, D-Jayden,” Melody said, with a soft smile.

“I will do my best,” he promised and turned his head to look at Harper. She just looked a bit embarrassed. The girl nodded and got in the car after Data opened the door for her. The pair stood together and waved as Melody drove away.

“Rotten brat, look what she did to my makeup! I know I have mascara running down my face.” Harper grumbled, doing a poor impression of an unaffected and unloving mother. Data brushed a tear from her eyes and looked fondly at her.

“Then wash it off. You do not need it to look beautiful and I doubt you ever did.” Harper sniffed and grinned at him.

“You’re just flattering me cause you are hoping I’ll call in and tell work I’m gonna be an hour or two late.” She teased. She was not 100% accurate in this statement, but it sounded like a good start!

“Shall I get you the phone?” Data asked, hopefully.

“No, you horny man! You’re gonna have to wait until I get off work!” He looked like she had said something very distasteful.

“I am not ‘horny’! My desire to share a sexual relationship with you is not based on physical need. It is more a –“

“Save it, sweetie, I think I’ve written enough excuses for you in my stories to be able to explain it away better than even you could. There is nothing wrong or unethical about wanting intimacy. As long as you want your partner to have as much fun as you do, then the sky’s the limit.” Data decided not to argue. 

But in their case, time was a limiter. Harper had just enough time to wash her face and kiss him goodbye before she was close to late.

Harper was exhausted when she returned that evening. After her dinner, which Data prepared in their burned kitchen, she took her bath. He had a glass of wine waiting for her when she returned. She sipped at it gratefully and smiled at him as he led her to the couch. He sat her down at one end, lifted her legs up and sitting down at the other end, he began to massage her feet and calves. She sighed with delight.

“You really are hopeful, aren’t you?” she teased. Her eyes were closed and she realized this might earn her a cessation to his massage, but she just had to tease him. Besides, just his touch was enough to send chills of excitement up and down her spine, so if this didn’t tick him off, he would most likely get just what he wanted. Doing things that made sense was not her strong suit...

“I have been called an optimist. But I have also been called a pessimist, though not as often.” She sat up, reached over for his face and with little provocation, had him leaning across to kiss her. He was carrying her to her bed moments later.

“I do want you to understand, should Q appear right now or in the next...few hours...I will again decline to go with him.” He looked so serious when he told her this that Harper had to laugh.

“I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me. I hope you feel that it would have been worth it...after.” She had the fuzzy gray jumpsuit pj’s on again and Data was unbuttoning it and kissing her. She slid her hand in between their bodies and unbuttoned his shirt once he had hers undone. She pushed it off his shoulders and tossed it on the floor. To her surprise, he didn’t even bat an eye. He lifted her up and helped her out of her gray fuzzy, but a pounding on the door interrupted them...

Harper's alarm brought her half exploding out of the bathwater. Her arms and torso came up, out of the water, but the pounding and shouting, which she hadn’t noticed before, did not cease.

“Harper!” Data cried in panic. “ANSWER ME!”

“I’m here!” she shouted, coming completely out of the water she grabbed her towel. The fear in his voice caused her to hurry all the more to the door to open it. Harper faced a horrified android. He grasped her shoulders firmly as soon as she had the door open.

“Why did you not answer me?!” Data demanded, still in a frenzy.

“I...I fell asleep,” she answered with trepidation. His face displayed a symphony of emotions. The prevailing instrument seemed to be playing terror.

“NO MORE BATHS!” Data dictated more firmly than she had ever heard from him before. He pulled her to him as though trying to reassure himself that she was indeed all right. Then, deciding that he was not done shouting at her, he pulled back slightly and continued.

“You must promise me Harper, no more baths. I will have the tubs removed from this house if necessary, but you will not take them from this day forward. Do you understand?” Harper was crying now. The reality of what could have happened was just hitting her. But she wasn’t thinking clearly and this caused her to argue.

“I hate showers. There so boring and cold and-“

“Then I will take them with you to keep you warm.” His voice was calmer now, but just as insistent.

“That doesn’t sound very relaxing,” she noted, raising an eyebrow at him and sniffing.

“It is not intended to be relaxing. You can relax in the bed at night...after we make love. That is where you should relax.” He kissed her. “I will not lose you, Harper. I cannot lose...us. I love you.”

The tears started again. “I love you too,” she whispered and choked back sobs. 

He carried her still wet and dripping body to the bed, laying her down with intent clearly written across his face.

“I’m still all wet,” she complained.

“At this moment, that fact is not relevant.” As he said this Data was removing his clothing. She watched with rapt attention. All gold and all stunningly beautiful, she thought. Hair was on his chest peppered between his pecks and on his arm and legs. He looked well muscled, but of course that was an illusion. He had strength, of course, but not muscles.

“Your father did a wonderful job in creating you,” she told him as he came to lie beside her. “And you have added nicely to the package.” She ran her fingers over the hairs on his chest. She was so enthralled with seeing all of him, that she almost didn’t notice that he was opening her towel.

“I compliment your parents as well. But, as I have read that talking about one’s parents is not conducive to what I intend to happen, I suggest we...discuss something else, or nothing at all.” He drew her closer and began tracing kisses along her throat. All thought of talk evaporated. His gentle kisses felt so intoxicating, but she wanted to make up for frightening him. His erection was already pushing against her, so with a smile she reached down. One hand began caressing his penis and the other his chest.

He gave a sharp inhalation of breath when she began her caresses. “You were correct about switching my sexual response to automatic, Harper. It is much more...ah...pleasurable.” Data sighed.

“I’m glad you still think so, as many times as that response has gone unanswered lately.” She found his lips and kissed him deeply, until he moved her arms to her sides.

“I intend to see that nothing occurs to further delay...this.” He ran a finger from her lips down... He gazed down her body, as though committing it to memory. His fingertips traced circles around the nipple of her left breast. Her respiration increased. Leaning closer, his tongue made light contact with the opposite nipple. Remembering the sensations he had experienced as she used her teeth lightly on his penis, he decided to use this method on her and observer her response. 

Her gasp and quick sigh told him he had been successful in stimulating her. Her nipple hardened in response as well. He pulled back to see and was pleased, but now it was time for the other breast. Gently kneading the first, he traced kisses and his tongue around her left breast. He was intrigued by what followed. Harper gasped, arching her back in ecstasy and Data found this sent a wave of desire racing through him. Excited, he proceeded lower. He knew well just what would elicit an erotic response in this area.

Gently, he spread her legs apart and repositioned himself between them. Harper opened her eyes and watched until his tongue made contact with her clitoris. She moaned with delight and closed her eyes again as he watched her face. Her mouth opened and closed and her hips began to move. He found he also liked this response and quickened his oral stimulation of her clitoris and the surrounding areas. Each moan seemed deeper and longer. She had been clenching the blankets on either side of her, but she now reached down and slid her fingers through his hair.

Her breathing slowed. Her back arched more than it had prior and she gasped. Her breath caught. When she took another breath it was closer to a groan, but not of pain. Several small shutters ran through her before she relaxed slightly and began to giggle.

“Oh, stop,” she pleaded weakly. Harper opened her eyes as the waves of her orgasms subsided. She held her arms out for him. He did not move from between her legs. “Please, Data. Please. I want to feel you inside me. Please. Now!” He had no desire to argue. Hovering above her, he moved his penis towards her vagina. Just the touch of the tip brushing against her sent another quake through her body. He found he was also gasping at the sensation.

But entering her was much, much better.       

He closed his eyes and moaned as wave after wave of passionate desire flooded him. As soon as he entered her, she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in closer and his length in deeper.

“Ohhh, ahhhh!” It took Data a moment to connect the fact that he had made that sound. He remembered he was supposed to pull back out and in again. It took a bit of convincing himself to even move. Harper tightened her vaginal muscles around him and Data sighed and moaned again. Kissing her fiercely, he began his thrusts. Her arms and legs gripped him as he plunged into her again and again.

This was nothing like Data ever experienced before. None of what he experienced with Harper was, but this...

Rational thought was beyond him and Data was alarmed for a nanosecond, but let the worry go in favor of the more pleasurable sensations. The build up he felt was almost too much to take. Cascade failure or something equally terrible should be threatening, but no warnings were sounding.

Harper was having another orgasm. Harper's gasps pushed Data over the edge and he let out an extremely low moan. His thrusts increased and he stopped kissing her just to be able to cry out. His whole body exploded in sensation. He had not consciously activated the release of his sexual secretions, but he could feel it escape him as he pumped it into Harper. He slowed his movement until the waves dissipated and were finally reduced to a level where rational thought was again possible.

Data did not remember feeling this drained before. Harper was smiling lovingly up at him. She was bathed in a glow of warmth. Her tangle of hair only seemed to make her more beautiful to him. Data was too heavy to relax his full weight on her, so he slowly left her body, with a final affected sigh, and rolled over beside her. She rolled on her side and snuggled up against him. He wrapped an arm around her and playfully caressed her bottom.

“Damn, but that was good,” she sighed.

“Sure as hell was,” he agreed and sighed contentedly. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her hands caressing his chest.

“What ya thinking about?” she asked lazily. He had heard this question before but last time his answer was not well received. He hoped this went better.

“I...am processing and analyzing the sensation and emotions I...just experienced as well as your responses to my actions.” Data waited, worried, for her reaction. The little circles she was tracing on his chest did not discontinue.

“Mmmm, and how long will that take?” Harper asked, still totally relaxed. He sighed inwardly.

“It could take hours. But I will not be incapacitated for the duration. Should you require something, I-“ her fingers brushed his lips.

“Analyze, sweet love. I think I will do some of the same. And maybe some mental replay as well...until you decide you need to study those sensations in further detail by...experiencing them again.”

Data decided he liked it when she talked like this. It was close to teasing, but he knew she meant it kindly. Her apparent willingness to...make love a second time also had a pleasing affect on him. He smiled, happily and closed his eyes, continuing his analysis.

The analysis was an enjoyable process in this case. Making love with Harper was a far cry from any other intimate encounter Data had had in the past. The biggest difference being he loved her, the best being that she loved him in return. 

The sensations were so intense...so wonderful and satisfying. Data found it difficult to analyze parts of the experience he had shared with Harper, without becoming, once again, aroused. He noticed, to his dismay, the arm that held Harper at his side was now caressing her gently and lovingly. Her breathing pattern changed. Data looked at her face in time to see her eyes open. She smiled up at him, reaching up to run a hand over his chest.

“You know, a good researcher will run an experiment more than once to check his results...Don’t you think you need more research material?” She asked in a flirtatious voice. Data sighed happily as Harper brought her mouth to his.

It was a long while before Data was again able to continue his analysis, but by then, he had a lot more to process.