Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. As much as I want it, it's not mine. Believe me, I would LOVE to own Rimmer, but it's just not possible. Sigh, I can dream...

Author's Note: Not much to say about this really. Apart from...NICOLE IS BACK! YAAAY! Oh, andI wasn't sure if I should post this as chapter 2 or 3, but after deliberation with Liz (aka Raging Tree Trunk) I decided I'd post it anyway, and I can always reshuffle it later ifI think it's rubbish. R&R and enjoy, as always!

For the next four days Rimmer went back to his sleeping quarters from work always hoping he would bump into Gemma again, but he never did. However, on the fifth day he bumped into someone even better…
As Nicole dashed along the corridor, shuffling through a vast array of coloured papers and forms she tripped slightly and dropped a pen on the floor. It rolled to Rimmer's feet and he gently stopped it and picked it up. Nicole, nearly crashing into him, looked up at Rimmer and mumbled a thank you.
Wow, thought Rimmer. Wow.
Right there and then he decided that he liked this woman. Or rather, a certain part of his anatomy decided for him…

He swallowed hard and tried to keep a cool persona (something that is very hard if your name is Arnold Judas Rimmer). He went to say something but nothing came out; in one moment of utter terror he had completely forgotten how to speak the English language. He didn't want to think what he looked like, mouth half-open, his hand surreptitiously covering his groinal area, holding on to one end of a pen whilst Nicole held on to the other, gazing into her eyes like some love-struck adolescent. If Lister came by now he would have a field day. You have to say something! Rimmer told himself, Anything. Even if it's the stupidest thing in the world, just say something!
"This is a pen."
Yeah, you should have kept quiet.

Nicole giggled awkwardly, "Yes, I know," she said putting the aforementioned pen in her breast pocket
"Sorry," Rimmer apologised, "I…I'm not too good at, you know, casual conversation."
Nicole half-smiled, "Me neither. Well, it's not that I can't do it, I just never have the time. What with trying to juggle work and a family-"
"Family?" Rimmer's heart sank.
"Yes. Why?"
"Er…" that was a good point; why had he interrupted her like that? "What's your name?"
"Nicole Adler. Why?" She asked again.
Because he so desperately wanted to know more about her, "Because I might have recognised the name. I could work with your husband or something." Oh dear God what are you blathering on about you idiot?
"Oh, no, I don't have a husband."
"Boyfriend, then."
"Wrong again. I'm single."
Rimmer's heart leapt back up again.
"Oh! Fantastic!"
"Fantastic?" Nicole asked with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, well, yes, I can see how that could have sounded. And obviously it's not fantastic for you. I just meant…I thought…never mind."
Nicole smiled again. A proper smile this time, one that lit up her face, "Are you trying to ask me out?"
"Well," Rimmer blushed and looked at the ground.
"You can if you want. I wouldn't turn you down," Rimmer looked up, "I just hope you know you'll also be tying in with two kids as well as myself."
Rimmer nodded knowingly, although this was news to him and Nicole knew it.
"Right. So," she said brightly, "Do you want to grab something to eat sometime?"
"Um, yeah, sure," he managed to mumble. She smiled, "Great! I'm in room 474 on Floor 35. Drop by whenever."
Room 474? Floor 35? That all seemed remarkably familiar to Rimmer, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

"Anyway," Nicole said conclusively, "I should be going. See you around!" and with a swift wave goodbye, she walked off down the corridor. Rimmer watched her go in absolute amazement. Only one thought was going through his head: Lister is so gonna hear about this!

A/N: I like to keep my chapters short and sweet!