Geordi and Base spent the rest of the afternoon in Ten-Forward, talking about other things Geordi has fixed and improved on the ship. Base didn't even notice the passage of time while hanging out with Geordi. He was different from the other guys she was used to hanging out with, like Wesley.

Base was enjoying herself, and Guinun noticed too. The bartender was happy at the way the relationship was developing. She hoped that the girl's parents would be able to work it out too.

Geordi's communicator beeped and Data's voice rang through. Base's smile fell instantly. She knew that it was time for her to return home.

"Please bring Base to transporter room three to return home," Data said through the communicator. Geordi looked up at Base and caught her look. She didn't want to leave, but knew that she had to leave.

"Be right there," Geordi said before turning to Base. "It's time to go."

Base nodded and stood. She started to walk passed Geordi, but he grabbed her arm gently. Base turned back to him and looked down at him with sad eyes.

Geordi could feel a strange pull in his chest that he couldn't account for. It hurt to see her like this, and he didn't know what to do to make the pain go away. He stood.

"Follow me," he said as he led her out of Ten-Forward. Guinun watched the couple leave with curious eyes.

They walked down the corridor in silence and entered the turbolift. "Transporter room three," Geordi said in a clear voice. They started to move.

A million things were going through Base's head; the most important one was that she didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay with Geordi and learn more about him and their culture. Base finally came to a decision.

"Stop," she said and theturbolift stopped its movement.

"What are you doing?" Geordi asked turning to Base. She appeared to be deep in thought about something. Geordi touched her shoulder gently and repeated his question.

"I was thinking about not going back to Sernus 9. I want to learn more about this world that my father lives in, that you live in. Why can't I do that?"

Base looked so lost that Geordi didn't know what to do. He had to deliver her to transporter room three, but she didn't want to go. She had to go back to Sernus 9 because of the Prime Directive. He couldn't interfere with her world, although it is possible to think that Data had already interfered with it by being a father. It was confusing.

Geordi looked at the young girl who was looking up at him with hopeful eyes. She didn't want to go back, that much was certain, but her story about spending time with her father was only partially true.

"What aren't you telling me Base? Why do you want to stay here? You live on Sernus 9."

"I know that, but…"

"But…"

"But the people there don't understand me."

Geordi was in shock. This girl had everything on that planet as a princess, yet she felt like no one understood her there.

"How do you know that anyone will understand you better here?"

Base looked up into Geordi's visor and remembered how nice he had been to her all this time. Before either of them had a chance to react, she was kissing him.

Geordi was not expecting this. A young girl, Data's daughter, was kissing him in theturbolift and he was actually enjoying it.

Her arms circled his neck pulling him closer to her. Her body was pressed up against his. Geordi's arms instinctively moved to her waist and pulled her even closer to him.

The kiss soon moved from desperation to passionate, and Geordi was forced to stop it.

"Base, we can't do this," he said feeling that pain in his chest again. Base rested her forehead against his and as they both struggled to regain their breath.

"Why?"

Such a small word, yet it had some much emotion behind it. Emotion Geordi thought impossible for an android to possess. She didn't want to leave the ship, or him. She made that obvious.

"We live in different worlds. Data is my best friend and it would betray his trust to be with his daughter. I'm older than you and you're an…"

"An android," Base finished with a sigh. She stepped away from him and looked away from his face. She didn't want him to see her tears.

"Resume," Geordi said and they started moving again. Geordi felt the pull in his chest again, but chose to ignore it. This was something he didn't need, and she didn't deserve it either.

Base was able to pull herself together before seeing her mother. Her mom seemed to be in a much better mood. Data looked the same.

"I will allow Base to return tomorrow and spend some time with you before you leave Sernus 9. It would be a shame if you were to loose time with your daughter," Roxanna said as she put her arm around Base's shoulders.

Data nodded. "That would be acceptable. I will be working in Engineering tomorrow. I believe that Lt. LaForge showed you where it was located on the ship."

Base looked over at Geordi for a split second before turning her attention back to her father. She nodded.

"Great, then it's settled. Come Base, it is time for you to do your chores and do some homework."

Base nodded before joining her mother on the platform. She looked up at Geordi and managed a small smile and wave before being transported back down to her cage.