Author's Note: This was just a filler chapter. I needed something that caused them to go to Earth. Usually recovery time for this type of surgery is 2 weeks, but I had to wait 6 weeks. So I thought of the same for Nicole.

Chapter Three

That evening Nicole stood outside Data's quarters. She wore an orange sweater, black pants, and brown boots. She took another sonic shower and this time she washed her hair. She had it half up. Just enough so it was out of her face. The medicine Dr Crusher gave her knocked her ass out earlier so she looked well rested. Which was a good sign since she struggled to sleep lately.

Tapping the console next to the door, she took a deep breath before walking in. Data's quarters were dimly lit. In the middle of the room, he had a candlelit dinner ready. Looked like spaghetti with veggie meatballs, Nicole's favorite. Data didn't need to eat, but sometimes he did with her to make it romantic.

"Hello Nikki. Are you feeling better?" Data asked.

Nicole smiled. "Yes I am. Thank you. Dr. Crusher gave me some medicine to help."

"You should eat. I noticed that you get sick if you take medications without any food."

Nicole smiled bigger as she looked at the ground. She looked back up a moment later to see Data held a chair out for her. She walked and sat down. Data sat down in the chair across from her.

When Nicole looked at the plate of food. She actually felt hungry for once. She took her fork and twisted the spaghetti around for a second or two before taking a bite. Nicole could taste the higher protein noodles.

Data was the first one with Nicole's certain diet. Due to her Betazoid hormones, Nicole was unable to eat certain things. Most things caused her to have severe pains or made her really sick. So she chose a vegan diet.

Data wanted to make sure she got enough protein, because in her line of work, Nicole needed to keep her strength up. He told her once that he researched what a vegan was. Then he programmed the replicators to make sure it was able to replicate things like high protein noodles so she was getting her protein in.

That would change when they were home though. They did have a replicator, but they also had a grocery store nearby that carried a lot of tasty things for Nicole. And these days most restaurants were accommodating for those like Nicole who needed certain foods.

Although this dinner was probably replicated, it tasted quite good. Before she knew it though, her portion was gone.

Nicole leaned back in her chair. She patted her stomach a little. "Thank you Data, that was good."

"Would you like some more?" Data offered, preparing to stand up. Data being the curious cat that he is, probably noticed that Nicole hadn't really eaten anything that last few days.

"No thank you." Nicole said.

Data nodded his head. Nicole looked down at her empty plate and sighed.

"Are you alright?" Data asked.

Nicole shook her head. "I have a decision to make."

Data raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent. He motioned for Nicole to continue. She took the android's hand in hers. His bioplast felt smooth and warm in her hand. Data ran his thumb across her knuckles in a comforting manner.

"Data, would you like this to keep going?"

"The date?"

"No. Yes." Nicole looked away then back at Data. "I mean, would you like our relationship to continue?"

"Yes. I do not wish to end it." Data paused and tilted his head."Do you?"

"No. I do not."

"Is that what has been causing you distress, Nikki?"

Nicole looked up at her boyfriend. 3 years. They've been dating for 3 years! Ever since his relationship didn't go well with Jenna. Nicole was there to comfort him and a few months later, they began a relationship.

They kept it hidden until one day after a date on the holodeck, they got caught making out in the turbolift. By the first officer nonetheless. Commander Riker was against the whole thing. Nicole still doesn't know why though, but it took him a while for him to come around. Captain Picard didn't care as long it didn't interfere with their duties and Nicole understood that Data was second in command.

She took a deep breath and began talking. "Data, babe, Dr Crusher suggested I get a hysterectomy or at least get a tubal ligation. She thinks it may help the painful menstrual cycles I've been having. She doesn't think they would affect my Betazoid hormones though."

Data tilted his head. "That seems like the appropriate choice, Nikki."

Nicole looked away. "I know with you being an android, you can't procreate. And I am okay with that, but I never thought I wouldn't be able to."

Data didn't say anything. He just titled his head as if he was considering all of the possibilities.

"Nikki." Nicole lifted her head. Her baby blues met Data's yellow ones. "I know in the area of procreation, I will not be able to give you a child. Not in the way many humanoid species do. However, in my endeavor in creating Lal, I would like to try and create another positronic brain."

"You mean, make another android?" Nicole asked.

"Yes."

Nicole let go of Data's hand and stood up. Data moved his chair back to stand, but Nicole held up a hand to stop him. She climbed into the android's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Data placed his hands on her tiny waist. Nicole smiled and kissed Data softly.

Nicole pulled back a little to look at her boyfriend.

"Data, babe, have you thought about marriage?" Nicole blurted the question.

"Although I am an android, I have not excluded the possibility that I might someday marry."

Nicole smiled and kissed Data again. This time she opened her mouth to let their tongues dance in a passionate kiss.

The next few weeks went by in a blink of an eye. After her date with Data, Nicole came to a decision of getting her tubes tied first to see if that helps. Data agreed with her. Dr Crusher suggested the surgery should be done at Starfleet Medical since she can rest without the issues of being in space. Data went with Nicole for support.

Here they were, 16hrs into their 25hr flight to Earth. Data was at the helm. Nicole was next to him "reading" a book. It was hard to focus when your eyes were watching something or someone else.

"Nicole." Data said, not looking at her.

"Yes Data." Nicole's voice sounded a little too eager.

"I have noticed in the last hour and a half that you have not turned the page. And also shifted in your seat a total of 12 times while also watching me. Furthermore, I have come to the conclusion that you could be aroused. Am I right?" Data said, meeting her gaze.

Nicole just stared at him. She blushed slightly and shifted in her seat for the 13th time. She swallowed a big lump in throat from nervousness.

"Yes, you are correct. You are just so cute when you are piloting the shuttle."

"Cute?" Data tilted his head. "Are you flirting with me, Nikki?"

Nicole smiled. "Yes, I am."

Data titled his head as if to consider what Nicole said. "You were told to refrain from sexual intercorse, Lieutenant." Data said, turning back to the console.

Nicole cursed looking away from Data. She was still dealing with her menstrual cycle. Although the medicine helped with the cramps, the bleeding was another issue. Nicole hated her Betazoid hormones sometimes. They made her menstrual cycles worse and not even birth control helped. She needed a certain birth control from Betazed, but that would be hard to get since it was illegal. It caused hormonal imbalances in the full betazoids, but it helped those that were not full betazoid. Like Nicole or her mother with their menstrual cycles.

She closed her book."I understand." She paused to stand up. "I am going to lay down for a bit. Let me know if you need me."

Nicole went to the back to lay down on one of the benches. She tried her hardest to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay. She wasn't upset with Data. She understood.

This just hasn't been her month and now next month was going to get worse. It was going to take at least 6 weeks for her to recover if not longer. And she was spending that whole time on Earth. At their house in the country. An Engineer doesn't want to be stationary, she wants to be on a ship. Near the humm of the warp core.

"Nikki.." Data started.

"I'm not mad at you Data. I'm just not looking forward to staying on Earth. Even if it is with you. I am an engineer! I belong on a starship not on earth!"

"I understand. Resting is the best thing you can do. If you do too much too soon then you will have the problem of them becoming untied and you will have to have more surgery."

Damn you Data for being right! Nicole thought, but she didn't say it.

Two weeks later

Nicole has been on Earth for about two weeks now. And she was going stir crazy! She thought she could get through this, because her boyfriend was with her, but she couldn't. She missed being up in space, hearing the hum of the warp core, as well as the thoughts of the crew of Enterprise.

Nicole sighed as she put her PADD down. Although she couldn't be near a warp core, brushing up on her studies about warp mechanics was the best she could do. Data even got her a telescope so she could look at the stars. She looked up at the night sky just as a voice came behind her.

"Are you alright, Nicole?" Data sat down next to her on the back porch step.

Nicole kept her eyes to the skies. "I miss being up there, Data."

Data observed his partner's behavior. He knew of her love of the Engines. She was an Engineer. She had this love of the warp core. It was only fitting that she was upset about being on Earth instead of in space.

"I understand that it can be upsetting. However, I agree with Dr. Crusher. It is important that you do not put too much stress on your body while it is healing." Data said.

Nicole sighed a frustrated sigh. "I know! I just hate it!"

Data took Nicole's hand in his. A movement that he used to not understand. Nicole smiled as she rested her head against his shoulder.

"I have some questions for you Nicole." Data said, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

Nicole met the android's gaze. "Yes, my love."

"What are your thoughts on marriage?" Data asked.

Nicole was confused as to why he would bring it up. They haven't really talked much about marriage. These were the times she wished she could sense what Data was thinking.

"Data, ever since I was little, I thought about marriage. My mother became pregnant after my father's idiotic mess up. I know they still have feelings for each other, but they are too stupid to realize that. So they just go back and forth." Nicole paused.

"Counselor Troi and Commander Riker are not stupid, Nicole." Data interrupted.

Nicole smiled and shook her head. "That isn't what I mean, Data." Nicole said, laughing a bit when Data titled his head.

"Sometimes, humans and non-humans are oblivious of their feelings. Like I said, my parents do still love each other. However, my father is afraid of making the same mistake. He didn't want to become a father, because of what his father did to him."

Nicole paused to snuggle closer to Data as it got a little chilly. Data wrapped his arm around Nicole's small frame.

"Maybe we should go inside?" Data suggested.

Nicole shook her head and continued talking. "I am happy with where I am at in my career. I am an Engineer onboard the flagship of the Federation. My rank is Lieutenant. And I have an amazing boyfriend." Nicole kissed Data on the cheek. "But yes, one day I would like to get married."

Data was quiet the rest of the night. And when Nicole woke up the next morning, Data wasn't anywhere in the home or on the property.