Author's Notes: This Chapter is an add on from the last Chapter. I am in the process of reworking this story, because I decided to scrap The Rescue. I still have it saved on my computer though. I am sorry to those who actually were enjoying the story. I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. I do hope you enjoy the updates to Obsession.

Author's Notes: This Chapter has spoilers for the episode Inheritance. The song I chose was What About Us by Pink.

Chapter Nine

Nicole was thankful her mother ended the counseling session and she didn't have to talk to her again till Friday. However, she did need to talk to Data. Were still okay? Is he mad at her? Were they still engaged?

There was a chime at the door. Nicole sighed and said, "Come in."

Well she didn't have to wait to talk to him. Data walked into her quarters. Nicole smiled as she ran over to him. She jumped into his arms, thankful for that android strength. She pecked him on the lips.

"Hello Nicole." Data said.

"Hi babe." Nicole said, kissing Data again.

Data, still with Nicole in his arms, carried her over to the couch. Nicole straddled him as he sat down, placing her hands on his shoulders. She held back the urge to grind against him. Although she just turned 27 about a month ago, her Betazoid hormones were only getting stronger.

"I had an interesting conversation with Dr Tainer 32 minutes and 8 seconds ago." Data said.

"Oh?" Nicole asked.

"Yes, she lied about there being no room in the escape pod. She wanted me to come with, but she did not want me to turn out like Lore." Data said, absentmindedly stroking Nicole's hair.

"Can you blame her though? Lore was a total dick." Nicole said, but she immediately felt bad for using that term. "Sorry."

"For what?" Data asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I just called your brother a dick, Data." Nicole said.

"Yes. His behavior was unjust. He did not like how he was treated by the colonists. And he had a lot of built up anger towards our father for dismantling him."

Nicole stayed silent to hear Data ramble on about his brother. She didn't mind his rambling. She actually thought it was kind of adorable.

"Nicole?"

"Yes."

"Are you alright?"

Nicole smiled as she kissed Data's forehead. "Yes babe. I am alright, but now I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"Are we still engaged?" Nicole asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes we are. Are you ready to tell the crew?" Data said.

"Yes, I would like to tell the crew during the concert tomorrow. Is that alright, honey?" Nicole asked.

Data titled his head. "That is acceptable."

Nicole smiled and kissed Data again. This time she couldn't hold back. She grinded against him as they kissed. That night they made love on the sofa. Nicole ignored Regen the whole time as he tried to contact her telepathically.

After Data and Dr Tainer did their piece, Nicole went up and stood next to Data. He had his Violan at the ready. They practiced this together several times, but nothing was compared to performing in front of everyone.

We are searchlights, we can see in the dark

We are rockets, pointed up at the stars

We are billions of beautiful hearts

And you sold us down the river too far

Nicole patted her side as the tempo picked up a bit. Thankful the bandages were off.

What about us?

What about all the times you said you had the answers?

What about us?

What about all the broken happily ever afters?

What about us?

What about all the plans that ended in disaster?

What about love? What about trust?

What about us?

During the chorus Nicole thought about Rachel Collins, her younger sister. Rachel's older brother Adam. And her relationship with Data.

We are children that need to be loved

Nicole looked over at Dr Tainer. She hated the fact that she left Data behind.

But man, you fooled us, enough is enough, oh

Nicole took a deep breath. She was ready for Regen to disappear so she could focus on her career and her relationship with a certain android.

Sticks and stones, they may break these bones

But then I'll be ready, are you ready?

It's the start of us, waking up, come on

Are you ready? I'll be ready

I don't want control, I want to let go

Are you ready? I'll be ready

Nicole looked over at Data as she reached into her pocket to grab her engagement ring. Hiding her hands behind her back, she put the black ring on. His Starfleet Academy class ring.

'Cause now it's time to let them know we are ready

What about us?

Nicole smiled hugely as she showed off her ring. A burst of clapping and whoots came over Ten Forward.

Oh, what about love? What about trust?

What about us?

As the song ended, Nicole placed her hands over her heart and looked at her mother and her father. They weren't sitting next to each other, but that wasn't a problem. She was just happy that they were here.

An hour later they got word that one of the pockets became unstable. Pran and an assistant were doing a final check of the infusion units when the walls gave way; Pran had sustained some minor injuries. Data and Dr Tainer went down to the surface since they didn't have long to finish configuring the remaining infusion unit and inject the plasma.

Nicole got the clear to return so she was in Engineering while Geordi was in the transporter room. She panicked the whole time her fiance was down there. Yes, he was an android, but even he wasn't instructable. Thankfully, she didn't have to wait long, Data beamed back on board with Dr Tainer, but now there was another issue at stake. Both Geordi and Nicole went to Sickbay.

Nicole held Data's hand, interlocking her fingers with his. Geordi examined the circuitry present in Dr Tainer's head as Dr Crusher scanned her. Julianna Tainer was an android! One of Soong's creations. She was just more advanced than Data.

"Basically everything about her is to fool you into thinking she is human." Geordi said, quietly.

"She has tear ducts, sweat glands, even capillaries and veins underneath her skin." Dr Crusher said, confused, but also fascinated.

Commander Riker looked over at the medical viewscreen and then back at Geordi and Dr Crusher. "Why does the scanner read her as human?"

"Because she has a feedback processor that sends out a false bio signal." Dr Crusher said.

"It's part of her aging program. Not only does she age in appearance like Data." Commander Riker looked Data up and down. "Her vital signs change too." Geordi said.

"What I don't understand is why she lost consciousness. Everything looks good. She just isn't waking up." Dr Crusher said.

"Check her positronic matrix. There could be a cascade anomaly." Data said.

Geordi and Crusher went to work while Data chatted with Commander Riker about how he knew she was an android. Just then Geordi found an information chip with a built-in holographic projection.

"I'll be right out here if you need, babe." Nicole said, holding Data's hand.

Data nodded and kissed his fiance's forehead before he walked into the holodeck. Nicole wanted to be in there with him for support, but Data wanted to go by himself.

Nicole leaned against the bulkhead when she sensed Regen, but this time he didn't appear in the corridor. She heard his voice in her mind.

"So you're marrying the android."

"Why do you care so much!? I already told you that I didn't want you."

"You will be mine. Soon."

Just then Data walked out of the Holodeck with the chip in his hand. He seemed confused. Nicole went over to him. She had both hands on his forearms.

"Data, babe, what happened?" Nicole asked, concerned.

"I do not know what to do." Data said.

Nicole went with Data to the conference room. Troi, Captain Picard, and Dr. Crusher were there as well. Nicole sat next to Data while Dr Crusher sat next to Troi and Captain Picard was at the head of the table, standing.

"It seems I must come to a decision on whether I should tell Dr. Tainer she is an android or to withhold that information from her." Data paused. He looked at Troi and then at Captain Picard. "I do not know what to do."

"Why was Dr. Soong so adamant that she not be told?" Dr Crusher said.

Data explained to Dr. Crusher that his father's motives were, because he felt that Dr. Tainer wouldn't be happy if she knew the truth.

"I am more concerned with what would be best for her." Data said.

"Would she be better off knowing the truth though?" Nicole asked.

"I don't think so,"Troi said. "She has believed her whole life she was human. The truth could be devastating to her."

"Data." Captain Picard sat down in his chair. "There may come a time where she could find out in the future. Perhaps, by another accident." he said.

"I do know this, if I was an android, I would like to be known by my son instead of some stranger." Dr Crusher stated.

Data pondered and consulted with everyone for a bit longer before he came to a decision. In the end, he chose not to tell Dr. Tainer the truth. He agreed with Troi that it would be devastating to her.