Yay! Thank you so much! :D Things will be heating up soon as Silarra's wicked scheme starts to come into focus. But, for now, Data can enjoy a few more happy moments with his friends. Hope you enjoy this next part! :D

Chapter Thirty-Two

Kurak smiled to herself as she prepared for the day: making the bed, brushing her hair, rinsing and feeding the squirming racht in their sour-smelling bucket. She'd tried to stop, to school her face back into its usual stern scowl. But the smile kept bobbing back up like a balloon full of helium, making her feel deliciously attractive and light on her feet.

She heard the girls in Kahlestra's room, arguing then racing to see who would be first in the bathroom. Her small smile split into a grin and she found herself humming…her pulse still beating in time with the aria she'd shared with Data the night before…

He would be coming soon. Returning as he'd promised to watch the children and prepare their morning meal. He had made the offer as a kindness – he was a kind man. Yet, the thought of his approach, of his arrival at her door…

Enough, Kurak told herself firmly. This was to be no homecoming, no meaningful event. Merely a passing acknowledgement as he entered the dome and she left.

Still, the imagined scenario consumed her mind, the anticipation of seeing him again however briefly...touching his hand, his skin…

"By Kahless, what is wrong with me!"

Kurak sighed and sank slowly into her chair at the kitchen table. Her heart was pounding, her face felt so warm, and there was that smile again…that damned sappy grin she couldn't fight…didn't want to fight…

"Mother!" Kahlestra called, her racing feet like clomping hooves in the narrow corridor. "Mother, Ishta is hogging the bathroom, and I got there first!"

Kurak shot to her feet, pressing her cold fingers to her burning face as she fought to mask the unfamiliar feelings roiling inside her.

"Ishta is your guest, Kahlestra," she reproved. "You can get ready in your room."

"But I need to brush my teeth!"

"Brush them when she's done," she said, unable to catch a small gasp as she noticed movement outside the kitchen window. She rushed to see and called over her shoulder, "Hurry and get dressed, right now! Data is on his way. He'll be watching you girls while I attend the morning meeting with Drs. Tu'Pari, Anders and Kapoor."

"Data's coming here!" Kahlestra cheered. "Hey, that's great!" She smirked. "But, when did you decide he could babysit? I thought you said you didn't want me getting too attached to—"

"Data volunteered to do me this favor," Kurak interrupted sternly. "But, you have a point. I will tell him to go." She moved toward the door.

Kahlestra's eyes widened.

"No!" she cried. "No, don't! I'll get dressed!" She rushed back toward the hallway, then turned to look at her mother. "When will you be coming back?"

"In about an hour," Kurak told her, finding herself smiling once again. "We will share breakfast together. You and me. Your friend Ishta and that robot Howard. And Commander Data."

Kahlestra stared at her for a moment…long enough to make Kurak begin to wonder, rather uncomfortably, if she knew…if, perhaps, she had overheard…

Then, Kahlestra rushed at her, clenching her mother tightly around the waist.

"I apologize for my disrespect last night, Mother," she said in formal Klingon. "I know the sacrifices you make are for me."

Kurak closed her eyes tightly and swallowed, stroking her daughter's long hair.

"I want you to be happy, child," she said, speaking in Standard. "More than anything, I want your life to be as you would have it."

"I know," Kahlestra said, pressing in close. "I love you, Mama."

Kahlestra dashed away before Kurak had a chance to respond, already calling out to her friend.

"Ishta! Ishta! Data's coming over! Where did you put that essay?"

Kurak breathed deeply, pressing her clenched fists to her chest. Then, she ran to check the front window. Data looked as nervous as she felt, his eyes wide and his face flushed as he took a moment to straighten his windblown hair and jacket. A surge of warmth washed through her at the sight. On impulse, she took the metal flower he had made for her from the table where she'd left it the night before and tucked the long stem into her hair. Then, she burst through the sliding door and into his arms, the pair of them laughing and spinning several times before melting together in a heartfelt kiss.

"Kurak," Data whispered, smiling happily against her lips as she reached for his hand, pressing their scarred palms together with their fingers tightly intertwined. "Kurak-oy."

"Data-oy," she whispered back, laughing into his ear. "Has it only been a few hours?"

"Did you miss me?" he asked curiously, his amber eyes wide. "Really miss me? As much as I missed you?"

"O, my heart's blood," Kurak quoted between kisses. "To part from you is to part from breath itself. And, yet, it must be done. Tu'Pari and the others will be waiting."

Data held her close and breathed her in, chuckling as she nipped playfully at his ear, his neck…

"Mmm, my darling," he sighed happily, nuzzling her nose with his. "I believe I finally understand what Shakespeare meant when he wrote 'parting is such sweet sorrow.' The only sweetness I can find in this parting is in the anticipation of your swift return."

He ran his thumb over the crescent-shaped scabs on her palm and watched as she closed her eyes.

"You will come to me tonight?" she whispered.

"Only your word would keep me away," he said, and gently smoothed her hair behind her ear, his warm amber eyes seeming to glow when he saw she was wearing the flower he'd made for her. Kurak felt herself blushing and straightened quickly, covering his hand with hers.

"Kurak," he whispered. "I…I've been meaning to tell you… I have long wished to know what it might be like to…to spend the night beside a lovely woman, to wake from a dream to see her face close to mine and know…know that she… That we…"

He swallowed hard, and caught her eyes with his.

"You granted me that wish last night," he said. "That, and so much more. I will come to you tonight and every night, until you tire of me, or tell me to go."

"That won't happen," she said, her own heart fluttering as she watched the joy light his smooth, human face. "I give you my promise."

"And, I give you mine," he said unreservedly, laughing as she jumped up into his arms, their parting kiss long and deep and full of playful, knowing taunts that left them both yearning for the long day to be over, instead of just beginning.

"Don't forget my pancakes," she said, smoothing his jacket and allowing him to straighten the flower in her hair before striding out toward the center of the compound.

"They will be ready and waiting upon your return, my lady," Data teased, bowing low with a fond smile. "Don't be too long away."

Kurak watched him turn and walk into the dome, her legs caught somewhere between a run and a dance. Her heart was a drumbeat, her soul an inferno, and she never, never wanted the feelings he had sparked within her to fade. Even now, as she floated across the compound, the Federation android filled her thoughts, her senses… Her gallant, honest, brilliant warrior, as thoughtful and giving as—

"Kurak, excuse me. There was just one more thing."

"Data?" Kurak frowned up at the android's oddly blank expression, trying to back out of his grasp. "How did you get all the way out here? What are you—"

The android smirked down at her, the look in his amber eyes giving her chills.

"No questions," he said, and pressed his hand firmly against her back. Kurak snarled and bit, but her consciousness was slipping, her attacker already fading away in a haze of self-satisfied laughter.

"My, my that android does work fast," Silarra said, still laughing as she shifted her form yet again. "The poor, trusting fool. He has no idea what he's in for!"

To Be Continued...

More story coming soon. Your reviews are always welcome! :D