VIV.

Data sat alone in his quarters for about a half an hour before Geordi rang to come in. He updated Geordi about his newfound feelings and then felt compelled to express his concerns about his conversation with Captain Picard. He divulged while his orange tabby, Spot, walked around his legs below him.

"I'm sure that the Captain is only thinking of your best interests, Data." Geordi said. "He is aware of your loss of concentration lately, he's just doing his job. I know he supports your feelings, he's just aware of how they affect you, that's all."

"I don't know, Geordi." Data replied. "There was a tone in his voice I had never heard before. That, and he seemed very tense about the whole thing, as if it made him extremely uncomfortable to be talking with me about it. I was afraid of telling him anything at all about Heva…but I guess I expected him to be a bit more joyful about my progress rather than irritable."

Data reached down and brought Spot up on his desk, the feline purred and rubbed its soft head on his palm. The sensation of the fur touching his skin sensors was always interesting, but not as interesting as the feeling Heva's hair might have on them. He looked at his hand, content.

"I have urges I never thought I could have with her, Geordi. Is it common to want only to be near her, to touch her hair, feel it between my fingers…?"

Geordi grinned. "Yes, it's normal. Like the counselor said, it's a part of love to want to be near and want what is best for the person you have feelings for. And since she herself is in love, let alone a counselor I would suggest you take that into consideration. Why don't you ask Heva out?"

Data looked up at him. "Ask her out? What does that mean?"

"You know…ask her to go on a date with you. It's what humans to, to begin a relationship with another human. You ask them on a date, you get to know each other while you're out together. And if you both enjoyed the experience, you go on more dates and eventually call one another a couple and you build a relationship from it."

Data looked down at Spot thoughtfully. "What if she says no…" The fact that he worried about her saying no, which might make her happy, was odd. He thought perhaps it was normal to worry that even though it might satisfy her, her not wanting to be near him the way he did her was something that would possibly make him sad.

Geordi reached over the desk and put a hand on Data's shoulder, he looked up at Geordi and listened to him. "Data, even if she says no, the fact is you tried. Besides, in the future, you could try again and she might have a different answer."

Data looked away for a moment then back at Geordi and nodded. "Yes, I suppose you are right. When should I ask her?"

"Well, she's off duty now, I believe she went to her quarters to do some research. It might not be a good thing to bother her…I have an idea."

He reached into his pocket and pulled an information pad from it. He input some data and handed it to Data. "I was going to take this to her, but you can. Just tell her that I was busy and I asked you to do it for me, then you can work up a conversation and build up to the point where you ask her on a date."

Data stood and began to leave when he stopped. He turned back, a scared look on his face. "Where would we go for a date? The holodeck?"

Geordi thought on this, then smiled and left the room. "If she says yes, tell her to meet you on the holodeck at 09:00. I will have everything prepared, you will know exactly what to do."

"But-"

"Just go, Data. You will be fine."

With that, Geordi rushed down the hall toward the lifts. Data stood there for a long time staring after him before going in the same direction to get to Heva's quarters.

Once he reached the door, he stood silent. He stared for a long time at the door bell before reaching a hand out to push it. Just as he was about to the door slid open.

He took a step back and gawked at her. She was in a lavender, silk nightgown with a matching robe. Her hair had been let down and it draped over her shoulders, covering her breasts and reaching down to her navel. Her eyes looked tired and her body was obviously in need of rest. She looked at him in surprise, but didn't attempt to cover herself, which made Data feel something he didn't expect at all.

"Commander, what brings you here?" she asked groggily.

"I…I uh…" Data stammered. Finally he held out the information pad and turned to go, but stopped himself and turned back to her. "Um…H-heva?" he asked.

She looked up from the pad, a confused look painted into her expression. Data took in several breaths before he continued. "I was…I was wondering if perhaps you would like to join me on the holodeck at 09:00 for a….a….a date?" He took in a long breath and held it, examining her face for any signs of revulsion.

Heva tipped her head to the left with an eyebrow cocked. Then realizing what he'd just asked her, she smiled widely at him. "Data, I-"

"Of course it's ok if you don't want to. You really don't have to it's honestly up to you if you want to just stay here and get the rest you require." He interrupted, speaking rapidly. "Really you could just go back in and curl up in bed and-" he was stopped by a finger pressed to his lips. He felt as though all of his systems had halted in function as he looked at her. She was smiling in the way that he had come to adore and she batted her eyes at her, making him let out a small sigh.

"Data, I would love to. I was just waking up from a small nap and I was going to…well…I am not sure really. I just felt like opening my door. I guess it's a good thing that I did. I will meet you at the holodeck. 09:00. It's a date." And with that, she turned and went back into her room.

Data stood, slightly hunched toward the door, staring in disbelief. He no longer cared that the captain had advised against a relationship with her, he no longer cared that he could possibly be violating an order. All he cared about was that he would now get to spend time alone with Heva, get to know her, build a relationship.

"It's a date…" he whispered. "IT'S A DATE! A DATE! I HAVE A DATE!" he cried, skipping down the hall. A lieutenant that was walking the opposite direction gave him a strange look as he passed, but he didn't care. He felt as light as a feather.