Disclaimer :: I don't own anything Star Trek. Or Data... though I wish I could... But Starfleet ruled that he is sentient and, therefore, not property.

Dialogue 3

"Computer, honey."

The replicator worked. A small glass bowl of golden liquid appeared in the receptacle.

Data lifted the bowl close to his face and dipped a finger in, scooping honey to his lips -

He tasted it for a long time... Then again... His brow furrowed and his head twitched as he tried to comprehend.

It wasn't right. The taste just wasn't the same. But he'd only ever had honey from the replicator...

He checked for other molecular structure patterns, for different honeys - there were none.

~.oOo.~

Data was in Ten Forward, seated at the bar.

Geordi was going on about a girl.

Data's mind was going on about his dream.

"Guinan? Do you have any natural honey by chance?"

Geordi looked at Data offended at the interruption - then curious about it.

"I'm not sure, Data. Why?" Guinan's brow furrowed slightly.

"The approximation that the computer produces via the replicators is not quite right. I am curious as to what *real honey tastes like."

Guinan smiled. "Let me take a look and see what I've got lying around."

Geordi looked hard at his friend. "Okay, Data, what's going on?"

When Data struggled to answer, he went on in a low tone, "Is this to do with your dreaming again?"

Data's mouth tried to stretch into a kind of smile, and failed, turning into an awkward grimace. "Yes..." Data simply let his voice trail off quietly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Geordi offered.

Data considered. "The last time I attempted to talk with you about my dreams you became very uncomfortable. I do not wish to upset or bother you, Geordi."

Geordi huffed lightly. "I'm sorry about that, Data. It's kind of an awkward subject for most people."

Data nodded, "Yes, Counselor Troi explained that more thoroughly to me. I understand. I have discovered that the things I had thought I wanted to divulge, are... too personal to do so anyway."

"Well, at least explain the honey to me - or is it something I *really don't want to know?"

"If you mean, if it is of a highly sexual nature, it is not." Data answered. "We were kissing. Her tongue tasted sweet, like honey. I stated that I love honey and we continued kissing. But when I tried the honey from the replicator, it was not the same as in my dream, so I am wondering if somehow my mind replicated the taste of real honey."

"And you've been thinking about this the whole time I've been talking about Angella." Geordi smirked. "That chip really does make you more human."

"I am sorry for not listening, Geordi." Data frowned.

Geordi thumped Data on the back. "Don't worry about it. You're forgiven. We've all been there."

A moment later, Guinan was back with a small, glass jar, half full with golden syrup. "Look what I found!"

She opened the jar and set it in front of Data. "Go on." She nodded at the jar.

Data dipped in a finger, collected some of the honey and, careful not to dribble any on the counter, brought his finger to his mouth.

The sweet wrapped about his tastebuds in memory. His eyebrows shot up in surprise and joy.

Data removed his cleaned finger from his mouth. "I do not know how, but *that," he stressed the word and nodded to the jar, "is the flavor from my dream." He looked at Guinan, "May I have more?" he questioned, his eyebrows raised.

Guinan smiled. "Keep it, Data. I can get more in the future. And very few people are bothered by the subtle difference in the replicated stuff."

Data beamed. "Thank you, Guinan!"

~.oOo.~

AN :: cute follow-up to Data's honey dream... so i figured i'd do a nice little dual post. ^_^ getting close to the end now... i think... :/ unless my brain starts spitting out new material all of a sudden :D