"Within the Confines of Time"

Chapter 20 ~ "Something good in the making"

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Tasha had no clue as to what Data had planned. All she knew was that he had told her it was a surprise and he simply refused to explain further.

It infuriated her to no end. She couldn't sweet talk it out of him or kiss him so fiercely in such a distracting manner that he would cave in and reveal it. Unfortunately, she tried all those avenues with no success.

Soon after their shift ended the two were entering their living quarters. And still Tasha tried to persuade him.

"Data, you know I don't like surprises. I would much rather you just come out with it instead of keeping it a secret!"

Data only acknowledged her complaint with a soft command.

"Close your eyes."

Tasha looked at him disapprovingly so, unsure of what her boyfriend was up too.

Data rolled his eyes and slowly walked up to her, placing his hands on hers as he maneuvered them over her eyes. "Trust me!" And then more seductively. "You don't want me to have to blindfold you, do you?"

"Ooooh! Sounds kinky, Data! I don't know, maybe I do want you to blindfold."

"That will come later but right now I want to give you something."

She heard him ruffling around their quarters and then she could hear what sounded like him kneeling down to the floor. Her heart suddenly leapt in her throat and her mind began whirling around with only one thought – was he about to do what she thought he was about to do?

Tasha's hands suddenly began shaking from the anxiety of the situation. She tried to wait patiently but she wanted to look so bad!

"Okay, open your eyes!" Data announced proudly.

Tasha slowly removed her hands from her eyes, her anticipation had slowly been building up with the hope of what Data was about to do.

She looked down to see him on one knee, his eyes piercing into hers as he held the most beautiful gift she had ever been given – a short-haired yellow tabby kitten with a blue bow tied to his collar.

Tasha placed her hand over her mouth from the joy of seeing it. "Aww! He is so cute, Data! Can I?" She held her arms out lovingly as Data placed the small kitten in her arms.

Data smiled to himself as the kitten began rubbing himself affectionately against Tasha's cheek, meowing away at her loving strokes against his fur.

"He is so adorable. How did you find him?"

"Ensign Davidson cat had kittens and she was giving all of them away. I was fortunate enough to get the first pick of the litter. Although I must admit that I did have some reservations about the children's health around the cat. It was only after I performed a thorough research on the matter that I deemed it as safe."

Tasha continued to stroke the kitten as her hand ran across his collar, as she pulled the kitten back to take a look at his I.D. tag, smiling the whole time as she saw in big bold letter the name 'Spot' engraved into the metal tag.

Her eyes suddenly started welling up with tears from the thoughtfulness that Data had placed into her present. Tasha looked up at him and smiled broadly as she leaned in to place a fierce kiss to his lips.

"Does this mean you approve of the gift?"

Tasha hurriedly shook her head up and down. "I love him." Tasha held the kitten back up to her face as she resumed pressing her face into the animals. "He's already stolen my heart away."

"Good, then that gives me the comfort that I need for what I had engraved on the back from Spot and I."

Tasha narrowed her eyes in confusion. "You and Spot engraved a message for me on the back?" She asked curiously, trying desperately not to smile.

"We did, so if you do not approve – blame the cat." Data joked.

She chuckled a little at his jest. "I don't see how I could disapprove to anything you two got me."

Data suddenly looked nervous and Tasha kept noticing how he was constantly rubbing his hands against his pants legs, as if removing sweat from the palms of his hands. But then again, an android couldn't sweat.

"Are you okay, Data?"

He smiled at her assuredly. "Yes, of course. I am just a little afraid that you might not like what we had placed on there."

"Well, I'll just have to put your fears to rest and take a quick look at it." Tasha grabbed hold of the kitten's tag and flipped it over. "Besides I'm certain whatever it says, I'm going love it because I love you two so muc -" Tasha stopped in mid-sentence, her brows arched in uncertainty to what she was reading as she adjusted her eyes to the small lettering. Immediately her eyes left the tag to meet Data's awaiting gaze only to fall back quickly to the message as she proceeded to softly read it out loud.

"Will - you -."

"It says – 'Will you marry us?'" Data finished for her.

Tasha suddenly froze rendering her completely speechless by the impending question. She looked back to him kneeling before her, a small gray felt box within his hand. He slowly opened it, giving the diamond inside its moment of glory. Tasha covered her mouth with her hand, as her breath caught in her throat. The everyday rhythm of her breathing soon forgotten as disbelief set in from what was now transpiring with the man kneeling before her.

"Data, I – I could never –."

Data quickly pressed a hand to her lips, stopping her completely.

"Please, before you answer there are some things that I need to say to you."

He stared off into the distance at some unknown object, inhaled a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"I know this seems a bit out-dated and during this day and age you hardly ever see diamonds anymore, especially being worn by a spouse. But it reminded me so much of my love for you. You see, like this diamond my love for you will never age, it will never fade, nor will it ever die. They say that a diamond is special because it can never be broken in two nor will I ever be torn away from your side."

Data paused a moment before continuing, his eyes never wavering in their sincerity toward Tasha.

"I know that this is going to be difficult, it is not going to be easy by any means. I know that we are both going to have to work hard to make this last. I know that I am going to have to do whatever it takes to ensure your happiness, as well as the twins. But I also know that if I do not ask you to be mine, that I will regret it for the rest of my life. I love you Natasha Yar and it is not your stereo typical love. I have traveled light years back in time to find you, fought to rescue you, died to have you and I would gladly –"

Data paused a moment as a surge of emotions seized through him and for the first time, he broke eye contact with Tasha as he briefly looked down to compose himself. And then, clearing his throat he looked back to her and continued on.

"I would gladly do it all over again if the outcome gave you the chance to live the perfect life that I so desperately want to give you. I have never forgotten you! Our love has crossed all limitations and survived. Even when it was impossible for me to feel this way, I loved you then. And even with these emotions, I love you now and I am certain that until the day I go offline – I will love you - still! So, will you marry us, Tasha?" He nodded toward Spot and gave her a big smile to emphasize himself.

She was hopelessly crying now, as her eyes turned from his to rest on Spot and then back to Data.

"What I was going to say is that I could never see my life without you!"

Data's eyes widened with recognition, as a smile began snaking across his face. "So that's a yes?"

"It's a definite yes!"

Data leapt to his feet as he punched the air from his excitement.

Tasha chuckled at his enthusiastic behavior.

Quickly he made his way toward Tasha as he picked her up and swirled around still overwhelmed by that fact that this woman would choose him.

And then he suddenly sat her back down upon the floor, immediately apologizing as he placed his hand upon her abdomen.

"Forgive me! I did not hurt you, did I?"

Tasha cupped his face and pulled his lips down to hers.

"No, I'm perfectly fine!" She kissed the bridge of his nose. "You have to stop being so afraid that I'm going to break, Data." She smiled and winked at him. "Although I must say that your concern is quite the turn on."

Data arched an eyebrow. "I shall make note of that!"

His hand slowly reached out for her left one as he pulled the ring from the small felt box. Data brought her hand up to his lips and softly placed a kiss on top of it before sliding the diamond upon her finger.

"I promise to always do whatever is required of me to keep you from never regretting your decision."

Tasha looked down at Spot playing in the floor and then turned her gaze back to Data, the tears of happiness visible in her eyes.

"I think Spot will have to spend his first night alone."

Data cocked his head in confusion.

Tasha clarified. "Because momma plans on keeping daddy preoccupied all throughout the night."

"Yes and such things are not for the eyes of the innocent." Data commented as he leaned in to place a passionate kiss to her lips.

Tasha quickly began pushing his body back toward the bedroom, undoing the back of his uniform as he walked backwards, their lips never parting as the clothing fell to the floor.

The doors swished open and closed, completely shutting the world out for another night spent in each other's arms.

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Author's notes: I know this is an awkward place to cutoff the chapter but I plan on going into a little further detail of this night between the two in the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed it and please, if there are any mistakes, please overlook them. I just got off of work and its way past 12 but I wanted to get this chapter posted for you guys because I knew a lot of you were probably wondering if Data was ever going to propose to Tasha. Of course we all knew eventually he would!