Kathryn Janeway was asleep, a smile on her face as she stretched suggestively.

"Dreaming of me, my love?" A voice said.

She woke quickly and nearly rolled over on top of Q. "That's the right idea dear," he said as he dragged her closer.

She drew back, pulled her blanket around her and stood. "What the hell. Q?"

"Yes darling, it's your beloved."

"My beloved? Not even in your dreams. Get out of my room! Get off my ship! Get out of my life!" She clutched the blanket tighter.

"You really do look sexy in that nightgown. Why don't you put the blanket down, and come back to bed."

She glared at him, trying to think of something to say.

"And you have been picked for a singular honor, I was hoping for a more loving response." He smirked at her frown. "That's right Kathy, you've been selected to be the mother of my child."

"Uhh. What?" She kept hoping this was a bad dream.

"Kathy dear, you should be so honored that the continuum selected you, they singled you out for this greatest of honors."

"Honor? Some honor. Leave."

"Ahh, Kathy I can't until... The continuum needs us to replace the Q who committed suicide. His suicide created a hole, an abyss that needs to filled. We were selected because of our intimate involvement in his death. What should be more natural than the two of us procreate--to conceive an offspring to replace him."

"This is a bad dream," she muttered to herself.

"I would think this was a fantasy come true." As he moved to stand beside her, she stepped toward her door.

"Are you leaving or not." She watched as he stood there. "Then I am. Good-night." She turned and opened her closet. "And I shall not procreate with you. You are an arrogant, self-conceited, unprincipled, ill-mannered... boor." She grabbed her uniform and stepped into her sitting room. She changed, using the blanket as a cover. Blushing all the while. The blanket would probably not offer any cover from his prying eyes anyway. She stormed out of her quarters. Now where to go. Chakotay's quarters were next door--that would be worse than staying, but for the opposite reason. That left sickbay.

"Captain, are you all right," Kes's voice said in her dream.

Janeway shifted with a soft grunt. She was dreaming that she was asleep on a biobed and very uncomfortable.

Someone shook her shoulder. "Captain?"

Janeway opened her eyes with a start and looked around. If she was in sickbay then... Then it hadn't been a dream. She groaned.

"Are you all right Captain?" Kes asked.

She shook her head to clear it. "I will be. What time is it?"

"Zero eight thirty," Kes answered.

"My god, I was suppose to be on the bridge an hour ago. I've got to go."

"Commander Chakotay is there. He was very concerned when we discovered you weren't in your quarters. What happened anyway?"

Janeway rubbed her forehead. "Q happened. He showed up in my bed and wouldn't leave." She had a headache. "Can I have some aspirin?"

"Sure, what did Q want?" Kes asked as she filled the hypospray.

"Me. He wants me to bear his child." She didn't bother to hide the distaste in her voice.

"Captain!" Kes frowned, omnipotent beings were strange. She had, had enough the first time she'd met one. "No!"

Kathryn tapped her combadge. "Janeway to bridge." She smiled as the Commander's voice responded.

"Captain, feeling better?"

"No, but I'll be there in about half an hour." She looked at Kes, "Thanks. I'll be going."

"Captain, eat something before going to the bridge."

"I don't think I can, I've lost my appetite. I'm going to return to my quarters first."

She warily entered her quarters. Q could be anywhere, anything. "Q? Are you here?" She almost sighed with relief when there was no response. She showered, dressed in a clean uniform, and put her hair up. She was now ready to almost believe it had been a nightmare.

Chakotay watched the Captain enter the bridge and take her seat. She looked like... Awful. "Captain, is everything all right?"

"Fine Commander." She didn't want to talk about what had happened--just in case it had been a dream. "Status report."

"All systems..." The ship started to shake.

"Captain, we've been overtaken by a high-energy plasma-wave. It wasn't on any of our sensors." Harry's voice was slightly edgy.

"He's correct, Captain," Tuvok calmly stated. "Shields are dropping rapidly, eighty percent, seventy percent. I've been able to stabilize them at sixty-five percent Captain."

"Tom, do we have control of the ship," she asked

"Barely Captain. I've got thrusters, I'm just able to keep control and keep the ship from flipping. Dampeners are weakening too. And I have no directional control."

Janeway tapped her combadge, she had a pretty good idea what was going on, but first. "B'Elanna?"

"Captain, I have no idea what happened. We've lost warp, and I'm shutting down all non-essential systems to keep the shields and life support going." There was an Klingon expletive. "The plasma conduits are overheating!"

The Captain frowned as she stood: she was tired and now furious. The anger was very audible as she quietly spoke. "Q? Where the hell are you? Show yourself!" Her volume rose slightly at the end.

"Your wish is my command, Madam Captain." He was sitting in her chair. "Your loyal minions await your command." He spread his hands to indicate the crew. "Hello to you too Commander," he nodded at the glaring Commander. "Madam Captain, have you reconsidered..."

"I've reconsidered nothing. I still want you the hell off my ship. And stop playing games. You are acting like a petulant little child who didn't get his way."

"Kathy, dear, I'm insulted. But as you wish." He snapped his fingers and the violent shaking stopped.

"The plasma wave has vanished." Harry said.

"Of course. What do your instruments say." Q snapped his fingers again, vanished to reappear next to Harry. He starred at the instruments. "Fascinating. This stuff really means something." He walked away.

Harry looked down at his display terminal, "Captain, all the data is scrambled--it's gibberish."

She turned and glared at Q. "Restore all the ship's systems to normal. AND LEAVE."

"Madam Captain, there's a certain unfinished business...."

"No."

The entire bridge crew was watching the Captain and Q with fearful fascination. No one else had any idea what the conversation was about. Chakotay figured Q was the reason she had been late and had spent the night in sickbay.

Q looked at Chakotay, "Commander, is she always so decisive? I see she is. It's one of the things I love about her. Auf wiedersehn Madam Captain. I shall return--soon." With a snap, he was gone.

She buried her face in her hands. God, what a mess.

Chakotay spoke, "Harry?"

"Commander, all systems are back to normal."

"Very good. Keep the ship at yellow alert until further notice. Captain..."

She waved a hand to cut him off. "You have the bridge, I'll be in my ready room."

"Captain's personal log, stardate 50202. It's been one hellish day. The bastard Q wants me to procreate with him. God what a thought. The damn man--whatever--is selfish, arrogant, and a real pig. Even if he was my only choice, I wouldn't." She stopped. "Delete log." She was not going to record for posterity all those expletives. She may say them (occasionally), think them (more often), but she was sure as hell not going to have Starfleet Command hear them.

She looked at her unfinished dinner. Even without leola root, she couldn't bring herself to eat one of Neelix's meals. For that matter, she probably wouldn't be able to eat anything--even a chocolate mousse torte from Chez Panache.

She wondered how the Captain of the Enterprise had dealt with Q. He had visited Picard's ship how many times. A superior morality. B.S. Q's proposition was... was amoral. She reached for a cup and started to throw it against the wall, but stopped. "Kathryn, you're letting him get to you. Calm down." She sat on her couch, and tried to meditate, using the techniques Tuvok had taught. "See the inner light..."

She jumped when her doorchime rang. "Enter."

"Captain, I stopped by to see if everything was all right?"

She sighed with relief when she saw her First Officer. She should have known. Q didn't need to ring a doorchime.

"No, everything is not all right. The man is menace... I'm sorry, it's not your fault he's here." She paused.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

She grimaced, "Not really." Again she paused, he started to turn to leave. "Commander. Chakotay, would you like some tea--I have a secret supply of real tea I've been saving."

"Tea would be fine, Captain." He watched her as she walked from the couch to her teapot. He'd never seen her so wound up. He noticed the partially eaten dinner. "Have you eaten anything today?" He was worried about her.

"Some, not much." She handed him a cup. "I haven't been very hungry." They both sat on her couch.

"So I noticed." There was long, uncomfortable pause. "If you'd rather I left," he said. He didn't want to leave, but it was obvious she didn't want to talk about whatever had happened.

"No. Please stay. Q wants to..." There was no easy way to say this--especially to the man sitting next to her. "He wants... When the other Q committed suicide, it created some sort of hole. The continuum has sent Q to... to..." She took a deep breath and looked at him. His dark eyes offered comfort and... (She didn't have time to think of the other) She spoke fast. "Q is supposed to procreate with me to replace the deceased." She saw his face register shock and horror. "This morning was his reaction to my refusal." She stood and started to pace. "I find the whole thing repulsive--but if he keeps harassing Voyager. He could easily destroy the ship."

"You aren't seriously considering..." He didn't, couldn't finish.

"No, of course not. It's just... I don't know." She looked at him. "I think he wants my co-operation. I don't think he will physically force himself on me." She was shaken, but she found comfort in talking to a friend. She smiled half-heartedly at her First Officer. He smiled back.

"Have a seat: you need to settle down. We don't have anyway of replicating you a new carpet if you wear out this one."

She laughed slightly.

"That's better." He patted the couch beside him.

She didn't sit, but she did stop pacing. She moved to look out her window. She was still agitated, but talking with a friend helped. "Me, he wants me to have his child. I never considered a family. That didn't have any place in my plans and goals." She stared at the stars for several seconds. She did occasionally wonder... "Do you have any regrets?" She asked.

"Anybody who doesn't is either very young or a liar." He was uncertain where this conversation was going.

"Do you regret leaving Starfleet?"

"Not really." He did sometimes wonder if he would have met her if he had remained. "I left Starfleet when staying would have meant violating my principles. There were too many broken promises and deaths. And you?"

She smiled. "Of course." After a brief hesitation, she continued. "I sometimes think of what I gave up, when I left Stellar Sciences. Command doesn't give one much time for a private life, especially when one is Captain. I sometimes wonder how my life would have been different if I had stayed in Stellar Sciences."

"You wouldn't be here in the middle of no where."

"I'd be researching some anomalous black hole on the edge of the galaxy." She smiled slightly. "Being here, strangely, isn't one of my regrets. I mean, yes I'd like to get home, find some place we could get Voyager repaired and overhauled, enjoy real food. But this is the adventure of a life-time." Literally, she added mentally. "I've always wanted to be among the first to see a new place, meet a new people."

He grinned. "To boldly go..."

"Mmhuh. Would you have taken your ship into the badlands that day if???"

He shrugged. "Yes. But I would have left Seska behind."

She nodded her head. "What was life like in the Maquis?"

"Long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of shear terror." He glanced at her. "Very transitory. One very rarely became close to anyone. People drifted through--they might stay a couple of days or weeks. Very few stayed in a cell more than a month. Those who stayed longer became members of the general staff. We never stayed in any one place more than a few weeks. For eight years I just wandered." He looked in his teacup. "Voyager is the first place I've been able to call home for an even longer time."

She watched him stare at his cup. "And your family?"

"After our father was killed, I lost contact with my brothers. I'd see them occasionally. I didn't even know I had been an uncle for two years until three weeks before coming to the delta-quadrant." He stopped and looked at her. Even during their four months on New Earth, they had never talked about their pasts and families. "And your family?"

"Whenever I was home, I would try to see both my mom and sister. I'd been so busy with Voyager, that my last trip to Earth I didn't get a chance."

"And Mark?" He'd wanted to know more about the other man in her life, but...

"Mark?" She looked at the stars. "We'd been together for a long time. He was always supportive of me, willing to give up his wish for a family, for my goal to make Admiral. When we started this odyssey, he was my motivation to get home. And one day..." She was speaking to the stars, not him. "...I was talking to Kes, after that transporter accident. We were talking about the loss of loved ones and I realized afterwards that... that it was time for me to let go. That I had already let go." He'd become her excuse to avoid dealing with the fact that for two years she'd been falling in love with her second-in-command. Mark had been so safe and reliable. Chakotay was definitely not safe, even Starfleet had considered him dangerous.

Dangerous--Q.

She sighed and turned back to Chakotay. "Well at least I had a few minutes today, when I wasn't thinking about Q."

"Pleased I could help." She did seem a little more relaxed.

She frowned suddenly. "After I left the bridge, what did the crew say about... everything?"

"Some of it is unrepeatable."

"I can imagine."

"Mostly they think it has something to do with the suicide. Revenge, a prank, something like that. I don't think anybody has even come close to guessing his real reason. I would have thought it wasn't necessary or possible."

She shrugged, "Who knows, they're Q. The reports from the Enterprise made for fantastic reading--it was almost science fiction. Those reports now seem tame." She finally moved over to the couch and sat down. Thinking about Q had caused her to tense up again.

Chakotay pulled his knees under him and faced toward her. Placing his hands on her shoulders he turned her so her back was toward him and gently started to massage her shoulders. He tried to keep his mind a blank, to avoid thinking about another massage and what had almost happened. He felt her start to relax. She moaned quietly. That was all it took, he stopped. "I should go," he whispered, reluctantly removing his hands from her shoulders. She turned to look at him. She was so close.

Kathryn felt her own pulse increase as she looked into his eyes. "I think so too." Neither moved for several seconds. She reached up to touch his tattoo, but he took her hand and held it. Finally, they both leaned toward each other for a quick kiss, then he left.

Tom Paris looked at the shot he had set up. Then he walked around the pool table to analyze it from another direction. Satisfied he returned to his original position placed his cue stick, drew it back...

"Damn, I did it!" He exclaimed. Sandrine's was empty, the others had left about half-an-hour ago.

"Hah," a voice said.

Tom twirled around. "Q."

"At your service. Nice shot."

"Thanks, are you here to annoy me too?"

"Monsieur Paris, such a lovely city don't you think. Never mind. I need your help."

"My help? I thought you guys were omnipotent."

Q smiled. "We are, but I still need your help. I can make it worth your while."

"I'm sure you can. But maybe..."

"A sure bet. You run a betting pool. How about I guarantee something will or won't happen."

"I run a clean game. If you will excuse me." He moved to set the balls up for another difficult shot. He dropped his cue stick as it turned into a snake. Just as quickly it was a cue stick again. "What do you need?" Tom asked cautiously.

"I'd like information on courting human women."

"No problem. Computer activate characters Sandrine and Ricki." The two holographic prostitutes appeared. "Ladies, this man would like help in learning how to court a woman."

"Monsieur, you have cum to ze right spot. We will teach you everyzing we know." Sandrine wrapped her arms around Q.

He pulled away. "This is not what I meant. Delete characters. I think that is the phrase." It was, the two women disappeared. "I am interested in courting a particular lady."

"Oh." Tom lifted an eyebrow. He looked at Q critically. "And what am I supposed to teach you?"

Q almost snapped his fingers but reconsidered turning Tom into a peacock. "There's a lady I'm interested in, I'd like her to return the interest."

"Start by being honest with her. Tell her you're interested. Compliment her. Bring her flowers and other trinkets. Computer activate character Ricki. Don't worry, she won't drape herself all over you."

"Tommy," she said. "It's been a while."

"Ricki, Q here needs a flirting lesson."

"Q, what an unusual name. Are you from around here?" She turned her attention toward Q.

"Flirt. She's good at it. You know, small talk." He could see that Q hadn't grasped the idea. "Ricki, flirt with me."

"Oh, Tommy you know I like to flirt with you. You're so cute when you are in this sort of mood. So what happened to you today."

"Not much, Ricki... Use her name," he added as an aside to Q. "Just an interesting anomaly. What fascinating things happened to you?"

"Nothing, except some jerk tried to hit Ramon with a cue stick."

"Freeze character. See it's not difficult. You want to try?"

Q shook his head. "Somehow I don't see Kathy as the flirting type. She's much too dignified."

Tom looked at him strangely and laughed grimly. No wonder the Captain had been so upset. "I doubt you will have much success. I don't think she can even tolerate you. Anyway you have some pretty stiff competition."

"Not that stiff. Will you help me?"

"Sure." For self-preservation anyway. "First thing. Antagonizing the Captain really will get you no where. She will stand her ground. You have to be patient with her." Tom grinned. Very patient--the Commander had been patient for two years now. "Don't overdo the compliments either. She's a scientist--astronomy I think. Talk with her about science. Supernovas and such. You must know a lot about that kind of stuff." Q nodded, so Tom continued. "I don't think you stand a chance in hell, if you want my honest opinion. She and the...."

"Thank-you Lieutenant. I will give your suggestions a try." He snapped his fingers and vanished in a beam of light.

"How rude." Tom looked at the pool stick on the ground where he had dropped it. "Computer end program."

Kathryn Janeway continued to sit after her First Officer had left, confusion and anger overwhelming her. Anger at Q for upsetting her so much; anger at herself for admitting more than she'd ever intended; and anger at Chakotay for loving her. And confusion in general--even 24 hours after Q had shown up in her bed, she had no idea what was happening. It felt beyond her control, and she didn't like that. Captain Janeway prided herself on being in control.

She glanced at the picture sitting on the small table by the couch. "Well, I suppose Mark, we both knew this was coming. Be happy. Remember me." She picked it up, funny how the moment didn't seem sad, but liberating.

"Lost in thought my dear," an unfortunately familiar voice said behind her.

"Can't you use the door like everybody else."

Q shrugged his shoulders. "You look lovely tonight, Kathy... Kathryn."

"Go away, and leave me and my ship alone." She was tired, but she was still angry."

"Being with you, is when I'm happiest, why should I want to leave."

She must be too tired, she thought. He actually sounded funny. She giggled, but quickly controlled it. No point in encouraging him.

"My love smiles." This wasn't going like how he expected. She was laughing. "You're not suppose to be laughing!" He almost snapped his fingers, but thought better of it. He noticed the picture she was holding. "Ahh, the dogsitter. How is bonny Mark today? No, you wouldn't know would you. It's about time you decided to give him up. I always knew you would come around."

"I have done no such thing. Go away, please."

"Kathryn," if one thing didn't work, try another. "Be the mother of my child, and I'll send this ship home. With a quick snap of my fingers and you'd be home. Though I'm not sure you--personally--would recognize it."

Her fury was quite audible. "You are, you all are, corrupt and amoral. What gives you the right to... And don't tell me Moral Superiority. I've not seen any sign of that--I've not even read about any Moral Superiority. Go away. Or better yet, find a pig to mate with."

Q looked at her, "Madam Captain, I could change you into that pig... If I so desired. Lucky for you, I don't." He moved to sit beside her. "Kathy, you're a scientist." She nodded. "A scientist does not make a decision without having all the facts presented to her?" She nodded again. "You are working without all the facts. Come with me, and I'll show you what life with me would be like. I can show you things scientists only dream of."

She looked at him puzzled. "What do you mean?" She grimaced as he took her hand in his.

"Have you ever seen a DNA molecule. I don't mean in a test tube, but at the molecular level--seen how guanine and adenine interact. The actual process of mitosis. Have you ever wondered at the strength of the hydrogen bonds that hold the two strands together. I can show you that, and more. Science at a level no one has ever seen, people dream of this. You can live it." She looked interested, but wary. "Come with me, if at the end of the trip you haven't changed your mind, I'll leave. I'll try to convince the continuum to let me find someone else to procreate with."

"You will?"

"Q's honor. Yes, Kathryn I will go. But should you change your mind..."

"Let me tell my..." She finished her sentence while looking at a long-complicated chain of beads. "...crew where I'll... What is this?"

"DNA. Don't worry about the electrons, they're the things whizzing around our us."

"DNA? Whose?"

"Don't worry, no harm will come to the cell because we are here. Look around."

"This is incredible." She moved over toward the molecule and started to examine it. "Absolutely incredible. She reached out to touch it. The molecules shifted as she reached for them. She looked both directions--it went on forever.

Commander Chakotay looked up. She had been late again. Just as well. He hadn't slept well after leaving her quarters. He wasn't sure if he could look at her, let alone work with her, after last night. He hadn't planned on kissing her.

He felt Tuvok's eyes on him as the Vulcan entered the bridge. Chakotay returned the look. "Lieutenant?" He'd sent Tuvok to check on her.

"Commander, may I see you in the ready room."

"Yes," he looked at Tuvok. The Vulcan's demeanor didn't reveal anything, but his actions sure did. Even the others were watching them with questioning looks.

"Lieutenant?" Chakotay asked him after the doors swished closed, there was definitely something wrong.

"Commander, it's Captain Janeway. She's not aboard the ship."

"Damn. It's Q. He's taken her."

Tuvok raised an eyebrow. "It is unfortunately a logical reason. I've checked her quarters. After you left, she was apparently alone for about twenty-three minutes before she disappeared."

Chakotay looked at him quickly, no way of knowing just how much the Vulcan knew or guessed. "Did she tell you anything about Q's visit?"

"No, she did not. I expect she told you though."

"The continuum apparently want Q and her to... to procreate."

"Fascinating. To replace the one who committed suicide. Q did say that the loss of a Q might have serious consequences on the continuum."

Damn-cold logic, Chakotay thought. "She doesn't want to."

"No, she wouldn't. Commander." There wasn't much one could do against an omnipotent being. "Commander, you're acting Captain until she returns."

At least the Vulcan was being optimistic. "Keep the ship at yellow alert. And scan the area." For what he didn't know, but it beat doing nothing.

"Very good, Commander." Tuvok turned and exited.

Chakotay stood there a few more seconds. He kicked the chair as he walked out.

Q leaned against a ribosome. "So what do you think?"

"Fascinating. And it is actually undergoing mitosis."

He smiled. "Look--there's a spindle fiber." He snapped his fingers and their observation post changed. They were outside the cell. Q watched Kathryn with interest. She was absolutely delighted by the sights she was being shown. He quietly waited a few more seconds for the cell to complete its division. He smiled. "Are you ready? I have a few more things to show you." He snapped his fingers again and they found themselves on a small rock in the middle of an area of space that she was completely unfamiliar with.

"Where are we?" She asked looking at the unfamiliar stars.

"Where no human has ever been before. Welcome to the Andromeda Galaxy. Or do you prefer M31?"

"Really? This is incredible. You can really leave the Milky Way and travel the universe?"

He stood behind her and whispered, "And so can you--if you agree..."

Without looking at him, she continued to look at the alien stars as she said, "No."

He shrugged, "I'm not done yet."

"Is there life in this galaxy?"

"Oui. And just as arrogant as you humans. Listen."

In the distance was a low hum.

"What's that?"

"One of their ships. It's coming our way. Would you like to have some fun?" He smiled as he thought of what torments he could put this ship through.

A large triangular ship flew over. It was maybe a little larger than Voyager, she noted. It was also heavily armored. She looked at Q, he looked as if he was about to... "Leave them alone."

"So decisive. Well all right." He snapped his fingers and she found herself on land--with blue skies surrounding her. There were sea birds all around.

"That's a frigate bird--I remember seeing pictures. Are we on Earth?" She asked. It was warm and humid, but she was too excited to notice.

"Si, you are on Earth."

"I don't know this place. It's enchanting. Can the animals see us?" The birds and the large tortoise she just noticed were apparently not paying any attention to them.

"No, they cannot see us. It would not do to have time continuum interrupted, now would it?"

"No, I guess not." She reached down to touch the tortoise, and then laughing, sat on its back. "So where are we?" She asked as she smoothed her uniform.

"But that would take all the fun out of it. You are about to witness an important discovery. But you humans are so slow to believe what you see. Over there--see." He pointed off into the distance. She could barely make out a couple of humans in the distance.

"Who are they?"

"Always asking questions, but if you insist..." Q snapped his fingers, they disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared near the two men wearing, what Janeway decided, was probably early nineteenth century clothing--she wasn't sure. One of the men looked very familiar. They were both young--not much older than Harry, about 23 or 25, though the older one might be 30. The familiar (and younger) one was dressed more for a walk around an English garden that exploring an uninhabited volcanic island. The other was in uniform--probably a naval uniform considering they were on an island. Not a very practical uniform either.

She watched, with fascination as the civilian poked among rocks, every so often putting something small in a bottle. "He's collecting bugs," she exclaimed, she could relate to doing that. Turning toward Q, she asked, "So who are they?"

Q shook his head and grinned.

The man in civilian clothes spoke, "Captain." Janeway started to respond, but quickly realized he was speaking to the other man.

"Yes, Mr. Darwin?" Responded Captain Robert FitzRoy of the H.M.S. Beagle.

"How long until we set sail?" He put another insect in a container.

"Tomorrow will be our last day here, then we set a course to Tahiti."

Charles Darwin nodded his head. He had not been able to persuade the Captain to stay longer.

"I am returning to my ship, I shall send the boat back for you in two hours."

"Captain." Darwin watched Captain FitzRoy leave and returned to his collecting.

She looked around. They were near the shore, and for the first time she noticed the sailing ship in the bay. It seemed small; and against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean it was positively tiny. The island itself initially looked barren and flat. It was decidedly volcanic, they were standing on a lava flow. A second glance revealed that there were plants and animals--and there were the volcanoes. Not very high, but there. And in the distance, the island seemed to have some dense scrubby vegetation.

"So what do you think?" Q asked her.

She looked at him. "So this the Galapagos, like it was in 1800 and something. It's remarkable. And so different from the pictures I've seen."

"And here, this man had the germs of an idea. Let me show you what the great exploring ships of the past were like."

She looked at the man writing his notes in the very dim light from a small oil lamp. Kathryn laughed quietly. We sure take things for granted, like light.

As she listened to the scratching of his pen, she started to look at his collection of stuffed birds--particularly the birds that would become known as Darwin's finches.

"Fool," she whispered. Even though she knew no one could hear her, something about the small, dark, and extremely cramped quarters compelled her to keep her voice low. She picked up a specimen and read the label. "Collected Galapagos Islands. Which Island? Think, which island did you find them on. It will be important!" She stood behind the man, wanting to shout at him.

Charles Darwin heard not a word. He continued scribbling in his log book.

"Sir," a voice said from behind them. Both Kathryn and Darwin jumped. "Sir, the Captain would like you to join him for dinner at three bells."

"Tell him I would be honored."

"Sir." The young seaman left.

"Now, why did I agree. Most disagreeable man." He returned to his writing.

Q stepped out from the shadows. "It's time, my dear. Now you see why I find you humans so fascinating and so fallible. He won't publish what he finds here for twenty-five years. And even then it will because someone else almost beats him to it." He took her hand and they disappeared.

They reappeared on the hull of Voyager. She was home--almost.

"You don't get a chance to see the stars like this very often?" He asked her.

"No." She took a deep breath. "It was a fascinating, very interesting trip. It was... It was incredible. But my original answer stands. No."

"Oh." He looked at her. "Don't tell me you are still pining away for that dogsitter, what's his name--Mark. Still trying to be pure and faithful for him?" She looked up at him, he frowned. Her reaction wasn't quite what he had expected. "He's married."

"Married? I'm glad he decided to continue with his life." She shrugged her shoulders.

"His wife is 3 months pregnant."

"I knew he wanted children." She replied nonchalantly.

Q looked at her, then smiled. "Kathy dear, I should have known. There's someone else isn't there--don't deny it. On this very ship. Only Captains are suppose to be distant, lonely, remote. Oh, Kathy, we could have a great time. Please come with me."

"No. My responsibility is to this ship and crew."

He looked at her sadly, "Well Kathy, I promised, but that promise will not please the continuum."

She looked startled. "Will they send..."

"Quite possibly, but so be it." He snapped his fingers one last time, as he whispered. "Au revoir mon capitaine. I cannot protect you from the continuum, I hope you enjoy my solution."

For Commander Chakotay, it had been a terrible two days. Not knowing where she was, what was happening, and having to pretend to not be as miserable as he felt. Tom was watching him, and Tuvok seemed concerned to.

He'd been asleep for less than an hour, when he woke from a most peculiar dream. Maybe it was still a dream, he thought as rolled over and found himself staring at the back of his sleeping Captain.

Somehow this all connected with Q. Or maybe it was a dream. If it was--he didn't want to spoil it--so he just stared at her, keeping still so as to not wake her. Wanting her to roll over, look at him... Just wanting her. Finally he took a strand of her hair in his hand and held it. Only one other time had he touched it. Twice, if he included the time he had used a lock of her hair for fire-starter. Unbeknownst to her, or anybody else, he had taken a few strands from that lock. It was now part of his medicine bundle.

She was wearing her coral gown, her hair was loose. When he had left her, she'd still been in uniform--he wondered where she had been for those 2 days.

This was either his wildest dream come true, or the beginning of a 70 year nightmare.

She stirred and he froze. He decided he was awake.

The last thing Kathryn Janeway remembered was Q saying he would leave, and something about a solution. She was glad he was gone; and that he had returned her to her bed.

Except something was not right. The blankets were wrong, the orientation of the bed to the window... Slowly reality sank in. She also became aware of another presence in the bed, his hand holding her hair, his quiet, uneven breathing, and the knowledge that all she had to do was look at him.

She knew she had to say something. But what. Hi, nice to be back. The longer neither said anything, the more awkward the situation would be. She should just look at him quickly and say, Hi, Q is still playing jokes. Laugh and leave. Except...

Except she didn't want to leave.

He moved his hand to her shoulder and she tensed; and felt herself blush. Just lying next to him was overwhelming. She knew full well what would happen if she rolled over.

Chakotay gently slid his hand down her arm. When she didn't leap out of his bed, he moved closer. He buried his face in her auburn hair, just reveling in being this close. His lips brushed her neck and he heard her softly moan. He moved slightly so that he could look at her.

She rolled over to face him, her blue eyes focused on his.

Slowly he shifted his position so that he could entwine her in his arms and pull her close. Her arms wrapped around him and their lips met.

Lieutenant Tuvok was sitting in the Captain's chair when the computer signaled him that Captain Janeway had returned to the ship. He started to tap his combadge as he continued to read the information the computer sent. He raised an eyebrow--not that he was surprised. He'd suspected that this would eventually occur. Instead of contacting her, he sent a message to her computer.

Tom Paris was almost late for his duty shift. The ship hadn't been the same without the Captain. When Tuvok had announced that the Captain had disappeared--Tom figured that Q had taken her. He'd felt rather guilty, except somehow he didn't think that Q could successfully woo her. He didn't feel particularly enthusiastic as he stepped onto the bridge.

"Good morning Mr. Paris," a familiar voice said.

"Captain? Good morning." Tom smiled broadly. She didn't look like it had been a terrible ordeal--just a little tired. He was dying to know what happened with Q, all the sordid little details. He also knew that at best they would only learn a small amount. He sat down at the conn and glanced over the controls. Everything was nominal.