The earth was soft and covered with grass. The trees surrounding them swayed in a gentle, albeit humid, breeze. It would be a wonderful place to die.

Q was walking in front of her, never letting her fall behind and insisting on keeping all forms of vegetation from hitting her. He'd even caught a drifting leaf before it landed on her head.

He held a branch up and waited until she was clear before he let it fall into the path once more. Kathryn casually let her eyes lock with the branch in his grasp. She froze and a soft gasp escaped her.

"Q, that branch is covered in needles -!"

He reacted faster than she was prepared, he let the branch go, grabbed onto her with one arm and with the other covered her mouth. They were now fifteen kilometers away from the branch.

Q let his arms drop around her waist and held her closer. Kathryn didn't back down as he bent his head to hers. Their foreheads pressed together she heard him inside once more.

"Dearest, it's best we communicate non verbally the remainder of our visit here."

Kathryn gave a nod and he slowly backed away. He stared at her a few moments, checking her over before he turned and began taking the lead once more.

"What was wrong with that tree? I never saw anything that dangerous the last time I was here."

"Someone is waiting for us, and they don't intend to make this easy."

Kathryn felt a shiver climb her back.

They trekked on, Kathryn following along with Q's ques. Every step he took with care, his head inclining as though he were listening for something.

She glanced at his hand a few minutes later and fought not to gasp. After everything they've been through she would probably never be used to seeing Q injured.

She reached for her left elbow and pulled with one swift tug. The sound of ripping fabric filled the space around them.

Q whirled around, his shoulders tensing and sweat beading at his forehead. Kathryn held up her hands, showing him that it was only her.

Q's shoulders lowered and his dilated eyes dimmed from pitch black to their normal brown. She felt her face fall slightly before she was able to contour it to a neutral. Q was on edge, and it was giving her chills.

She grabbed his hand and turned his palm up skywards. The bleeding had congealed, leaving just small weeping wounds and crusted blood. Kathryn wrapped her sleeve around his hand and tied it off at the base of his wrist.

"You'll be fine, but it's best to keep the wound wrapped up. The last thing we need is for you to get an infection."

Q seemed lost for words as he gazed at his hand. His brow furrowed as his eyes traveled the entirety of his hand.

"I'll agree it's not my best work, but it's better than nothing"

Kathryn felt a slight shock when he met her eyes. She hadn't meant for him to hear the last part. This link made it hard to have a personal moment.

"I assume you did an outstanding job, Kathy, you always do. I just got lost for a moment. My apologies, we will continue now."

Q marched forward and left Kathryn to catch up in more than one way.

"What were you lost in?"

Her overwhelming sense of curiosity was great for making small talk during delegations and first contact missions. However, on more than one occasion, it had gotten her into trouble.

Q froze again and whispered quietly, "In my pain."

Kathryn wanted to scoff, his wound had bled but it wasn't more than an abrasion. His nerves were intact, his muscles would be fine, he'd been distracted by a large paper cut.

Q breathed from his nose in a few short gusts and if Kathryn didn't know any better, it sounded as though he were hiding a quiet chuckle.

"You are correct, mon capitan, this is non life threatening. And yet it is exhilarating, nonetheless. It's been a long time since I've felt anything this strong."

Kathryn felt heat crawl up her neck and she knew it wasn't from the tropical environment. She cleared her throat and pulled out her tricorder.

She adjusted the frequency in hopes of locating Chakotay or Tuvok's cominicators. The waves on the screen fluctuated briefly. She saw a reading of the composites of the trees and the minerals in the earth. Then the screen went blank.

Kathryn blinked against the heat and her own sweat, she rubbed at her eyes but the screen remained empty. She tried recalibrating the mechanism but to no avail. Each beep was a resounding dead end.

"She'll have made sure that your equipment is rendered useless, darling."

Kathryn bristled at his words, she felt irritated at this day and the circumstances that brought them here. She shut the tricorder and shoved it back into its holster.

"Alright, then how are you going to track her, Q?"

"She wants us to find her, she's showing me the way much like a map. Don't worry, Kathy, we'll find your beloved."

She felt a twitch in her eye. Beloved?

"How do you do that?"

Q didn't pause his pursuit but he did turn his head to stare back at her, one eyebrow arching. She tried not to curse, this link was giving him information she didn't mean to share. She wished she could retract her last accidental question.

"Do what? "

It was too late to turn back now. He wouldn't let this go.

"Say so many ridiculous things in one sentence."

Q barked out a laugh

" I thought you knew, Kathy. I'm fluent in fool."

Kathryn couldn't help rolling her eyes.

They trudged on in silence for thirty more minutes. Nothing but the sound of the heat and the tall grass brushing against their ankles to help pass the time.

She had to think and then think again on just how they could conceivably attempt to fight lady Q. As much as her pride loathed to give in to defeat, there was no way she could fight this omnipotent being.

Her best course of action would be to focus on her crew and try not to get in the way between the two Q's.

This plan didn't bode well with her either. She remembered all too well how much help Q was in fighting against his own kind. In fact, if it hadn't been for her crew, Q would have been drawn and quartered.

She was deep in her own thoughts and walked right into Q's now very still back. She rubbed at her nose as she took a step back. A slight bruising to her ego and a rose coloring to her ears were her only marks, but it was what was in front of Q that now held her attention.

They were in the thickest jungle she'd ever encountered and yet here, right where they needed to continue, was a large clearing. There were no trees, no grass, not even a buzz to indicate an insect. It was barren of all life, and it went on for as far as she could see.

"This is where she is. Once we pass through this barrier, she'll be there. Waiting for us."

So it was a projection of some sort.

Kathryn nodded, telling Q and herself that she'd be ready for whatever was waiting. Q didn't seem as convinced as she was making herself. He looked her once over and then reached for his belt.

She hadn't realized he'd brought a phaser, but then again he probably hadn't. And as he took the weapon out another materialized in its place. Q logic, of course.

"Take this, Kathy, and no matter what happens, look after yourself first."

She grabbed the phaser and paused for a moment. She didn't know how but this machine was different from the weapon she'd been trained with. The feel was slightly off and when she turned it over she saw that Q had set the phaser to kill.

"What is this?" She pointed the weapon towards the ground, she wasn't sure she wanted it near her.

"You are one of very few humans who would know the difference between your weapon and this." Q smiled like a proud parent.

"This is a replication of one of your phasers, it fires like a phaser, it has all the same settings and configurations, it even makes the same ridiculous sounds as a phaser."

Q grabbed her shoulders and made sure to hold her eyes as he explained the last detail,

"This phaser is a Q weapon. Just like the ones you used when I last brought you to the Continuum."

Kathryn felt her spine tingle with the memories that flooded her. She placed the device in her side belt but still felt unsure. If this device were strong enough to kill a Q then..

"Then it could destroy this entire planet in one misguided push." He finished her thought and she bit down on the inside of her cheek. This was going to be hard, but if she could protect her crew then she would proceed.

Q began to step forward but paused. He turned his entire body around to face her and opened his mouth. He closed it. Then opened it once more, before closing it again.

"Q silenced? This must be a sign of some apocalypse." She tried her best to smile. Q snorted at her jest and then his eyes firmed, a hard assurity took over him and he strode forward.

She was still trying to process his movements and what he was trying to do as his mouth enveloped hers. Her eyes widened and her hand went to his shoulder. But she didn't push him away.

She should stop him. She should be reviled. She should be fuming. But instead, she felt comfort in his embrace. His arms wrapped around her, not in a confining, sensual sort of way, that most men she'd had encounters with were want to do. This was more like a hug, a warm embrace even.

She knew if she gave even an ounce of resistance, even thought about it, he would stop immediately. So why didn't she stop this?

When did he begin to feel so normal? Why did she feel like everything was going to be alright now? Was this a Q trick? But she hadn't felt this way all those years ago when he'd tried to mate with her. This wasn't a trick then. This was real.

The moment that clicked in her brain was the moment her motionless body burst into life. Her limp hand on his shoulder was now a fist clutching at the fabric of his shirt.

Her other hand rested on his cheek. She kissed him back, taking control over his messy first attempt. It was very obvious that Q had no real experience, so she would be gentle and patient, guiding him slowly.

When her brain finally warned her of the need for oxygen, she still remained close. Her palm still rested against his cheek but there was a wetness that flowed down his cheeks. She looked into his coffee brown eyes and knew they were hers.

She didn't need him to say the words out loud, but he needed to affirm that she knew. His voice was rough and deep when he whispered, not in her mind but projecting so the world around them would hear, "Kathryn Janeway, I love you."

And then he took her hand and together they walked through the unseen portal and stepped out to meet their fate together.

Hey all! I just wanted to say, again, how much I appreciate you guys. You've said so many nice things about this story and I really can't tell you how sweet it was of you guys to send well wishes after the passing of my family member, it wasn't easy, but time is the best healer.

I hope you are all doing well and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this latest update. I think this story it about wrapping up. we're heading into our climax now and the only thing left will be the falling action and resolution :)

Thanks for being so patient and incredibly kind!!