Disclaimer: I don't own the ship, the characters, or anything at all.

Chapter 25 – Guests

Elizabeth sat very still, shocked by Q's reappearance – she hadn't expected to see him again.

"Q?" she said, quietly.

"Well, what are you going to do? Stay here or go back to your beloved earth?" he asked, grinning smugly.

Elizabeth looked at Chakotay, then at her half eaten plate of food, before looking Q straight in the eye.

"I don't know," she whispered.

"Ah Kathy, so good of you to join us," he said smirking as the captain walked through the doors.

Elizabeth spun around to see the captain stood just inside the doorway, fighting to keep her captains mask in place, her eyes portraying a small portion of the fear she felt. She was instantly on her guard when she saw Q.

"What are you doing here, Q?" she asked, harshly.

"Giving Elizabeth the chance to go back to earth," he said, watching the captain's face as she turned to face Elizabeth.

"Do you want to go?" she asked her, quietly.

"I don't know," Elizabeth said, feeling terribly guilty and unable to look the captain in the face – she looked so alone and pained.

"Can't you take Voyager back too, Q?" she asked, hopefully.

"No, I brought you here, I can only take you back," he said putting an end to all thoughts of having everything she wanted.

"I have a few friends with me to help you decide" Q said, grinning.

He clicked his fingers and Deanna Troi an Admiral Paris appeared just behind Q. they looked shocked and surprised as they took in their surroundings, and the people before them. Neither spoke.

Elizabeth didn't wait long before running over to them and throwing herself into their waiting arms. Q watched the reunion for a moment, before realising he had forgotten someone – Tom Paris. He clicked his fingers and a confused Tom appeared next to the captain. He starred at the scene in front of him then at the captain. She had gone deathly white, her eyes were full to the brim with tears, and she looked so alone and defeated.

The captain felt a comforting hand on her shoulder; she turned slightly to see Chakotay stood behind her, and Tom. Turning back she looked at the scene in front of her knowing she had already lost. She had let Elizabeth down, whereas the two people holding her daughter now hadn't, they had been there for her, helped her through her childhood. The captain looked away she couldn't cop with all of this, when she looked back again she found Admiral Paris stood in front of her. He pulled her into a quick embrace, knowing how she must be feeling; he whispered, " She will always be your daughter, Kathryn."

Admiral Paris let the captain go and turned to face his son, extending his arms towards Tom. Tom looked at him tears welling in his eyes; he glanced at Elizabeth who stood behind the Admiral with an arm around Deanna Troi. She merely nodded encouragingly, on that note Tom stepped forward into his fathers embrace.

"I'm proud of you son," the Admiral, said so all could here.

After a few moments Q spoke up, "You have 24 hours to make a decision," and with that he left. Elizabeth looked around slightly confused – she had expected Q to take the admiral and Deanna back to earth. Not that she didn't want them to stay.

Obviously they were also confused, "Q, you cant leave us here. I have a very important meeting tomorrow," Admiral Paris exclaimed, exasperated by the omnipotent being.

Elizabeth smiled; he hadn't changed at all, always work orientated.

"Why don't I show you to your quarters," Chakotay said, seeing that Kathryn needed some time to get used to this.

"What a good idea," Admiral Paris muttered, heading for the mess hall doors. Just as he was about to leave he turned around, "Kathryn, perhaps you could show me around Voyager this evening," he said. The captain nodded at him, as the small party consisting of Chakotay, Admiral Paris, Deanna and Elizabeth left.

The captain glanced at Tom before heading for the exit.

"Captain," Tom said, the captain stopped but didn't turn to face him.

"I think she'll stay," he said, reassuringly.

The captain wasn't so sure, "I hope so, Tom. I hope so," was all she could say. She left for the bridge, and Tom went to sickbay, both feeling the need to absorb themselves in their work.

-Fin-

Please review, I would love to hear how you think it's going to end will she stay or will she go?