Humans. So stubborn. So determined to fix every little problem. I thought that young Kathryn would have taken care of the Borg bimbo by now, but Chuckles is still hauling Kathryn around like a favorite toy.

If the Continuum had not objected the first time, I would simply have turned Seven into a pillar of salt like I did Lot's wife. Too bad they didn't have French fries back then; a little of her would have tasted good on those. What? You do not think I know what they taste like? I was human for a brief time, remember?

I suppose that I could snap Seven into their path, but this time I need to be subtle... yes, subtle! You do not get to be omnipotent without learning some sense of discretion!

"Father, when are you gonna make Aunt Kathy happy?"

"Junior, sit down! You cannot just run amok and make these tiresome mortals behave how you want them to!"

"You don't think they're tiresome, Father."

Junior is taunting me. Perhaps I should do something to make him stop. A weeping, itchy rash, perhaps. Then again, he is my son. It would probably give him infinite amusement.

"You like them, Father! You keep going to talk to Captain Picard all the time, and you made Aunt Kathy my godmother; you even wanted her to be my mom!"

"Junior, go see your mother. She can find you some lesser life forms to torment; I am busy. Go. Now." My son sighs as he pops out. I love him, don't get me wrong, but he's annoying. He might have been less annoying and more entertaining if only Kathryn had accepted my little offer.

But I digress. All children grow up eventually. So will Kathryn. She just has to reach out and take what is hers. What? You think that it will be painful? I am insulted. This time, I will make her happy to repay my debt. Let us look at what is currently going on in the Delta Quadrant.

Chakotay rang the door chime and shifted Katie to his other arm. "Mine sad?" she asked, her forehead furrowed with concern.

Chakotay flashed her a smile. "No, I'm not sad, Katie. I just miss my best friend."

Katie threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Kadie here. You no miss friend."

Chakotay pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Thanks, Katie."

Before he could say anything more, a high, childish voice chirped, "Come," and the door opened. "Commander Chakotay!" Naomi said cheerfully. "Who's that?" she asked, pointing at Katie. "Since the Borg kids are gone, I'm the only kid on board, aren't I?"

"It's temporary," Chakotay said grudgingly. "Can I talk to your mom?"

Naomi smiled brightly. "Sure! Commander Chakotay, when you're done talking to Mommy, will you tell me a Coyote story?"

"We'll see, kiddo," Chakotay reached out with his free hand and messed up her hair.

"MOMMY!" Naomi yelled.

"What is it, Naomi?" Samantha came out of the head and looked at her daughter. "Commander! What can I do for you?" she asked. "Please, sit down."

Chakotay sat down on the couch, and shifted Katie into his lap. "Mine?" Katie said quietly.

"And who is this?" Samantha asked.

Chakotay sighed and rubbed Katie's back. "We're not exactly sure how it happened, and I haven't made any announcements yet, but somehow the Captain has been de-aged."

"You mean, that's--" Naomi took an involuntary step forward and a huge smile blossomed over her face. "Can I take her to my room to play?'

Katie looked up at Chakotay with her bottom lip stuck out in a pout. "Mine no go 'way," she pleaded.

"I'm not going anywhere, Katie," Chakotay promised. "Would you like to go with Naomi and play while her mommy and I talk."

"Mine be here?" she asked, seeming to consider his question.

"Of course, Katie," he answered.

"Okay, me go," she agreed as she slid off his lap.

Naomi offered Katie her hand. "C'mon, Katie," she said with a smile. "I'll introduce you to Flotter."

"Who dhad?" Katie asked as they left the room.

Chakotay smiled as he heard Naomi's response. "Samantha, B'Elanna said you might have some solutions for me about the Captain's care in the immediate future; she's currently too young to be left alone."

Samantha sat down in a chair nearby. "Have you talked to Ensign Celes?" she asked. "She used to volunteer a lot when Naomi was younger and she's good with kids. Seven might do it, too; she was good with the Borg kids. Katie could stay here tonight, too." Samantha smiled. "Naomi asked for a little sister for her birthday; it might be good for her to have one until we figure out how to reverse whatever happened to the Captain."

"I'll talk to them," Chakotay said. Privately, he thought that there was no way he'd talk to Seven about it. If she mentioned anything about the fact that they'd been on a few casual dates and the Captain happened to remember when she was her real age.... Well, it wasn't something that he'd want to have happen.

"Moooooommmmmmm!" Naomi called. "Katie has Flotter, and she won't give him back!" She ran back in the room, Katie trailing behind her, holding the disputed favorite toy.

"Mine," Katie insisted. "Nod Flodder, 'Koday."

Chakotay tried hard to suppress a grin. "She didn't have to share at this age," he murmured. Naomi had never been asked to share Flotter; it wasn't surprising that she was objecting now.

"You don't play with Flotter much anymore, Naomi," Sam pointed out. "What would it hurt to let Katie play with it for a while?"

"But Mommy, he's mine," she protested.

"And it will still be yours when we figure out how to make Katie old enough to become Captain Janeway again." Samantha said.

"All right," Naomi grumbled. She looked at Katie, and a huge smile spread over her face. "Can we fix Katie's hair? It's a mess, and I've got ribbons!" Without waiting for an answer, she ran into her bedroom and emerged a scant two minutes later with a hairbrush, ribbons, and ponytail holders clutched in her hands. She hurried over and handed them to her mom. "Please, Mom? Her hair is so pretty."

Samantha sighed and took the ribbons. "I guess dinner can wait for a few minutes," she said. "Katie, come here, please?"

Katie looked at Chakotay. At his encouraging nod, she went to Samantha Wildman. "Hi," she said, looking at the deck.

"Turn around and let me fix your hair, sweetie," Samantha ordered.

Katie looked at Chakotay again before she obeyed. He smiled as he watches Samantha brush her hair, then divide it in two and start to braid it. "Computer, what time is it?" he asked.

"The time is 18:45 hours," was the answer.

Chakotay frowned. He was supposed to be meeting Seven for dinner at 1900; it had been close to the end of Alpha shift when he had discovered their little problem, and most of the Senior staff would be either eating or on their way to dinner. He sighed, stood up, and headed towards the workstation. If he remembered correctly, two-year-olds didn't have much staying power, so Katie would be ready to sleep soon.

"Samantha, is it okay if I borrow this for a minute to send out a message?" he asked.

"Sure," was Samantha's abstracted answer as she bound off the end of one pigtail and tied a ribbon into a bow on the end.

"You've got pretty hair, Katie," Naomi said with a smile.

"Koday," Katie said, reaching out and walking towards him, only to be jerked back by the hair that Samantha was braiding. She started to cry. "Mine, want MINE." She dropped the toy on the floor, forgotten in her struggle to get to him.

Samantha leaned forward and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "It's okay, Katie. I'm almost done."

Chakotay hurriedly finished his message and got up. There'd be a Senior Staff meeting in two hours to see if they could figure out how to reverse whatever had happened and get their Captain back. "Katie, what's the matter?" he asked.

"OWIE!" she proclaimed. "Mine and Kadie go bye-bye. No more owie."

Chakotay dropped to his knees. "Katie, I promise, if you hold still for a few minutes, it'll be okay. Can you do that for me?"

Katie gave him a hesitant nod, tugging on her captured pigtail again. "Kadie hungy," she said. "Ice cream?" she asked hopefully.

"I did promise you that, didn't I?" Chakotay said. "After dinner."

"'Kay," she agreed.

Sam finished the second pigtail, bound it off, and tied the ribbon around it so that it matched the other side. "She looks beautiful, Mommy," Naomi said with a smile as she leaned down, picked up the bear, and hid it behind her back. "Doesn't she, Commander?"

Chakotay grinned, showing his dimples. "My younger sister used to wear her hair like that," he offered.

"Up, Mine," Katie said, holding out her arms.

Chakotay gathered the child to him and hugged her. "I've got plans for tonight," he commented wryly. "What am I going to do with you?"

Samantha glanced at Naomi. "We could take her to dinner with us, Commander; and I already offered to let her spend the night here."

Chakotay shot her a grateful look. "Thanks!" He released Katie, stood up, and started towards the door. "I'll be back to get you, Katie," he promised.

Katie's lip started to tremble and her eyes filled with tears. She ran forward, hurled herself at Chakotay and wrapped her arms and legs around his leg. "MINE 'KODAY NO GO!" she cried, then started to scream. "Kadie sday with 'Koday!" she sobbed.

A helpless feeling stole over him. Children weren't supposed to cry; they weren't allowed to cry! He picked her up and patted her back awkwardly. "Shaa, shaa," he murmured in her ear for the second time that day. As she began to quiet, he looked at Samantha. "Thanks for the offer, but I think she's going to have to come with me."

"Are you sure, Commander Chakotay?" Naomi asked. "I want her to stay and play for a while."

"Sorry, Naomi, but I think Katie might be scared; I'm the only person who's been with her since she de-aged, and she doesn't remember anybody. Thanks for the offer, Samantha." Without waiting for an answer, Chakotay left and headed for his quarters, still holding Katie, who was sobbing quietly into his shoulder. He was late, Seven would be waiting, and he still hadn't done anything about dinner.

Katie Janeway explored the quarters of her Koday happily. He had lots of interesting stuff in there; there were even pictures that looked a lot like Mommy. He was fussing with the machine in the wall, trying to tell it what was for dinner. She was hungry, and hoping for a hamburger and French fries. After all, he'd already said she could have ice cream. She looked up at him and smiled.

There was something about him that made her feel safe--even when he was doing something she hated, like washing all traces of snot and tears off her face. He was the only person in the strange place where she'd woken up that felt familiar. Something inside her said that he was hers, and he always had been. She stuck her thumb in her mouth, wandered over and tugged on his pant leg. "Kadie hungy," she said. "Wand fry."

Chakotay grinned. "So… you want French fries, Miss Janeway? I'm guessing you want a hamburger to go with them?"

Katie nodded vigorously. "Yesss," she said.

"As soon as my friend gets here, we'll eat, okay?"

Katie pouted. "Now?" she asked.

The chime on the door rang. "Almost," he answered. "Come in, Seven."

Katie eyed the person who came in the door mistrustfully. This Person was her to take what was hers. She let go of Chakotay's pant leg and crossed her arms over her chest. It would not be allowed. "Who dad, Mine?" she asked.

"Katie," Chakotay said. "This is Seven; she's my friend."

"Commander Chakotay, who is that?" Seven asked, her voice level.

"You got the memo about the Captain? This is Katie, and she's latched on to me."

Seven raised an eyebrow. "Can you not find someone to take care of her?" she asked. "I had plans for this evening. It is our third date. I believe that making out is now permitted." She leaned forward and put her hand on his arm.

"She starts crying--" Chakotay began.

"Tears are irrelevant." Seven said.

"She throws tantrums if I try and leave her…" Chakotay trailed off.

"Tantrums are also irrelevant." Seven intoned. "The Borg children did not throw them; she should not, either."

Katie leveled a glare at this new person. She didn't like the way Seven was touching Mine. She'd seen it at the play center. Somebody came up and started touching your toys just like that before they stole them. After a moments thought, she decided not to stand for it.

Katie kicked Seven in the shin, then punched her as hard as she could. "MINE 'KODAY. GO 'WAY!" she yelled, then sank her teeth into the woman's dangling hand. There were some metal bits on it that hurt, but Katie didn't care. Seven couldn't have her 'Koday.

Seven tried to move away, but simply pulled a struggling Katie with her. Katie kept hitting and kicking as hard as she could without relinquishing her teeth's grip on Seven's hand.

Chakotay dropped to his knees. "Katie, stop, now."

Katie let go, ran to Chakotay, and wrapped her little arms around him. "MINE." She repeated. "You go 'way. NOD YOURS."

Chakotay stood and gathered Katie to him. "Seven, perhaps this isn't the best time…" he glanced at her hand, which was still bleeding. "You should go have that looked at, while I have a talk with Miss Janeway here."

Seven shot a distasteful glance at Katie. Her little face was blotchy from her tantrum, and a small stream of snot was coming from her nose. "Acceptable. I do not think I like children; the Borg children never behaved as Captain Janeway does." She turned and left his quarters.

Chakotay took a deep breath and counted to ten. Her leaving kept him from reminding her that the Borg baby had, indeed, cried to make its wants and needs known; just like any other small child. He walked over to the couch, sat down and settled Katie in his lap. "Katie," he said softly. "That wasn't a nice thing to do to Seven."

"You MINE," Katie reiterated stubbornly. "You nod hers."

Chakotay sighed, pulled a tissue out of his pocket, wiped her nose, and tucked her under his chin. He rocked her gently until the tears stopped and the only noise to be heard was her soft breathing. He looked down to see that she was fast asleep.

"Cute, isn't she?"

Chakotay looked up and anger started to well up in him. "You did this to her! Change her back, Q!"

Q lounged in front of him, suspended in air. "Oh, I will eventually, Chuckles. You see, I don't like you much, but I owe dear Kathy--and she wants you. I just gave her a form in which she would express it."

"Change her back NOW, Q," Chakotay demanded.

"I'm doing you a favor, you know," Q smiled, and a shiver ran down Chakotay's back. "If you stuck with the Borg bitch, you'd either end up mad or her slave." Q yawned. "I grow weary of your mortal babbling. She will remember everything that occurred." With a flash, Q disappeared, and Chakotay ended up with a lapful of warm, sleeping, barely clothed woman.

Kathryn cracked open her eyes, surrounded by a scent that she knew as well as her favorite perfume--Chakotay. She snuggled closer to the source sleepily, hoping not to wake up this time. It was a heck of a dream she'd just had. "Kathryn?" she heard his voice call her name.

She sighed. "I don't wanna wake up," she muttered. She finished opening her eyes slowly as consciousness and memory returned. Her face turned bright red as she realized where she was, felt him underneath her, and discovered what she was barely wearing. Sure, the shorts and shirt she had on covered the essentials, but they were little better than a bra and panties.

"Chakotay?" she asked, looking up into his face. One long braid hit her back. She frowned as she pulled it forward. The pigtail reached her waist--she hadn't worn it that long since she was a teenager!

As he looked at her, his eyes darkened. "I'd better get you something better to wear," he said.

She got up and followed him into his bedroom, looking around curiously. She'd never been in there, but it was as sparsely decorated as the main room.

"Here," he said, handing her a pair of sweats and the old, worn shirt that she'd stolen on New Earth.

Kathryn looked at the clothes, then back up at him. "Chakotay? Did I just spend the afternoon as a two-year-old?"

"Um, yes," Chakotay admitted. "I'll fill you in on anything you don't remember after you change."

Kathryn nodded and hurried into the bathroom. She emerged a few minutes later and went into the living room and sat on the couch next to him. Unconsciously, she shifted slightly, leaning against him.

"What do you remember?" he asked.

She frowned. "Everything, I think. I even remember calling Tuvok a 'scary man' and hitting Seven," she paused for a moment. "I should apologize to them."

Chakotay brought his arm up around her. "Probably," he agreed. "Did you mean what you said to Seven?" he asked.

Kathryn was silent for a few minutes as she fought the internal battle between what she wanted to say and what she, as the Captain, was allowed to say. It took a few minutes, but she, as Kathryn, won. "Yes," she murmured. "I don't know how long getting home will take, and maybe you were right; the future might not happen... I can't give up now for that." She looked up at him. "Is it too late, Chakotay?" she asked. "Did I wait too long?"

Chakotay hesitated. "No," he admitted finally. "I love you; I think I always have."

"That's good," she said, laying her head on his chest. "Because I need you. Not just as my XO, not just as my best friend. I need you because I love you."

Chakotay leaned down and kissed her gently. Kathryn melted into the kiss; it was full of love and the promise of a new side to their relationship. She opened her mouth under his, inviting him to deepen the kiss. A few seconds later, they broke off the kiss, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Welcome home, Kathryn," he said softly, "welcome home."

The Beginning...

A/N: Well, hope you enjoyed my silly, innocent little story. See? If it weren't for a little not-nice language, it'd be rated G. It's been an interesting experiment to try writing some Voyager fic... I think I'll go back to my original stuff and killing off Clayton Webb from JAG; he needs it.

BF