Disclaimer: I still don't Andromeda or Star Trek Voyager.

Thank you all for your kind reviews. Here's another chapter.

Chapter 20

Onboard Voyager Tom Paris and B'Elanna had just finished watching a movie and were walking towards their quarters. As Paris followed his wife into their quarters he decided it was time to press his case for Torres moving back into their quarters.

"B'Elanna, how would you feel about moving back in here?" he asked. "I think it's time you allow me to prove I can be trusted."

Torres inwardly sighed as she sat down on their bunk. "I knew that's why you asked me here Tom. You I was reacting instinctively to you at first without even thinking. I guess the human side of me was afraid of being attacked again. I'm not afraid like that now."

"Then what are you afraid of?" Paris asked as he sat down next her.

Torres ran a hand through her dark hair, "I'm afraid that if you tried anything I would probably end up killing you and I don't want that to happen."

Paris's face showed his befuddlement. "You mean you've gone from being afraid of me to being afraid for me?"

"Yes. But I've given it some thought after speaking with The Doctor and I'm willing try to spend the night here. The Doctor has assured me you are no longer under the influence of Flash and therefore aren't likely to attack me," Torres announced, taking her husband's hand in hers.

Paris felt his wife's grip tighten around his hand. "I'm glad you listened to The Doctor. I missed you not being here at night you know."

Torres smiled at her husband. "I missed you too. Just remember to be careful not to startle me in the middle of the night."

"I don't think that's going to be a problem," Paris assured.

Torres called for the light to turn off. "Good night sweetheart."

Paris felt Torres' lips press against his, cutting off any reply. Paris responded by placing his free hand behind Torres' and pulled her head closer. The couple kept up the embrace until Paris pulled his head back and sighed.

"This is definitely my idea of making up," Paris remarked with a grin.

"Tom you talk too much sometimes," Torres remarked as she resumed kissing her husband.

When Harper and Q2 had finished sorting out the items they scavenged Harper stood up and grabbed his back. Sitting on the ground had made his back ache. "Ya know kid I'm getting too old for sitting on concrete like this. How about we go for another walk?"

Q2 smiled eager to explore more of Earth in spite of himself. Earth may be wretched and dangerous, but it also held excitement. "Sounds good, as long as we don't run into any Ubers or Magog."

Harper noticed the teenager's eagerness. "Now don't tell me you're starting to enjoy your punishment?"

"I'm afraid to admit as scary as this has all been it's also been invigorating. This has been the first time since my stay on Voyager that I actually don't feel bored. I know that sounds shallow," Q2 quietly admitted. "Believe me I am concerned for our welfare I'm just not used to experiencing these kinds of emotions."

"I suppose this is really different for you being vulnerable like this," Harper stated as he picked up a backpack and slung it over his shoulders. "So how are you handling it? I mean for real?

"Q2 shrugged his shoulders as he walked alongside the engineer. "I'm not really sure. It's all so new to me. I'm overwhelmed and I'm not sure how I feel or what I should feel."

Harper put an arm around Q2's shoulder. "You seem like a bright kid so I'm sure you'll sort it all out. Just do what I tell you while we're here and you'll be fine."

The teenager looked up at the Earther with a serious expression. "I hope so. How did you get used to living like this Harper?"

"I don't know that I ever got used to it. Nobody does. I just adapted in order to survive," Harper explained as they stepped out of the sewer system.

Q2's face took on a thoughtful expression as he began to comprehend. "Adapting for survival. If I had my Q Continuum powers I would be observing to see just how much you humans would adapt. But how is it that some humans are able to adapt and survive while others don't?"

"That my friend is something I don't think that even the Q Continuum will figure out," Harper answered. "But if it keeps you from being bored I don't see any reason to stop you from observing us just the same. Now grab that generator behind you and we'll get going."

Harper had business to attend to. It was getting close to dusk as Harper and Q2 stopped at a street corner. Harper had been able to find a possible buyer for a small generator he and Q2 picked up from the garbage dump. Harper put out the word that he had a fixed up generator he was looking to sell. A small boy approached Harper and Q2 and gave Harper the location of the buyer, who wished to remain anonymous.

Harper and Q2 followed the directions written in English on a small scrap of paper. Q2 was quiet and thoughtful as they passed kludges milling about begging for food. Harper wondered if the teen was coming down with something. It would be surprising since the Q2 was placed in a human body on a planet that was a breeding ground for diseases. Harper eyes surreptitiously scanned Q2's complexion to see if the kid looked ill. The engineer was secretly relieved when Q2's skin tone looked healthy.

Harper turned his attention back to their mission as they entered an alleyway. Q2 looked around, trying to spot their buyer with no luck. "I don't see anybody here yet. Do you think it's just a prank?"

Harper looked over at the teenager and shrugged his shoulders. "It's probably legit, but be on guard just the same."

"Don't turn around?" a muffled voice ordered from behind Harper and Q2.

Harper and Q2 set the generator down on the ground and put their hands up in the air. "You had better be Nighthawk."

"That's me," the voice confirmed. "I see you got the generator. Take 10 steps forward but don't turn around."

The two visitors complied with the instructions and waited while Nighthawk pulled the generator from a sack and inspected it. "I have to admit it actually looks in decent shape; not like usual stuff people try to pass off on me."

"Hey I only sell quality stuff," Harper boasted.

"Well I didn't say it was quality, just in decent shape," Nighthawk countered.

Harper knew the generator was fixed up in better condition than anybody else could have done and this Nighthawk character knew it. The engineer also knew that was how the game was played. A buyer couldn't appear too enthusiastic or the price would go up. "If you're in the market for anything else I got more good stuff where that came from."

Nighthawk considered the offer for a moment before replying, "Is all of your stuff in this the same kind of shape as this generator?"

"Of course it is. I'm no one hit wonder." Harper retorted.

Nighthawk tossed a small bag of food and beverage at Harper's feet. "Alright, turn around slowly so I can get a good look at you two."

Harper and Q2 did as instructed, finding themselves face to face with hooded figure. Q2 failed to hide his amused expression at seeing the hooded Nighthawk.

"Something funny kid?" Nighthawk asked with a menacing glare.

Harper decided to intervene and steer the conversation back on topic before Q2 got hurt. "Do you need anything else? Just let me know what you need and if I don't already have it I can get it for you."

Harper's tactic worked as Nighthawk turned his attention away from Q2. "I'll pay a good price for some CDs. Can you get me some? I'm not picky on the type of music."

Harper laughed out loud. "And I thought you were gonna ask for something difficult. We'll be back here in tomorrow at the same Bat Time, same Bat Channel."

"Fine, I'll be here. And don't think of double-crossing me by trying to bring in the Ubers or you won't be around to see the next sunrise," Nighthawk threatened.

"Aw I wouldn't think of setting the Ubers on you Nighthawk. Right now you're my best customer," Harper replied as he picked up the food,

Q2 picked up the cans of beverage studied them with a wary eye. "How do we know this stuff is good?"

Nighthawk glared at the teenager as he lit a cigar. "You're the ones that need the food, not me. If you don't like the food I'll just take it back and you both can starve."

Harper quickly attempted to save the deal. "Hey the kid didn't mean anything by that Nighthawk. He was just joking."

"Okay, take your stuff and get outa here before the Ubers come nosing around," Nighthawk ordered before quietly slipping away down the alley.

Harper pulled two cans of food from the sack and smiled at Q2. "I told you we'd get some food."

Q2 chuckled at the engineer. "So you did Harper. I suppose we should be leaving too."

"Yup, we'll stash this stuff and get back to the Hall of Records," Harper agreed. "We don't want the Ubers getting suspicious so we'll hide the food and sodas in our clothes."

"I don't think we'll get all of this stuff in our clothes?" Q2 asked as he hid a box of crackers in his shirt.

Harper stuffed a can of peaches into his jacket saying, "What we can't fit in our clothes we'll leave here. Somebody will come along who will use it."

Harper and Q2 had their clothes full of as much food as they dared stuff into their clothes. The engineer was finally satisfied that they it didn't look obvious that there was food in their clothes and gave Q2 a pat on the back. "Okay, time to head back to home base."