Young Q absconds to earth to stay with his godmother. Janeway is absolutely suspicious, but...he is her godson, and she can't trust Q to help his son now can she?

Rated T, because Q, will eventually include Icheb/Q. Focus is on Janeway and Q. Most of the Voyager Crew and Naomi Wilder will make appearances.

Chapter 1: For the Love of Coffee

Captain Janeway would love to say she was surprised by this turn of events. Really, she'd have even given up a coffee ration for an iota or two of shock if they were still in the Delta Quadrant (just the one ration though).

Reality as it was, when she opened the door to her quarters to find Q Junior sitting on her couch, eyes already wide and ready to pout, Kathryn just sighed. She plopped herself beside her godson and rubbed her fingers into the sides of her forehead. A headache formed anyway.

Some of the manners she'd instilled while Q was under her care in the Delta Quadrant must have stayed with him because the immortal young man waited until she dropped her fingers. "Alright. Go."

"He's completely overbearing! And controlling!" Q jumped up to start pacing. Kathryn smiled as she watched him gesture out - it was a very human thing to do after all. As were his street clothes - no Starfleet uniform in sight. "I mean, what's the point of my exploring the infinite universe if HE makes all the decisions! We went to the same three systems over and over again and -"

Kathryn let the boy rant for a good long while - at least five minutes - before she cleared her throat. Q turned back to her with sunken shoulders and puckered lips. Even his curly hair looked a little slumped.

"Can't I stay with you for a while Aunt Kathy?"

Her eyebrows raised, "You want to stay with me?" She glanced around at her apartment.

It was larger than her quarters on Voyager, but it was still just the two bedrooms. The kitchen didn't even warrant its it's own room, just a few cabinets that ran along the wall beside the replicator. "You are aware I'm assigned to Starfleet Headquarters right now? No adventures. No space. There's very little excitement."

Q shrugged and slunk into the couch beside her. His eyes widened a fraction, "Please, Aunt Kathy? Anything's better than another trip to the Urus system." His lower lip stuck out, "I'll be good. I promise."

"I highly doubt that," Kathryn snorted, but she patted his cheek nonetheless. Q smiled at the gesture, leaned into it even. "You can stay." She sighed as he jumped up in exclamation.

Immortal Omniscient Being or not, the Young Q was essentially the same as any other teenager. He made a dramatic show of jumping up and down and talking a mile a minute about everything there was to do on earth.

Exactly like a teenager. That also meant he needed something to do while she worked or he'd drive her nuts for sure.

"If you'd like, I'm sure the Academy would let you sit in on a few classes while you're here." Q's head lulled and Kathryn smiled at him. "Think of it like diplomatic training, might come in handy someday."

Q grumbled out an agreement. "Yes, Aunt Kathy."

She stood then and gave him a quick tour of her apartment - mostly unnecessary as she was positive he'd already snooped around, but it gave her a chance to lay some ground rules. Namely - no unnecessary use of powers and no joyriding.

The end of the tour brought the encounter's first real shock.

"Thanks Aunt Kathy!" Q gave her a swift hug and then immediately flounced onto her guest bed when she opened the door to the room. There, he promptly fell asleep. He hadn't even snapped his fingers to change into pajamas. Just…closed his eyes and went to sleep in his jeans and sweatshirt.

Even when he'd temporarily had his powers revoked, Kathryn had never seen Q sleep. Or his father for that matter. And she'd checked on her godson at all hours of the day that week. Like everyone, Q looked more peaceful in his sleep with the lines on his face all smoothed out. It struck her then that most of Q's smiles that night had been tight.

Kathryn instructed the computer to turn the lights to low. Q shifted, pulled the blanket closer. She ruffled his hair slightly before padding out of the room, "Goodnight, Q." Once she was in the living room, she placed her hands on her hips and waited.

"Kathy!" Q Senior was just as magnanimous as usual. Kathryn glared him down, per usual as well. "I see Junior's come running to you for help again."

"You were the one asking for my help last time, Q, not him." She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "Now, why don't you explain why he's running away from you?"

Q held a hand to his chest, gasping, "Run away? From me? Preposterous!" Janeway's eye twitched. "Alright! We might have had a slight disagreement."

Her headache returned full force.

It took Janeway two hours to get the Elder Q out of her apartment, sans son. He'd hemmed, he'd hawed, he'd snapped a literal donkey into her apartment, but he'd finally acquiesced that Junior needed a break and Janeway was the best option.

"Not like I'm his godmother or anything…" Janeway groused to herself as she started to undress. She threw her uniform jacket over the back of a chair.

These quarters had been given to her by Starfleet when Voyager returned. She still hadn't managed to really move in - the walls were blank, the closet empty but for those items she'd needed after her assignment to Headquarters.

Staring at the lack of non-replicated clothing in her room, Janeway made a decision. If Q was moving in, so was she.

"We're going shopping once I get back from work today," Kathryn enjoyed the way Q's face slackened as he turned from scowling at her replicator to look at her the next morning. She smirked, sipped her coffee, "This place needs a little color and comfort. Your visit is the perfect excuse to add some."

Q rolled his eyes and grabbed his bowl of cereal - not sugary, because Kathryn had set parameters on the machine before going to bed last night. He didn't snap his fingers as he begrudgingly dug in and Kathryn felt a small bubble of triumph.

"Do you think I could pick up some clothes while we're out then?" Q asked, mid-bite. Janeway stared him down and he swallowed before speaking, "Your replicator doesn't have many options."

Janeway eyed Q's jeans and sweatshirt. "I'm surprised you don't just…" she snapped her fingers "…yourself some."
Q fidgeted, fiddled with his spoon. "Q?"

"…I'm…uh…" He ran a hand through his hair. Janeway set her coffee down. Q's head shot up, big grin in place and shrug on his shoulder. "I'm just respecting your rules, Aunt Kathy. You said no powers, so. No powers!" Q gave her a thumbs up.

Janeway lowered her chin, eyes narrowed. "Try again." Q raised his hands to his chest, insulted. "You're not nearly as convincing as you think you are."

"I don't really think I'm that good actually..." Q sighed and his entire persona fell away. A slight frown and a furrowed brow were all that was left.

"Q?"

"It's nothing, Aunt Kathy, promise. I just don't want to use my powers right now." Q looked her straight in the eye this time. The pupils trembled just a touch and Janeway caught the wobble of his lips.

"Fine," Janeway drawled, eyebrows low. Q let out a breath and returned to his cereal. "I hope you'll tell me, eventually." Q kept his eyes diverted, but his cheerful little mask returned before she left for work.

Janeway didn't buy that any better than she had either of his explanations. Q was running away from more than just his father, of that she was certain. And, maybe even a little shocked. The day officially warranted a second pot of coffee.

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