Chapter 4

"We can?" Ellie asked with excitement. Q Smirked, getting to his feet. He grabbed Ellie's hand and leading her downstairs into the dungeons. The young girl looked around, feeling the texture of the bricks on the wall. Her little eyes lit up with a sparkle as she explored. She glanced up at her Grandfather, the wonder apparent in her eyes. "Up please?" she asked as she put her arms up. Bending down, Q picked her up and held her close, watching as the young girl felt the environment that was around her. A smile graced his crinkled face. The many milenia displayed on his face as he smiled at his Granddaughter. One of the only things that he was proud of in his many years of existing. Ellie let out giggle. She had grown up on Starships and on Space Stations, so feeling something like bricks was a new experience for her. Q watched with amusement as he witnessed her exploring the world that he had set up for her. Ellie giggled as she ran her hand over the bricks, causing dust to start to dance across the beams of light that were shining from the windows that were above them.

Ellie's smiles and laughter made Q smile even more than he usually did. It made his heart swell with pride as he watched her. The future of the Continuum was right there, exploring . Exploring a new environment . Seeking out new adventures. Being the best little human that she could possibly be.

Turning to face her parents, the young girl giggled more, "Grandpa made this for me," Ellie giggled. Lisa smiled, blowing a kiss to her daughter. Junior smiled at his family. "Sometimes, " Lisa smiled sweetly. "Grandpa can be sweet, in his own way," she added.

Junior smiled .

Q felt his well up and start crying again, Ellie glanced at him. "Grandpa, are you ok?" she asked. Her smile faded and her eyes became concerned. "Why are you crying?" she asked him.

"I don't know," Q said . He let out a small laugh. "That's a new thing," he said quietly. "More tears."

"Dad," Junior walked over to them. "Are you..?"

"Don't . Just don't," The elder entity replied softly. "Let me enjoy this without thinking about what this .. EMOTION could mean."

Junior and Lisa looked at eachother. They both gave him a look of concern, but they said nothing. They watched as Q gave Ellie a kiss on the forehead. It was clear that he just wanted to enjoy spoiling Ellie in the only way that he knew how. By showing her the Universe. By playing with her in the best way that he could muster.

By making her feel like the princess that she was.

Ellie hugged him tightly. A feeling that was unnatural to him. Being loved. Feeling loved by someone who was close to him.

This was as close as he could get to feeling unconditional love from someone other than his son. To bad it was ending soon. At least for him. He was dying. He knew it. Had known about it for.. A while. Looking at his Granddaughter softly, he let out another soft laugh. "Let me tell you a secret, Sweet Ellie, my Granddaughter, I love you."

"I love you, too, Grandpa," the young girl replied. She kissed the side of his face.

"Oh no," Junior wisphered, looking towards the ground. "Damn."

"What ?''

Junior glanced into the eyes of his wife with sadness in his eyes. "My Father," he said quietly.

"He's dying."