After everyone had eaten it was time to partake in the age old tradition of exchanging gifts. The part of the evening Q had been dying for. As everyone gathered around the tree Q opened the door to the mess hall and called over to the Irish Setter who had been waiting patiently for his master to come get him. He would have let the pup mingle but the prospect of food would have made the otherwise loyal companion jump into peoples laps and give them the guilt look while staring down their meals. Rowley bounced up from his spot and wagged his tail seeing Q again. Finally, the dog was concerned eh had been forgotten. A pair of small antlers were fixed to his head, as much as the dog might have wanted to rip them off and chew them up he couldn't. Not when Q told him to leave them. He would suffer the embarrassment for his master Q.
Q worked quickly to hook up a little sled to Roweleys harness, the silver bells hanging down the dogs side and making a rather beautiful jingle while he walked forward and followed Q into the mess hall. His tail wagging. The sled had a few wrapped packages on it for those close to Q, and of course for the two children of Voyager. He would have replicated more but he didn't have the rations saved up. Especially after something he had made. "Look what I found out in the hallway." Q announced as he trotted beside Rowley who made a b-line for Kathryn, naturally. "It's a Rowleydeer."Naomi just about lost it running up to the dog laughing.
"Rowleydeer, but Rowley is a dog not a deer."
"He's a deer for today, tomorrow he can go back to being a dog." Rowley barked looking back at Naomi and hitting her with a few wet kisses before the child could escape him. It wasn't uncommon for Sam to borrow Rowley for a while so Naomi could play with him, it was always benifical for both though since the baby had been born Rowley was hesitant to leave her. Like a good dog he was always the first on his feet when Amelia made a peep and the first to be next to her crib when she was awake. "And you know what. Rowleydeer just came back from the North Pole, he told me Santa had forgotten a few gifts for under the Christmas Tree. It's hard to get things up here, Space isn't as kind to reindeer but luckily Rowleydeer traverse it with ease." He joked and started pulling packaged off the sled. "First up, Doctor." Q called out looking over to his 'mentor.'
"Me? Oh you didn't have to get me anything." The doctor insisted but he was clearly flattered. He took it with great excitement and opened it up looking it over. It was a coffee mug even though the doctor didn't drink coffee, or anything for that matter. The words on the side of the cup reading 'Worlds best Doctor' and on the other side 'Worlds best Uncle.' "Thoughtful." It wasn't practical but it was thoughtful, he could at least put it on his desk.
"Tom, Kim, you two are up next." Q handed their gifts over with a smile. He had gotten Tom an old world watch. Tom enjoyed vintage things and he was often late so Q figured a watch would be very helpful and appreciated. Kim he had gotten him a PADD with all the best pickup lines from 152 different planets. After all he had noticed the way he looked at Seven. Q was really doing the kid a favor. "Tuvok, and before you act like a Grinch it's from the Captain as well." He nodded his head knowing the Vulcan would not accept a gift from him. "Torres, I got you something as well." He smiled and handed her a gift seeing Tom's eyes shift. Tom didn't have to worry, his gift wasn't going to be as good as Toms. He could still claim the best boyfriend of the day card with her. "Ensign Samantha Wildman. You too." He smiled handing her a wrapped box as well. "Neelix, for you." Q paused looking down at only three boxes left. "Chakotay." Chakotay seemed a little surprised when Q called out his name. "I know I, never liked you much but I think we can put that all behind us. Consider it a token of my friendship."
"Thank you." Chakotay smiled. Whatever Q had gotten him it wouldn't be as good as having the ex Q apologize.
In fact Q had replicated something rather special for him, had had researched Chakotay's people and found a nice little talisman made for luck, just something he wanted Chakotay to have for away missions. Even if he didn't believe in that sort of thing it was sentimental. Two boxes left. "Seven." Q picked up another package. The Borg shifted her eyes around feeling rather uncomfortable about the situation. She hadn't enjoyed the party and was looking forward to being left out from opening gifts. "I remember how, lonely it was at first coming to Voyager, being human. No one really liked me either, so I got you something to make you feel more at home."
Seven took the package a little reluctantly and looked back at Q. "Thank you."
"You are very welcome Seven." Picking up the last package on the sled he handed it over to Kathryn. "And a little something for Amelia. You'll have to open it for her, I hope she likes it." Kathryn pulled the wrapping paper off and opened the box looking down at a small version of a captains uniform. It even had the pins on the collar. "Since she is a future starfleet captain I figured we should start her out young. Get her use to wearing the 'big' pants."
"What about my gift uncle Q." Naomi looked up at him a little disappointed.
"What? Did you think I forgot about you Naomi." Q smiled back at her. "It's right in front of you." He unhooked Rowley from the sled and pushed it forward with a big grin on his face. "I heard Neelix say you have never gone sledding before. On earth it appears to be a necessary ritual during the winter season for children. So got you the best looking sled and set up holodeck one as the biggest winter wonderland for you and your mother to test out after the party."
Naomi smiled back at him wrapping her arms around his legs. "Oh thank you."
"Neelix and your mother can take you for a few spins on it afterwards. Part of her package is your winter clothes to try this baby out. I'm sure it's going to go fast."
"Like warp nine?"
Q smiled again "No, warp 10." Kathryn got that look on her face again, the look she got every time Q brought up lizards, warp 10, her missing children, or Mr. Paris having a crush on her.
"That was very sweet of you Q." She replied looking over at him, sometimes he wondered how he had gotten so lucky and managed to stumble his way to her good graces.
"Well, I still have one more gift to give out. Yours." She had almost forgotten as everyone was unwrapping their own gifts and seeing her crew happy, laughing, that was the best gift a captain could have. Grabbing her free hand he walked her closer to the tree and tried to get everyone's attention. "Listen up you wayward crew. I have a gift for the captain." Q smiled making sure all eyes were on them before he started. "I insisted you didn't give me anything for my first Christmas because you gave me our daughter. I don't think anything will ever be better than that gift, and then you gave me this." He looked at everyone around him. "Friends, family, companions." Rowley wagged his tail happily panting when Q looked at him. "You gave me a life I didn't even know I was missing out on. When I was omnipotent I could do anything, go anywhere, be whoever I wanted to be but I discovered after a few months on Voyager that the things I wanted most were here. It has been a difficult year for me and a difficult few years for you. I said to you once before it can get lonely out here Kathryn, I hope I make it a little less lonely for you now." Snapping his fingers Rowley walked over, a little box hidden in his scarf. Q pulled it out holding it up to her. "You can't imagine how many rations I have been saving to have this thing replicated." He handed it over to her pausing a moment and taking Amelia. "Maybe I should take her first, before you open it." He smiled.
The captain looked at Q then to the small red box in her hand, the look in his eye making her feel a little suspicious about what he might be up to. Finally gathering up the courage she flipped the lid open and stood there completely silent. Inside was a gold banded ring with a rather sizable diamond framed by two smaller ones. "I looked up a few winter animals that are used in your winter solstice celebration. One of them begin penguins. Rather adorable cold loving flightless birds. Did you know they mate for life? Anyways, the male normally presents a female with a pebble, he looks for the best looking pebble on the beach and presents it to her with hopes of gaining her as a mate. If she accepts they will mate for life and raise many chicks throughout their lifetime. It seems humans have a rather similar tradition, and although we already have a chick i was just wanting to know." Q got down on one knee holding Amelia in his arms with a little smile on his face. "Will you marry me Captain Janeway?"
It was all a little much, something she hadn't expected, especially from Q. She seemed a little speechless still just standing there and staring at him. For a minute Q thought she was going to say no, that look on her face suggested she was very torn. He stood back up wrapping an arm around her, holding his breath in fear she was going to walk away. "Yes." That one world light up his whole word. "But you are taking my last name." She joked. Q went to kiss her pausing only when he saw a bright flash above their heads. Mistletoe? That hadn't been there a moment ago. Instantly Q and Janeway's eyes settled on Amelia as she sucked on her fist looking between them as if asking them what they were looking at. "Did she do that?"
"Of course she did." Q laughed. "She's her fathers daughter." He kissed his captain now happy to call her something more than his mate or significant other. Q could call her his fiancee.
