So this is it guys, the final chapter. I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this story and left lovely reviews. You're all amazing. So, without further ado, enjoy the final chapter of Tripping Head First.

Q was bent over the PADD in his hand, plotting the course they were going to take as their journey continued. He was typing in information about certain planets they would be coming into close contact with, trying to remember everything about the flora and fauna on them. Kathryn would occasionally glance up from the PADD in her hand to watch him think hard about planets and admire the cute look he got when he was trying to remember something. The afternoon carried on in this calm fashion until the door chime breaks the silence.

"Come," Kathryn called out as she set her PADD down.

Chakotay shuffled in, his head bent as he waited for the reaction he was sure to get from the two. In the almost shocked silence he glanced up, his eyes shifted from one to the other, waiting for something to happen.

"I came to apologize, actually apologize this time," he said, offering up an olive branch to the couple.

Kathryn could feel the sadness show on her face but could feel the anger building up in her as she thought about how easy he wanted to make this whole thing without any thought to how they felt. Turning her head she could see Q glaring at him, his fists clenched so tightly the knuckles had turned white.

"I can see how strong your bond is and I can't get between you. I won't allow myself to any more. I accept that you are together and that there is no changing that. I accept you," Chakotay continued, a hint of desperation climbing in his voice.

"Why?" she snapped at him, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I saw you. I really saw you. You were together and so happy, as it should be. I can't argue that that isn't the best thing for all parties involved. I could see the spark passing between you and it was as if my eyes had been opened for the first time and I could really see what was happening, what had been happening, for such a long time," he explained, opening his palms out to them.

"How can we know this isn't part of some bigger scheme you're cooking up, one that impacts us negatively?" Q cried, standing up in his rage.

"I can promise you that if I am working towards something bigger you can lock me up in the brig for the rest of the trip home. I promise that I will not do anything to get between you anymore and that I will certainly no longer try to win the heart of the Captain. Honestly, you can put me in the brig," he said.

Kathryn frowned, not liking the idea of being thought of as something to be won. Q strode over to her and placed his arm around her waist, drawing her into his body as she placed her own arm around him. She could see Chakotay focus on their arms and could see the accepting look he gave it.

"Thank you," Q said, slightly sarcastically.

"I wish you every happiness," Chakotay said before walking out of the room and back onto the bridge.

Kathryn gently extracted herself from Q's arms and turned on the spot, gracefully missing his chest as she did so. She raised her hand and lightly smacked him on the chest, making a snarky comment about the dominance of men and how stupid it all is. He laughed, drawing her into his arms again.

"It's you that make us like this. You drive men wild," he joked, rubbing his nose against hers.

"I do try," she replied, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He gently kissed her, drawing her further into him as he plundered her mouth with his tongue. She let out a quiet moan before drawing away from him. When he tried to kiss her again she pushed him away and walked back around her desk. At the sounds of Q's protests she turned to face him.

"Get us something for lunch and then we'll go back to work," she said, ignoring the glare he sent her way.

They sit in silence as they ate the food Q had gotten from the replicator. Kathryn definitely preferred the food Q would send her while he was still a Q but she definitely she preferred him being human as he was. It made him more real to her, as if he more of a corporal being and less likely to leave on a whim as she knew his species often did.

"What are you thinking about so hard?" he asked, putting his empty plate down.

"How much work I still have to do," she lied before finishing off the last of her food.

"That's not true and you know it," he stated, gently taking her hand in his.

"I was just thinking about how wonderful it is to have you here, with me," she replied softly, happiness radiating from her eyes.

"I should let you get back to work," he whispered before kissing her temple and leaving the ready room with a smiling Kathryn left on the couch.

As the smile left her face she got up and sat at her desk again, ignoring the sinking feeling she felt in her stomach when she looked at the stack of PADDs she still had to read through. She quickly snatched one up from the pile and began to read the information that was displayed, her thoughts something along the lines of 'quicker I start the sooner I'll be done.' She left out the part about wanting to get home to Q as fast as she could.

When Kathryn walked into her quarters as 1800 hours she found Q laying on the couch on his back, staring off into space, a small smile on his face.

"How was your day?" she asked, interrupting his thoughts.

He snapped his head over to her, the shock on his face being replaced by a broad smile. He bounded up from the couch and over to her. She laughed at his enthusiastic greeting as he grabbed her in an embrace. He lowered his mouth to hers, cutting off the laugh and replacing it with a gasp. He nibbled on her lower lip eliciting a moan from her as he walked her backwards, towards the door. He released her mouth from his.

"I was bored," he said as her back hit the wall behind her.

She pushed him away from her body before grabbing his hand and leading him back towards the couch. He quickly sat down and she gently situated herself on his lap, telling him she wished to talk seriously.

"How do you feel about the Commanders apology?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"It was eloquently said," he replied, sarcastically. She glared at him forcing him to answer seriously. "I believe he's genuinely sorry but I'm not ready to forgive him yet."

"I tend to agree but I still feel we should have a professional relationship. I feel it's important that we appear like a team for the rest of the crew. I think I'll try to be more polite to him on the bridge during shift," she said.

At his grunt of approval she began to run her hands over his chest, playing with his chest hair. He growled as his grip on her waist tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as she gently bit down on his earlobe.

"Are you still bored?" she whispered in his ear once she released it.

He quickly captured her mouth with his, pushing her over so he was now straddling her on the couch, his hands roaming over her body, drawing gasps and moans from her. He slipped his hands under her turtleneck, fluttering his fingers over her abdomen, causing her muscles to tense in anticipation. She explored the familiar crevices of his mouth with her tongue causing him to rake his nails over her skin, probably leaving prominent marks. She squirmed under his touch before flipping him over so she was now straddling him.

He quietly chuckled as she attacked his neck, gently nipping at his skin. She could feel his hardened member pushing into her thigh as she quickly pulled his shirt off his body and threw it into a far distant corner of the room. He pulled her jacket from her body and dropping it beside the couch before thrusting his hands back under her turtleneck. The liquid heat pooled between her legs as he rubbed his thumb over her nipple, drawing a gasp from her. He stripped her of the offending material and he gazed at her body, wondering how one simple being could be so perfect. She drew his mouth back to hers, forcing her tongue into it as she quickly slipped from under him to stand beside the couch. At his angered growl he followed her up from the couch and gripped her to his body hard, his mouth attacking her neck. She sighed into the familiar embrace as he nipped at her neck. She grabbed his hands and pulled him after her into the bedroom, allowing him to do unspeakable things to her body all night long. Yes, everything was going to be all right. In fact, it was perfect.

Once again thank you to everyone who's read this and remeber to review!