Epilogue

Kathryn sat curled in the soft seat; scrolling through the notes on the Yan-Tai and drinking a last cup of coffee for the night. She was already in her pajamas and she really had promised herself it will be the last cup before going to bed.

"Listen to this," she called to Chakotay; who was still busy in the bathroom. "According to the Doctor it seemed the Yan-Tai are not a single species. Their DNA shows signs of inter-species breeding over a long period."

Chakotay's voice drifted from the bathroom: "But we know that already. They have no males of their own."

She took a sip and nodded, even though he could not see. "Yes, but the Doctor suspects it is more than that. Even with the breeding they have, he should have been able to find a common ancestry. But he thinks they were rather a mixed group of people that had somehow become unable to bear male children."

She took another sip and waited for his reply. The Doctor had also noted that their DNA showed signs of tampering and she suspected someone had experimented on their ancestors and had somehow caused these women to reject the chromosome that produced male children. Unfortunately she never got to discuss it further, as an unexpected – and rather unwanted – guest made his ever-inappropriate appearances.

"Kathy, Kathy, Kathy, whatever are you doing back in the Delta Quadrant?" the amused voice enquired. Kathryn neatly covered her initial shock by taking a long swallow of coffee and laying her PADD down on her lap. She glared at Q over the rim of her mug. "I thought we had moved on from this chapter in your life." Q uncrossed his legs in that over-dramatic way of his. "Or am I giving away some secrets and I had somehow ended up in your past?"

She lowered her mug. "No, we have passed this way before," she replied. "We have been back in Federation space for nearly two years before the female Caretaker brought us back to the Delta quadrant."

Q frowned. "Well, that's not right. According to the timeline you shouldn't be here!"

She took another sip and smiled at him – but she was not really amused at all. She was tired and just wanted to curl up next to Chakotay and go to sleep. Q was being bothersome. "Well," she told him. "The twenty-ninth century Federation hasn't interfered yet."

"Pah!" he laughed. "Mere humans! What do you know?"

Just then Chakotay entered from the bathroom; still slightly damp and dresses only in his pajama bottoms. He must have heard the entire conversation. "We 'mere humans' do know you are disturbing us."

Kathryn had to smile at the look on Q's face as he saw the Captain walk in. He actually dropped his lower jaw. Then he glared at her.

"Him?" he almost-disgustedly asked. Then he seemed to pull himself together. "It's the tattoo, right?"

Kathryn has had enough. "Yes," she ironically replied. "It was absolutely the tattoo." She glared at their guest. "Now, either say whatever it is you think we need to hear or leave."

"Kathy, I'm hurt!" Q joked. But then he actually looked serious. "You really shouldn't be here, you know. I will have to go talk to that female Caretaker of yours." And with the snap of his fingers he disappeared.

"You know," Chakotay said as he crossed the remaining space between the bathroom and the seat. She held out her arms and he picked her up in one smooth motion. "I really wish Q would give us some advanced warning of his arrivals."

She shrugged as he laid her on the bed. "Somehow that just won't be Q." She replied.

He crawled in next to her and pulled her into his arms next to his body. "You're probably right."

She smiled into the night. "I always am," she told him.

Author's note: sorry it took so long: I lost my notes on the story when we moved and only recently found it at the bottom of a box. But thanks for everyone who was willing to bear with me and for everyone who Reviewed.

Bunny love

DPB.