..2285...

..Planet Colo...July 1st..

Star Fleet somehow found out I hadn't died despite the caution taken by The Enterprise. I had the Padd in my hand reading the text on the screen. Spock had recently passed away in the fight against Khan. One of the crew members of the Enterprise had thrown me out into the dogs. Not the first time I was thrown out into the dogs. My hand broke apart the datapad. C--Crack went apart the wires in my hand.

Uhura ratted me out.

It had to be her!

"Quarty..." Picard said, putting one hand on my shoulder. "We can have this trial on Colo."

"Star Fleet is sending a ship here," I said.

"I know you are scared," Picard said, coming into my view. "And so am I."

I handed the scrap metal to Picard.

"I am more scared than you are," I said. "I never faced trial before the human race."

I had been put on trial once by M, punished to be a human for a day by the continuum on the Enterprise, and now a trial by the human race. I honestly did not want to leave Colo even though my status as a highly well known political figure is quite a miracle for a former Q in their human life. Normally a former Q would die in a year. Hell, I died in two years and was brought back. I have to say unlike Amanda's parents I am quite living the life. What am I scared of? I am scared of living in a penal colony or a prison ship where there is no one I even know of.

I am scared of going to prison.

I don't know many wheelchair bound prisoners making a life in prison.

"That is a surprise," Picard said.

"You thought I had gotten into a mess like this before," I said.

"Yes," Picard said.

"For once in my life: I sadly must say I have not been to human prison." I said.

I had told Picard of my journey to Colo.

Even the most dislikable parts.

"Prison has changed over the centuries, Quarty," Picard said. "It might not be that bad."

Suddenly in the corner of my eye I saw a white flash. Picard noticed the look on my face and stepped aside then looked in the direction that my attention is on. I saw a fully grown q sitting in a chair in a white uniform with the emblem of Star Fleet on the side along with two pips. I sometimes throw in the words pens,pins, and pips together to describe those rounded items they have to indicate rank because I can. To me they are all the same.

"q..." I started.

"Call me Q," Q said. "I am not a child anymore, Father."

"He looks a lot like you," Picard said. "Almost."

"He gets that from his mother," I said.

"So this is where you've been for the past couple thousand years?" Q asked.

"If we're talking about what I think we're talking: then no," I said. Q raised a brow. "You are a grown Q, go ask my brother. I am not going to explain what kind of problem I have been in to miss out on your entire life."

"You...Your arm." Q said.

"Yes, my arm is gone...No surprise there." I said.

"What happened to your arm?" Q asked.

"I am a human, Q." I said.

Q stared at me with his jaw slack.

"You? Human?" Q asked.

Picard cleared his throat.

"Quarty, we should tell him." Picard said.

"Tell me what?" Q asked.

Picard took my hand.

"You honestly don't know." I said.

"I know nothing, father!" Q reminded me.

"Q," I said. "Picard and I recently were married...Forever."

"Your father is gay." Picard said.

"Of course he is," Q said. "It explains away why you favored Picard over me!"

Picard and I shared a look.

"Q," I said. "You are omnisicent. I want you to get your head out of your ass and use your knowledge to see where I had been during your childhood. . .Before I left you! Now tell me I favored Picard over the other people I bothered!"

Q blinked, as though startled at first.

Q's don't really get startled and it is a rare moment to see.

"That..." Q said. "It seems I am wrong."

Picard and I had a relieved sigh.

"Q," I said. "Picard. . .As it seems. . . Is now part of our family."

"What about the Prime Picard?" Q asked.

"He is only a friend." I said.

Picard squeezed my hand.

"A very good friend." Picard added.

"Do you love each other?" Q asked.

"Yes." Picard and I said at the same time.

"I wonder how my mother is taking this." Q said.

"I think you know the answer." I said.

"I agree." Picard said.

Q smiled.

"There is no fooling you," Q said. "She's having a kick out of herself for not pointing it out earlier."

"Q," I said. "If anything. . .I am sorry."

Q stared at me.

"What?" Q said.

"I am sorry for not being there when you needed me most," I said. "And I know what Trelane made you do. You don't have to carry the guilt. It wasn't your fault. It was Trelane's fault all the way."

"Ho. . . How. . ." Q said.

"You told me, remember?" I asked.

"No." Q said.

"I was Beverly." I said.

His face turned white.

"I can't read your minds," Q said. "It is like a fog in the way."

"Q," I said. "Do you accept Picard?"

"He is better than any other human I know of," Q said. "So of course I do. Forever is a eternity for humans." A smile grew on his face. "You really in for what my father has to show you?" Picard nodded. "Even when he is a Q again?"

"Time streams can be changed," I said. "And so can your knowledge of our marriage."

"I am game." Picard said.

"That is all I needed to hear," Q said.

Q vanished in a white flash.

"Quarty," Picard said. "That gives me an idea."

"I am in." I said.

"It will prevent any Federation ships intending on getting you to stop in orbit, stop the shuttles from working, and make the transporter malfunction," Picard said. "Think you can do that?"

I smiled.

"I can." I said.