They've had similar conversations about her Q-ness, but never to this level. This goes beyond the original conversation she had with him, the one he doesn't remember where he explained to her just why she would've made a good mother to his son. Why it had to be her, were it not that other Q. She's touched, truly and unexpectedly. Such a thing doesn't happen very often, but Q's been slowly worming his way beneath her armor for some time now.

Kathryn can't say for sure whether she's allowing it to happen because it's been far too long since she's let anyone in or because she knows it can't and won't last, that it'll fade away one day as her world is righted and everything returns to normal. Likely a bit of both.

And because they're far enough away from the prying eyes of others, Kathryn sets the tribbles in the snow at her feet and goes to him, reaching out to take one of his hands. "Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast. Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest."

Required reading in high school, even in the 24th Century.