Title: Christmas
By: Angel
Rating: G
Summary: Different Christmases aboard Enterprise.
Disclaimers: Don't own 'em, not makin' any money off this. Yada, yada.
Archive: With permission
Notes: First, I haven't forgotten "Confessions", still working on Chapter 3, but this wrote itself overnight in my brain and when I got up today my hands forced me to sit and type it out. There are two more chapters to this one as well, and they are already scripted in my head, but my hands got tired and went on strike. So, they will be out shortly. Secondly, I know some people will wonder about the celebration of Christmas onboard Enterprise, but in TOS they still celebrate Thanksgiving (Charlie X), so why not Christmas, a much older and worldwide tradition? Finally, I'm still trying to learn to write from a specific POV, so this may be a little shaky. I promise that aspect will get better.
As always, feedback is greatly appreciated and hastens the completion of future works.
1st Christmas (Trip's pov)
The three top officers of the Enterprise had just sat down to breakfast at the Captain's table. "Good Morning, sir, Commander," T'Pol stated politely, nodding in turn to each of her companions.
Commander Tucker's smile broadened as he cast a glance across the table. He knew that she found such pleasantries to be highly illogical. 'We must be growing on her', he thought. He replied, "Merry Christmas, Sub- Commander." His grin only grew at her look of dismay. Turning to their Captain, he continued. "Jon, Merry Christmas."
"Excuse me, Commander," the Vulcan woman's voice held no trace of inflection, however Trip thought he detected irritation in the slight raise of her brow. "But is this some new greeting I am unfamiliar with?"
Trip laughed aloud and noticed the Captain hide his smirk behind his napkin. "No, no, T'Pol," he managed. "Today is Christmas Day. It's a pretty important holiday back on Earth." He reached below the table and pulled up two packages wrapped carefully in red and green plaid paper with golden bows on top. He was immediately grateful that he'd gotten to breakfast first that day so the gifts would be a surprise.
"Here you are, Jon." Trip placed one present in front of his Captain.
Archer looked slightly taken aback. "Thanks, Trip." Hesitantly, the Captain continued, "I have something for you, too, but I left it in my quarters."
Commander Tucker continued without pause, waving his hand at his friend, "Don't worry about it, Jon. I know we didn't plan on exchanging gifts. I just wanted to."
T'Pol watched the conversation with interest. "Did you not just give the Captain a package for his birthday 32 days ago?" she asked.
"Well, yes, T'Pol, but one of the best things about Christmas is giving gifts to the people that mean the most to you." With that, he almost reluctantly pushed the remaining present to T'Pol. "I know we haven't always gotten along," he started, his eyes cast toward the table, "but, I thought it'd be nice to make a truce." He finished pushing the box to her and she reached out to accept it.
"Thank you, Commander. I accept your offer of civility." Tentatively, she removed the bow and slipped her finger under the edge of the paper to gently pry it up.
'I can't believe she's going to unwrap it like that!' Trip thought. "Just rip it! Part of the fun is the tearing paper sound," the engineer said. Commander Tucker looked at the Captain with exasperation.
"I see no logical reason to destroy the wrapping when it can be used again if caution is shown." She had paused in her unwrapping and was looking as quizzical as a Vulcan could at Trip.
"Fine, do it your way," his tone betrayed his sense of disappointment. He knew she would never admit it, but he had hoped she would enjoy this experience. Despite their rocky start, he had come to respect the Sub- Commander and was even beginning to consider her a friend. He wanted her to see the fun humans could have, the simple things their emotions allowed them to share in, like giving gifts. Not that he wanted to make her human, or anything. He just wanted her to appreciate them.
Her expression never changed, but Trip thought he saw something behind her eyes. If she were human, he would have called it guilt. She resumed opening the present, but this time she tore the paper mercilessly. Even when it was falling off the gift, she continued to shred it. Finally, she stopped. Looking at her fellow officer, she asked, "Is that sufficient?" Trip did his best to stifle a laugh as he nodded.
Meanwhile, the Captain had opened his gift as well. He turned the bottle of fine scotch over in his hand, admiring the age of the amber beverage. "Whew! Trip this is a fine bottle of whiskey. How'd you manage this way out here?"
The engineer was beaming, proud of his choice. "I brought it with us from home. I've been dying to give it to ya."
"Join me for a sample later this evening?" Archer asked as he set the bottle aside for now.
"Absolutely. Why'd ya think I picked such a good brand?" He smiled at his friend; glad the present was so well received. Then, he looked across the table to gauge T'Pol's reaction to her gift.
She held the fine leather bound tome delicately in her hands. "Well? What'd'ya think?" he asked with a hint of anticipation. Although he had expected to have a difficult time choosing a gift for her, once he thought about it the choice was obvious.
"It is...a book. That is most inefficient. Text on padd media is much longer lasting and takes less space for storage." She continued to examine the spine and gold-embossed pages of the volume.
Sighing heavily, Trip declared, "I am well aware of that, Sub-Commander." His tone threatened to violate his recently declared truce. "I was raised to believe that some things are more important than efficiency and storage space. To truly appreciate literature, you need to turn the pages. There's nothing wrong with padds, but for some things they just won't do."
"It is a collection of works by a man named 'William Shakespeare'. Is there some reason why his writings must be read on paper?" Her inquiry prickled his nerves.
"He's only the foremost expert on the complexity of human emotion and one of the finest writers to ever put pen to paper. His plays will make you laugh and cry and everything in between. Well, maybe not you, but maybe you will better understand some of what makes us tick." He glanced at their Captain for assistance. "Isn't that right, Jon?"
A weird smile crossed the Captain's face before he replied, "I can't speak for myself, I've never really been a Shakespeare fan, more of a Dickens type. In fact, I'm surprised that you're such a literature buff, Trip."
A wistful look came over the Commander's face as he explained. "Well, my great-aunt Bessie, the one my baby sister Elizabeth's named for, is an English Literature teacher. She used to read Shakespeare to us when we would visit her. Got me hooked."
T'Pol had opened the cover and was examining an inscription. "I believe this book has been previously owned. There is a personal message written inside reminding the owner that, 'the angels and ministers of grace defend us'. However, there are no names, so we can not find the proper owner, just a large letter 'B' as a signature."
Trip looked shyly down. "Yeah, sorry about that. That particular copy is from my personal collection. It was a gift from Aunt Bessie when I graduated from Starfleet Academy."
Abruptly, T'Pol attempted to hand the book back across the table to the Commander. "I can not accept this gift," she stated. "Surely, it has sentimental value to you, and therefore would not be a logical choice to give away."
But Trip held up his hands and insisted, "No, I mean yes, it does have sentimental value, but the best gifts usually do. What's the point in giving something meaningless? Besides, it's not like I came out here planning to give you a book on Shakespeare. There just aren't any others available right now." He looked in her eyes, "Please accept it. If I didn't want you to have it, I wouldn't have given it to you."
Reluctantly she acquiesced. She placed the book down carefully on the table and said, "I appreciate the gift most emphatically Commander. I shall endeavor to appreciate the author's words as well, even if they do prove to be overly-emotional."
Smiling, Trip said, "That's a start."
End Chapter 1
Notes: I'm unaware of the Captain's birthday having been mentioned on the show. So, I just made that bit up, but if anyone knows different, let me know. Also, yes, I intentionally made T'Pol's unwrapping technique similar to that of Data in TNG's ep 'Measure of a Man'.
By: Angel
Rating: G
Summary: Different Christmases aboard Enterprise.
Disclaimers: Don't own 'em, not makin' any money off this. Yada, yada.
Archive: With permission
Notes: First, I haven't forgotten "Confessions", still working on Chapter 3, but this wrote itself overnight in my brain and when I got up today my hands forced me to sit and type it out. There are two more chapters to this one as well, and they are already scripted in my head, but my hands got tired and went on strike. So, they will be out shortly. Secondly, I know some people will wonder about the celebration of Christmas onboard Enterprise, but in TOS they still celebrate Thanksgiving (Charlie X), so why not Christmas, a much older and worldwide tradition? Finally, I'm still trying to learn to write from a specific POV, so this may be a little shaky. I promise that aspect will get better.
As always, feedback is greatly appreciated and hastens the completion of future works.
1st Christmas (Trip's pov)
The three top officers of the Enterprise had just sat down to breakfast at the Captain's table. "Good Morning, sir, Commander," T'Pol stated politely, nodding in turn to each of her companions.
Commander Tucker's smile broadened as he cast a glance across the table. He knew that she found such pleasantries to be highly illogical. 'We must be growing on her', he thought. He replied, "Merry Christmas, Sub- Commander." His grin only grew at her look of dismay. Turning to their Captain, he continued. "Jon, Merry Christmas."
"Excuse me, Commander," the Vulcan woman's voice held no trace of inflection, however Trip thought he detected irritation in the slight raise of her brow. "But is this some new greeting I am unfamiliar with?"
Trip laughed aloud and noticed the Captain hide his smirk behind his napkin. "No, no, T'Pol," he managed. "Today is Christmas Day. It's a pretty important holiday back on Earth." He reached below the table and pulled up two packages wrapped carefully in red and green plaid paper with golden bows on top. He was immediately grateful that he'd gotten to breakfast first that day so the gifts would be a surprise.
"Here you are, Jon." Trip placed one present in front of his Captain.
Archer looked slightly taken aback. "Thanks, Trip." Hesitantly, the Captain continued, "I have something for you, too, but I left it in my quarters."
Commander Tucker continued without pause, waving his hand at his friend, "Don't worry about it, Jon. I know we didn't plan on exchanging gifts. I just wanted to."
T'Pol watched the conversation with interest. "Did you not just give the Captain a package for his birthday 32 days ago?" she asked.
"Well, yes, T'Pol, but one of the best things about Christmas is giving gifts to the people that mean the most to you." With that, he almost reluctantly pushed the remaining present to T'Pol. "I know we haven't always gotten along," he started, his eyes cast toward the table, "but, I thought it'd be nice to make a truce." He finished pushing the box to her and she reached out to accept it.
"Thank you, Commander. I accept your offer of civility." Tentatively, she removed the bow and slipped her finger under the edge of the paper to gently pry it up.
'I can't believe she's going to unwrap it like that!' Trip thought. "Just rip it! Part of the fun is the tearing paper sound," the engineer said. Commander Tucker looked at the Captain with exasperation.
"I see no logical reason to destroy the wrapping when it can be used again if caution is shown." She had paused in her unwrapping and was looking as quizzical as a Vulcan could at Trip.
"Fine, do it your way," his tone betrayed his sense of disappointment. He knew she would never admit it, but he had hoped she would enjoy this experience. Despite their rocky start, he had come to respect the Sub- Commander and was even beginning to consider her a friend. He wanted her to see the fun humans could have, the simple things their emotions allowed them to share in, like giving gifts. Not that he wanted to make her human, or anything. He just wanted her to appreciate them.
Her expression never changed, but Trip thought he saw something behind her eyes. If she were human, he would have called it guilt. She resumed opening the present, but this time she tore the paper mercilessly. Even when it was falling off the gift, she continued to shred it. Finally, she stopped. Looking at her fellow officer, she asked, "Is that sufficient?" Trip did his best to stifle a laugh as he nodded.
Meanwhile, the Captain had opened his gift as well. He turned the bottle of fine scotch over in his hand, admiring the age of the amber beverage. "Whew! Trip this is a fine bottle of whiskey. How'd you manage this way out here?"
The engineer was beaming, proud of his choice. "I brought it with us from home. I've been dying to give it to ya."
"Join me for a sample later this evening?" Archer asked as he set the bottle aside for now.
"Absolutely. Why'd ya think I picked such a good brand?" He smiled at his friend; glad the present was so well received. Then, he looked across the table to gauge T'Pol's reaction to her gift.
She held the fine leather bound tome delicately in her hands. "Well? What'd'ya think?" he asked with a hint of anticipation. Although he had expected to have a difficult time choosing a gift for her, once he thought about it the choice was obvious.
"It is...a book. That is most inefficient. Text on padd media is much longer lasting and takes less space for storage." She continued to examine the spine and gold-embossed pages of the volume.
Sighing heavily, Trip declared, "I am well aware of that, Sub-Commander." His tone threatened to violate his recently declared truce. "I was raised to believe that some things are more important than efficiency and storage space. To truly appreciate literature, you need to turn the pages. There's nothing wrong with padds, but for some things they just won't do."
"It is a collection of works by a man named 'William Shakespeare'. Is there some reason why his writings must be read on paper?" Her inquiry prickled his nerves.
"He's only the foremost expert on the complexity of human emotion and one of the finest writers to ever put pen to paper. His plays will make you laugh and cry and everything in between. Well, maybe not you, but maybe you will better understand some of what makes us tick." He glanced at their Captain for assistance. "Isn't that right, Jon?"
A weird smile crossed the Captain's face before he replied, "I can't speak for myself, I've never really been a Shakespeare fan, more of a Dickens type. In fact, I'm surprised that you're such a literature buff, Trip."
A wistful look came over the Commander's face as he explained. "Well, my great-aunt Bessie, the one my baby sister Elizabeth's named for, is an English Literature teacher. She used to read Shakespeare to us when we would visit her. Got me hooked."
T'Pol had opened the cover and was examining an inscription. "I believe this book has been previously owned. There is a personal message written inside reminding the owner that, 'the angels and ministers of grace defend us'. However, there are no names, so we can not find the proper owner, just a large letter 'B' as a signature."
Trip looked shyly down. "Yeah, sorry about that. That particular copy is from my personal collection. It was a gift from Aunt Bessie when I graduated from Starfleet Academy."
Abruptly, T'Pol attempted to hand the book back across the table to the Commander. "I can not accept this gift," she stated. "Surely, it has sentimental value to you, and therefore would not be a logical choice to give away."
But Trip held up his hands and insisted, "No, I mean yes, it does have sentimental value, but the best gifts usually do. What's the point in giving something meaningless? Besides, it's not like I came out here planning to give you a book on Shakespeare. There just aren't any others available right now." He looked in her eyes, "Please accept it. If I didn't want you to have it, I wouldn't have given it to you."
Reluctantly she acquiesced. She placed the book down carefully on the table and said, "I appreciate the gift most emphatically Commander. I shall endeavor to appreciate the author's words as well, even if they do prove to be overly-emotional."
Smiling, Trip said, "That's a start."
End Chapter 1
Notes: I'm unaware of the Captain's birthday having been mentioned on the show. So, I just made that bit up, but if anyone knows different, let me know. Also, yes, I intentionally made T'Pol's unwrapping technique similar to that of Data in TNG's ep 'Measure of a Man'.