Title : " Shades Of Grey, Pt. II ; Under The Mistletoe " Pairing : K / 7 Rating : G Reference : " Nightingale " Summary : Harry and Seven do a full on O. Henry and manage to find some Mistletoe. Archiving : Summer's site - other's please ask. Disclaimer 1 : I did not write the wonderful short story " Gift Of The Magi " , O. Henry did. No copyright infringements meant. Disclaimer 2 : Paramount and Viacom own Voyager and all things Trek. I'm just toying around in their universe. " Shades Of Grey, Pt. II ; Under The Mistletoe " Harry Kim hurried down the corridor, present cradled under his arm, to Holodeck 2 for the annual Christmas party.This would be where the senior officers would exchange gifts from the gift swap draw. It had originally started out as a ' Secret Santa ' draw, but every year, the secret santas would end up spilling the beans anyway. But this year, miraculously, no one had. On his way, he passed several crew members on their way to their duty shifts. It appeared that some of them had come from the party. Harry nodded to Crewman Langston as he headed towards the turbolift. Langston was wiping lipstick from his cheek. Harry raised his eyebrow. Crewman Langston chuckled, " Neelix put up mistletoe, " he said answering Harry's silent query, " I got attacked by a Delaney twin. " Harry laughed as he passed by. He almost asked Langston which twin, but decided against it. The lipstick said it all - Jenny. " Merry Christmas , Josh. " " I'll have one now, " he joked, " Merry Christmas to you too. " Harry couldn't get to the Holodeck fast enough. He was excited to give his recipient her gift. Until the draw, he hadn't been very enthusiastic about the upcoming holiday. Infact, he'd been almost dreading it. Normally Harry was the first to jump into the Christmas mood. Usually it was just after the last dish was cleared at Thanksgiving. However, this year, he couldn't seem to get jump started. Maybe it was because this was his seventh consecutive Christmas in the Delta Quadrant. Maybe it was because he'd received recent letters from his parents and from a few of his friends wishing him the best for the holidays. It wasn't the letters that bothered him ; he loved getting those. It was being so far away from them at this time of year. 30,000 light years was much closer than 70,000, but it was still a journey. They were so close, yet so far away. Also, the past month hadn't been the greatest. He'd felt a little off since the events aboard the " Nightingale. " It hadn't been too bad, but sometimes he felt like he was stuck in freeze frame and couldn't get out....... 30 Days Ago : " May I join you, " Seven Of Nine asked him, food tray in hand. " Hi Seven, " he said looking up slowly, then indicated the seat in front of him, " Be my guest. " She sat down and they ate quiet for a few moments. Harry watched her when he knew she wasn't looking. She even ate efficiently. None of her food touched on the tray ; her vegetables didn't mix in with her main course, and her main course didn't touch her starches. Seven took a bite of each portion one at a time. Neat and orderly. Harry guessed there were some things that couldn't be unshaken or unlearned. Upon further thought, he decided he was glad that Captain Janeway had assigned her to him on board the " Nightingale. " And not because he outranked her. It was true that it was like that in the beginning, but she had become his rock throughout the course of events ; his confidant ; his friend ; his first officer. " Truthfully, " he said between bites of his lasagna, " I thought you'd be tired of me by now. " She looked at him quizzically, " Elaborate. " He smirked almost ruefully, " You've been with me for nearly a week now, Sev. I thought you might be sick of my face. I don't know, " he teased, " the way you careened out of the transporter room after we got back, I figured you didn't want to see me for a while. " She smiled slightly, " Then perhaps you are tired of me as well. " " Nah, " he took another bite, " apparently, you bring out the best in me. " Seven was quiet momentarily. She scrutinized him with her head cocked to the sideways, " you did not perform as inadequately as you believe. " " I could've done better. " " You are not giving yourself credit for your actions aboard the ' Nightingale' . Though there were problems in the beginning, you were able to overcome them. You must accept that. " He spoke softly, " I'm glad I had you there, Seven. You were able to make me see the light. I would've gotten in that escape pod and licked my wounds. " " I do not believe you would have. I merely vocalized what you already knew to do. As you've told me before, Ensign, nothing is in black in white. There are always shades of grey." He nodded and shrugged, " I guess so. My command was inexperienced, at that, but I'll get better. I wasn't ready. But I will be someday. " " And when you are, you will no doubt need a first officer, " she replied reassuringly, " much like Captain Janeway has. " He smiled, " The I guess that makes you my ' Commander Chakotay. ' " " Apparently so. " " Alright, " his eyes were mischievous, " I hereby give you permission to call me on the carpet if I'm being bullheaded. " " That is acceptable, " she answered, amusement peppering her features............ 15 days Ago : " Ok, " Neelix said passing around the old fashioned fedora in the conference room, " it's that time of year again. Draw a name and you're that person's secret Santa. And no name swapping. " " Is it already that time of year, " Tom Paris asked, mixing the slips of paper around before choosing one. " Well, " B'Elanna said reading her slip over again, " I have a hard one. " " Who do you have ? " " No, " Neelix exclaimed, cutting Tom's question in half, " let's try to keep the secret this year. " " Given the velocity gossip travels aboard this ship, no doubt our ' secrets ' will be out before morning. " The Doctor snorted, " I'd bet on this evening. " " Alright, " Janeway said, halting all conversations around the table , " We'll not say anything until our annual party, Mr. Neelix. What are our plans for that anyway ? " Harry barely heard Neelix as he began to prattle off his plans. Instead, he stared at the name printed on his slip of paper. He fought the urge to look up at her, as even the slightest glance would give it away. He'd chosen Seven Of Nine........ 5 Days Ago : Harry had no idea what to get for Seven. What could one possibly give to a former Borg Drone who voted most recreational objects as irrelevant, or frivolous uses of time ? he racked his brain as he made his way through the marketplace on Ketti VI . The planet had been known in this sector for it's rich mineral deposits , vegetation, and arguably the best trading station for light years. It had everything one could hope for. But as Harry searched through statues, chronometers, plaques, tapestries, and other trinkets, he could see nothing that would appeal to Seven. He was starting to feel the anxiety of gift giving and the minimal prospects that lay in front of him. He pictured a giant noose made from Christmas tree garland tightening around his neck, as he saw many of his crew mates getting exactly what they needed. As he hopelessly sifted through several figurines on a stock table, a glint caught his eye, and he saw it. Three tables away lay the perfect gift for her. Almost trancelike, he glided over to it and studied the item. Simple yet magnificent. Elegant, but subtle. Characteristics that to him, described Seven Of Nine. It was perfect for her. The object was a stand designed to hold moon rocks. Seven had acquired a moon rock from their last trade two months prior at the planet of Azahria. The moon rock she'd purchased was unlike they'd ever seen before, and he could see why she found it so fascinating. It was, hands down, the most beautiful moon rock he'd ever laid eyes on. It was almost like a prism, that trapped colors and locked them in. From a distance, it looked like a mere rock, smooth and painted. Yet upon closer inspection, it was almost luminescent and transparent. The holder he clutched in his hands reminded him almost of an 19th century candle holder which would hold at least six candles. yet, it would moon rocks or anything of that size. It was exactly the kind of gift he'd been looking for. Just days before, when they'd gone through an ion storm, her moon rock had clattered to the floor. It was undamaged, but Harry knew, it would fare better with the stand ; and because it had more than one slat, she could start a collection. Harry approached the shopkeeper nonchalantly. The shopkeeper was polishing items, trying to appear as flippant as Harry. As the Ensign approached, the shopkeeper raised his eyebrows and rubbed his hands together. " How much for this, " Harry asked. " Ah, a Ketti VI Aladiian stand ! An excellent choice, " he took it from Harry and examined it, placing one of the trinkets he'd been polishing on one of the slats. As the object touched down on the slat, a light field appeared around the trinket, then disappeared as quickly as it appeared. the shopkeeper shook the stand, tipped it upside down, and banged it lightly against the table, yet the object on the slat never moved. It sat upon the stand, never moving. The shopkeeper continued, " It is virtually indestructible , and an antique no less ! Young man, you have quite the eye. A gift perhaps, for someone special ? " ' Perceptive, ' thought Harry. " Something like that. I'm very interested in it. What is it's price ? " " For a nice young man like yourself , I'll make an exception. The going price is normally 500 Kettison. But for you, I'll knock off some. I'll give it to you for 300. " Harry chewed his lip as to give the impression that he was mulling it over. he didn't have nearly enough for it. In order to purchase it he would have to exhaust his ration account. And even after that, he would still come up short. He thought about it momentarily. The shopkeeper seemed to have sensed his situation, as he began to look at him sympathetically. Harry smiled sadly and shrugged, putting the holder down. " Thanks anyway. " He turned and began to slowly move away. Then it dawned on him. He'd make a trade ! He'd seen other crew members do it. The trick was finding the right angle, and item. And he had just the item. he would hate to part with it, but it was something he could save replicator rations for and re-replicate. Harry spun around. " Would you accept a trade ? " The shopkeeper considered it, " What do you have in mind , young man ? " " Well, it's very exotic to your kind. Native of my culture. If you give me five minutes, I can have it down here for you. Would you hold on to this, " he asked, pointing to the stand, " I don't expect you to agree, but I think it's at least worth a look. " " Absolutley ! I'm open minded, as long as it will sell. " " I can almost guarantee that it will. " " Excellent. "........................ Today : Harry scanned the Holodeck in appreciation. Neelix and Tom had done a fabulous job in preparing and decorating for the holiday. They had chosen a quaint old fashioned Vermont Ski Lodge. Almost Inn-like, with hard wood floors, a cozy brick fireplace with a fire blazing, and cushy sofas and chairs to sink into. Tom had programmed the snow to lazily glide down the windows, and the faint smell of popcorn, cider, coffee, and eggnog tinged the air. There was a large Christmas tree in the corner ; with presents sitting patiently under it, ready to be ravaged ; mistletoe everywhere, and stockings hung on the chimney. The senior officers were standing in a half circle around the tree. Harry joined them quietly , as not to disturb any conversations, first placing his gift under the tree. Tom acknowledged his presence first, with a clap on the back. " Nice of you to finally join us, Harry, " he teased. " Sorry I'm late, I just got off duty and had to run to my quarters to get my draw's gift. " " Well, I'm glad you're here, " Captain Janeway added with a twinkle in her blue grey eyes, " I'm dying to know what's in the box with my name all over it. " " Here, here, " Chakotay raised his eggnog in mock salute. Janeway smiled, " Shall we begin ? " Everyone retrieved their gifts and stood almost awkwardly, not knowing who would go first. Harry, no longer able to contain his anticipation, cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention. " I guess I'll go first. " " Oh sure, Starfleet. First you're late, then you want to go first. " " What can I say, Maquis ? I like to have my cake and eat it too. Anyway, " he stepped forward, handing the gift to Seven, " I'm your secret Santa. " She was amused, and held out a box to him, " And I am yours. " " Well , that was easy, " Neelix said, " Go ahead, open them up ! " " Ladies first, Harry said. He wanted to watch her face as she opened the gift, and not be distracted by opening his own. It was is favorite part of gift giving, watching the curious expression turn to one of delight. " Very well, " Seven said. Meticulously, Seven began to unwrap her present. After several slow moments, she was still unwrapping the gift. B'Elanna nearly blanched, " Seven, finish opening it this Christmas. " " Lieutenant ? " " Don't be afraid to rip the paper, " she quipped, " that's what it's meant to do. " Tom added, " Just rip it up Seven. It's all part of the fun. Trust me, you'll feel like a kid again. " " I didn't realize it was ' fun ' to rip paper. " " I concur, " Tuvok agreed, " humans have a need to constantly get in touch with their youth. " " Some of us have a longer journey to our childhood's than others, " the handsome pilot quipped. To Tuvok and Seven's confusion, everyone laughed. Seven finally finished unwrapping her gift and removed the Aladiian stand carefully from the box. She studied it and choked down the urge to gasp at its beauty. The other senior officers looked on, in awe of the gift. " An excellent design, Ensign." The Doctor nodded, " High praise. " " It's a Aladiian stand designed for moon rocks. Well, " he shrugged, " for anything really. Once you put something on it, it sticks there. I figured you could use it for your Azahrian moon rock. " Seven looked troubled. It was slight, but Harry was able to notice it. She tightened her jaw quickly, and nodded briskly, " An efficient use for it. " " Is there a problem ? " " There is none. " " Seven, " Janeway said, stepping forward, " Are you sure ? You look a little upset. " ' So the Captain noticed it too, ' thought Harry. " I sold my moon rock, " Seven blurted suddenly. The statement caught everyone off guard, and they all stared at her. tom, realizing his mouth was hanging open, shut it with a quiet snap. Harry's brows knit in confusion. " In order to aqcuire your gift, " she continued, explaining, " I had nothing of value other than the moon rock to trade. Yet there will be plenty of opportunities for me to purchase other moon rocks. When they arise, I will have the proper storage unit for them. Thank you, Ensign. " " You're welcome, " he said breaking the sudden silence of the crew. " Perhaps you should open your gift, " Tuvok suggested. " Right, " he answered almost sheepishly. All eyes were on him as he carefully unwrapped his gift. As he lifted it from the gift box, he drew in a deep breath, almost sharply. It was an instrument case with gold etching and his name engraved at the top. Inside, amongst the dark red plush silk and velvet lining lay a new mouth piece for his clarinet and an assortment of reeds. He closed the case reverently after a few moments and looked up at Seven, the irony of the situation nearly crushing him. " It's wonderful, " he managed, softly. " I think it's perfect for your clarinet, " Chakotay said, " Seven, you have magnificent taste. " Seven barely nodded her thanks as she finally caught on to Harry's sudden change in attitude. She raised her eyebrow quizzically as a grin spread across his face. He chuckled silently and shook his head. " Ensign ? " " I traded my clarinet, " he said humbly, " for the stand. " " Woa, " B'Elanna breathed. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Captain smile proudly , but subtly at them. Confusion crossed Seven's face and marched into her eyes. " Our gifts contradict each others. " Janeway shook her head, " I think O. Henry would be proud. " Seven swiveled her head in the Captain's direction, " Captain ? " " I'll say, " The Doctor echoed. " I don't follow, " Neelix shook his head. " ' The Gift Of The Magi. ' " Seven's eyes snapped back to Harry, " Explain. " " It's a short story, by the author O. Henry. He was a writer in the late 19th and early 20th century. " " Yea, " Tom added, " his stories always had an ironic twist at the end. ' Magi ' was one of his best. " Seven looked around the group, then back at Harry, " Elaborate. " " ' Magi ' is about a young couple that both give up their most prized possession for a gift for one another. She chops off her hair and sells it to buy a gold chain for his favorite watch. " " In turn, " Chakotay said, " he sells his watch to buy elegant combs for her hair. " " The Ensign and I are not married. " Janeway smiled, " That's not the point, Seven. O. Henry points out that the couple were foolish , but in the end, he compares them to the wise men. The magi, who cared more about giving than receiving. " " Wise, indeed, " Tuvok agreed. Seven nodded, swallowing down emotion. Again, it was subtle, and again, Harry noticed it. Janeway did as well, " You both gave more than you received today." " I can horde my rations and replicate a new clarinet, " Harry smiled, " and I'll have a wonderful case to keep it in. " " I thank you for my gift, Harry. " " And I thank you for mine. " " That's so sweet , I'm going to be sick, " B'Elanna groaned, " Somebody else open a present before i go into sugar shock. " Tom handed a box to Tuvok, " I'm your secret Santa. " He raised his eyebrows in question, " Need I be worried ? " " I went easy on you, " he teased, " but let's all sit. I was on my feet all day. " Harry and Seven stayed behind a bit as everyone headed to the sofas. He opened his mouth to speak when Neelix's voice cut through their silent conversation. " Harry, Seven, " he exclaimed, " You two are standing under the mistletoe. " Harry took a step back, and Chakotay smirked, " You're not thinking of breaking tradition; are you ? " " He better not, " Janeway smiled ruefully, " not on this ship. Besides, I had to kiss the Doctor earlier. " The Doctor huffed, " You could do worse. " Her eyes twinkled, " I could ? " Before he could retort, Harry stepped closer to Seven, and unbeknownst to him, the Doctor looked away, suddenly interested in Tuvok's gift unwrapping. " They're not going to let us get out of this, you know. " " Agreed. " With that, she stepped forward anorincked him on the lips quickly and lightly. Before Seven pulled away, Harry gently enfolded her into another soft kiss. Her lips were much softer than they looked. When he ended the embrace, she was looking at him, a mixture of light shock and approval strewn about her features. " Merry Christmas, " he smiled playfully and headed over to the sofas, whistling ' Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, ' leaving a very confused Seven Of Nine under the mistletoe. She followed a moment later, taking a deep breath and settling her emotions back into their normal, dormant state as Commander Tuvok pulled the string on a doll sized version of himself. The doll exclaimed, " Live long and prosper. " She sat down next to Harry and joined in the reverie, listening to the chorus of laughter and Tom's explanation of gag gifts. She shared another glance with Harry, and they smiled at one another. Perhaps they were wiser than they knew. Harry mused as he glanced about the room again and decided that there was no other place he's rather be. he was still among family at Christmas, albeit an extended one. he smiled again, and began to softly hum ' I'll Be Home For Christmas. ' The End. --part2_17.f8706b8.277c59ab_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit      Hi everybody ! Long time no see ! I was away for the Holidays, but I'm
home now. Anyway, over my vacation I finally wrote the conclusion for "
Shades Of Grey " . It has a Christmas - Theme , and I realize it's a couple
of days late , but I was hoping you'd all bear with me. Please let me know
what you think of this, as your feedback is what keeps me going !
      And now, the gratuitous SPOILER SPACE !
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Title : " Shades Of Grey, Pt. II ; Under The Mistletoe "
Pairing : K / 7
Rating : G
Reference : " Nightingale "
Summary : Harry and Seven do a full on O. Henry and manage to find some
Mistletoe.
Archiving : Summer's site - other's please ask.
Disclaimer 1 : I did not write the wonderful short story " Gift Of The Magi "
, O. Henry did. No copyright infringements meant.
Disclaimer 2 : Paramount and Viacom own Voyager and all things Trek. I'm just
toying around in their universe.


" Shades Of Grey, Pt. II ; Under The Mistletoe "


      Harry Kim hurried down the corridor, present cradled under his arm, to
Holodeck 2 for the annual Christmas party.This would be where the senior
officers would exchange gifts from the gift swap draw. It had originally
started out as a ' Secret Santa ' draw, but every year, the secret santas
would end up spilling the beans anyway. But this year, miraculously, no one
had.
      On his way, he passed several crew members on their way to their duty
shifts. It appeared that some of them had come from the party. Harry nodded
to Crewman Langston as he headed towards the turbolift. Langston was wiping
lipstick  from his cheek. Harry raised his eyebrow.
      Crewman Langston chuckled, " Neelix put up mistletoe, " he said
answering Harry's silent query, " I got attacked by a Delaney twin. "
      Harry laughed as he passed by. He almost asked Langston which twin,
but decided against it. The lipstick said it all - Jenny.
      " Merry Christmas , Josh. "
      " I'll have one now, " he joked, " Merry Christmas to you too. "
      Harry couldn't get to the Holodeck fast enough. He was excited to give
his recipient her gift. Until the draw, he hadn't been very enthusiastic
about the upcoming holiday. Infact, he'd been almost dreading it.
      Normally Harry was the first to jump into the Christmas mood. Usually
it was just after the last dish was cleared at Thanksgiving. However, this
year, he couldn't seem to get jump started.
      Maybe it was because this was his seventh consecutive Christmas in the
Delta Quadrant. Maybe it was because he'd received recent letters from his
parents and from a few of his friends wishing him the best for the holidays.
It wasn't the letters that bothered him ; he loved getting those. It was
being so far away from them at this time of year. 30,000 light years was much
closer than 70,000, but it was still a journey. They were so close, yet so
far away. Also, the past month hadn't been the greatest. He'd felt a little
off since the events aboard the " Nightingale. "  It hadn't been too bad, but
sometimes he felt like he was stuck in freeze frame and couldn't get
out.......

30 Days Ago :

      " May I join you, " Seven Of Nine asked him, food tray in hand.
       " Hi Seven, " he said looking up slowly, then indicated the seat in
front of him, " Be my guest. "
      She sat down and they ate quiet for a few moments. Harry watched her
when he knew she wasn't looking. She even ate efficiently. None of her food
touched on the tray ; her vegetables didn't mix in with her main course, and
her main course didn't touch her starches. Seven took a bite of each portion
one at a time. Neat and orderly. Harry guessed there were some things that
couldn't be unshaken or unlearned. Upon further thought, he decided he was
glad that Captain Janeway had assigned her to him on board the " Nightingale.
" And not because he outranked her. It was true that it was like that in the
beginning, but she had become his rock throughout the course of events ; his
confidant ; his friend ; his first officer.
      " Truthfully, " he said between bites of his lasagna, " I thought
you'd be tired of me by now. "
      She looked at him quizzically, " Elaborate. "
      He smirked almost ruefully, " You've been with me for nearly a week
now, Sev. I thought you might be sick of my face. I don't know, " he teased,
" the way you careened out of the transporter room after we got back, I
figured you didn't want to see me for a while. "
      She smiled slightly, " Then perhaps you are tired of me as well. "
      " Nah, " he took another bite, " apparently, you bring out the best in
me. "
      Seven was quiet momentarily. She scrutinized him with her head cocked
to the sideways, " you did not perform as inadequately as you believe. "
      " I could've done better. "
      " You are not giving yourself credit for your actions aboard the '
Nightingale' . Though there were problems in the beginning, you were able to
overcome them. You must accept that. "
      He spoke softly, " I'm glad I had you there, Seven. You were able to
make me see the light. I would've gotten in that escape pod and licked my
wounds. "
      " I do not believe you would have. I merely vocalized what you already
knew to do. As you've told me before, Ensign, nothing is in black in white.
There are always shades of grey."
      He nodded and shrugged, " I guess so. My command was inexperienced, at
that, but I'll get better. I wasn't ready. But I will be someday. "
      " And when you are, you will no doubt need a first officer, " she
replied reassuringly, " much like Captain Janeway has. "
       He smiled, " The I guess that makes you my ' Commander Chakotay. ' "
      " Apparently so. "
      " Alright, " his eyes were mischievous, " I hereby give you permission
to call me on the carpet  if I'm being bullheaded. "
      " That is acceptable, " she answered, amusement peppering her
features............


15 days Ago :

      
      " Ok, " Neelix said passing around the old fashioned fedora in the
conference room, " it's that time of year again. Draw a name and you're that
person's secret Santa. And no name swapping. "
      " Is it already that time of year, " Tom Paris asked, mixing the slips
of paper around before choosing one.
      " Well, " B'Elanna said reading her slip over again, " I have a hard
one. "
      " Who do you have ? "
      " No, " Neelix exclaimed, cutting Tom's question in half, " let's try
to keep the secret this year. "
      " Given the velocity gossip travels aboard  this ship, no doubt our '
secrets ' will be out before morning. "
      The Doctor snorted, " I'd bet on this evening. "
      " Alright, " Janeway said, halting all conversations around the table
, " We'll not say anything until our annual party, Mr. Neelix. What are our
plans for that anyway ? "
      Harry barely heard Neelix as he began to prattle off his plans.
Instead, he stared at the name printed on his slip of paper. He fought the
urge to look up at her, as even the slightest glance would give it away. He'd
chosen Seven Of Nine........


5 Days Ago :


      Harry had no idea what to get for Seven. What could one possibly give
to a former Borg Drone who voted most recreational objects as irrelevant, or
frivolous uses of time ? he racked his brain as he made his way through the
marketplace on Ketti VI .
      The planet had been known  in this sector for it's rich mineral
deposits , vegetation, and arguably the best trading station for light years.
It had everything one could hope for. But as Harry searched through statues,
chronometers, plaques, tapestries, and other trinkets, he could see nothing
that would appeal to Seven. He was starting to feel the anxiety of gift
giving and the minimal prospects that lay in front of him. He pictured a
giant noose made from Christmas tree garland tightening around his neck, as
he saw many of his crew mates getting exactly what they needed. As he
hopelessly sifted through several figurines on a stock table, a glint caught
his eye, and he saw it.
      Three tables away lay the perfect gift for her. Almost trancelike, he
glided over to it and studied the item. Simple yet magnificent. Elegant, but
subtle. Characteristics that to him, described Seven Of Nine. It was perfect
for her. The object was a stand designed to hold moon rocks.
      Seven had acquired a moon rock from their last trade two months prior
at the planet of Azahria. The moon rock she'd purchased was unlike they'd
ever seen before, and he could see why she found it so fascinating. It was,
hands down, the most beautiful moon rock he'd ever laid eyes on. It was
almost like a prism, that trapped colors and locked them in. From a distance,
it looked like a mere rock, smooth and painted. Yet upon closer inspection,
it was almost luminescent and transparent.
      The holder he clutched in his hands reminded him almost of an 19th
century candle holder which would hold at least six candles. yet, it would
moon rocks or anything of that size. It was exactly the kind of gift he'd
been looking for. Just days before, when they'd gone through an ion storm,
her moon rock had clattered to the floor. It was undamaged, but Harry knew,
it would fare better with the stand ; and because it had more than one slat,
she could start a collection.
      Harry approached the shopkeeper nonchalantly. The shopkeeper was
polishing items, trying to appear as flippant as Harry. As the Ensign
approached, the shopkeeper raised his eyebrows and rubbed his hands together.
      " How much for this, " Harry asked.
      " Ah, a Ketti VI Aladiian stand ! An excellent choice, " he took it
from Harry and examined it, placing one of the trinkets he'd been polishing
on one of the slats. As the object touched down on the slat, a light field
appeared around the trinket, then disappeared as quickly as it appeared. the
shopkeeper shook the stand, tipped it upside down, and banged it lightly
against the table, yet the object on the slat never moved. It sat upon the
stand, never moving. The shopkeeper continued, " It is virtually
indestructible , and an antique no less ! Young man, you have quite the eye.
A gift perhaps, for someone special ? "
      ' Perceptive, ' thought Harry. " Something like that. I'm very
interested in it. What is it's price ? "
      " For a nice young man like yourself , I'll make an exception. The
going price is normally 500 Kettison. But for you, I'll knock off some. I'll
give it to you for 300. "
      Harry chewed his lip as to give the impression that he was mulling it
over. he didn't have nearly enough for it. In order to purchase it he would
have to exhaust his ration account. And even after that, he would still come
up short. He thought about it momentarily. The shopkeeper seemed to have
sensed his situation, as he began to look at him sympathetically. Harry
smiled sadly and shrugged, putting the holder down.
      " Thanks anyway. "
      He turned and began to slowly move away. Then it dawned on him. He'd
make a trade ! He'd seen other crew members do it. The trick was finding the
right angle, and item. And he had just the item. he would hate to part with
it, but it was something he could save replicator rations for and
re-replicate. Harry spun around.
      " Would you accept a trade ? "
      The shopkeeper considered it, " What do you have in mind , young man ?
"
      " Well, it's very exotic to your kind. Native of my culture. If you
give me five minutes, I can have it down here for you. Would you hold on to
this, " he asked, pointing to the stand, " I don't expect you to agree, but I
think it's at least worth a look. "
      " Absolutley ! I'm open minded, as long as it will sell. "
      " I can almost guarantee that it will. "
      " Excellent. "........................


Today :


      Harry scanned the Holodeck in appreciation. Neelix and Tom had done a
fabulous job in preparing and decorating for the holiday. They had chosen a
quaint old fashioned Vermont Ski Lodge. Almost Inn-like, with hard wood
floors, a cozy brick fireplace with a fire blazing, and cushy sofas and
chairs to sink into. Tom had programmed the snow to lazily glide down the
windows, and the faint smell of popcorn, cider, coffee, and eggnog tinged the
air. There was a large Christmas tree in the corner ; with presents sitting
patiently under it, ready to be ravaged ; mistletoe everywhere, and stockings
hung on the chimney.
      The senior officers were standing in a half circle around the tree.
Harry joined them quietly , as not to disturb any conversations, first
placing his gift under the tree. Tom acknowledged his presence first, with a
clap on the back.
      " Nice of you to finally join us, Harry, " he teased.
      " Sorry I'm late, I just got off duty and had to run to my quarters to
get my draw's gift. "
      " Well, I'm glad you're here, " Captain Janeway added with a twinkle
in her blue grey eyes, " I'm dying to know what's in the box with my name all
over it. "
      " Here, here, " Chakotay raised his eggnog in mock salute.
      Janeway smiled, " Shall we begin ? "
      Everyone retrieved their gifts and stood almost awkwardly, not knowing
who would go first. Harry, no longer able to contain his anticipation,
cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention.
      " I guess I'll go first. "
      " Oh sure, Starfleet. First you're late, then you want to go first. "
      " What can I say, Maquis ? I like to have my cake and eat it too.
Anyway, " he stepped forward, handing the gift to Seven, " I'm your secret
Santa. "
      She was amused, and held out a box to him, " And I am yours. "
      " Well , that was easy, " Neelix said, " Go ahead, open them up ! "
      " Ladies first, Harry said. He wanted to watch her face as she opened
the gift, and not be distracted by opening his own. It was is favorite part
of gift giving, watching the curious expression turn to one of delight.
      " Very well, " Seven said. Meticulously, Seven began to unwrap her
present. After several slow moments, she was still unwrapping the gift.
      B'Elanna nearly blanched, " Seven, finish opening it this Christmas. "
      " Lieutenant ? "
      " Don't be afraid to rip the paper, " she quipped, " that's what it's
meant to do. "
      Tom added, " Just rip it up Seven. It's all part of the fun. Trust me,
you'll feel like a kid again. "
      " I didn't realize it was ' fun ' to rip paper. "
      " I concur, " Tuvok agreed, " humans have a need to constantly get in
touch with their youth. "
      " Some of us have a longer journey to our childhood's than others, "
the handsome pilot quipped.
      To Tuvok and Seven's confusion, everyone laughed. Seven finally
finished unwrapping her gift and removed the Aladiian  stand carefully from
the box. She studied it and choked down the urge to gasp at its beauty. The
other senior officers looked on, in awe of the gift.
      " An excellent design, Ensign."
      The Doctor nodded, " High praise. "
      " It's a Aladiian stand designed for moon rocks. Well, " he shrugged,
" for anything really. Once you put something on it, it sticks there. I
figured you could use it for your Azahrian moon rock. "
      Seven looked troubled. It was slight, but Harry was able to notice it.
She tightened her jaw quickly, and nodded briskly, " An efficient use for it.
"
      " Is there a problem ? "
      " There is none. "
      " Seven, " Janeway said, stepping forward, " Are you sure ? You look a
little upset. "
      ' So the Captain noticed it too, ' thought Harry.
      " I sold my moon rock, " Seven blurted suddenly.
      The statement caught everyone off guard, and they all stared at her.
tom, realizing his mouth was hanging open, shut it with a quiet snap. Harry's
brows knit in confusion.
      " In order to aqcuire your gift, " she continued, explaining, " I had
nothing of value other than the moon rock to trade. Yet there will be plenty
of opportunities for me to purchase other moon rocks. When they arise, I will
have the proper storage unit for them. Thank you, Ensign. "
      " You're welcome, " he said breaking the sudden silence of the crew.
      " Perhaps you should open your gift, " Tuvok suggested.
      " Right, " he answered almost sheepishly.
      All eyes were on him as he carefully unwrapped his gift. As he lifted
it from the gift box, he drew in a deep breath, almost sharply.
      It was an instrument case with gold etching and his name engraved at
the top. Inside, amongst the dark red plush silk and velvet lining lay a new
mouth piece for his clarinet and an assortment of reeds. He closed the case
reverently after a few moments and looked up  at Seven, the irony of the
situation nearly crushing him.
      " It's wonderful, " he managed, softly.
      " I think it's perfect for your clarinet, " Chakotay said, " Seven,
you have magnificent taste. "
      Seven barely nodded her thanks as she finally caught on to Harry's
sudden change in attitude. She raised her eyebrow quizzically as a grin
spread across his face. He chuckled silently and shook his head.
      " Ensign ? "
      " I traded my clarinet, " he said humbly, " for the stand. "
      " Woa, " B'Elanna breathed.
      Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Captain smile proudly , but
subtly at them. Confusion crossed Seven's face and marched into her eyes.
      " Our gifts contradict each others. "
      Janeway shook her head, " I think O. Henry would be proud. "
      Seven swiveled her head in the Captain's direction, " Captain ? "
      " I'll say, " The Doctor echoed.
      " I don't follow, " Neelix shook his head.
      " ' The Gift Of The Magi. ' "
      Seven's eyes snapped back to Harry, " Explain. "
      " It's a short story, by the author O. Henry. He was a writer in the
late 19th and early 20th century. "
      " Yea, " Tom added, " his stories always had an ironic twist at the
end. ' Magi ' was one of his best. "
      Seven looked around the group, then back at Harry, " Elaborate. "
      " ' Magi ' is about a young couple that both give up their most prized
possession for a gift for one another. She chops off her hair and sells it to
buy a gold chain for his favorite watch. "
      " In turn, " Chakotay said, " he sells his watch to buy elegant combs
for her hair. "
      " The Ensign and I are not married. "
      Janeway smiled, " That's not the point, Seven. O. Henry points out
that the couple were foolish , but in the end, he compares them to the wise
men. The magi, who cared more about giving than receiving. "
      " Wise, indeed, " Tuvok agreed.
      Seven nodded, swallowing down emotion. Again, it was subtle, and
again, Harry noticed it.
      Janeway did as well,  " You both gave more than you received today."
      " I can horde my rations and replicate a new clarinet, " Harry smiled,
" and I'll have a wonderful case to keep it in. "
      " I thank you for my gift, Harry. "
      " And I thank you for mine. "
      " That's so sweet , I'm going to be sick, " B'Elanna groaned, "
Somebody else open a present before i go into sugar shock. "
      Tom handed a box to Tuvok, " I'm your secret Santa. "
      He raised his eyebrows in question, " Need I be worried ? "
      " I went easy on you, " he teased, " but let's all sit. I was on my
feet all day. "
      Harry and Seven stayed behind a bit as everyone headed to the sofas.
He opened his mouth to speak when Neelix's voice cut through their silent
conversation.
      " Harry, Seven, " he exclaimed, " You two are standing under the
mistletoe. "
      Harry took a step back, and Chakotay smirked, " You're not thinking of
breaking tradition; are you ? "
      " He better not, " Janeway smiled ruefully, " not on this ship.
Besides, I had to kiss the Doctor earlier. "
      The Doctor huffed, " You could do worse. "
      Her eyes twinkled, " I could ? "
      Before he could retort, Harry stepped closer to Seven, and unbeknownst
to him, the Doctor looked away, suddenly interested in Tuvok's gift
unwrapping.
      " They're not going to let us get out of this,you know. "
      " Agreed. " With that, she stepped forward and pecked him on the lips
quickly and lightly.
      Before Seven pulled away, Harry gently enfolded her into another soft
kiss. Her lips were much softer than they looked. When he ended the embrace,
she was looking at him, a mixture of light shock and approval strewn about
her features.
      "   Merry Christmas, " he smiled playfully and headed over to the
sofas, whistling ' Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, ' leaving a very
confused Seven Of Nine under the mistletoe.
      She followed a moment later, taking a deep breath and settling her
emotions back into their normal, dormant state as Commander Tuvok pulled the
string on a doll sized version of himself. The doll exclaimed, " Live long
and prosper. " She sat down next to Harry and joined in the reverie,
listening to the chorus of laughter and Tom's explanation of gag gifts. She
shared another glance with Harry, and they smiled at one another. Perhaps
they were wiser than they knew.
      Harry mused as he glanced about the room again and decided that there
was no other place he's rather be. he was still among family at Christmas,
albeit an extended one. he smiled again, and began to softly hum ' I'll Be
Home For Christmas. '


The End.
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