"This is beautiful Harper," she whispered as she took in the current state of his quarters. It really was. He'd retrieved a small tree from the hydroponics garden, which he had adorned with various lights, glitter, shining little balls in different colours, figurines dressed in red…glitter and lights were also spread around the rest of his quarters, making it so positively sparkling that Trance herself would be proud.
"You think?" He was glowing with pride. "I haven't celebrated Christmas for years on end. We used to celebrate it on Earth, but of course it was never quite like this. We'd mainly just try to have a special meal, if we could afford anything special, and sometimes we'd get little gifts. I've seen holodramas though on how they used to celebrate Christmas and I think it was something like this. And hey! Who am I to deny our daredevil crew of a beautiful holiday? Doesn't hurt that it's from Earth either…" Beka grinned, but at the same time knew this meant a lot to him, to celebrate it like this. She guessed he felt he was paying a momentum to his parents who had tried so hard to make Christmas the best they could for him. Now he tried to make it as best as he could.
On the other hand, he'd been away from Earth for years, with plenty of time to celebrate Christmas just as he wanted to.
"Why now?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Why didn't you do it before? I mean, I can understand you wouldn't want to adorn the Maru, it's a little small, but last time this year we were here…"
"I guess…" he twisted uncomfortably, "I just felt…motivated this year." She decided to leave it, a subject he obviously wasn't comfortable with. She sat down next to the tree and spotted some small packages under the tree.
"Oh, I'd totally forgotten!" she exclaimed, clamping her hand over her mouth.
"What?"
"That part of the Christmas tradition…presents. I knew there was something missing." He shrugged.
"That's ok. I don't think anyone else bothered either; these are just symbolical anyway. Come on, open yours now."
"Shouldn't we wait for the others?"
"No, don't. Open it now," he urged.
"Don't you think they'll be upset we started without them?"
"Please?" He looked so pleading Beka laughed and complied.
"All right, all right, I'll open it." She slowly unwrapped the present to find a small box which she also opened. Inside was a small ornament, looking like a few branches, tied together with a red ribbon. She held it in her hand and gave Harper a confused glance. He grabbed it as if to help her and held it up in the air.
Then, suddenly, he kissed her. It was totally unexpected, but she found it not to be totally unwanted. He was a much better kisser than she'd expected, and by the time he released her lips she was breathing heavier, and staring at him with questioning eyes.
"Why…?" He nodded towards the little ornament above their heads.
"Mistletoe," he explained. "If two people go under the mistletoe, they have to kiss."
"But you were holding…" Beka started, but stopped suddenly, realising there was no point in arguing with what was good. "We're still under it, you know," she pointed out, then leaned forward and kissed him again. It was slower this time, but no less intense. When they let go it was his turn to give her the questioning glance, but this time, it was also teasing.
"So, didn't you say the others might get upset if we start without them?" She quickly shook her head.
"You know what?" she said. "I think we'll be all right, just you and me and the mistletoe."
The mistletoe was conveniently attached to the ceiling above Harper's bed.