Author's Notes: I, literally, on the 21st, decided that I was going to write a Christmas-y fanfic. Never again... Thank you SO MUCH to Scifiromance for all her help and proof-reading and input! Could not have finished this monster in three days without you! I don't know how she puts up with me, really...

Anyway, if you haven't already, make sure you check out her latest fanfic, Soft Focus! It is HILARIOUS!

This is a HUGE AU- partly in that Seven and Chakotay are already flirting around while the Borglings are still around. Personally, I can see what could be considered flirting way up to the beginning of season five..

Obligatory Legalities: If I owned them, Sci and I would be making movies by now. Fo' real.

~LM

The log and river-rock lodge stood tall and proud- a rustic Christmas dream jutting out from the mountainside and covered in snow. Smoke from its main chimney curled lazily up into the air, mingling with the gentle snowfall that dusted the forest full of fir trees surrounding the area with a thick blanket of fluffy white. Bright cheerful fairy lights had been strung in swags across the blocked picture windows that made up the front wall, flanking the large river rock chimney that went from the building's foundation up above the gabled roof. Large holly wreathes with big red velvet bows hung from the french doors on either side of the chimney, inviting and quaint.

Inside the lodge was an open floorplan, with one long room flanked by giant river rock fireplaces, complete with roaring fires and holly swathed mantles. Beside the largest fireplace in the middle of the building, separating the grand room from the stairway to the open loft and the kitchen and restrooms in the back, stood a Christmas tree tall enough to nearly reach the beams holding the roof up. The tree itself was wrapped with silver and gold tinsel, and pocked with cheery red and green glass ornaments. A large golden replica of a Star Fleet standard issue com badge crowned the Christmas tree, compliments of Tom Paris, himself. The walls around the great room were hung with one hundred and fifty-two stockings, each with a crewmember's name embroidered on it and stuffed with all manner of confections mixed with pretty festive greenery. Tan suede couches and arm chairs were scattered around the room, sectioned into groups and arranged to allow for guests to easily flow and mingle. Red and green throw blankets and pillows brought a festive touch to the furniture, and bright red poinsettias graced every side and coffee table in the room.

In Tom Paris's own words, "It looks like Christmas threw up in here." He stood on top of one of the rustic driftwood barstools from the long bar in front of the kitchen, tying a piece of red ribbon around the heavy beam over the entryway between the two areas. Tied to the string was a small bouquet of mistletoe with holly berries. "And no Christmas party is complete without a little mistletoe."

"What is the significance of mistletoe?" Mezoti asked, standing beside Tom's barstool, watching the lieutenant put the finishing touches on the lodge for Voyager's first official Christmas party. Tom hopped down from the stool and pushed it back to the bar. "Mistletoe, my dear Mezoti," he began, returning to her side. "Is a tradition. When it is hung up overhead like this, anyone caught beneath it is supposed to share a kiss." He leaned down, playfully pecking a kiss on the little girl's head. When Naomi ran up to them, he pecked another kiss on her head, too, minding the three little horns adorning her forehead. The redhead giggled, grabbing Mezoti's hand and pulling her along up the staircase to explore the upstairs loft.

"That's an interesting tradition, Mister Paris." Neelix said cheerily from the kitchen, hovering over the myriad of pots and pans cooking on the double stove. The air around the kitchen swirled with the scent of cinnamon, peppermint, and fresh baked cookies. Several platters were lined along the countertop, full of sugar cookies in the shapes of Voyager, stars, and the odd Cube here and there, all iced to perfection by Seven and the Borglings that morning. "Am I to take it that you will be spending your evening in the entryway?"

The pilot laughed, walking up to the bar and snagging a cookie. "I don't think B'Elanna would care too much for that, Neelix."

Upstairs, the two little girls found the twins hiding behind a chaise lounge, each holding a handful of sugar cookies and a glass of milk. They looked up at the girls in surprise at having been found, but made no move to hide their bounty.

"Those cookies are for the party." Mezoti said, eyeing them curiously. "Seven will not be pleased that you took them."

Azan's eyes widened slightly. "Neelix gave them to us!"

Rebi nodded. "He told us to come up here and stay out of his kitchen before we rewired the refrigeration units for greater efficiency."

"For one as focused on the intricacies of food preparation as he is, he is opposed to increased efficiency in his work space." said Azan.

"Either way, I wouldn't let Seven catch you eating cookies before the party starts." Naomi said with a smile. "We wouldn't be quite so eager to inform her of this... transgression..."

Mezoti smirked. "If you would agree to share."

The twins scowled, sharing a look and likely a thought or two before giving each girl an equal portion of their pilfered snacks, and scarfing down the rest.

"Children?" Seven's voice sounded from below as she entered the holodeck.

Icheb followed her, pulling at the collar of his cream-coloured buttonup and the green and red argyle sweatervest over it. He still wasn't sure exactly why he needed the layers- the snow was holographic and not much colder than their cargo bay was on any given day- but Seven had seemed adamant that he and the younger children experience what Tom and the Captain had called a traditional Christmas holiday. At least, soon enough, he would not be alone in his misery.

Upstairs, the unfinished cookies and half-drunk glasses of milk were quickly stashed beneath a low coffee table, milk mustaches wiped away, and cookie crumbs hastily brushed from shirt-fronts. The flurry of movement was quick- nearly practiced- before the children quickly thudded down the staircase to see what their surrogate mother and, in Naomi's case, friend- wanted of them.

"Yes, Seven?" Mezoti asked, the first to reach Seven and Icheb. She took Seven's hand, slipping her small hand around the metal-meshed one curled around four little bag handles. When Seven gave her hand a gentle squeeze, the young girl beamed a smile up at her.

"The party should not begin for another three hours and forty-seven minutes," began the tall blonde, "But I will only have the next twenty-three minutes to assist you in changing your attire to match the occasion before I must return to Astrometrics." She gently disengaged Mezoti's hand from her own, and held out a bag to each child. She smiled at Naomi. "Your mother has sent your clothes as well, NaomiWildman."

The twins opened their bags as one, looking inside before turning their heads to meet eyes, each filled with an identically displeased look. Naomi squealed in delight, pulling an equally pleased but non-vocal Mezoti with her towards the giant bathrooms by the kitchen. "Come on, Mezoti!"

Icheb led the twins to the men's room. "Comply." he said at their hesitation. "If I am forced to wear this style of attire, then so shall you be." They scowled at him, but followed him into the bathroom none-the-less.

Seven stood outside the ladies' room, allowing the girls to change clothes independently, but hovering close enough to assist if needed.

Behind her, Neelix began to spoon some kind of fruit compote into a big crystal bowl. "Hello, Seven." he said in his usually cheery exuberance. "Would you like to taste test my perulia berry sauce? I'm going to use it in the sweet tarts for later."

"I do not require nutritional supplements at this time." she answered automatically, but then cracked a small smile. "Though, judging by smell alone, I would wager that it is delicious."

The Talaxian puffed up a bit in pride, a huge grin covering his face. "Why, thank you, Seven."

"Seven!" Tom greeted, coming in from the greatroom with an arm full of tangled lights and holly. "Are you ready to party?" He smirked playfully, setting his burden down on the counter across the hall from the ex-drone. "You're going to dress up like everyone else, aren't you?" he asked, beginning the arduous task of untangling the lights. "The ugly Christmas sweaters are half the fun!"

Seven nodded once. "Yes, Mister Paris, the children and I will be fully participating in tonight's celebrations."

"Glad to hear it."

Moments later, the men's room door opened, and the three young boys filed out. The twins were dressed similarly to Icheb, in khaki trousers and cream-coloured sweatervests over button-ups- Azan's button-up in red, and Rebi's in festive green. Both boys were pulling at their collars, and scratching where the sweatervests touched their throats. Icheb only smirked at them, his own sweater no longer bothering him. Seven appraised the twins, reaching out and drawing the boys nearer to her, straightening Azan's vest and buttoning the wrists of Rebi's button-up. Icheb took a discreet step back; Seven had already spent enough time tugging and tucking his own shirts to last a lifetime.

"Well, there are some handsome boys if I've ever seen some." commented Neelix. "Did you finish your cookies?"

Both boys' eyes widened, scrolling up to meet Seven's. One delicate silver eyebrow raised.

"Have you been sneaking confections?" she asked.

"Oh, Seven, I gave them both a couple of snacks." Neelix said with a wave of his hand. "What's a party without a little indulgence? I certainly didn't mean to get them into trouble."

Seven's eyebrow returned to its neutral position. "Very well, Mister Neelix." she said to him with a nod. Her attention turned back to the twins. "No more sweets until the party.

Understood?"

Azan dropped his eyes to the floor, toeing the knot in the wooden floorboard beneath him. Rebi nodded. "We will comply." Seven gave the two of them one of her more gentle smiles, lifting Azan's face with her human hand so that both boys were paying attention to her. "You may go outside and play now." The two boys both grinned broad happy smiles at her, then took off running to the french doors and their black duffel coats with matching tan fur lining. Seven called out after them, "Do not soil your clothing!" She only had to glance at Icheb and the older boy followed along after them, pulling his chocolate brown parka from its hook and slipping it on- not for warmth, but to appease his surrogate mother. Buttoned up, he slipped outside after the twins to see just what all this excitement over snow was all about.

Beside the blonde ex-drone, the ladies' room door cracked open, and Naomi stuck her head out. "Seven?"

"Yes?"

The small redhead reached a hand up and, using her little finger, beckoned the blonde woman to come closer. When Seven crouched down beside her, Naomi whispered, "We need help."

"Is something wrong?"

Naomi held out a pair of white tights. "We can't figure out the tights. I've never worn them before, and they don't work like pants."

Tom chuckled from where he stood, back firmly pointed in the direction of the door as he worked on his lights. "You have to bunch them up like socks before you pull them up your legs." he said. "That's how B'Elanna does it, anyway."

"Oh! Okay!" said Naomi, quickly pushing the door shut again to reattempt. Seven stood back up straight to wait.

Five minutes later, the bathroom door reopened, and the two little girls filed out, dressed in their new Christmas outfits. Sam had chosen a bright red velvet dress for Naomi, complete with a white satin ribbon around the waist tied in an oversized bow at her back and white fur trim around the cuffs and bottom hem. Beneath, she wore her white tights and a pair of shiny black maryjanes. Mezoti's dress was black velvet with an empire waist tied with a big glittery silver ribbon. Around the bottom hem was sequined with silver snowflakes, a thick snowstorn at the bottom that faded up to the waistline. Her tights were also white like Naomi's, but her shoes were simple silver ballet flats.

Mezoti walked up to Seven, holding out the glittery silver hairbow. "Will you assist me?" Seven took the bow from the little girl, and carefully swept a portion of her hair to the side before pinning the bow between Mezoti's ear and the crown of her hair on her left side. She smoothed the rest of the chestnut brown hair down evenly before giving her a ghost of a smile.

"My, my, look at these two beauties!" said Neelix over his cooling compote, stirring in a little cream and a dash of whatever spice he had handy.

"Aren't you cute." commented Tom, frowning at his tangled ball of lights.

"Seven?" Mezoti turned to look up at her surrogate mother. "Am I... Am I what one would consider.. adorable?"

The ex-drone gave her a small smile, smoothing her hand over the girl's hair once more, running her silver fingertips down the child's cheek to gently cup her chin. "Perfectly adorable." She pat the girl's head, then gently pushed the two towards the french doors and their matching black and white houndstooth peacoats. "Go play." she said, watching them put their coats on far more calmly than the boys had. "And don't forget- do not get dirty. If you have to have your clothing refreshed, you will miss part of the party later."

"Yes, Seven." the girls chorused, slipping out the door.

XXX

Naomi and Mezoti stopped outside the door, their eyes sweeping across the new world opened up to them. The river rock patio they stood on ran the length of the lodge, and was dotted with little black wrought iron cafe tables and chairs, and long log benches. The snow had been swept- or more likely programmed- off of the patio. Just off of it, though, the snow was a good couple of feet thick, blanketing the long yard. Off to the right was a rack holding several sleds and a short hill to ride them down. To the left was a meandering path that lead to a large pond, frozen over, with a stand of ice skates and cubby holes for your shoes.

"What do you wanna do first?" Naomi asked, her eyes big and bright as she took in everything.

Mezoti, eyes equally alight, was the first to step forward, crossing the patio and testing her feet in the snow. The white fluff was fairly compacted, and her foot only sank an inch or so down under her light weight. Naomi stepped up beside her, leaning down and cupping her hands in the snow. She brought the mounded handful up for inspection, then tossed it up as high as she could. Both girls giggled as it floated down around them in their own personal flurry. In a heartbeat they were shoveling handfuls into the air, laughing for all they were worth.

"It's snowing! It's snowing!" Naomi laughed, pausing to catch her breath. Mezoti, though not out of breath, stopped, too. "Let's make a snowman! Mama says that she used to make snowmen when she was a little girl!"

"How do you construct a snowman?" asked the brunette, a slight scowl on her face. "Are they all male?"

"What? No." Naomi shook her head. "You make three big snowballs and stack them, and then we need a carrot for a nose and rocks for the eyes and mouth."

"Oh." replied the little girl, still not quite understanding. "Proceed."

Naomi stepped out into the snow and began cupping clumps of snow together to make the first ball. Soon, with the help of Mezoti's enhanced physiology, they had a large white base almost as big as they were. That done, they moved on to the second ball, spending more time getting it as perfectly round as possible. "So," Naomi began, helping Mezoti to lift the snowman's middle onto the base. "Have you asked her yet?"

Mezoti nearly lost her grip on the snowball. "What? I mean, no. No I have not."

"Well, why not?" asked the redhead, brushing the cool but not cold snow from her hands.

The little ex-drone toed the snow, her posture going from ramrod perfect to slouching. "Well... there has not been an appropriate time."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that there has not been a time in which I have felt that asking such a question was appropriate." replied Mezoti. She scowled, clasping her hands in front of her belly. "I have been waiting for a time I feel she would be receptive to such a request."

Naomi stopped fretting over the snowman to turn to her friend. "But you want it, right?"

"Of course I want it, Naomi." The clasped hands morphed into crossed arms. "I really do, but I don't want to ask her and she say no."

The redhead frowned with a nod. Asking parents anything always came with the risk of the dreaded no. And Mezoti had more on the line than just asking for an extra cupcake with dinner. "You love Seven, though."

Mezoti scowled. "You love your mother, don't you?" She turned back to the snow, quickly rolling up a head for their snowman.

"Are you scared?"

"Borg do not get scared.. We need a carrot."

Naomi paused, watching her best friend shape a round head for their snowman. She wanted to ask more, but even she could tell when to drop the subject. With a sigh, she nodded, walking past Mezoti. "Well, we will have to ask Neelix for a carrot. If we don't ask him for one, we will never know if we can have one..."

The brunette ex-drone watched her friend traipse up to the lodge with an eyebrow raised in perfect mimicry of her Seven. With a sigh of her own, and a shake of her head, the little girl quietly followed.

XXX

On the Bridge, the collective attitude was decidedly festive. Everyone was looking forward to Voyager's first Christmas party, human and other alike. There hadn't been this much speculation and gossip in months on the ship as everyone wondered just what Tom, Harry, and the Captain had cooked up for the holodeck. Of course, as usual, the holodecks were both open spread out well over all shifts, so that everyone would have a chance to attend and no one would be left out.

"You're going to love it." Harry was saying to the two ensigns at the helm covering for Tom. "It's a huge old hunting lodge set in the mountains. Lots of snow and hot chocolate. And eggnog."

"Now, Harry," the Captain began playfully. "Don't ruin it for them. We will all get a chance to see it up close tonight."

Harry smiled. "Yes, Ma'am."

"Captain, I must excuse myself." Tuvok said, his voice as stoic as ever. "I do not believe my presence at this function is necessary."

Kathryn stood up from her chair to turn to see him. "I beg to differ!" She began, rounding the steps and approaching his station. "What if we need our chief of security and he's already in bed? What if B'Elanna and Seven have a relapse and fight? What if Tom programmed man- eating lions or ferocious tigers or grizzly bears?"

"Oh my." said Chakotay with a chuckle.

"Captain, I highly doubt that Tom-"

"Now, Tuvok," Kathryn began again, her voice not so teasing this time as she switched her tone back into friend mode. "Don't make me make it an order..."

Vulcans do not show outward signs of emotion. Well, not beyond the errant eyebrow raise or a slight inclination of one's head, but over the years, Kathryn liked to think she had cracked the code with Tuvok. His eyes would go flat, it seemed, when he was especially annoyed, and the little crow's feet beginning around them would tighten just a fraction when he was angry. Right now, he was doing neither. The corners of his mouth were turned down a whisker's breadth.

"Why Tuvok, you can't tell me you aren't looking forward to this just a little bitty bit. I can see the expression on your face."

His Adam's apple bobbed for a heartbeat. "There is no expression on my face, Captain."

"Oh, Tuvok." Kathryn crossed her arms, one hand up, fingers drumming on her cheek. "I really must insist you come tonight, if only for a little while. It would be.. good for morale."

The tall Vulcan breathed out through his nose, careful not to flare his nostrils. "Very well, Captain."

"Wouldn't want you to miss Santa." Sam said cheerily at her station. She looked over to Chakotay, meeting his eyes with a smile. "Thanks for agreeing, Commander. I'm sure the children will enjoy it."

The commander returned her smile with a nod, crossing his legs at the knee in his chair. "Well, if it's for the kids, I'm happy to do it."

The Captain retook her seat beside her first officer. "You know, if you quit dying your hair you wouldn't have to wear the wig tonight under that red stocking cap." she teased with a dry chuckle.

Chakotay turned his head and squinted at her. "What are you laughing at, Miss Auburn #763?"

Harry whimpered in an attempt to hold in a laugh, quickly turning it into a cough as his face flushed crimson and all eyes turned to him. "Oh, darn, this old cough." he ground out, coughing again as his throat caught. "Really should have the Doctor check it out one of these, er, days.."

Kathryn raised one eyebrow in his direction before the entire bridge, save for Tuvok of course, burst into gales of laughter.

XXX

"No, Neelix!" Naomi giggled, handing her godfather the leola root back. "I need a carrot! They're long and orange and skinny at the end." She followed the Talaxian back to the kitchen's enormous pantry, leaving Mezoti waiting by the countertop and all of its sweet bounty.

"Well, you let me know if you see one." the Talaxian said with a chuckle. "I don't believe I've ever come across one."

Mezoti watched with feigned interest, her stomach gone fluttery as she pondered what Naomi had implied. She had wrestled with this particular problem for several days now, though it had plagued her even longer. The little girl didn't think that her brothers had the same difficulties as she did, and it made her feel like an outsider in her own collective. Perhaps it was because they were boys, and boys just didn't think about things the same way as girls. Perhaps it was because they were also a little older. She was only eight. Azan and Rebi were ten, and never mentioned such things- when they chose to talk at all. Icheb certainly never brought such subjects up- not after what happened to him.

Neelix tried to hand Naomi another vegetable- one that was neither orange nor long nor skinny at one end. Naomi giggled again, shaking her head and putting the fruit back. The Talaxian, in full play mode, reached out and tickled the little redhead affectionately about the ribs, pulling a sharper laugh and a bright grin out of her.

Mezoti scowled. She supposed that what she was feeling could be considered jealousy, and she didn't like that. Naomi was her best friend- she shouldn't harbor bad feelings towards her. It was not Naomi's fault that she had so much, while the Borg children still had so little. Anything outside of the collective was vastly better than the inside, and that should be enough for her. The tiny ex-drone turned away from the happy scene playing out in front of her, reaching across the counter and pulling a discarded fork down into her hands. The metal bent in her enhanced hands like it was made of dough, easily allowing her to aggressively reshape it.

"This will do!" Naomi bounded over to her, holding out a long yellow parsnip. "Let's go!"

Outside, Naomi gently settled the snowman's parsnip nose in place with all the tender loving care the little half-Ktarian possessed. They had found some little smooth rocks near the edge of the patio where the snow didn't quite meet up to it, and had given the snowman two round-ish eyes, and a big smile. A handful of dried blonde pine needles from a fallen branch by the treeline had provided some hair for a mohawk down the back of the snowman's head. Two sticks jutted out the snowman's sides for arms- one turned up in a friendly wave.

"I think it looks like Neelix." the little redhead said happily, standing back to admire their work.

She looked over to Mezoti, frowning at the girl worrying the metal in her hands. "Are you okay?"

Mezoti put the piece of metal behind her back and forced a smile. "I'm fine. Have we completed this activity?"

Naomi eyed the snowman once more. "Yeah, I think he's done. What should we do now?"

"Hey!" Azan and Rebi shouted, running up to them at full speed. Icheb was not far behind them, jogging back from the pond.

"Hello." Naomi greeted them with her typical smile. "Where have you been?"

"At the pond." the twins answered in unison. "We were going to ice skate," said Rebi. "But we decided to make snowballs instead." finished Azan. "Would you like to engage us in a snowball fight?"

Naomi nodded, turning to smirk at Mezoti. "Me and Mezoti will kick your butts!"

"Have you been spending too much time around Tom Paris lately?" Icheb teased the little girl and her use of juvenile epithet. When the redhead blushed, he smirked.

"Come on!" said Azan with a big grin, turning and running back towards the treeline. Rebi ran after him, followed by Icheb and Naomi at a brisk jog.

Mezoti hung back, looking down at the metal piece in her hand. You couldn't call it a fork anymore as distorted and warped as it was. She glanced up at the snowman for a second or two, then reshaped the little metal piece before parting the mohawk of pine needles with her hands into strands of blonde hair. Carefully, she pushed the piece of metal into the snow over the snowman's left eye, completing her effigy. Finally, she then turned the snowman's waving hand back around behind its back in a familiar, ram-rod pose, and gave it a pat. "Bye, Seven." she whispered with a smile, jogging off after her best friend and her brothers.

XXX

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Tell me in a review!

~LM