Author Notes: Just wanted to write a short little piece for Hanukkah, so here it is. Favourite shipping with 'Karu and Pasha. :) Have a great holiday!
Hikaru woke up to the sound of the oven opening and slamming shut. The bed beside him was empty, and it was 9:33 AM. Pavel was up, and cooking, so it seemed. Then Pavel's accented voice called up,
"Hikaru! If you don't get down here, I'm going to eat all zhe challah and zhese apple zingys myself,"
"Coming, Pasha," he called back, sliding out of bed and pulling on a shirt.
It was the day before Hanukkah, and Pavel was working hard to prepare. His parents had travelled to Krasnoturyinsk to get family and bring them back to the house. Pavel had told them he would commandeer Hanukkah that year, and he was definitely taking it seriously. He'd been up late skinning potatoes for latkes and running to the stores for ingredients he'd forgotten. Hikaru had had to drag Pavel out of the kitchen at 11 last night. He just didn't think sleep was a necessity. He and Pavel had gotten leave from the Enterprise to celebrate the holidays. The ship was orbiting around Earth anyway and the bridge crew desperately needed a shore leave because of their encounter with Khan. It was very cold in Russia and very snowy. But, hey, being with Pavel was worth it. Hikaru walked downstairs, smiling.
When he entered the kitchen, the delicious smell made him just about die. Pavel had just speared an apple with a fork and handed it to Hikaru.
"Zhat is all you get for taking so long," Pavel said, jokingly.
"Nom," he replied, shoving the apple in his mouth whole.
"'Karu! You just...gah..." he said, throwing his hands in the air.
"What?"
"I spent an hour baking all zhese apples and zhen you ate it in a second!"
"Sorry. It was delicious," Hikaru replied.
"Zanks," he said, spearing some more and putting them on a plate with a slice of challah.
"Are you ready for Hanukkah, babe?" Hikaru asked, putting his hand in Pavel's as he sat down.
"Da, 'Karu," he said, blushing fiercely. "I'm glad you're here vith us."
"Thanks for inviting me, Pavel,"
"Zhat's vhat boyfriends do. Ve spend holidays togezer,"
"Asking you out was one of the best things I've ever done, Pasha. I love you,"
"I love you too, Hikaru," he said, leaning over the table and kissing Hikaru quickly.
Hanukkah was going to be amazing, and Hikaru knew it. He had Pavel, and that was all that mattered.