Admiral Archer wasn't sleeping well that night. After having a stiff drink due to the effects of his other-worldly visit from A.G., Archer climbed into bed, giving up on work as a lost cause. He tossed and turned for quite a while before finally dropping off into a fitful slumber.

The doorbell chimed once, and then again, and again, continuing on, waking him out of a troubled dream. He bolted upright in bed, staring through bleary eyes across the long room towards the door. He rose and tentatively walked towards the door, unsure if he really wanted to answer it at that late hour. While he didn't believe anything he had seen earlier, a part of him knew the universe was too vast to write off the strange evening he had just experienced.

Reaching the door, his hand almost to the button, the door chime stopped. He withdrew his hand with a small sigh of relief and turned back towards the bed. For the second time this evening he was startled. A man was standing in front of the picture windows overlooking the night time skyline of San Francisco. Dressed in a black uniform, his hands behind his back, he stood at parade rest. No, it wasn't a man, it was an alien, Archer realized, just noticing the antennae that bent forward in interest as the alien continued to inspect the view. Without looking over at him the alien said, "Evening Pink Skin."

"Shran? …But what are you… How did you…" Archer trailed off, concerned for his own sanity at this point.

Shran turned from the window and came towards Jon, who was still standing in the middle of his apartment. "Last question first, don't concern yourself with how I got here, you wouldn't understand. What am I?" he smiled wryly at Archer and continued, "an Andorian, last time I checked. And whom did you expect tonight? The… what is that Earth custom? The tooth fairy? Yes. That's it. You got me tonight, Pink Skin, and we're on a schedule so if you'll come over here we can be off," he finished brusquely.

"Go where?" replied Archer warily, not coming any closer.

"Didn't A.G. tell you anything while he was here? Typical pink skin. I've been drafted as the ghost of Christmas Past, and like I said, we're on a schedule," Shran finished and came forward, grasping Archer's bare shoulder.

As Shran touched Archer they both dematerialized as if by transporter. Rematerializing Shran let go of Archer and Jon swung around wildly, trying to figure out where he had been taken.

"You realize this is kidnapping! Starfleet won't stand for it once they find out!" Jon said, panic tingeing his voice, making it unusually loud.

"Don't worry, you'll be home soon enough, after I've shown you what needs to be seen. Look around, where are we?" Shran replied calmly, a smirk of superiority playing across his lips.

Archer looked at his surroundings and recognized them instantly. Wonder in his voice he replied, "We're at my old boarding school in northern California. I haven't been here since I was a boy."

Shran looked around with interest. "Boarding school? Hmm. I attended military schools. They were cold and bleak, this looks rather nice. And it's warm. Let's go inside and see what there is to see." Catching Archer's panicked look he continued, "Don't worry, we can't be seen. Consider this one of those new holo-dramas that are so popular now." Shran waved his hand at the surroundings, his hand actually passing through a nearby tree trunk. "We can walk through it, but the characters are no more than illusions to us." With that he turned and walked through the wall of the nearest building.

Jon looking once more at his bare-footed and chested self then shrugged and walked after Shran steeling himself to hit the wall but feeling nothing as he walked right through it. Coming through the wall he stood next to Shran who was standing in a class room full of boys collecting their things, apparently dismissed for the day.

"Hey Jon!" said a boy by the window.

Archer started in surprise at being addressed and opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Shran.

"Save your breath Pink Skin. Remember I said they wouldn't be able to see us. This is all just a memory, your memory." Shran folded his arms over his chest and watched the events unfold around him.

Jonathon shut his mouth and turned back to the occupants of the room.

"You leaving for Christmas break this year Jon?" asked the boy who had spoken.

Young Jon Archer stood up from where he had been loading his books into a satchel and didn't meet the other boy's eyes. "Nope. I've got too many things to work on," he replied nonchalantly.

The boy rolled his eyes and turned away, heading for the door. Speaking as if Jon was slow, he said, "Relax Jon, you're always working. Christmas break is just that, a break!" The boy shook his head as he headed out the classroom door. The young Jon turned to watch the other boy go, as he turned back to his desk a look of hurt and longing crossed his face.

Shran turned to look at Archer, who was staring at the scene before him obviously lost in thought.

"Why'd you stay?" Shran asked, breaking into Jon's thoughts.

Jon replied, still staring at the scene before him, "I always had work to do. I wanted to… explore the stars and I knew that only the best would have the chance at piloting the first warp ship."

Shran looked shrewdly at the lonely boy before him. "Was that the only reason you stayed behind?"

Jon, the man, shrugged and turned away as if to inspect the rest of the room, trying for the same nonchalance his younger self attemped to show. "I had no one to go home to see. By this point Mom was dead and Dad was busy with the warp program. I wanted to stay here and study," he said, his voice almost sounding unconcerned, but not quite making it.

"Hmm. Not very convincing, are you?" Shran replied at Jon's back, his antennae turning back in a sign of displeasure. "A.G. mentioned you were a bad liar."

Archer turned abruptly and glared at Shran, his face clouding in anger. "O.K. I had a lousy childhood. Mom died, Dad was beside himself with grief and threw himself into the only thing that gave him relief from his pain, his damn engine. I was sent off to school so that Dad didn't have to surface from his research to deal with reality. He never wanted me to come home. Is that what you wanted to hear?" he snarled, his face flushing.

"That's a start, Pink Skin. I believe the first step to healing is acceptance," Shran replied ever calm. He took Archer's arm and guided him back through the wall. "Let's take a look at a few other scenes from your past and see what other mistakes you can come to accept," and so saying, the scene in front of the faded slowly as if it was melting.

A new scene unfolded around them, as if they were standing inside of an old black and white movie that was being slowly colored in by a giant unseen hand. They found themselves at the back of a lecture hall with an address just finishing up. The professor at the front of the room was closing up his case and finishing his remarks.

Archer gazed around him, his expression clearing into one of happy surprise. "This was old Captain Fezziwig's lecture hall," he said as he started to look around the room.

"Fezziwig? Odd name. But then lots of things about you humans are strange," replied Shran rocking back and forth on his feet.

"You should talk. You're the one with antennae sprouting out the top of your head," Jon said absently, continuing to stare at those before him and not noticing the first real smile Shran had made so far tonight.

Just then the man at the front of the hall cleared his throat and spoke, "That'll be it for the semester. I want you to get this paper done and handed in when we all come back after the holidays, but make sure you take some time off for yourselves too. I'm proud of every one of you. You've all worked hard. In that vein, I expect you to all attend my annual Christmas party tomorrow night being held in the Cochrane Auditorium starting at 1800. You all need to let off some steam and relax. Class dismissed." He turned and walked out the door.

The class rose and started to file out. Shran and Archer continued to stand in the back and watch the students meander, filling the room with laughter and noise trading holiday plans back and forth. Shran suddenly pointed and said, "Ah, there you are. It took me a moment to find you with all that brown hair, I'm accustomed to the grey now."

A small smile played across Archer's lips but his eyes were focused on the scene in front of him.

Cadet Archer was leaving with a small group of young men and women, talking and joking as they waited for the aisle to clear. Shran and Archer approached so that they could listen in on the conversation.

"So are you going to Fezziwig's party tomorrow night Jon?" asked a tall young woman.

"I don't know Erica, I was thinking of getting a jump on this paper he's assigned," replied Jon.

A slightly older man groaned in response and said, "Give it a break Jon, and come with us. It'll be fun! You have two whole weeks to work on that thing and only one chance to enjoy all the free food and drink that Old Fezziwigg puts on. Think of all the scotch we could drink!" he said and nudged Jon playfully.

Cadet Jon chuckled shook his head and said, "I guess you're right AG, we do have two weeks and it'll be a good party." He paused and considered, then continued, "Fine. I'll go. I'll meet you two there at 1800," he finished and picked up his things. Turning, the trio left the room discussing plans leaving Shran and Archer in an empty room.

Shran turned to Archer and said, "It looks like you recovered from boarding school. You used to know how to have some fun. What happened?"

Archer continued to watch the trio as they walked out the door, still laughing and bantering. "I grew up," he stated flatly.

"Hmph," Shran grunted, his antennae turning outward in a sign of annoyance. Taking hold of Archer's arm he turned and walked through the back wall and into a new scene.

Slowly a new scene came into being around them. Starfleet colors hung from banners around the walls of a large auditorium filled with people, all in uniform. Workers bustled here and there clearly setting up for a party. Shran released Jon's arm and looked around.

"So where are we now, Pink Skin?" Shran's antennae swiveled back and forth in a sign of interest as he took in the sight around him.

"We're at one of Fezziwig's Christmas parties. Are we in the same year?" Jon asked Shran as his eyes scanned the room.

"No, we're a few years from the last memory," replied Shran, scrutinizing the room as well. "Have you spotted yourself yet?"

"Not yet – wait, there I am," Jon indicated a man rushing into the room, much younger than the present Admiral Archer, but clearly older than most of the people around him.

The young Jonathon Archer strode through the crowd, intent on the elderly Captain directing the party preparations.

"Excuse me, captain? Can I have a word with you?" said the young Jonathon Archer.

"Lieutenant! What can I help you with?" asked the genial old man.

"I just wanted you to check these figures on the new warp engine. Tucker and I were going to test it later tonight. Since you're at the top of the warp field, I wanted you to take a look at this before we went forward," was his earnest reply.

The older man smiled and patted the younger man's arm. "Jonathon, it's Christmas Eve. Relax. The warp program can wait a day or two. I know for a fact that Mr. Tucker isn't going to be working tonight either as he is over there helping move tables and setting up the dance floor," the captain replied, taking young Jon by the elbow and steering him into the crowd. "In fact," he continued, taking the padd out of the younger man's hands, "you can help my newest pupil, Ensign Sato hang the garlands. She's too short to reach all the hooks," he finished as he stopped in front of a young Asian woman.

"Ms. Sato, let me introduce to you a friend of mine, Lt. Archer. Lt. Archer, Ms. Sato," Captain Fezziwig said, as the young lady looked up from pulling garland out of a box.

Archer's eyes met the young woman's. He felt as if he had been slapped in the back of the head. Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a small smile, a faint blush stealing over her cheeks.

Fezziwig's eyes twinkled with mirth at the expressions on the younger couple but as he continued on his voice was kind, "Hoshi, Jon's here to help hang the garland, I didn't think you could reach everything. He's a bit of a stick-in-the-mud, so see if you can't convince him to have a good time tonight." A small smile started to cross the old man's face at the blush on her porcelain features.

He turned back to Lt. Archer. "Jon, Hoshi's the brightest student I've ever come across in all these many years I've been teaching here. Play nice, or with her wit, she'll have you for dinner," he playfully warned, winking at Jon and slapping him on the shoulder as he walked off to direct more preparations.

Shran looked at the man standing beside him, his eyes unreadable, and asked, "So this is where you met her?"

The elder Archer stood looking very much like the younger one, stunned. "Yes…" he replied softly, his eyes never leaving the woman's face.

"I always wondered about that," Shran mused, and then shook himself out of his reverie. "Anything else of relevance happen here that night? Dinner, dancing, the start of a beautiful relationship?" Shran asked, his voice acerbic.

"Yes," Jon sighed, his voice sad, "all of that… there we are," he said, indicating the dancing couple. The scene had fast forwarded and they were now standing in the middle of a crowded dance floor. The young Jon had his arms around Hoshi as he led her around the dance floor, soft music swelling and ebbing like waves on the shore. They were chatting amiably, every so often their eyes catching each other's as they scanned the room to avoid other dancing couples. Hoshi was blushing, Jon looked pleased with himself.

Shran took a firm hold of Archer's elbow and steered him back through the crowd.

Archer tried to twist out of Shran's grasp. "Hang on, let's watch the rest of the evening," he said, his voice almost desperate.

"No, sorry, we've still got a few more memories to look at and I've got a schedule to keep," Shran replied indifferently as they walked through the wall once more and into yet another scene.

Another Christmas Eve formed around them, they were standing in a tiny little apartment that held an equally tiny little tree. Curled up on the floor next to the tree were a slightly older Jon and Hoshi chatting and laughing while they presented gifts to each other.

"This one is yours," Hoshi said as she handed Jon a large wrapped parcel.

He smiled and took the box, shaking it and listening for a rattle. "What is it?" he asked his face open and happy.

"Open it up and find out!" she replied coyly.

Jon set it down and started to tear off the wrapping. "It's so light, are you sure you remembered to put in the gift?" he laughed. Hoshi just smiled in response.

"It's a picture," he said, confused, as he drew a small photo out of the box, "of a beagle."

"It is," Hoshi replied, her face breaking out in a grin. "Tomorrow we're going to pick out your new puppy!"

At his still puzzled look she added gently, "I remembered you said how you had always wanted one growing up but your father had repeatedly said no." She placed a hand on his arm.

"That's…" he swallowed hard then continued, "so very sweet of you. No one is as thoughtful as you. I love you," he finished and kissed her on the cheek. He stood up and took a tiny box off of a tree branch where it had been resting. Taking Hoshi's hand he gently pulled her to her feet and handed it to her.

She took off the bow and opened the box to find a diamond ring, it sparkled in the lights of the tree. She looked up to find Jon on one knee in front of her.

The scene faded before them rapidly and melted just as rapidly into another one.

"Hey!" exclaimed Jon.

"What? You know how it ended. She said yes. I am sure you were very eloquent, but we're running out of time and there is one more scene you need to see," replied Shran sounding grim.

The new scene coalesced around them, another office in Starfleet headquarters. The room was stark, an antique map of the stars on one wall, a dog bed in the corner, Porthos curled up watching the room's inhabitants intently, his tail tucked tightly around him, his ears drooping. They had walked into the middle of a fight.

"When then?" the woman, an older Hoshi, asked intently, her voice sharp and pointed.

"Soon, but later. Things with the new federation aren't quite settled yet!" replied the man, an older Archer, coming to his feet, weariness in his voice.

"I left my teaching position and followed you to the stars. I followed you to the Expanse and back! You told me we'd be together once we saved the Earth. That was years ago!" she replied, heat in her words.

"I know," said Jon, coming around the desk and taking her by the hands. "But the timing just isn't right. I can't leave this to anyone else," he said gesturing to the work around him, frustration making his voice sharp.

Hoshi bowed her head, looking at their clasped hands for a long moment. Stepping back she pulled her hands out of his and pulled a chain out from the neck of her uniform. Taking the chain off, she opened it and unthreaded the ring it held. Without looking at him she laid the ring gently on the desk.

"I'm sorry, I just can't do this anymore," she said quietly, still not meeting his gaze.

"But, I still want -," he pleaded.

"No," Hoshi cut him off, "I don't think you do anymore. I think you want this," she indicated the star map, the room, the building, "more then you want me, and I can't be second in your life any longer." She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

"Good-bye Jon," she said simply and she turned and left the room.

The room fell silent except for a soft whine that came from Porthos; the younger Jon picked up the ring and held it in his closed fist, staring at the star map on the wall, the muscles in his jaw jumping.

"Well, that was painful to watch. I never wanted to ask what happened with you two. Now I know," said Shran with a shrug. "You were an idiot to let her go," he continued as he turned to look at the Jon Archer beside him. There were tears in Archer's eyes as he stared at the door through which Hoshi had departed.

"You're right, I was," Jon replied in a quiet, broken voice.

"What happened next?" Shran asked. "Didn't she marry one of your crew?"

Jon continued to gaze at the younger man in front of him, the muscles of his jaw jumping just as they had earlier in his younger self. "She and Reed ended up together, they had always been good friends and after…," he paused, swallowing hard his focus never leaving the younger man before him, and continued, "it was over between us things just evolved for them. I understand they had three children, a boy and two girls."

"I see," Shran replied. "At least you were spared that entanglement. You obviously had more important work here to be done," his tone sarcastic as he indicated the Spartan room before them. He looked at Archer, searching for something and not seeing it, then shook his head in disgust. "Well, we're done here. I've got to get you back. The next spirit will be coming for you shortly," and saying this he took Archer's elbow once more and steered the other man through the wall and back into his apartment.