One morning, Ellen is woken by a knock on her door. She glances at the clock; she's still got a couple hours before she has to report for duty. She stands and stretches.
'Computer, open the door.'
The computer complies, as it always does. The door slides open, revealing Pavel Chekov, grinning.
'Happy Birthday Ellen!'
She'd forgotten it was her birthday. It's been so busy aboard, that she hasn't had time to think about trivial things like that. When she wasn't working, eating or sleeping, she was practicing taekwondo or spending every moment she could with Pavel.
He hands her a PADD.
'I know eet's not much, but before ve left, I asked your parents to give me some recordings and photos. I thought zat you vould miss zem, so-'
He doesn't get to say anything else, because she hugs him and starts crying.
'Thank you, thank you so much.'
She tries not to show it, but she misses her family dearly, as does he. They've only been gone less than a year, but family is family, and they're not going back for more than four. They sit there, inside her quarters, for quite some time, looking through the contents of the PADD, laughing and crying and reminiscing.
She brightens up considerably. He grins.
'Ve still have time before our shift. Time for a game of chess?'
She grins back.
'There's always time for chess, Pavel.'
When they arrive on the Bridge for their shift, the Captain has more good news. They've been promoted. Later that evening, Lieutenant Pavel Andreievich Chekov and Lieutenant Ellen Wei-Ling Lee both agree that today was one of the best days they've had in a long time.